The latest satellite imagery from April 2014 acquired by Digital Globe shows several additions to Belarus’ 61st Fighter Airbase, a location less than 90 and 80 miles from the Polish and Lithuania borders, respectively.
While both Russia and NATO countries always say their respective deployments are not aimed at one another, it’s not too difficult to read between the lines. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu’s April 2013 announcement that Russia was considering the deployment of an entire squadron of fighters to Belarus by 2015 is a prime example. It just so happened to coincide with a meeting in Brussels where Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov raised additional questions about Europe’s missile defense shield and its intended target.
To reiterate Russia’s intent, a couple of months later RIAN reported that Russia would deploy an unknown number of Su-27SM3 fighter somewhere in Belarus within a few months time. However, in December it later surfaced that only four Su-27 were being dispatched to Baranovichi. Unfortunately, due to Russia’s initial announcement citing Lida as the future home of their Belarusian base, many were confused as to the exact location. Luckily, the Google gods have answered providing some much needed clarity.
Satellite imagery of the 61st Fighter airbase located in Baranovichi shows an expanded Quick Reaction Alert area with a new revetment to accommodate the four Russian Su-27 fighters. Three Belarusian MIG-29 were also parked in revetments along side the aircraft from big brother. It is assumed Belarusian fighters will jointly patrol Union State airspace as laid out in the 2009 joint air defense agreement. (Belarus ratified the agreement in February 2012).
Beyond the fighters, a Russian A-50 Mainstay AWACs aircraft was still deployed to the airbase since it was dispatched to participate in a regional air defense exercise in mid-March. (Just prior, NATO had announced it would also deploy E-3A/Bs to patrol Polish and Romanian airspace in light of the Ukraine crisis). An AN-24-26 COKE-CURL, not pictured, was also parked near the main operations apron and could be associated with the Russian deployment.
Also of interest was the construction of two, if not three raised berms for mobile radars. However, at the time of capture, no additional radar were present.
In the future we may see further Russian deployments on imagery. Six additional Russian fighters were reportedly sent to Babruysk, a reserve airfield in the eastern part of the country. In mid-March, Belarusian President Lukashenka said he would ask Russia to send up to 15 additional fighters to Baranovichi. However, it’s not currently clear if these fighters would be in addition to the squadron that Russia stated it would base in Belarus by 2015.
Bottom Line
The deployment of the Russian Su-27 to Baranovichi is notable as Belarus recently pulled their own Su-27 from service a year prior. Although Lukashenka has said that Belarus would keep the aircraft in reserve, the arrival of Russian fighters continues to suggest further outsourcing of Belarusian security. The ongoing erosion of Belorussian military capability is something to watch as Russia begins to reassert itself in the near abroad.
