ArmInfo. At present, more companies either hold or are in the process of obtaining government licences to export weaponry—and toward a greater number of countries—than previously declared, as stated by Armenia's Minister of High-Tech Industry, Mkhitar Hayrapetyan, during a press conference on 20 May.
It should be noted that yesterday, the Minister published a video address announcing that three Armenian companies had exported weapons manufactured in Armenia to the markets of two countries. "I do not want to use grandiose words to call this a historic event, but at the very least, I can say that this is unprecedented for our country and our economy," he said.
Hayrapetyan declined to disclose data regarding the volume of the transactions, the type of weaponry, the manufacturers, or the recipient nations, noting that there is no consensus between the parties on these matters.
At the same time, the Minister addressed accusations from certain circles claiming that such a deal is not the first of its kind. He emphasized that neither the Ministry of Defence nor the Ministry he heads possesses any records of such prior export operations. Hayrapetyan noted that past exports consisted of dual-use goods or system components—such as air defence cells, among others. "Whereas I am talking about the export of weapons designed and manufactured in Armenia," he concluded.
