Belarusian Ground Forces

The Belarusian Ground Forces is a service branch of the Armed Forces of Belarus.

Belarusian Ground Forces
Сухапутныя войскі Рэспублікі Беларусь
Сухопутные войска Республики Беларусь
Shoulder Patch of the Belarusian Ground Forces
Founded20 March 1992
Country Belarus
Branch Armed Forces of Belarus
TypeGround Force
Size16,500 (2016)
Part ofDefence Ministry of Belarus
HeadquartersMinsk
Nickname(s)Belarusian Land Forces
Belarusian Army
ColorsRed
AnniversariesFebruary 23
Commanders
Commander-in-chiefAlexander Lukashenko
Insignia
Flag
A map showing the main military units of the Belarusian Ground Forces

History

The ground forces were founded on March 20, 1992, on the same day the Defence Ministry of Belarus was established. By 1994, the ground forces had over 50,000 troops, most being former soldiers of the Soviet Army's Belorussian Military District. The army equipment which was used at the time included 79 T-54s, 639 T-55s, 291 T-62s, 299 T-64s, 8 T-80s, and 1,800 T-72s.[1][2]

In December 2001, the Ground Forces underwent a major reorganization which produced two operational-territorial commands which are similar to Russia's military districts. The two commands that were formed from this reorganization were the Western Operational Command at Grodno, and the North Western Operational Command, at Barysaw.[1][2] At around the same time, the headquarters of the Ground Forces was established on the basis of the former 5th Guards Tank Army.[3][4] The ground forces headquarters was abolished during reorganization in 2011 and replaced by combat training and territorial defense directorates. The change further confirmed the Belarusian Ground Forces integration into the Russian military command structure as Belarus thus does not independently plan or conduct large-scale exercises and operates under Russian command during joint exercises. As of mid-2021 the units of the operational commanders were manned at half strength, making them unready for rapid response combat operations.[5]

Structure

Headquarters (Minsk)

Western Operational Command
  • 6th Guards Kyiv-Berlin Mechanised Brigade
  • 11th Guards Berlin-Carpathian Mechanised Brigade
  • 111th Artillery Brigade
  • 1199th Mixed Artillery Regiment
  • 557th Engineering Brigade
  • 74th Separate Communications Regiment
  • 815th Maintenance Center
  • 28th Storage Base
  • 48th Separate Electronic Warfare Battalion
  • 230th Combined-Arms Training Ground
  • 117th Navigation and Topographic Unit
  • 250th Separate Guard and Service Battalion
  • 108th Material Support Brigade

North Western Operational Command

Specialized forces

The specialized forces are designed to support the combat activities of the Ground Forces and solve their inherent tasks. They include formations and military units of intelligence, communications, engineering, radiation, chemical and biological defense, electronic warfare, navigation and topographic.[6]

  • Electronic Warfare Troops
  • Signal Troops
  • Engineer Troops
  • NBC Protection Troops
  • Topographic Navigation Service

Signals Troops

The Signal Troops are separate special forces that act as the communications system between troops in the Armed Forces and territorial troops. It is grounded in communications and command and control equipment, radio intelligence and special radio equipment communication. The official holiday of the Signal Troops is 20 October, which was the day in 1919 when the Department of Communications of the Red Army was formed. Over the course of post-war years, with the transition of the troops to a peaceful situation, the communications troops of the Belarusian Military District, and later the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, took measures to restore and develop the stationary communications system, deploy communication systems of garrisons and military camps, and conditions.[7] In 2019, the Ministry of Communications and Informatization commemorated its centennial with a holiday stamp.[8]

NBC Protection Troops

The Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Protection Troops (Russian: Войска радиационной, химической и биологической защиты; Войска РХБ защиты)) are the forces designed to endure their combat tasks in conditions of radioactive, chemical and biological contamination, For about ten years, as part of a limited contingent of Soviet Army, chemical troops fought in Afghanistan, where such chemical support tasks as the use of flamethrowing incendiary agents and aerosols were effective in combating rebels. Many representatives of the chemical troops participating in the war were awarded military orders and medals.[9]

In the course of eliminating the consequences of the Chernobyl disaster, given the training and technical equipment of the chemical forces, they were assigned some of the most difficult work. The Department of Chemical Forces was created on 1 June 1992 on the basis of the disbanded Directorate of the Belarusian Military District and was included in the General Staff of the Armed Forces. On 21 December 2001, in connection with the creation of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus, the department of chemical forces of the Main Headquarters of the Armed Forces was reorganized and included in it as a department of the Republican Chemical Chemistry for Protection and Ecology of the General Staff of the Armed Forces.[9]

Commanders of the Ground Forces
  • Major General Alexander Nikitin (-17 April 2012)[10]

Equipment
See also: List of equipment of the Armed Forces of Belarus

Infantry weapons

Small arms
Model Image Caliber Origin Type Notes
Pistols
Makarov PM 9×18mm Makarov  Soviet Union Semi-automatic pistol
Stechkin 9×18mm Makarov  Soviet Union Selective fire machine pistol
Glock 17/34 9×19mm Parabellum  Austria Semi-automatic pistol Glock 17 and 34 used by OMON, "Almaz" counter-terrorist unit, KGB Alpha Group.
SIG Sauer P226 9×19mm Parabellum  West Germany Semi-automatic pistol P226 used by "Almaz" counter-terrorist unit, KGB Alpha Group.
Submachine gun
Heckler & Koch MP5 9×19mm Parabellum  West Germany Submachine gun MP5A3 and MP5K variants used by OMON, Border Guard Service Institute, "Almaz" counter-terrorist unit, MP5A3 and MP5SD3 in used by KGB Alpha Group.
Shotgun
Benelli M4 12-gauge  Italy Semi-automatic combat shotgun Benelli M4 used by OMON, "Almaz" counter-terrorist unit, Border Guard Service Institute and KGB Alpha Group. Seen with Alpha Group, Internal Troops and OCAM units deployed to Minsk during the 2020 protests.
Assault rifles
AK-47 7.62×39mm  Soviet Union Assault rifle
AKM 7.62×39mm  Soviet Union Assault rifle
AK-74 5.45×39mm  Soviet Union Assault rifle
AK-74M 5.45×39mm  Soviet Union
 Russia		 Assault rifle Standard service rifle.
9A-91[11] 9×39mm  Russia Carbine
Sniper rifles and designated marksman rifles
Dragunov SVD 7.62×54mmR  Soviet Union Semi-automatic sniper rifle, designated marksman rifle Currently being upgraded to the SCR-1200 model.[12]
VSS Vintorez[13] 9×39mm  Soviet Union Special Sniper rifle, assault rifle Used by various special forces.
OSV-96[14] 12.7×108mm  Russia Anti-materiel sniper rifle Used by the special forces.
Machine guns
PK machine gun 7.62×54mmR  Soviet Union General-purpose machine gun
RPK 7.62×39mm  Soviet Union Squad automatic weapon
RPK-74 5.45×39mm  Soviet Union Squad automatic weapon
NSV 12.7×108mm  Soviet Union Heavy machine gun
Grenade launchers
GP-25/30/34 40 mm VOG-25  Soviet Union Underslung grenade launcher
AGS-17 30×29mm  Soviet Union Automatic grenade launcher
AGS-30 30×29mm  Russia Automatic grenade launcher
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPO-A Shmel 93mm  Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade The PDM-A Priz is replacing the RPO-A Shmel flamethrower.[15]
RPG-7 40 mm (launcher only, warhead diameter varies)  Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade
RPG-18 64 mm  Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade Single-shot disposable launcher.
RPG-22 72.5 mm  Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade Single-shot disposable launcher.
RPG-26 72.5 mm  Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade
RPG-29 105 mm  Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade Re-loadable launcher. Can use PG-29V tandem-charge munitions in an anti-tank role, or TBG-29 thermobaric munitions in anti-infantry use.
Anti-tank guided missiles
Shershen 130 mm & 152 mm  Belarus
 Ukraine		 Anti-tank guided missile
9K111 Fagot 120 mm  Soviet Union Anti-tank guided missile
9M113 Konkurs 135 mm  Soviet Union Anti-tank guided missile
Man-portable air-defense systems
9K34 Strela-3 75 mm  Soviet Union Man-portable air-defense system
9K38 Igla 72 mm  Soviet Union Man-portable air-defense system

Vehicles
Name Image Origin In service Notes
Tanks
T-72 'Ural'  Soviet Union ~862[16] (Limited numbers still used for training).[17]
T-72A Early (Limited numbers still used for training. Others in reserve).[18]
T-72A Mid
T-72A Late
T-72AV [17]
T-72B (Can be equipped with slat armour, metal cage and metal bucket).[17] Currently business upgraded.[19]
T-72B Obr. 1990 [18]
T-72B3 Obr. 2016  Russia At least 24 upgraded to the B3 UBKh level.[20][21][22]
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
BRM-1  Soviet Union N/A (Believed to have been decommissioned).[23]
Caiman  Belarus ~45[18] Next 102 will be delivered.[17]
MT-LB  Soviet Union ~50[24] [25]
Infantry Fighting Vehicles
BMP-1(P)  Soviet Union ~132[26] (Limited numbers still used for training. Others in reserve).[18]
BMP-2 Obr. 1980 ~932[26] (Can be equipped with slat armour).[26]
BMP-2 Obr. 1984
BMD-1 N/A (Decommissioned after their replacement by the BTR-70MB1 APC and placed in reserve).[17]
BTR-82A  Russia Belarus signed a contract on two battalion sets of BTR-82A and received them in late September and in December 2021.[27][28][29]
Armoured Personnel Carriers
BTR-D  Soviet Union N/A (Decommissioned after their replacement by the BTR-70MB1 APC and placed in reserve).[18]
BTR-70 ~39[24] [17]
BTR-70MB1  Belarus (Can be equipped with slat armour).[18]
BTR-80  Soviet Union ~196[24]
Infantry Mobility Vehicles
GAZ Tigr-M ''Lis-PM''  Russia N/A [25]
MZKT-4190100 Volat V1  Belarus [18]
DongFeng EQ2050F ''Bogatyr''  China ~50[25] (Can be fitted with an Adunok RWS). Next 32 will be delivered.[18]
Dajiang CS/VN3 ''Drakon'' N/A [18]
Command Posts And Communications Stations
BMP-1KSh Command And Staff Vehicle  Soviet Union N/A [23]
R-145BM1 Command Vehicle [25]
BTR-60PU-12M Air Defence Command Vehicle [18]
R-142 Communications Station [17]
P-240MB Caiman-KAS Communications Station  Belarus [23]
R-186 Bogatyr-2 Communications Station [18]
R-186 Drakon Communications Station [25]
R-443 Voskhod Communications Station [17]
R-434 Communications Station [23]
R-414MBRP Sosna-2 Communications Station [25]
Gorizont Troposcatter [23]
Engineering Vehicles And Equipment
BREM-1 Armoured Recovery Vehicle  Soviet Union N/A [17]
BTS-4A Armoured Recovery Vehicle [23]
BREM-Ch ''BREM-4'' Armoured Recovery Vehicle  Czech Republic [18]
BREM-K Armoured Recovery Vehicle  Russia [25]
IMR-2(M) Combat Engineering Vehicle  Soviet Union [23]
MDK-3 Trench-Digging Vehicle [25]
BAT-2 Heavy Engineering Vehicle [23]
PTS-2 Tracked Amphibious Transport [18]
UR-67 Mine Clearing Charge [25]
UR-77 'Meteorit' Mine Clearing Vehicle [17]
PZM-2 Trench Digger [18]
IRM 'Zhuk' Engineer Reconnaissance Vehicle [23]
BRDM-2RKh Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle [17]
GMZ-3 Minelayer [23]
ZS-82 PsyOps Vehicle [18]
T-55 Firefighting Tank [23]
BMM-80 "Simfoniya" Armoured Ambulance [25]
PMP Floating Bridge [17]
TMM-3 Bridgelayer [23]
Artillery And Air Defence Support Vehicles
PRP-3 'Val' Artillery Reconnaissance Vehicle  Soviet Union N/A (Believed to have been decommissioned).[18]
1V18 'Klyon-1' Artillery Command And Forward Observer Vehicle
1V13(M) Battery Fire Control Center [25]
1V14 Battery Command And Forward Observer Vehicle [17]
9T452 Transporter-Loader (For BM-27 'Uragan' MRL).[18]
9T234-2 Transporter-Loader (For BM-30 'Smerch' MRL).
V-200TZM Transporter-Loader  Belarus (For Polonez MRL).[17]
9T217 Transloader  Soviet Union (For 9K33 Osa SAM System).[17]
Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Missile Systems
9P149 Shturm-S  Soviet Union N/A [25]
Towed Artillery
100mm MT-12 Rapira Anti-Tank Gun  Soviet Union N/A [23]
122mm D-30 Howitzer ~48[24] [18]
152mm D-20 Howitzer N/A [25]
152mm 2A65 Msta-B Howitzer ~50[24] [18]
152mm 2A36 Giatsint-B Field-Gun ~132[24] [17]
Self-Propelled Artillery
120mm 2S9 Nona  Soviet Union ~48[24] (Decommissioned and placed in reserve).[17]
122mm 2S1 Gvozdika ~198[24] [18]
152mm 2S3(M) Akatsiya ~108[24] Partially upgraded.[30]
152mm 2S5 Giatsint-S ~116[24] [17]
152mm 2S19 Msta-S ~18[24] [25]
Multiple Rocket Launchers
122mm BM-21 'Grad'  Soviet Union ~126[24] [17]
122mm BM-21A 'BelGrad'  Belarus [18]
220mm BM-27 Uragan  Soviet Union ~82[24] Partially upgraded to Uragan-M.[31]
300mm BM-30 Smerch ~45[24] [17]
Guided Multiple Rocket Launchers
Polonez  Belarus ~18[24] [Range: 200 km] [CEP: 30m] (Chinese-designed A200 guided rocket produced in Belarus).[17]
Polonez-M [Range: 290 km] [CEP: 45m] (Chinese-designed A300 guided rocket produced in Belarus).[18]
Short-Range Ballistic Missiles
OTR-21 Tochka-U  Soviet Union ~40[32] [Range: 120 km] [CEP: 95m] (Slated for replacement by the Chinese-designed M20 SRBM fired from the Polonez launcher and by the 9K720 Iskander delivered in December 2022).[17][33]
Anti-Aircraft Guns
14.5mm ZPU-4  Soviet Union N/A [25]
23mm ZU-23 [17]
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
23mm ZU-23 On Truck  Soviet Union N/A [25]
23mm BTR-ZD 'Skrezhet' (Decommissioned and placed in reserve).[25]
30mm 2K22(M) Tunguska [18]
Static Surface-To-Air Missile (SAM) Systems
S-300PT  Soviet Union N/A [Range: 75 km].[25]
Self-Propelled Surface-To-Air Missile (SAM) Systems
9K35 Strela-10  Soviet Union N/A [Range: 5 km].[17]
9K33 Osa [Range: 15 km].[18]
Tor-M2K  Russia [Range: 16 km]. 6 batches of Tor-M2s delivered.[34][35][36][37]
9K37 Buk  Soviet Union [Range: 25 km].[17]
S-300PS [Range: 90 km].[18]
S-400  Russia [Range: 250 km].
Electronic Warfare Systems
Groza R-934UM2 'Groza-6'  Belarus N/A [17]
Radars
P-18 'Spoon Rest D'  Soviet Union N/A [23]
P-35/37 'Bar Lock' [17]
PRV-9 'Thin Skin E' [25]
PRV-16 'Thin Skib B' [17]
36D6 'Tin Shield' [25]
55ZH6 'Tall Rack' [23]
1L22 'Parol' [18]
1S80 'Sborka' PPRU ''Dog Ear'' [25]
Rosa-RB-M Ashuluk  Belarus [23]
Vostok-3D [17]
Protivnik-GE [23]
9S18 'Kupol' 'Tube Arm'  Soviet Union (for Buk).[25]
30N6 'Flad Lid' (For S-300PT and S-300PS).[17]
76N6 'Clam Shell'
91N6 'Big Bird'
9S15M 'Bill Board A' (For S-300V).[18]
Surveillance Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Orlan-10 ''Busel''  Russia N/A [927th Center].[38][39]
Supercam S100
Supercam S350
Irkut-3 ''Berkut-1'' [40][39]
Irkut-10 ''Berkut-2'' [38][39]
Formula  Belarus [38][39]
VR-12 Moskit-N [Special Operations Forces].[40][39]
Busel M [Ministry Of Emergency Situations].[40][39]

References
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    Александр Макаров. Полк высоких технологий. Силы специальных операций // журнал "Спецназ", июль 2011
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