Yerevan, Feb 2 (NationPress) Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Anil Chauhan, currently on a four-day official journey to Armenia, laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Memorial and Museum in Yerevan on Monday, paying tribute to the 1.5 million Armenians who were tragically killed.

"General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), laid a wreath at the Armenian Genocide Memorial & Museum in Yerevan, commemorating the lives of 1.5 million Armenians lost in the genocide. The Memorial’s structures and the accompanying museum serve as a powerful symbol of human suffering, resilience, and the crucial nature of remembrance, justice, and peace," the Headquarters of the Integrated Defence Staff shared in a post on X.

The Indian defence delegation, headed by General Chauhan, arrived in Armenia on Sunday for this significant four-day visit. This delegation's presence underlines a critical step toward advancing shared strategic interests and strengthening long-term defence and security collaboration between the two nations.

"An Indian defence delegation led by General Anil Chauhan, Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), arrived in the Republic of Armenia on February 1 for a four-day official visit. This visit marks a pivotal step in fostering shared strategic interests and enhancing long-term defence and security collaboration between the two nations," the Headquarters stated on X.

"The delegation received a warm welcome in Yerevan from Ms. Nilakshi Saha Sinha, Ambassador of India to Armenia, and Major General Temur Shahnazaryan, Deputy Chief of the Armed Forces of Armenia," it added.

Only two weeks prior, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had flagged off the first batch of guided Pinaka rockets bound for Armenia. These systems were produced by Pune-based Solar Defence and Aerospace Limited (SDAL).

Armenia had entered into a contract worth approximately Rs 2,000 crore in September 2022 for the acquisition of four Pinaka rocket system batteries.

The agreement includes unguided, extended-range, and guided variants of the system. Armenia also became the inaugural international customer for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, developed by India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO).

This agreement marked a significant milestone in India's broader initiative for Aatmanirbharta in defence manufacturing and its ambition to become a prominent global defence exporter.

Deliveries of the initial unguided Pinaka rocket systems commenced in July 2023 and were anticipated to conclude by late 2024, paving the way for future shipments of advanced variants.

In earlier comments regarding these exports, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh noted that the shipment of Pinaka missiles illustrates the growing strength and maturity of India’s defence industry.

He emphasized that this development showcases India’s expanding export potential, indicating that the nation is transitioning from being primarily an importer of defence equipment to steadily establishing itself as a major global exporter.