Over the past several months, Russia has been supplying various military equipment to Belarus, one of its closest and most important allies. The cooperation between both countries has materialized through the delivery of Su-30SM2 fighter aircraft, Mil Mi-35M attack helicopters and, more recently, with the receipt by the Belarusian Armed Forces of Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile systems.
Originally developed during the Soviet Union era and introduced into service in 1983, the Tor has become one of the most prominent families of short-range air defense systems. Although several decades have passed since its original entry into service, the Russian industrial complex has continued refining its design and incorporating successive improvements through the introduction of a significant number of variants.
In the specific case of the Belarusian Armed Forces, they operate an important number of Tor systems corresponding to the Tor-M2E variant, along with four Tor-M2K units. Their number, according to confirmations from the country’s Ministry of Defence, has increased with the arrival of additional systems supplied by Russia.
In this regard, the defence ministry stated: “The arrival of a new batch of the Tor-M2 surface-to-air missile system for the brigade represents an increase in our combat capabilities and, overall, a greater ability to fulfill air defense tasks for the assigned objectives. The brigade’s personnel have mastered this type of surface-to-air missile system and are prepared to employ it under any operational conditions,” said the commander of the surface-to-air missile brigade, Colonel Pavel Grebenchuk.
He added: “The excellent rating achieved following live-fire launches during the operational-tactical exercise with the various weapons is clear proof of this. Likewise, this type of surface-to-air missile system has demonstrated outstanding performance within the framework of the special military operation. It is highly mobile, has a reduced reaction time, and is capable of simultaneously destroying a wide range of aerial targets, including unmanned aerial vehicles.”
However, as noted, military cooperation with Russia has not only materialized through the delivery of new air defense systems, but also through the supply of Sukhoi Su-30SM/SM2 fighters during the past months of May and August, as part of an order for twelve (12) aircraft. The aforementioned Mil Mi-35M attack helicopters are also listed, with deliveries confirmed in April and May of the current year.
Photos: Ministry of Defence of Belarus
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