List of equipment of the Nigerian Army
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of publicly indentified equipment in use with the Nigerian Army. Due to the large variety of weapon systems and equipment procured over the decades, and the inherited culture of secretiveness of the Nigerian Army, it is currently almost impossible to calculate the sum of all weaponry in the army.
Personnel Equipment
Camouflage
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M14 Pattern Camouflage | Combat uniform | Introduced in 2014, it is the standard issue camouflage pattern of the Nigerian Armed Forces. Intended to replaced the large variety of commercial and surplus military patterns then in use, the four-colour pattern comes in green-dominant Woodland and khaki Arid variants. The uniform cut is based on the US Battle Dress Uniform with minor alterations. | |||
| MultiCam | Combat uniform | Currently used by some special forces units. Many soldiers have privately-purchased apparel, pouches, helmets and body armor in MultiCam camo (both genuine and commercial copies) for personal use. | |||
| U.S. Woodland | Combat uniform | Originally adopted in the 1990s as Nigerian forces were increasingly committed to overseas peace support and military operations, the Nigerian Army used both donated surplus US BDUs, as well as imported Chinese and locally-made copies. | |||
Helmet
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Corlon M80 | Combat Helmet | During the 1980s, Nigeria imported a number of helmets from South Korea to supplant their existing manganese steel Mk IV and M1 helmets. | |||
| MICH | Combat Helmet | Small numbers purchased in the late 2010s to supplant existing PASGT-type helmets. | |||
| FAST | Combat Helmet | Issued mainly to special operations forces, the Nigerian Army uses a mix of genuine Gentex FAST High Cut helmets donated as miltary aid, and a bevy of FAST clones of Chinese and local origin. In recent years the latter have become more common in line infantry units. | |||
Ballistic Vests
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soldier Plate Carrier System | Bulletproof vest | The Army and Special Forces use multiple tactical vests and plate carriers from local manufacturers. | |||
| Modular Tactical Vest | Bulletproof vest | Standard Issued for the Military from local manufacturers. | |||
Night Vision Goggles
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thales Sophie-LR | Handheld thermal image and laser rangefinder | ||||
| EOTech GPNVG-18 | Binocular night-vision device | Limited issue, used by special operations units and aviators. | |||
| AN/PVS-7 | Biocular night-vision device | ||||
Optics and Scope
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mepro M21 | Red dot sight | ||||
| MEPRO MX3 F/T | Magnifier Scope | ||||
Infantry weapons
Handgun
| Model | Image | Calibre | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beretta 92 | 9×19mm Parabellum | Semi-automatic pistol | Small number of privately-purchased Berettas in use with Nigerian Army officers. [1] | ||
| Beretta M1951</ref> | 9×19mm Parabellum | Semi-automatic pistol | Manufactured under license from Beretta since the 1970s.[2] | ||
Submachine Gun
| Model | Image | Calibre | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heckler & Koch MP5[2] | 9×19mm Parabellum 10mm Auto |
Submachine gun | |||
| Beretta M12[3] | 9×19mm Parabellum | Submachine gun | Produced locally under license by DICON. | ||
Assault Rifles
| Model | Image | Calibre | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IWI Tavor[4][5] | 5.56×45mm NATO | Bullpup assault rifle | Status: In service
Used mostly by Special Forces. | ||
| AK Alfa[6][7] | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Status: In service
Used by Special Forces. | ||
| Beryl M762[8] | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Status: In service
Produced locally under license by DICON (Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria). | ||
| AK-103 | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Produced locally by DICON as DG-103. Will replace AK-47s/OBJ 006 in infantry units | ||
| FB Mini-Beryl[9] | 5.56×45mm NATO | Compact assault rifle (carbine) | Status: Testing
10 test units purchased. | ||
| FN FNC[2] | 5.56×45mm NATO | Assault rifle | Status: In service | ||
| Beretta AR70/90[2] | 5.56×45mm NATO | Assault rifle | Status: In service | ||
| Daewoo K2[10] | 5.56×45mm NATO | Assault rifle | Status: Active
Purchased 3,000 in 1984, which were delivered in 1985. Another batch was purchased in 1996. Additional 30,000 rifles were sold in 2006. | ||
| AK-47 | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Status: Active | ||
| AKM[13] | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | |||
| Beretta BM 59 | 7.62×51mm NATO | Battle rifle | Status: Active Use For Ceremonial Purpose, Produced locally under licence by DICON. | ||
Machine Guns
| Model | Image | Calibre | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FN MAG | 7.62×51mm NATO | General-purpose machine gun | Status: Active | ||
| UKM-2000 | 7.62×51mm NATO | General-purpose machine gun | Status: Active | ||
| RPK | 5.45×39mm | Light machine gun | Status: Active | ||
| W85 Machine Gun | 12.7×108mm | Heavy machine gun | Status: Active
Vehicle-mounted machine gun on the VS/P3 Bigfoot MRAP | ||
| M2 Browning[2] | 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) | Heavy machine gun | |||
| DShK | 12.7×108mm | Heavy machine gun | |||
Precision Rifles
| Model | Image | Calibre | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alex .338[14] | 7.62mm NATO | Bolt action Sniper rifle | |||
| IWI Dan | .338 Lapua Magnum | Bolt action Sniper rifle | |||
| Orsis T-5000 | 7.62×51mm NATO | Bolt action Sniper rifle | Used by the Nigeria Army Special Forces Unit against Boko haram and ISWAP in the Nort east of the country | ||
| Truvelo CMS | .338 Lapua Magnum | Anti-materiel Sniper Rifle | |||
Grenade-based Weapons
| Model | Image | Calibre | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norinco LG3 AGL | 40mm | Automatic grenade launcher | Status:Active AGL's are grenades capable of fully automatic fire. Able to take out approaching enemy vehicles 2 km away. | ||
Armoured fighting vehicles
Tanks
| Model | Image | Type | Variant | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VT-4 | Main Battle Tank | VT-4 | 17 | [15][16] | ||
| T-72 | Main Battle Tank | T-72AV T-72M1 |
~10 ~31 |
[17][18] [17][18] | ||
| T-54 | Main Battle Tank | T-55 | ~100 | [17][19] | ||
| Vickers | Main Battle Tank | Vickers Mk3 | ~172 | [17][19] | ||
Tank Destroyer
| Model | Image | Type | Variant | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ST-1 | Tank Destroyer | N/A | Delivered in April 2020.[20] | |||
Reconnaissance Vehicle
| Model | Image | Type | Variant | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FV101 Scorpion | Reconnaissance vehicle | 157[21] | ||||
| FV107 Scimitar | Reconnaissance vehicle | 5[21] | More units purchased from Jordan | |||
| EE-9 Cascavel | Armoured car | 70[21] | Delivered in 1994.[22] | |||
| Panhard ERC | Armoured car | ERC-90 | 80[23] | 40 with Lynx turret. | ||
| Panhard AML | Armoured car | AML-60 AML-90 |
130[21] | |||
| Panhard VBL | Scout car | VB2L PC | 72[22] | |||
Infantry Fighting Vehicle
| Model | Image | Type | Variant | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMP | Infantry fighting vehicle | BMP-1 BMP-2 |
22[24] 40 [25][24] |
|||
Armoured Personnel Carrier
| Model | Image | Type | Variant | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type 89 AFV | Armoured personnel carrier | ZSD-85 | 60 | Delivered in 2021 [26] | ||
| Saurer | Armoured personnel carrier | 4K 4FA | 250[21] | .[23] | ||
| MT-LB | Armoured personnel carrier | 67[22] | Sourced from Poland. | |||
| Mowag Piranha | Armoured personnel carrier | Piranha I | 110[21] | |||
| BTR-3 | Armoured personnel carrier | BTR-3U "Guardian" | 47[22] | |||
| BTR | Armoured personnel carrier | BTR-60 BTR-70 |
6[27] 18[28] |
|||
| Isotrex | Armoured personnel carrier | Phantom II | 24[29] | Seen on display during NADCEL 2025[29] | ||
| Legion | 60[29] | |||||
| Streit Group MK.III | Light armored vehicle | Warrior Typhoon Spartan |
237[30] | Delivered between 2017 and 2022
Seen on display during NADCEL 2025 | ||
Mine -Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CS/VP3 MRAP | Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle | 310 | 120 was delivered in 2015,[31] 40 delivered in 2018, and a further 100 was delivered in 2021 [31] between March and November.[32]
Additional 50 was delivered as confirmed by General Lagbaja in June 2024. | ||
| Ezugwu | Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle | 80+[33] | Total of 80 confirmed.[34] 28+52 | ||
| PF ARA | 40+ | [36] | |||
| PF Hulk | 5 [37] | ||||
| EPV24 Dodandawa | |||||
| Reva | Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicle | 40[38] | Mk III.[39] | ||
Special operation vehicles
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proforce Fury | Light rapid response vehicle | ||||
| Polaris Ranger 1000 | All-Terrain vehicle | ||||
Light armored vehicles
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PF Viper | Light Tactical Vehicle | 120 | |||
| Dongfeng Mengshi Csk131 | Light Tactical Vehicle | 120 | 20 reverse engineered units delivered to the army in May 2024[40] | ||
| Plasan Sand Cat | Composite armored vehicle | More units ordered | |||
| Nurol Yörük NMS | Light armored vehicle | 13 on order[41] | |||
| Otokar Cobra | Light tactical vehicle | 204[21] | |||
| INKAS LAPV | Light armored patrol vehicle | [42] | |||
| KLTV | Light tactical vehicle | 5 | [36] | ||
Armoured Ambulances
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FV104 Samaritan | Tracked armoured ambulance | N/A |
Engineering and Logistics vehicles
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BOZENA 5[43] | Unmanned ground vehicle | N/A | Clearance of all conventional antipersonnel and antitank land mines and for IED removal assistance.[44] | ||
| Vickers AVLB[45] | Armored bridge-layer | 26 | |||
| Vickers ARV[45] | Armored recovery vehicle | 12 | |||
| KrAZ-6322[46] | Utility truck | N/A | Some locally manufactured.[47] | ||
| Ashok Leyland | Troop Carrier | 700[48] | Assembled in Nigeria. |
Utility vehicle
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dongfeng EQ2050 | Light armored vehicle | ||||
| Toyota Hilux[49] | Light truck | 4000+ | |||
| Toyota Land Cruiser | Light truck | N/A | Used as utility vehicles and technicals,[50]
Some were converted to armored cars. | ||
| Tarpan Honker[51][52] | Multipurpose pickup truck | 25 | |||
| IVM G-12[53] | Special purpose vehicles[54] | N/A | Licensed Copy of the Beijing BJ2022 | ||
| IVM G-80[55] | Light truck[56] | 40 |
Artillery
Self-propelled Artillery
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SH-5 SH-2 |
Self-propelled howitzer | 15[57] | 105mm caliber[20] 122mm caliber | ||
| Palmaria | Self-propelled howitzer | 25[58] | |||
Rocket Artillery
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| APR–40 | Multiple rocket launcher | 25[21] | |||
| BM-21 Grad | Multiple rocket launcher | 5[19] | |||
| RM-70 | Multiple rocket launcher | 7[59] | |||
Mortar
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L16 | 81mm mortar | 220[60] | |||
Anti Tank Gun
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZiS-3[23] | Anti-tank gun | N/A | |||
Field Artillery
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| D-30 | Field Howitzer | 90[22] | |||
| D-74 | 90[22] | ||||
| M46 | 7[21] | ||||
| D-20 | 4[21] | Delivered in 1992.[22] | |||
| Haubits FH77 | Howitzer | 24[23] | Reportedly, all guns are in storage. | ||
| OTO Melara Mod 56 | Howitzer | 124[21] | 200 delivered.[22] |
Anti-tank Weapons
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swingfire[61] | Anti-tank missile | 100 in stock.[22] | |||
| HJ-12[62] | Anti-tank guided missiles | Unknown | |||
| M40[21] | Recoilless rifle | ||||
| Carl Gustav | Recoilless rifle | ||||
| RPG-7 | Anti-tank weapon |
Air defence
Anti-aircraft Weapons
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roland | Surface-to-air missile | 16[23] | Mounted on AMX-30 chassis. | ||
| Blowpipe | Surface-to-air missile | 48[23] | |||
| 9K32 Strela-2 | Surface-to-air missile | 100[21] | |||
Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZSU-23-4 | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | 30[21] | |||
Towed anti-aircraft gun
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ZPU[23] | Towed anti-aircraft gun | N/A | |||
| ZU-23-2 | Towed anti-aircraft gun | 350[21] | |||
Electronic Warfare
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EDM4S SkyWiper | Drone Jammer | ||||
| DEMFAS MP-MBFJ | Drone Jammer | ||||
| Aselsan IHASAVAR | Drone Jammer | ||||
Radars
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Radars | ||||||
| Ground Observer 12 | Ground Radar | U/N | It entered the service of the Nigerian Army in 2018 | |||
| PGSR-3i ‘Beagle’ | Ground Radar | U/N | ||||
| Spexer 2000 | Ground Radar | U/N | ||||
Aircraft
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attack Aircraft | |||||
| MD 530F Cayuse Warrior | Light Attack helicopter | Status: On order
12 units on order[63] | |||
| Bell UH-1 Iroquois | Utility | 2 | |||
| Magnus MF-212 | Attack Aircraft | 3 on order | |||
| Unmanned Aerial Vehicle | |||||
| Bayraktar TB2 | Multi-Mission | 6 | |||
| Aerosonde Mk4.7 | ISR Drone | ||||
| Ziyan Blowfish A2 | Multi-Mission | ||||
Retired equipment
| Model | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personnel Equipment | |||||
| Walther P5[1] | Semi-automatic pistol | ||||
| Sten[64] | Submachine gun | ||||
| Sterling[2] | Submachine gun | ||||
| SIG SG 540[2] | Assault rifle | ||||
| M16A1[65] | Assault rifle | ||||
| NR-1 | Battle rifle | FN FAL Local variant designated NR-1.[66][67][68] replaced by Beryl M762 | |||
| Uzi[2] | Submachine gun | Phased out and no longer in much use. | |||
| MG 3 machine gun | General-purpose machine gun | Status: in reserve | |||
| Anti-aircraft | |||||
| Bofors L/60 | Towed anti-aircraft gun | 12[21] | |||
| Vehicle | |||||
| Shorland | Armoured car | Mk 3.[69] | |||
| Haflinger | Utility vehicle | 400 | |||
| Pinzgauer[70] | High-mobility all-terrain vehicle | N/A | |||
| Land Rover | Utility vehicle | N/A | Some locally manufactured.[69] | ||