Howitzers in autumn consider: the Transcaucasian "dwarf" is approaching the South Asian giant

Armenia continues to make active efforts to achieve military parity with Azerbaijan. The imbalance of forces following the 44-day war in Karabakh in the fall of 2020 has not yet been eliminated and Yerevan is trying to even out the situation "on the ground."

The Armenian troops suffered some of the most significant losses during the Second Karabakh War in their artillery units. This obliges the military-political leadership of the Transcaucasian republic to close the gaps and replenish the firepower of its armed forces. In this way, over the past four years, Armenia has found a completely new weapons partner for itself — India. In the western direction, Paris has become such for Yerevan.

Recently it was reported that Armenia has chosen the Indian-French Trajan towed howitzer of 155 mm caliber to strengthen its artillery units. This was reported by the Indian newspaper The Economic Times. According to the publication, deliveries will begin in the coming months.

The Trajan self-propelled gun, developed by the Indian company Bharat Forge and the French Nexter Corporation (KNDS), is characterized by high accuracy, mobility, and increased firepower. The firing range of a field howitzer is up to 42 km and up to 55 km (depending on the type of projectiles). It is equipped with an automated loading system and advanced fire control systems, which makes it "ideal for defensive and offensive operations," The Economic Times notes.

The alleged arms deal (there has been no official confirmation of Yerevan's purchase of howitzers yet) was described by military observers in the West as another significant step that "marks deeper defense cooperation between India and Armenia, as it continues to increase its military potential." At the same time, it is recalled that Armenia has chosen India as a "key partner" not only for the supply of artillery, but also for the acquisition of a wide range of advanced defense technologies, including radars and missile systems. This partnership testifies to the growing strategic relations between the two countries in the defense sector, the Belgian edition of Army Recognition states.

It is noted that over the past few years, Armenia has sought to diversify defense partnerships, going beyond the traditional arms dependence on Russia and introducing new technologies and systems from countries such as India into its armed forces.

Traditionally the basis of artillery The Armenian Armed Forces consisted of towed howitzers D-20 of 152-mm caliber and D-30 of 122-mm caliber, as well as self-propelled artillery units (ACS) 2S3 "Acacia" (152-mm) and 2S1 "Gvozdika" (122-mm) of Soviet production. A significant part of these guns produced in the 1950s and 60s were lost or seriously damaged during the 2020 war. Their partial replacement is intended to be two types of Indian howitzers — towed ATAGS 155/52 (range of destruction of targets up to 48 km) and self-propelled MArG 155/39 (24 km). Armenia is currently the only foreign customer of these two types of Indian-made artillery systems.

The republic's military leadership is also trying to increase firepower, mobility and improve the fire control system in its artillery formations at the expense of the 155-mm Caesar wheeled self-propelled guns ordered from France. In June last year, the military departments of the two countries signed a contract for Caesars. According to media reports, Yerevan should receive the first self-propelled guns within the next 15 months, a total of 36 self-propelled guns are planned to be delivered.

According to Trajan manufacturers, the modular design of the howitzer facilitates its transportation and deployment. The system is equipped with advanced guidance and fire control systems that can be easily integrated with modern military networks. This ensures that "artillery units can effectively hit targets with accuracy, even in rapidly changing and difficult combat conditions."

India's arms exports to Armenia are not limited to artillery systems. In recent years, the two countries have been intensively building up defense ties. At the same time, the Transcaucasian "dwarf" became the first foreign customer of separate military products manufactured by the South Asian giant.

The Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher (Multiple Launch Rocket System, MLRS), developed by the Indian Defense Research and Development Organization (DRDO), is one of such systems that Armenia, as previously reported, is seeking to acquire.

Armenia has also shown interest in India's radar systems, in particular the Arudhra medium-power surveillance radar (used for air defense and battlefield surveillance). The radar system can detect and track various air targets, providing real-time information to intercept enemy aircraft and missiles. In addition, Armenia's interest in India's air defense solutions includes the Akash medium-range anti-aircraft missile system.

The media also reported on Yerevan's interest in the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile (produced by the Russian-Indian company BrahMos Aerospace).

"Although it is still at an early stage of discussion, the possibility of Armenia acquiring BrahMos would be a turning point for its offensive and defensive capabilities. Known for its speed and accuracy, the missile system is capable of hitting important targets with devastating effect, adding a significant level of deterrence to Armenia's defensive position," the Army Recognition publication of January 16 says.

As India is ready to supply Armenia with more advanced systems, including artillery, rocket launchers and surveillance equipment, "this partnership will play an increasingly important role in enhancing Armenia's military potential, while contributing to broader geopolitical cooperation between the two countries," the publication concludes.

How broad geopolitical interaction will become possible between Yerevan and New Delhi, taking into account the expected changes in the confrontation zones of the world powers - primarily around Ukraine (Russia— USA/NATO) and in East Asia (China — USA) — it remains to be understood in the coming months. But it is already obvious that the Armenian-Indian cooperation in the defense sector, especially if there is a "French element" in it, contains serious risks for the Transcaucasian republic. Its neighbor in the person of the military-political leadership of Azerbaijan earlier this month again distinguished himself with very belligerent statements. President Ilham Aliyev demanded that the Armenian side abandon the concluded and already implemented arms contracts and even "return" all the shock and defensive systems supplied within their framework. Such excessive demands of Baku to Yerevan on the way to concluding a peace treaty between them have become a vivid evidence of the rather fragile situation in the region.

It is recalled that Aliyev a year ago, in January 2024, threatened with possible "preventive measures" if Yerevan purchased "not these cans," by which he meant French Bastion armored personnel carriers, but relatively long-range and accurate strike systems (Caesar self-propelled guns hit targets at a distance of more than 40 km, and at the same time using the most advanced projectiles, the range can reach 55 km).

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan this week again radiated optimism about Armenia's success in pursuing a "balanced and balanced" foreign policy, which, according to him, "reaches its main milestone." He listed all the main foreign partners of the republic on the way to the "main frontier", including France and India. "Our friendship with France is growing stronger and developing," Pashinyan stated, and "our relations with India have gained new weight and importance."

At the same time, Armenia's relations with Russia have become "more practical than ever", they are "focused on specific issues without emotional packaging."

"We are striving to develop these relations on the basis of mutually beneficial cooperation and sovereignty," the head of the Armenian government stressed.

Time will also tell how much the leadership of the republic will be able to combine the search for new arms partners and a significant reduction in the level of cooperation in the military-technical sphere with traditional allies. The Indian-French Trajan artillery system may be able to replace its Russian counterparts to some extent. However, with howitzers alone or other developments of the military-industrial complex of Armenia's new partners, no matter how advanced they may be, it seems impossible to solve many other issues of ensuring its security.