Armenia is transitioning away from its heavy dependence on Russian weaponry and other military assets, as outlined by Defense Minister Suren Papikyan.

In an interview with Armenian Public Television, Papikyan indicated that the Armenian government opted to ‘diversify’ the country’s sources of arms following Moscow’s inability to protect its South Caucasus partner against Azerbaijani military assaults in September 2022.

“We have made serious progress in this direction. This process is irreversible, in the positive sense of the word. Current processes and contracts will significantly change the quality of our army’s weapons in the future. In this process, we have also acquired new partners,” Papikyan highlighted, specifically mentioning India and France.

Since September 2022, Armenia has reportedly signed several defense agreements with India valued at a minimum of $400 million. These agreements involve the acquisition of Indian artillery systems, anti-tank rockets, and anti-drone equipment for the Armenian military. Additionally, in October 2023, Armenia finalized two arms contracts with France.