Minsk National Airport

Minsk National Airport (IATA: MSQ, ICAO: UMMS), (Belarusian: Нацыянальны аэрапорт Мiнск, [natsɨjaˈnalʲnɨ aeraˈport mʲinsk]; Russian: Национальный аэропорт Минск), former name Minsk-2 (not to be confused with Minsk-1 Airport in Minsk downtown), is the main international airport in Belarus, located 42 km (26 mi) to the east of the capital Minsk, geographically lying in the territory of Smalyavichy Raion, but administratively being subordinated to Kastrychnitski District of Minsk.

The airport serves as hub of the national Belarusian airline Belavia and the cargo carriers TransAVIAexport Airlines and Genex.

History

Early years

In 1977 in the environs of the Belarusian capital the building of the new airport "Minsk-2" was begun. In 1979 the new runway 3,640-m-long and 60-m-wide was put into operation. In 1981 the airdrome "Minsk-2" was already able to handle aircraft in 1982 the airport was opened. The first passenger flight was operated on the plane Tupolev Tu-134. 11 years later the airport was completely built. The terminal of the unique architectural project with the carrying capacity – 5,8 million passengers a year was put into operation.

MIM-104 Patriot

The MIM-104 Patriot is a surface-to-air missile (SAM) system, the primary of its kind used by the United States Army and several allied nations. It is manufactured by the U.S. defense contractor Raytheon and derives its name from the radar component of the weapon system. The AN/MPQ-53 at the heart of the system is known as the "Phased array Tracking Radar to Intercept on Target" or the bacronym PATRIOT. The Patriot System replaced the Nike Hercules system as the U.S. Army's primary High to Medium Air Defense (HIMAD) system, and replaced the MIM-23 Hawk system as the U.S. Army's medium tactical air defense system. In addition to these roles, Patriot has been given the function of the U.S. Army's anti-ballistic missile (ABM) system, which is now Patriot's primary mission.

Patriot uses an advanced aerial interceptor missile and high-performance radar systems. Patriot was developed at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Alabama, which had previously developed the Safeguard ABM system and its component Spartan and hypersonic speed Sprint missiles. The symbol for Patriot is a drawing of a Revolutionary War-era Minuteman.