In 2016, Belarus will get a battalion of S-300 air defense systems and four combat and training aircraft Yak-130 from Russia, Major-General Aleh Dvihaliou, Commander of the Air Force and Air Defense of the Belarusian army, said on Wednesday.
According to Mr Dvihaliou, the delivery of four S-300 air defense missile battalions from Russia is nearly over. The air defense systems will become part of the regional air defense system. Three battalions are already in Belarus while the fourth one is on its way, state-run news agency BelTA reports.
“The agreement was announced long ago, it is not new, as far as one can understand. It has nothing to do with the presence or absence of the Russian base in Belarus. The Belarusian leadership has long aimed at having more powerful air defense systems at their disposal. Yak-130 combat training aircraft can be used for training without loss of dropping resource of Belarusian fighter planes, our legacy of the USSR,” military historian Alyaksandr Helahayeu told belsat.eu.
Earlier Vladimir Putin stated that in 2015 Russia sold weapons to the tune of $14.5 bn while the order amount touched a record high of $56 bn. Most weapons were delivered to India and Iraq, age-old partners of Russia.
According to the influential newspaper Kommersant, in 2016 Russia will focus on selling arms to Algeria which is ready to purchase Su-32 bombers and S-300VM ‘Antey-2500’ anti-ballistic missile systems and implementing the contracts signed with Egypt and China.
Read also: Belarus presents new Caiman Light Armoured Reconnaissance Vehicle
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