Armenia Considers Purchasing Akash Missile Systems and Kamikaze Drones from India

In the context of ongoing tensions with Azerbaijan, Armenia is exploring the possibility of entering into new defense agreements with India. Apart from missile systems such as the Akash, Armenia is also considering the potential purchase of drones and other munitions. This information was reported by the Indian online newspaper ThePrint, citing Armenpres.

During a bilateral meeting on October 18 in Gandhinagar at DEFEXPO 2022, Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan and his Indian counterpart, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh, focused on enhancing cooperation in the defense sector. This meeting took place just weeks after an intergovernmental agreement was signed between the two countries for the sale of Indian Pinaka multi-barrel rocket systems, Konkurs anti-tank missile systems, and a wide range of munitions, including 80 mm mortars.

According to ThePrint, sources from the Indian government remain silent about the details of the bilateral meeting with the Armenian minister but assert that “the focus was on cooperation in the defense sector.” Sources from ThePrint have claimed that the Indian government has come out in favor of defense cooperation with Armenia due to the existing tensions with Azerbaijan, a nation supported by Turkey and Pakistan.

ThePrint’s sources further revealed that Armenia is considering the option of purchasing the locally produced Akash missile systems. “Armenia is also exploring the possibility of acquiring kamikaze drones (loitering munitions) developed by private companies Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Solar Industries in India,” ThePrint reported.