Vigen Sargsyan: Armenia will not only continue to purchase weapons,  but also will develop its own military-industrial complex

ArmInfo.Deliveries of weapons to Armenia within the framework of the Russian defense loan will be completed by the end of 2017, Armenian Defense Minister Vigen  Sargsyan told journalists on October 2 at a press conference. At the same time, as the Minister pointed out, Armenia will not only continue to purchase arms, but will also develop its own military-industrial complex.

 According to Sargsyan, the supply of arms purchased under the agreement on granting Russia a state export credit for $ 200 million is coming to an end. The terms, as the head of the Armenian Defense Ministry explained, were specified in the agreement. At this stage, according to the minister, the process of supply is at the most active stage.

At the same time, an increase in the expenditure items of the state  budget for defense purposes by 17% or by 27 billion drams to 246  billion drams in 2018 will also be used to purchase new weapons and  military equipment.

At the same time, as Vigen Sargsyan pointed out, Armenia has achieved  real success. With this in mind, the head of the MOD considers  realistic the idea of turning the military-industrial complex into  the locomotive of the Armenian economy. Sargsyan is sure that if  Armenia moves at such a rate, Armenia will also be able to export  military products, which will be one of the stimuli for the  development of the economy.

The Armenian Defense Minister appealed to the reshuffles in the Armed  Forces of the country. As explained Sargsyan, it is about the  rotation. "We should not look for any other subtext, it's a natural  process," the minister called.

In 2016, an agreement was signed between Armenia and Russia on  granting the country a state export credit for up to $ 200 million  for ten years with a deferred payment before the beginning of 2018.   According to the annex, Armenia purchases from Russia launcher  launchers and ammunition, Igla-S antiaircraft missile systems,  ground-based complexes of executive radio technical intelligence  , heavy flame-throwing systems TOS-1A with transport-  charging missiles, guided missiles 9M113M, RPG-26 grenade launchers,  Dragunov sniper rifles, Tiger armored vehicles, engineering  facilities and communications equipment. The report said that the  list can be changed by mutual written consent between the Federal  Service for Military - Technical Cooperation and the Ministry of  Defense of Armenia.

At the same time, as pointed out in July this year. Minister of  Finance of Armenia Vardan Aramyan, Armenia is negotiating with Russia  on obtaining a new loan for the purchase of Russian-made military  products. According to him, discussions on obtaining a new military  loan from Russia began this year and will be of a lengthy nature. At  the same time, the minister said that starting from 2018, Armenia  plans to increase defense spending by 26-27 billion drams annually  and make up 4% of GDP. As explained by the minister, this decision is  due to the need to maintain a military balance. At the same time,  Aramyan noted, the expenditures of the Defense Ministry, including  capital ones, planned for 2017 are about 226 billion drams (3.71% of  GDP)