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This is a list of the equipment used by the Armed Forces of Belarus. The military forces of Belarus are almost exclusively armed with Soviet-era equipment inherited from the Soviet Union. Although large in numbers, some western experts consider some of it outdated.
Model | Image | Caliber | Origin | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pistols | |||||
TT pistol [1] | 7.62×25mm Tokarev | Soviet Union | Semi-automatic pistol | Issued to Territorial Defense units. [2] | |
PSM | 5.45×18mm | Soviet Union | Semi-automatic pistol | [1] | |
Makarov PM | 9×18mm Makarov | Soviet Union | Semi-automatic pistol | [1] | |
Stechkin | 9×18mm Makarov | Soviet Union | Selective fire machine pistol | [3] | |
Glock 17 | 9×19mm Parabellum | Austria | Semi-automatic pistol | Used by OMON, "Almaz" counter-terrorist unit, KGB Alpha Group. [4] | |
SIG Sauer P226 | 9×19mm Parabellum | West Germany Switzerland | Semi-automatic pistol | P226 used by Special Forces, OSAM (Border guard) "Almaz", KGB Alpha Group, and SBP (Presidential security). [4] | |
Submachine guns | |||||
Heckler & Koch MP5 [5] | 9×19mm Parabellum | West Germany Turkey | Submachine gun | MP5A3 and MP5SD3, MP5A5, MP5k variants imported from Turkey. [6] [7] | |
Shotguns | |||||
Remington Model 870 | 12-gauge | United States | Pump-action combat shotgun | Used by Ministry of Interior units or paratroopers. [4] | |
Mossberg 500 | 12-gauge | United States | Pump-action combat shotgun | Used by OMON, Almaz, and KGB Alpha group. The Mossberg Maverick 88 is also used. [4] | |
Benelli M4 | 12-gauge | Italy | Semi-automatic combat shotgun | Used by OMON, "Almaz" counter-terrorist unit, Border Guard Service Institute and KGB Alpha Group. Seen in use with security forces in Minsk during the 2020 protests. [4] | |
Assault rifles | |||||
AKM | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | [1] | |
AK-74 | 5.45×39mm | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | Standard service rifle. [1] [8] | |
АК-12 | 5.45×39mm | Russian Federation | Assault rifle | Used by special forces. [9] | |
AKS-74 | 5.45×39mm | Soviet Union | Assault rifle | [8] | |
AKS-74U | 5.45×39mm | Soviet Union | Assault carbine | [1] [8] | |
AS Val | 9×39mm | Soviet Union | Suppressed assault rifle | Used by special forces. [10] | |
9A-91 | 9×39mm | Russian Federation | Carbine | [11] | |
Sniper rifles and designated marksman rifles | |||||
VSS Vintorez | 9×39mm | Soviet Union | Suppressed sniper rifle | Used by special forces. [10] | |
Dragunov SVD | 7.62×54mmR | Soviet Union | Semi-automatic designated marksman rifle | [1] | |
MTs-116M | 7.62×54mmR | Russia | Bolt-action sniper rifle | Used by special forces (SSO). [10] | |
Orsis T-5000 | .338 Lapua Magnum | Russia | Bolt-action sniper rifle | Used by special forces. [10] | |
OSV-96 | 12.7×108mm | Russia | Anti-materiel sniper rifle | Used by special forces. [10] | |
Machine guns | |||||
PK machine gun | 7.62×54mmR | Soviet Union | General-purpose machine gun | PKM variant used. [2] Manufactured locally. [5] | |
RPK | 7.62×39mm | Soviet Union | Squad automatic weapon | Issued to Territorial Defense units. [2] Manufactured locally. [5] | |
RPK-74 | 5.45×39mm | Soviet Union | Squad automatic weapon | [8] | |
DShK | 12.7×108mm | Soviet Union | Heavy machine gun | [1] | |
NSV | 12.7×108mm | Soviet Union | Heavy machine gun | [1] | |
Grenade launchers | |||||
GP-25/30/34 | 40 mm VOG-25 | Soviet Union Russia | Underslung grenade launcher | [8] | |
Rocket propelled grenade launchers | |||||
RPO-A Shmel | 93 mm | Soviet Union Russia | Rocket-propelled grenade | The PDM-A Priz is replacing the RPO-A Shmel flamethrower. [12] | |
RPG-7 | 40 mm (launcher only, warhead diameter varies) | Soviet Union | Rocket-propelled grenade | [2] [8] | |
RPG-26 | 72.5 mm | Soviet Union | Rocket-propelled grenade | [13] | |
Recoilless rifles | |||||
SPG-9 | 73 mm | Soviet Union | Recoilless rifle | Used by Territorial Defense units. [2] | |
Anti-tank guided missiles | |||||
9K111 Fagot | 120 mm | Soviet Union | Anti-tank guided missile | [14] | |
9M113 Konkurs [14] | 135 mm | Soviet Union Belarus | Anti-tank guided missile | Upgraded 9P135M1(RB) Konkurs launchers used. [15] | |
9K115 Metis [14] | 94 mm | Soviet Union | Anti-tank guided missile | Used by Territorial Defense units. [2] | |
Shershen | 130 mm & 152 mm | Belarus Ukraine | Anti-tank guided missile | Belarusian variant of the Ukrainian Skif ATGM. [16] | |
Mortars | |||||
M-43 | 82 mm | Soviet Union | Infantry mortar | [1] | |
2B11 | 120 mm | Soviet Union | Heavy mortar | [1] | |
Name | Image | Origin | Type | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tanks | |||||
T-72A | Soviet Union | Main battle tank | N/A | Limited numbers still used for training. [17] As of October 2022, at least 94 T-72A tanks were transferred to the Russian Armed Forces as support of war in Ukraine. [18] | |
T-72B | 477 [14] | Can be equipped with slat armour. [17] | |||
T-72B3 Obr. 2016 | Soviet Union Russian Federation | 20 [14] | [17] | ||
Armoured fighting vehicles | |||||
BRM-1 | Soviet Union | Reconnaissance vehicle | 132 [14] | ||
BRDM-2RKh | Soviet Union | NBC reconnaissance vehicle | N/A | Used by NBC Protection Troops. [14] | |
Caiman | Belarus | Reconnaissance vehicle | 13+ [14] | Used by special forces and a modified variant is used by NBC Protection Troops. [14] | |
MT-LB | Soviet Union | Armoured personnel carrier | 78+ [14] | Some were modified as armoured engineering vehicles. [14] | |
RKhM-4 | Russian Federation | NBC reconnaissance vehicle | N/A | Used by NBC Protection Troops. [14] | |
Infantry fighting vehicles | |||||
BMP-2 | Soviet Union | Infantry fighting vehicle | 906 [14] | 20 BMP-2 were transferred to the Russian Armed Forces in 2022. [19] | |
BTR-82A | Soviet Union Russian Federation | 31+ [20] | [17] | ||
Armoured personnel carriers | |||||
BTR-70MB1 | Soviet Union Belarus | Armoured personnel carrier | 64 [14] | Used by special forces. [14] | |
BTR-80 | Soviet Union | 153 [14] | Can be equipped with slat armour. [17] | ||
Infantry mobility vehicles | |||||
GAZ Tigr-M | Russian Federation | Infantry mobility vehicle | N/A | [17] | |
Dongfeng EQ2050 | People's Republic of China | 22 [21] | Chinese copy based on the US Humvee, Used by Belarusian special forces. [22] [23] | ||
MZKT-4190100 Volat V1 | Belarus | N/A | [17] | ||
Dajiang CS/VN3 | People's Republic of China | 12 [14] | Used by special forces. [14] | ||
Engineering vehicles | |||||
BAT-2 | Soviet Union | Armoured engineering vehicle | N/A | [17] | |
IMR-2(M) | Soviet Union | N/A | [17] | ||
BREM-K | Russian Federation | Armoured recovery vehicle | N/A | [17] | |
MTU-20 | Soviet Union | Armoured vehicle launched bridge | 20 [14] | ||
MT-55A | Czechoslovakia | 4 [14] | |||
UR-77 'Meteorit' | Soviet Union | Mine-clearing line charge | N/A | [17] | |
Self-propelled anti-Tank missile systems | |||||
9P148 Konkurs | Soviet Union | Anti-tank guided missile | 75 [14] | ||
9P149 Shturm-S | Soviet Union | 85 [14] | [17] | ||
Towed artillery | |||||
82mm 2B9 Vasilek | Soviet Union | Gun-mortar | N/A | Used by Territorial Defense units. [2] | |
100mm MT-12 Rapira [17] | Anti-tank gun | N/A | Used by Territorial Defense units. [2] | ||
120mm 2B23 NONA-M1 | Gun-mortar | 18 [14] | Used by special forces. [14] | ||
122mm D-30 | Howitzer | 24 [14] | Used by special forces. [14] | ||
152mm 2A65 Msta-B | 108 [14] | [17] | |||
Self-propelled artillery | |||||
122mm 2S1 Gvozdika | Soviet Union | Self-propelled howitzer | 125 [14] | [17] | |
152mm 2S3(M) Akatsiya | 125 [14] | [17] | |||
152mm 2S5 Giatsint-S | 107 [14] | [17] | |||
Multiple rocket launchers | |||||
122mm BM-21 Grad | Soviet Union Belarus | Multiple launch rocket system | 128 [14] | Modernized to the BM-21A "BelGrad" standard. Currently being upgraded to the BM-21B "BelGrad 2" standard. [24] | |
220mm BM-27 Uragan | Soviet Union Belarus | 36 [14] | Being upgraded to the Uragan-M standard. [25] | ||
300mm BM-30 Smerch | Soviet Union | 36 [14] | [17] | ||
Guided Multiple Rocket Launchers | |||||
Polonez | People's Republic of China Belarus | Rocket artillery | 6 [14] | Range: 200km, CEP: 30m, Chinese-designed A200 guided rocket produced in Belarus. [17] | |
Polonez-M | Range: 290km, CEP: 45m, Chinese-designed A300 guided rocket produced in Belarus. [17] | ||||
Short-range ballistic missiles | |||||
OTR-21 Tochka-U | Soviet Union | Short-range ballistic missile | 36 [14] | Range: 120km, CEP: 95m, slated for replacement by the Chinese-designed M20 SRBM fired from the Polonez launcher. [17] | |
9K720 Iskander | Russian Federation | 4 [26] | 4 Launchers and 25 Iskander-M missiles delivered in 2022. [26] | ||
Anti-Aircraft Guns | |||||
14.5mm ZPU-4 | Soviet Union | Anti-aircraft gun | N/A | Used by Territorial Defense units. [2] | |
23mm ZU-23 | N/A | Mounted on technicals. [14] | |||
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns | |||||
30mm 2K22(M) Tunguska | Soviet Union | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | N/A | [17] | |
Self-propelled surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems | |||||
9K35 Strela-10 | Soviet Union | Surface-to-air missile system | N/A | Range: 5km. [17] | |
9K33 Osa | Soviet Union Belarus | N/A | Range: 15km. [17] Being modernized to the 9A33-2B standard. [27] | ||
Tor-M2K | Russian Federation | 21 [14] | Range: 16km. [17] | ||
9K37 Buk | Soviet Union | N/A | Range: 25km. [17] | ||
S-300PS | N/A | Range: 90km. [17] 4 batteries delivered by Russia in 2006, possibly in exchange for TELs for the Topol-M ICBM system. [26] | |||
S-300PMU | Russia | 4 [26] | 4 batteries and 150 missiles delivered by Russia between 2015 and 2016 as part of a joint air defense agreement. [26] | ||
S-400 Triumf | 2 | Two batteries were ordered in 2021, the first one was delivered in 2022, the second in 2023. [26] [28] | |||
Electronic warfare systems | |||||
SPN-30 | Soviet Union | Electronic countermeasure | N/A | [17] | |
Groza R-934UM2 'Groza-6' | Belarus | N/A | [17] | ||
Radars | |||||
P-18 'Spoon Rest D' | Soviet Union | Radar | N/A | [17] | |
P-35/37 'Bar Lock' | N/A | [17] | |||
PRV-9 'Thin Skin E' | N/A | [17] | |||
PRV-16 'Thin Skin B' | N/A | [17] | |||
36D6 'Tin Shield' | N/A | [17] | |||
55ZH6 'Tall Rack' | N/A | [17] | |||
1L22 'Parol' | N/A | [17] | |||
1S80 'Sborka' PPRU | N/A | [17] | |||
Rosa-RB-M Ashuluk | Belarus | N/A | [17] | ||
Vostok-3D | N/A | [17] | |||
Protivnik-GE | N/A | [17] | |||
9S18 'Kupol' | Soviet Union | N/A | Used for the Buk. [17] | ||
30N6 'Flad Lid' | N/A | Used for the S-300. [17] | |||
76N6 'Clam Shell' | N/A | Used for the S-300. [17] | |||
91N6 'Big Bird' | N/A | Used for the S-300. [17] | |||
Unmanned aerial vehicles | |||||
Orlan-10 | Russia | Surveillance | N/A | [17] | |
Supercam S100 | N/A | [17] | |||
Supercam S350 | N/A | [17] | |||
Irkut-3 | N/A | [17] | |||
Irkut-10 | N/A | [17] | |||
Formula | Belarus | N/A | [17] | ||
VR-12 Moskit-N | N/A | [17] | |||
Busel M | N/A | [17] |
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus are the military forces of Belarus. It consists of the Ground Forces and the Air Force and Air Defence Forces, all under the command of the Ministry of Defence. As a landlocked country, Belarus has no navy, however the Belarusian military does have control over some small Soviet inherited naval vessels in its rivers and lakes.
The Byelorussian SSR was one of only two Soviet republics to be separate members of the United Nations. Both republics and the Soviet Union joined the UN when the organization was founded in 1945.
Alexander Grigoryevich Lukashenko is a Belarusian politician who has been the president of Belarus since the office's establishment in 1994, currently the longest in Europe.
The "State Anthem of the Republic of Belarus", better known as "My Belarusy", is the national anthem of Belarus. It was originally written in the 1940s and adopted in 1955 for use in the Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic. The music of the Byelorussian SSR's regional anthem was composed by Niescier Sakałoŭski and the lyrics were written by Michas Klimkovič. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the music composed by Sakalowski was kept and the lyrics were discarded. New lyrics, which were written by Klimkovič and Uladzimir Karyzna, were adopted by a presidential decree issued on 2 July 2002.
Vitebsk Region or Viciebsk Region, also known as Vitebsk Oblast or Vitsyebsk Voblasts, is one of the regions of Belarus. Its administrative center is Vitebsk. It is located in the north of the country, and borders on Russia.
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Belarus participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 16 times, making its debut in 2004 and having its last appearance in 2019. The Belarusian participant broadcaster in the contest was the Belarusian Television and Radio Company (BTRC). Since 1 July 2021, Belarus has been unable to participate in the contest following the suspension of BTRC's membership in the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). The country's first appearance in a final was in 2007, with the song "Work Your Magic" performed by Dmitry Koldun, where it placed sixth; this remains Belarus' only top ten placement. Belarus also qualified for the final in 2010, 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2019. More recently, the nation had planned to take part in the canceled 2020 contest and was disqualified from taking part in the 2021 contest.
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The Air Force and Air Defence Forces of the Republic of Belarus is the air force of the Armed Forces of Belarus, formed in 1992 from the 26th Air Army of the Soviet Air Forces which had been serving in the Byelorussian SSR.
Belarus Today is a state run publisher in Belarus; it controls numerous media entities such as their current namesake publication Belarus Today.
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