Russia, Belarus to conduct joint electronic warfare

MOSCOW. May 23 (Interfax) - The State Duma has ratified a Russian-Belarusian agreement on cooperation in electronic warfare (EW).

The agreement was signed in Moscow on December 10, 2009. The document establishes a legal framework for the Russian-Belarusian cooperation in electronic warfare for the purpose of providing military security in the region.

The two countries plan to cooperate in creating, and ensuring the functioning of, a unified electronic warfare system of the regional grouping of Russian and Belarusian troops.

The agreement involves cooperation in training military command bodies, military units and EW subdivisions of both countries' armed forces for joint operations as part of the regional grouping of troops.

Another area of cooperation will be the coordinated use of the radio spectrum by EW for defense purposes and providing electromagnetic compatibility of military EW systems.

The agreement also involves joint EW research, creating a new and upgrading of the existing special EW equipment for the regional grouping of troops

The two countries will hold consultations and exchange information on EW organization to support the operations of the regional grouping of troops.

The parties are planning to use the unified EW system. To maintain the necessary level of combat readiness they will hold joint operational and tactical training of military command bodies, military units and EW subdivisions.