SOURCE: AFI
A report by Azerbaijani outlet Caliber.az has ignited controversy, casting doubt on the functionality of Indian-supplied weaponry to Armenia. The report cites comments by former Armenian Defense Minister Arshak Karapetyan, who served for three months in 2021, alleging unidentified Indian-origin weapons have exhibited performance issues for the past year.
The crux of the issue lies in Karapetyan’s reported remarks. However, credibility is a factor here. Karapetyan served as Armenia’s Defense Minister for only three months in 2021. Additionally, the specific weapon systems he critiqued are not mentioned.
India and Armenia have a developing defense partnership. Here’s a breakdown of some key details:
- Swathi Weapon Locating Radars (WLR): Four units were exported to Armenia in 2020.
- Akash Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM): An order has been placed, but deliveries haven’t begun.
- ATAGS Artillery Guns: Six units have been delivered, with 84 more planned for later in 2024.
- MarG 155×39 Howitzer Guns: Deliveries commenced in 2023.
Caliber.az is an Azerbaijani outlet, and Azerbaijan has a long-standing political and military conflict with Armenia. President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has previously criticized both France and India for supplying weapons to Armenia. Given this context, Caliber.az’s report could be motivated by propaganda rather than objective reporting.
Karapetyan’s brief tenure as Defense Minister raises questions about the depth of his knowledge regarding specific weapon systems. Furthermore, the lack of details about the weapons in question makes it difficult to assess the validity of his claims.