Artsakh Defence Army

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{{Infobox national military

| name = Artsakh Defence Army

| native_name = {{No italics|{{lang|hy|Արցախի Հանրապետության պաշտպանության բանակ}}}}

| image = File:Artsakh_Defence_Army_logo.png

| alt =

| caption = Patch

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| motto =

| founded = 9 May 1992

| disbanded = 20 September 2023

| current_form =

| headquarters = Stepanakert

| flying_hours =

| website =

| commander-in-chief = Samvel Shahramanyan

| commander-in-chief_title = Commander-in-Chief

| chief minister =

| chief minister_title =

| minister = Lieutenant General Kamo Vardanyan

| minister_title = Minister of Defence and Defence Forces Commander

| chief_of_staff =

| chief_of_staff_title = Chief of the General Staff

| commander =

| commander_title =

| age = 18

| conscription = 24 months

| manpower_data =

| manpower_age = 18–27

| available =

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| reaching =

| reaching_f =

| active = ~12,000 (until September 2023){{sfn|IISS|2024|page=105}}

| ranked =

| reserve = 20,000–30,000Blandy, C. W. "[http://mercury.ethz.ch/serviceengine/Files/ISN/87342/ipublicationdocument_singledocument/a89cdf88-ead4-40f1-8fc1-dd35b766ff72/en/08_may.pdf Azerbaijan: Is War Over Nagornyy Karabakh a Realistic Option?] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415152138/http://mercury.ethz.ch/serviceengine/Files/ISN/87342/ipublicationdocument_singledocument/a89cdf88-ead4-40f1-8fc1-dd35b766ff72/en/08_may.pdf |date=2016-04-15 |url-status=dead}}" Advanced Research and Assessment Group. Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Caucasus Series 08/17, 2008, p.16. (before 2020)

| deployed =

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| history = *First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994)

Battle of Shusha (1992) on (8–9 May 1992)
Opening the Lachin corridor between Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (1992)
Mardakert and Martuni Offensives (summer–autumn 1992)
Defence of the Martakert front from 1992 to 1994
Battle of Kalbajar on (27 March – 3 April 1993)
Agdam, Fizuli, Jebrail and Zangelan offensives (June–August 1993)
Nagorno-Karabakh conflict (1994–2024)
2008 Mardakert clashes (2008)
2010 Mardakert clashes (2010)
2012 Armenian–Azerbaijani border clashes
2014 Armenian–Azerbaijani clashes
2016 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes
Second Nagorno-Karabakh War (27 September 2020 – 10 November 2020)
Battle of Hadrut (October 2020)
Battle of Shusha on (4–7 November 2020)
2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh

| ranks =

}}

The Artsakh Defence Army ({{langx|hy|Արցախի Հանրապետության պաշտպանության բանակ|Artsakhi Hanrapetut’yan pashtpanut’yan banak}}) was the defence force of the breakaway Republic of Artsakh. Established in 1992, it united previously disorganized defence units which were formed in the early 1990s.

It was disbanded on 20 September 2023 under the terms of the Nagorno-Karabakh ceasefire agreement following the 2023 Azerbaijani military offensive.{{Cite news |date=2023-09-20 |title=Azerbaijan Ends Fighting in Disputed Region as Armenians Concede |language=en |work=Bloomberg.com |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-09-20/azerbaijan-defies-us-eu-pressure-to-end-attack-on-armenians |access-date=2023-09-20}}

History

=Establishment=

The Artsakh Defence Army was founded on 9 May 1992. It created "its own central command and military structure distinct from the Armenian Army."Dzelilovic, Vesna Bojicic. "From Humanitarianism to Reconstruction: Towards an Alternative Approach to Economic and Social Recovery from War" in Global Insecurity (Restructuring the Global Military Sector), Vol. 3, eds. Mary Kaldor and Basker Vashee. London: Pinter, 2000, p. 79. Its founders included Robert Kocharyan (the former President of Armenia, he was the first commander-in-chief of the Army);{{cite book | last =De Waal | first = Thomas | author-link = Thomas de Waal | title = Black Garden: Armenia and Azerbaijan Through Peace and War | url = https://archive.org/details/blackgardenarmen00waal | url-access =limited | publisher = New York University Press | year = 2003 | pages = [https://archive.org/details/blackgardenarmen00waal/page/n210 196]–97, 210 | location = New York | isbn = 0-8147-1945-7}} Serzh Sargsyan (former Prime Minister and President of Armenia); Vazgen Sargsyan (Armenia's Defence Minister 1992–93, State Minister in Charge of defence 1993–95, Armenia's Prime Minister 1998–99); Monte Melkonian (responsible for Martuni Province);{{cite book | last = Melkonian | first = Markar | author-link = Markar Melkonian | title = My Brother's Road, An American's Fateful Journey to Armenia | publisher = I. B. Tauris | year = 2005 | pages = 184ff | location = New York | isbn = 1-85043-635-5}} Samvel Babayan (Nagorno-Karabakh's Defence Minister from 1994 to 2000) and others. Many of the men who served in its ranks and in the officer corps during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War were seasoned veterans of the Soviet military and had fought in the Soviet–Afghan War.Giragosian, Richard. "Armenia and Karabakh: One Nation, Two States." AGBU Magazine 19/1 (May 2009), pp. 12–13.

=First Nagorno-Karabakh War=

{{main|First Nagorno-Karabakh War|Armenian volunteer units during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War}}

The formal formation of the NKR Defence Army was rooted in the concept of the Jokat (volunteer detachment). With the early outbreak of hostilities prior to 1992, Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh began forming small detachments of volunteers, often self-described as Fedayeen, inheriting the name of the fighters who actively resisted the Ottoman Empire in the final decades of the nineteenth and early decades of the twentieth centuries.

At the outset these detachments were small groups of no more than 12–40 men. For example, during Operation Ring, Shahumyan was defended by a force as small as 22 men under the command of Tatul Krpeyan. These volunteer militia would initially arm themselves with whatever was available, including hunting shotguns borrowed from local farmers and even home-made rifles. In the later stages of the war, these units armed themselves with AK-47s, RPGs and sometimes MANPADs, transforming the defence force into a highly mobile and flexible force that was capable of waging guerrilla warfare. Likewise, these units initially had no heavy military equipment, but later started taking over large quantities of Azerbaijani tanks and armored personnel carriers that were abandoned on the battlefield. Most of these captured tanks and APCs later became part of the NKR Defense Army's equipment. Improvization, multi-functionality, creativity, strong-morale, focus on defensive tactics, adaptation, flexibility, high-mobility and a native knowledge of the mountainous terrain were all important factors in understanding the combat success of these small units.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

The initial purpose of these detachments, made up of volunteers, was mainly to defend Armenian civilian population, each in a particular village or town. Each of them was operating independently with no central command or leadership. Yet, these units would regularly collaborate in joint operations such as the battle of Khojaly in February 1992 or the June 1992 surprise counter-offensives during Operation Goranboy. The increasing scale and intensity of Azerbaijani attacks, the devastation caused by Grad multiple rocket launchers firing from Shusha and the Lachin, the blockade from mainland Armenia had broadened the notion of security beyond the mere defence of a small village. Capturing Shusha and Lachin as well as turning the tide of Operation Goranboy became, for the Armenians, not only a matter of security, but that of survival.See Melkonian. My Brother's Road, p. 225. For the successful conduct of such large-scale operations, the detachments had to be consolidated under a single, unified command.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

Mient Jan Faber argues that "August 1992 marked the watershed between purely voluntary Armenian Karabakh forces reinforced by volunteers from Armenia and an organised NKR army with its own central command and a military structure distinct from the Armenian army."Mient Jan Faber in Mary Kaldor, Global Insecurity: Restructuring the Global Military Sector, volume III UNU/WIDER, London and New York: Pinter, 2000, p. 79. {{ISBN|9781855676442}}.

=Post war=

The Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army's primary role after the conclusion of the First Nagorno-Karabakh War in 1994 was the protection of the NKR from foreign and domestic threats. Though the war ended with the signing of a cease fire between Armenia, Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan and the de facto independence of the NKR, the Azerbaijani leadership repeatedly threatened to restart hostilities to retake the region."[http://asbarez.com/82329/azeri-assault-on-karabakh-outpost-kills-four-armenian-soldiers/ Azeri Assault on Karabakh Outpost Kills Four Armenian Soldiers] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100625013105/http://asbarez.com/82329/azeri-assault-on-karabakh-outpost-kills-four-armenian-soldiers/ |date=25 June 2010 }}." Asbarez. 21 June 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010. Violations of the cease fire along the line of contact were frequent and often resulted in the deaths of several soldiers and civilians each year. One of the most significant breaches of the ceasefire occurred in Martakert on 8 March 2008, when up to sixteen soldiers were killed. Both sides accused the other of starting the battle.Yevgrashina, Lada and Hasmik Mkrtchyan. "[http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0572597.htm Azeris, Armenians spar after major Karabakh clash] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080307003917/http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L0572597.htm |date=7 March 2008 }}". Reuters. 5 March 2008. Retrieved 10 March 2008. In June 2010, new skirmishes broke out between Armenian and Azerbaijani troops along the line of contact, resulting in the deaths of four Armenian servicemen."[http://www.rferl.org/content/OSCE_EU_Condemn_Karabakh_Armed_Incident/2079009.html OSCE, EU Condemn Karabakh 'Armed Incident'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827024039/http://www.rferl.org/content/OSCE_EU_Condemn_Karabakh_Armed_Incident/2079009.html |date=27 August 2016 }}." RFE/RL. 22 June 2010. Retrieved 22 June 2010. Clashes in summer 2014 resulted in the deaths of six Armenian and thirteen Azerbaijani servicemen. On 12 November 2014, a Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army Mi-24 attack helicopter participating in the week-long joint Armenian–NKR Unity 2014 military exercises was shot down by the Azerbaijani military, killing all three crew members. On 1 April 2016 large scale clashes began along the line of contact, which lasted for four days and came to be known as the Four-Day War. According to several sources they were the worst since 1994. These clashes culminated in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, in which the Artsakh Defence Army was defeated while fighting against the military of Azerbaijan and Turkey. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Erdogan admitted that Turkey provided military and diplomatic backing to Azerbaijan during the fighting.{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-parade-idCAKBN28K1T3 |title=Turkey's Erdogan, at Nagorno-Karabakh parade, says Armenia needs new leaders |newspaper=Reuters |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104231126/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-armenia-azerbaijan-parade-idCAKBN28K1T3 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.1lurer.am/en/2020/12/09/Erdogan-admitted-that-Turkey-supported-Azerbaijan-in-the-war-against-Artsakh/374546 |title=Erdogan admitted that Turkey supported Azerbaijan in the war against Artsakh |date=9 December 2020 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104231126/https://www.1lurer.am/en/2020/12/09/Erdogan-admitted-that-Turkey-supported-Azerbaijan-in-the-war-against-Artsakh/374546 |url-status=live }} During the war, Turkey sent a number of Syrian opposition fighters as mercenaries to fight against Armenian forces, including fighters from Sultan Murad Division and Hamza Division.{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-55238803 |title=The Syrian mercenaries used as 'cannon fodder' in Nagorno-Karabakh |work=BBC News |date=10 December 2020 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=10 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210015410/https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-55238803 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/28/syrian-rebel-fighters-prepare-to-deploy-to-azerbaijan-in-sign-of-turkeys-ambition |title=Syrian rebel fighters prepare to deploy to Azerbaijan in sign of Turkey's ambition |newspaper=The Guardian |date=28 September 2020 |access-date=4 January 2023 |archive-date=28 September 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928212602/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/28/syrian-rebel-fighters-prepare-to-deploy-to-azerbaijan-in-sign-of-turkeys-ambition |url-status=live |last1=McKernan |first1=Bethan }}{{Cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/30/nagorno-karabakh-at-least-three-syrian-fighters-killed |title=Nagorno-Karabakh: At least three Syrian fighters killed | Armenia | the Guardian |work=The Guardian |date=30 September 2020 |access-date=5 August 2023 |archive-date=4 June 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230604035803/https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/30/nagorno-karabakh-at-least-three-syrian-fighters-killed |url-status=live |last1=McKernan |first1=Bethan |last2=Safi |first2=Michael }}

In May 2021, President Arayik Harutyunyan announced planned to transform the Defense Army into a professional combat force.{{Cite web|last=LLC|first=Helix Consulting|title=Professional army to be formed in Artsakh, where contract servicemen will play important role – Artsakh president – aysor.am – Hot news from Armenia|url=https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2021/05/18/harutyunyan-army/1834576|access-date=2021-05-19|website=www.aysor.am|archive-date=19 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210519170041/https://www.aysor.am/en/news/2021/05/18/harutyunyan-army/1834576|url-status=live}}

It was disbanded on 21 September 2023 following the 2023 Nagorno-Karabakh clashes, as one of the conditions imposed by Azerbaijan to end the clashes.

Structure

The Ministry of Defence served as the chief administrative body of the Defence Army.

= Chiefs of Staff =

Lieutenant General Anatoly Zinevich (1994–1997)
Major General Kamo Vardanyan (until 11 September 2021)

Defense Districts

The five Defense Districts were the following:

= Central Defense District =

NKR self-defense detachments were formed on 22 February 1988. At the end of 1991 and at the beginning of 1992, more than ten volunteer detachments and detachments were formed in Stepanakert and included more than a thousand fighters. Motorized regiments were then formed on the basis of the following structure:

1st Motorized Rifle Battalion
2nd Motorized Rifle Battalion
3rd Motorized Rifle Battalion

In September 1989, the Central Defense District (also known as the Stepanakert Defense District) was formed on the basis of those battalions. The 8th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade was part of the district, being formed on 14 October 1992. It was named after "Commander Vazgen Sargsyan".{{Cite web|title=Նախագահ Սահակյանը մասնակցել է 8-րդ առանձին մոտոհրաձգային բրիգադի հիմնադրման 25-ամյակին նվիրված միջոցառմանը|url=https://artsakhpress.am/arm/news/74262/nakhagah-sahakyany-masnakcel-e-8-rd-arandzin-motohradzgayin-brigadi-himnadrman-25-amyakin-nvirvats-mijocarmany.html|access-date=2021-02-11|website=artsakhpress.am|archive-date=17 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117131844/http://artsakhpress.am/arm/news/74262/nakhagah-sahakyany-masnakcel-e-8-rd-arandzin-motohradzgayin-brigadi-himnadrman-25-amyakin-nvirvats-mijocarmany.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Բակո Սահակյանը մասնակցել է 8-րդ առանձին մոտոհրաձգային բրիգադի հիմնադրման 25-ամյակին նվիրված միջոցառմանը (ԼՈՒՍԱՆԿԱՐՆԵՐ)|url=https://armedia.am/arm/news/53091/bako-sahakyany-masnakcel-e-8-rd-arandzin-motohradzgayin-brigadi-himnadrman-25-amyakin-nvirvats-mijocarmany-lusankarner.html|access-date=2021-02-11|website=armedia.am|language=hy|archive-date=30 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220330071042/https://armedia.am/arm/news/53091/bako-sahakyany-masnakcel-e-8-rd-arandzin-motohradzgayin-brigadi-himnadrman-25-amyakin-nvirvats-mijocarmany-lusankarner.html|url-status=live}}

= Hadrut Defense District =

Its first battalion was formed on 16 July 1992.{{Cite web|title=Հադրութի պաշտպանական շրջանի առաջին մոտոհրաձգային գումարտակ {{!}} historyofarmenia.am.am|url=http://www.historyofarmenia-am.armin.am/am/Encyclopedia_of_armenian_history_Hadruti_pasht_arajin_motohradzgayin_gumartak|access-date=2021-03-16|website=www.historyofarmenia-am.armin.am|archive-date=24 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210724084856/https://www.historyofarmenia-am.armin.am/am/Encyclopedia_of_armenian_history_Hadruti_pasht_arajin_motohradzgayin_gumartak|url-status=live}} The district was formed in September 1992, in accordance with the order of the Chairman of the Committee for Self-Defense of the Artsakh Republic in August 1992.{{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

= Martuni Defense District =

It was formed in September 1991 by the order of the President on the basis of self-defense detachments and platoon operating in the region. The Mataghis Military Unit was part of the district. It was based in the Madagiz settlement of the Martakert Province. In May 2017, the commander and two deputies of the military unit were dismissed after 3 soldiers drowned after their UAZ-315195 vehicle fell into a reservoir.{{Cite web|title=Artsakh military unit's commander and deputies dismissed after drowning incident including soldiers|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/892711.html|access-date=2021-02-11|website=armenpress.am|date=29 May 2017 |archive-date=13 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113130605/https://armenpress.am/eng/news/892711.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=՛Officers expelled from Mataghis military unit had passed a military path, it was a painful decision՛: minister|url=https://www.aravot-en.am/2017/06/28/196221/|access-date=2021-02-11|website=www.aravot-en.am|archive-date=13 January 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230113130612/https://www.aravot-en.am/2017/06/28/196221/|url-status=live}} Among its notable commanders was Mikael Arzumanyan, serving as the commander of the unit at the age of 22.{{Cite web|title=Armenian analyst: New Artsakh army chief was commander of Mataghis military unit at 22 – Opera News|url=https://www.dailyadvent.com/news/ae8699e8609dcc256f6cd8a8615f62e3-Armenian-analyst-New-Artsakh-army-chief-was-commander-of-Mataghis-military-unit-at-22|access-date=2021-02-11|website=www.dailyadvent.com}}{{Cite web|title=Armenian analyst: New Artsakh army chief was commander of Mataghis military unit at 22|url=https://en.novostink.net/2809-armenian-analyst-new-artsakh-army-chief-was-commander-of-mataghis-military-unit-at-22.html|access-date=2021-02-11|website=Armenian News}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

= Shahumyan Defensive Region =

The Yeghnikner ("The Deers") Detachment was founded on 11 March 1993 and was considered to be one of the most elite units of the army of the unrecognized republic. It originated from a partisan unit created by Shahen Meghryan, which was formed on 25 June 1992 from self-defense detachments of the district villages. Among its symbols were the coat of arms of the Meliks of Gulistan and its unit banner. The Shahumyan Defensive Region (SDR) was formed by the Chairman of the Self Defense Committee in March 1993, originally incorporating two battalions Between 1993 and 1994, SDR units participated in battles and operations in Martakert and Shahumyan.{{Cite web|title=ԲԱՑԱՌԻԿ ՖՈՏՈՌԵՊՈՐՏԱԺ, ՏԵՍԱՆՅՈՒԹ՝ Արցախի Հանրապետության "Եղնիկներ" զորամասից. լեգենդար զորամասում ներկա և ապագա լեգենդները նշեցին զորամասի կազմավորման 25-ամյակը|url=https://shamshyan.com/hy/article/2018/03/12/1091200/|access-date=2020-07-29|website=Լուրեր Հայաստանից {{!}} Shamshyan.com|language=hy|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729015343/https://shamshyan.com/hy/article/2018/03/12/1091200/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Documentary About The "Yeghnikner" Detachment – "Dark Forest In The Mountains" {{!}} Art-A-Tsolum|date=11 February 2020|url=https://allinnet.info/history/documentary-about-the-yeghnikner-detachment/|access-date=2020-07-29|archive-date=29 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729013721/https://allinnet.info/history/documentary-about-the-yeghnikner-detachment/|url-status=live}}

On 2 October 2021, President Arayik Harutyunyan conferred the title of Hero of Artsakh on the commander of the Yeghnikner unit Karen Jalavyan.{{Cite web|date=2020-10-02|title=Командира элитной воинской части НКР наградили за взятие важных высот|url=https://ria.ru/20201002/karabakh-1578081368.html|access-date=2021-02-10|website=РИА Новости|language=ru|archive-date=1 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201101135422/https://ria.ru/20201002/karabakh-1578081368.html|url-status=live}} After the 2020 war, rumors on the Internet claimed that the unit had to leave its positions, which was denied by the commander.{{Cite web|title=Five main mysteries Of the second Karabakh war|url=https://vpk.name/en/463168_five-main-mysteries-of-the-second-karabakh-war.html|access-date=2021-02-10|website=ВПК.name|date=16 November 2020 |archive-date=14 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220314041853/https://vpk.name/en/463168_five-main-mysteries-of-the-second-karabakh-war.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|title=Artsakh army refused to fulfill agreements on Karabakh|url=https://avia-pro.net/news/armiya-arcaha-otkazalas-vypolnyat-dogovoryonnosti-po-karabahu|access-date=2021-02-10|website=avia-pro.net}}{{Cite web|url=http://arka.am/en/news/politics/soldiers_of_yeghnikner_military_unit_continue_their_combat_duty/|title = Soldiers of Yeghnikner military unit continue their combat duty| date=13 November 2020 }}

= Askeran Defense District =

Askeran Defense District was formed by the order of the NKR IPC President of August 14, 1992. There were 4 rifle battalions in the district: {{Citation needed|date=February 2024}}

1st Rifle Battalion
2nd Rifle Battalion
3rd Rifle Battalion
4th Rifle Battalion

Personnel

According to Richard Giragosian, the Artsakh Defence Army in 2009 was composed of around 20,000 officers and soldiers and maintained a "constant state of readiness, undergoing more serious combat training and operational exercises than any other former Soviet army." The Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army maintained a small air force with a personnel of around 250 men. While the NKDA did not formally disclosed personnel numbers, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) estimated that the NKDA had 12,000 personnel prior to its defeat in September 2023. The IISS also stated that the regular Army was supported by volunteers and irregular troops.{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=105}}

= Personnel units =

== Special Forces ==

The Special Forces of the Artsakh Defense Army was established in 2000. Based on the previous National Guard, it carries out both of planned and unplanned combat operations. Among its notable commanders were Samvel Harutyunyan. On 11 August 2010, a memorial fountain was unveiled in Aygestan community of Askeran region on August 10 in memory of the fallen soldiers of the Special Forces. The memorial was built with the financial means of the former and current servicemen of the detachment.{{Cite web|url=https://armenpress.am/arm/news/615616|title=Հուշաղբյուր' ԼՂՀ ՊԲ հատուկ նշանակության ջոկատի զոհված զինվորների հիշատակին|date=11 August 2010 |access-date=25 December 2020|archive-date=3 February 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220203040226/https://armenpress.am/arm/news/615616|url-status=live}} Their professional holiday was on 5 November.{{Cite web|last=LLC|first=Academy Of Development|title=Այսօր հետախույզի օրն է {{!}} ԼՂՀ պաշտպանության նախարարության պաշտոնական կայք|url=https://nkrmil.am/news/view/3135|access-date=2021-03-15|website=nkrmil.am|language=hy|archive-date=6 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306183056/https://nkrmil.am/news/view/3135|url-status=live}}

== Engineer Battalion ==

The Defense Army has an engineering battalion that was involved in the clearance of minefields of strategic importance. It was formed on 1 February 1995.{{Cite web|last=LLC|first=Academy Of Development|title=Զորամասի օր {{!}} ԼՂՀ պաշտպանության նախարարության պաշտոնական կայք|url=https://nkrmil.am/news/view/554|access-date=2021-03-15|website=nkrmil.am|language=hy}}{{Dead link|date=August 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Roles Aghajanyan was the first head of the Defence Army engineering services.{{Cite web|title=Աղաջանյան Ռոլես Գեորգիի|url=http://www.nankr.am/hy/2397|access-date=2021-03-15|website=www.nankr.am|archive-date=31 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200131103247/http://www.nankr.am/hy/2397|url-status=live}}

= Educational institutions =

Equipment

The Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army's equipment consisted of infantry, tanks, artillery and anti-aircraft systems. The Karabakh army's heavy military hardware included: 186DeRouen, Karl and Uk Heo (eds.) Civil Wars of the World: Major Conflicts since World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-CLIO, 2007, p. 151.Hans-Joachim Schmidt, "[http://www.hsfk.de/fileadmin/HSFK/hsfk_downloads/prif89.pdf Military Confidence Building and Arms Control in Unresolved Territorial Conflicts] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415021405/http://www.hsfk.de/fileadmin/HSFK/hsfk_downloads/prif89.pdf |date=15 April 2016 }}", PRIF Reports No 89, Frankfurt am Main,

2009, p.12. tanks, 68 armoured vehicles, 98 artillery pieces of calibres over 122mm, 44 multiple rocket launchers (most likely BM-21 Grad), and an anti-aircraft defence system of an unspecified type

As for infantry, most relied on the AK-74 rifle and older AKMs in reserve for standard-issue rifles. Other basic weapons consisted of Makarov PM pistols, PK machine guns, and RPG-7 rocket launchers, all mostly supplied by Armenia. The Nagorno-Karabakh military was deeply integrated with the Armenian military, and the NKR depended on the Armenian Army to ensure its survival as an independent national entity. Armenia considered any act of aggression against Karabakh as an act of aggression against itself.

=Ground Forces=

The NKDA relied mostly on weapons supplied by Armenia until 2020 in addition to Soviet-era stocks. In the aftermath of the 2023 Azerbaijani offensive in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Azerbaijanis reported that large weapon caches were seized.{{sfn|IISS|2024|page=105}}

==Small arms==

class="wikitable" ! style="text-align;width:13%;"\|Name ! style="text-align;width:13%;"\|Origin ! style="text-align;width:16%;"\|Caliber ! style="text-align;width:9%; "\|Image ! style="text-align;width:48%;"\|Notes
colspan="5" \| Pistols
Makarov \| {{USSR}} \| 9×18mm Makarov \| 150x150px \| {{cite news \|title=Azerbaijani police find numerous weapons, munitions in Khankendi, Aghdara \|url=https://caliber.az/en/post/azerbaijani-police-find-numerous-weapons-munitions-in-khankendi-aghdara \|access-date=3 February 2025 \|work=Caliber.Az \|date=6 January 2024 \|language=en}}
APS \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| 9×18mm Makarov \| 150px \|
colspan="5" \| Assault rifles
AKM{{cite news \|last1=Sirekanyan \|first1=Tigran \|title=Updated: Soldier dies in Artsakh by firing at himself \|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1003167.html \|access-date=2 March 2024 \|work=armenpress.am \|date=30 January 2020 \|language=en}} \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| 7.62×39mm \| 150px \| The AKMS variant was also used.
AK-74{{cite news \|last1=Harutyunyan \|first1=Aneta \|title=Senior officer of Artsakh Defense Army arrested in suspicion of killing serviceman \|url=https://armenpress.am/eng/news/982756.html \|access-date=2 March 2024 \|work=armenpress.am \|date=25 July 2019 \|language=en}} \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| 5.45×39mm \| 150px \| Standard rifle of Artsakh Defence Army.{{sfn\|DeRouen Jr.\|Heo\|2007 \|page=149}} The AKS-74 variant was also used.
AK-74M \| {{RUS}} \| 5.45×39mm \| 150px \|
AK-103 \| {{ARM}} {{flagu\|Russia}} \| 7.62×39mm \| 150px \|
colspan="5" \| Sniper rifles
SVD \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| 7.62×54mmR \| 150px \| {{sfn\|McNab\|2023\|page=77}}
colspan="5" \| Machine guns
RPK-74 \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| 5.45×39mm \| 150px \| {{citation needed\|date=September 2020}}
PK \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| 7.62×54mmR \| 150px \|
colspan="5" \|Grenades
F-1 \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| N/A \| 150px \|
colspan="5" \|Anti-tank weapons
9K111-1 Konkurs \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| 135 mm \| 150x150px \| {{sfn\|IISS\|2023\|page=174}}
SPG-9 \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| 73 mm \| 150x150px \| {{sfn\|IISS\|2023\|page=174}}
colspan="5" \|Man-portable air-defense systems
9K310 Igla-1 \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| N/A \| 150x150px \| {{sfn\|IISS\|2023\|page=175}}
9K38 Igla \| {{flagu\|USSR}} \| N/A \| 150x150px \| {{sfn\|IISS\|2023\|page=175}}

class="wikitable"

! style="text-align;width:13%;"|Name

! style="text-align;width:13%;"|Origin

! style="text-align;width:16%;"|Caliber

! style="text-align;width:9%; "|Image

! style="text-align;width:48%;"|Notes

colspan="5" | Pistols

Makarov

| {{USSR}}