India’s top general, Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan, made an official visit to Armenia, marking the highest-ranking Indian military visit to the country to date, and met with Armenian Defense Minister Suren Papikyan on February 1, the Armenian Ministry of Defense said. The meeting was also attended by India’s Ambassador to Armenia, Nilakshi Saha Sinha, and Chauhan also held talks with Lieutenant General Eduard Asryan as the sides reviewed expanding defense cooperation, regional and international security issues, and preparations to implement their 2026 bilateral defense program, while India’s growing role as a key arms supplier to Armenia was underscored by reports on new Pinaka rocket system deliveries under a $220 million deal.
On February 2, a welcoming ceremony featuring a guard of honor and a military orchestra was held at the administrative complex of the Ministry of Defense in honor of General Chauhan. The national anthems of Armenia and India were performed.
Papikyan praised the current level of bilateral defense cooperation and stressed the importance of regularly implementing joint programs. General Chauhan said India is ready to continue cooperation in existing areas and explore new fields of mutual interest. The discussions also touched on regional and international security issues.
In separate talks with Asryan, Chief of the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces and First Deputy Minister of Defense, the sides reviewed the current course of defense cooperation and the activities carried out within the framework of the bilateral cooperation plan.
The parties discussed issues related to the effective implementation of the activities planned for 2026. They emphasized the importance of holding events in the fields of education, professional training, exercises and drills, and experience exchange in various areas in Armenia and India. Asryan presented the directions of the ongoing transformation of the Armenian Armed Forces and stressed the importance of Armenia–India defense cooperation in this process.
The Integrated Defense Staff, an organization under the Indian Armed Forces, wrote on X that “The visit marks an important step in taking forward shared strategic interests and enhancing long-term defense and security collaboration between the two Nations.”
On February 2, a welcoming ceremony featuring a guard of honor and a military orchestra was held at the administrative complex of the Ministry of Defense in honor of General Chauhan. The national anthems of Armenia and India were performed.
India has been one of Armenia’s leading arms suppliers since the 2020 Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) war, during which Pakistan supported Azerbaijan. Publicly reported contracts have included artillery systems, rocket launchers, air defense assets, and related ammunition, alongside other equipment. Media reports have also said Armenia’s defense contracts with India include surface-to-air missiles, multiple-launch rocket systems, howitzers, and anti-drone equipment, with the total volume of those contracts reaching $600 million by the end of 2023.
Papikyan said on January 13 that Armenia will continue to buy weapons and other military equipment despite reaching peace agreements with Azerbaijan. Russia had long been Armenia’s main supplier of weapons and ammunition, but Yerevan has been looking for alternative sources due to growing tensions with Moscow and the war in Ukraine. Since October 2023, Armenia has also signed a number of arms deals with French companies.
At the end of January 2026, The Economic Times reported that the first batch of guided Pinaka rocket systems for Armenia was flagged off by Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh. The deliveries mark the start of a $220 million deal between India and Armenia for four Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher batteries, along with anti-tank rockets, ammunition, and other equipment.
According to the report, Armenia is the first confirmed international buyer of the Pinaka system, though several other countries in Southeast Asia and Europe, including France, have shown interest.
