Armenia widens arms procurement to six-seven countries, PM says

Armenia is purchasing weapons from six to seven countries as part of efforts to diversify its defence procurement, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has said.

Speaking at a meeting with residents in the town of Charentsavan, Pashinyan said the country was broadening its sources of military equipment beyond a small group of suppliers, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

“At the parade, modern foreign-made weapons will be presented. It is very important that we have diversified our sources of arms procurement,” he said, according to remarks reported by Armenian media.

He added that Armenia’s approach was aimed at ensuring flexibility in defence acquisitions, rather than relying on two or three countries for supplies.

Pashinyan also said that the upcoming military parade would feature both foreign-made systems and equipment produced domestically in Armenia.

Armenia is currently known to be procuring arms from Russia, France, India, China and Belgium, among other countries.

Separately, Defence Minister Suren Papikyan has said the parade in Yerevan will showcase a range of equipment in service with the armed forces, including drones, radar systems and communications technology, alongside domestically produced military hardware.

By Aghakazim Guliyev