Emerging technologies, evolving supply chains, and the growing role of smaller states in the defense sector were the focus of the panel discussion “Defense Industrial Cooperation: Supply Chains, Talent, and the Role of Smaller States,” held within the framework of the Yerevan Dialogue 2026.
The panel was moderated by Leonid Nersisyan, Senior Advisor of APRI Armenia, and featured Dominik P. Jankowski, Deputy Secretary General of the NATO Parliamentary Assembly, Sukaran Singh, Managing Director and CEO of Tata Advanced Systems of India, Gegham Vardanyan, CEO of ATG of Armenia, Jakub Jaworski, Director General of the Polish Chamber of National Defence Manufacturers of Poland, and Sujan Chinoy, Director General of the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses of India.
Participants discussed how software-based systems, unmanned platforms, artificial intelligence, and commercial space capabilities are reshaping the defense industry and altering traditional models of defense production and innovation. The discussion highlighted that technological transformation is lowering conventional barriers to entry and enabling a broader range of countries to participate in defense innovation ecosystems.
Special attention was devoted to the growing importance of diversified supply chains and to the role smaller states can play through specialized expertise in software development, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. Participants explored how targeted investment in innovation and human capital can support the integration of these countries into global defense production networks.
The discussion emphasized that modern defense cooperation increasingly depends on strategic partnerships, flexibility, and the effective use of niche capabilities, contributing to more adaptive and resilient industrial and security frameworks.
