Armenia has confirmed the purchase of US-made V-BAT unmanned aerial vehicles, marking a concrete step in its expanding military cooperation with Washington.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that the drones were acquired through the US foreign military sales program, framing the deal as part of a broader Armenia-US security partnership that has gained momentum in recent years.
The announcement was made during US Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the Caucasus country.
The purchase follows three consecutive years of joint “Eagle Partner” military exercises and reflects Yerevan’s effort to modernize parts of its defense posture through closer engagement with Washington.
The V-BAT, developed by Shield AI, is a vertical takeoff and landing unmanned aerial system designed for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance missions.
Its tail-sitter configuration allows it to operate without runways or launch equipment, making it suitable for use in constrained or austere environments.
Pashinyan said the transaction is intended to serve as a foundation for deeper cooperation, signaling interest in expanding defense ties beyond exercises and training into tangible capability development.
Growing US-Armenia Defense Engagements
The V-BAT acquisition adds to a series of defense-related engagements between the United States and Armenia over the past few years.
In 2023, the two countries launched the Eagle Partner joint military exercise series, focused on peacekeeping operations and interoperability, which has continued annually and grown in scope.
US support has also expanded to include increased training assistance and advisory cooperation, with programs aimed at professional military education and peacekeeping readiness for Armenian forces.
By 2025, the US and Armenia signed an agreement that expanded security cooperation between the two. This “strategic partnership commission” will look for ways to build ties in areas from defense to the economy to democracy.
