Prospects for the development of rszo “polonaise. Multiple launch rocket system "Polonaise" (Republic of Belarus) Polonaise weapons
In June of this year, the first fire tests of the Polonez multiple launch rocket system were carried out at the artillery range in the Zhitkovichi district of the Gomel region of Belarus. The system, which received such a sonorous name, was created by the country's military-industrial complex. The results of the field "test" were successful: both launched missiles hit targets with minimal deviation. This became the basis for the decision of the State Military-Industrial Committee of the Republic of Belarus to put these weapons into operation. President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko called the day of the Polonaise tests "a happy day in terms of security and defense", and the very creation of the domestic MLRS "the greatest achievement." The Belarusian leader considers providing the country's armed forces with the latest weapons and technologies one of the important directions of their development. In addition, the creation of new weapons, Lukashenka believes, can also become a promising area of industrial production. Fire battery! For the first time, the Belarusian "Polonaise" was shown to the general public in May last year at a military parade in Minsk dedicated to May 9th. Outwardly, this MLRS does not show its formidable appearance in any way: a typical MZKT wheeled chassis, several closed containers, a crane for loading ... Four vehicles of the complex passed through the main square of the Belarusian capital on that May day, two of which were transport-loading vehicles, and two - directly by self-propelled launchers. Nevertheless, even a year later, little is known about the performance characteristics of the new weapons. The information is the most general: the firing range is about 200 kilometers, the cruising range of the chassis is about a thousand kilometers, the total number of shots fired by one firing unit is at least eight. The purpose of the complex is to hit openly located or sheltered manpower, destroy military equipment (including armored ones), missile systems, and aircraft at airfields. With one salvo, the Polonez battery can cover an area of more than 100 hectares. Against the backdrop of the closeness of the performance characteristics of the new weapon, the controversy unfolded around the characteristics of the missiles of the complex. It was reported that 301-millimeter rockets over seven meters long were loaded into the transport and launch container, and the fire was adjusted using drones (in any case, this method of obtaining data on targets in real time was used in tests near Gomel). The intrigue turned out to be a prototype for ammunition. Experts immediately suggested that Chinese-made A200 missiles could play this role. In addition, Igor Lotenkov, Deputy Head of the Belarusian Defense Ministry for armaments, did not hide the fact that the development "had previously been tested in China." A200 missiles can strike just at ranges up to 200 kilometers and hit targets with a probable deviation not exceeding 50 meters. During tests in the Gomel region, the Polonaise missiles deviated from the given direction by no more than 16 meters. With the world– in theory However, the Belarusian authorities are unequivocal: "Polonaise" is an exclusively national development. It is no coincidence that Alexander Lukashenko has already ordered to present the authors and testers of the complex for state awards. “For the meager money they were given, our military managed to develop and test missile weapons created in Belarus. These are missile systems that were created within two years,” the Belarusian leader said, commenting on the news about the successful tests of the MLRS. Meanwhile, analysts still tend to see obvious foreign borrowings in the brainchild of the Belarusian defense industry. First of all, from the already mentioned China. Thus, the expert of the Arsenal of the Fatherland magazine, Alexei Leonkov, compared the Polonaise with the Chinese AR3 MLRS manufactured by NORINCO. Indeed, both machines are strikingly similar. Almost the same wheelbase, the same eight missiles in launch containers, except that the Chinese have them round, and in the Polonaise they are rectangular. In turn, journalist and military analyst Alexander Alesin, also pointing out the similarity of the Belarusian complex with its Chinese "brother ”, draws attention to the identity of some characteristics with Russian operational-tactical systems, for example, Iskander or Tochka-U. By the way, the Security Council of Belarus does not hide it, saying that "together with other advantages of the MLRS, it is capable of solving combat missions characteristic of operational-tactical missile systems and even bomber aircraft." On the other hand, Russian military expert Igor Korotchenko, who visited last year at the IDEX-2015 exhibition in the UAE at the NORINCO exposition and examined the AR3 system presented here, noted that the declared firing range of guided and unguided 300-mm rockets does not exceed 140 kilometers. That is, this indicator does not fit the characteristics of Polonaise, which means that the fact that missiles can really be created at the enterprises of the Belarusian defense industry seems to be not unreasonable. Other guided missiles of the AR3 complex are capable of overcoming a 200-kilometer range, as Igor Korotchenko noted. , however, they already have a caliber of 370 millimeters, which requires a change in launch containers. Keep gunpowder dry Be that as it may, the Polonaise is ready to enter service with the Belarusian army in the near future. This, in particular, was announced by the head of the missile forces and artillery of the armed forces of Belarus, Major General Gennady Kozlovsky. According to him, the process of transferring the complex is already underway, and its practical development by calculations has begun. “In the near future, the complex will take up combat duty,” the general recently emphasized, adding that the industry will continue to work on increasing a number of indicators, primarily in terms of range, as well as improving the accuracy of the combat use of the complex. Stanislav Zas, secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, believes that By creating a domestic reactive system, the country managed to "increase the potential for deterrence from encroachments on independence." “As required by the head of state, in terms of technical equipment, our armed forces must meet modern risks and challenges,” Zas said, commenting on the Polonaise tests. Belarusian analysts do not hide the presence of powerful weapons, and even produced (or localized by production) on its territory, can act as a real deterrent in the face of aggressive manifestations on the part of a number of neighbors. First of all from the West. Thus, Minsk expert Alexander Shpakovsky draws attention to the fact that along the perimeter of the borders of the Union State, NATO infrastructure is growing at a fairly rapid pace, and missile defense elements are being deployed in neighboring countries. – Of course, none of the sane experts would dare to predict a war between Russia and the Western world, but, as you know, “a gun hanging on the wall sometimes shoots.” At the same time, as the expert notes, such a small state as Belarus should think about how to protect yourself from such excesses. “We are protected from the threat of a major war due to the strategic proximity to Moscow and the Russian “nuclear umbrella,” he said. “Nevertheless, provocations, actions by controlled irregular gangs remain in the arsenal of a potential adversary - in general, the entire set that is now commonly called the fashionable term “hybrid war.” long-range MLRS systems. With the help of this combat vehicle, any of the capitals of our so rapidly arming partners can be reached, which will definitely become a deterrent for any "cowboys" if they suddenly want to "take the gun off the wall." line of defense According to a number of experts, Belarus, on the one hand, is making every possible effort for peacekeeping and reducing tension in the region, and on the other hand, relying on its own forces and a military alliance with Russia, it keeps gunpowder dry, that is, it strengthens national defense. Within the framework of military-technical cooperation programs with the Russian Federation, modern Tor-M2 anti-aircraft missile systems, the latest Yak-130 aircraft, S-300PS divisional sets are purchased. The Belarusian Ministry of Defense plans to increase the production capacity of the domestic military-industrial complex, including production of radar stations of a new generation, equipment for the complex protection of aircraft from high-precision weapons, modernization of existing equipment models. The production of "Polonaise" is fully integrated into this strategy. And yet today, even inveterate skeptics will not deny that only a reliable military alliance can guarantee true security. For Belarus, this is the Collective Security Treaty Organization, to which the country joined in December 1993. It is known that the key article of the Treaty is Article 4, which states that “if one of the participating states is subjected to aggression by any state or group of states , then it will be considered as aggression against all States parties to the Treaty. In the event of an act of aggression… all other participating states will provide the necessary assistance, including military, and will also provide support with the means at their disposal.” According to the Embassy of the Republic of Belarus in Russia, about three and a half dozen international treaties have been concluded with our country, “ the implementation of which is aimed at coordinating joint activities in the military sphere, resolving issues of military-technical cooperation, fulfilling obligations in the areas of arms control, sharing military infrastructure facilities, ensuring regional security, creating unified systems of a regional grouping of troops (forces).” Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Republic of Belarus to the Russian Federation Igor Petrishenko notes that in accordance with the annual plans, joint activities are carried out for operational and combat training. So, in 2013, the joint strategic exercise “West-2013” was held on the territory of Belarus, and in 2015, the joint operational exercise “Union Shield-2015” was held. This year, a unique joint training of units of the Russian Airborne Forces and the Special Operations Forces of the Republic of Belarus in the Arctic took place. When performing tasks in extreme conditions, the paratroopers learned to overcome natural obstacles and equip an ice camp, and gained skills in helping the victims. And in the coming days, in the Pskov region, under the leadership of the commander of the Western Military District, Colonel-General Andrey Kartapolov, the command-staff exercise "Interaction-2016" will be held, in which contingents of the Collective Rapid Reaction Forces of the CSTO, including from the Republic of Belarus, will take part.
The most important news in the field of military-technical cooperation in the near abroad in recent weeks has been the demonstration by Azerbaijan of new missile systems - Belarusian-Chinese "Polonaise" and Israeli LORA. The purchase of these weapons was positioned as a response to the appearance of Russian Iskanders near Yerevan. Now Moscow will most likely have to "balance" the balance of power in the south again and help Armenia strengthen its anti-missile and air defenses.
The news about the entry into service of missile systems was published by the press service of the President of Azerbaijan on the morning of Monday, June 11. Formally, Ilham Aliyev's participation in the opening of a certain military unit was the informational occasion, but the photos left no doubt that the main characters of the report were the new missile systems - Polonaise and LORA. Despite long-standing conversations about their purchase (LORA could have been delivered at all, for example, in 2017), this is a “premier” for both complexes.
Interestingly, in both cases, the missile part of the complexes originates from far abroad, from the leaders of world military exports, and the chassis comes from Belarus, manufactured by the Minsk Wheel Tractor Plant (MZKT). Perhaps Belarus is the final seller, in the case of Polonaise, for sure, since this complex is positioned as “Belarusian”.
The multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) "Polonaise" is the main pride of the Belarusian defense industry in recent years and the most noticeable fruit of the increasingly active cooperation with China in the military field.
The complex is a launcher for Chinese A200 missiles on the MZKT chassis (by the way, similar to those used in the Russian Iskanders). There have been reports of work to localize the production of missiles, but at best it is still partial. The electronic "brains" of the complex will most likely remain Chinese-made.
And there is a decent amount of work for electronics here: the A200 is a representative of a direction that has become extremely fashionable in the last decade in favor of increasing the caliber and firing range. At the same time, long-range accuracy is ensured by an inertial guidance system with error correction due to satellite navigation.
Such missile systems occupy an intermediate position between classic MLRS with unguided missiles, the range of the most powerful of which is limited by a drop in accuracy, and operational-tactical missile systems, the cost of which is higher and the ammunition load is lower. So, for A200 missiles with a caliber of 301 mm, the manufacturer declared a launch range of 50-200 km with a deviation at a maximum range of about 30 meters, which is enough to destroy a small object with a volley of just a few missiles.
At the same time, the Polonaise carries two unified containers of four missiles each, which makes it possible to hit several targets with ammunition from even one launcher. For comparison: the classic Soviet Smerch MLRS of the same caliber carries 12 missiles on a more powerful chassis, but their range is 70 km and the drop in accuracy forces the use of mainly cluster warheads, and much more missiles to hit hardened targets. In fairness, it should be noted that in Russia this trend is being followed, and the heir to the Smerch, the Tornado-S complex, will receive an adjustable missile.
In the future, the Polonaise should become a unified missile system: in China, the A200 is part of the GATSS system, which uses A300 guided missiles for MLRS with a range of 120-290 km and M20 ballistic missiles with a range of 100-280 km, the advantage of which is greater accuracy and power of the warhead. When equipped with M20 missiles, containers for four rockets are replaced on the launcher with two containers each carrying a missile.
M20 missiles were already demonstrated in 2017 in Belarus at the MILEX-2017 exhibition as a promising weapon for the Polonaise. However, judging by the second complex purchased by Baku, they are not yet ready.
The operational-tactical missile system (OTRK) LORA ("LOng Range Attack") was created in Israel fifteen years ago and has since been actively promoted for its own armed forces and for export, but Baku became its first buyer.
If "Polonaise" demonstrates the process of increasing the size of the MLRS, then LORA is a representative of the reverse trend among OTRK. Relatively compact and light missiles of this family are placed in small containers, and a four-axle chassis with the dimensions of an ordinary truck (probably MZKT-652720) carries four such containers at once. The range of the rocket is declared up to 400 km, but if it is not fiction, it can only be achieved using the most lightweight warheads.
For Azerbaijan, for geographical reasons, such a high range is not at all relevant, but equipping LORA with heavy penetrating warheads weighing 600 kg (the range drops to about 250 km) will allow hitting even the most protected targets (for comparison, the mass of the warhead of the A200 missile is 100-150 kg). The deviation of LORA from the target is declared within 10 meters, which, however, raises doubts in the expert community. However, due to a more powerful warhead and at least no worse accuracy, LORA will be able to occupy the “scalpel” niche for hitting especially important targets.
Baku was announced to purchase "ten sets of MLRS Polonaise" (it is not entirely clear what is hidden behind this - probably ten launchers and all the support vehicles necessary for such a quantity). The number of purchased LORA is unclear, but hardly less than the battery, by which the manufacturer understands four launchers and support vehicles.
Mirror Measures
The purchase of weapons by Azerbaijan or Armenia is always considered as the acquisition of a means of combating the "sworn neighbor". In this case, Baku is positioning the Polonaises and LORA as a response to Russia's sale of its Iskander missile systems to Armenia. If you start to dig deeper into the issue, it becomes clear that the Iskanders were transferred to Yerevan not as an empty whim of Moscow, but as a measure to equalize the balance of power (which Russia seeks to do as far as possible) after Azerbaijan acquired new missile defense systems. There was concern that the purchase of the Israeli Iron Dome could convince the hawks that they had reliable protection against the Armenian Elbrus (OTRK, better known by its Western name SCUD), which are traditionally perceived as a local deterrent.
In this case, we should expect retaliatory measures from Russia to strengthen the air defense / missile defense of Armenia. It is already known that in the coming months, Russian anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) "Tor-M2" should enter the arsenal of Armenia.
This short-range air defense system is at best capable of protecting specific objects from MLRS missiles. The ability of the S-300PS in service to provide reliable cover from the OTRK is also doubtful due to obsolescence. The obvious answer would be to supply Armenia in the near future with modern Russian long-range air defense systems capable of fighting OTRK, but here the high cost of such systems becomes a problem.
However, if Yerevan cannot afford the S-400, then a transfer within the framework of the “single air defense zone” from the Russian armed forces of the S-300PM / PM2 (which in Russia are being replaced by the S-400) may become a realistic scenario. In addition, one can expect an increase in the striking power of the Armenian army with additional purchases of heavy MLRS, and, perhaps, not only in Russia - a small number of Chinese AR1A and WM-80 MLRS are already in service, although China is expected to have preferential lending terms and domestic Russian prices for weapons (as a member of the CSTO) is not worth it.
These are the possible consequences in the field of further militarization of the region. We won't even talk about the fact that this militarization only increases the threat of armed conflict - this is as obvious as it is sad.
Alexander Ermakov, military observer
You will read this material in 3 minutes.
During the international arms exhibition Milex-2017, the Chinese-made M20 missile was presented as a promising means of destruction for the Polonaise heavy MLRS. Which is an export modification of the relatively "fresh" operational-tactical missile system DF-12, presented to the general public in the fall of 2013. The declared range of the missile is -280 km, i.e. within the limits set by the missile technology control regime. The mass of the rocket is 4 tons, including the warhead - 480 kg. Warhead: high-explosive fragmentation, high-explosive, kinetic, fragmentation-armor-piercing cluster. The rocket is equipped with a combined control system (inertial/satellite). M20 has the ability to maneuver to overcome the enemy's missile defense / air defense system. It is assumed that the Polonaise MLRS launcher can accommodate 2 M20 missiles in transport and launch containers (hereinafter referred to as TPU).
As far as one can judge, the delivery of the M20 to our country is either already resolved, or a decision is in a high degree of readiness. In the case of localization of the production of M20 missiles in Belarus, it is possible to create its own ground-to-ground missile with a launch range of 400 km or more on its basis.
In addition, the integration of missiles with a launch range of 300 km into the Polonaise MLRS armament complex has been completed. It is located in the same TPU as the missile with a range of 200 km and is only 20 cm longer than the latter.
It should be noted that ammunition in TPU has a standard shelf life of 10 years, and the calculated one is much longer. Checking the technical condition of the rocket is carried out without removing it from the container every 3-5 years.
Currently, there is at least one export contract for the supply of the Polonaise MLRS. Although the first buyer is not named, it is highly likely that it is Azerbaijan.
Recall that from the moment the development work began to the delivery of the first sets of weapons to the troops, 3 years passed. Thanks to the study and generalization of foreign experience in the production of similar weapons, the developers have laid a significant potential for the development of the system. MLRS "Polonaise" is distinguished by a high degree of automation. That allows, if necessary, to train the operator of the complex for the use of weapons for several hours.
In the MLRS "Polonaise" is still a significant part of the components and components of foreign production. Which has technical and economic reasons. Thus, the production of rocket engines makes economic sense with an output of 20 units per year. However, the control and guidance systems of the MLRS "Polonaise" are Belarusian.
It is interesting to note that not only the warhead, but also the engine, can be used as the striking element of the MLRS rocket. Which can be dropped on the enemy from a height of 42 km at a distance of 22 to 92 km.
The technical potential of the Polonaise MLRS laid down by the developers makes it possible to use a number of elements of the complex when creating a national anti-aircraft missile system. According to unconfirmed information, the manufacturer is already carrying out certain activities in this direction.
Other materials
At the recent MILEX-2017 International Arms Exhibition in Minsk, Belarusian gunsmiths demonstrated weapons that can significantly affect the military-political situation in Central Europe. The presentation of the new M20 missile for the multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) "Polonaise" stated the appearance in the Belarusian army of a new full-fledged operational-tactical missile system (OTRK). The development of Belarusian engineers was an unpleasant surprise for many politicians and the military, primarily from European NATO countries. In terms of a number of technical characteristics, the Polonaise surpasses the American multi-purpose MLRS M142 HIMARS.
Chinese refrain is irrelevant
Ever since the first demonstration of the Polonaise on May 9, 2015 at the Victory Parade in Minsk, there have been many conflicting responses from experts. Many of them began to argue that the design of the artillery unit and missiles of the Polonaise system was borrowed from the Chinese AR3. The basis for this assertion is that the launcher, like its Chinese counterparts, does not have tubular guides. Instead, it uses modular packages with box-section transport and launch containers. After the launch of the missiles, the package-module is removed and sent for reloading to the manufacturing plant or for disposal. This technology allows you to reduce the time to reload the combat vehicle and the production of a second volley.
Another advantage of this design is the ability to launch missiles of different calibers and types from one launcher. According to these signs, some experts decided that “Chinese ears” stick out of the “Polonaise”. It is only unclear why Chinese, and not Indian, American or, for example, Brazilian ones, which use exactly the same technologies? It looks like a number of unfortunate experts once claimed that the great designer allegedly copied the design of the Kalashnikov assault rifle from the Hugo assault rifle Schmeisser. Those who have ever held both of these weapons in their hands know how wrong this opinion is. And why did experts suddenly consider Belarusian designers more stupid than Chinese? 
Today, the level of scientific and technical potential of the design bureaus of the Republic of Belarus is very high, many developments and products of Belarusian engineers are used in samples of Russian-made weapons and military equipment. So, maybe it's not Chinese, but Russian designers copying machine guns, planes, tanks, missiles, etc. from the gunsmiths of the Celestial Empire?
In addition, during the MILEX-2017 exhibition, a message was heard that the Russian NPO Splav (developer of the Soviet and Russian MLRS Grad, Uragan, Smerch, Tornado and missiles for them), as well as the Belarusian Plant precision electromechanics (the creator of Polonaise) developed a joint project for the modernization of 122-mm rockets for the Grad MLRS. At the same time, the Belarusian side undertook the full implementation of the project - the modernization of rockets and their testing. In this regard, I would not look for traces of Chinese choruses in the composition of the Belarusian "Polonaise".
Armed and very dangerous
The "Polonaise" system is designed to destroy any group or point targets of the enemy, manpower and equipment in any type of configuration. It includes a command and control vehicle, a transport-loading vehicle and missiles for various purposes in transport and launch containers. All elements of the MLRS are mounted on Belarusian-made off-road wheeled chassis. 
The equipment installed in the combat control vehicle provides communication with combat, transport-loading and command vehicles at a distance of up to ten kilometers in motion and up to 30 in the parking lot. A combat crew of four can work continuously for up to 48 hours. The Polonaise combat vehicle uses the chassis of the same brand on which the Russian operational-tactical missile systems Iskander are built.
Belarusian corrected missiles of 300 mm caliber fly twice as far as the American "colleagues" MLRS HIMARS. They are equipped with a combined correction system based on inertial and satellite navigation systems. The circular probable deviation of the missiles does not exceed 30 m. Their warheads can have different equipment: high-explosive fragmentation, fragmentation cluster, cluster with self-aiming anti-tank submunitions and others. The Polonaise MLRS battery of six combat vehicles is capable of covering up to 48 separate targets located on an area of 100 square meters with one salvo. km.
When using the new M20 guided high-precision missile in the Polonaise, the system smoothly transforms into a new quality - into an operational-tactical missile system. The missile has a combined inertial and satellite control system, providing a maximum firing range of 280 km. The warhead weighing 480 kg has a power corresponding to a charge of 560 kg of trinitrotoluene. 
Instead of a conclusion
The appearance in the Republic of Belarus of such a powerful missile weapon can significantly change the military-political situation in Europe. Some hotheads from NATO countries neighboring Belarus will now definitely have to take into account the presence of a new missile system in the Belarusian army. Otherwise, the Belarusian "Polonaise" may turn out to be a funeral march for someone.
5:04 / 23.06.16
Belarusian "Polonaise"
On June 16, in the Gomel region of Belarus, the first combat launches of the Polonaise multiple rocket launcher system (MLRS) adopted by the Belarusian army took place. During the tests, unmanned aerial systems were used to obtain real-time target data and transmit them to combat vehicles. The firing took place after state tests to confirm the characteristics of the complex when firing at maximum range.
BM "Polonaise" at the parade /. Photo ic.pics.livejournal.com
(1 pic)() According to the press service of the Ministry of Defense of Belarus, the Polonaise will enter service with missile units in 2016. Earlier it was reported that the Belarusian MLRS will surpass the Russian Uragan-type MLRS in its characteristics.
reference Information
MLRS "Polonaise" is designed for high-precision destruction of openly located and sheltered manpower, unarmored and armored military equipment, and other objects at a distance of 50-200 km. At the May 9, 2016 parade, it was announced that the new system could deliver pinpoint strikes against eight targets simultaneously. The parade was attended by two self-propelled launchers and two transport-loading vehicles of the new MLRS.
TZM MLRS "Polonaise" / Photo: armyman.info
The four-axle wheeled chassis MZKT-7930 "Astrologer" was used as a base. A number of Russian systems are placed on this chassis, incl. operational-tactical missile systems "Iskander". The MZKT-7930 chassis with a diesel engine (500 hp) can carry a payload weighing up to 24 tons with a maximum speed of up to 70 km / h with a cruising range of up to 1000 km. () Polonez missiles are delivered in transport and launch containers (TPK) square section. TPK serves as a guide and sets the initial trajectory of the rocket.
Rocket MLRS "Polnez" / Photo armyman.info
Earlier it was reported that Polonaise could be a joint development of Belarusian and Chinese specialists. The reason for this was the visit of the Belarusian delegation to China in early April and the talks on military cooperation. Earlier it was reported that China was promoting a new A200 missile on the international market, which is designed to deliver high-precision strikes against enemy targets at ranges up to 200 km.
The A200 missile has a diameter of 301 mm (MLRS "Smerch" - 300 mm) and a total length of about 7.26 m. Folding stabilizers and rudders are located in the middle and tail parts of the missile, and X-shaped planes with a span of 615 mm are located on the tail. A missile weighing about 750 kg can hit targets at ranges of 50-200 km. Due to the long range, the missile is equipped with a combined guidance system and provides a circular probable deviation of missiles from the target of no more than 50 m.
A200 missiles / Photo: weaponscollection.com
The Chinese A200 missiles were designed to be used as weapons by modern multiple launch rocket systems. The use of such missiles as part of the Polonaise MLRS looks like a completely logical and justified step. In addition, the use of such ammunition seriously expands the range of tasks performed. With such data, the Belarusian MLRS can solve combat missions of the operational-tactical level. This is confirmed by the commentator's message about the possibility of simultaneously attacking eight targets.
The assumption of the joint development of the Polonaise system has not yet been confirmed by official sources. The Belarusian side claims that the draft of the new MLRS was developed only by domestic enterprises, without the involvement of foreign specialists.
At present, the Belarusian army is armed only with MLRS of Soviet design and production. "Polonaise" will be the first system of this class, created in Belarus for decades of independence.