Indian Defence Delegation Led by General Anil Chauhan Visits Armenia
An Indian defence delegation, headed by Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan, has arrived in Armenia for a four-day official visit with the aim of enhancing defence and security cooperation between the two nations.
The delegation, which arrived in Yerevan on Sunday local time, is seen as a significant move towards strengthening bilateral military engagement and strategic ties.
According to a statement from the Integrated Defence Staff Headquarters, the visit signifies a crucial step in advancing shared strategic interests and boosting long-term defence and security collaboration between India and Armenia.
Upon their arrival in the Armenian capital, the Indian delegation was warmly received by India’s Ambassador to Armenia, Nilakshi Saha Sinha, and Deputy Chief of the Armenian Armed Forces, Major General Temur Shahnazaryan, highlighting the growing closeness in defence cooperation between the two countries.
This visit follows a recent milestone in India-Armenia defence cooperation, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged off the first batch of guided Pinaka rockets for Armenia. Manufactured by Pune-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL), these rockets were part of a contract worth around Rs 2,000 crore signed by Armenia in September 2022 for the acquisition of four Pinaka rocket system batteries.
The deal includes unguided, extended-range, and guided variants of the system, making Armenia the first international customer for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).
The agreement not only showcases India’s commitment to self-reliance in defence manufacturing but also underscores its ambition to become a significant global defence exporter.
Deliveries of the initial Pinaka unguided rocket systems commenced in July 2023 and were completed by late 2024, paving the way for advanced variant consignments in the future.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, in his remarks on the exports, emphasized that the shipment of Pinaka missiles reflects the growing strength and maturity of India’s defence industry. He highlighted India’s expanding export potential, indicating the country’s transition from being a defense equipment importer to a major exporter on the global stage.
