Belarus moves to consolidate defence industry

Published: 3/20/2000

Russian Deputy Prime Minister, Ilya Klebanov, has been appointed Chairman of Defence International Financial and Industrial Group, founded to create a legal framework bringing together a number of Belarussian businesses, specialising in the production of S-300P long range anti-aircraft defence systems and their modifications. The group, which includes the Minsk truck and tractor plant, the Gomel radio plant and the Borisov repair plant, will also focus on upgrading S-125 anti-aircraft complexes that were supplied abroad in the 1960s and 1970s. Official documentation establishing the group was signed during Klebanov's visit to Minsk on 11th February. It is an interesting reflection on the long term independence of the Belarussian defence industries that they recruit the Russian minister for aerospace to head up their consolidation.

Article ID: 1708