Armenia held its Republic Day celebrations on May 28, 2026, with a military parade in Yerevan’s Republic Square, showcasing the country’s various arms inventory assembled in the aftermath of the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh war.
The Armenian Prime Minister, Nikol Pashinyan, described the massive military display as a report on Armenia’s military transformation following the military setbacks against Azerbaijan. The Prime Minister emphasized the progress made by the Armenian military, citing new weapons, new uniforms, and a new doctrine focused on defense and peace.
Notably, the Armenian military displayed weapons procured from seven countries, in what appears to be the first showcase of a multinational arms inventory. “Today’s military parade report will feature weapons and military equipment produced by about 7 countries, and this geography of military-technical cooperation is the result of policies based on the ideology of the Real Armenia,” the Prime Minister said in an address ahead of the parade.
The parade appeared to be the final showcase of Armenia’s pivot away from its traditional ally, Russia, and a clear indication of arms diversification to counter regional security threats in the South Caucasus.
Armenia has made an active effort to forge closer ties with the West and other friendly countries in the rest of the world after Russia failed to supply the Armenian military during the 2023 war, due to commitments in Ukraine. Moreover, Yerevan was left disappointed by Moscow’s failure to safeguard its security despite being a member of the Russia-led CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization).
Under Article 4 of the CSTO Treaty, member states are obligated to give each other “the necessary help, including military” in the event of foreign aggression. However, Moscow merely sat at the fence, proving to be a highly unreliable partner.
While several weapons in its arsenal still trace their origins to Moscow, Armenia has been diversifying its arms purchases in recent years, courting the West and forging defense ties with friendly nations such as India, China, and Iran.
Armenia’s Multinational Military On Showcase
Armenia purportedly unveiled an Iranian-origin air defense system called “Majid” at the military parade on May 28, 2026.
The system, which has been renamed “Scorpion” in the Armenian service, was first spotted by open-Source trackers during rehearsals for the parade earlier this week.
Reports suggest that the Majid is a truck-mounted short-range air defense (SHORAD) system designed primarily to defend against drones, loitering munitions, cruise missiles, helicopters, and low-altitude aircraft. It has a range of about 8 kilometers and features a highly passive radar that primarily supports electro-optical targeting to avoid detection.
Armenia may have become the first export customer for the system, which was reportedly used for the first time during the 12-Day War with Israel in June 2025. It is highly mobile and light-weight, and could be deployed quickly upon receiving orders. The Armenian variant of the system is mounted on a 4×4 Iveco Daily light commercial vehicle, unlike Iran’s typical Aras 2 pickup truck chassis, as reported in open sources.
The purchase is part of a broader Armenian strategy to diversify its military equipment away from a heavy reliance on Russia and deep ties with Iran, and to improve its low-altitude air defense capabilities, particularly as Azerbaijan builds up its drone inventory.
Another weapon system displayed by Armenia that sparked intrigue among observers was the Chinese-origin CH-4B Rainbow combat drone, which was seen in the parade armed with air-to-ground missiles.
The CH-4B is a long-range unmanned aerial vehicle with a 1,500-kilometer range and a 14-hour endurance. It can hover over disputed territory, engage targets, or provide real-time intelligence. Additionally, it can carry a variety of weapons, including anti-radiation missiles to degrade enemy air defenses, FT-9 bombs, and AR-1 laser-guided missiles.
This is the first official confirmation of Yeravan’s purchase of the drone, although satellite imagery had earlier revealed at least two CH-4s at Gyumri Air Base. This acquisition fits the lessons learned by Armenia after the 2020 and 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh wars, which is to heavily invest in drones and air defense to counter Azerbaijan’s drone advantage.
The CH-4 series is one of China’s most successful military exports, especially in the Middle East and Africa, because it is cheaper than Western equivalents such as the MQ-9 Reaper and faces fewer export restrictions. However, the export of the CH-4B to Armenia likely marks the first confirmed Chinese arms sale to the South Caucasus, a market traditionally dominated by Russian arms.
Armenia also displayed some weapons acquired from France, which has emerged in recent years as one of the largest arms exporters after dethroning Russia from that position. The CAESAR Self-Propelled Howitzers, for which a deal was signed in 2024, were seen rolling down the square in images posted on X. Armenia has renamed the vehicles “Aramazd,” as disclosed during the parade.
The first batch of these vehicles arrived in Armenia by early 2026 and was publicly seen for the first time during parade rehearsals on May 11, before being presented at the parade. Caesar is a self-propelled gun mounted on a Renault Sherpa 10 truck chassis with an armored cab and shoot-and-scoot capability.
It has a range of up to 40 kilometers with standard ammunition and 50 kilometers with extended-range rounds. It can fire up to 6 rounds per minute, travel on roads at high speed, and is compatible with NATO-standard 155mm munitions.
The other French weapon system that drew eyeballs at the parade was the Bastion Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs).
Armenia ordered a total of 50 Bastion 4×4 armored personnel carriers from France, with the first batch arriving in late 2023. The French-origin armored vehicle is primarily operated by special forces and peacekeeping units, and was seen during the Eagle Partner joint exercise between Armenia and the United States in 2024.
The Bastion APC is a modern 4×4 light armored personnel carrier developed by the French company ACMAT. It is built on the rugged chassis of the VLRA 2 tactical truck series. It has been designed for rapid troop transport, reconnaissance, patrol, and fire support in difficult terrain.
It achieves a maximum road speed of about 110 kilometers/hour, with an operational range of 1,000–1,400 kilometers, depending on the configuration, and features 12.7mm M2 heavy machine guns and firing ports.
Interestingly, Indian systems formed a very prominent part of the mechanized column and static display. This included the Akash-1S air defense system, which Armenia purchased in 2022. The system has been renamed as “Lynx.”
An upgraded variant of the original Akash air defense system, the Akash-1S is a medium-range surface-to-air missile system with a range of about 18 to 30 kilometers, and altitude coverage of about 15 to 30 kilometers. The system can simultaneously engage multiple targets, including fighter aircraft, helicopters, drones, and cruise missiles.
The missile can carry a 60-kilogram high-explosive pre-fragmented warhead with a proximity fuse, according to publicly available information. It has an active Ku/X-band RF seeker, a reduced footprint, 360° engagement capability, and the ability to operate in extreme environments.
Another Indian weapon system prominently displayed at the parade was the Pinaka Multi-Barrel Rocket Launcher System (MBRLS), also known as the Indian HIMARS. Armenia became the first export customer of the Pinaka in 2022, renaming the system as “Shant.”
Armenia has acquired three variants of the rockets used by the system Pinaka Mk-I, which has a range of about 38–45 kilometers, and is used for unguided area saturation; Pinaka Mk-I Enhanced, with a range of about 45–60+ kilometers and enhanced accuracy; and Guided Pinaka with a range of 70–75 kilometers and GPS/INS guidance.
Armenia has four batteries of the system—each battery typically includes multiple launchers (each launcher has 12 tubes), reload vehicles, and command systems. The system can fire a salvo of 12 rockets in 44 seconds and is known for its “shoot and scoot” mobility, which helps it survive counter-battery fire.
The military also displayed the Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS) 155mm Towed Howitzer, which was ordered in 2024 and renamed as “Tork.”
These ATAGS are designed for high mobility and rapid deployment. They have advanced communication and automatic command-and-control systems. Its high-altitude operability makes it ideal for Armenian forces. These howitzers can strike targets up to 50 kilometers away, making them the best in their class. They can fire a burst of 5 rounds in 60 seconds and at a sustained rate of up to 60 rounds in 60 minutes.
The military also displayed the MArG 155-BR Wheeled Self-Propelled Howitzer, which has been named “Mihr” by Armenia.
Additionally, the Swathi radar, which has been renamed “Mercury.” It is a phased-array, mobile Weapon Locating Radar designed for counter-battery and artillery fire direction.
This cutting-edge Indian-origin radar detects and tracks incoming artillery shells, mortars, rockets, and missiles, then calculates the exact location of the enemy firing position for rapid counter-fire. It has a range of up to 50 kilometers and can track multiple projectiles simultaneously.
The diversification in arms, as seen in the latest parade, aims to improve interoperability, address capability gaps, and reduce strategic vulnerability.
However, it has further strained ties with Russia, which was quick to express its discontent over the military display. “We can’t be disturbed by the course taken by the Armenian leadership toward closer ties with the North Atlantic alliance, whose basic policy is aimed against Moscow,” Russian Foreign Minister Maria Zakharova said on May 28.
- https://www.eurasiantimes.com/armenia-showcases-diversified-arsenal/