Belarus’s military upgrade Adapting to lessons from modern conflicts

A new State Armaments Program is being developed in Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko has set priorities for armaments based on the experience of modern military conflicts and Belarus’s specific national conditions.

At the meeting with the president, the results of the previous armaments program were also reviewed, and the outcomes of the recent comprehensive inspection of the combat readiness of the Armed Forces of Belarus were taken into account. What changes await the Belarusian army in the near future?

“Volats,” “Kaymans,” and “Berkuts” on guard of Belarus

On May 11, a meeting on the state defence procurement was held in Minsk. “It is impossible to accomplish defence objectives without equipping our troops with modern weapons…” said the Belarusian president. 

Assessing the implementation of the State Armaments Program for 2021–2025, Alexander Lukashenko noted: “It is important that the implementation of the program let us over five years to increase the share of modern systems in the Armed Forces to nearly half, 45%. The share of annually renewed equipment rose to 2%. It can be stated that the measures we are taking enable us to maintain weapons and military equipment in a combat-ready state.”

The Belarusian leader emphasised that within the framework of the previous program, special emphasis was placed on the development of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces: “New aircraft, helicopters, and air defence systems have been delivered to military units and are being operated.”

Alexander Lukashenko also described several other directions in which the Belarusian army has been modernised. In recent years, the Armed Forces of Belarus have increased their mobility thanks to new armoured vehicles of Belarusian production.

Since May 2025, the Volat MZKT-490100-317 armoured vehicle, developed and produced at the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant, has been in service. This light armoured vehicle can withstand hits from AKM, AK-74, and SVD rifles. RunFlat tyre technology allows it to continue travelling up to 100 km after being punctured. The “Volat” (meaning “Hero” in Belarusian) can reach speeds of up to 110 km/h on highways. A V-shaped lower hull, reinforced floor armour, and special energy-absorbing seats provide strong mine protection. The vehicle is equipped with an integrated onboard information system and 360-degree surveillance equipment.

There are six variants of the Volat V1: combat, reconnaissance-strike, medical modules, an electronic warfare vehicle, a light anti-tank guided missile carrier, and an armoured vehicle for internal troops. The Volat is used by special operations forces, border troops, and internal security units.

Since 2025, the Volat V2 armoured personnel carrier on an eight-wheeled chassis has been in service with the 120th Separate Guards Mechanised Brigade. In different configurations, it can be equipped either with a BMP-2 combat module or with the Belarusian-made “Adunok” remote weapon station.

The BRDM “Kayman” armoured reconnaissance vehicles, produced at the 140th Repair Plant in Borisov, are also used by Special Operations Forces (SSO) and airborne troops.

Belarus also produces the multipurpose amphibious armoured vehicle “Vitim” and the “Lis-PM” armoured vehicle based on MZKT chassis.

In Belarus, the following systems are independently produced or modernized: VSK-100 and SMAR-100BPM assault rifles, 9M113 “Konkurs” and “Shershen” anti-tank guided missile systems, T-72BM2 main battle tanks, BTR-70MB1 armored personnel carriers, BM-21 “Grad”, BM-27 “Uragan”, BM-30 “Smerch” multiple launch rocket systems, “Polonez” and “Polonez-M” MLRS, 9K33 “Osa” air defense system, electronic warfare systems “Groza” R-934UM2, “Groza-6”, Groza Z1 / R-936 Aero / Optima, and “Sapsan”, as well as UAVs such as “Formula”, VR-12 Moskit-N, “Busel M”, “Berkut-3”, “Chekan-B”, “Kvadro-1400”, “Zagraditelnaya Truba”, and other types of military equipment. 

State defence program

In recent years, the equipment of Belarusian servicemen has also been improved: modern personal body armour and optics have been delivered to the armed forces. Communication systems have also been developed. The president emphasised the need for their further improvement: “As experience shows, this is also a critically important component that today determines a great deal, and sometimes everything, in modern combat. In the near future, we will take a close look at the state of our communications equipment.”

The president also noted the need to take into account the characteristics of the theatre of operations in Belarus in the event of an attack, as well as its differences from desert or steppe terrain. Based on this, weapon systems should be produced or procured accordingly.

According to Alexander Lukashenko, current military conflicts have shown that without classic ground operations and corresponding weaponry, strategic objectives cannot be achieved: “Take, for example, the armed confrontation between Iran, Israel, and the US - what did it show? They bombed, they pounded with bombs and missiles... And what - did they win? No. No success is possible without a ground operation.”

This was also discussed during the consideration of the State Armaments Program and defence procurement plan for 2026–2030. The draft has been prepared by the government. It is now important to obtain feedback from the military and other security agencies on the proposed weapons and supply systems for the army, taking into account both current challenges and those that may arise in the near future. The results of the recent sudden large-scale comprehensive combat readiness inspection of the Armed Forces of Belarus must also be taken into account.

Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin stated that the president agreed with the proposed plan for building the Armed Forces: “The Commander-in-Chief has said many times that Belarus is a wooded, swampy area and we must know how to defend it. The focus remains on the development of small arms, the training of our servicemen, and their procurement.”

The armament program also takes into account real financial capabilities and the potential of the defence industry. Reckless involvement in the ongoing global arms race can itself cause serious damage. Seven priority areas have been defined, including electronic warfare (EW), reconnaissance, communications, counter-battery warfare, and air defence against low-flying small targets. Special attention will be given to countering UAVs, Viktor Khrenin promised.

A separate discussion at the presidential meeting focused on Belarus’s fourth missile development program. According to Dmitry Pantus, Chairman of the State Military-Industrial Committee, the program provides for both the modernisation of systems already in service and the creation of new missile systems. Among other things, it plans the development of a new short-range air defence system of Belarusian production. The goal has been set to significantly increase the share of domestically produced weapons by 2030, within both the state defence procurement and the State Armaments Program, as well as to reduce production timelines.

It should be recalled that previously, a new operational-tactical missile with a 560 kg warhead for the “Polonez-M” multiple launch rocket system, created using Chinese technology, was manufactured at the Minsk RUE “Precision Electromechanics Plant.” According to various sources, its flight range is between 300 and 500 km.

Following the discussion and taking into account comments from all stakeholders, Lukashenko is expected to sign the State Armaments Program and defence procurement plan for 2026–2030.