Armenia needs to establish the necessary training facilities and professional expertise before acquiring more expensive and complex aircraft for its air force. Military expert Leonid Nersisyan expressed this view while commenting on media reports that Armenia is preparing to purchase Czech-made L-39 combat trainers.
According to Nersisyan, if the reports are accurate, such a purchase could be a logical step for Armenia. Part of the existing aircraft fleet is outdated, and its remaining operational capacity is declining over time. Maintaining and developing an air force also requires more than combat aircraft: it needs an appropriate system for training pilots.
Nersisyan stressed that combat trainers are important primarily because of their role in pilot training. “Having a university student immediately fly a Su-30, for example, would be absurd even in terms of cost,” he said. He emphasized that using expensive combat aircraft effectively requires personnel who have first received the appropriate training.
L-39 aircraft could also counter drones
The expert believes the potential use of these aircraft may extend beyond training. He did not rule out their use against unmanned aerial vehicles, including medium-sized and large drones, provided they receive suitable technical adaptations and are employed appropriately.
According to Nersisyan, much of Armenia’s aircraft fleet is already outdated, while the number of relatively new Sukhoi aircraft is small. Under these circumstances, rebuilding and developing the air force requires a phased approach. Armenia should first provide training, develop professional expertise and accumulate the necessary experience before moving on to larger purchases.
“The first sensible step is to start with this, rather than spend money on major acquisitions, such as Swedish fighter jets, without having a well-trained pilot,” the expert said.
Pilot training before major acquisitions
In Nersisyan’s assessment, the growing defense budget can support more than the purchase of new weapons. It can also fund the infrastructure and personnel needed to use them effectively. For the air force, this means first establishing a system of trained pilots and training aircraft, and only then proceeding to acquire more expensive combat aircraft.
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