Yerevan/New Delhi: Armenia is about to finalise an enormous $3.5-4 billion arms take care of India amid ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan. Sources say the deal will embrace air protection techniques, missile techniques and artillery, marking a serious leap in India’s strategic presence within the South Caucasus area.
The discussions concentrate on the Akash-NG missile system, which has superior interception capabilities and an extended vary than earlier variations. It impressed navy observers throughout India’s Operation Sindoor and is predicted to turn out to be a key a part of Armenia’s multi-layered air protection community.
The nation has additionally proven curiosity in India’s supersonic BrahMos cruise missile, which destroyed 11 Pakistani airbases throughout India’s navy offensive towards Pakistan. Protection analysts see the deal as a big improve to Armenia’s capabilities whereas boosting India’s protection export ambitions and ‘Make in India’ initiative.
Based on the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Research and Evaluation (MP-IDSA), India has been supplying superior weapons to Armenia since 2022. These embrace the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system, Konkurs anti-tank guided missiles, 155mm howitzer weapons, the Superior Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), Akash and Akash-NG air protection batteries, anti-drone techniques and small arms ammunition.
India and Armenia are additionally negotiating a co-production framework for the BrahMos missile, which may permit some parts to be manufactured in Armenia itself.
Consultants say the deal not solely strengthens Armenia’s navy but additionally enhances India’s affect within the area.
Armenia has emerged as one in all India’s high protection patrons. Since 2023, Yerevan has been buying Indian weapons. India appointed its first protection attaché in Armenia in 2023, and in response, New Delhi stationed its personal protection attaché in Yerevan in April 2024, the primary such posting within the Caucasus.
The partnership started within the early 2020s with a $40 million Swathi weapon-locating radar deal. The system proved efficient towards Azerbaijan and outperformed comparable Polish techniques.
Traditionally reliant on older Soviet-era weaponry, Armenia’s protection is regularly modernising with Indian expertise. Analysts say the India-Armenia protection collaboration represents a brand new period in regional safety, combining cutting-edge Indian techniques with Armenia’s strategic wants.
This deal highlights India’s rising footprint within the South Caucasus and demonstrates the worldwide enchantment of its indigenous weapons expertise.