Belarus plans to send its military and security forces to Russia for drone training.

Telegram channel Pul Pervogo, which covers the activities of self-proclaimed Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, reported on this.

Lukashenko issued the directive during talks with a Russian delegation at an exhibition of Russian unmanned aerial systems currently underway in Belarus. 

He asked Russian officials to determine a training site where Belarusian personnel could be sent.

Lukashenko stated that specialists operating drones in the military and law enforcement should receive training in Russia on modern UAV deployment. 

He also instructed department heads to study Russian training methods so they could later oversee drone operations in Belarus.

It remains unclear which UAV models Belarusian forces will train on. However, given Minsk’s alliance with Moscow and the ongoing war in Ukraine, Belarus may gain access to various Russian drones, including FPV models.

Mi-2 Helicopter Converted Into a Drone

Militarnyi recently reported that the Belarusian UVR (United Vehicle Robotics) company has converted a Soviet-era Mi-2 helicopter into an unmanned aerial vehicle. A temporary airworthiness certificate was issued in 2024, and testing was launched in December.

According to the developers, the UAV is designed for cargo transport in the oil and gas industry, search-and-rescue operations, and power line construction in remote areas.

The Mi-2 was chosen because of its large production volume during the Soviet era. Upgrading these aircraft extends their operational lifespan.

Belarus Develops Anti-Drone System

Belarusian defense firms have developed the Sapsan mobile system to counter small UAVs and protect critical infrastructure.

The system’s radar can detect targets at a range of at least 3 kilometers, while its optical sensors have a range of at least 1.5 kilometers. It is equipped with a specialized machine gun module with an effective firing range of up to 400 meters.