Belarus parades new armored vehicles on Independence Day military parade 2018.

The Belarusian armed forces unveiled new types of wheeled armored vehicles at the Independence Day military parade on July 3, 2018. The fleet of 4x4 platforms presented during the event was comprised of Russian-, Chinese- and Belarusian-made systems including Lis-PM Belarus version of the Russian-made Tigr, Chinese DongFeng Mengshi EQ2050F, Chinese Dajiang CS/VN3 Drakon, and Belarussian MZKT-490100 with Shershen ATGMs.

Lis-PM 4x4 armoured, Russian-made Tigr produced under license in Belarus.  (Picture source Youtube Print Screen)

Belarus` military paraded several Lis-PM (Fox-PM) armored vehicles produced by the Minsk Wheel Tractors Plant (MZKT Volat) in close cooperation with the Russian industry: in particular, Russia supplies stripped-down VPK-233136 Tigr kits, which are assembled and refitted by MZKT. The Lis-PM has a weight of up to 7.5 t and transports eight soldiers. The vehicle is armed with an NSVT Utyos 12.7 mm heavy machinegun (HMG).

Chinese-made DongFeng Mengshi EQ2050F vehicle named Bogatyr in the Balarussian army.  (Picture source Youtube Print Screen)

The country`s special operations forces demonstrated three variants of the DongFeng Mengshi EQ2050F vehicle, which is named Bogatyr (Legendary Hero) in the Belarusian service. The Bogatyr has an overall weight of up to 5 t and a passenger capacity of four servicemen. The vehicle is powered by a 152-hp EQ D150-20 water-cooled diesel engine, which produces a speed of up to 105 km/h. The Belarusian military unveiled three variants of the Bogatyr, which were armed with a Kalashnikov PKM 7.62 mm medium machinegun, an NSVT HMG and a 9K111-1 Konkurs (AT-5 Spandrel) anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system, respectively.

Chinese-made Dajiang CS/VN3 Drakon 4x4 armored vehicle.  (Picture source Youtube Print Screen)

The military also paraded the Dajiang CS/VN3 Drakon (Dragon) armored vehicles, which had been supplied by China. The platform has an overall weight of 8.7 t and a passenger capacity of eight soldiers. The CS/VN3 features a welded monocoque hull, which provides protection against 7.62 mm bullets and small fragments. The Drakon is powered by a 245-hp turbocharged engine, which enables a speed of up to 100 km/h. The Belarusian CS/VN3 vehicle is armed with an NSVT in an open-top manned turret.

Belarus-made MZKT-490100 armored vehicle with four ready-to-launch Shershen ATGMs.  (Picture source Youtube Print Screen)

During the parade, the Belarusian armed forces showed the MZKT-490100 armored vehicle with four ready-to-launch Shershen ATGMs (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles). Another platform of the type fitted with the Groza-S jamming system was paraded also.

Belarus acquires indigenously developed tactical wheeled armored vehicles and strengthens cooperation with Russia in this field. The country is also receiving armored cars donated by China. It seems interesting that Belarus` Defence Minister Lieutenant General Andrei Ravkov was reviewing troops, using a Chinese-made HongQi L5 phaeton.