Armenia and Azerbaijan did not actually sign a peace agreement on Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR). Military action, despite the frozen conflict, as life shows, can begin at any moment. Therefore, not too rich Armenia is forced to spend a considerable share of national income in order to somehow protect its sky.
Takeoff of the Armenian Air Force
The Armenian Air Force is an integral part of the Armenian National Army, created on 01/28/1992, according to the decree of the government of independent Armenia. The basis for the army was the armament of the 7th Army, stationed in the territory of the former Armenian SSR. Among this technique were aircraft.
Armenian Air Force today
The military-political situation in the region does not allow treating the army as something secondary. The long-standing conflict with Azerbaijan does not allow considering this neighboring country a weak adversary. She is a real adversary, as evidenced by episodes of clashes on the borders of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenian Air Force and NKR are closely connected and coordinate their actions.
The Turkish border is alarming. As you know, Turkey and Armenia do not have diplomatic relations due to long-standing historical hostility. In addition, the Turkish border is the de facto border of NATO.
The main problems of the Armenian Air Force, which has two air bases - Erebuni (Yerevan) and Shirak (Gyumri) - an outdated air fleet, consisting mainly of old Soviet aircraft, as well as low qualification of pilots.
However, the problems are resolved. As part of the CSTO treaty (Armenia, in its framework, is actually a bordering country), the armed forces, including aviation, are being modernized. Under the agreement, a Russian military base operates in Armenia, and the Erebuni airbase is shared by the Russian and Armenian air forces.
Armenian pilots learn from Russian. In addition, the Russian Federation twice provided the Republic of Armenia with a large loan for the purchase of modern weapons. Therefore, the following information about the armament of the Air Force and Air Defense of Armenia is actually not so sad. Already, for example, quite modern Su-30s fly under a three-color identification mark.
Armament of the Armenian Air Force (open source)
| Armament | Manufacturer | A type | number | Basing |
| Aircraft | ||||
| Su-25 | the USSR | Attack aircraft | ~ 13 | Erebuni |
| Su-30 | Russia | Multipurpose | ~ 10 | Erebuni |
| Su-27 | Russia | Multipurpose | ~ 10 | Erebuni |
| SU-25 UBC | USSR (from Slovakia) | "Textbook" | ~ 2 | Erebuni |
| MiG-25 | the USSR | Interceptor | ~ 1 | Erebuni |
| Aero L-39 Albatross | France | "Textbook" | ~ 2 | Erebuni |
| Yak-25 | Romania | "Textbook" | ~ 2 | Erebuni |
| IL-76 | the USSR | Transporter | ~ 2 | Erebuni |
| Airbus ACJ319 | France | Passenger Command | ~ 1 | Erebuni |
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||
| Krunk | Armenia | Intelligence service | ~ 15 | ? |
| Base | Armenia | Intelligence service | ~ 15 | ? |
| Helicopters | ||||
| Mi-24 | the USSR | Shock | ~ 16 | Erebuni (most) |
| Mi-8Mt | the USSR | Multipurpose | ~ 15 | Erebuni (most) |
| Mi-9 | the USSR | Command | ~ 2 | Erebuni |
| Mi-2 | Poland | Multipurpose | ~ 7 | Erebuni |
Armament of air defense of Armenia (according to open sources)
| Armament | Manufacturer | A type |
| Anti-aircraft missile systems | ||
| S-300 | Russia | Maximum |
| Buk-M2 | Russia | Middle |
| S-125 Neva | the USSR | Small |
| Pechora-2M2 | Russia | Small |
| A circle | the USSR | Middle |
| Cube | the USSR | Small |
| S-75 | the USSR | Small |
| Wasp | the USSR | Small |
| Arrow 10 | the USSR | Small |
| ZSU-23-4 Shilka | the USSR | Self-propelled gun |
| ZU-23-2 | the USSR | Figurative |
| Needle | the USSR | Figurative |
| Arrow-2 | the USSR | Figurative |
The armament of the Air Force of Azerbaijan for comparison with the Air Force of Armenia (according to open sources)
| Armament | Manufacturer | A type | number | Basing |
| Aircraft | ||||
| MiG-29 | USSR (modernization - Ukraine) | Multirole fighter | ~ 16 | Pumping |
| MiG-29 UBC | USSR (modernization - Ukraine) | "Textbook" | ~ 2 | Pumping |
| MiG-25P | USSR (part from Kazakhstan) | Interceptor | ~ 10 | Pumping |
| MiG-25PD | the USSR | Tactical interceptor | ~ 6 | Pumping |
| MiG-25RD | the USSR | Scout Bomber | ~ 4 | Pumping |
| Su-24 | the USSR | Bomber | ~ 2 | Pumping |
| Su-25 | USSR (from Georgia and Belarus) | Attack aircraft | ~ 16 | Kurdamur |
| Su-25UB | the USSR | "Textbook" | ~ 2 | Kurdamur |
| Aermachchi M-346 | Italy | "Textbook" | ~ 10 | Pumping |
| Aero L-29 Dolphin | Czechoslovakia | "Textbook" | ~ 28 | Kurdamur |
| Aero L-39 Albatross | Czechoslovakia | "Textbook" | ~ 12 | Kurdamur |
| An-12 | the USSR | Transporter | ~ 1 | Pumping |
| Yak-40 | the USSR | Passenger | ~ 3 | Pumping |
| Helicopters | ||||
| Mi-24 | the USSR | Shock | ~ 26 | Pumping |
| Mu-24 Super Hind 4 Mk | Ukraine / South Africa | Shock | ~ 16 | Pumping |
| Mi-2 | Poland | Transporter | ~ 7 | Pumping |
| Mi-8 | USSR and Russia | Combat transporter | ~ 13 | Pumping |
| Mi-17-1V | Russia | Combat transporter | ~ 25 | Pumping |
| Ka-32 | the USSR | Combat transporter | ~ 3 | Pumping |
| Unmanned aerial vehicles | ||||
| Orbiter 2M | Israel / Azerbaijan | Intelligence service | ~ 45 | ? |
| Heron TP | Israel | Intelligence / Attack | ~ 1 | ? |
| Sirsher 2 | Israel | Intelligence service | ~ 10 | ? |
| Aerostar | Israel / Azerbaijan | Intelligence service | ~ 4 | ? |
| Elbit Hermes 450 | Israel | Intelligence / Attack | ~ 15 | ? |
| Elbit Hermes 900 | Israel | Intelligence service | ~ 15 | ? |
Armament of Air Defense of Azerbaijan (open sources)
| Armament | Manufacturer | A type | number |
| Anti-aircraft missile systems | |||
| Iron dome | Israel | Small | ~ 4 |
| Barack 8 | Israel | Small | ~ 9 |
| C-300PMU2 Favorite | Russia | Middle | ~ 32 |
| C-200 | the USSR | Maximum | ~ 4 |
| S-125-2TM Pechora-TM | USSR (modernization - Belarus) | Middle | ~ 54 |
| Buk-M1-2 | the USSR | Middle | ~ 18 |
| Tor-M2E | Russia | Middle | ~ 8 |
| T38 Stiletto | Belarus | Middle | ~ two batteries |
| Spider SR | Israel | Middle | ~ 20 |
