PARIS — Within the framework of the Eurosatory 2026 international exhibition, Armenia’s Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, delivered concluding remarks during a panel titled “Defense Industrial Cooperation: Supply Chains, Talent, and the Role of Small States.”
In his remarks, the minister presented Armenia’s conceptual approaches to the development of its military-industrial complex, emphasizing that small countries can also be competitive in the era of artificial intelligence and technological advancement through flexibility and targeted investments.
Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a foundational technology in modern defense systems. However, technology alone is not enough. According to the minister, real competitive advantage continues to lie in 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 emerge, innovate, and scale products that contribute both to economic development and national security.
The minister noted that over the past four to five years, Armenia’s defense industry has recorded 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 new long-term contracts worth an additional 190 billion drams. As a result of this policy, the sector’s turnover within the domestic economy has reached around 70 billion drams, while Armenian military products are already being exported.
Thus, the future belongs not to isolated industrial structures, but to interconnected ecosystems capable of jointly paving the way for innovation. According to the minister, innovative ecosystems flourish when startups are able to test, learn, and improve quickly. For this reason, efforts are being made to simplify testing procedures and expand access to real-world practical 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 designs and the necessary testing, while the state provides the required resources and infrastructure.
The minister underscored Armenia’s readiness to promote international cooperation, noting that the Armenian government is taking consistent steps to simplify export licensing procedures. This will ensure the entry of Armenian technological solutions into global markets. Armenia is transforming from a consumer into a partner offering high-tech products to the world, where scientific potential, energy capabilities, and computing power work together to support national security and technological progress.
“Together, we can build supply chains that are more resilient, develop technologies that are more effective, and create a defense industrial ecosystem that is stronger because it is based on the capabilities of both large and small states,” Mkhitar Hayrapetyan said in concluding his remarks.
