New Mi-35 assault helicopters have been delivered to the Belarusian Armed Forces, and are set to shortly be operationalised by the nation’s air drive, in response to an announcement from the Belarusian Defence Ministry on Could 30. “New Mi-35M fight/transport helicopters have arrived in Belarus as a part of military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation,” the ministry reported. Chief of the Fundamental Employees, First Deputy Commander of the Belarusian Air Power and Air Defence Troops Sergey Frolov elaborated relating to the plane: “The Mi-35 is a heavy improve of the Mi-24 helicopter. As of right this moment, the helicopter is able to undertaking a full vary of fight targets. This helicopter will shortly assume fight responsibility.” Earlier within the week, the supply of Russia Su-30 fighter plane the nation was additionally reported, with numerous sources indicating that these had been enhanced Su-30SM2 variants, reasonably than the baseline Su-30SM variant the nation beforehand procured. The Belarusian Defence Ministry ordered 12 Su-30SM fighters in June 2017 beneath a $600 million contract, with the shift in the direction of procuring the newer Su-30SM2 probably having been a contributor to the delays in delivering the plane.
The Belarusian Air Power acquired its first batch of Mi-35 helicopters in August 2023. The nation’s assault helicopter fleet was beforehand comprised of modernised Mi-24s inherited from the Soviet Union, which performed an vital function in navy planning and reportedly retained excessive levels of fight readiness. The plane performed distinguished roles throughout heightened tensions with NATO members in late 2020. Not like the extra pricey Mi-28 and Ka-52, the Mi-35 just isn’t purely an assault helicopter, and may also function a troop transport in a restricted capability. Procurement was thought of important as a result of rising age of the Mi-24 fleet, with the brand new helicopters introducing considerably extra fashionable fireplace controls and extra environment friendly airframe designs. The deliveries are going down at a time of excessive tensions between Belarus and neighbouring Poland, and as Warsaw is investing closely in remodeling its floor forces with the deliberate procurement of 1000 South Korean K2 tanks and 366 American M1 Abrams tanks, 484 South Korean K9 155mm cellular howitzers, and 96 American AH-64 assault helicopters, amongst a spread of different property. The Mi-35 and AH-64 are thought of shut opponents when it comes to efficiency, though the size of Polish orders is eight occasions as giant.
Belarus’ procurement of Su-30 fighters permits the county to section out roughly one third of its fleet of MiG-29 fighters inherited from the Soviet Union, with the destiny of remaining models working MiG-29s being unsure. The choice to acquire the Su-30SM is believed to have been closely influenced by the necessity to improve compatibility with the Russian Air Power, because the fighter class kinds the spine of its fleet. The plane have considerably superior manoeuvrability, carry far bigger extra highly effective sensors suites, and profit from for much longer ranges, than some other fighters operated by European states. The SM2 variant improves on the capabilities of the baseline Su-30SM with the combination of the AL-41F1S engines from the Su-35 fighter, which considerably enhance its flight efficiency and improve its vary, whereas additionally decreasing upkeep wants and the time required earlier than the engine’s alternative. The fighters present the Belarusian Air Power with the power to make use of new generations of air-launched weapons together with the R-37M and R-77M lengthy vary air-to-air missiles, the previous which is by far the longest ranged weapon of its sort deployed by a European state.
