It was equipped and organized as part of the military reform program of Lieutenant-General Norat Ter-Grigoryants. [62] Armenia redeployed them in July to serve alongside American soldiers in Kosovo. [37] The following have served as heads of the department: Extensive work is underway in the defense zones of military units, unions and military units by the engineering troops to install large-scale equipment. In March 1993, Armenia signed the multilateral Chemical Weapons Convention, which calls for the eventual elimination of chemical weapons. However in 2005-2007, following an agreement on the withdrawal of two Russian military bases from Georgia, a great deal of military hardware was moved to the 102nd Base from the Russian 12th Military Base in Batumi and the 62nd Military Base at Akhalkalaki, Georgia. [47], 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. Armenia established a Ministry of Defence on 28 January 1992. Armenia participates in NATO's Partnership for Peace (PiP) program and it is in a NATO organization called Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council (EAPC). In February 2003, Armenia sent 34 peace keepers to Kosovo where they became part of the Greek contingent. The Armenian Air Defense is the anti-aircraft branch of the Armed Forces of Armenia. МИД России опроверг информацию о поставках Армении российского оружия на $800 млн. Russia has SA-6 and S-300 long range surface-to-air missiles at the Russian 102nd Military Base. The force is intended to be used to repulse military aggression, conduct anti-terrorist operations, fight transnational crime and drug trafficking, and neutralize the effects of natural disasters.[54][55]. It 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, Krug, S-75, S-125, SA-7, SA-10, SA-13, SA-16 and SA-18. 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 guards to patrol Armenia's frontiers with Turkey and Iran. Armenia also produces most of its small arms, with only specialised units being imported. These older systems are placing great demands on the logistics system for service, maintenance, replacement parts and necessary upgrades, costing the army both financially and in overall readiness.The ground force is currently engaged in an effort of reassessment, reorganisation and restructuring, as the future of Armenia's defence needs a revised force structure and unit mix. 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[69] They currently serve under the Italian contingent and fulfill headquarter security functions. During peacetime the Army maintains permanent combat and mobilization readiness. action, 03:29, 10.18.2020 Armenian officials have consistently expressed determination to comply with its provisions and thus Armenia has provided data on armaments as required under the CFE Treaty. The agreement envisages the two countries' interaction in exporting military production to third countries, which will help to strengthen the armed forces of the two states, and further cement the already close Russian-Armenian military cooperation. In early 2003, United States Department of Defense announced several major military programs in the Caucasus. [70], Taylor and Francis, Europa World Yearbook 2004, p.554. There are also 24 Scud ballistic missiles with eight launchers. To this end, the CSTO holds yearly military command exercises for the CSTO nations to have an opportunity to improve inter-organisation cooperation. Greece is Armenia's closest ally in NATO and the two cooperate on multiple issues. Armenia is one of the five member states. [67], Armenia deploys 130 soldiers in Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF). [21] In February 1999 the Deputy Minister of the Interior and Commander of the Internal Troops, Major General Artsrun Makarian, was found shot dead. Border guards subject to the Ministry patrol Armenia's borders with Georgia and Azerbaijan, while Russian troops continue to monitor its borders with Iran and Turkey. [47] On July 23, 2006 the fourth shift of Armenian peacekeepers departed for Iraq. The Army is functionally divided into Active and Reserve Forces. The Active Forces mainly have peacekeeping and defensive duties, and are further divided into Deployment Forces, Immediate Reaction, and Main Defense Forces. Wheeled APCs reported included 25 BTR-60s, 21 BTR-70s, 50 BTR-80s, 145 MT-LBs, and 120 BRDM-2 scout vehicles. They are well trained and well equipped with the latest in military software and hardware. In August 2009, Nikolay Bordyuzha, the CSTO's secretary-general, confirmed that official Yerevan can count on such support. The Armed Forces of Armenia (Armenian: Հայաստանի զինված ուժեր) comprise two services: the Army, and the Air Force and Air Defense (a unified branch). Armenia Armed Forces brought to highest combat readiness level, troops supplemented. There are an additional 18 MiG-29 fighter jets of the Russian 102nd Military Base stationed in Gyumri. Armenia temporarily withdrew its peacekeepers from Kosovo in February 2012 as a result of the reduction of the Greek sundivisions. Nikolai Bordyuzha was appointed secretary general of the new organisation. Russia also supplies weapons at the relatively lower prices of the Russian domestic market as part of a collective security agreement since January 2004. Ministry Of Defence of The Republic Of Armenia, People of the American Civil War by state, Articles with unsourced statements from November 2014, Articles incorporating text from the World Factbook, Articles incorporating text from Wikipedia, Treaty on Conventional Armed Forces in Europe, Centre for International Studies and Research, http://books.google.com/?id=5lc9jxSKfuEC&pg=PA32. In early 2003, United States Department of Defense announced several major military programs in the Caucasus.