Belarus will receive Russian Mi-35M helicopters by April and plans to buy Su-30SM planes this year, commander of the Belarusian air and air defense forces Andrey Lukyanovich said on Sunday.

"A couple of weeks ago, we received a new Top-M2 battery and will receive Mi-35M helicopters soon. Yes, it will be an entire squadron. But first we will receive four helicopters, which will be at our airfields by April," he said in an interview with the STV television channel. "Our pilots have already been trained to operate these rotorcraft <…>. This year, we also plan to buy Su-30SM planes."

According to Lukyanovich, Belarusian air surveillance troops will receive Belarusian-made Rosa low-altitude radar systems and Vostok radar stations. "It is also planned to supply a large number of air weapons," he added.