|
|
|||
|
Defence & Security News - Belarus
|
|||
|
|
|||
|
Russia to sign more than 20 contracts in 2016 for the delivery of military equipment to Belarus
|
|||
|
More than 20 contracts for the delivery and upgrade of military equipment have been signed between Russia and Belarus in 2016 and several dozen agreements are currently being discussed, Belarusian Defense Minister Lieutenant-General Andrei Ravkov said.
|
|||
|
|
|||
 Russian-made S-300PMU1 TEL (Transporter Erector Launcher) at military parade in Minsk, Belarus. |
|||
|
|
|||
|
"In 2016, we have signed more than 20 contracts for the delivery and upgrade of military hardware. Another several dozen contracts are currently being discussed or worked out," Ravkov said at a joint session of the Russian and Belarussian Defense Ministries’ Board.
According to the defense minister, military hardware is being delivered on favorable terms. "I cannot but note military and technical cooperation that is developing dynamically. Russia is our main partner in the sphere of military hardware deliveries, repair and upgrade," Ravkov said. According to him, 1,273 Belarusian servicemen have graduated from Russian Defense Ministry educational institutions over the past 18 years. Another 383 Belarusian servicemen are currently studying there, he added. As Ravkov said, Russia and Belarus have made considerable progress in many other military cooperation areas. This allows considering the relations of the Russian and Belarusian defense ministries as reference interaction. In this context, Ravkov hopes that the joint session "will become a new contact point for the [Russian and Belarusian] defense ministries and allow them to develop advanced and improve operational defense systems." Since 2010, Belarus has purchased many Russian military equipment including Tor-M1 (SA-15) air defense system, S-300PMU1 air defense missile system and BTR-82A 8x8 armoured vehicle personnel carrier. |
|||
