In an interview with the Belarus 1 TV channel, Dmitry Pantus, the Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry of Belarus, said that there is no urgent need to quickly establish drone manufacturing facilities; however, production will be expanded as necessary in times of increased threat
“This issue has been discussed multiple times with the Head of State. Together with the Defence Ministry and the Government, we are seeking a balanced approach to this issue. There should be no sense of panic. When organising the production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), it is important to consider the financial capabilities and needs of the state. There is no need to rush the establishment of these drone manufacturing facilities; production will be expanded as necessary, especially in times of increased threat,” Mr. Pantus is convinced.
At the January meeting on establishing an educational centre for training personnel in promising fields, President Aleksandr Lukashenko pointed out a trend that many have recently become obsessed with — the development of UAVs.
“Entire factories and plants are producing these devices — not only Ukrainians and Russians, who are currently using them in combat quite effectively — but also in Belarus and even further north, where they manufacture them from morning till night,” Aleksandr Lukashenko noted.
Nevertheless, the Belarusian leader posed the following question: will UAVs really help Belarus much in military operations?
“How much will they actually help us in forested and swampy terrain? In open areas like steppes or deserts, yes, you can launch a drone, locate the target, strike, and nothing gets in the way. But what about in the forest? Again, these are my thoughts,” the Head of State emphasised.
In this context, the President reminded that an inspection of the Armed Forces is currently underway, “It will continue under these serious conditions until spring.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko expressed confidence that traditional weapons — such as pistols, assault rifles, machine guns and grenade launchers — as well as regular troops, are still essential.
“That’s why I focus heavily on developing traditional artillery with 152mm shells and Grad [multiple launch rocket systems]. Do you know what Grad is? It’s a forty-barrel launcher that we produce ourselves, along with its ammunition. Without these, managing the special military operation today is very challenging — I am certain of this,” the President assured.
