Defense Minister: Armenia intends to purchase strategic deterrence weapons from Russia

ArmInfo. Yerevan intends to acquire strategic deterrence weapons from Moscow, within the framework of a new Russian defense loan of 100 million, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan said.

"We will count on the duration of this program, as the Russian arms market is very comfortable for Armenia, including acquiring weapons from our strategic ally at domestic prices, and unified approaches to maintenance and operation, and effective application in training exercises , and the possibility of testing weapons at other ranges in cooperation with the Russian Federation, "Sargsyan said. And in this context, he added that preferential credit terms make the Russian market even more attractive, since it allows the country's armed forces to be supplied in accordance with long-term planning. Referring to the arms supplies within the previous loan of 200 million, the head of the Armenian Defense Ministry stressed that the process is proceeding according to the plan. According to him, this is always a complicated process, as within the framework of the loan Armenia acquires the state-of-the-art weapons produced by its order, and does not receive them from warehouses. "Transportation and logistics require time, but we are moving on a normal schedule, and I think that most of the works will be completed by the end of the year," Sargsyan concluded.

Earlier, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan stated that an agreement on a 100 million loan has already been signed and will be implemented after the completion of all interstate agreements.  To recall,  according to the draft agreement, which the Armenian government approved on October 12, Russia will provide Armenia with a loan for a period of 20 years, of which the first five years at a discounted 3 per annum. At the same time, the share of Armenia's co-financing will be 10 of the total cost of the program. Based on the loan agreement, separate agreements will be concluded between the Armenian Ministry of Defense and Rosoboronexport OJSC on the order and timing of deliveries of arms and military equipment. Repayment of the principal amount of the loan is scheduled to begin on May 15, 2023 and be completed on May 15, 2037. In the first six years, Armenia will annually repay a loan of 1.5 million, after which the amount of deductions will increase to 3.6- 3.8 million.

Early, Moscow has already provided Armenia with a loan of 200 million for a period of 10 years.  Yerevan uses these means to purchase launchers of the Smerch multiple rocket launcher and its ammunition, the Igla-S missile system and its missiles, the Avtobaz-M ground reconnaissance systems, the TOS-1A heavy flamethrower systems Solntsepek "with transport-loading machines TZM-T, guided missiles 9M113M, RPG-26 grenade launchers, B-429E fuses, Dragunov sniper rifles (SVD), armored vehicles, Tiger armored vehicles, engineering equipment and communications equipment. In addition, Russia supplied Armenia with the Iskander missile system. According to the interim expenditure program for 2018-2020. Armenia plans to increase military spending by 60 million annually. The aim of Yerevan is to increase the level of military spending by 4 of GDP. At present, Armenia's military expenditures are about 3.6 of GDP - about 450 million