List of equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces

Equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces
Equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces
	Emblem of the Soviet Army
Founded	23 February 1946
Disbanded	26 December 1991

This list shows equipment of Soviet Ground Forces in 1991.

Founded23 February 1946

Disbanded26 December 1991

Quick facts Equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces, Founded ...

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Name	Type	Notes
SSh-40	Helmet	Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war.^[1]
SSh-60	Helmet	Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war.^[1]
SSh-68^[2]	Helmet	Main service helmet.

Name	Type	Notes
6B2 (Zh-RI)	Flak jacket	Issued in 1980, it provided inadequate protection in Afghanistan and subsequently phased out.^[3]^: 41
6B3	Flak jacket	Replaced the Zh-RI in 1983, it provided better protection, but it was heavier and uncomfortable to wear in the mountains of Afghanistan or in hot days.^[3]^: 41−42
YaB4	Flak jacket	Replaced the Zh-RI in 1984, it provided better protection, but it was heavier and uncomfortable to wear in the mountains of Afghanistan or in hot days.^[3]^: 41−42
6B4 (Zh-85)	Ballistic vest	Issued between 1985 and 1986, the Zh-85t and Zh-85k provided chest protection against bullets in the front and spinal protection against fragments in the back.^[3]^: 42
6B5 "Ulej" (Zh-86)	Ballistic vest	Issued in 1988, it replaced the Zh-85t and Zh-85k vests. The Zh-86 covers a larger body area, and its construction uses titanium alloy, ceramics, and special steel.^[3]^: 42

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
Makarov PM	Semi-automatic pistol	9×18mm Makarov	Main service pistol^[4]^: 57
PB Besshumnyy	Integrallly suppressed semi-automatic pistol		Silenced pistol issued to special forces^[5]
Stechkin APS	Machine pistol		^[4]^: 774
PSM	Semi-automatic pistol	5.45×18mm	Standard sidearm of civil and military security forces^[4]^: 56
PSS silent pistol	Semi-automatic pistol	7.62×41mm SP-4	Used by Spetsnaz.^[6]^: 57
Tokarev TT-33^[4]^: 774	Semi-automatic pistol	7.62×25mm Tokarev	Limited use.^[6]^: 47
Nagant M1895	Revolver	7.62×38mmR	Limited use.^[6]^: 47

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
AK-74	Assault rifle	5.45×39mm	Main service rifle^[4]^: 201
AKS-74	Assault rifle		AK-74 variant with a folding stock^[4]^: 200
AKS-74U	Assault Carbine		AKS-74 variant with a shortened barrel^[4]^: 108
AKM	Assault rifle	7.62×39mm	In service since 1959^[4]^: 198
AKMS^[4]^: 198	Assault rifle		AKM variant with a folding stock^[4]^: 196

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
SVD	Designated marksman rifle	7.62×54mmR		Main service designated marksman rifle^[4]^: 199
VSS Vintorez	Designated marksman rifle	9×39mm		Suppressed sniper rifle used by special forces like Spetsnaz^[8]

List of equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces

Infantry equipment

Helmets

Body armor

Small arms

Pistols and revolvers

Semi-automatic and bolt-action rifles

Assault rifles and other automatic rifles

Designated marksman and sniper rifles

Light and heavy machine guns

Flares and smokes

Launchers

Rocket-propelled grenade launchers

Recoilless rifles

Man-portable air-defense systems

Anti-tank guided missiles

Land mines

Anti-tank mines

Flamethrower

Mortars

Hand grenades

Vehicles

Tanks

Infantry fighting vehicles

Self-propelled guns

Towed mortars and anti-tank guns

Towed artillery

Anti-aircraft tanks and missile systems

Anti-aircraft guns

Rocket artillery

Tactical ballistic missiles

Armored personnel carriers

Reconnaissance vehicles

Engineering vehicles

Unarmored trucks and utility vehicles

References

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Timelines

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Fact Checks

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
RPK-74	Light machine gun	5.45×39mm	Main service light machine gun^[4]^: 774
RPK	Light machine gun	7.62×39mm	^[4]^: 318
RPD	Light machine gun	7.62×39mm	Was succeeded in Soviet service by the RPK.^[9]
PKM	General-purpose machine gun	7.62×54mmR	Main service general-purpose machine gun^[4]^: 319
NSV "Utyos"	Heavy machine gun	12.7×108mm	Main service heavy machine gun^[4]^: 323
DShKM	Heavy machine gun	12.7×108mm	Being replaced by the NSV machine gun.^[4]^: 323
KPV-14.5	Heavy machine gun	14.5×114mm	Base for anti-aircraft guns.^[4]^{: 323–324}

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
SPSh-44	Flare gun	26 mm
RSP-30	Warning flare
RDG-2	Smoke grenade		^[4]^: 571

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
GP-25 Kostyor	Grenade launcher	40 mm caseless grenade		^[1]^[10]^: 52
AGS-17 Plamya	Automatic grenade launcher	30x29 mm		^[4]^{: 247–248}

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
RPG-29 Vampir	Reusable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	105mm	^[11]
RPG-27 Tavolga	Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	105mm	^[12]
RPG-26 Aglen	Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	72.5mm	^[13]^: 34
RPG-22 Netto	Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	72.5mm	Seen in use during the Soviet-Afghan war.^[4]^: 404
RPG-18 Mukha	Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade	64mm	^[4]^{: 403–404}
RPG-16	Rocket-propelled grenade	58.3mm	Used by paratroopers and Spetsnaz.^[13]^: 33–35
RPG-7	Rocket-propelled grenade	40mm	Reusable launcher with various types of anti-personnel and anti-tank munitions.^[4]^{: 401–402}

Name	Type	Caliber	Photo	Notes
SPG-9 Kopyo	Recoilless rifle	73 mm		^[4]^: 405
B-10	Recoilless rifle	82 mm		Limited use by paratroopers.^[4]^: 405

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
9K32 Strela-2	Infrared homing	72 mm	NATO reporting name: SA-7 Grail. Being replaced by the Strela-3 and Igla systems^[14]
9K34 Strela-3	Infrared homing		NATO reporting name: SA-14 Gremlin^[14]
9K310 Igla-1	Infrared homing		NATO Reporting name: SA-16^[14]
9K38 Igla	Infrared homing		NATO reporting name: SA-18. Replacing the Strela-2 and Strela-3 systems.^[15]

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
9M17 Fleyta	MCLOS	148 mm	NATO reporting name: AT-2 Swatter^[4]^: 407
9M14 Malyutka	MCLOS	125 mm	NATO reporting name: AT-3 Sagger^[4]^{: 407–408}
9K111 Fagot	SACLOS	120 mm	NATO reporting name: AT-4 Spigot^[4]^: 408
9M113 Konkurs	SACLOS	135 mm	NATO reporting name: AT-5 Spandrel^[14]
9K114 Shturm	SACLOS		NATO reporting name: AT-6 Spiral^[14]
9K115 Metis	SACLOS	94 mm	NATO reporting name: AT-7 Saxhorn ^[14]
9K112 Kobra	SACLOS	125 mm	NATO reporting name: AT-8 Songster.^[16]^{: II-22–II-23}
9M117 Bastion	Laser beam-riding	100 mm	NATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber.^[16]^{: II-24–II-25}
9M119 Svir/Refleks	Laser beam-riding	120 mm	NATO reporting name: AT-11 Sniper.^[16]^: II-26

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
MON-50	Anti-personnel	700 g RDX	Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.^[3]^: 252
MON-90	Anti-personnel	6.2 kg RDX
MON-100^[17]	Anti-personnel	2 kg TNT	^[18]^: 83
MON-200^[17]	Anti-personnel	12 kg TNT	^[18]^: 83
OZM-72^[17]	Anti-personnel	660 g TNT	Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.^[3]^: 252
PFM-1	Anti-personnel	37 g	^[17]
PMD-6 mine	Anti-personnel	200 g	PMD-7, and PMD-7ts variants also used.^[17]
POMZ-2M^[17]	Anti-personnel	75 g TNT	^[18]^: 69–70
PMN mine^[17]	Anti-personnel	240 g TNT	Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.^[3]^: 252

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
TMD-44	Anti-tank mine	9.7 kg Amatol	^[18]^: 37–38
TM-46^[17]	Anti-tank mine	5.7 kg TNT	^[18]^: 15–16
TM-57^[17]	Anti-tank mine	6.34 kg TNT	^[18]^: 15–16
TM-62	Anti-tank mine	7.5 kg TNT	^[17]
TM-72	Anti-tank mine	2.5 kg HEAT
PDM-1	Amphibious anti-tank	10 kg TNT	^[18]^: 91–92
TM-83	Off-route mine	6.6 kg TNT

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
LPO-50	Flamethrower	986 mm	^[4]^{: 249–250}
RPO Rys	Flamethrower	122 mm	^[1]
RPO-A Shmel	Flamethrower	93 mm	^[1]

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
82-BM-37	Light	82mm	M-37M^[4]^: 474
2B14 Podnos	Light	82mm	Used by paratroopers.^[10]^: 50
120-PM-38	Heavy	120 mm	^[15]
120-PM-43	Heavy		^[4]^: 476
2B11	Heavy		^[16]^: V-33
2S12 Sani	Heavy		1,387 units in 1991^[15]
M-160	Heavy	160mm	^[4]^: 477
M-240	Heavy	240 mm	^[15]

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
F1	Anti-personnel	55 mm	^[4]^: 567
RGD-5	Anti-personnel	58 mm	^[4]^: 567
RGN	Anti-personnel	60 mm	Offensive type hand grenade.^[4]^: 568
RGO	Anti-personnel	60 mm	Defensive type hand grenade.^[4]^: 568
RKG-3	Anti-tank grenade	362 mm	^[4]^: 570
RPG-6	Anti-tank grenade	103 mm	Still used for training purposes.^[4]^: 569
RPG-43	Anti-tank grenade	95 mm	Still used for training purposes.^[4]^: 569
VOG-25	Launcher grenade	40 mm	Used on the GP-25.^[19]

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
T-80	Main battle tank	5,400^[15]	T-80U/T-80BV
T-72	Main battle tank	9,000^[15]	T-72B
T-64	Main battle tank	4,900^[15]	T-64BV
T-62	Main battle tank	8,500^[15]	T-62MV-1
T-55	Main battle tank	10,600^[15]	T-55AMV-1
T-10	Heavy tank	~350^[14]	T-10M
PT-76	Light tank	1,000^[15]	PT-76B

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
BMP-1^[15]	Infantry fighting vehicle	N/A	Between 1972 and 1988 Czechoslovakia delivered 5,100 BVP-1s to the Soviet Union^[20]
BMP-2	Infantry fighting vehicle	N/A	^[15]
BMP-3	Infantry fighting vehicle	~700^[15]
BMD-1	Infantry fighting vehicle	~3,000^[15]	Used by airborne troops.
BMD-2	Infantry fighting vehicle		Used by airborne troops.
BMD-3	Infantry fighting vehicle		Only used by airborne troops.

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
ASU-57^[14]	Assault gun		Only used by airborne troops.
ASU-85^[14]	Assault gun		Only used by airborne troops.
2S1 Gvozdika	Self-propelled artillery	2,331^[15]
2S3 Akatsiya	Self-propelled artillery	2,044^[15]
2S4 Tyulpan	Self-propelled mortar	54^[15]
2S5 Giatsint-S	Self-propelled artillery	494^[15]
2S7 Pion	Self-propelled artillery	304^[15]
2S9 Nona	Self-propelled artillery	442^[15]	Only used by airborne troops.
2S19 Msta	Self-propelled howitzer	13^[15]
152 mm SpGH DANA^[15]	Self-propelled artillery		150 delivered by Czechoslovakia between 1986 and 1990.^[20]

Name	Type	Quantity	Caliber	Notes
2B9 Vasilek	Gun howitzer		82 mm	Used by motor rifle and airborne units.^[4]^: 475
D-44	Anti-tank gun		85 mm	^[4]^: 404
BS-3	Anti-tank gun		100 mm	^[15]
T-12	Anti-tank gun		100 mm	^[14]
2B16 Nona-K	Gun howitzer	37^[15]	120 mm
2A45 Sprut-A	Anti-tank gun		125 mm	^[21]

Name	Type	Quantity	Caliber	Notes
2A18 D-30	Field gun	2,044^[15]	122 mm
D-74	Field gun		122 mm	^[14]
KS-30	Field gun	12^[15]	130 mm
D-20	Field gun	767^[15]	152 mm
2A36 Giatsint-B	Field gun	574^[15]
2A65 Msta-B	Field gun	400^[15]
S-23	Field gun	~180^[14]	180 mm

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
ZSU-57-2	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	750^[22]^: 84–85	In reserve.^[22]^: 84–85
ZSU-23-4 Shilka	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	N/A	^[14]
2K11 Krug	Transportable SAM system	1,350^[15]	NATO reporting name: SA-4 Ganef. Being replaced by the Buk and S-300 systems^[14]
2K12 Kub	Transportable SAM system	850^[15]	NATO reporting name: SA-6 Gainful^[14]
2K22 Tunguska	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	130^[15]	NATO reporting name: SA-19 Grison^[15]
9K31 Strela-1	Transportable SAM system	430^[15]	NATO reporting name: SA-9 Gaskin. Being replaced by the Strela-10 system^[14]
9K33 Osa	Transportable SAM system	950^[15]	NATO reporting name: SA-8 Gecko^[14]
9K35 Strela-10	Transportable SAM system	860^[15]	NATO reporting name: SA-13 Gopher^[14]
9K37 Buk	Transportable SAM system	300^[15]	NATO reporting name: SA-11 Gadfly^[14]
9K330 Tor	Transportable SAM system	20^[15]	NATO reporting name: SA-15 Gauntlet. Replacing the Kub and Osa systems^[15]
S-300	Transportable SAM system	70+^[15]	NATO Reporting name: SA-12A Gladiator^[14]

Name	Type	Caliber	Notes
AZP S-60	Autocannon	57 mm	^[14]
ZU-23-2	Autocannon	23x152 mmB	^[14]
ZPU-2	Anti-aircraft gun	14.5x114 mm	In reserve.^[22]^{: 210–212}
KS-30^[14]	Anti-aircraft gun	130x845 mmR	In reserve.^[22]^: 202
KS-19	Anti-aircraft gun	100x695 mm	^[14]

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
BM-14	Multiple rocket launcher		^[14]
BM-21 Grad	Multiple rocket launcher	1,550^[15]
BM-24	Multiple rocket launcher		^[14]
BM-27 Uragan	Multiple rocket launcher	554^[15]
9K58 BM-30 Smerch	Multiple rocket launcher	158^[15]
TOS-1	Multiple rocket launcher		First used in 1987 during the Soviet-Afghan war.^[23]

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
9K52 Luna-M	Tactical ballistic missile	500^[15]
9K79 OTR-21 Tochka	Tactical ballistic missile	300^[15]
RT-17 Scud	Tactical ballistic missile	550^[15]	Scud-B and Scud-C variants

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
BTR-80	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A	^[14]
BTR-70	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A	^[14]
BTR-60	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A	BTR-60P^[14]
BTR-50	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A	BTR-50P^[14]
BTR-152^[15]	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A	Some vehicles were kept by 1980s as ambulances, command, radio, and engineering vehicles.^[16]^: III-5
BTR-D	Armoured personnel carrier	N/A	Used by airborne units.^[16]^{: IV-10−IV-11}
MT-LB	Tracked Armoured personnel carrier	4,500^[15]
PTS-2	Amphibious armoured personnel carrier
PTS-M	Amphibious armoured personnel carrier

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
BRDM-2	Amphibious armoured scout car	3,500^[15]
BRM-1K	Reconnaissance tank		^[16]^: III-40
IRM Zhuk	Engineer reconnaissance tank		^[16]^: III-42

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
BAT-2	Military engineering vehicle	N/A	^[3]^: 248
BTM-3	Trencher	N/A	^[3]^: 250
IMR-2	Military engineering vehicle	N/A	^[3]^: 248
MDK-3	Trencher	N/A	^[3]^: 250
MTU-20	Bridgelayer	N/A	^[3]^: 248
TMK-2	Trencher	N/A	^[3]^: 250
TMM	Bridgelayer	N/A	^[3]^: 248
PMP Floating Bridge	Pontoon bridge	N/A	^[3]^: 247

Name	Type	Quantity	Notes
UAZ-469	Light utility vehicle	N/A	^[24]
Lada Niva Legende	Light utility vehicle	N/A
GAZ-69	Light utility vehicle	N/A
UAZ-452	Light truck	N/A	Used mostly as ambulances or special operation vehicles.^[25]^: 115
GAZ-53	Medium truck	N/A	Used by engineering units in Afghanistan.^[3]^: 248
GAZ-66	Medium truck	N/A	The GAZ-66B variant was used by Airborne troops.^[25]^: 35–36
ZIL-131	Medium truck	N/A	Some had ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns mounted in Afghanistan.^[24]