BERYOZA DISTRICT, 14 June (BelTA) - The Belarusian defense industry is able to meet the needs of the army in drones, Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces - First Deputy Defense Minister of the Republic of Belarus Pavel Muraveiko told the media on 13 June, BelTA learned.
Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko visited the center for the preparation and use of unmanned aerial systems in Beryoza District, Brest Oblast on 13 June. According to Pavel Muraveiko, the head of state reviewed the development of unmanned aircraft systems in the Armed Forces.
“The president was reported on the approaches that we apply today, on the training system. We presented the comprehensive programs and complex simulators that we use to train operators and teach them to fly unmanned aircraft systems, quadcopters and FPV-drones. All this was shown to the head of state. Quite a lot of problems were identified, over which we are still working,” the Chief of the General Staff said.
According to him, the Armed Forces have built a system of training on UAV operators. Training is conducted at the Aviation Academy. It offers programs for flight control specialists, engineers of unmanned aviation complexes, aircraft-type operators. “This is a kind of system of advanced training for the specialists who are currently dealing with these issues in the army. These programs are provided a regular basis, and we are able to provide training for virtually all types of unmanned aircraft systems that are operated in the Armed Forces,” Pavel Muraveiko noted.
In addition, on the instruction of the head of state, the army widely attracts students to the development of the UAVs. The military faculties in 12 universities of the country have set up appropriate classes that will train more than 20,000 students per year.
“This is the potential that will be in demand both in the Armed Forces and in other law enforcement agencies. The DOSAAF sports infrastructure is actively used too. Simulators of the military-patriotic education clubs are also made use of. Therefore, today the use of drones has become quite a mass specialization, and the Armed Forces do not experience shortcomings of relevant specialists,” he said.
Moreover, the Armed Forces actively cooperate with graduates of civilian universities. Engineers, technicians, operators and IT specialists come to the army to do their favorite thing - the use of unmanned aircraft systems.
According to him, the Armed Forces have built a system of training on UAV operators. Training is conducted at the Aviation Academy. It offers programs for flight control specialists, engineers of unmanned aviation complexes, aircraft-type operators. “This is a kind of system of advanced training for the specialists who are currently dealing with these issues in the army. These programs are provided a regular basis, and we are able to provide training for virtually all types of unmanned aircraft systems that are operated in the Armed Forces,” Pavel Muraveiko noted.
In addition, on the instruction of the head of state, the army widely attracts students to the development of the UAVs. The military faculties in 12 universities of the country have set up appropriate classes that will train more than 20,000 students per year.
“This is the potential that will be in demand both in the Armed Forces and in other law enforcement agencies. The DOSAAF sports infrastructure is actively used too. Simulators of the military-patriotic education clubs are also made use of. Therefore, today the use of drones has become quite a mass specialization, and the Armed Forces do not experience shortcomings of relevant specialists,” he said.
Moreover, the Armed Forces actively cooperate with graduates of civilian universities. Engineers, technicians, operators and IT specialists come to the army to do their favorite thing - the use of unmanned aircraft systems.
“This is a promising area for our Armed Forces, and we are developing it. Another issue that the head of state has highlighted is the needs of our army for these systems. Today, our defense industry is capable of meeting these needs. It produces virtually the entire range of unmanned aerial systems needed by the Armed Forces. What we cannot produce, we assemble, using the capabilities of our units. With such talented people, we can solve any task,” Pavel Muraveiko said.
In his words, the president set a number of tasks to improve the area. “We have a lot of work to do in terms of unmanned system development. This is not just about the aviation component. This also includes the ground component—the development of various robotic and other complexes that will eventually be supplied to our troops,” the chief of the General Staff concluded.
Over the past two and a half years, the Belarusian army has made tremendous progress in the development of unmanned aviation, Mikhail Bryansky, Head of the Armed Forces' Unmanned Aerial Systems Application and Development Department, said.
“Whereas previously we had only one center, now we have UAV units in every mechanized and artillery brigade. Virtually every formation and military unit has non-staff UAV units. Quadcopters and FPV drones are available in virtually all units of the Armed Forces. Modern combat is impossible without them. Now everything is simple. If you have a drone, you will win. If you don't have a drone, you will lose,” the serviceman noted.
According to him, drones are changing the nature of armed conflict as a whole. Now, any combat engagement is carried out exclusively with the use of drones.
“We must not fall behind. We must keep up with the times,” said Mikhail Bryansky. “We train operators to a sufficiently high level. We have training on a simulator, at a training ground to get practical skills. The third element is training in repairing drones in the field. A trained operator with a minimum set of tools can solder a drone to any frequency and operate in radio-electronic warfare conditions.”
The Armed Forces are increasing the capabilities of their unmanned aerial vehicle units. They are purchasing quadcopters, FPV drones, and aircraft-type drones.
“We are not standing still. We are moving forward at a rapid pace. The main thing here is not to fall behind. If you fall behind, you lose. Drones are now becoming the main means of armed combat. Before the main purpose of drones was reconnaissance. The special military operation has shown that they are taking on strike functions and are gradually replacing classic types of fire means, and to some extent aviation, tanks, and artillery. Sixty percent of the targets hit during the special military operation are taken down by drones. In other words, they are practically the main fire means. We need to develop this area. Success in battle depends on it,” the head of the department added.
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