Visit to the center for the preparation and use of unmanned aerial complexes

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko visited the center for the preparation and use of unmanned aerial complexes in Beryoza District, Brest Oblast on 13 June.

The head of state watched a demonstration of practical skills of drone operators, who flew first-person view (FPV) drones through a specialized track. Drone operators practice it after completing computer simulation training.

Aleksandr Lukashenko wondered how well the drones can operate when faced with radioelectronic warfare. The head of state 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.

“The latest product is a gravitational hook for evacuating a lost drone or for delivering water, ammunition, small provisions,” a modernized version of the drone was presented before the President.

“Well done, that guy! First of all, we don’t want people to wonder what will happen if people like him retire. We need ten people like that to succeed him. And we should reward, pay such people and give them everything. This is why I thank you. Incentivize such people. You have to notice such people.”

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.

Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko held an offsite conference to discuss the development of production of unmanned aerial complexes and body armor. 

Aleksandr Lukashenko noted: “We have gathered to discuss the state and prospects of providing our Armed Forces with unmanned aerial complexes, radioelectronic warfare solutions, and individual body armor to military personnel. Considering the example of the special military operation, all of us can see the efficiency of using drones on the one hand and the complexity of fighting against them on the other hand.”

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,” the President stressed.

“So, we need to make up our minds about unmanned aerial complexes at least approximately. We have seen what they are. We have also seen what they are intended for. We need to decide which ones we are going to manufacture. There are plenty of them already. Definitely tens if not hundreds. Depending on the situation evolving in Belarus and depending on our capabilities, what are we going to make? How will we fight against unmanned aerial complexes? It is a topic number two. From the reports I receive all the time, this topic is more of our cup of tea. We can do more in this field,” the Belarusian leader pointed out. “Certainly, it would be desirable to have this wonderful machine that can target all drones and disable their functions. If we invent a thing like this, then we won’t need any drones.”

Aleksandr Lukashenko also remarked that any modern weapon can be efficiently used provided the soldier on the battlefield has appropriate protection. Body armor, helmets, and other kinds of combat gear should be reliable, light, and convenient at the same time.

“Back in the day I gave instructions to make a number of bulletproof vests sufficient for equipping Belarus’ Armed Forces as well as for export sales. We also have to determine what we can do, what body armor we will make, what protection we can offer to our soldiers on the battlefield,” the head of state said. “Naturally, it will require a scientific approach. It can be fully implemented only using high-quality materials. It is also unavoidable. What can we do in this regard? What can’t we do? How are we going to act in this regard?”

The President stressed that the most important thing is to prevent the state from wasting money. “You understand that we need money to make food and apparel. We need to pay pensioners. And it is necessary to fully resolve the problem of providing housing to the military in this five-year term. Even within three years. We need money everywhere.”

In his words, it is necessary to approach the matter of drone development carefully and judiciously while keeping costs in mind. “Which ones are we going to make? We all understand perfectly well that the products we make today can become outdated tomorrow. We need modernization all the time. You understand that modernization also costs a lot of money. This is why to what extent can we do it?” the Belarusian leader wondered.

He stated that due to the abovementioned reasons it is not rational for Belarus to follow the path of large countries that make a huge number of various kinds of drones. “But drones are necessary. We may consider the possibility of creating three or four basic [drone types] and modernizing them if necessary with the passage of time,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said. “This is why let’s decide thriftily how we will live on, how we will act.”

The President requested reports on plans to develop this industry in times of peace, war, and in the future: “And 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. Because 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: “And we need to improve ammunition and missiles and many other things. And mundane problems. Everyone wants to live in an apartment of their own. We need money for all of that. 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 enamored 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 program 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.”

Before the conference the Defense Ministry, the National Academy of Sciences, and defense companies presented their existing weapon systems and demonstrated how the army trains the relevant specialists.

“Now we will discuss prospects of further steps to develop the appropriate areas for the sake of enhancing the defensive capability and security of the troops. I would like speakers to present reports on the current state of manufacturing, opportunities for development, for the creation of new innovative kinds of specific products. I’d like to hear about issues and, most importantly, I’d like to hear proposals on fixing these issues. Including the measures being taken to reduce dependence on imported components, measures to secure the necessary pace of batch production,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.

Aleksandr Lukashenko remarked that in the course of developing the production of drones and protective gear for military personnel, it is important to determine the army’s needs and capabilities of the state. The President stressed that the most important thing is to prevent the state from wasting money. 

“You understand that we need money to make food and apparel. We need to pay pensioners. And it is necessary to fully resolve the problem of providing housing to the military in this five-year term. Even within three years. We need money everywhere,” the head of state pointed out.