Eduard Musayelyan: The defense industry has become the main driver of civilian technologies

The military industry today is not only a tool for ensuring state security but also one of the key drivers of technological development. This was stated by Eduard Musayelyan, Executive Director at the Union of Employers of Information and Communication Technologies (UEICT), while opening the forum taking place within Armenia's first defense industry, innovation, and engineering exhibition RISE 2026 (photos).

Many technologies came from the defense industry

According to him, modern history has repeatedly proven that many technologies widely used in civilian life today were originally created for the needs of the military-industrial complex. "The internet, which today is the foundation of global communication, and GPS, used in smartphones, cars, and logistics, were initially developed for military purposes," Musayelyan noted.

He emphasized that in today's world, states actively invest in military-industrial technologies because they provide long-term competitive advantages and become a source of innovation for various economic sectors. According to him, despite Armenia's small size, the country possesses significant scientific and engineering potential. Armenian scientists and engineers have been creating solutions for various countries and industries around the world for decades.

"Today, our task is to concentrate this potential, create new companies, new jobs, and new industries," he stated.

More than 40 teams will showcase their products and ideas

According to Musayelyan, one of the central themes of the forum was precisely the military industry, which in current conditions is an important element of both national security and technological progress.

"Today, we are presented in a new format — RISE. Over the course of two days, more than 40 teams representing the defense industry, engineering sector, and research community will showcase their products and ideas," he noted.

Musayelyan emphasized that each of these teams contributes to strengthening the country's technological independence, security, and resilience.