April 30, Pozirk. Russian President Vladimir Putin told Alaksandar Łukašenka yesterday in Volgograd that they should further expand industrial cooperation, “including through joint work in the field of aircraft manufacturing and designing unmanned aerial vehicles.”
“I would like to tell you what we are offering,” Putin said, as quoted by his press office. “We are already ready to set up a plant with your specialists, and also a related drone laboratory.” According to the Russian president, the project is vital for the economy and logistics.
“We have agreements on aircraft production. You’ve managed to save part of your aviation industry. There is work to be done here as well. A small plane and cooperation on medium-haul planes. We will also discuss other areas. Our governments are constantly working on these issues, and you and I know what agreements our colleagues are making,” Putin said.
On March 6, reports said Russia suggested building a drone factory in Belarus with an annual capacity of up to 100,000 units. The suggestion was made during Łukašenka’s visit to an exhibition of Russian unmanned aerial systems in Minsk. Łukašenka reportedly supported the proposal.
Earlier, in September 2024, Łukašenka told generals at the Abuz-Lasnoŭski training ground in the Brest region that they should gear up for war. He called unmanned aircraft “a serious innovation.”
