In a strategic move to deepen bilateral ties, India’s Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan held extensive discussions with Lieutenant General Edvard Asrian of Armenia in New Delhi on Tuesday. The meeting, hosted at the Integrated Defence Staff headquarters, explored groundbreaking prospects for joint ventures in military hardware development.
A formal Guard of Honour greeted the Armenian general, reflecting the warmth and commitment to stronger defense linkages. Key focal points included elevating defense cooperation through co-production of advanced weaponry, technology transfers, and collaborative R&D efforts.
This comes on the heels of substantial arms deals and high-level visits. Just months ago, Armenia received its first batch of guided Pinaka rockets, a product of Indian ingenuity from Solar Defence and Aerospace in Pune. The ₹2,000 crore contract signed in September 2022 made Armenia the pioneer overseas buyer of DRDO’s Pinaka MBRL, encompassing various rocket configurations.
Supply of unguided variants kicked off in mid-2023, with full delivery expected by year-end, followed by sophisticated guided systems. This export success story underscores India’s ascent as a defense manufacturing powerhouse.
Building on a February visit by General Chauhan’s team to Yerevan—where they conferred with PM Nikol Pashinyan—the current dialogue aims to institutionalize these gains. Emphasis was laid on transitioning from buyer-seller dynamics to equal partners in innovation.
Such collaborations not only fortify Armenia’s defense posture amid regional tensions but also amplify India’s ‘Make in India’ initiative on the world stage. Analysts view this as a template for future Indo-Armenian engagements, potentially encompassing drones, missiles, and cyber defenses.
As global alliances shift, this partnership exemplifies pragmatic diplomacy, blending shared strategic interests with economic opportunities in defense tech.
