Belarus Expands Facility Producing Components for Russia’s Grad MLRS Ammo
Belarusian Legmash Plant OJSC is expanding its production capacity, which is used to supply components to Russia’s defense industry.
The State Military-Industrial Committee of the Republic of Belarus reported that five new construction facilities were commissioned between June and September.
As part of these projects, the production buildings on the plant’s premises were modernized and renovated. Technical upgrades were carried out, including the installation of modern equipment. New utility lines were installed, and an administrative and amenity building was constructed.
Officially, the infrastructure upgrades are explained as a means of expanding the facility’s technological capabilities and improving working conditions for employees.
Legmash plant
At the same time, Legmash is involved in producing ammunition components for the Russian army. According to investigators from BELPOL, a community of former Belarusian law enforcement officers, the company manufactures components for 122 mm artillery rockets used by Grad multiple-launch rocket systems.
The plant supplies its components to Russian companies JSC Machine-Building Plant Shtamp named after B.L.Vannikov and the A. N. Ganichev Scientific and Production Association SPLAV, where the final assembly of ammunition takes place.
All evidence gathered regarding the Belarusian plant’s activities has been shared with partners in the European Union, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine to initiate and impose new sanctions.
Cooperation between Belarusian defense industry and Russia
In addition, construction is underway on another ammunition plant in Belarus that will supply both the Belarusian and Russian armed forces. The facility is scheduled to begin operations in December this year.
The new facility is designed to produce up to 180,000 152 mm artillery shells and 270,000 122 mm artillery rockets annually, operating in three shifts.
Meanwhile, Belarusian companies are fulfilling other orders for Russia’s defense industry. In particular, the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) has signed a contract with Moscow-based JSC Defense Systems to supply 30 specialized wheeled chassis.
Under the contract, the Russian customer is to receive 20 MZKT-8021-021 chassis, along with five units each of the MZKT-8022-021 and MZKT-80211-021.
Read more about cooperation between the two countries’ defense industries in the article “Role of Defense Industry of Belarus in Russian Aggression Against Ukraine.”
