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17 September 2024

India Becomes Armenia’s Largest Defense Supplier

Syed Fazl-e-Haider

In August, it was reported that Armenia will receive India’s indigenously developed Akash-1S air defense missile system later in 2024. Armenia, which had placed an order for 15 Akash missile systems in 2022 for $720 million, will be the first foreign buyer of the platform. The Akash-1S systems, which Indian company Bharat Dynamics Limited will supply, provide reliable protection against air threats such as fighters, guided missiles, and drones (ARMENPRESS; India Defense Research Wing, August 8). Military cooperation between New Delhi and Yerevan continues to deepen, with Armenia emerging as the largest importer of weapons from India in the past four years. A report from the Indian Finance Ministry said, “The former Soviet Republic of Armenia has become the largest importer of weapons from India after concluding deals on the purchase of Pinaka multiple-launch rocket systems and Akash anti-aircraft systems.” The report further said, “the total volume of weapons purchases by Armenia from India reached $600 million by the start of current [financial year] 2024–25.” Under multimillion-dollar defense deals, New Delhi is committed to supplying Indian-made howitzers, anti-tank rockets, and anti-drone equipment to the Armenian army (Azatutyun, July 24). The deepening defense cooperation between India and Armenia reflects both nations’ strategic efforts to reshape regional alliances, as Armenia seeks alternatives to Russian military support and India looks to expand its geopolitical influence in the South Caucasus.

In 2023, Yerevan decided to appoint a defense attaché to its embassy in New Delhi in a move to strengthen military cooperation with India. The decision came after Armenia signed several defense deals with Indian arms manufacturers in 2022. The deals, which totalled $245 million, included the acquisition of Indian multiple launch rocket systems, anti-tank rockets, and ammunition. The Armenian military attaché will supposedly coordinate existing defense programs between the two countries (Caucasus Watch, May 23, 2023). The presence of an Armenian defense attaché in India will allow Yerevan and New Delhi to conduct military cooperation in a more official and diplomatic manner.

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