U.S. and Armenia deepen defense ties; officials cite VBAT UAVs and a surveillance drone sale

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Vice President JD Vance highlighted recent and planned defense cooperation during their joint press appearance, saying the United States has supplied VBAT unmanned aerial vehicles to Armenia and announcing a further sale of surveillance drone technology.

Pashinyan said Armenia had "acquired from The United States VBAT, unmanned aerial vehicles," praising their effectiveness. Vance described defense cooperation as part of establishing deterrence, saying the "very best way to ensure that you have peace is to establish real deterrence," and he announced "a major sale of military technology, $11,000,000 in surveillance drone technology, to the Armenians."

Both leaders linked defense cooperation to broader stability: Pashinyan framed the equipment as strengthening Armenia's defense capabilities, and Vance said the transfers help ensure that the peace being built remains durable. The session did not provide procurement contracts, delivery schedules, end‑use assurances, or congressional notification documents for the stated foreign military sales.