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INDEPENDENCE DAY: ARMENIA HOLDS SEPTEMBER 21 MILITARY PARADE (PHOTOGALLERY)
Nazik Armenakyan
ArmeniaNow
21.09.11 | 12:43
Armenia has put on the biggest show of its military power in five
years to mark the 20th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic's
independence.
At around midday on September 21 columns of servicemen as well as
tanks, military vehicles, towed artillery systems and other pieces of
modern hardware paraded past the country's leadership standing on a
podium in Yerevan's main Republic Square. Chaplains of the Armenian
Apostolic Church serving for the Armed Forces also took part in the
parade, as did a unit representing the Russian military base stationed
in Gyumri.
Enlarge Photo
Meanwhile, warplanes and helicopter gunships roared overhead, with
SU-25 jets spraying the colors of the Armenian tricolor (red, blue
and orange) in a slightly cloudy sky - to the delight of numerous
ordinary members of the public, some of whom had come to the square
to watch the spectacular show with their kids.
Predictably, the centerpiece of the events was the show of Russian
S-300 air-defense systems that Armenia only recently officially
confirmed to be in possession of. Other highlights of the military
parade included the display of unmanned aerial vehicles of Armenian
production called "Krunk" and the tactical operational missile complex
"Tochka-U" (the improved Scarab B).
In his speech to the troops, other parade participants and the entire
nation Armenia's President and Commander-in-Chief Serzh Sargsyan
talked about the path of the nation during the two decades of its
independence, stressing that "all the achievements and omissions
are ours".
The Armenian leader voiced his belief that "with this realization
and public solidarity in the next 20 years we will be able to build
a country that is close to our ideals."
"This parade is a bright episode of the eternal march of the
Armenians," Sargsyan underscored.
Nazik Armenakyan
ArmeniaNow
21.09.11 | 12:43
Armenia has put on the biggest show of its military power in five
years to mark the 20th anniversary of the declaration of the Republic's
independence.
At around midday on September 21 columns of servicemen as well as
tanks, military vehicles, towed artillery systems and other pieces of
modern hardware paraded past the country's leadership standing on a
podium in Yerevan's main Republic Square. Chaplains of the Armenian
Apostolic Church serving for the Armed Forces also took part in the
parade, as did a unit representing the Russian military base stationed
in Gyumri.
Enlarge Photo
Meanwhile, warplanes and helicopter gunships roared overhead, with
SU-25 jets spraying the colors of the Armenian tricolor (red, blue
and orange) in a slightly cloudy sky - to the delight of numerous
ordinary members of the public, some of whom had come to the square
to watch the spectacular show with their kids.
Predictably, the centerpiece of the events was the show of Russian
S-300 air-defense systems that Armenia only recently officially
confirmed to be in possession of. Other highlights of the military
parade included the display of unmanned aerial vehicles of Armenian
production called "Krunk" and the tactical operational missile complex
"Tochka-U" (the improved Scarab B).
In his speech to the troops, other parade participants and the entire
nation Armenia's President and Commander-in-Chief Serzh Sargsyan
talked about the path of the nation during the two decades of its
independence, stressing that "all the achievements and omissions
are ours".
The Armenian leader voiced his belief that "with this realization
and public solidarity in the next 20 years we will be able to build
a country that is close to our ideals."
"This parade is a bright episode of the eternal march of the
Armenians," Sargsyan underscored.