Minister highlights Civil Contract’s defense reforms at party congress

Defense Minister Suren Papikyan, a senior member of the Civil Contract party, has highlighted the military reforms undertaken by the ruling party.

Speaking at the Civil Contract party congress, Papikyan said that the military, as one of the guarantors of the country’s security, must be equipped with modern armaments and equipment to carry out its mission of defending Armenia’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

He highlighted the increase in defense spending and the growth in voluntary enlistment.

“Today, as Armenia moves steadily toward peace, it is very important to discuss the role of the army within the new security architecture, what kind of army we should have, and what we have done to modernize it. It must be stated that the Armenian army has no role outside the borders of the Republic of Armenia,” he said.

“Of course, there is a great temptation today to address the numerous ‘saviors’ who have recently become active, as well as foreign experts, instructors, and the highly respected texts generated by artificial intelligence. However, I would simply advise them to once again read the concept for the transformation of the Armenian army, where they will find a significant portion of their ideas presented not only as questions but also as solutions. I do not rule out that they may even come across direct quotations,” he added.

According to Papikyan, the concept for the transformation of the Armenian army provides a clear understanding of what the ruling political force has done to increase the army’s defensive capabilities.

“Since the launch of reforms in 2022, we have created systems whose main positive results will be widely discussed in the future. In order to achieve the goal of building a professional army, we have implemented numerous changes. On the path to establishing a professional military, we have introduced the ‘Defender of the Fatherland’ program, which has already become a key pillar of the transforming army. Thousands of young people are joining the program and becoming an important part of a professional military. They have the opportunity to undergo certification, receive higher salaries, and support both their families and the state. Their number currently stands at 5,319,” the minister elaborated.

Papikyan added that in recent years significant attention has been paid to the salaries and social welfare of contract servicemen. According to him, as a result of the certification program, thousands of servicemen have improved both their knowledge and level of preparedness while also gaining opportunities for social stability and well-being.

“Today, in addition to their base salary, certified servicemen receive bonuses ranging from 205,000 to 470,000 drams. These amounts are now competitive and motivating wages in the labor market,” Papikyan emphasized.

The minister also addressed changes in conscription and mobilization resource management, noting that compared to 2022, the number of conscripts in 2025 has increased by 25.3 percent.

“This is the result of the changes we have implemented and our consistent work. In fulfillment of our promise to reduce mandatory military service through the expansion of contract service, mandatory service in Armenia is now one and a half years. The army is not complete without a reserve force. For many years, reserve training in our country was treated negligently. Hundreds of thousands of reservists did not know what training exercises were, were unaware of their assigned units, or of the potential tasks and missions they might face. Previously, the relevant authorities did not have information about people’s whereabouts, their further education, changes in employment, health conditions, possible disabilities, or even deaths,” he noted.

He emphasized that a new system has now been established, through which 25-day training musters are conducted, with thousands of Armenian citizens participating each year.

The minister highlighted the substantive and fundamental reforms carried out at the Monte Melkonian Military Sports Lyceum and the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy as key to staffing, educating, and training the officer corps. He noted that educational programs have been revised, scholarship amounts increased, and both living and learning conditions improved.

“In 2026, at the Vazgen Sargsyan Military Academy, cadets’ scholarships—depending on their year of study—range from 75,000 to 175,000 drams for those with excellent academic performance. The same applies to the Monte Melkonian Military Sports Lyceum, where students receive scholarships ranging from 15,000 to 45,000 drams. Starting this year, graduates of the Military Academy, upon appointment, will receive housing certificates worth up to 35 million drams to purchase apartments. Upon entering service, they may receive salaries ranging from 620,000 to 750,000 drams,” he elaborated.

Papikyan recalled that during the years of Civil Contract’s governance, defense spending has increased several times over.

“In 2018, at the start of our administration, defense spending amounted to $640 million. In 2025, that figure reached $1.741 billion. Procurement of armaments and military equipment in 2022–2025 was 5.4 times higher than in 1998–2018, which demonstrates our commitment to the homeland and the army,” Suren Papikyan concluded.