Armenian Army
Encyclopedia
The Armenian Army is the largest branch of the Armed Forces of Armenia
and consists of the ground forces responsible for the country's land-based operations. It was established in conjunction with the other components of Armenia's military on January 28, 1992, several months after the republic declared its independence from the Soviet Union
. The army's first head was the former deputy commander-in-chief of the Soviet Ground Forces, Norat Ter-Grigoryants. In compliance with its strategic allies, Armenia has sent over 1,500 officers to be trained in Greece
and Russia
.
Since the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War
, Armenia has committed many elements of the army to help bolster the defense and defend the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh from a possible renewal of hostilities with neighboring Azerbaijan
. Jane's World Armies reports that both conscripts and officers from Armenia are routinely sent for duty to Karabakh, often posted to the frontline between Karabakh Armenian and Azerbaijani forces.
units with the impending break of the Soviet Union. The second phase of the development of the army began in 1992, several months after Armenia had declared its independence. Ter-Grigoryants and other civilian officials in the Armenian Ministry of Defense including Vazgen Manukyan
and Vazgen Sargsyan sought to establish a "small, well-balanced, combat-ready defense force." The third phase began after the end of the war and continues on until today.
Most of the army's staff officers were members of the former Soviet military as an estimated 5,000 Armenians were serving as high level officers in it prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Almost immediately after its independence, Armenia was embroiled in the Nagorno-Karabakh War
with neighboring Azerbaijan
. Intending to establish a force of 30,000 men, the army's standing force increased to 50,000 by early 1994. During the war, the military remained on high alert and bolstered defenses in the region of Zangezur
, opposite of the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan
to its west. Purported artillery bombardment in May 1992 from the region led to skirmishes between the two sides including the Armenian army's incursion into several of the villages. Since 1994, the army has taken an active role in ensuring the defense of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in conjunction with its own Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army
.
The Armenian army has collaborated in several international missions with the West. On February 12, 2004, Armenia deployed a platoon-sized unit (three squads) to Kosovo
as a part of the Greek peacekeeping battalion. The unit, known as the Peacekeeping Forces of Armenia, is headquartered in Camp "REGAS FEREOS" as a part of the Multi-National Task Force East and is tasked with maintaining vehicle check points, providing security for the base but also serves as a quick reaction force and crowd and riot control. In 2008, the KFOR unit was expanded, adding a second platoon plus company staff (bringing Armenia's contingent to about 85 personnel).
In the autumn of 2004, the Armenian government approved to dispatch a 46-man contingent from the army consisting of sapper
s, engineers and doctors under Polish command as part of the Multinational Force in Iraq
. On November 10, 2006 Senior Lieutenant Georgy Nalbandyan was injured in a mine explosion in Iraq but survived after being transported for surgeries to a hospital in Landstuhl
, Germany near Ramstein Air Base
. On October 6, 2008, due to improving security conditions, the contingent's tour of duty came to an end.
In July 2009, the Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan
, announced that Armenia would send a force to participate with the International Security Assistance Force
(ISAF) in the War in Afghanistan
by the end of the year. He did not mention how large the force would be but did note that it probably would include munitions experts and communications officers. A MOD spokesmen also stated that the force would include medical specialists and translators as well. Ohanyan added that Armenian officers who served in the Soviet military during the Soviet War in Afghanistan
also expressed the desire to return there as members of the new force. In November 2009, a NATO official affirmed that an Armenian contingent numbering 30 troops will join the ISAF sometime in early 2010. That number was revised to 40 in early December, when the Armenian parliament overwhelmingly voted in approval of the contingent's deployment. The servicemen arrived in Afghanistan in February 2010, where, under German command, they are tasked to defend the regional airport in Kunduz
.
Brinkster.net reported in 2004 that according to media reports, the Army included the 555th Motor Rifle Regiment, the 83rd Motor Rifle Brigade (Dasheksan), the 1st Motor Rifle Brigade, the 7th Fortified Region (Gyumri
), the 9th Fortified Region (Etchmiadzin), a Motor Rifle Regiment (Etchmiadzin), the 538th Motor Rifle Regiment (Ağdaban
), a Motor Rifle Regiment (Shushi), and the 545th Motor Rifle Regiment.
, AKM
, AK-74
, AKS-74U, PK machine gun
s, Makarov PM
, NSV (machine gun), Dragunov Sniper Rifles, Zastava M93 Black Arrow
, and RPG-7
rocket propelled grenade
s.
Jane's reported in 2008 that the Armenian Army had 20 T-80
s, 160 T-72
s and 80 T-54s and T-22 in service. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies
's report of 2007, also in service were 80 BMP-1
s, 20 BMP-1Ks, 57 BMP-2
s, and 22 BRM-1K infantry fighting vehicles. Wheeled APCs reported included 25 BTR-60
s, 100 BTR-60 "look-a-likes" (a CFE equipment category), 21 BTR-70
s, 50 BTR-80
s, 145 MT-LB
s, and 120 BRDM-2
scout vehicles.
Anti-aircraft defense equipment included S-300
, SA-4 Ganef, 2K12 Kub S-75
, and S-125
weapon systems. Self-propelled air defense artillery systems include the ZSU-23-4
radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system, and the ZU-23-2
original Soviet variant.
Artillery reported in service includes the BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher
, BM-21 "Grad" and 9А51 "Prima": 50-round launcher on a Ural-4320
5t chassis, 2S3 Akatsiya
, 2S1 Gvozdika, D-30 - (90), 6WM-80
, 34 152 mm towed gun-howitzer M1955 (D-20)
, and 26 152 mm gun 2A36
. Reports of 29 T-12 antitank gun
s are not confirmed by the IISS, which only lists 9P149 tank destroyers (9K114 Shturm missiles mounted on MT-LB
chassis) and AT-5 Spandrel
antitank guided missiles. Smaller AD systems reported in service include the 9K33 Osa
, Strela 2
, 9K35 Strela-10, 57 mm AZP S-60
. Radars in service reportedly include the P-40 radar
, P-15 radar
, and P-12 radar
.
Armed Forces of Armenia
The Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia comprise two services: the Army, and the Air Force and Air Defense . It was partially formed out of the former Soviet Army forces stationed in the Armenian SSR...
and consists of the ground forces responsible for the country's land-based operations. It was established in conjunction with the other components of Armenia's military on January 28, 1992, several months after the republic declared its independence from the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. The army's first head was the former deputy commander-in-chief of the Soviet Ground Forces, Norat Ter-Grigoryants. In compliance with its strategic allies, Armenia has sent over 1,500 officers to be trained in Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
.
Since the end of the Nagorno-Karabakh War
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
, Armenia has committed many elements of the army to help bolster the defense and defend the unrecognized Republic of Nagorno-Karabakh from a possible renewal of hostilities with neighboring Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. Jane's World Armies reports that both conscripts and officers from Armenia are routinely sent for duty to Karabakh, often posted to the frontline between Karabakh Armenian and Azerbaijani forces.
History
The Armenian army's history is described to have gone through three different stages. It entered the first stage in February 1988, from the beginning of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict where Armenian militias were formed to combat growing hostilities in the region against similar AzeriAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
units with the impending break of the Soviet Union. The second phase of the development of the army began in 1992, several months after Armenia had declared its independence. Ter-Grigoryants and other civilian officials in the Armenian Ministry of Defense including Vazgen Manukyan
Vazgen Manukyan
Vazgen Manukyan was Prime Minister of Armenia from 1990 to 1991. From 1992 to 1993 Manukyan was acting Minister of Defense....
and Vazgen Sargsyan sought to establish a "small, well-balanced, combat-ready defense force." The third phase began after the end of the war and continues on until today.
Most of the army's staff officers were members of the former Soviet military as an estimated 5,000 Armenians were serving as high level officers in it prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union. Almost immediately after its independence, Armenia was embroiled in the Nagorno-Karabakh War
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
with neighboring Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. Intending to establish a force of 30,000 men, the army's standing force increased to 50,000 by early 1994. During the war, the military remained on high alert and bolstered defenses in the region of Zangezur
Zangezur
Zangezur may refer to:* Syunik, alternative name of an Armenian geographic-historic region, nowadays one of the provinces of Armenia* Kapan, former name of a city in Armenia...
, opposite of the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan
Nakhichevan
The Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic is a landlocked exclave of Azerbaijan. The region covers 5,363 km² and borders Armenia to the east and north, Iran to the south and west, and Turkey to the northwest...
to its west. Purported artillery bombardment in May 1992 from the region led to skirmishes between the two sides including the Armenian army's incursion into several of the villages. Since 1994, the army has taken an active role in ensuring the defense of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic in conjunction with its own Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army
Nagorno-Karabakh Defense Army
The Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army is the formal defense force of the unrecognized but de-facto independent Nagorno-Karabakh Republic...
.
International missions
Kosovo
Kosovo is a region in southeastern Europe. Part of the Ottoman Empire for more than five centuries, later the Autonomous Province of Kosovo and Metohija within Serbia...
as a part of the Greek peacekeeping battalion. The unit, known as the Peacekeeping Forces of Armenia, is headquartered in Camp "REGAS FEREOS" as a part of the Multi-National Task Force East and is tasked with maintaining vehicle check points, providing security for the base but also serves as a quick reaction force and crowd and riot control. In 2008, the KFOR unit was expanded, adding a second platoon plus company staff (bringing Armenia's contingent to about 85 personnel).
In the autumn of 2004, the Armenian government approved to dispatch a 46-man contingent from the army consisting of sapper
Sapper
A sapper, pioneer or combat engineer is a combatant soldier who performs a wide variety of combat engineering duties, typically including, but not limited to, bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences, general construction and building, as well as road and airfield...
s, engineers and doctors under Polish command as part of the Multinational Force in Iraq
Multinational force in Iraq
The Multi-National Force – Iraq was a military command, led by the United States, which was responsible for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Multi-National Force – Iraq replaced the previous force, Combined Joint Task Force 7, on 15 May 2004, and was later itself reorganized into its successor, United...
. On November 10, 2006 Senior Lieutenant Georgy Nalbandyan was injured in a mine explosion in Iraq but survived after being transported for surgeries to a hospital in Landstuhl
Landstuhl
Landstuhl , literally translating as "country-throne", is a municipality of over 9,000 people in southwestern Germany. It is part of the district of Kaiserslautern, in the Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, and is home to the Sickinger Schloss, a small castle. It is situated on the north-western edge...
, Germany near Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base
Ramstein Air Base is a United States Air Force base in the German state of Rheinland-Pfalz. It serves as headquarters for the United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation...
. On October 6, 2008, due to improving security conditions, the contingent's tour of duty came to an end.
In July 2009, the Defense Minister of Armenia, Seyran Ohanyan
Seyran Ohanyan
Seyran Ohanyan is the current Defence Minister of Armenia. He has held this position since April 14, 2008.-Biography:Ohanyan was born in the town of Shusha, then a part of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union...
, announced that Armenia would send a force to participate with the International Security Assistance Force
International Security Assistance Force
The International Security Assistance Force is a NATO-led security mission in Afghanistan established by the United Nations Security Council on 20 December 2001 by Resolution 1386 as envisaged by the Bonn Agreement...
(ISAF) in the War in Afghanistan
War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
The War in Afghanistan began on October 7, 2001, as the armed forces of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and the Afghan United Front launched Operation Enduring Freedom...
by the end of the year. He did not mention how large the force would be but did note that it probably would include munitions experts and communications officers. A MOD spokesmen also stated that the force would include medical specialists and translators as well. Ohanyan added that Armenian officers who served in the Soviet military during the Soviet War in Afghanistan
Soviet war in Afghanistan
The Soviet war in Afghanistan was a nine-year conflict involving the Soviet Union, supporting the Marxist-Leninist government of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan against the Afghan Mujahideen and foreign "Arab–Afghan" volunteers...
also expressed the desire to return there as members of the new force. In November 2009, a NATO official affirmed that an Armenian contingent numbering 30 troops will join the ISAF sometime in early 2010. That number was revised to 40 in early December, when the Armenian parliament overwhelmingly voted in approval of the contingent's deployment. The servicemen arrived in Afghanistan in February 2010, where, under German command, they are tasked to defend the regional airport in Kunduz
Kunduz
Kunduz also known as Kundûz, Qonduz, Qondûz, Konduz, Kondûz, Kondoz, or Qhunduz is a city in northern Afghanistan, the capital of Kunduz Province. It is linked by highways with Mazari Sharif to the west, Kabul to the south and Tajikistan's border to the north...
.
Organization
General Staff
- Colonel-General Seyran OhanyanSeyran OhanyanSeyran Ohanyan is the current Defence Minister of Armenia. He has held this position since April 14, 2008.-Biography:Ohanyan was born in the town of Shusha, then a part of the Nagorno Karabakh Autonomous Oblast, Azerbaijan SSR, Soviet Union...
- Defense Minister - Colonel-General Mikael HarutyunyanMikael HarutyunyanMikael Harutyunyan was the 7th Defence Minister of Armenia from April 4, 2007 until April 14, 2008. As of April 14, 2008 he has been serving as Chief Military Inspector and Presidential Advisor to the President of Armenia.-Early life:...
- Chief Military Inspector and Presidential Advisor - Colonel-General Gurgen DaribaltayanGurgen DaribaltayanColonel-General Gurgen Daribaltayan was a commander at the Battle of Shusha, a battle to liberate the city from the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, often called the Marriage in the Highlands...
— Deputy head of Chief of Staff and special military adviser to current president, Serzh Sargsyan - Colonel-General Harut Kassabyan - Commader of Capital Guard
- Lieutenant-General Aghik Myurzabekyan
- Lieutenant-General Arthur Aghabekyan
- Lieutenant-General Yuri Khachaturov
- Lieutenant-General Gurgen Melkonyan
- Lieutenant-General Roland Kereshyan
Field Forces
- 1st Army Corps (HQ GorisGorisGoris is a city in the Syunik Marz of Armenia. Located in the valley of river Goris , it is about 240 km away from the Armenian capital Yerevan and 70 km from the Syunik Marz center Kapan. Goris forms an urban community...
): one independent tank battalion, one independent reconnaissance battalion, two motor rifle regiments. - 2nd Army Corps (HQ KhachaghbyurKhachaghbyurKhachaghbyur is a town in the Gegharkunik Province of Armenia. The town has a ruined Iron Age fort and a 13th century church.- References :* – World-Gazetteer.com...
): one independent tank battalion, one independent reconnaissance battalion, one independent rifle regiment, two independent motor rifle regiments, one independent artillery battalion. - 3rd Army Corps (HQ VanadzorVanadzor-Industry:Vanadzor is dominated by large chemical plants which include: "Prometey-Khimprom", "Vanadzor Chemical Plant", "Vanadzor Khimprom" and "Vanadzor Chemical Fiber Plant". Another big enterprise is the "Vanadzor Thermal Power Plant....
): one independent rifle regiment, one independent artillery battalion, one independent tank battalion, one independent reconnaissance battalion, one independent rocket artillery battalion, four independent motor rifle regiments, one maintenance battalion, one signals battalion. - 4th Army Corps (HQ YeghegnadzorYeghegnadzorYeghegnadzor is the capital of the Armenian province of Vayots Dzor. The name of the city means "the valley of canes" in the Armenian language. During Joseph Stalin's time, the city was renamed after Soviet politician Anastas Mikoyan...
): four independent motor rifle regiments, an independent self-propelled artillery battalion, one signals battalion. - 5th Army Corps (HQ NubarashenNubarashenNubarashen is a district of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It is situated southeast of the city centre.- History :In 1930, by the support and sponsorship of the founder and president of the AGBU Egyptian-Armenian benefactor Boghos Nubar was decided to build a town with name Nubarashen...
in YerevanYerevanYerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia and one of the world's oldest continuously-inhabited cities. Situated along the Hrazdan River, Yerevan is the administrative, cultural, and industrial center of the country...
): two fortified areas, one independent motor rifle regiment, one independent rifle regiment. - Army-level Troops: one air and air defence joint command (Jane's World Armies mentions an Army Air and Air Defence at ChobankaraChobankaraChobankara is a town in the Armavir Province of Armenia....
under Colonel Ararat Hambarian), one training motor rifle brigade, one special forces regiment (Jane's World Armies mentions a regiment at NubarashenNubarashenNubarashen is a district of Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It is situated southeast of the city centre.- History :In 1930, by the support and sponsorship of the founder and president of the AGBU Egyptian-Armenian benefactor Boghos Nubar was decided to build a town with name Nubarashen...
under Colonel Artur Simonian), one artillery brigade, one self-propelled artillery regiment, one anti-tank regiment, one engineer regiment with demining centre, one surface-to-air missile brigade, two surface-to-air missile regiments, one radiotechnical (radar) regiment.
Brinkster.net reported in 2004 that according to media reports, the Army included the 555th Motor Rifle Regiment, the 83rd Motor Rifle Brigade (Dasheksan), the 1st Motor Rifle Brigade, the 7th Fortified Region (Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
), the 9th Fortified Region (Etchmiadzin), a Motor Rifle Regiment (Etchmiadzin), the 538th Motor Rifle Regiment (Ağdaban
Agdaban
Ağdaban is a village in the Kalbajar Rayon of Azerbaijan....
), a Motor Rifle Regiment (Shushi), and the 545th Motor Rifle Regiment.
Equipment
Small arms in service with the army reportedly include the SPG-9SPG-9
The SPG-9 Kopye is a Russian tripod-mounted man-portable, 73 millimetre calibre recoilless gun developed by the Soviet Union. It fires fin-stabilised, rocket-assisted HE and HEAT projectiles similar to those fired by the 73 mm 2A28 Grom low pressure gun of the BMP-1 vehicle...
, AKM
AKM
The AKM is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is an upgraded version of the AK-47 rifle and was developed in the 1950s....
, AK-74
AK-74
The AK-74 is an assault rifle developed in the early 1970s in the Soviet Union as the replacement for the earlier AKM...
, AKS-74U, PK machine gun
PK machine gun
The PK is a 7.62 mm general-purpose machine gun designed in the Soviet Union and currently in production in Russia. The PK machine gun was introduced in the 1960s and replaced the SGM and RPD machine guns in Soviet service...
s, Makarov PM
Makarov PM
The PM is a semi-automatic pistol design. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it became the Soviet Union's standard military side arm from 1951-1991.-Development:...
, NSV (machine gun), Dragunov Sniper Rifles, Zastava M93 Black Arrow
Zastava M93 Black Arrow
The M93 Black Arrow is a 12.7mm or .50 caliber anti-materiel rifle developed and manufactured by Zastava Arms.The M93 Black Arrow is designed on the basis of the Mauser system, which was, during its one hundred years long combat history, proven to be one of the most accurate and reliable...
, and RPG-7
RPG-7
The RPG-7 is a widely-produced, portable, unguided, shoulder-launched, anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade launcher. Originally the RPG-7 and its predecessor, the RPG-2, were designed by the Soviet Union, and now manufactured by the Bazalt company...
rocket propelled grenade
Rocket propelled grenade
A rocket-propelled grenade is a shoulder-fired, anti-tank weapon system which fires rockets equipped with an explosive warhead. These warheads are affixed to a rocket motor and stabilized in flight with fins. Some types of RPG are reloadable while others are single-use. RPGs, with the exception of...
s.
Jane's reported in 2008 that the Armenian Army had 20 T-80
T-80
The T-80 is a main battle tank designed and manufactured in the former Soviet Union. A development of the T-64, it entered service in 1976 and was the first production tank to be equipped with a gas turbine engine for main propulsion.the Swedish Stridsvagn 103 of 1971 used a gas turbine alongside...
s, 160 T-72
T-72
The T-72 is a Soviet-designed main battle tank that entered production in 1970. It is developed directly from Obyekt-172, and shares parallel features with the T-64A...
s and 80 T-54s and T-22 in service. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies
International Institute for Strategic Studies
The International Institute for Strategic Studies is a British research institute in the area of international affairs. It describes itself as "the world’s leading authority on political-military conflict"...
's report of 2007, also in service were 80 BMP-1
BMP-1
The BMP-1 is a Soviet amphibious tracked infantry fighting vehicle. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty 1 , meaning "infantry fighting vehicle". The BMP-1 was the world's first mass-produced infantry fighting vehicle...
s, 20 BMP-1Ks, 57 BMP-2
BMP-2
The BMP-2 is a second-generation, amphibious infantry fighting vehicle introduced in the 1980s in the Soviet Union, following the BMP-1 of the 1960s....
s, and 22 BRM-1K infantry fighting vehicles. Wheeled APCs reported included 25 BTR-60
BTR-60
The BTR-60 is the first vehicle in a series of Soviet eight-wheeled armoured personnel carriers. It was developed in the late 1950s as a replacement for the BTR-152 and was seen first time in public in 1961...
s, 100 BTR-60 "look-a-likes" (a CFE equipment category), 21 BTR-70
BTR-70
The BTR-70 is an eight-wheeled armored personnel carrier , originally developed during the late 1960s under the industrial designator GAZ-4905. On August 21, 1972, it was accepted into service and would later be exported to the Warsaw Pact and other allies...
s, 50 BTR-80
BTR-80
BTR-80 is an 8x8 wheeled armoured personnel carrier designed in the Soviet Union. Production started in 1986 and replaced the previous versions, BTR-60 and BTR-70 in the Soviet army. -Description:The Soviets based the BTR-80 on the BTR-70 APC...
s, 145 MT-LB
MT-LB
The MT-LB is a Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious auxiliary armoured vehicle which was first introduced in the late 1960s...
s, and 120 BRDM-2
BRDM-2
The BRDM-2 is an amphibious armoured patrol car used by Russia and the former Soviet Union. It was also known under designations BTR-40PB, BTR-40P-2 and GAZ 41-08...
scout vehicles.
Anti-aircraft defense equipment included S-300
S-300
The S-300 is a series of Russian long range surface-to-air missile systems produced by NPO Almaz, all based on the initial S-300P version. The S-300 system was developed to defend against aircraft and cruise missiles for the Soviet Air Defence Forces. Subsequent variations were developed to...
, SA-4 Ganef, 2K12 Kub S-75
S-75 Dvina
The S-75 Dvina is a Soviet-designed, high-altitude, command guided, surface-to-air missile system...
, and S-125
S-125
The Isayev S-125 Neva/Pechora Soviet surface-to-air missile system was designed to complement the S-25 and S-75. It has a shorter effective range and lower engagement altitude than either of its predecessors and also flies slower, but due to its two-stage design it is more effective against more...
weapon systems. Self-propelled air defense artillery systems include the ZSU-23-4
ZSU-23-4
The ZSU-23-4 "Shilka" is a lightly armored, self-propelled, radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system . ZSU stands for Zenitnaya Samokhodnaya Ustanovka , meaning "anti-aircraft self-propelled mount". The "23" signifies the bore diameter in millimeters. The "4" signifies the number of gun barrels. It...
radar guided anti-aircraft weapon system, and the ZU-23-2
ZU-23-2
The ZU-23-2, also known as ZU-23, is a Soviet towed 23 mm anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon. ZU stands for Zenitnaya Ustanovka - anti-aircraft mount.-Development history:...
original Soviet variant.
Artillery reported in service includes the BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher
Multiple rocket launcher
A multiple rocket launcher is a type of unguided rocket artillery system. Like other rocket artillery, multiple rocket launchers are less accurate and have a much lower rate of fire than batteries of traditional artillery guns...
, BM-21 "Grad" and 9А51 "Prima": 50-round launcher on a Ural-4320
Ural-4320
The Ural-4320 is a general purpose off-road 6x6 truck, produced at the Ural Automotive Plant in Miass, Russia for use in the Russian army. Introduced in 1976, it is still in production today....
5t chassis, 2S3 Akatsiya
2S3 Akatsiya
SO-152 is a Soviet 152.4 mm self-propelled artillery developed in 1968. It was a response to the American 155 mm M109. The development started in 1967 according to the Resolution of the Council of Ministers of USSR from July 4, 1967. In 1968 the SO-152 was completed and in 1971 entered...
, 2S1 Gvozdika, D-30 - (90), 6WM-80
WM-80
The WM-80 was a multiple rocket launcher used by the People's Liberation Army of China and sold to other states like Armenia.The MRL system was developed by Norinco on Chinese designed Type 83 273mm 4-tube artillery rocket system on a 8x8 truck chassis....
, 34 152 mm towed gun-howitzer M1955 (D-20)
152 mm towed gun-howitzer M1955 (D-20)
The 152 mm gun-howitzer M1955, also known as the D-20, is a manually loaded, towed 152 mm artillery piece, manufactured in the Soviet Union during the 1950s. It was first observed by the west in 1955, where it was designated the M1955. Its GRAU index is 52-P-546...
, and 26 152 mm gun 2A36
152 mm gun 2A36
The 2A36 Giatsint-B is a Soviet/Russian towed 152 mm gun which entered service in 1976. The 2A36 is designed to suppress and destroy enemy manpower and equipment. It is also suitable for counter-battery fire. The gun can be used in various weather conditions and has been tested in temperatures...
. Reports of 29 T-12 antitank gun
T-12 antitank gun
2A19 or T-12 is a Soviet smoothbore 100-mm anti-tank gun, which served as the main Eastern Bloc towed anti-tank gun from 1955 until the late 1980s.-History:The T-12 entered service in 1955, replacing the BS-3 100 mm field gun...
s are not confirmed by the IISS, which only lists 9P149 tank destroyers (9K114 Shturm missiles mounted on MT-LB
MT-LB
The MT-LB is a Soviet multi-purpose fully amphibious auxiliary armoured vehicle which was first introduced in the late 1960s...
chassis) and AT-5 Spandrel
AT-5 Spandrel
The 9M113 Konkurs SACLOS wire-guided Anti-tank missile of the Soviet Union. "9M113" is the GRAU designation of the missile. Its NATO reporting name is AT-5 Spandrel.-Development:...
antitank guided missiles. Smaller AD systems reported in service include the 9K33 Osa
9K33 Osa
The 9K33 OSA is a highly mobile, low-altitude, short-range tactical surface-to-air missile system. "9K33" is its GRAU designation. Its NATO reporting name is SA-8 Gecko.-Description:...
, Strela 2
Strela 2
The 9K32 “Strela-2” is a man-portable, shoulder-fired, low-altitude surface-to-air missile system with a high explosive warhead and passive infrared homing guidance...
, 9K35 Strela-10, 57 mm AZP S-60
57 mm AZP S-60
57 mm AZP S-60 ; literally: Automatic anti-aircraft gun S-60) is a Soviet towed, road-transportable, short- to medium-range, single-barrel anti-aircraft gun from the 1950s. The gun was extensively used in Warsaw Pact, Middle Eastern and South-East Asian countries.-History:In the late 1940s, the...
. Radars in service reportedly include the P-40 radar
P-40 radar
The P-40 "Armour" or 1S12 is a 3-D UHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.-Development:...
, P-15 radar
P-15 radar
The P-15 "Tropa" or 1RL12 is a 2D UHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.- Development :...
, and P-12 radar
P-12 radar
The P-12 "Yenisei" was an early 2D VHF radar developed and operated by the former Soviet Union.-Development:...
.