A fresh consignment of precision-guided munitions has departed from the Indian city of Nagpur bound for Yerevan, marking the latest phase in the rapidly expanding defence partnership between India and Armenia.
According to statements made by India’s Minister of Defence, Rajnath Singh, the initial batch of guided Pinaka missiles has been officially dispatched from the facilities of Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).
This delivery signifies a technological leap in the hardware being supplied to the South Caucasus nation, upgrading the standard artillery systems to precision-strike assets.
The shipment confirms reports from The Hindu Business Line, cited by local media, regarding Armenia’s existing contract for four batteries of the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher (MBRL) system.
While the agreement covers the launchers themselves, crucial provisions were made for the sustained supply of guided rockets and associated support equipment.
The delivery of the Pinaka launchers commenced in July 2023 and was successfully concluded by November 2024. Now, in early 2026, the focus has shifted to ammunition that enhances the system’s lethality and range.
The guided variant of the Pinaka missile is equipped with a navigation, guidance, and control kit, significantly improving its accuracy over standard artillery rockets. This capability is viewed as vital for Armenia as it seeks to modernise its armed forces following the geopolitical shifts in the region since 2020.
This delivery highlights Armenia’s ongoing strategic diversification. Traditionally reliant on Russian security guarantees and hardware, Yerevan has increasingly looked to New Delhi and Paris to rebuild its defence architecture.
The data reflects this pivot: between 2022 and 2023, Armenia accounted for a staggering 43% of India’s total arms exports. For the 2024–2025 financial period, the two nations solidified this relationship with procurement contracts valued at approximately $600 million.
These multimillion-dollar agreements extend well beyond rocket artillery. The procurement list reportedly includes:
ATAGS Howitzers
Armenia is expected to acquire 90 units of the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System over the next three years, with six units already delivered.
Anti-Tank Missiles
Advanced guided weaponry to counter armoured threats.
Anti-Drone Systems
Electronic warfare and kinetic solutions to counter unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
India’s defence export ambitions
For New Delhi, the Armenian contracts represent a major victory for the ‘Make in India’ initiative in the defence sector. By successfully exporting complex systems such as the Pinaka and ATAGS, India is positioning itself as a credible alternative supplier of cost-effective, high-grade military hardware in the global market.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's compound on Saturday that killed him, wi...
Türkiye and Iran have suspended day-trip passenger crossings at their shared border, Türkiye's trade minister said Monday, as a ...
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following recent mil...
Global air travel remained in turmoil on Monday after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory strikes in the Gulf region prompted widespre...
Uzbekistan has expressed deep concern over the rapid escalation of tensions in the Middle East, urging restraint and diplomatic resolution as ...
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's compound on Saturday that killed him, wife and other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
Türkiye and Iran have suspended day-trip passenger crossings at their shared border, Türkiye's trade minister said Monday, as a U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran entered its third day.
China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi has held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov following recent military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on targets in Iran, as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.
Global air travel remained in turmoil on Monday after U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran and retaliatory strikes in the Gulf region prompted widespread airspace closures across the Middle East, disrupting one of the world’s most important aviation corridors.
Follow the latest developments and global reaction after the U.S. and Israel launched “major combat operations” in Iran, prompting retaliation from Tehran.
Saudi Arabia’s state oil giant Saudi Aramco closed its Ras Tanura refinery on Monday following an Iranian drone strike, an industry source told Reuters as Tehran retaliated across the Gulf after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Iranian targets over the weekend.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
Ayatollah Alireza Arafi has moved into a pivotal constitutional role following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, becoming the clerical member of Iran’s temporary leadership council under Article 111 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Middle East crisis intensifies after the deadly attack on Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's compound on Saturday that killed him, wife and other family members and senior figures. Iran has launched retaliatory strikes on U.S. targets in the region.
The UK said it's allowing the U.S. to use its bases for defensive strikes against Iran amid escalating missile attacks, after a suspected drone strike hit a British airbase in southern Cyprus, causing limited damage.
The Kremlin is utilising the recent United States and Israeli military strikes on Iran to validate its ongoing war in Ukraine. Russian officials are pointing to the escalation in the Middle East as evidence that Western nations do not adhere to international rules.
European Union stands with its member states in the face of any threat, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in response to the drone strike that hit Britain's Royal Air Force base of Akrotiri in southern Cyprus overnight.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 27th of February, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Protests broke out in Pakistan and Iraq on Sunday after Iranian state media confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in joint U.S.–Israeli strikes. At least nine people were reported dead in clashes near the U.S. consulate in Karachi.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment