Posted:
17.06.2025 10:29:31
Our country able to create three or four types of good drones
Aleksandr Lukashenko visited the centre for the preparation and use of unmanned aerial complexes in Beryoza District, Brest Region
The Head of State watched a demonstration of practical skills of drone operators, who flew first-person view (FPV) drones through a specialised track. Drone operators practise it after completing computer simulation training.
Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered how well the drones can operate when faced with radioelectronic warfare. The President was informed in detail about the corresponding aspects. “It is good that we have such guys [well-trained drone operators]. It is unavoidable. We have a lot of work for them,” the Head of State said. “I see that young people are keen to fly these drones. Young people like it. And it is good. We can find a lot of guys like these among young people and they will fly.”
At the same time the President stressed that other weapon systems remain in demand, “Terrain in Belarus is more complicated than open steppes in Ukraine. It is a great difference, too. We can use other branches of the Armed Forces. As I’ve said, grenade launcher operators, soldiers armed with machine guns and assault rifles are not going anywhere. They are our key weapon. A man with a rifle is the key. While these [drones] can be used in appropriate terrain.”
Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that there is no need to focus excessively on this area. It is necessary to rely on existing assets and needs. “The key is not to get obsessed with it. You should always have a head on your shoulders and should understand what we can do and what we cannot. It is necessary to determine what we need and how much,” he said.
“We need to create three or four types of good drones. We will do it. But you should tell us what they should be like and what needs to be done,” the President told the specialists.
The Head of State was also made familiar with the equipment of the shop where unmanned aerial complexes are made, assembled, and repaired. He was also made familiar with the manufacturing process.
A number of samples of unmanned aerial complexes in service with the Belarusian army were examined by Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko. Some of the models were designed and assembled by Belarusian military personnel. One can say those are custom-made drones. Aleksandr Lukashenko talked to the army specialists and stressed that such inventors should be rewarded.
Upcoming Belarusian R&D products and drones made by foreign enterprises were also demonstrated to Aleksandr Lukashenko. Close attention was paid to the solutions designed to combat unmanned aerial complexes.
To make quality products is an important demand of the President. The Head of State stressed that only the best models can be accepted for service.
As part of the tour of the facility Aleksandr Lukashenko examined several sets of individual protective gear available to military personnel, optical surveillance devices, protective goggles, ear protectors, and other kinds of hardware. “These should be manufactured,” the Commander-in-Chief agreed.
After that the President watched a practical demonstration of how drones can be used in a combat scenario. During the first episode an assault team worked together with operators of unmanned aerial complexes. After that drones were used as part of counterbattery fire.
The Defence Ministry, the National Academy of Sciences, and defence companies presented their existing weapon systems and demonstrated how the army trains the relevant specialists.
Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko held an offsite conference to discuss the development of production of unmanned aerial complexes and body armour.
The Head of State pointed out that strike systems and reconnaissance systems are developing at a rapid pace. Increasingly sophisticated and secure solutions are used to control them.
“This is why the most important task for us is vigorous development of radioelectronic warfare solutions to combat unmanned aviation. So, we need to make up our minds about unmanned aerial complexes at least approximately. We need to decide which ones we are going to manufacture.
The President requested reports on plans to develop this industry in times of peace, war, and in the future, “As I have already warned you: down to earth. You need to clearly understand what is feasible and what is not.”
The Head of State also warned that considering the popularity of drones at present it is not a good idea to excessively focus only on this area. It is important to develop other kinds of weapons as well. And efforts to resolve problems in daily lives of military personnel also need money, “We need to improve ammunition and missiles and many other things. And mundane problems. Let’s keep it in mind and down to earth.”
Moreover, the applicability of drones may go down with the passage of time. “Today all of us are enamoured with drones,” Aleksandr Lukashenko stated.
However, the President reminded that as little as 7-10 years ago the army was talking about the need to buy other types of weapons and aircraft. “Today they say that not only tanks and BMPs can do the job. Drones can be used instead of missiles. It is good that back then we didn’t embark on this crazy rearmament programme that would have cost billions. We didn’t rush to start it. Today it turns out that we don’t need so many tanks and BMPs. They say that they are no longer used at the frontline and drones take care of everything,” the Belarusian leader pointed out. “In the future we may come to a point when we may regret wasting so much money on drones while they failed to become the weapon we’d expected them to be. They will be necessary for a long time. Or maybe forever. This is why we need to make provisions for absolutely all the variants.”
Based on materials of sb.by and belta.by
