“Army's Armament and MOB Operations Were Insufficient for Modern Warfare,” Tonoyan

Armenia has never had the opportunity to adequately replenish its armament and military technology resources prior to the 44-day war of 2020. This statement was made today by former Minister of Defense Davit Tonoyan during the sitting of the parliamentary commission investigating the circumstances of the 44-day war, in response to a question about whether he was satisfied with the army’s capabilities when he took over its leadership.

“We noted twice, in 2018 and 2019, that there was a need for replenishment,” Tonoyan said. He stated that he did not claim the army was adequate, as armed forces are a living organism. However, in May 2018, when he took office, considering the country’s economic and demographic situation, he assessed that Armenia could withstand Azerbaijan’s aggression within its borders and ensure the safety and self-determination rights of the people of Artsakh.

He indicated that had the Armenian armed forces been in a state of adequate preparedness and capability in 2020, the Armenian military might have found itself at Azerbaijan’s eastern borders near the Caspian Sea in the event of renewed hostilities.

Referring to the resource management of the MOB (Mobilization Resource), Tonoyan noted the system was flawed. “The approach developed since 1946 until the early 1960s for mobilizing personnel was a mobilization concept that envisioned total warfare, using the entire potential and having operational and strategic depth, which was automatically implemented in terms of replenishing and supplying the Armenian armed forces. In my assessment, this was unrealistic, and military actions have shown that Armenia is incapable of such mobilization strategies,” Tonoyan remarked.

He emphasized that the replenishment of the Armenian armed forces was also carried out through mandatory military service, which constituted a significant number, and Armenia’s demographic and economic capabilities did not allow for the involvement of harmonized combat-ready units within the framework of mobilization.

“In terms of the fourth-generation warfare, even that system was inadequate. For this reason, during the preparatory phase, we introduced the concept of an active reserve,” Tonoyan added.

It is worth noting that on July 28, Davit Tonoyan's defense team issued a statement indicating that Tonoyan did not approve of the closed meeting of the parliamentary commission and wished to hold a public session, seeking the presence of the parliamentary opposition. Already, the Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces, Eduard Asryan, former Chief of Staff Onik Gasparyan, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Zohrab Mnatsakanyan have answered some questions in the commission. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also answered questions in the commission on June 20 and 27.