Lukashenko calls to produce small arms domestically

Belarus needs to have its own production of small arms, Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko said as he heard a report on the performance and development prospects of the Belarusian military-industrial complex, BelTA has learned. The head of state outlined the development of domestic production of small arms as an important topic. "We are not going to war with anyone," he said. “We must be able to inflict unacceptable damage on an enemy and defend ourselves and our families. Without our own production of small arms... If, God forbid, some conflict or war break out, every family, territorial bodies should be armed with the whole range of small arms. Then the enemy, the adversary will understand that it is better to steer clear of us,” the president said. "We have to produce the minimum necessary amount of weapons at home. Because anything can happen and we should not pin our hopes on some foreign uncle to supply us with weapons. We should have our own," Aleksandr Lukashenko said. The president believes that Russia's experience in small arms production can prove useful. "Russia, our close friend, with which we are developing and producing weapons, is not against that we produce weapons here using their technologies," the Belarusian leader said. A scientific and production cluster Ustie has been set up in Orsha District in pursuance of the president's instructions to start the production of small arms and ammunition to them, Chairman of the State Authority for Military Industry Dmitry Pantus told journalists after the meeting. "Today it comprises five new workshops, facilities where we produce and modernize certain types of small arms. Some of these weapons are already in service with the Armed Forces of Belarus. Three types of cartridges have already entered production. This work will be continued," Dmitry Pantus said.