Леонид Спаткай
Belarus security

w much does the border cost?

On June 1, 2018, during a visit to the outpost of Dzivin, the Pinsk border detachment, where the border guards protect 32 km of the state border of Belarus with Ukraine, the President of Belarus made two statements on border security issues of the country.

The first of them concerned the increase in the number of servicemen of the border service: there are not enough of them despite the presence of latest technical means of border protection. The increase is connected with the strengthening of the protection of the border of Belarus with Ukraine as well as with the increase in the passenger and cargo traffic through checkpoints at the borders of Belarus with Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine. In this regard, the President of Belarus instructed to study the possibility of increasing the number of border guards by 2—3 thousand people for the cost of the reduction in the Armed Forces, which will make it possible to increase the number of personnel of the outposts by 5—10 people, thereby increasing the density of border security. In addition, as President Lukashenka stated, «at the outpost they live like at home. here is no bullying, hazing» and «servicemen here will be taught better than in the army», because the border guards are «constantly on alert». According to Lukashenka, «their training is really good. In border guard they give to people more skills for the future, then at least in ordinary motorized rifles». The specificity of the border guard service is that border guards in real conditions handle the skills of actions in the isolated mobile units, which is very important in the context of current armed conflicts.

The second statement of the President of Belarus concerned the status of the Belarusian-Russian border – he, as they say, openly suggested the Russians to decide on the format of the presence of their border guards on the border with Belarus, after which the Belarusian authorities will take symmetric measures, up to the deployment of the border guard. «But we can not be like Russians. They do not understand what they want and what they do on the Belarusian-Russian border. Let them define. When they define what to do – we have no problem answering. We are ready to respond adequately at any time. If they want to close the border – no problem. They will close the border – we must also establish control at the border in response» – Lukashenka said. He also stated that this issue will be discussed during the Supreme State Council of the Union State in June.

However, it is obvious that this issue was not discussed at the Supreme State Council. Even if it was discussed, there is no result of the discussion, since Aliaksandr Lukashenka stated that they agreed to deal with this problem in the near future and «the remaining issues on the crossing of the Belarusian-Russian border should be settled».

These two statements of the President of Belarus were interpreted by many experts and analysts as a complete decision to deploy the border guard at the Belarusian-Russian border: the increase in the number of border guards will not only increase the density of protection of the border sections with Ukraine, but also create the necessary prepared reserve that can be used to protect the border with Russia.

For example, the «Belarus in Focus» information bureau stated that Lukashenka was ready «to establish full control of the eastern border»: «The Belarusian top bureaucracy seems to have realized the inevitability of the deployment of a full border control on the border with Russia. Which can begin as soon as Russia’s intentions are specified».

However, such interpretations of Lukashenka’s words are very far from reality. There are several reasons for this. One of the most significant of them is the «price of the issue». Moreover, not only the cost of delimiting and demarcation works and the creation of a border infrastructure, but the cost of time necessary to create a full-fledged border guard on the Russian section of the State Border of Belarus, which, incidentally, is not even marked on the ground, and its passage on maps is often conditional.

By the time Belarus adopted the Declaration on State Sovereignty, it had only its state border with Poland, which was established by the Treaty between the USSR and the Polish Republic on the Soviet-Polish state border of August 16, 1945. The borders with other neighbouring countries – Lithuania, Latvia, Russia and Ukraine, did not have the status of the State Border. I order to give them this status, delimitation and demarcation were required. Since the Baltic republics were the first to declare their withdrawal from the Soviet Union, then the task of delimitation and demarcation of the border with them has become a priority.

On November 25, 1991, the working groups from representatives of ministries and departments for participation in the joint commission for the delimitation of the border with Lithuania were approved by the decree of the Council of Ministers of the Republic of Belarus. The first official talks of this commission took place in Vilnius on January 3, 1992, and the delimitation of the border of Belarus with Lithuania was finished on February 6, 1995 with the signing of the agreement on the state border, ratified on April 25, 1996. The demarcation of the border was completed on March 10, 2006, installation of a buoy at Lake Gilut – the last border mark on the border of Belarus and Lithuania.

In total, the mixed emarcation commissions installed 1957 border marks on this border with a length of 678,819 km. The full demarcation of the State Border of Belarus with Lithuania was completed on February 2, 2007.

Delimitation and demarcation of the Belarusian-Latvian border were much faster. This was due to both the small extent of the border, and the fact that it passed along the border between the USSR and Latvia, established in 1923, and the border between Latvia and Poland, established in 1933—1935. The demarcation documents were recognized by both states and were used by the mixed Belarusian-Latvian commission in their work. The delimitation of the state border between Belarus and Latvia was completed on February 21, 1994 by signing the Treaty on the Establishment of the State Border between the Republic of Belarus and the Republic of Latvia in Minsk, which entered into force on May 19, 1995. The agreement confirmed that the line of the state border between Belarus and Latvia coincides with the line of the former state border between the USSR and Latvia as of June 16, 1940.

The demarcation of the Belarusian-Latvian border was completed on October 3, 2006 with the installation of the last border sign near the settlement Karasina of Braslau region. Totally, 425 border signs were installed on the Belarusian-Latvian border (length of 172,912 km). More than 100 km of roads and 8 km of gates through marshes were built along it. Finally, the demarcation of the State border of Belarus with Latvia was completed on November 6, 2008.

Preparatory work on the delimitation and demarcation of the state border of Belarus and Ukraine (the length of the administrative boundary line of the Ukrainian SSR and Byelorussian SSR is 1084.2 km) began in late 1992, when the Decree of the Presidium of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus (dated December 7, 1992) approved the composition of the official Belarusian delegation to conduct negotiations with Ukraine on the delimitation and demarcation of the Belarusian-Ukrainian state border.

The Treaty between the Republic of Belarus and Ukraine on the state border was signed on May 12, 1997. In addition to the delimitation card, the Treaty included the Protocol and a description of the passage of the state border, which was supposed to simplify the implementation of demarcation works. Thus, the delimitation of the border between Belarus and Ukraine was carried out in five years.

Ukraine ratified the Treaty on July 18, 1997, and Belarus – only on April 2, 2010. In this regard, no demarcation work at the border was conducted. Belarus explained delay in the process of ratification of the Treaty with the fact that the authorities agreed to ratify the Treaty only after Ukraine’s repayment of the state debt to Belarus. Only in 2009 the problem of debt repayment was resolved, after which the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of the Republic of Belarus ratified the Treaty. However, the exchange of instruments of ratification did not take place, because this issue once again was connected with the issue of Ukraine’s repayment of public debt to Belarus. Only during the next visit of President Lukashenka to Ukraine on June 18, 2013 a protocol on the exchange of instruments of ratification between the Ukraine and the Republic of Belarus «On the State Border» of May 12, 1997 was signed.

After the exchange of instruments of ratification on 24—25 September and 5—7 November 2013, there were two meetings of the Common Belarusian-Ukrainian Demarcation Commission. On November 13, 2013 in the area of international checkpoint Senkovka of Chernihiv region at the first sign of Belarusian-Ukrainian border was established, which was the beginning of demarcation works at the border. Originally it was planned to finish the demarcation work in 2020, but due to financial difficulties and the complex nature of the terrain at the border, the deadline for completion of demarcation works was postponed to 2026.

Thus, by the present time, only the State Border of the Republic of Belarus with the Russian Federation remains unmarked (its status has been established by the Decree of the Supreme Council of the Republic of Belarus of June 11, 1993 No. 2379). There are several reasons for this. The first and the main one is political.

On March 15, 1994, on the basis of the Law of the Republic of Belarus «On the State Border of the Republic of Belarus» of November 4, 1992, article 3 of which states that «the Republic of Belarus cooperates with foreign states in the protection of the State Border on the basis of universally recognized principles and norms of international law», an agreement between the Government of the Republic of Belarus and the Government of the Russian Federation on cooperation on border issues was signed. On April 15, 1994 a tripartite Memorandum on cooperation in security State borders of the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation and Ukraine was signed. In the development of the provisions of the Memorandum, on February 21, 1995, the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation concluded a Treaty on joint efforts to protect the state border of the Republic of Belarus.

According to the Treaty, the term «State Border of the Republic of Belarus» means the State Border of the Republic of Belarus only with the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Poland, and the border guard of the Republic of Belarus cooperates with the Border Guard Service of the Russian Federation. In addition, Belarus and Russia have assumed mutual obligations to ensure each other’s interests on their external borders, i.e. the Border Guard Service of Belarus is protecting the State Border of Russia by protecting the State Border of Belarus with Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Ukraine. That is, from May 11, 1995 (the date of the entry into force of this Treaty) no unit of the border troops, and now – of the Border Guard Service of Belarus has never stood up for the protection of the State Border of Belarus with Russia. Therefore the issues of its delimitation and demarcation did not arise, and the only symbolic border pillar at the checkpoint «Redki» was installed on May 25, 1995. The next day it was solemnly ritually dug out of the soil by the President of Belarus Aliaksandr Lukashenka and Russian Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin.

However, later, in connection with carrying out demarcation works on the borders with Latvia and Ukraine, two more border pillars were added on the border of Belarus with Russia, which are unlikely to be dug out.

The first of them was installed on January 28, 2010 at the junction point of the borders of Belarus, Russia and Latvia, at the confluence of the rivers Nyaverytsa and Sinyuha (Zilupe) near the Friendship Barrow.

The second one, at the junction of the borders of Belarus, Russia and Ukraine, near the «Monument of Friendship» was installed on November 13, 2013.

In order to ensure practical cooperation between the border agencies of Belarus and Russia, the Agreement of March 15, 1994 established a joint Coordination Council. Also, in order to pursue a coordinated border policy, the Border Committee of the Union of Belarus and Russia was established in 1997. It was renamed into the Border Committee of the Union State in 2000.

In order to implement coordinated decisions, to ensure the practical cooperation of the border troops of Belarus and Russia in the protection of the State Border of Belarus, the Operational Group of the Border Troops of the Russian Federation under the Main Directorate of the Border Guard Troops of the Republic of Belarus was established. At the same time, under the Federal Border Service of the Russian Federation the Group of Representatives of the Main Directorate of the Border Troops of the Republic of Belarus was established as well. The number, structure and procedure for the formation of the Operational Group are determined jointly by the heads of the border agencies of Belarus and Russia.

In addition, the Agreement of March 15, 1994 established that Belarus and Russia «shall, on the basis of equal shares, finance the construction and equipment of the State Border of the Republic of Belarus with the Republic of Latvia and the Republic of Lithuania» and that Russia will render the necessary assistance to Belarus in «technical support of its border troops, as well as in the development, placement of orders, manufacturing, introduction and repair of weapons, equipment and equipment used in the protection of the State Border of the Republic of Belarus» and in «training of the staff, including younger professionals».

The Treaty on Joint Efforts to Protect the State Border of Belarus was further developed with the adoption of the Program of Action of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation on the Implementation of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Union State on December 8, 1999.

According to this program, the implementation of the long-term strategy of border cooperation was carried out in three stages. During the first one, in 1999—2000, the development of approaches and preparation of proposals for the approximation of the regulatory framework and the identification of priority measures for the integration of border agencies was carried out. The second one, in 2001—2005, was dedicated to the unification of the regulatory framework, as well as the implementation of reforms in the field of the border policy of both states. Since 2005, the third stage began, during which the formation of a system for protecting the borders of the Union State and the creation of a unified border and customs control system at the borders were completed Also within the framework of the Agreement on Joint Efforts to Protect the State Border of the Republic of Belarus of February 21, 1995, Russia directly finances the creation of border infrastructure facilities, as well as rendering assistance to the Border Guard Service of Belarus in other areas of cooperation. For example, the training of Belarusian cadets – border guards in the Moscow and Kaliningrad military institutes of the Border Guard Service, the branches of the Military University of Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defence, the Military Financial Economic University, the Moscow Military Conservatory, and the Military Institute of Physical Culture and Sports of Russia. The training of Belarusian border guards is carried out at the Academy of the Border Service of the Russian FSB, the Military Financial and Economic University of Russia, in clinical residency. Also, the Academy of the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia is training border officers with higher military education and training the teaching staff of the Border Service of Belarus.

The second reason why the border of Belarus and Russia (1,283 km long, according to the data of the Federal Agency for the Construction of the State Border of the Russian Federation – 1,239 km), remains unmarked – is financial issue.

The cost of demarcation of the state border of Belarus with Lithuania and Latvia amounted to USD 13.5 million, including 4.66 million from gratuitous funds under the TACIS program of the European Union, and 8.84 million from the state budget of Belarus. Considering that the length of the border between Belarus and Latvia is 172,912 km, and with Lithuania – 678,819 km, the costs of demarcation of each of the 851,731 km of these sections of the State Border of Belarus amounted to about USD 15,850. Approximately the same cost of demarcation is applicable to the State Border of Belarus with Ukraine – USD 17.2 million per 1,084.2 km (of which 325 km is the water area along the Dnieper, Sozh and Prypyats rivers), although there were other smaller numbers. For example, on June 25, 2014, at a press conference following the results of the 42nd meeting of the board of the border committee of the Union State, the chairman of the State Border Committee of Belarus, Colonel-General Leanid Maltsau said that the cost of demarcation of the border with Ukraine would be 10 million euros. Approximately the same amount was announced by the chairman of the State Border Committee, Major-General Igor Rachkovsky on January 19, 2010.

However, given the repeated statements of both representatives of Ukraine and Belarus that «the assistance of European partners would be very welcome», and that it is necessary to intensify the attraction of international technical assistance, for example, under the US government’s expert control and border security program and the programs of the European Union, as well as the postponement of the demarcation deadline from 2020 to 2026, it is clear that even the amount of USD 17.2 million is not yet final. Although in order to save money and time, it was decided to designate the majority of the land border with bilateral border pillars. One side of the pillar with the state coat of arms of Belarus is facing Ukraine, and another one with the state coat of arms of Ukraine is facing Belarus. This type of designation within the framework of demarcation of the border is used for the first time.

Thus, by analogy, the cost of demarcation of the border of Belarus with Russia will amount to no less than USD 20 million or 2 million per year, with demarcation over a period of 10 years.

However, this is only the cost of demarcating the border. In addition to them, much greater resources will be required for the creation of a border infrastructure: security and detection systems, the locations of border units, roads, etc. Currently, according to the terms of the Treaty on Joint Efforts to Protect the State Border of the Republic of Belarus of February 21, 1995, Russia has provided and is providing assistance to Belarus in material and technical support for its border troops, and now – Border Guard Service, in developing and placing orders, manufacturing, introduction and repair of weapons and equipment used to protect the state border of Belarus. Russia also financed and is financing equipping the State border of Belarus with Latvia and Lithuania, including construction of border infrastructure facilities: checkpoints, border posts, posts, residential buildings, etc.

Back in 1995, after the conclusion of the Treaty on Joint Efforts to Protect the State Border of Belarus, the Union program for the development of borders for 1996—2001 was adopted. To implement this program, 222.7 million Russian rubles were allocated from the Union budget. According to the State Investment Program of Belarus for 1996—2001, 1.49 billion Belarusian rubles was used to put into operation seven objects. In total, 7.29 billion Belarusian rubles allocated from the budgets of Belarus and Russia were used for this period and 28 objects were commissioned. Thus, the share of Russia in financing the creation of the border infrastructure of Belarus amounted to almost 80%.

The Decree of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of December 26, 2001 No. 9 approved the «Program for the development of the external border of the Union State for the period 2002—2005», the total budget of which amounted to about 2.5 billion Russian rubles. Of this amount, about 1.2 billion Russian rubles were spent on equipping the border sections with Lithuania and Latvia. According to the State Investment Program of Belarus in 2002—2006, 17.27 billion Belarusian rubles of budgetary funds, and in total – 80.6 billion Belarusian rubles of means of budgets of Belarus and Russia was spent, for which 33 objects were put into operation. In addition, 520 million Belarusian rubles allocated free of charge under the European Union Program and the United Nations Development Program «Strengthening Border Management in the Republic of Belarus» (BOMBEL) were spent.

In 2007, according to the State Investment Program, capital investments in the amount of 8.47 billion Belarusian rubles were spent.

In total for 1996—2011, Russia’s expenditures on the construction of the State Border of Belarus with Lithuania and Latvia amounted to about 4.5 billion Russian rubles. or about USD 150 million. Thus, 1 km of this section of the State border of Belarus costed about USD 180 thousand, which is more than 10 times higher than the cost of demarcation of this territory.

In addition to these funds, during the implementation of the program «Strengthening the border security of the Union State for the period 2012—2016», adopted inDecember 2012, Belarus annually got about 1 billion Russian rubles from the Union State budget. These money was used to build border facilities, purchase new equipment, conduct construction on the border with Lithuania (in the area, where Belarusian nuclear power plant is being built) of border posts and the reconstruction of the «Kamenny Loh» border crossing.

In this regard, it is obvious that the amount of expenses for the creation of a border infrastructure on the State Border of Belarus with Russia will be at least USD 240 million, and the total cost of demarcation and the creation of a border infrastructure is approximately USD 260 million.

Thus, taking into account on the finance allocated for the creation of infrastructure on the State Border of Belarus with Lithuania and Latvia and comparing it with the amounts of income and expenditure items of the republican budget, it is obvious that the creation of a border infrastructure on the State Border of Belarus with Russia will be extremely difficult task for Belarus.

However, in addition to the creation of a border infrastructure, at least two border detachments, for example, in Orsha, Mstislaul or Krychau need to be formed to protect the state border of Belarus and Russia. It is also necessary to increase the size of Polatsk and Homel border detachments in order to form at least 50 border posts and 10—15 automobile and railway checkpoints on the border with Russia. Thus, it is necessary to increase the number of border guards not less than 1.5 times, which requires a corresponding increase in the expenditures of the republican budget.

Moreover, the staffing of the new units will be a very serious problem, because at the moment, border service agencies already have some problems with the staffing of border control units. Not only military conscripts, but also contract servicemen, in the first place – ensigns, are essential. The existing staffing shortage is a consequence of the discrepancy between the conditions of the border service and the size of the wage of servicemen as well as the almost complete absence of any benefits for them. Thus, in order to solve the problem of staffing, it is necessary not only to increase the wages of the servicemen, but also to restore the system of social benefits, which will also lead to an increase in the expenditures of the republican budget.

Thus, due to all the above reasons, at present the establishment of the State Border of Belarus with Russia, even in connection with the hypothetical exacerbation of interstate relations, is extremely costly for Belarus. In addition, as the experience of a number of countries testifies, the presence of engineering structures on the border is not a guarantee of protection from its possible violations, and much less from armed invasion.

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.

Belarus won’t get S-400

Back on January 14, 2021, the commander of the Air Force and Air Defence Forces of Belarus, Ihar Holub, announced that the country’s authorities were planning to conclude a contract with Russia for the supply of S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) and anti-aircraft missile-gun systems «Pantsir-S».

Then, for a long time, silence reigned around the issue of Belarus’ acquisition of Russian air defence systems. Only on June 24, First Deputy Director of the Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) of Russia, Andrei Boytsov, said that Russia was ready to consider the possibility of supplying these air defence systems and air defence systems to Belarus in the shortest possible time.…

On August 9, Aliaksandr Lukashenka also stated that Belarus is interested in obtaining the Russian S-400 air defence system: “This question has been put before the President of Russia – at a reasonable price, for a loan, because we do not have that kind of money now. But we are conducting a dialogue with him about the delivery of the S-400 to the Republic of Belarus”. “S-400 is of great interest to us, and I am sure that we will receive these complexes,” he added.

But these dreams are not destined to come true yet. On August 25, at the “Army-2021” International Military-Technical Forum in Russia, FSMTC Director Dmitry Shugaev said that the issue of supplying Belarus with Russian S-400 air defence systems had not yet started to be resolved, but Moscow is ready to promptly consider this issue if necessary. because “with such a fraternal country as Belarus, we see no reason to feel negative about it”. Further he noted: “In case we receive an application for purchase of S-400 or “Pantsir-S1” from Belarus in accordance with the established procedure, we will start working on this issue in a short time”.

Why is Russia not ready to supply Belarus with these air defence systems?

Obviously, the reason is connected not only with the financial factor. Indeed, speaking on August 9, 2021, Lukashenka said that the funds of the Russian state loan, which was previously issued for the construction of the Belarusian nuclear power plant, could be used that for the purchase of the S-400 and other modern Russian weapons: “We saved a lot of money at the nuclear power plant. But there was a promise from Putin: here is a loan for a nuclear power plant of USD 10 billion, the money that you save can be used for other projects”.

“So I want to build a nitrogen plant for this money, and we will additionally process about 2 billion cubic meters of natural gas. From USD 300 million to USD 500 million will remain after this – a decent amount, which we will direct for the purchase of military-technical equipment, including the S-400 complexes”, – Lukashenka explained.

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