Belarus security

The state and prospects of development of non-civil helicopter aviation in Belarus

Aviation legacy of the USSR

At the time of the proclamation of independence of Belarus about 350 military helicopters for various purposes, assigned to certain aircraft and helicopter regiments and helicopter squadrons of Air Defense Forces, Air Force, Land Forces and the Strategic Missile Forces of the Armed Forces of the USSR, were stationed on its territory.

Creation and reformation of helicopter aviation of Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus

After the proclamation of independence of Belarus by the Resolution of the Supreme Council of the Republic on 20 September 1991 all the controls, staffs and military units stationed on its territory were subject to the Council of Ministers starting from the January 1, 1992. Also, the Council of Ministers was granted the right to determine the order of relocation «in the boundaries of the Republic of Belarus, entering and withdrawal from the territory of the Republic of Belarus of units and formations of the USSR Armed Forces, border, railway and construction troops and other military units located in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, as well as the procedure for entering and withdrawal of weapons, military equipment, export of material and technical means belonging to them and other military equipment». In addition, the Council of Ministers, together with the Commission of Supreme Council on national security, defence and fight against crime as well as with the command of the Red Banner Belarusian Military District and «other concerned ministries and departments» had to submit to the Supreme Council the proposal on the structure and the principles of development of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus before November 1, 1991.

Therefore, all air units stationed on the territory of Belarus became part of the Armed Forces of the Republic. Since, according to the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe and «Agreement on the Principles and procedure implementation of the Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe», adopted on May 15, 1992 in Tashkent, Belarus was allowed to have no more than 260 combat aircraft and no more than 80 combat helicopters as part of its Armed Forces, since the formation of the Air Force Belarus began to decline their size.

As a result, in the beginning of 1996 there were eight air bases of Belarus Air Force, four of which had helicopters: 50th (in Machulishchy) 65th (in Kobryn), 181st (in Pruzhany) and 276th (in Barautsy). In total, these air bases had 215 combat and special helicopters: 107 Mi-8T/MT, 70 Mi-24V/P/K/R, 24 Mi-6, 14 Mi-26.

All helicopters of disbanded squadrons and the «excess» helicopters of reformed air bases were removed and relocated to the reserve airfield in Luninets. There the 1169th base storage of aircraft was formed.

In addition, some of the helicopters were sold to foreign countries.

In December 2001, the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus have been combined into a single institution – Air Force and Air Defense Forces, as part of which two operational and tactical command units were formed: Western (headquarters – Baranavichy, area of responsibility – western and southern parts of Belarus) and North-Western (headquarters – the Machulishchy village, area of responsibility – northern, central and eastern parts of Belarus).

However, the aircraft structure hasn’t changed – there were still eight air bases, including four helicopter ones.

In 2001—2015 Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus aviation structure underwent significant changes. In particular, in 2002, the 65th transport and combat helicopter base, based in Kobryn, was reformed in the 65th Separate Mixed helicopter squadron. However, in 2003, the 65th Separate Helicopter mixed squadron was disbanded, and the majority of its personnel was transferred for further service to the 181st air base, based in Pruzhany.

In 2002—2003 276th helicopter base was disbanded as well. The bulk of its personnel was transferred for further service to the 181st air base. The helicopters from 276th helicopter base, some of which were put on service of 181st helicopter base and some were later used as donors of spare parts for helicopters with lower operating resource, were transferred there as well.

In 2015, 181st helicopter base, based in Pruzhany, was disbanded too. By December 1 its personnel and helicopters were transferred to the 50th Mixed Air Base based in Machulishchy, where the 3rd Squadron (25 Mi-24 and 6 Mi-8) was formed. In addition, in order to maintain the flight crews in the squadron the aviation detachment of 12 crews that don’t have assigned helicopters was formed (in this regard, the detachment is informally called «horseless»).

In connection with the dissolution of a significant amount of air bases and other military units of the Air Force and Air Defense Forces and, consequently, reduction in the number of aviation equipment and personnel, in autumn 2014 the control units of the Western and North-Western tactical commands were disbanded as well.

Thus, at the moment the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus have only one air base – 50th Mixed Air Base (in Machulishchy), which in addition to transport and special aircraft includes 42 Mi-8, 29 Mi-24 and 1 Mi-26, while about 10 Mi-26 are stored. In addition, as part of 3rd Squadron of the Air Base there are 12 «horseless» crews of Mi-24 and Mi-8.

Helicopter aviation of other law enforcement agencies of Belarus

At the time of the proclamation of the Belarusian independent state, on the territory of the country there were no other military or special aviation of law enforcement agencies, in addition to aviation of the Armed Forces of the former USSR.

However, with the creation of the law enforcement agencies, some of them, in particular, border guards, and then the Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), began to create their own air units.

Aviation of Border Guard

Aviation of Border Guard of Belarus was established in accordance with the Resolution of Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of October 5, 1993 №667 by the Order of the Commander of Border Guard of Belarus of 25 October 1993 №074. In response to this order, on the basis of the 206th separate helicopter squadron of USSR Strategic Missile Troops, stationed at Aziarki airfield (near Pastavy), by the end of 1993 the 1st Separate Air Squadron of Border Guard of Belarus was created.

Already in January 1994, the crew of the Squadron began training flights, and on March 2, 1994 helicopter crews started the protection of the Belarusian State border. From this day for almost 20 years they have carried out missions to conduct patrol service, air and radiation reconnaissance (together with reconnaissance and search team on board), troops landing, air search and arrest of violators of the State border. In 2008 alone, the crews of border aviation helicopters detained more than 20 violators of the State border and about 30 violators of border regime as well as material assets worth more than 150 mln BYR, discovered more than 100 bypass roads and trails.

The same year the contract for the purchase of four helicopters AS-355NP Ecureuil of French company Eurocopter for the Border Guard of Belarus and for training of border aviation crews was made.

On June 25, 2009 the first AS-355NP Ecureuil landed at the airfield of Separate special aviation detachment of the Border Guard (this was the new name of the 1st Separate Air Squadron according to the Decree of the President of the Republic of Belarus of June 16, 2009). The other three helicopters were delivered in 2010. After their preparation and retraining of the crews, helicopters Mi-8, the service life of which had almost finished, began to be withdrawn from the service. By the end of 2013 only one flying Mi-8 – the last of those helicopters which were at the beginning of the history of Belarus Border Guard aviation, was left in Separate special aviation detachment.

In 2014, due to the necessity of redistribution of financial resources allocated for border security, and optimization of the staff number of the Border Guard, according to the Presidential Decree of June 3, 2014 №262 the Separate special aviation detachment was transferred to the structure of Ministry of Emergency Situations.

MES aviation

n 2002, the Belarusian government decided to create the State aviation rescue institution «Aviation» of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of the Republic of Belarus, based at the airfield «Lipki» and consisting of aircraft and special equipment provided by Air Force and Air Defence Forces.

Helicopters Mi-8MT (Mi-17) and two Mi-26T were transferred to the new formation from the 50th Mixed Air Base (in Machulishchy) and 65th Separate Mixed Helicopter Squadron (in Kobrin), that was disbanded earlier.

In September 2003, Unitary Enterprise of aviation protection of forests «Bellesavia» was transferred from the Ministry of Forestry to the Ministry of Emergency Situations. The aims of the organization are: finding fires and traffic accidents, medical services and assistance during floods, rescuing the lost in the forest, providing the information about the tornados and defining the volume of damage in forests and forest health.

«Bellesavia» includes the total of eight helicopters Mi-2. In addition, a significant number of helicopters are in storage and conservation.

The third MES aviation detachment – Aviation SAR level of «Homel Engineering Institute» – doesn’t have helicopters.

In this regard, in order to equip agencies and departments for emergency situations with modern technical facilities and equipment, including aircraft, the State program for 2001—2005 was adopted in 2001. However, due to limited funding, its implementation from the republican budget amounted to only about 6%.

In 2005, the second State program to equip the MES of the Republic of Belarus with modern fire and rescue equipment in 2006—2010 was approved by the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus of December 26, №1337. According to the State program it was planned to purchase two Russian helicopters: «Ansat» and Mi-34 for the budget funds «in order to broaden the spectrum of tasks and update the aircraft fleet». The third Russian helicopter Ka-226 was planned to be purchased for other funds. The modernization of four Mi-2 was planned as well.

However, this State program also hasn’t been implemented in full. Only in October 2013 the Minsk City Department of Ministry of Emergency Situations signed a contract with the holding company «Helicopters of Russia» on the acquisition of fire-fighting helicopter Ka-32A11BC with horizontal fire-extinguishing system, which was planned to be used to extinguish fires in high-rise buildings in Minsk. This specialized helicopter was supposed to be delivered in 2014. But due to financial problems the purchase of the helicopter didn’t take place.

However, in 2014 MES aviation got three helicopters – by August 1, 2014, in accordance with the Presidential Decree of June 3, №262, Separate Aviation detachment, including three helicopters AS-355NP Ecureuil, was transferred to the structure of MES from the Border Guard.

Thus, currently MES aviation includes four types of helicopters coming to the end of their service life. In this context, the possibility to perform overhaul reconditioning and modernization of Mi-2 and Mi-8 at the Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant is considered at the moment.

Aviation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs internal troops

The creation of an aviation unit in the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus was declared in 2008. And, according to the order, signed by the Interior Minister Uladzimir Naumau a helicopter squadron of seven helicopters had to be formed. It had to be based at the National Airport «Minsk».

In this regard, the acquisition of the first helicopter AS-355NP of French company Eurocopter in April 2008 and of Russian helicopters Mi-17 in 2009—2010 was announced.

However, in 2008 the contract for the purchase of helicopters AS-355NP Eurocopter was concluded in the interests of the Border Guard. At the moment the helicopter squadron of the internal troops of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Belarus hasn’t been formed, and there’s no information on the prospects of its formation.

Prospects for non-civil helicopter aviation of Belarus

During the period of the independent Republic of Belarus the aircraft fleet of combat and special helicopters almost hasn’t been updated.

In this regard, on April 2, 2014 President Lukashenka during the visit to 558 Aircraft Repair Plant set the task of organizing the production of Belarusian planes and helicopters at the 558 and Orsha Aircraft Repair Plants.

558 Aircraft Repair Plant is one of the largest and fastest growing enterprises to implement the overhaul reconditioning and modernization of helicopters Mi-8 (Mi-17) and Mi-24 (Mi-35).

Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant, located in the village of Balbasava near Orsha, has been certified by the Aviation Register of the Interstate Aviation Committee, which certifies compliance of the plant with the requirements of Aviation Regulations, the ICAO standards and recommendations of international standards ISO 9000 as well as with JAR-145 and EAR-145 rules. The plant also has a certificate of Russian federal aviation rules FAP-145R for the right to perform overhaul of Mi-8.

Currently Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant (ARP) performs overhaul reconditioning and modernization of Mi-8 helicopters. In 2014, together with the company «Motor Sich», five helicopters Mi-8, which were put up for sale under the name of Mi-8MSB, were upgraded. Another 10 helicopters were in production. Thus, in 2014 Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant actually started serial production of Mi-8MSB, the basis for which are old Mi-8, which «Motor Sich» buys from operators and supplies to Belarus for overhaul and modernization.

The basic cost of the civil Mi-8MSB is 6 million USD. It is equipped with aircraft engines TV3—117VMA-SBM1—4E with which the helicopter during a demonstration flight with journalists reached an altitude of 4,500 meters in 7 minutes. In 2014 with these engines Mi-8MSB set 12 world records, including the record of altitude of level flight – 9150 m.

At the same time Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant carries out the modernization of Mi-24, and in the future is able to modernize Mi-35, which are planned to be purchased in Russia for the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus instead of the more expensive and less reliable Mi-28.

In 2014, the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus conducted flight tests of Mi-24R with engines TV3—117VMA-SBM1V-02 produced by the Ukrainian company «Motor Sich». There flight tests of Mi-24V equipped with the engine TV3—117VMA-SBM1V with the capacity of 2500—2800 hp (the power of base engine TV3—117VMA is 2200 hp) were carried out as well. During the flight tests Mi-24V with these engines showed significantly better flight performance, including speed and climbing capacity than the basic Mi-24V with engine TV3—117V.

The second helicopter, besides Mi-8MSB, the production of which can soon be started at Orsha Aircraft Repair Plant, is MSB-2. It is planned that this helicopter based on Mi-2 and designed by Ukrainian company «Motor Sich», will be equipped with more powerful aircraft engines AI-450M produced by this company, will have a bigger volume of cargo compartment (due to the external fuel tanks) and modern aeronautical complex. MSB-2 is planned to have several modifications: transport and passenger – to carry up to 8 passengers at a distance of up to 750 km; search and rescue – for the departments of emergency situations; medical; fire – equipped with a tank of 900 litres; agricultural; military.

Military helicopter modification named SMB-2MO is planned to be produced in three versions: antitank, reconnaissance and ship-based. The helicopter will be able to carry two B8-V20A blocks (20 unguided 80 mm missiles S-8) or universal gun containers UPK-23-250 (two-barrel 23 mm autocannon GS-23L with ammunition of 250 rounds).

In addition, Belarus purchases helicopters from foreign manufacturers. On June 16, 2015 in Moscow region at the International military-technical forum «Army-2015» the contract for the supply of 12 Russian military transport helicopters Mi-8MTV-5, six of which must be delivered to the Air Force and Air Defense Forces of Belarus in 2016, and another six – in 2017, was made.

Mi-8MTV-5 is a new, deeply modernized version of Mi-8MTV-1 and is designed to perform combat and transport missions in any climate at any time of the day. To do this, the helicopter is equipped with a modern set of flight and navigation and attack equipment as well as with means of communication.

At the same time Belarusian authorities are considering different variants for the purchase of helicopters of other manufacturers. In particular, of the company of AgustaWestland, which is interested in cooperation with Belarus. On September 10, 2015 this was announced by the Belarusian Prime Minister Andrei Kabyakou during his visit to AgustaWestland departments.

Moreover, it was stated that «we are talking about Belarus’ inclusion in the production cooperation of such a distinguished company». The Prime Minister recalled that even during the existence of the Soviet Union aerospace components, including navigation systems and radars, were produced in Belarus. He perfectly knows that, because at this time he worked at the enterprises of BelOMO association, producing aiming systems and optical devices.