Belarus to receive upgraded Su-30 jets in coming days
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In addition to the fighter jets, Belarus is expanding its arsenal with a suite of Russian-made military equipment.
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In this photo taken from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, Russian Su-30SM2 fighter jet takes off from the airfield in Chernyakhovsk, Russia. (AP)
The Belarusian military is set to bolster its air force next week with the arrival of Su-30SM2 fighter jets, newly enhanced based on Russia's battlefield experience in Ukraine. The announcement was made by Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin on Saturday during military oath-taking ceremonies for incoming conscripts and reservists.
"As early as next week, we will have received the most advanced Su-30SM2 airplane for our military service," Khrenin said at the event, where approximately 8,000 new recruits formally pledged allegiance.
The Su-30SM2, an upgraded variant of Russia's Su-30 platform, includes modern avionics and expanded combat capabilities, such as improved radar systems and compatibility with a wider range of precision-guided munitions.
Belarusian air force commander Andrei Lukyanovich recently confirmed that the first pair of these jets would be delivered by the end of May, calling them "more advanced planes, with modern avionics and new capabilities, including the use of aerial destruction devices."
Arsenal Expansion
In addition to the fighter jets, Belarus is expanding its arsenal with a suite of Russian-made military equipment. This includes Mi-35M attack helicopters, BTR-82A armored personnel carriers already deployed in regions like Grodno, and advanced electronic warfare systems.
The military is also incorporating unmanned aerial vehicles such as the Russian-made Orlan and the domestically developed Berkut-3, a compact UAV capable of rapid assembly and launch, designed for surveillance and battlefield support.
Read more: Belarus completes Oreshnik launchers, prepares transfer to Russia
Khreinin noted that new servicemembers would be trained extensively to handle this upgraded equipment. "Our recruits will have to study all of these and learn how to put them into practice. This year we are conducting the Zapad-2025 military exercise and drills within the Collective Security Treaty Organization, as well as a large number of various inspections, field exercises, combat training – all of this will engage our recruits," he said.
Zapad-2025 is expected to be a major joint operation with Russia, focusing on responding to advanced battlefield threats, including drone warfare and cyberattacks. Analysts view the exercise, and the ongoing arrival of new military hardware, as evidence of Belarus's growing operational integration with the Russian military.
President #Lukashenko at the meeting with the Minister of Defence of #Russia:
, Belarus MFA 🇧🇾 (@BelarusMFA) May 16, 2025
“We are ready for the exercises Zapad-2025. We are not hiding anything from anyone. We are transparent. These drills are defensive in their nature. We are not going to attack anyone as some people out… pic.twitter.com/DIvtFzNYAM
