MINSK, Belarus — Belarus is expanding its defense manufacturing infrastructure to support ammunition supplies to Russia, with upgrades at the Legmash Plant OJSC, construction of a new ammunition factory, and additional contracts for military vehicle chassis.
Legmash Plant Expands Production Facilities
According to the State Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus, the Legmash Plant commissioned five construction projects between June and September 2026. The work included modernizing existing production buildings, installing new utility lines and manufacturing equipment, and constructing an administrative and amenity building. Officials said the upgrades would improve technological capabilities and working conditions.
Located at Vostochny Lane 17 in Orsha, Legmash is linked to Russia's ammunition supply chain. According to BELPOL, a community of former Belarusian law enforcement officers, the plant produces components for 122 mm artillery rockets used by Russia's Grad multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS).
These components are reportedly supplied to Russia's JSC Machine-Building Plant Shtamp, named after B.L. Vannikov, and the A.N. Ganichev Scientific and Production Association SPLAV, where final ammunition assembly takes place.
BELPOL has shared evidence of the plant's activities with governmental partners in the European Union, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine to support efforts to impose additional sanctions. The Legmash Plant was already placed under EU sanctions in July 2025 for producing 152 mm and 122 mm artillery shells and 122 mm unguided rockets for Grad systems. It is also subject to related restrictions in other jurisdictions.
New Ammunition Factory Planned for December
Belarus is also building a new ammunition factory in the Slutsk district of the Minsk region, on the site of a former military arsenal. Scheduled to begin operations in December 2026, the facility will supply both Belarusian and Russian armed forces.
Designed for continuous production across three shifts, the factory is expected to have an annual capacity of up to 180,000 152 mm artillery shells and 270,000 122 mm artillery rockets.
MZKT Signs Contract for 30 Military Chassis
The Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT) has signed a contract with Moscow-based JSC Defense Systems to supply 30 specialized wheeled chassis, with deliveries planned through 2029.
The agreement covers 20 MZKT-8021-021 chassis, five MZKT-8022-021 units, and five MZKT-80211-021 units. These chassis were developed for military applications, including elements of air defense systems such as the Pechora-2M, and have also been used for other air defense and radar equipment.
The expansion of Legmash, construction of the new ammunition factory, and MZKT contract highlight continuing industrial cooperation between Belarusian defense-related enterprises and Russian manufacturers in ammunition production and military support equipment.
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