Armenia shifts arms deals from Russia to India and France
Armenia, which for years maintained strong connections with Russia and armed itself with Russian-origin weapons, has begun to explore other options. According to the Unian agency, Russians are concerned that Moscow has been completely displaced from the Armenian arms market, and they openly cite the war in Ukraine as an indirect cause.
The Russian daily "Vedomosti" reports, based on a review of the latest report from the Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), that Yerevan signed its last defense contract with Moscow in 2021, valued at $400 million. Still, it has yet to be fully realized. Since then, Yerevan has allocated significantly larger sums to acquire military equipment, but the funds are now directed elsewhere.
Armenia arms itself in India and France
During 2022 and 2023, Armenia primarily signed defense contracts with India, totaling more than $1.5 billion. As a result, Armenia acquired, among other things, Pinaka missile systems with an 8-inch caliber, ATAGS artillery systems with a 6-inch caliber, anti-drone systems, Akash air defense systems, and various types of ammunition.
France emerged as Armenia's second key partner, with Yerevan signing contracts in 2023 and 2024 worth approximately $250 million. These contracts involved Ground Master 200 radars, short-range Mistral air defense systems, and 155 mm Caesar self-propelled artillery systems, which are gaining popularity due to positive reviews from Ukrainian soldiers.
They used to buy weapons exclusively from Russia
Data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows that Russia's share in Armenia’s arms imports from 2011 to 2020 was as high as 94 percent. By 2024, it had dropped to just 10 percent, as confirmed by representatives, including Armen Grigoryan of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia.
The RIAC report suggests that the significant decrease in Russia's share in the Armenian arms market is due to "delivery difficulties caused by the ongoing military actions in Ukraine."
The strategic partnership agreement signed by representatives of the United States and Armenia in January 2025 is unlikely to facilitate Russia's potential return to this market.
