Belarus to equip Polonez multiple launch rocket system with Russian nuclear-armed missiles

The Belarusian Polonez multiple-launch rocket systems may receive Russian tactical missiles equipped with nuclear warheads. The announcement was made by self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko.

Here's What We Know

Lukashenko gave an interview to propagandists from Russia in connection with the agreement to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus. He said he wanted to "cram" nuclear weapons into the Polonez multiple-launch rocket systems. Lukashenko also added that the power of one warhead is three times more powerful than the bomb the United States dropped on Hiroshima on August 6, 1945.

"Polonez" is a Belarusian multiple rocket launcher system, work on which began about 10 years at the "Plant of Precisely Electromechanics". The system made its debut in 2015 and was accepted for service in 2016.

The Polonez now uses A200 and A300 missiles. They were developed by the Chinese company China Academy of Vehicle Technology. The missiles have a satellite guidance system and the warhead detaches after the fuel has been spent. These are two key differences from the Smerch rockets.

The A200 and A300 have a maximum range of about 200 km and 300 km respectively. Both missiles are equipped with a 140kg warhead. The claimed flight speed can reach 1600 m/s, but when the distance to the target is reduced to 20 km, the warhead dives at an angle of 80 degrees and the speed drops to 700 m/s.

About 5 years ago, the Chinese M20 ballistic missile (pictured below) was demonstrated at MILEX 2017 along with the Polonez multiple rocket launcher system. It has a warhead weighing up to 500kg and can hit targets up to 290km away.

The launcher is located on the MZKT-7930 chassis. The 8x8 truck has a maximum range of 1,000 km and can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h on the highway.