Armenian defense industry highlighted at Eurosatory 2026 as minister outlines AI and cooperation vision

Armenian Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan delivered a speech at the Eurosatory 2026 international exhibition in Paris.

In a speech titled “Defense Industrial Cooperation: Supply Chains, Talent, and the Role of Small States,” Hayrapetyan presented the conceptual approaches to the development of Armenia’s defense industry, the ministry said in a press release.

He emphasized that even small countries can remain competitive in the era of artificial intelligence and technological advancement due to their flexibility and targeted investments.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a fundamental technology in modern defense systems. However, according to the minister, technology alone is not enough. The real competitive advantage, in his view, continues to be human capital. Armenia continues to make significant investments in engineering education, startup development, research institutions, and partnerships with leading global technology companies. The goal is clear: to create an environment where talent can develop, innovate, and scale products that contribute both to economic growth and national security.

The minister said that over the past 4–5 years, Armenia’s defense industry has experienced a qualitative leap. Through the state procurement system, 172 billion drams have been invested in the sector, and a decision has been made to sign additional long-term contracts worth 190 billion drams. As a result of this policy, the sector’s turnover in the domestic economy has reached around 70 billion drams, and Armenian military products are already being exported.

Thus, the future belongs not to isolated industrial bases, but to interconnected ecosystems capable of jointly paving the way for innovation. In the minister’s view, innovative ecosystems flourish when startups can rapidly experiment, fail, learn, and improve. Therefore, efforts are being made to simplify testing procedures and expand access to real operational environments.

To succeed in global competition, Armenia is developing its vision of an “AI Factory Garden,” which will enable Armenian defense companies to carry out complex engineering simulations and necessary testing, with the state providing essential resources and infrastructure.

The minister also emphasized Armenia’s readiness to promote international cooperation, noting that the government is consistently taking steps to simplify export licensing procedures, which will ensure the entry of Armenian technological solutions into global markets. Armenia is transforming from a consumer into a provider of high-tech solutions to the world, where scientific potential, energy capabilities, and computing power jointly serve national security and technological progress.

“Together we can build supply chains that are more resilient, develop technologies that are more efficient, and create a defense industrial ecosystem that is stronger because it is based on the capabilities of both large and small states,” Hayrapetyan concluded his speech.