Armenia Intensifies Shelling of Azerbaijani Positions Amid Ongoing Military Buildup

The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry has reported ongoing shelling of its army positions by Armenian forces since last week.

According to the ministry, starting on March 16, Armenian troops targeted multiple Azerbaijani army positions along the conditional border.

Between March 16 and 19, the ministry recorded a total of nine shelling incidents.

“From 22:20 on March 18 to 01:40 on March 19, units of the Armenian armed forces intermittently opened fire with small arms on the positions of the Azerbaijani Army from their positions located in the directions of Zod and Yukhari Shorja in the Basarkechar district, as well as Bazarchay in the Garakilsa district,” the ministry said in a statement on Wednesday.

No casualties or material damage have been reported as a result of the shelling.

In February, the Baku-based Caliber news service reported on Armenia’s systematic preparation for war with Azerbaijan, citing the country’s intensive militarization through new arms imports from India and France.

According to the outlet, a full-scale conflict could break out within weeks, following reservist training in Armenia set to begin in April.

In a recent report, Caliber reported that Armenia had procured India-made Spartan-S thermal imaging sights, which have been supplied to the country’s special operations forces. In January, the Armenian Armed Forces showcased Arjun sights - also imported from India - mounted on AK-74 assault rifles.

India’s arms shipments to Armenia also include 15 units of Akash surface-to-air missile systems (SAMS) to bolster the country’s air defense. In November 2024, The New Indian Express reported that Armenia had already begun receiving these systems.

Another major acquisition involves 400 Akash-1 surface-to-air missiles, intended to complement the Akash SAMS for a layered air defense system.

Additionally, Armenia has ordered 24 Indian-made Pinaka 214mm multiple launch rocket systems - an analogue of the Russian Smerch and Grad - designed to target military personnel, armored vehicles, and fortified positions. Reports from Armenian and Indian sources last fall suggested that the first batches of Pinaka systems had already arrived in Armenia.

Yerevan and New Delhi are reportedly negotiating the supply of Indian BrahMos and ASTRA missile systems to Armenia. However, India must seek Russia’s approval for the export of BrahMos to third countries, as Moscow holds a 49.5% stake in the BrahMos Aerospace company.

Meanwhile, Armenia signed a contract with France in 2024 to purchase 36 CAESAR 155mm self-propelled artillery units. The French company KNDS has already delivered 12 CAESAR systems to Armenia, with an additional 24 units expected to arrive by the end of the year.

Both the CAESAR 155mm and Pinaka 214mm systems are designed for deep fire strikes on adversary positions.

Additionally, in 2023, Armenia completed its import of 24 Bastion armored personnel carriers from France.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), Armenia began procuring new weaponry as early as 2020, signing a contract with India for the delivery of four Swathi artillery reconnaissance radar systems, the first of which were delivered in 2021.

That same year, Armenia also signed a contract with Russia to purchase an undisclosed number of Mi-17 multipurpose transport helicopters. However, SIPRI reported that the deal involved four units, with deliveries completed in 2022. This type of helicopter is widely used for troop transport and airborne operations.