The international premiere of the Belarusian air defense system took place at the jubilee, twentieth in a row, IDEX-2011 weapons salon in Abu Dhabi. Considering the scale of this weapons salon, which once started as a regional exhibition, the premiere can be called a success. This show is traditionally attended by the largest sellers and buyers of the latest weapons. It should be noted that at almost every salon in Abu Dhabi, the Republic of Belarus presents samples of its military equipment, which in terms of its characteristics is not inferior to the best world analogues.
This time, the specialists of the research and production unitary enterprise "TETRAEDR" demonstrated to everyone what is called "live" multifunctional robotic weapon system A3 and SAM T38 "Stilet", which caused a real sensation. Previously, the TETRAEDR enterprise was mainly engaged in the modernization of old Soviet military equipment, but now the circle of interests of TETRAEDR has significantly expanded.
In 2003, TETRAEDR specialists took up the modernization of the Osa air defense missile system. In 2005, the Belarusian version of the Osa-1T air defense system was successfully tested and fired. A little later, an idea arose: using the base of the same "Wasp", to create a new mobile air defense complex with better characteristics than the basic version. It was decided to significantly update the electronic stuffing, develop a new chassis and, most importantly, create a new rocket. Almost all the planned tasks, except for the missile unit, were completed by the fall of 2010. In October, firing took place from the new T38 complex, during which two simulators of a helicopter hovering in the air and three high-speed targets were shot down. While they were firing regular Osa missiles, the firing range of which was increased by 30%.
Work is now in full swing on the design of its rocket, dubbed the Stiletto. According to the main indicators, it should surpass the "wasp" by two times. The height of target destruction will increase from 5 to 10 km, the range - from 10 to 20 km. The Ukrainian design bureau "Luch" is working on the missile. According to the developers, the new air defense system has an open architecture, which makes it possible to use in it, after certain modifications, any missiles, including those of Western production. The T38 can already be put on alert, while with the Wasps missiles, but as the Stilettos arrive, they will be replaced.
Andrey Vakhovsky, the head and chief designer of TETRAEDR, assessed the success of his enterprise: “The chassis is ours, the radars are ours, the missiles are ours. Accordingly, the SAM as a single complex is also ours”. By creating T38 "STILET" Belarus has shown that its industry can produce a finished product.
Another, no less interesting, presentation from "TETRAEDR", which was also in the spotlight, was the multifunctional robotic weapon system 3A. This is really a new word in the organization of the protection of stationary objects and the organization of branched defense on the battlefield.
The exposition of the Belarusian enterprise "TETRAEDR" at the salon in Abu Dhabi showed that the "defense industry" of the republic enters the world arms market as a self-sufficient unit.
