Armenia Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 87th
MPR SCORE: 330
MPR Index: 0.1099 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.8435 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: -0.316 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Armenia ranks 87th globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings. Its military, known as the Armed Forces of Armenia, is structured primarily for territorial defense, mountain warfare, and rapid national mobilization. The country’s military posture reflects its ongoing rivalry with Azerbaijan, deep historical grievances, and reliance on Russia as a strategic defense partner. Despite limited strategic reach, the Armenian military remains battle-tested, with a culture of conscription-based readiness and a long-standing emphasis on artillery and fortified positions.
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict continues to define Armenia’s military doctrine, resulting in a structure built around highland defense, entrenched positions, and short-range tactical operations. After suffering significant losses in 2020 and 2023, Armenia has begun a gradual modernization and reform campaign, seeking to enhance domestic drone capabilities, air defense, and command efficiency, even amid strained national resources.
Strengths
1. Mountain Warfare and Fortification Doctrine
Armenia’s armed forces are highly trained for high-altitude operations, including fortified ridge defense, close-range fire coordination, and artillery control in mountainous terrain. Its military installations are strategically located in rugged regions ideal for defensive warfare.
2. Mandatory Conscription and Mobilization Readiness
Armenia maintains a compulsory military service system and a ready reserve, allowing for rapid force generation during national emergencies. This structure reinforces internal cohesion and builds mass mobilization capability despite resource limitations.
3. Real-World Combat Experience
Decades of conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh have given Armenian forces direct battlefield exposure to conventional and hybrid warfare. Key units have developed tactical proficiency in artillery coordination, anti-armor ambushes, and localized counteroffensives.
Why Armenia Is Still Ranked 87th
1. Defeat and Attrition in Recent Conflicts
The 2020 war and 2023 clashes exposed critical weaknesses in Armenia’s air defense, battlefield awareness, and vulnerability to Azerbaijani drone warfare. Heavy losses in manpower, equipment, and territory reduced operational capacity.
2. Limited Strategic Depth and Air Power
Armenia lacks long-range strike capabilities, modern air assets, and a credible air superiority doctrine. It depends largely on Russian air defense systems, some of which failed to provide effective protection during the most recent hostilities.
3. Geopolitical Dependence
Armenia’s military posture is heavily tied to Russia, both in terms of equipment supply and regional deterrence guarantees. This makes it vulnerable to external political shifts and limited in operational autonomy.
Conclusion
Armenia maintains a combat-experienced, terrain-adapted military capable of mounting resilient territorial defense, especially in rugged environments. However, recent defeats have exposed doctrinal gaps, technological shortfalls, and an urgent need for structural reform. While Armenia's forces remain cohesive and mobilization-capable, their ability to deter or repel modern threats depends increasingly on technological modernization and external alliance stability, particularly with Russia.
Military Strength and Force Projection
Active Military Personnel: 45,000
Reserve Personnel: 210,000
Paramilitary Forces: 5,000
Army Personnel: 35,000
Navy Personnel: 0 (landlocked)
Air Force Personnel: 10,000
Ground Forces
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 100+
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 300+
Artillery Pieces (Towed & Self-Propelled): 200+
Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 40+
Air Force
Combat Aircraft: 14
Attack Helicopters: 15+
Transport Aircraft: 6+
Training Aircraft: 10+
Aircraft Breakdown:
Su-25 Frogfoot (Ground Attack): 12
L-39 Albatros (Trainer/Light Attack): 10+
Mi-8 Transport Helicopters: Multiple
Mi-24 Attack Helicopters: 15+
Naval Forces
Armenia has no naval forces due to its landlocked geography.
Missile Capabilities
Armenia possesses short-range ballistic missiles and tactical rocket systems capable of precision strikes within the Caucasus region. Its arsenal includes Scud-B systems and Tochka-U missiles, as well as domestically developed rocket artillery. Armenia also deploys Israeli- and Russian-supplied loitering munitions and tactical drones for offensive and reconnaissance roles.
Strategic Partnerships
Armenia is a member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) and maintains a bilateral defense agreement with Russia, which includes the deployment of Russian troops and a shared air defense system. The country also cooperates with Iran and engages in limited military exchanges with India and European nations.
Military History & Combat Experience
Armenia’s military history is defined by the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, which has shaped its doctrine, command structure, and national security identity for over three decades. Engagements with Azerbaijan and regional tensions have made it one of the most consistently war-tested militaries in the South Caucasus.
First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994):
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Armenia supported ethnic Armenian forces in Nagorno-Karabakh against Azerbaijan. Armenian-backed troops secured the entire enclave and surrounding buffer zones by 1994. The conflict featured intense artillery duels, infantry mountain warfare, and the early use of irregular forces. The war ended in an Armenian military victory and a fragile ceasefire.Four-Day War (April 2016):
A brief but intense escalation initiated by Azerbaijan. While limited in scope, the conflict revealed growing Azerbaijani technological superiority in reconnaissance drones and precision strikes. Armenia maintained most frontlines but suffered tactical setbacks and casualties.Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (2020):
A six-week war in which Azerbaijan recaptured large portions of Nagorno-Karabakh using Turkish-supplied drones, Israeli loitering munitions, and combined arms tactics. Armenia suffered heavy casualties, lost key cities including Shusha, and agreed to a Russian-brokered ceasefire that significantly redrew the military balance. The defeat spurred urgent calls for doctrinal reform and defense restructuring in Armenia.Border Clashes and Renewed Hostilities (2021–2023):
Sporadic border fighting with Azerbaijan continued in areas like Goris, Jermuk, and Tavush, often involving artillery exchanges, drone strikes, and cross-border infiltration. In 2023, new Azerbaijani offensives prompted further Armenian losses and led to increased Russian and EU diplomatic mediation. Armenian forces have since shifted focus to home defense readiness and rapid reform.
Armenia’s military remains shaped by national survival instincts, deep regional rivalries, and a need to adapt rapidly to the realities of modern warfare. Its combat experience is substantial, but its future effectiveness hinges on whether it can transition from a legacy conscription force to a technologically integrated, defense-resilient army.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~2.8 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~900,000
Geographic Area: 29,743 km²
Land Boundaries: 1,254 km
Bordering Countries: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey
Coastline: 0 km (landlocked)
Climate: Highland continental; hot summers, cold winters
Terrain: Mountainous with fast flowing rivers and few forests
Natural Resources: Copper, molybdenum, gold, arable land
Proven Oil Reserves: None
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: None
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$800 million USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~4.6%
GDP (PPP): ~$55 billion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$18,000
External Debt: ~$13 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): Increased due to Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: Mandatory for men (24 months)
Primary Defense Focus: Azerbaijan deterrence, territorial defense
Military Industry Base: Moderate; small arms, UAVs, munitions
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Growing; with Russian assistance
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state)
Major Military Districts / Commands: Centralized command under Armenian Armed Forces HQ
Missile Inventory Highlights: Iskander, Tochka-U, Smerch, Kornet, Igla
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: High; within 15–30 days
Reservist Force Size: ~50,000
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: Early-stage national space program; no satellites
Military Satellite Inventory: None
Intelligence Infrastructure: National Security Service (NSS), Military Intelligence
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: CSTO, Russia, Iran (limited)
Airports (Total): ~11
Major Military Airports: Yerevan (Erebuni), Gyumri
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: None
Major Ports: None
Naval Infrastructure: Not applicable
Naval Replenishment Capability: Not applicable
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~845 km
Roadways: ~15,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: None
Energy Imports: High; reliant on Russia and Iran for gas/oil
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Maintains basic state reserves
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Small arms, drones, armored vehicles
Military Installations (Domestic): Yerevan, Gyumri, Vanadzor
Military Installations (Overseas): None
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: Russian base in Gyumri
Defense Alliances: CSTO member, bilateral Russia-Iran ties
Strategic Airlift Capability: Il-76, An-12, small transport fleet
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Moderate; geared toward asymmetric response
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Focused on UAVs, EW, infantry modernization
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Armenian Nuclear Power Plant, energy imports, logistics hubs
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Yerevan
Founding Date: September 21, 1991 (independence from USSR)
System of Government: Unitary parliamentary republic
