Armenia details new arms deal with France

According to the terms of the latest arms deal between France and Armenia, France will supply Armenia with 36 CAESAR self-propelled howitzers over the next 15 months, a senior official in Yerevan confirmed on June 25.

The Armenian Ministry of Defence and a French artillery manufacturer signed a contract during talks organized by the defence ministers of both countries in Paris on June 17. French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu described it as a “new important milestone” in Franco-Armenian military relations. No details of the contract were officially released at the time.

A day later, on June 18, the French newspaper Le Figaro and the defense news website Forces Operations Blog reported that Armenia had purchased 36 CAESAR rocket launchers and that they would be delivered within 15 months.

“Of course, the Le Figaro report is based on information provided by the French Ministry of Defense. We certainly will not deny that,” Armen Khachatrian, Vice Chairman of the Defense and Security Committee of the Armenian Parliament , told the Armenian branch of RFE/RL.

With a range of over 40 km, CAESAR is one of the most advanced artillery systems in the world. France, along with Denmark, has donated approximately 50 such 155 mm wheeled self-propelled artillery systems to Ukraine since Russia launched its military operation in the Eastern European country in 2022.

Earlier this year, Kyiv purchased six more French artillery pieces at a cost of 3-4 million euros (3.3-4.4 million USD) each.

“They have proven their effectiveness in many different combat situations in many parts of the world,” Khachatrian said. “France has sold that artillery system to very few countries… It is very important for us to have such systems to achieve our defense objectives.”

The lawmaker described the purchase of advanced Western artillery pieces like the CAESAR as “part” of the ongoing “complete modernization” of Armenia’s armed forces. See more about the CAESAR self-propelled artillery in combat in Ukraine here.

The CAESAR self-propelled artillery system, mounted on a truck, is manufactured in France. Photo: Army Recognition

Last fall, Paris pledged to sell defensive weapons and provide other military support to Yerevan. This is part of an effort to deepen bilateral relations, already bolstered by the presence of an influential Armenian community in France. The French weapons include sophisticated radars, short-range air defense systems, and armored personnel carriers.

Azerbaijan condemned the deal as “further evidence of French provocation in the South Caucasus,” which would create a new “hotspot” of conflict in the region. The agreement also drew criticism from Russia, a traditional ally of Armenia. The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that the move would increase tensions in the South Caucasus.

Khachatrian dismissed Russia's criticism as "incomprehensible." He argued that Moscow currently lacks the capacity to help Armenia "strengthen its defenses."

Russia has long been Armenia's main supplier of weapons and ammunition. Tensions between the two countries have steadily increased since the 2020 war in Nagorno-Karabakh, with Yerevan accusing Moscow of failing to honor its security commitments.

This South Caucasus nation is also seeking other arms suppliers as the ongoing war in Ukraine is consuming a large portion of Russia's military resources. Since September 2022, Armenia is believed to have signed a series of defense contracts with India worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

Minh Duc (According to RFE/RL)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/armenia-thong-tin-chi-tiet-ve-thoa-thuan-vu-khi-moi-voi-phap-a670816.html