Shoigu: Rusisa to station more aircraft and helicopters in Belarus

• 23.12.2014, 12:43

Russia is going to increase the number aircraft and helicopters at an air base in Belarus.

The statement was made by Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu at a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart Andrei Raukou on Tuesday, RIA Novosti reports.

“I am ready to discuss our further practical cooperation today. It concerns S-300 systems, the setup and maintenance of an air base in Belarus with the increased number of aircraft and helicopters. The base is supposed to provide the safety of our common airspace,” Shoigu said.

Plans to open a Russian air base for fighter jets in Belarus was first announced by Russian minister of defence Sergei Shoigu in Minsk in April last year. Russia wanted to open a base in Lida (the Hrodna region).

The initial plans were changed without explanations. Russian Air Force commander-in-chief Col. Gen. Viktor Bondarev said in March 2014 that a regiment of Su-27SM3 planes would be stationed not in Lida but in Baranavichy (the Brest region). But the decision was changed later. It became known in October that an air base of Su-27SM3 jets would be opened in Babruisk (the Mahilou region) a year later than the date announced by Sergei Shoigu.

Photo: RIA Novosti