Talk:Armenian Air Force/Archive 1

Su-27
Are there any informations about Su-27 in Armenian Air Force? I'm not sure that Armenian Air Force have them. Kos93 —Preceding comment was added at 16:23, 18 October 2007 (UTC)


 * I think they not, they purchased Su-25 from Slovakia for 1 million all 10, but when did they got Su-27? Also it costs around 25Mil. So to buy them it will cost 250Mil, with a whole budget of 150MIl, how they can do that? Steelmate 22:58, 3 December 2007 (UTC)


 * I've seen no such reports. Often reports of such aircraft in former Soviet Union states are actually of Russian Air Force aircraft that were not left behind for the successor state to acquire or else they simply have "basing rights" in the country. In fact, Russia has MiG-29s stationed at Yerevan-Erebuni.   Other than the Su-25, the only other fighter they had was a single MiG-25 (and I believe that was retired in 2005).  I can't read the text, but it appears to capture an air show demonstration by probably Russian aircraft.  Askari Mark (Talk) 23:50, 3 December 2007 (UTC)


 * So is it fair to say that even thoes Mig-29s don't belong to Armenia, it is a property of Russian Army? If so then maybe that information needs to be amended as well... Steelmate 00:18, 4 December 2007 (UTC)


 * Yes, I should have removed the Russian MiG-29s as well; however, I need to research whether Armenia actually acquired some for its own air force. Askari Mark (Talk) 00:24, 4 December 2007 (UTC)

to :askari mark. maybe it belong to the rusians but still its in the armenian air force becous if war start they will use the mig 29... i think that the russian army in armenia will gett better airplane's and they will gife the mig 29 to armenia —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.169.227.40 (talk) 21:25, 7 February 2009 (UTC)


 * Thank you for your note. However, on Wikipedia we have to cite reliable sources, not speculation on what might happen nor Google Earth (which can’t show what’s hidden or things like ownership markings).  All reliable sources I’ve found to date – including Russian ones – say the MiG-29s in Armenia are theirs, not Armenia’s.  Moreover, I’m fairly confident Armenia doesn’t have Su-27s either, but that they were a mistaken report for Su-25s.  If you can guide us to reliable sources, it would be greatly appreciated.  Askari Mark (Talk) 03:10, 18 February 2009 (UTC)

Expansion and update
As promised, I’ve updated and expanded this article based on the research I’ve been conducting. With all the conflicting and missing pieces of information “out there,” this was not easy, so I’ve used my professional judgment to try to sort out the most likely story. Obviously, there’s more research to be done.

One thing we could really use is more insight into the 1992-94 operations in NK. Frankly, the ACIG article is the only one I could find with useful details. More organizational information would also be useful, especially in the AAF’s formative years. I’m sure there’s a very intriguing story to be told about its origins and early development, but it doesn’t appear to have yet become available in English.

Most changes I’ve made to the inventory tables are self-evident. I’ve chosen to break out those aircraft whose service entry is debatable into separate notes. In this way we can identify aircraft which may have entered service, but for which we simply lack reliable sources – at present. For instance, while I respect Mhergyumri’s claim to have actually seen Armenian Su-27s, neither editors’ personal witness, blogs or YouTube are considered “reliable sources” by Wikipedia, so to include them would be a matter of “original research”. (BTW, I have come upon a claim that a particular Russian source may provide evidence for a 2005 Su-27 sale to Armenia, and I am going to dig further to see whether I can turn up a FBIS English translation. (I do not have a copy in Russian either, just a reference to such an article.)

Anyhow, please let me know how you think we can further improve this. We ought to be able to get this to at least an A-class article in 2008. Askari Mark (Talk) 03:54, 7 January 2008 (UTC)


 * Good job Askari Mark, it is tough to get streight facts, but you improved overall the article tremendously. Some proof reading and getting rid of weasel word will help and of course more references. By the way if you need to translate something from russian, let me know. Steelmate (talk) 21:38, 7 January 2008 (UTC)

Restored images. VartanM (talk) 22:45, 24 February 2008 (UTC)