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.
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