Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army
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| Nagorno Karabakh Defense Army | |
|---|---|
| Active | May 9, 1992–present |
| Country |  Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh |
| Role | Ground warfare, air defense |
| Size | 18,500-20,000 |
| Engagements | Nagorno-Karabakh War |
| Commanders | |
| Defence Minister | Major General Movses Hakobyan |
The Nagorno-Karabakh (NKR) Defense Army was officially established on May 9, 1992 as the formal defense force of the unrecognized Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, uniting previously disorganized self-defense units which were formed in the early 1990s in order to protect the ethnic Armenian population of Nagorno-Karabakh from the attacks by the military of the Soviet and Azerbaijani forces. Currently Nagorno-Karabakh Defence Army is around 15,000-20,000 well-trained and equipped officers and soldiers. It consists of infantry, tanks, artillery and anti-aircraft systems.
Main battles participated:
- Battle of Shusha/Shushi on (May 8-9, 1992)
- Opening the Lachin corridor between The Republic of Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh (1992)
- Defense of the Martakert front from 1992-1994
- 2008 Mardakert Skirimishes
The founders of Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army include Robert Kocharyan (former president of Armenia, he was the first commander in chief of the Army), Serzh Sargsyan (current president of Armenia), Vazgen Sargsyan (Armenia's Defence Minister 1992-93, State Minister in Charge of Defense 1993-95, Armenia's Prime-Minister 1998-99), Monte Melkonian (responsible for Martuni region), Samvel Babayan (Nagorno Karabakh's defense minister 1994 to 2000) and others.
The Karabakh army's heavy military hardware includes: 316 tanks, 324 armored vehicles, 322 artillery pieces of calibers over 122 mm, 44 multiple rocket launchers, and a new anti-aircraft defense system.[citation needed] The Army of Nagorno-Karabakh is deeply integrated with the Armenian military, and the unrecognised NKR state depends on the Armenian Army to ensure its survival as an independent national entity. Armenia considers any act of aggression against Karabakh as an act of aggression against itself.
The government of Karabakh does not recognize the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Treaty and thus are not bound by its fixed territorial ceiling. The specific details concerning the military of Karabakh have yet to be disclosed and thus the above are only estimates. More information on the NKR Defense Army can be found in the Armed Forces of Armenia article.
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[edit] Gallery
 Armenian T-72s of the Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army |
