"The most important thing is localization" - President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko familiarized himself with the production of missiles and ammunition for small arms
Upon arrival at the enterprise, Alexander Lukashenko first familiarized himself with the territory where the production facilities are located. As Chairman of the State Military Industrial Committee Dmitry Pantus reported to the President, the production and technical cluster occupies a territory of 277 hectares. However, the production capacities occupy only a tenth of it. It is planned to develop the entire area in the coming years. However, the head of state believes that such a large territory is excessive.
"We need to urgently work through the issue so that there are no excesses here. Why such a territory?" - Alexander Lukashenko asked. He also drew attention to the maintenance of these lands: "Perfect order must be established within this year. The governor is personally responsible for this."
Alexander Lukashenko familiarized himself with the work of the section where domestic cartridges are produced. Currently, three types of cartridges are produced here. Serial production of cartridges for civilian weapons of 9 mm Luger (9x19), 7.62x39, 7.62x54R calibers has been established, and cartridges for military weapons of 9 mm Makarov and 7.62x39 calibers are being put into production. The production capacities are designed for an annual output of 20 million cartridges of various calibers.
The head of state was informed about the prospects of the section's activities, its modernization, and additional equipment.
The President also familiarized himself with the work of the section where used cartridges are reprocessed: they are cleaned and reloaded, which is more economically advantageous than purchasing new ones.
Alexander Lukashenko visited the repair and maintenance shop for air-guided missiles. The Head of State paid special attention to the need for production localization – so that the enterprise manufactures both the outer casing of the missile and the components of the control and guidance system. "We need to make our own, the main part," the President said. The necessity of this, he noted, is dictated by the unstable global situation, the constantly emerging challenges and threats from external forces.
"Who guarantees that we will not go to war? Neither you nor I, no one can guarantee. The world has gone mad. War can break out at any moment in any place, God forbid, in our country," the Belarusian leader warned. In this regard, Alexander Lukashenko recalled the importance of training the population in handling small arms.
Naturally, those undergoing training in the armed forces are taught weapon handling skills, but there is a significant number of those who do not get drafted into the army. These are the ones who should be focused on, the President is convinced. "Why not involve students and others and teach them to use small arms – to assemble, disassemble an assault rifle, to shoot? So that they know how to use them and so that they don't have to learn on the battlefield in difficult times," said the head of state.
Alexander Lukashenko also visited the testing center of the "Ustye" production and technological cluster and the high-precision products workshop, where the President was shown various samples of modern weapons.
BELTA.