Diversification of arms procurement and expansion of military-technical partnerships play a pivotal role in shaping Armenia’s national security architecture, Defense Minister Suren Papikyan said during a parliamentary debate on the 2026 draft state budget, according to Armenpress.
“This is exactly the logic behind our continued efforts to modernize the Armed Forces and establish cooperation with new partners,” Papikyan stated.
He emphasized that the Ministry of Defense has consistently supported the development of Armenia’s domestic defense industry, made possible through significant increases in defense spending.
“In 2022, our contracts with local defense companies amounted to approximately 5.5 billion drams. Today, that figure has reached 171 billion drams,” the minister detailed.
Papikyan also stressed that the weapons and armed forces of the Republic of Armenia will be used solely for the defense of the country's territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Earlier, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said during a Q&A session in Parliament that a military parade held in November or December would have been “very impressive,” but added that the country is preparing for peace. He previously stated that the newly acquired weapons and equipment would be shown not just to political figures but also to citizens, encouraging the formation of 50-person groups to attend such demonstrations.
