Armenia to cut conscription term as Army shifts toward professional force, defence minister says

Armenia is set to shorten the term of mandatory military service as part of a broader strategy to modernize its armed forces, driven by a significant increase in the number of professional contract soldiers.

Defence Minister Suren Papikyan made the announcement during a parliamentary government Q&A session held on October 22, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

According to Papikyan, the Armenian government has committed to reducing the length of conscription by expanding its corps of contract soldiers, under the objectives outlined in its official defence program.

“The second key document—the Army Transformation Concept—also outlines similar commitments. This makes it clear that the reform is the result of long-term strategic planning,” the minister stated.

He went on to highlight the growing popularity of the Defender of the Homeland program, under which thousands of servicemen have opted for long-term contracts, committing themselves professionally to the armed forces.

“Today, many soldiers are choosing to dedicate their futures to the army. The number of such individuals has already reached several thousand. Therefore, to suggest that we are downsizing the army is, to put it mildly, absurd,” Papikyan said.

On October 21, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced that legislation reducing the duration of compulsory military service would be implemented earlier than initially scheduled. If adopted, the law will reduce the term of service from two years to one and a half years, starting with the winter draft of 2026.

By Vafa Guliyeva