Military Watch reports that Russia could order the Polonez MLRS from Belarus, Europe’s longest-range launcher system, firing Chinese A-200 missiles with a 301 mm caliber and a destruction radius reaching up to 300 kilometers.
The Belarusian version of the Polonez MLRS is described as a export-oriented replica of the Chinese NORINCO ARS system, according to defense analyst Alexei Leonkov speaking to socialbites.ca. He notes that the Chinese system achieves high accuracy with a deviation from a target under 50 meters. With a salvo of eight missiles, the system demonstrates a notable level of precision that could threaten both exposed forces and protected rear-area facilities.
A subtle characteristic of the unified guidance system is its dependence on GPS corrections. Russian MLRS often rely on direct coordination from intelligence, yet they also integrate navigation data and drone inputs. This approach mirrors the guidance frameworks used by other modern systems, where missiles from Avant-garde artillery, Kalibr cruise missiles, and hypersonic Daggers operate. Polonez missiles can be integrated into this framework to achieve high precision in targeting.
In the Polonaise MLRS, the Belarusian component is the eight-wheeled MZKT-7930 chassis with a load capacity of up to 25 tons. A similar platform underpins the Russian Iskander OTRK, the DBK Honey, the Bastion, the Clab-M, and the Hurricane-1M MLRS, making the eight-axle base familiar to the Russian military.
Alexander Zimovsky, a Belarusian political analyst and military commentator, commented that supply and demand dynamics apply to the Polonaise. He observed that upon its debut, the system did not generate strong excitement: it combines a Chinese missile with a Belarusian chassis, and its fielded use remains uncertain.
Azerbaijan adopted Belarusian MLRS Polonez in 2018, with the defense ministry reporting that ten sets were integrated into the armed forces. Local press coverage framed the Polonazes as a strategic response to the Iskander OTRK, which was then in service with Armenian forces.
During the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict, the Polonaise did not receive extensive media attention, and its practical effectiveness remains largely theoretical. Yet the Poloneses embody a collaboration between Chinese and Belarusian defense interests, with the primary components sourced from China. A pertinent question is whether Russia could procure Chinese MLRS directly, or whether a variant involving Russian components or a Bryansk Plant chassis could be pursued. This raises questions about China’s arms policy and the feasibility of direct military exchanges between Moscow and Beijing.
In this context, Belarusian production capacity and the transition from prototype displays to steady manufacturing become central concerns. Analysts discuss what level of output Minsk could sustain for Polonez production and under what terms it could shift from demonstration samples to continuous supply. The issue remains a topic of debate among regional observers.
Belarusian forces reportedly operate several Polonez battalions, supported by a quantity of Chinese A-200 missiles. Some American analyses have floated the possibility of joint production with Moscow, potentially involving a third partner, China, as a missiles supplier. While such a collaboration could offer mutual advantages, experts caution that numerous political and logistical factors would shape any concrete agreement. The concept envisions Belarus maintaining wheel-based chassis production at MAZ, China providing missiles, and Russia receiving a finished product with enhanced performance that could substitute for more costly tactical missiles. Even with existing production capabilities, the practicality of assembling Polonez systems for broader use remains a subject of ongoing evaluation.