New Delhi: Armenian troops have been spotted wearing an India made helmet mounted thermal imaging monocular during an ongoing joint exercise with the US.
The images doing the rounds on social media show the Armenian soldiers wearing the thermal imaging monocular manufactured by Bengaluru-based firm Tonbo Imaging.
These sights are among the several defence-related equipment that Armenia has bought from India to beef up its military after losing out in a war with Azerbaijan.
Incidentally, the Indian Army had also bought these sights besides others from Tonbo Imaging as part of emergency procurement in 2021.
Products of the company are in use with several special forces, including that of Israel and France, besides India. During the 2016 surgical strikes, the special forces personnel had used the thermal sights procured from the firm.
The company was discovered by the Indian armed forces thanks to a joint exercise with NATO a decade ago. The US Army was using weapons that had Tonbo systems on them.
It was then that the Army realised such systems were available in India.
Also read: Armenia eyes Akash missile, loitering munitions from India amid conflict with Azerbaijan
Armenia’s procurement from India rising
From buying artillery gun systems and the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers to small arms and ammunition and fuses, Armenia has emerged as a big client for the Indian defence companies, both in public and private sector.
The Indian defence establishment is silent when it comes to exports to Armenia, but sources maintained that they are facilitating whatever requests they get from foreign countries based on New Delhi’s larger strategic role.
Incidentally, Indian defence exports from India have touched an all-time high of Rs 21,083 crore in the financial year 2023-2024, with consignments reaching 85-plus countries in the neighbourhood and beyond.
As reported first by ThePrint in 2022, Armenia has been looking at India to beef up its defence forces which are undergoing a modernisation drive.
The ex-Soviet republic bought four indigenous Swathi weapons locating radars in 2020 from India which was delivered in the backdrop of its conflict with Azerbaijan.
After this, Armenia bought the Pinaka rocket system and since then it has bought several other equipment besides focusing on training its forces in India.
Armenia’s arch rival Azerbaijan is seen by many as part of an emerging axis with Turkey and Pakistan. It has used Turkish drones to fight the war against Armenia.
Both India and Armenia are in the process of establishing a joint working group on the issues of bilateral defence cooperation.
Interestingly, it was in May this year that both countries held their first formal consultations between the defence ministries of both countries.
During the consultations, the present state of cooperation between Armenia and India in the defence sector and prospects for future development — including military-technical, military education and combat training of personnel, exchange of experience and others — were discussed, the Armenian defence ministry had then said in a statement.
Besides India, Armenia has also bought several systems from the US and France as part of its modernisation process.
(Edited by Zinnia Ray Chaudhuri)
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