Armenia signs €274.5M arms deal with France

Armenia signed arms supply contracts with France worth more than €274 million in 2023–2024, according to a report submitted to parliament by France’s Ministry of the Armed Forces.

1news.media informs, citing Armenian media, the document states that, within the framework of diversifying cooperation in the defense sector, Armenia decided to turn to France to strengthen its military capabilities and ensure the security of its population. “The export of new equipment, the holding of military exercises, and joint operations are exclusively defensive in nature. The establishment of a French defense mission in Yerevan in 2023 allows for establishing closer ties with Armenian partners and for determining the best formats of cooperation,” the report says.

Until 2022, however, France practically did not supply arms to Armenia, but numerous contracts were signed in 2023–2024 to replenish Armenia’s ground forces.

Several joint programs in the Armenian defense industry are also under consideration.

The Armenian-French military partnership includes, in particular, a program to develop skills for conducting combat operations in mountain conditions.

The report details as well that France is supplying Armenia with the previously known Caesar self-propelled howitzers, as well as 15 anti-tank missiles and their launch systems.