MINSK, May 11 (Xinhua) -- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday urged further upgrading the country's weapon system to build stronger national defense.
Given current realities, "it is impossible to accomplish defense objectives without equipping our troops with modern weapons. We must have weapons that we can actually use, know how to operate," the president told a meeting discussing state arms programs and defense procurement.
He stressed the importance of tailoring military equipment to Belarus's unique terrain, especially land-focused, adaptable systems suited to dense forests, urban areas, and mixed terrain.
The 2021-2025 program has improved the share of modern equipment in the Armed Forces to 45 percent, with annual modernization rates reaching 2 percent, said the president, adding that new aircraft and air defense systems, domestically produced armored vehicles for mechanized units, upgraded individual soldier equipment with advanced body armor and optics, and enhanced military communications infrastructure have been delivered during the past five years. ■
