Armenian MP Vahagn Aleksanyan Defends Su‑30 Jet Purchase Amid Criticism

On August 4, Vahagn Aleksanyan, a candidate for deputy speaker of Armenia’s National Assembly, responded to criticism that the Su‑30 fighter jets bought during the 44‑day war were costly and under‑utilised. Citing a statement by MP Arthur Khachaturian that the aircraft “did not take to the sky,” Aleksanyan argued that the procurement process takes time and that the jets are now operational, equipped with air‑to‑air missiles. He noted that an agreement with Russia called for acquiring eight to twelve Su‑30s, but the current government secured only four, and he defended the decision as a necessary step for national defence. Aleksanyan, a former member of the parliamentary defence and security committee, also referenced his prior involvement in the war‑time investigation commission, underscoring the complexity of the procurement and its political implications.