Armenia Military Forces 🇦🇲

Armenia’s military posture is defined by its strategic vulnerability as a landlocked nation in the South Caucasus. The decisive defeat in the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh conflict against Azerbaijan has fundamentally altered the regional balance of power, exposing significant shortcomings in Armenian military doctrine, equipment, and readiness. This has compelled Yerevan to reassess its long-standing security dependence on Russia and the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), which it deemed ineffective. Consequently, Armenia is actively seeking to diversify its security partnerships, notably enhancing military cooperation with France, India, and Greece to gain access to modern technology and training.

Military Forces

The Armed Forces of Armenia are based on conscription, with male citizens serving for a defined period. There is a move to increase the number of professional soldiers to enhance overall combat effectiveness. Total active personnel are estimated at around 50,000, with a larger reserve force. The military is divided into the Army and the Air Force and Air Defense.

The army's ground forces have traditionally relied on Soviet-era equipment, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, and artillery systems. The conflict with Azerbaijan highlighted the inadequacy of this arsenal against modern drones and precision-guided munitions. In response, Armenia is seeking to modernize its land forces, with a focus on acquiring more advanced artillery and armored vehicles.

The Air Force and Air Defense are critical to Armenia's defense strategy. It operates a mix of aircraft, including Su-30SM fighter jets. The air defense network consists of various surface-to-air missile systems, many of which are of Soviet design. Efforts are underway to upgrade these systems to better counter aerial threats. A small domestic defense industry exists, primarily focused on ammunition and electronics, but it does not produce heavy weaponry.

Strategic Trends

Yerevan's primary strategic trend is military modernization and diversification away from Russian hardware. The government has increased the defense budget to facilitate the acquisition of new capabilities. Procurement efforts are focused on sourcing technology from India, including anti-drone systems, and from France, with an emphasis on air defense and mountain warfare training.

A key area of reform is the adoption of a new military doctrine that moves away from Soviet-style operational art. The emphasis is now on creating smaller, more mobile, and technologically advanced units capable of operating in Armenia's mountainous terrain. This includes a focus on special forces and the development of a professional non-commissioned officer corps. The goal is to build a more resilient and adaptable military capable of deterring aggression in a volatile region.