List of equipment of the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan

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This is a list of equipment used by the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of Afghanistan.

Infantry weapons[edit]

Name Image Origin Type Information
Assault rifle and battle rifle
AK-74[1]  Soviet Union Assault rifle
AK-47[2][3]  Soviet Union Assault rifle
AKM[4]  Soviet Union Assault rifle
AKMS[3]  Soviet Union Assault rifle
SKS[2]  Soviet Union Semi-automatic rifle
Mosin-Nagant  Soviet Union Bolt-action rifle First supplied to Afghanistan on Lenin's orders in 1919[5]
Submachine gun
Heckler & Koch MP5SD  West Germany Submachine gun Unknown number ordered from West Germany prior to the Saur Revolution. Used by Hafizullah Amin's security detail in Storm-333.[6]
PPSh-41[3]  Soviet Union Submachine gun Phased out by 1980, were handed out to government militias.[7]
Sniper rifle
SVD  Soviet Union Designated marksman rifle Used during the Battle of Jalalabad[8]
Machine guns
SG-43  Soviet Union Medium machine gun [citation needed]
DShK[3][2]  Soviet Union Heavy machine gun
KPV heavy machine gun  Soviet Union Heavy machine gun [citation needed]
Degtyaryov machine gun  Soviet Union Light machine gun DTM variant used.[3]
RP-46[3]  Soviet Union Light machine gun
RPD[3][2]  Soviet Union Light machine gun
RPK[3]  Soviet Union Light machine gun
PK  Soviet Union General-purpose machine gun PKM and PKS variant used.[3][5]
ZB-26[3]  Czechoslovakia General-purpose machine gun
Grenade launcher
GP-25[1]  Soviet Union Grenade launcher
AGS-17  Soviet Union Automatic Grenade Launcher [citation needed]
Pistol
Makarov PM  Soviet Union Semi-automatic pistol Used by officers.[9]
Tokarev TT-33[2]  Soviet Union Semi-automatic pistol Were handed out to government militias.[7]
Walther P38  Nazi Germany Semi-automatic pistol [citation needed]
Stechkin  Soviet Union Machine pistol [citation needed]

Anti-tank[edit]

Name Photo Type Origin Caliber Quantity Notes
RPG-7[3] Rocket-propelled grenade  Soviet Union 40mm
RPG-16[10] Rocket-propelled grenade  Soviet Union 58mm
B-10 recoilless rifle[2] Recoilless rifle  Soviet Union 82mm
SPG-9[3] Recoilless gun  Soviet Union 73mm

Anti-Tank Missile[edit]

Name Photo Type Origin Caliber Quantity Notes
3M6 Shmel Anti-tank missile  Soviet Union 136mm [2]
9M14 Malyutka Anti-tank missile  Soviet Union 125mm Some mounted on Mi-24s and BMP-1s.[11]
9M17 Fleyta Anti-tank missile  Soviet Union 148mm Mounted on Mi-24A helicopters.[11]
9K111 Fagot Anti-tank missile  Soviet Union 120mm Mounted on BMP-2s.[11]

Surface-to-air missile[edit]

Name Photo Type Origin Caliber Quantity Notes
9K32 Strela-2[12] Man-portable air-defense system  Soviet Union 72mm
9K34 Strela-3 Man-portable air-defense system  Soviet Union 72mm 100[11] Possibly included with supplied Mi-24 gunships.[11]
S-75 Dvina Fixed SAM launcher  Soviet Union 700mm 18 launchers[12] 3 battalions operated by the Air Force.[12]
S-125 Neva Fixed SAM launcher  Soviet Union 375mm 12 launchers[12] 3 battalions with quad launchers operated by the Air Force.[12]
9K35 Strela-10 Mobile SAM launcher  Soviet Union 120mm 16+ launchers[12] Operated by the Army[12]

Uniform[edit]

Name Image Origin Type Information
Military uniform
SSh-68  Soviet Union Combat helmet Main service helmet[13]
Stahlhelm  German Empire
 Austria-Hungary 		Combat helmet Austro-Hungarian M1918 helmets purchased from Czechoslovakia in the 1930s, they were occasionally worn during parades.[14]
TTsKO  Soviet Union Combat uniform Initially issued to officers and special units, entered main stream adoption in the late 80s and early 90s.[15][failed verification][16][failed verification]
KLMK  Soviet Union Combat uniform Issued to commando paratroopers, officers[17] and KHAD operatives
Flak jacket  Soviet Union Ballistic vest provided by the KGB to Afghan units tasked with rescuing Adolph Dubs.[18][19] 6b2 and ZHZL-74 body armor used by Sarandoy special purpose units.
Ushanka  Soviet Union
 Democratic Republic of Afghanistan 		Fur cap Usually worn without a insignia[citation needed]

Armored fighting vehicles[edit]

Name Image Origin Type Number
Tanks
T-34  Soviet Union Medium tank 175+[11]
T-54/T-55  Soviet Union Main battle tank 1000+[20]
T-62  Soviet Union Main battle tank 500+[20]
PT-76  Soviet Union Light tank 60[21]
Armoured fighting vehicles
BTR-152[21]  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier Unknown[22]
BTR-60  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier 200+[20]
BTR-80  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier 250+[20]
BRDM-2  Soviet Union Scout car 1000+[20]
BMP-1  Soviet Union Infantry fighting vehicle 129+[20]
BMP-2[23]  Soviet Union Infantry fighting vehicle 100+[20]

Unarmored vehicles[edit]

Name Image Origin Type Number
GAZ-66[24]  Soviet Union Medium truck Unknown
GAZ-69[24]  Soviet Union Light utility vehicle Unknown
UAZ-469[24]  Soviet Union Light utility vehicle Unknown
Ural-375[25]  Soviet Union Medium truck Several thousand.[citation needed]
ZIL-157[24]  Soviet Union Medium truck Unknown

Artillery[edit]

Name Image Origin Type Number
Mortar
M1938  Soviet Union Mortar 2000+[20]
PM-43  Soviet Union Mortar 2000+[20]
Towed artillery
122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30)  Soviet Union Howitzer 400+[26][20]
Multiple rocket launcher
BM-21 Grad[25]  Soviet Union Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher Unknown number in services[20][27]
BM-27 Uragan  Soviet Union Multiple rocket launcher Unknown number in services[20]
Type 63 multiple rocket launcher[28]  China Multiple rocket launcher Unknown number captured from Mujahadeen[citation needed]
BM-13  Soviet Union Self-propelled multiple rocket launcher 50 BM-13-16s in 1989.[21]
Tactical ballistic missiles
RT-17 Scud (Scud-B and Scud-C variants)[29]  Soviet Union Tactical ballistic missile 43+ launchers and 2000+ missiles[29][30][page needed][31]
9K52 Luna-M  Soviet Union Tactical ballistic missile 10[32]
Anti-aircraft
KS-19  Soviet Union Towed anti-aircraft gun Unknown[12]
52-K  Soviet Union Towed anti-aircraft gun Unknown[12]
AZP S-60  Soviet Union Towed anti-aircraft gun Unknown[12]
61-K  Soviet Union Towed anti-aircraft gun Unknown[12]
ZU-23-2  Soviet Union Anti-aircraft twin-barreled autocannon Unknown[12]
ZPU  Soviet Union Anti-aircraft Unknown number of ZPU-1, ZPU-2, ZPU-4 guns.[12]
ZSU-23-4 Shilka  Soviet Union Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun 20[21]

Aircraft[edit]

Fixed wing[edit]

Name Image Origin Type Number Notes
Combat aircraft
MiG-21  Soviet Union Fighter aircraft 45+[33] MiG-21FLs, MiG-21PFMs, and MiG-21bis variants[34]
MiG-17  Soviet Union Fighter aircraft 90+[35] Mostly grounded by the end of the 1980s.[34]
MiG-27  Soviet Union Ground-attack aircraft unknown[36]
MiG-23  Soviet Union Fighter-bomber 15[21]
Su-22[34]  Soviet Union Fighter-bomber at least 45 by 1984 Su-22UM-2/UM3 and Su22M-3/4 Variants[34]
Su-7s and Su-17s  Soviet Union Fighter-bomber 60+[37] Su-7s mostly phased out by 1989.[34]
Il-28s[38]  Soviet Union Medium bomber 54+[39][40] In limited service, mostly replaced by the Su-17 and Su-22[34]
Transport aircraft
Antonov An-32[34]  Soviet Union Military transport aircraft at least 6 in 1987[41]
Antonov An-26, Antonov An-24, and Antonov An-2  Soviet Union Military transport aircraft 40+[38]
Antonov An-12[34]  Soviet Union medium-range transport aircraft
Trainer aircraft
Aero L-29 Delfín  Czechoslovak Socialist Republic Trainer aircraft 18[21]
MiG-15UTI  Soviet Union Trainer aircraft 6[21]
MiG-19  Soviet Union Fighter aircraft 20[21]
MiG-21U  Soviet Union Trainer aircraft 18[21]
Yak-11  Soviet Union Trainer aircraft Unknown[21]
Yak-18  Soviet Union Trainer aircraft Unknown[21]

Helicopters[edit]

Name Image Origin Type Number
Military helicopters
Mil Mi-35[34]  Soviet Union Attack helicopter
Mil Mi-24  Soviet Union Attack helicopter 46[38]
Mil Mi-17  Soviet Union Utility helicopter 35[21]
Mil Mi-8  Soviet Union
 Utility helicopter 104[38]
Mil Mi-4[42]  Soviet Union Transport helicopter 12[21]
Mil Mi-2  Soviet Union Helicopter

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Refugees, United Nations High Commissioner for. "Refworld | Afghanistan: International responsibility for human rights disaster". Refworld. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Hogg, Ian Vernon (1988). Jane's Infantry Weapons: 1988/89. Jane's Yearbooks. p. 766. ISBN 978-0710608574.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Isby 2013.
  4. ^ Isby 2013, pp. 25–26.
  5. ^ a b Isby, David (1986). Russia's War in Afghanistan (Men-at-Arms). Osprey. p. 35. ISBN 9780850456912.
  6. ^ Galeotti, Mark (2021-03-23). Storm-333: KGB and Spetsnaz seize Kabul, Soviet-Afghan War 1979. Mark Stacey, Johnny Shumate. Osprey Publishing. pp. 57−58. ISBN 978-1-4728-4187-2.
  7. ^ a b В. В. Твиров. Дневник переводчика // Афганистан болит в моей душе… Воспоминания, дневники советских воинов, выполнявших интернациональный долг в Афганистане / лит. запись П. Ткаченко. М., «Молодая гвардия», 1990. стр. 233–234
  8. ^ Shevchenko, Nikolay (2020-07-03). "What was the Soviet war in Afghanistan like? (PHOTOS)". Russia Beyond. Retrieved 2024-02-21.
  9. ^ Isby 2013, pp. 109−110.
  10. ^ Rottman, Gordon L. (15 March 2011). The Rocket Propelled Grenade. Bloomsbury Publishing. pp. 33−35. ISBN 978-1-84908-154-2.
  11. ^ a b c d e f "Trade Registers". Archived from the original on 5 August 2009. Retrieved 24 December 2014.
  12. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Cullen, Tony; Foss, Christopher F. (1992). Jane's land-based air defence: 1992-93. Jane's Information Group. p. 293. ISBN 978-0-7106-0979-3.
  13. ^ "From Behind the Iron Curtain: Communist Bloc Helmets". Military Trader/Vehicles. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  14. ^ Isby 2013, pp. 106–107.
  15. ^ Afghan Warlords Seize Kabul Afghanistan 1992 Part-2, retrieved 2023-06-28
  16. ^ Киселев, В. (1989-09-01). "Посол СССР в Республике Афганистан Ю.Воронцов". РИА Новости Медиабанк (in Russian). Retrieved 2023-07-17.
  17. ^ "klmk suit - cheaper.onlinestores2023.ru". cheaper.onlinestores2023.ru. Retrieved 2023-07-31.[failed verification]
  18. ^ J. Robert Moskin, American Statecraft: The Story of the U.S. Foreign Service (Thomas Dunne Books, 2013), p. 594.
  19. ^ John Prados, Safe for Democracy: The Secret Wars of the CIA (Rowman & Littlefield, 2006), p. 468.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Никитенко Е. Г. (2004). Афганистан: От войны 80-х до прогноза новых войн (10000 экз ed.). Балашиха: Астрель. pp. 130–134. ISBN 5-271-07363-7. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Institute for Strategic Studies (1989). The military balance, 1989-1990. London: Brassey's. p. 153. ISBN 978-0080375694.
  22. ^ Isby 2013, p. 25.
  23. ^ "Taliban Army Reinstates Armour Operations In Afghanistan #Shorts". Oryx. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d Shankar, Colonel C. P. (2015). Military in Pakistan and Afghanistan A Brief History. Neha Publishers & Distributors. p. 202. ISBN 978-9380318851.
  25. ^ a b "Unusual Grad rocket launcher spotted in Afghanistan". VPK. 28 December 2021. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Disaster At Hand: Documenting Afghan Military Equipment Losses Since June 2021 until August 14, 2021". Oryx Blog.
  27. ^ Limited, Alamy. "Afghan soldiers ride a Soviet-made BM-21 "Grad" truck-mounted 122 mm multiple rocket launcher during a military parade to mark the tenth anniversary of the communist revolution April 26, 1988 in Kabul, Afghanistan. The communist regime took power in a revolt known as the Saur Revolution backed by the Soviet Union Stock Photo - Alamy". www.alamy.com. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  28. ^ "Chinese-Made 107mm Rockets Are the Workhorses of Insurgencies (and Goons)". VICE. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 13 October 2021.
  29. ^ a b "SS-1 'Scud' (R-11/8K11, R-11FM (SS-N-1B) and R-17/8K14) - Jane's Security News". 2007-12-15. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 2023-06-18.
  30. ^ Zaloga, Steven J. (2006-02-28). Scud Ballistic Missile and Launch Systems 1955-2005: No. 120. Lee Ray, Jim Laurier (Illustrated ed.). Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-947-9.
  31. ^ The Most Concentrated Ballistic Missile Campaign Since the V2 Attacks on London..., retrieved 2023-06-17
  32. ^ Jalali, Ali Ahmad (17 March 2017). A Military History of Afghanistan: From the Great Game to the Global War on Terror. University Press of Kansas. pp. 381, 427. ISBN 978-0-7006-2407-2. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
  33. ^ Flight Magazine or The Encyclopaedia of World Air Forces
  34. ^ a b c d e f g h i Müller, Lukas (2020). Wings over the Hindu Kush: Air Forces, Aircraft and Air Warfare of Afghanistan, 1989-2001. Helion and Company. p. 10. ISBN 978-1913118662.
  35. ^ Flight Magazine 1990 or The Encyclopaedia of World Air Forces
  36. ^ "Lessons of the Soviet Withdrawal from Afghanistan | Middle East Policy Council". mepc.org. Retrieved 2023-07-31.
  37. ^ Orbis Publishing Ltd, 'Sukhoi Su-7 'Fitter' – Soviet Sledgehammer, 'Warplane, Vol. 2, Issue 21, p.413. More accurate information will be found in Gordon, Yefim (2004). Sukhoi Su-7/-17/-20-22: Soviet Fighter and Fighter-Bomber Family. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing. ISBN 1-85780-108-3.
  38. ^ a b c d Urban, Mark (1988). War in Afghanistan. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Macmillan Press. pp. 225–226. ISBN 978-0-333-43263-1.
  39. ^ Goebel, Greg. "Ilyushin Il-28 'Beagle'." Archived 2006-02-21 at the Wayback Machine Air Vectors. Retrieved: 22 August 2011.
  40. ^ "Afghanistan (AFG), World Air Forces - Historical Listings." Archived 2007-01-15 at the Wayback Machine worldairforces.com. Retrieved: 22 August 2011.
  41. ^ Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment, 2001
  42. ^ Isby 2013, pp. 31–32.

Bibliography[edit]

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