From RIA Novosti:  Belarus’ Armed Forces will replace a Russian radar station with an indigenous one and get rid of Russian-made Sukhoi Su-27 fighters, Belarusian Defense Minister Yury Zhadobin said on Tuesday.

The Russian P-18 radar station will be replaced with the domestically manufactured Vostok (East) radar, he said. . . .

All of Belarus’ Su-27s have now been grounded. The post-Soviet nation earlier took all of its Sukhoi Su-24 Fullback fighter bombers out of service.

“The Su-24 is an offensive system. Who am I supposed to attack and where? In addition, this aircraft has outlived its usefulness. The decision was made to decommission it,” Zhadobin said. . . .

The Belarusian Armed Forces will continue using its Sukhoi Su-25 Frogfoot and MiG-29 Fulcrum fighters, he added.

“This year two [MiG] 29s will be modernized,” the minister said.

While stating that Russia is Belarus’ main strategic partner, he said China is its second most important partner in the defense and technology sector.  (photo: David Jacobson)

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