SOURCE: AFI
Recent Social media claims by people believed to be Russian accounts that Indian-supplied weapons systems, such as the Pinaka and ATAGS, have underperformed in Armenia’s conditions seem to be part of a broader propaganda effort, fueled by the growing shift in Armenia’s defence procurement towards Indian-made systems. These Russian assertions, which claim that Indian artillery systems cannot perform in Armenia’s terrain, are not only misleading but also lack credibility, especially when one considers the extensive and rigorous testing that these systems have undergone in some of the most extreme conditions on Earth.
Indian defense systems, including the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket system and the ATAGS (Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System), have been tested and successfully operated in challenging environments in India, including the Thar Desert and the Himalayan mountain ranges. These are far more demanding conditions than those found in Armenia, where temperatures can vary but do not reach the extremes encountered in these regions.
India’s Pinaka rocket system and ATAGS artillery have been subjected to the harshest conditions in the world during their development and operational trials. The Thar Desert, where temperatures regularly soar above 50°C, and the Himalayan high-altitude regions, where temperatures can plummet to -40°C, have provided some of the toughest proving grounds for Indian weaponry. If Indian weapons can perform reliably in these conditions, the suggestion that they would fail in Armenia’s more temperate climate is, frankly, laughable.
In the Thar Desert, where heat can interfere with engine performance and ammunition handling, Indian weapons have performed without significant issues. The Himalayan ranges, with their frigid temperatures and low oxygen levels, have also tested the durability and reliability of artillery systems, including Pinaka and ATAGS, in the most challenging terrains. Indian defense systems have been designed and manufactured to meet such stringent requirements, ensuring that they are robust and capable of functioning under a wide range of extreme conditions.
The claims of underperformance seem to be part of a broader attempt by Russia to discredit India’s defense exports to Armenia, particularly as the country has increasingly turned to India for advanced artillery systems. Armenia’s purchase of the Guided Pinaka system and interest in other Indian weapons systems marks a significant shift in its defense procurement strategy, moving away from Russian reliance. These Russian allegations appear to be a reactionary move in an attempt to damage India’s growing influence in the region and its expanding defense ties with Armenia.
This shift in Armenia’s defense policy reflects its desire for greater independence in defense procurement and a desire to access more cost-effective and modern weaponry. India’s defense systems, particularly those like the Pinaka and ATAGS, provide a highly reliable, competitive, and affordable alternative to Russian systems, which are often more expensive and less advanced in certain areas.