By Violetta Sokolovich: During the Zapad 2017 military drills, the State Military Industrial Committee of Belarus will present over 20 new models of weapons and equipment. They include unmanned aircraft systems, lightly armored vehicles with various types of weapons and modifications, mobile communications equipment, electronic warfare stations with unmanned aerial vehicles on various chassis, modernized armored vehicles and a modernized artillery fire control system.
Some of these models were already presented at the 8th International Exhibition of Arms and Military Machinery MILEX-2017. Among them were the light armoured carrier Cayman, the drone Berkut-2, the light armoured vehicle MZKT-490100, as well as the counter-UAV electronic warfare station Groza-S and counter-Multicopter radio electronic gun Groza-R.
The testing of new types of weapons and equipment will take place at 6 training grounds. Two more grounds in Vitebsk Region will be used for practical operations of the troops. In order to exclude tension in relations with the neighbouring countries, the main military department of Belarus deliberately chose training grounds that are far from the border. In accordance with the intent of the forthcoming exercise, the number of troops, tanks, armored combat vehicles, self-propelled and towed artillery, etc. will not exceed the levels established by various treaties and agreements.
All in all, 12,700 troops, 370 units of armoured vehicles, up to 150 artillery units and rocket launchers, 40 aircraft and helicopters will be inviolved in the Zapad 2017 exercise.
As a result of the joint strategic exercise, a deep analytical work will be carried out by the military-industrial complex of Belarus. The drills will give a chance to assess the system of supporting the combat potential of the country’s armed forces, as well as the prospects for development.
