Armenia Builds Up Its Military Might

[Teutonic Knight]

Armenia recently got several S-400's. Nothing, not even Patriots can do anything about them. Ankara can be obliterated from Yerevan in a few hours.

 

Agency WPS

DEFENSE and SECURITY (Russia)

August 27, 2004, Friday

 

ARMENIA BUILDS UP ITS MILITARY MIGHT

 

SOURCE: Voyenno-Promyshlenny Kurier, No 32, August 25 - 31, 2004, p.

2

 

by Samvel Martirosjan (Yerevan)

 

 

ARMENIA BUILDS UP ITS MILITARY MIGHT AGAINST THE BACKGROUND OF THE

DEEPENING CRISIS IN THE RELATIONS WITH AZERBAIJAN THAT THREATENS WITH

FULL-SCALE WAR

 

 

The Russian-Armenian military cooperation develops quite dynamically.

Not long ago, Russia lent a sympathetic ear to Armenia's request

concerning training of up to 150 officers. Complicated situation in

the Caucasus forces the authorities of Armenia to pay unfeigned

attention to national defense. According to official data alone, the

2004 Armenian state budget allocated almost $82 million for military

needs, an almost 10% rise against war spendings in 2003. Estimates of

the International Institute of Strategic Studies (London) show that

in 2002 Armenia was the CIS leader in the arms spendings to GDP ratio

- 6.4%, an equivalent of $162 million.

 

The CIA claims that as far as this particular parameter is concerned,

Armenia is the 11th in the world; it spent $135 million on its army

in 2001. When the closed parliamentary hearing of fulfillment of the

2003 budget was over not long ago, Armenian Defense Minister Serzh

Sarkisjan said that arms spendings would be increased next year

again. Sarkisjan refused to elaborate but said that the Armenian

national army was initiating a program of rearmament.

 

It should be noted that the population of Armenia, not exactly a

wealthy country, does not object to these measures taken by national

leaders. The population is perfectly aware of the undeclared war with

Azerbaijan that is under way. Serious clashes are regularly reported

in the areas where Armenian and Azerbaijani troops face each other;

shots have been fired by sharpshooters for a decade (ever since the

cease-fire on the Artsax front was signed). Moreover, official

Yerevan positions itself as a guarantor of security of Artsax.

 

Turkey is another potential enemy. Diplomatic relations with Turkey

have never been established. Ankara is still blocking the border with

Armenia and pursuing an openly anti-Armenian policy. Sociologists of

the Armenian Center of National and Strategic Studies discovered that

47.5% respondents in Armenia believe that the war with Azerbaijan may

be resumed within five years, and 7% more expect a Turkish aggression

within the same span of time.

 

Figures

 

Armenian national army is considered one of the most combat ready in

the Caucasus. These days, it is over 60,000 men strong. According to

the CIA, there are 810,000 men in Armenia aged 15 to 59 and almost

650,000 of them are fit for combat. Most experts say, however, that

mobilization resources of Armenia amount to 300,000 men, i.e. almost

10% of the total population (over 3.2 million).

 

Under the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe, in 2001 Armenia

declared 102 T-72 tanks and 204 armored vehicles (most of them

infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers). With the

military hardware the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe does not

apply to, Armenia has up to 700 armored vehicles. Its artillery

comprises 225 pieces of 122 mm and larger calibers including 50

multiple rocket launchers.

 

The Armenian Air Force includes five SU-25 ground-attack aircraft,

one MIG-25, 35 helicopters (the latter include twelve MI-24 attack

helicopters), and 3,000 servicemen. Yerevan intends to build up this

component of its Armed Forces. Not long ago, Defense Ministry of

Slovenia proclaimed the sale of ten SU-25s to Armenia (nine SU-25K

one-seaters and one SU-25UBK two-seater). The consignment will cost

Armenia $1 million. Armenia bought two IL-76 military transports from

Russia not long ago. The transports were bought at Russian domestic

prices and made it to Armenia together with Defense Minister of

Russia Sergei Ivanov.

 

Armenia builds up its Air Force in the hope of making it a match for

the Azerbaijani, but its antiaircraft defense is considered the best

throughout the Caucasus. Armenian antiaircraft defense comprises an

antiaircraft missile brigade and two regiments armed with almost 100

antiaircraft complexes of various models and modifications (Osa,

Krug, S-75, and S-125). Numerical strength is estimated at about

2,000 servicemen. Armenian antiaircraft defense developed in a hurry

in the war over Artsax when Azerbaijani Air Force regularly and

energetically bombarded Armenian trenches and settlements both in

Artsax and in Armenia's own border districts. There was nothing

Armenia could do about it then. By 1993, however, it already had a

formidable antiaircraft defense in Armenia itself and in the Republic

of Nagorno-Artsax. Its deployment cut Azerbaijani advantage in the

sky to the minimum.

 

These days, the Armenian skies are controlled by Armenian and Russian

antiaircraft defense units on joint combat duty since 1999. There are

at least 30 MIG-29 fighters and a regiment of S-300s quartered on the

territory of Armenia.

 

Allies in the Organization of the CIS Collective Security Treaty

 

Armenia is a member of the Organization of the CIS Collective

Security Treaty. As such, it participates in all events organized

within its framework. In any case, Russia is Armenia's oldest and

traditional ally. Ever since the regaining of sovereignty, the tandem

of Moscow and Yerevan has served as one of the few examples of bona

fide military-political cooperation in the Commonwealth. There is

practically no discord between Russia and Armenia in this sphere.

 

Russia and Armenia together defend the Armenian airspace or, rather,

the southern border of the Commonwealth. Armenian borders with Turkey

and Iran are manned by almost 2,000 Russian bodyguards who serve

shoulder to shoulder with their Armenian counterparts. Yet, it is the

102nd Military Base in Gyumri that is Russia's major outpost in

Armenia. Unlike Tbilisi or Baku, official Yerevan never brings up the

subject of withdrawal of the Russian troops. When Sarkisjan is asked

the question, he never answers believing it a rhetoric question.

Armenian society regards the Russian troops as a covering force

defending it from the Turkish aggression.

 

Until recently, the 102nd Military Base had 74 tanks, 17 battle

infantry vehicles, 148 armored personnel carriers, 84 artillery

pieces, up to 30 MIG-23s and MIG-29s, and a regiment of S-300

antiaircraft complexes. In the last eighteen months, however, a great

deal of military hardware was moved there from Georgia. Armenia gave

the land and objects used by the 102nd Military Base over to Russia

and covers some communal services.

 

Officer training is another sphere of Russian-Armenian military

cooperation. In the first years of sovereignty when Armenia did not

have military educational establishments of its own, officers of its

army were trained in Russia. Even now when Armenia has a military

college on its own territory, the Armenian officer corps honors the

tradition and is trained at Russian military educational

establishments. On a visit to Armenia in late May, Ivanov said that

600 Armenian servicemen are being trained in Russia. "Armenia asks

for the permission to send 150 servicemen to Russia in 2005, and

Russia gave its consent," Ivanov said.

 

It seems that Moscow and Yerevan do not plan to stop. The first

meeting of the joint Russian-Armenian government panel for

military-technical cooperation will take place this autumn. According

to Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov, Russian factories will participate

in the Armenian program of military hardware modernization. He even

said that Russia is prepared to supply the necessary spare parts an

equipment.

 

Belarus is another ally of Armenia in the Organization of the CIS

Collective Security Treaty. The two countries signed a treaty in

2002. Under the document, Armenia will receive light weapons, armored

vehicles, ordnance, and optical devices in return for spare parts and

gadgets for military hardware. Armenia also intends to have its heavy

military hardware upgraded at Belarusian factories. Lieutenant

General Sergei Gurulev, Chief of the General Staff of the Belarusian

Armed Forces, says that the Armenian-Belarusian military contacts

"become systematic and deliberate."

 

Do not forget NATO

 

Greece is Armenia's best ally in the Alliance. Greece and Armenia

share ancient ties and a common enemy - Turkey. Armenian officers are

trained in Greece. Every now and then Athens puts into motion

military aid programs. In 2003, the two countries signed another

military cooperation accord under which Greece will up the number of

Armenian servicemen trained at the military and military-medical

academies in Athens.

 

Armenia became a peacekeeper in February. It sent 34 servicemen to

Kosovo where they became an element of the Greek contingent. Armenian

servicemen in Kosovo are paid by the Greeks.

 

Yerevan has been shifting towards NATO lately, mostly within the

framework of the NATO's Partnership for Peace Program. Cooperative

Best Effort exercise (the first one where Russia was represented) was

run on the territory of Armenia in 2003.

 

Armenian cooperation with NATO is mostly declarative for the time

being, but the United States - the country steadily upping its clout

with countries of the region - has far-reaching plans with regard to

Yerevan. In early 2003, the Pentagon announced several major military

programs in the Caucasus. Washington's military aid to Armenia in

2004 will amount to $5 million even though the US Administration

intended to restrict it to $2 million at first. Armenia and the

United States signed a military-technical cooperation accord in

April. Some articles in the American media imply that the accord

specifies the use of Armenian airfields by the US AF.

 

Proclaiming complementariness as its foreign political doctrine,

official Yerevan never misses a chance to advance its contacts with

Washington. When the war in Iraq was under way, Armenia remained

neutral. It neither supported the war and America's action nor

condemned them. These days, however, the parliament and government of

Armenia are working on the legislation that will enable Yerevan to

send servicemen to Iraq. The Cabinet already endorsed the decision of

the Defense Ministry to subscribe to the memorandum "On the command

and settlement of issues in connection with activities of the

international division in the forces of coalition in Iraq". At first,

Armenia will probably send 10 de-miners and 3 doctors and some trucks

to Iraq.

 

Moreover, Armenia even permitted the United States to modernize its

communications, one of the most vulnerable items. Yerevan expects to

get communications means from American companies. The deliveries will

be paid for by the White House (the sum amounts to $7 million).

Commenting on it, Sarkisjan said that Russia is quite understanding.

"We are allies. It means that the strengthening of one partner will

benefit the other," said Sarkisjan. "We initiated the process a year

ago, and I found our Russian colleagues quite understanding." He said

that from military cooperation with the United States Armenia

expected to up combat potential of its own army.

 

So, Armenia ups its military might against the background of the

deepening crisis in the relations with Azerbaijan, the crisis that

threatens to deteriorate into another full-scale war. It should be

noted as well that in any conflict the Armenian national army may

count on servicemen from Artsax. In fact, the Artsax army even

leaves the Armenian behind in some parameters. Artsax armed

formations cannot match the Armenian army in manpower (about 20,000

servicemen and mobilization resources at 60,000 men), but they are

certainly ahead of Armenia in heavy military hardware: 316 tanks, 324

armored vehicles, 322 artillery pieces of calibers over 122 mm, 44

multiple rocket launchers, and the antiaircraft defense system that

performed flawlessly in the hostilities in the 1990's.

 

Translated by A. Ignatkin

 

 

http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg92385.html

[gamavor]

Teuton, have you heard about the new Russian gem? Samoderjetz!

[Teutonic Knight]

Teuton, have you heard about the new Russian gem? Samoderjetz!

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По словам источника газеты в ОПК, новая разработка военных ученых превосходит по своим характеристикам американский ЗРК Patriot. Как пишет газета, "Самодержец" способен "оставить позади навсегда" иностранные аналоги. На вопрос газеты, не является ли появление такой техники новым витком гонки вооружений, источник ответил: "Скорее наоборот, поскольку догонять «Самодержца» - бессмысленно".

 

Разработка является универсальной, сочетает в себе лучшие характеристики предыдущих разработок и, по замыслам проектировщиков, станет базой для принятия решения по созданию "единой зенитной ракетной системы" для всех видов войск. В основу "Самодержца" положены наработки всех научно-исследовательских институтов ОПК, которые занимаются противовоздушной и противоракетной обороной, в процессе исследований были задействованы военные представительства и генеральные заказчики.

[Armen]

Guys, Armenia doesn't have an S400. Armenia has 3 S300's in the Russian base, which are simbolic.

[Nakharar]

S-300 or S-400s? are anti-ballistic missiles. They're not worth much as offensive weapons.

[mx5]

S-400 is a sophisticated and very effective unti-balistic anti-aircraft missile and very important for the deffence of ROA.Read this:

 

http://english.pravda.ru/main/18/87/347/13819_missile.html

[Armen]

S-300 or S-400s? are anti-ballistic missiles. They're not worth much as offensive weapons.

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Armenia doesn't have much offensive weapons on that direction. Why should we? S300s are against aircraft and tactical missiles.

But that is all simblolical. If there is a major conflict with Russian, Turkish and Iranian invlovement the whole region is gonna become a mess. And these S300 are there to only withstand a air attack for some 1-2 days.

But this is very unlikely. Both Russia and Turkey are checking each others power in the region in colflict zones like Chechnia, Osetia, Abkhazia etc.

[hye88]

Armenia doesn't have much offensive weapons on that direction. Why should we? S300s are against aircraft and tactical missiles.

But that is all simblolical. If there is a major conflict with Russian, Turkish and Iranian invlovement the whole region is gonna become a mess. And these S300 are there to only withstand a air attack for some 1-2 days.

But this is very unlikely. Both Russia and Turkey are checking each others power in the region in colflict zones like Chechnia, Osetia, Abkhazia etc.

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If Armenia went to war with azerbajian they would certainly win. The only real support that azerbajian would get is from turkey. Russia would never let azerbajian and/or turkey do anything to Armenia. Plus Iran and turkey do not have good relations, since turkey is historically the guardian of the sunni branch of islam and Iran is the historical guardian of the shiite branch of islam. Bottom line... Armenia would kick some serious ass!

[Nakharar]

If Armenia went to war with azerbajian they would certainly win.  The only real support that azerbajian would get is from turkey.  Russia would never let azerbajian and/or turkey do anything to Armenia.  Plus Iran and turkey do not have good relations, since turkey is historically the guardian of the sunni branch of islam and Iran is the historical guardian of the shiite branch of islam.  Bottom line... Armenia would kick some serious ass!

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Don't be so sure. Armenia would probably win but they will never allow Azerbaijan to lose. Even if Armenia wins the battle the repercussions will be horrible. You don't have to be a soothsayer to predict the outcome. I'm not so sure if Russia prefers Armenia over Azerbaijan. They have more to offer Russia than Armenia. Plus Russia can't afford to alienate Turkey since they have developed a very close relationship in the last years.

[dutchy]

You look at this:

 

http://www.panarmenian.net/library/eng/?nid=105

 

The Azeri will also has good air defense installations like about 100 pieces of SA-2 (S-75), SA-3 (S-125) and SA-5 (S-200). And 40 vehicles of mobile short range SAM systems of SA-4, SA-8 and SA-13. I have a *.doc file from Emin Nabiyev, Eastern Illinois University. The document named "NATO Expansion and Azerbaijan: Evaluating the Potential of the Caucasus State". (document is from 2004)

 

Also Sergey Minasyan and Grigor Hakobyan are telling that Azeri armed forces are getting military training with NATO/Western standards by Turkey and USA. Azeri armed forces have also more money than it's Armenian rival. $650m vs. $172m from Armenian Armed Forces. The Turkish country is supplying Azerbaijan with the military budget what Armenia have. Azerbaijan is also buying more aircraft and artillery. It is not shure but I had read something that the Kazachs delivered 10 SU-27 Flankers to the Azeri Air Forces.

 

The S-300 missiles.... Well I see that not much people knows what they can do. The S-300 (NATO designation SA-10 Grumble, the S-300PMU SA-12) is a very good design in the early 1980's. It has a range of 160km and is a direct replacement for the S-200 (SA-5 Gammon). The S-300 is intended to destroy SSBM and large bombers from a far distance before it can fire its cruise missiles. It is a radar guided hommig missile with great accuracy. It is known that the missile will never decoyed. Only when the radar is jammed and Azerbaijan does not have planes with jammers on board. The S-300 can also attack jets ofcouse, it is able to attack mutiple targets at ounce. Let's say 3 x S-300 = 3x4=12 missiles. 12 targets at a time. The S-200 what the Azeri's propose can intercept the 32x SS-1 SCUD-B rockets. The S-200 has a range of 250km estimated and can intercept the SCUD-B with it's range of 300km. The S-200/SA-5 is also a fixed installation and the S-300 is rather mobile.

 

By the way, the situation is balanced and both sides will loose everything or lose nothing. The Azeri's have more equipment and better training, and Armenia has the Russians for protecting them.

[Yervant1]

Hey dutchy you forgot to mention one more thing that the azeri side have over Armenia.

 

More idiots.

Edited May 5, 2006 by Yervant1

[Lev7]

By the way, the situation is balanced and both sides will loose everything or lose nothing. The Azeri's have more equipment and better training, and Armenia has the Russians for protecting them.

 

And Azeri's have Turkey, so what?

[dutchy]

I don't think that Turkey will send troops. Only diplomatic help and the EU will help Armenia also in diplomacy.

 

But it is a much talked situation, every forum has a place for the Karabach problem. I agree with it only there is no politics in it.

 

I see some people here also mention like 'A lot of idiots' the idiots we tought have now some nuclear warhead and their own arms factory. (Pakistan)

[dutchy]

Hey dutchy you forgot to mention one more thing that the azeri side have over Armenia.

 

More idiots.

 

I understand your angry about them but the Azeri's talk in the same way about Armenians. But why they are fools and Armenians not? You have lived together in the Soviet repuplic and get the same shit from the Russians.

[Lev7]

I don't think that Turkey will send troops. Only diplomatic help and the EU will help Armenia also in diplomacy.

 

But it is a much talked situation, every forum has a place for the Karabach problem. I agree with it only there is no politics in it.

 

I see some people here also mention like 'A lot of idiots' the idiots we tought have now some nuclear warhead and their own arms factory. (Pakistan)

 

So you are saying Russian troops were fighting for Armenians? Yes, Russians helped us in other ways same as Turkey helped Azerbaijan, but they did not provide us with manpower.

[Yervant1]

I understand your angry about them but the Azeri's talk in the same way about Armenians. But why they are fools and Armenians not? You have lived together in the Soviet repuplic and get the same shit from the Russians.

Listen dutchy I'm not angry I'm just having fun with you. You came to this forum telling us azeris have more of this and more of that. You try to sound neutral and yet you are not, what is your point? Are you trying to be a peace broker or what? Also you don't sound Dutch to me, are you an azeri by any chance?