ArmInfo.Armenia is extremely interested in purchasing modern weapons from Russia. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said this in an interview with Interfax when asked whether Armenia plans to continue purchasing Russian weapons, in particular, Su-30SM fighters and weapons for these aircraft.
According to Pashinyan, Armenia is focused on broad and long-term military-technical cooperation with the Russian Federation, which follows from the long-term strategic interests of the two states. "Taking into account that two Armenian-Russian groups have been established and are functioning on the territory of the Republic of Armenia in accordance with interstate bilateral agreements - The Joint Group of Troops (forces) and the Joint Regional Air Defense System in the Caucasus region of collective Security, and, in addition, both countries are member states of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, in the format of which troops (collective forces) and joint groups are also created, it is clear that Armenia is extremely interested in supplies from Russia in order to have modern and compatible, first of all, with the Russian Federation and other CSTO allies, weapons and ammunition," he said.
For the same reasons, the Armenian Prime Minister stressed, Armenia is also interested in the supply of weapons and ammunition to the republic in the same configuration as for the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. "Regarding the type of aircraft you have indicated, I will also answer in the affirmative, since these are modern multifunctional fighters, and their purchase is provided for both by our bilateral contract documents and the program for the development of the national Armed Forces," he said.
When asked whether Armenia is considering a new Russian loan for the purchase of weapons and military equipment, what weapons Yerevan needs, and in what year Armenia plans to close the current weapons loan, Pashinyan said that decisions on such issues will be made depending on the results of the army reform that Armenia is currently conducting. "I do not see the point at this stage to discuss the sources and structure of funding in isolation from the goals and objectives that will be determined in the process of army reform," he said. As for the current loan obligations, as the Prime Minister noted, " of course, they will be serviced properly and on time."