In the Soviet period Byelorussian enterprises were specialized in production of armament components and spare parts. The production of completed armament systems was very limited. Since the republic declared its independence in early 1990's a large-scale conversion program was launched. Due to this program the recession of the general production volume wasn't so significant as, for example, in Russia. Nevertheless, the potential of the Byelorussian defense complex has strongly reduced.

Two ministries: the Defense Ministry and the Ministry of Industry control the enterprises of the Byelorussian defense complex, but the Industrial Ministry controls their bigger part. The state owns completely or partially almost all plants that conduct military orders. The state bodies have control share packages in joint stock ventures.

Since the middle of the 90's the absolute majority of the Byelorussian defense enterprises haven't got any orders from the Byelorussian Defense Ministry. They conduct just current repair of military equipment, first of all aircraft, armored vehicles and air defense systems, sometimes modernization of small amounts of the equipment.

Cooperation with Russia is the major direction of the Byelorussian military-industrial plants' activity. Now about 200 Russian defense plants preserve technological ties with almost 120 enterprises of the Byelorussian military-defense complex. The major fields of the Russian-Byelorussian military and technical cooperation are supplies of components for the armaments produced by the Russian defense plants, joint development and manufacturing of new armaments, modernization and repair of earlier produced equipment, deployment of the Russian military sites in Belarus, mutual deliveries of completed armament systems, cooperation in export to the third countries.

Because of the lack of serious demand for armaments from the Russian Defense Ministry the design and production of those armaments that can be exported, for example, air defense systems become the most perspective direction of cooperation. The Defense Ministry of Belarus affirms that the Byelorussian plants can repair almost the whole range of armaments and military equipment (more than 4 thousand titles) except some AD armaments and Su-24 aircraft.

Mutual deliveries of completed battle systems and military equipment is the less developed direction of the military cooperation. Due to the lack of financial resources such deliveries from Russia to Belarus for the Defense Ministry's needs were very limited.

Prospects to develop this direction are estimated as insignificant. Belarus plans to purchase some samples of armaments and military equipment under the arms program for 2000-2001 still not authorized by President Alexander Lukashenko. Now Belarus also has some products to offer to the Russian Defense Ministry, first of all: automatic control systems for armaments, troops, headquarters, T2 diversion vehicle created in cooperation with Russia and number of others.

The cooperation with the CIS countries and the members of the Joint Defense Treaty develops, however, less intensive then the arms trade with Russia. The most active cooperation develops with Tadjikistan and Armenia. Among the non-members of the Joint Defense Treaty the most active cooperation develops with Moldavia that is the major importer of the Byelorussian arms.

The Byelorussian arms exporting companies deal with wide range of countries. This market is similar to the one that Russian arms traders work with: countries with poor industrial development where there is a stable demand for cheap Soviet-made armaments, very often second-hand ones. Peru, Algeria, China can be mentioned among the most large importers of the Byelorussian armaments. The main products are aircraft, helicopters, armored vehicles, ammunition and chassis for various types of arms, electronic and optical systems. The Byelorussian arms exporting companies are known by their constant contacts and deals with the countries where the international community doesn't welcome arms deliveries.

Today further development of the Byelorussian arms trade mainly depends on the Russian side. If Russia doesn't provide any preferences for the Byelorussian military-defense complex then centrifugal tendencies will dominate the military cooperation between Russia and Belarus.