MOSCOW. Dec 9 (Interfax-AVN) - When modernizing its Armed Forces, Belarus will actively capitalize on the potential of its national defense industry and assistance of CIS member-states, Belarussian Defense Minister Leonid Maltsev said in an interview with the Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kuryer newspaper.
The Belarussian defense industry is capable of fulfilling the major part of the international-level modernization of certain weapons systems and development of automated systems of various types, he said.
At the same time, according to him, it is impossible to develop contemporary arms and combat materiel on its own. "For instance, as far as weapon systems overhaul is concerned, our defense industry is not capable of overhauling aircraft engines, and extending the service life of missiles, including air defense missiles," Maltsev said.
According to him, this is the very reason for the military technical policy to be based on maximum realization of arms capabilities by improving such capabilities and reaching a production output, meeting the national demands in the sphere of arms and combat materiel.
Maltsev said that at the present time the Defense Ministry jointly with the State Defense Industry Committee participated in developing an agreement between Belarus and Russia on mutual arms and materiel deliveries, works, services, and financial terms. The agreement is expected to be signed in early 2005.
Maltsev emphasized that Russia retained a huge intellectual potential, and great defense industry capabilities, allowing it to develop and manufacture cutting-edge weapon systems, for instance, the Iskander tactical missile system.
"Further integration of the two states in the sphere of military technical cooperation will allow capabilities of both defense industries to be efficiency employed in the interests of improving defense capabilities of both states," Maltsev said.