Armed Forces of Armenia
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{{Infobox National Military
| name= Armed Forces of Armenia
| native_name= Հայաստանի Զինված Ուժեր
| image= [[Image:Armmil zinanshan.jpg|200px]]
| caption= Emblem of the Armenian Armed Forces
| headquarters= [[Yerevan]]
| commander-in-chief= President [[Serzh Sargsyan]]
| minister= Colonel-General [[Seyran Ohanyan]]
| commander= Lieutenant-General [[Youri Khachatrov]]
| active= 60,000 ([[List of countries by number of active troops|ranked 64th]])
| reserve= 300,000 <!-- Number of reserve personnel across all armed forces -->
| budget= $412.6 million (FY 2008) ([[List of countries by military expenditure|Ranked 79th]])
|amount= $412.6 million (FY 2008) ([[List of countries by military expenditure|Ranked 79th]])
| percent_GDP= 6.5%
| estabilished= [[28 January]] [[1992]]
| branches=[[Armenian Army]]<br>[[Armenian Air Force]]<br>[[Armenian Air Defense]]<br>[[Armenian Border Guard]] <!-- list wikilinked branch names separated by BR -->
| age=18
| manpower_age = 15–49
| available= 722,836
| available_f= 795,084
| fit= 551,938
| fit_f= 656,493
| reaching= 31,774
| reaching_f= 31,182
| conscription = 24 months
| foreign_suppliers= {{RUS}}<br>{{GRE}}<br>{{USA}}
| exports= <!-- Value of annual arms exports -->
| imports= <!-- Value of annual arms imports -->
| history= [[Military history of Armenia]]
}}
The '''Armed Forces of the Republic of [[Armenia]]''' represents the [[Armenian Army|Army]], [[Armenian Air Force|Air Force]], [[Armenian Air Defense|Air Defense]], and [[Armenian Border Guard|Border Guard]]. It was partially formed out of the former [[Soviet Army]] forces stationed in the [[Armenian SSR]](parts of the [[Transcaucasian Military District]]). The [[Commander-in-Chief]] of the military is the [[President of Armenia]], currently [[Serzh Sargsyan]]. The Ministry of Defense is in charge of political leadership, currently headed by [[Mikael Harutyunyan]], while military command remains in the hands of the [[General Staff]], headed by the Chief of Staff, who is currently [[Lieutenant-General]] [[Seyran Ohanyan]]. [[Armenia]] established a Ministry of Defense on [[28 January]] [[1992]]. Border guards subject to the Ministry patrol Armenia's borders with [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Azerbaijan]], while [[Russia]]n troops continue to monitor its borders with [[Iran]] and [[Turkey]]. Since 1992, Armenia has been a member of the [[Collective Security Treaty Organization]], which acts as another deterrent to Azeri military intervention over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The [[Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe]] was ratified by the Armenian parliament in [[July 1992]]. The treaty establishes comprehensive limits on key categories of military equipment, such as tanks, artillery, armored combat vehicles, combat aircraft, and combat helicopters, and provides for the destruction of weaponry in excess of those limits. [[Armenia]]n officials have consistently expressed determination to comply with its provisions and thus Armenia has provided data on armaments as required under the CFE Treaty. Despite this, Azerbaijan accuses Armenia of diverting a large part of its military forces to [[Nagorno-Karabakh]] and thus circumventing these international regulations. Armenia is not a significant exporter of conventional weapons, but it has provided support, including material, to the [[Armenian people|Armenians]] of Nagorno-Karabakh during the [[Nagorno-Karabakh War]].
==Overview==
In March [[1993]], Armenia signed the multilateral [[Chemical Weapons Convention]], which calls for the eventual elimination of chemical weapons. Armenia acceded to the nuclear [[Non-Proliferation Treaty]] as a non-[[nuclear weapon]]s state in July 1993. The [[U.S.]] and other Western governments have discussed efforts to establish effective nuclear export control systems with Armenia and expressed satisfaction with Armenia's full cooperation. In [[2004]] Armenia sent 46 non-combat troops to [[Iraq]], which included bomb-disposal experts, [[Physician|doctor]]s, and transport specialists.
==General Staff==
The Armenian Armed Forces are Headquartered in [[Yerevan]], where most of the general staff is based. Currently headed by Chief of Staff General Seyran Ohanyan, the General Staff is responsible for operational command of the Armenian Military and its three major branches.
==History==
{{main|Military history of Armenia}}
{{Expand-section|date=June 2008}}
== Army ==
{{main|Armenian Army}}
Under the [[Adapted Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty]], in [[2001]] Armenia
declared 102 [[T-72]] tanks, 72 heavy [[howitzers]] and 204 [[Armoured fighting vehicle|armoured vehicles]] (most of them [[infantry fighting vehicle]]s and [[Armoured personnel carrier]]s). With respect to military hardware the Treaty on Conventional Arms in Europe does not apply to, Armenia has up to 700 armoured vehicles. Its [[artillery]] comprises 225 pieces of 122 mm and larger calibers, including 50 multiple [[Multiple rocket launcher|rocket launcher]]s.
[[Image:Field exercises.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Snipers during a field exercise in [[2004]]]]
Since the fall of the [[Soviet Union]], Armenia has followed a policy of developing its armed forces into a professional, well trained, and mobile military. The armed forces of Armenia are seen as the most powerful of the three [[Caucasian]] countries (the other two being [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]] and [[Azerbaijan]]) by leading military figures both in Russia and the West.[http://www.eurasianet.org/departments/insight/articles/eav121302.shtml][http://www.geocities.com/master8885/Forces/army.html][http://www.rferl.org/featuresarticle/2006/02/135DA300-2B7D-4534-912D-A5703D486B46.html]
Armenia's Military is presently expanding <!--better to say 'since' when and name the pertinent 'presently' 'currently' year-->, having had its budget recently augmented by 10 percent. Its [[Standing army|active forces]] now number about 60,000 soldiers, with an additional [[Military reserves|reserve]] of 32,000, and a "reserve of the reserve" of 350,000 troops. Armenia is prepared to mobilize every able-bodied man between the age of 15 and 49, with military preparedness most of all focused on potential attacks by Azerbaijan and Turkey.
The Army is functionally divided into '''Active''' and '''Reserve Forces'''. Their main functions include deterrence, defense, [[peace]] support and [[crisis management]], humanitarian and rescue missions, as well as social functions within Armenian society.
The Active Forces mainly have peacekeeping and defensive duties, and are further divided into Deployment Forces, Immediate Reaction, and Main Defense Forces. The Reserve Forces consists of Enhancement Forces, Territorial Defense Forces, and Training Grounds. They deal with planning and reservist preparation, armaments and equipment storage, training of formations for active forces rotation or increase in personnel.
During peacetime the Army maintains permanent [[combat]] and [[mobilization]] readiness. They become part of multinational military formations in compliance with [[international treaties]] Armenia is a signatory to, participate in the preparation of the population, the national economy and the maintenance of wartime reserves and the [[infrastructure]] of the country for defense.
In times of crisis the Army's main tasks relate to participation in operations countering [[terrorism|terrorist activities]] and defense of strategic facilities (such as [[nuclear power]] plants and major industrial facilities), assisting the security forces in proliferation of [[weapons of mass destruction]], illegal armaments traffic and international terrorism.
In case of low- and medium-intensity military conflict the Active Forces that are part of the Army participate in carrying out the initial tasks for the defense of the [[territorial integrity]] and [[sovereignty]] of the country.
In case of a military conflict of high intensity the Land Forces, together with the Air Force, Air Defense and Border Guards, form the defense group of the Armenian Armed Forces aiming at countering aggression and protection of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country.
[[Image:Armeniatankex.jpg|thumb|left|250px|Units of the [[Armenian army]] operating in field exercises.]]
== Air Force ==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Mig29 36.jpg|thumb|right|230px|[[Russian Air Force]] [[MiG-29]]s flying over [[Armenia]]'s border with [[Turkey]].]] -->
[[Image:Armenian Mi-24.jpg|thumb||right|230px|A Russian-made [[Mi-24]] [[gunship]] of [[the Armenian Air Force]].]]
{{main|Armenian Air Force}}
The Armenian Air Force relies upon the 30 MiG-29s of the [[Russian 102nd Military Base]] at [[Gyumri]], its own smaller fleet of 15 [[Su-25]] ground attack planes, a single [[MiG-25]] fighter jet and twelve [[Mi-24]] gunship helicopters (out of a total of 35) for the defense of Armenian airspace. The Armenian Air Force also has two [[Il-76]] cargo planes for the transport of soldiers and materials.
According to UN webpage, Disarmament section, in September 2005 the Armenian Air Force had acquired 10 [[Su-25]] ground attack planes from [[Slovakia]].
Armenian anti-aircraft defense consists of an anti-aircraft missile brigade and two regiments armed with 100 anti-aircraft complexes of various models and modifications, including the [[SA-8]], [[M79 Osa]], [[Lyulev 9M8 Krug|Krug]], [[S-75]], [[S-125]], SA-7 and Russian operated [[S-300]] at the Russian 102nd Military Base. There are also 24 [[Scud]] [[ballistic missile]]s with eight launchers.
Numerical strength is estimated at about 3,000 servicemen, with plans for further expansion.
== Military of Karabakh ==
{{main|Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army}}
In addition to forces mentioned above, there are 20,000 soldiers defending [[Nagorno-Karabakh]], an unrecognized Armenian republic which seceded from Azerbaijan in 1991. They are well trained and well equipped with the latest in military software and hardware. According to the Azerbaijani government, the Karabakh army's heavy military hardware includes: 316 tanks, 324 armored vehicles, 322 artillery pieces of calibers over 122 mm, 44 multiple rocket launchers, and a new anti-aircraft defense system. Nagorno Karabakh is not a party to the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty and thus is not bound by its limitations. The specific details concerning the Karabakh military's weapons holdings are not known and thus the above are only estimates made by Azerbaijan.
== Russia ==
[[Russia]] has a military base in Armenia which is the [[Russian 102nd Military Base]]. Russia stations an estimated 5,000 soldiers of all types in Armenia, including 3,000 officially reported to be based at the 102nd Military Base located in [[Gyumri]]. In [[1997]], the two countries signed a far-reaching friendship [[treaty]], which calls for mutual assistance in the event of a military threat to either party and allows [[Russian border guard]]s to patrol Armenia’s frontiers with [[Turkey]] and [[Iran]]. Until recently, in early 2005 <!--again, best to give years; also directly bellow (we can't expect the reader to go through the revision history to find out when the edit was entered so as to extrapolate "eighteen months")-->, the 102nd Military Base had 74 tanks, 17 battle infantry vehicles, 148 armored personnel carriers, 84 artillery pieces, 30 [[Mig-29]] fighters and several batteries of [[SA-10 Grumble|S-300]] anti-aircraft missiles. In the last eighteen months, however, a great deal of military hardware was moved to the 102nd Base from the Russian military bases in [[Batumi]] and [[Akhalkalaki]], [[Georgia (country)|Georgia]]. Russia is Armenia's closest ally and the only country that has a military base stationed in the country. Since 1992 Armenia is in a military alliance with Russia and 5 other ex-soviet countries called [[CSTO]]. Russia also supplies weapons at the relatively lower prices of the Russian domestic market as part of a collective security agreement since January 2004.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/11/12/51161.html| title=Russian supply|accessdate=2006-03-12}}</ref>
=== Military training ===
[[Image:Russianarmeniantanks.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Russian and Armenian military training.]]
[[Officer (armed forces)|Officer]] [[Military education and training|training]] is another sphere of Russian-Armenian military
cooperation. In the first years of [[sovereignty]] when Armenia lacked a military educational establishment 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. Currently, 600 Armenian servicemen are being trained in Russia. In Armenia as of 1997, the training was conducted by the "In the name of Marshal Bagramyan" Training Brigade.<ref>[http://www.mil.am/eng/?page=11 Ministry Of Defence of The Republic Of Armenia | Official Web Site<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
=== Future cooperation ===
At the first meeting of the joint Russian-Armenian government panel for military-technical cooperation that took place during autumn 2005, Prime Minister [[Mikhail Fradkov]] reported that, Russian factories will participate in the Armenian program of military modernization, and that Russia is prepared to supply the necessary spare parts and equipment. [[Yerevan]] and [[Moscow]] have further plans to develop closer ties.
== NATO ==
Armenia participates in [[NATO]]'s [[Partnership for Peace]] (PiP) program and it is in a NATO organization called [[Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council]] (EAPC). Armenia is in the process of implemention of [[Individual Partnership Action Plan]]s (IPAPs) which is a program for those countries that have the political will and ability to deepen their relationship with NATO. Cooperative Best Effort exercise (the first where Russia was represented) was run on Armenian territory in 2003.
== Greece ==
[[Greece]] is Armenia's closest ally in NATO and the two cooperate on multiple issues, thus a number of Armenian officers are trained in Greece every year, and military aid/material assistance has been provided to Armenia. In 2003, the two countries signed a military cooperation accord, under which Greece will increase the number of Armenian servicemen trained at the military and military-medical academies in Athens.
In [[February 2003]], [[Armenia]] sent 34 peace keepers to [[Kosovo]] where they became part of the [[Greece|Greek]] contingent. Officials in [[Yerevan]] have said the Armenian military plans to substantially increase the size of its peace-keeping detachment and counts on Greek assistance to the effort. In June 2008, Armenia sent 72 peacekeepers to Kosovo for a total of 106 peacekeepers.
== Baltic States ==
[[Lithuania]] has been sharing experience and providing consultations to the Armenian Defense Ministry in the field of democratic control of armed forces, military and defense concepts and public relations since [[2002]]. Started in [[2004]], Armenian officers have been invited to study at the Lithuanian War Academy and the Baltic Defense College in [[Tartu]], [[Estonia]]. Lithuania covers all study expenditures. In early [[2007]], two Armenian officers for the first time took part in a Baltic lead international exercise, Amber Hope, which was held in Lithuania.<ref>[http://groong.usc.edu/news/msg211150.html Lithuanian Defense Minister Going To Armenia]</ref>
== United States ==
[[Image:Armenianarmya.jpg|left|thumb|270px|[[BTR-80]] Armored personnel carriers on parade during the 15th anniversary of Armenia's independence.]]
The [[United States]] has been steadily upping its military clout in the region. In early 2003, [[the Pentagon]] announced several major military programs in the [[Caucasus]]. [[Federal government of the United States|Washington's]] military aid to Armenia in [[2005]] amounted to $5 million, and in April 2004, the two sides signed a military-technical cooperation accord, which some American military analysts <!--such as?--> believe implies the use of Armenian airfields by the [[U.S. Air Force]] in the [[War on Terror]]. In late 2004, Armenia deployed a unit of 46 soldiers, which included a logistic, medical and support soldiers to Iraq in support of the American-led Coalition. And in 2005, the United States allocated $7 million to modernize the military communications of the Armenian Armed Forces.
== Peacekeeping operations ==
<!-- Image with inadequate rationale removed: [[Image:ArmenianPatrolKosovo.jpg|thumb|305px|An Armenian patrol maintaining a checkpoint in [[Kosovo]]. The platoon sized unit of three squads has been serving in Kosovo as a part of the [[Kosovo Force|KFOR]] peacekeeping force since February 2004.]] -->
Currently Armenia is involved in peacekeeping operations in Kosovo. There are also arguments within the government to send peacekeepers to [[Lebanon]] since there is large number of Armenians living there.
=== Kosovo ===
There are currently 70 Armenian soldiers serving in Kosovo as peacekeepers.
Armenia joined the peacekeeping activities in [[Kosovo]] in 2004. Armenian "blue helmets" serve within the [[Greece|Greek]] battalion. The relevant memorandum was signed on September 3, 2003 in [[Yerevan]] and ratified by the Armenian Parliament December 13, 2003. The 6th shift of Armenian peacekeepers departed for Kosovo on November 14, 2006.<ref>{{cite web | url= http://www.serbianna.com/news/2006/02761.shtml| title=Armenia to deploy more soldiers to Kosovo|accessdate=2006-03-12}}</ref> In 2008, the Armenian National Assembly voted unanimously to double the peacekeeping force in Kosovo by sending an extra 34 peacekeepers to the region, increasing the total number of peacekeepers in the region to 68.<ref>[http://www.pr-inside.com/armenia-to-double-its-peacekeepers-contingent-r604186.htm Armenia to double its peacekeepers' contingent in Kosovo]</ref> Artur Aghabekian, chairman of the Armenian parliament’s committee on defense and security, cited the need to double the forces in order to help Kosovo achieve full international recognition adding that that would set an important precedent for the full recognition of [[Nagorno-Karabakh Republic]].<ref>[http://www.armenialiberty.org/armeniareport/report/en/2008/05/6C24AE91-DAA8-49EE-AF52-7EB24774AEA0.ASP
Armenia To Send More Troops To Kosovo]</ref>
=== Iraq ===
After the end of the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|invasion of Iraq]], Armenia has deployed a unit of 46 peacekeepers under [[Poland|Polish]] command. Armenian peacekeepers are based in [[Al-Kut]], 62 miles from the capital of [[Baghdad]].<ref>{{cite web | url= http://news.monstersandcritics.com/intelandterror/article_1089436.php/Armenias_third_contingent_of_peacekeepers_now_in_Iraq| title=Armenia's third contingent of peacekeepers now in Iraq|accessdate=2006-03-12}}</ref> On [[July 23]], [[2006]] the fourth shift of Armenian peacekeepers departed for Iraq. The current shift includes 3 staff commanders, 2 medical officers, 10 combat engineers and 31 drivers. As of March 2007, there has been one Armenian wounded and no casualties. The Armenian government has extended the small troop presence in Iraq by one year at the end of 2005 and 2006.<ref>{{cite news |title=Armenian defense minister to visit Iraq as Armenia to extend the small troop presence | url=http://library.aua.am/library/news/archive/2006_11-14.htm | publisher=The Associated Press |date=2006-11-13 | accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=ARMENIAN PEACEKEEPERS TO STAY AN EXTRA YEAR IN IRAQ | url=http://www.azg.am/?lang=EN&num=2005120601 | publisher=AZG Armenian Daily |date=06/12/2005 | accessdate=2007-02-20}}</ref>
== Gallery ==
{{cleanup-gallery}}
<gallery>
Image:4armenianjetsa.jpg|[[Armenian Air Force]] [[MiG-29]]s fly in formation over [[Yerevan]].
Image:Armenianhelicoptersa.jpg|Four Armenian Air Force [[Mi-24]] [[gunship]]s fly in a diamond formation over [[Yerevan]]'s Republican Square.
Image:Hyeairforce.jpg|Five Armenian Air Force [[Su-25]] [[bomber]]s fly in a V formation over [[Yerevan]]'s Republican Square.
Image:Armenianjetspla.PNG|A pair of Armenian Air Force [[MiG-23]] attack aircraft fly near Mount Ararat, with a squadron of [[Mi-24]] [[gunship]]s following behind.
</gallery>
==References==
*{{factbook}}
*{{StateDept}}
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
*Vladimir Petrov, [http://mdb.cast.ru/mdb/4-2002/dp/hscwa/?form=print How South Caucasus was armed], Centre for Analysis of Strategies and Technologies (Moscow, Russia)
*[http://www.mil.am/ Armenian Ministry of Defense]
*[http://www.photius.com/countries/armenia/national_security/index.html "Armenian National Security"]
*[http://www.armeniadiaspora.com/gallery/independence15/index.html Armenian Military Photo Gallery]
*[http://armenianow.com/?action=viewArticle&AID=1167&CID=1348&IID=&lng=eng "Fit for a Fight?: Armenia and Azerbaijan flex military muscles, vow to not be overcome"]
*[http://www.armeniandiaspora.com/archive/41902.html Armenia, Greece Discuss Closer Military Ties]
* [http://www.milkavkaz.net Armed Forces of Caucasian countries]
{{Template group
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{{Armenia topics}}
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[[Category:Military of Armenia| ]]
[[Category:Conscript militaries|Armenia]]
[[es:Fuerzas Armadas de Armenia]]
[[fa:نیروهای مسلح ارمنستان]]
[[hy:Հայաստանի Զինված Ուժեր]]
[[hu:Örményország hadereje]]
[[ja:アルメニア共和国軍]]
[[ru:Вооружённые силы Армении]]
[[simple:Armed Forces of Armenia]]
[[tr:Ermenistan Silahlı Kuvvetleri]]