Armenia has signed a new arms deal with France to purchase an unspecified number of 155mm CAESAR self-propelled howitzers from the French military-industrial giant KNDS, reports France’s Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu on X (Twitter).
The new military-technical agreement was signed during Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan’s visit to Paris on June 17. Details on the number of howitzers or the expected delivery timeline remain undisclosed. Yerevan’s deal with KNDS may well be the most significant of the French-Armenian arms deals signed to date.
France’s Lecornu hailed the agreement as a “new important milestone,” reinforcing the defense rapport between the two nations. He remarked on the warm and productive discussions held with Minister Papikyan on the sidelines of the EUROSATORY defense exhibition, though no further specifics were released.
The ministers used this occasion to review ongoing defense cooperation, with Papikyan briefing Lecornu on the progress of defense reforms in Armenia and the activities carried out within the framework of cooperation with France in this direction, reports Armenia’s Defense Ministry (MoD). Both Lecornu and Papikyan “emphasized the importance of military-technical cooperation. New agreements have been reached in this regard,” said Armenia’s MoD.
During his working visit to France, Armenia’s Defense Minister Suren Papikyan attended the EUROSATORY international exhibition. Papikyan toured the pavilions, familiarized himself with the exhibits, and held meetings with representatives of several military-industrial companies. “I held meetings with representatives of various military industrial companies. Agreements have been reached, and contracts have been signed,” said the Defense Minister on Facebook.
The CAESAR howitzer, a cornerstone of this deal, is a top-tier French artillery system mounted on a truck chassis and equipped with a 155mm/52 caliber gun. Renowned for its precision and effectiveness, the CAESAR can accurately engage targets over 55 kilometers away with enhanced ammunition types. The CAESAR is one of the most advanced artillery systems of its kind in the world, capable of firing NATO-standard shells. Its design emphasizes rapid deployment and operational flexibility, featuring advanced combat capabilities like NBC protection. The system’s mobility and a high degree of automation in targeting make it an invaluable asset in modern warfare.
Last fall, Paris pledged to sell weapons and provide other military assistance to Armenia as part of a broader deepening of bilateral relations cemented by the existence of an influential Armenian community in France. Those weapons include sophisticated radars, short-range air-defense systems, armored personnel carriers, and night-vision equipment. Some of that hardware was delivered to Armenia by the time Lecornu visited Armenia in February. France is also set to train Armenian military personnel. The French military will reportedly hold three “mountain combat training courses” for them this year. Armenia’s top general and France’s ground army chief of staff discussed these programs when they met in Germany last week.
EUROSATORY, one of the world’s largest and most significant international exhibitions for the land and air-land defense and security industry, is a premier global defense and security expo held biennially in Paris. The event attracts over 2,000 exhibitors from 61 countries and approximately 62,000 visitors from 150 nations, making it a pivotal event for showcasing a broad spectrum of defense products and technologies. As an exclusive networking hub, EUROSATORY is essential for defense industry professionals, government officials, and military staff from around the globe, fostering vital international defense industry interactions.
This arms acquisition underscores the strategic strengthening of Armenia’s defense capabilities, aligning with national security goals and deepening its international defense relationships.
