The Draft 2025 Concept of Belarus’ Military-Technical Policy Approved

On 18 November 2014, the Collegium of the Belarusian State Military Industrial Committee (Goscomvoyenprom) and Defence Ministry approved the Draft 2025 Concept of Belarus’ Military-Technical Policy.

At present, the Concept of Military-Technical Policy for 2005-2015 is valid in Belarus (approved by Presidential Decree No.619 of 27 December, 2004).

The new Concept will be implemented since 2016.

A working group examined and analysed the priority tasks and legal acts of Belarus related to national security, defence, economy and science, as well as provisions of the current Concept, wide experience and achievements of defence industry. Proposals of the concerned sides were also considered and taken as a basis for the Draft 2025 Concept of Belarus’ Military-Technical Policy and its implementation.

The new Concept envisages closer interconnection of Belarusian military-technical policy with the main state activities and national security. The document defines new goals and objectives, directions and priorities of Belarusian military-technical policy, development prospects of weapon systems, defence industry and military-technical cooperation taking into account Belarusian and world trends of weapons development and Belarusian President demands considering advanced military projects.

The document defines strategic and supportive directions for the development of armament and military equipment.

Projects, considered as advanced: based on new physical principles means of warfare, non-lethal weapons, robotic and unmanned ground and hybrid vehicles integrated in a network of combat and supporting systems, thin-skinned combat vehicles, mobile combat systems and their integration with other combat systems and others.

The concept provides for the establishment of a system of applied research in the military sphere and creating a military-technical reserve. For example, priority will be given to the development of top-notch armament, capable of both meeting the requirements of the Belarusian army and being in demand in the foreign markets.

In addition, an emphasis has been put on reforming defence industry and raising its efficiency and competitiveness.

The Concept implementation will allow Belarusian army to maintain a desired level of state's defence due to equipping the military with the most advanced armaments.

The plan of the Concept implementation includes measures on reducing the impact of negative factors, boosting sci-tech, production, technological and personnel potential of defence industry to the level of world’s leading manufacturers.

The drafts of the 2025 Concept of Belarus’ Military-Technical Policy and plan of its implementation were harmonised with the interested ministries and agencies. In December 2014, the President of Belarus will consider the documents. State agencies and organisations of Belarus will plan their activities for the next five years considering this documents. It concerns the initiated drafting of the State Armament Programme for 2016-2020 and placement of the state defence order for 2016.