This is an inventory of military equipment of the Syrian Arab Army.[1]
The organization and military doctrine of the
Syrian Armed Forces followed a mix of French and Western influences as the
Soviet Union closely guarded its operational principles and never shared them with client states. The
Syrian Arab Army has traditionally relied on the
Russian Federation and its predecessor the Soviet Union as its main supplier of military equipment. As a result of the
Syrian Civil War, many vehicles and much heavy equipment has been destroyed or captured, with some stores being partially replenished from Russian stocks. Accurate numbers for equipment in the Army's inventory are difficult to ascertain. The numbers listed below should be regarded as optimistic estimates. Some armored vehicles were lost in past decades without being accounted for, while many others were not operational (or even beyond repair) at the start of the Syrian Civil War due to being in long-term storage with minimal or no maintenance. Given these factors, it has been estimated that more realistic estimates would be about 33% lower than what is listed below.[2]
Standard combat uniform for the Syrian Army since the 1990s. Locally produced as the Leaf Pattern. Used as main camouflage pattern during the Syrian civil war.[4]
30-round magazine. With the arrival of Russian military advisors in late 2015, some Syrian Army units were equipped with AK-104s attached with telescopic sights.[20]
20 or 30-round detachable box magazine. 12,000 rifles were bought in 1957.[54] Syria produced 7.62×51mm cartridges[54] and acquired FALs from other sources.[54] Standard designated marksman rifle of SAA.[53]
Single shot bolt-action. Copy of Austrian HS .50. In service with Syrian Army and special forces.[53] By 2018, Syria start to produce it under the Golan S0-1 name.[56]CERS has upgraded the Syrian produced Golan S-01 in 2023.[57] New model introduced a new stock, box magazine, and scope.
2,000 received from the Soviet Union.[2] A and AMV variants have been upgraded with
Kontakt-1 armor and
9M117 Bastion.[107] More than 682 claimed destroyed or captured by
armed groups since March 2011.[2] 200 T-55s were upgraded to MV standard by
Ukraine in 1997 and AM variant by
North Korea in 1980s.[108] Some T-55s upgraded with locally developped Viper thermal imager, assembled from foreign components.[109] All T-55s upgraded with soft-kill
Sarab Active Protection System.[110]
1,000 in service as of 2010, more than 366 claimed captured/destroyed by rebels. At least several dozens of T-62M with
9M117 Bastion delivered by Russia since 2017.[111][112] Up to 100 would have been sent.[113] In 2018 and 2019, Russia reactivated and field-tested T-62M/MV variants with
Kontakt-1ERA from war stores and transported them to Syria.[114] Most T-62s are upgraded with soft-kill
Sarab Active Protection System.[110]
More than 1500 in 2010, some upgraded by Russia. 124 T-72M1s and T-72AVs were upgraded to T-72M1S standard between 2003 and 2006 by
Italy.[118] With Galileo Avionica TURMS-T computerized FCS, infrared cameras, improved gun stabilisation, stabilised sights for the gunner and the commander, added
9M119 Refleks launcher.[119] More than 850 claimed destroyed / captured by rebels.[2] Approximately 300 in 2014. T-72Bs as well as ones with
Kontakt-5 were delivered by Russia in 2015–2016.[120] At least few dozens of T-72B3 in Syrian service as of 2023.[121][122]
T-72A/AV/M upgraded with locally assembled Viper thermal imager and
Kontakt-1.[123] All T-72s were fitted with locally developped soft-kill
Sarab Active Protection System providing jamming capabilities.[124]
Russia supplied 30 T-90 obr. 1992 and T-90As equipped with
Shtora-1 and Kontakt-5 in late 2015.[128][126] Russia has supplied T-90 tanks to the 25th Special Mission Forces Division and
4th Mechanized Division.[129] A battalion containing 40 T-90A tanks delivered in 2017.[127] 3 were captured during the Syrian Civil War, two by
HTS rebels and one by ISIS fighters. Another 10 were hit.[126]
Syrian Army captured an Otokar Cobra from ISIS during the
East Aleppo Offensive.[150] Before that, ISIS captured it from the Turkish military during the
Battle of al-Bab.
Some armed with
9K11 Malyutka and
Strela-1 ATGM. 1,200 received from the Soviet Union by 1975. Around 20 lost in the civil war.[151] 2MS variant delivered by Russia in 2022.[152]
130mm. Also Iranian HERA[170] and Chinese BEE4 BB/
RAP projectiles in use since 2007.[185] Mobile version in service.[186][169] More units supplied by Russia in 2023.[187]
300mm. Presence confirmed by use of the 9M55K cluster munition used by the system.[198] Syria received several BM-30s from either
Belarus or more likely Russia in early 2014.[199]
2 defense regiment comprising 2 divisions including 2 batteries S-200 (44 launchers) in service as of 2010 and 2014.[220][221] 3 regiments as of 2023[update].[222]
S-200VE variant brought from USSR in 1983. Modified by
SSRC.[223] Command post S-300 can manage in any combination the elements of S-200 and S-300.[224][225][226]
SRBM. ≈100 missiles.[241] Russia allegedly sent 50 additional Tochka missiles in February 2017 to Tartus.[244] KN-02 Toksa variant supplied by North Korea.[245]
As an option, with the use of higher level command post, management of all types of air defense systems, the Air Force and all kinds of radar air defense forces. Effective radius of 1,600 km for 77 fired targets[255] May receive data order to send target indication for different systems.[256]
^Cooper, Tom (2022). Syrian Conflagration: The Syrian Civil War, 2011-2013 (Revised ed.). Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. pp. 16, I.
ISBN978-1-915070-81-4.
^John Pike.
"Syria – Army Equipment". GlobalSecurity.org.
Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
This is an inventory of military equipment of the Syrian Arab Army.[1]
The organization and military doctrine of the
Syrian Armed Forces followed a mix of French and Western influences as the
Soviet Union closely guarded its operational principles and never shared them with client states. The
Syrian Arab Army has traditionally relied on the
Russian Federation and its predecessor the Soviet Union as its main supplier of military equipment. As a result of the
Syrian Civil War, many vehicles and much heavy equipment has been destroyed or captured, with some stores being partially replenished from Russian stocks. Accurate numbers for equipment in the Army's inventory are difficult to ascertain. The numbers listed below should be regarded as optimistic estimates. Some armored vehicles were lost in past decades without being accounted for, while many others were not operational (or even beyond repair) at the start of the Syrian Civil War due to being in long-term storage with minimal or no maintenance. Given these factors, it has been estimated that more realistic estimates would be about 33% lower than what is listed below.[2]
Standard combat uniform for the Syrian Army since the 1990s. Locally produced as the Leaf Pattern. Used as main camouflage pattern during the Syrian civil war.[4]
30-round magazine. With the arrival of Russian military advisors in late 2015, some Syrian Army units were equipped with AK-104s attached with telescopic sights.[20]
20 or 30-round detachable box magazine. 12,000 rifles were bought in 1957.[54] Syria produced 7.62×51mm cartridges[54] and acquired FALs from other sources.[54] Standard designated marksman rifle of SAA.[53]
Single shot bolt-action. Copy of Austrian HS .50. In service with Syrian Army and special forces.[53] By 2018, Syria start to produce it under the Golan S0-1 name.[56]CERS has upgraded the Syrian produced Golan S-01 in 2023.[57] New model introduced a new stock, box magazine, and scope.
2,000 received from the Soviet Union.[2] A and AMV variants have been upgraded with
Kontakt-1 armor and
9M117 Bastion.[107] More than 682 claimed destroyed or captured by
armed groups since March 2011.[2] 200 T-55s were upgraded to MV standard by
Ukraine in 1997 and AM variant by
North Korea in 1980s.[108] Some T-55s upgraded with locally developped Viper thermal imager, assembled from foreign components.[109] All T-55s upgraded with soft-kill
Sarab Active Protection System.[110]
1,000 in service as of 2010, more than 366 claimed captured/destroyed by rebels. At least several dozens of T-62M with
9M117 Bastion delivered by Russia since 2017.[111][112] Up to 100 would have been sent.[113] In 2018 and 2019, Russia reactivated and field-tested T-62M/MV variants with
Kontakt-1ERA from war stores and transported them to Syria.[114] Most T-62s are upgraded with soft-kill
Sarab Active Protection System.[110]
More than 1500 in 2010, some upgraded by Russia. 124 T-72M1s and T-72AVs were upgraded to T-72M1S standard between 2003 and 2006 by
Italy.[118] With Galileo Avionica TURMS-T computerized FCS, infrared cameras, improved gun stabilisation, stabilised sights for the gunner and the commander, added
9M119 Refleks launcher.[119] More than 850 claimed destroyed / captured by rebels.[2] Approximately 300 in 2014. T-72Bs as well as ones with
Kontakt-5 were delivered by Russia in 2015–2016.[120] At least few dozens of T-72B3 in Syrian service as of 2023.[121][122]
T-72A/AV/M upgraded with locally assembled Viper thermal imager and
Kontakt-1.[123] All T-72s were fitted with locally developped soft-kill
Sarab Active Protection System providing jamming capabilities.[124]
Russia supplied 30 T-90 obr. 1992 and T-90As equipped with
Shtora-1 and Kontakt-5 in late 2015.[128][126] Russia has supplied T-90 tanks to the 25th Special Mission Forces Division and
4th Mechanized Division.[129] A battalion containing 40 T-90A tanks delivered in 2017.[127] 3 were captured during the Syrian Civil War, two by
HTS rebels and one by ISIS fighters. Another 10 were hit.[126]
Syrian Army captured an Otokar Cobra from ISIS during the
East Aleppo Offensive.[150] Before that, ISIS captured it from the Turkish military during the
Battle of al-Bab.
Some armed with
9K11 Malyutka and
Strela-1 ATGM. 1,200 received from the Soviet Union by 1975. Around 20 lost in the civil war.[151] 2MS variant delivered by Russia in 2022.[152]
130mm. Also Iranian HERA[170] and Chinese BEE4 BB/
RAP projectiles in use since 2007.[185] Mobile version in service.[186][169] More units supplied by Russia in 2023.[187]
300mm. Presence confirmed by use of the 9M55K cluster munition used by the system.[198] Syria received several BM-30s from either
Belarus or more likely Russia in early 2014.[199]
2 defense regiment comprising 2 divisions including 2 batteries S-200 (44 launchers) in service as of 2010 and 2014.[220][221] 3 regiments as of 2023[update].[222]
S-200VE variant brought from USSR in 1983. Modified by
SSRC.[223] Command post S-300 can manage in any combination the elements of S-200 and S-300.[224][225][226]
SRBM. ≈100 missiles.[241] Russia allegedly sent 50 additional Tochka missiles in February 2017 to Tartus.[244] KN-02 Toksa variant supplied by North Korea.[245]
As an option, with the use of higher level command post, management of all types of air defense systems, the Air Force and all kinds of radar air defense forces. Effective radius of 1,600 km for 77 fired targets[255] May receive data order to send target indication for different systems.[256]
^Cooper, Tom (2022). Syrian Conflagration: The Syrian Civil War, 2011-2013 (Revised ed.). Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. pp. 16, I.
ISBN978-1-915070-81-4.
^John Pike.
"Syria – Army Equipment". GlobalSecurity.org.
Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.