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List of equipment of the Syrian Army

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an inventory of military equipment currently operated by the Syrian Arab Army. The organization and military doctrine of the former Ba'athist-led Syrian Arab Armed Forces were influenced by the doctrines of the Soviet Union, Syria's closest ally.[1] The Syrian Arab Army has traditionally relied on the Soviet Union and its successor the Russian Federation 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.

Following the outcome of the Syrian civil war, Israel launched several strikes on Syrian strategic bases, destroying up to 80% of the country's ammunition stocks as well as their navy, most of their air force and the majority of their strategic weapons stocks.[2][3]

Protective gear and combat uniforms

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Name Photo Origin Type Quantity Notes
EMR Desert  Russia Combat uniform N/A Standard issue.
MultiCam  United States Combat uniform N/A Standard issue.
Advanced Combat Helmet
 United States Combat helmet N/A Iranian-made copy. Standard issue.[4]
FAST
 United States Combat helmet N/A Standard issue. Used by security forces.[5]
6B47
 Russia Combat helmet N/A Standard issue.[6]
Ruyin-3  Iran Ballistic vest N/A Standard issue. Used by security forces.[7][8]

Carbines

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Name Photo Origin Cartridge Notes
AKS-74U  Soviet Union 5.45×39mm M74 Seen in use by the Syrian Republican Guard during Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa's visit to Aleppo.[9]

Battle and semi-auto rifles

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Name Photo Origin Cartridge Notes
SKS  Soviet Union 7.62×39mm M43 Used for ceremonial purposes.[10]

Assault rifles

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Name Photo Origin Cartridge Notes
AK-47[11]  Soviet Union 7.62×39mm M43/M67 Standard issue. Also seen in use by security forces.
AKMS
 Soviet Union 7.62×39mm M43 Standard issue. Also seen in use by security forces.[12]

Sniper rifles

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Name Photo Type Origin Cartridge Notes
ASVK Anti-material rifle Russia 12.7 × 108 mm Possibly in use by special forces.
PSL
Marksman rifle Socialist Republic of Romania 7.62×54mmR

General-purpose machine guns

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Name Photo Origin Cartridge Notes
Pecheneg machine gun[13][14]  Russia 7.62×54mmR Possibly seen in use by border patrol officers.[15]

Anti-tank launchers

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Name Photo Type Origin Caliber Quantity Notes
RPG-7 Rocket-propelled grenade Soviet Union 40mm Ammunition: PG-7V (85 mm) PG-7VL (93 mm) PG-7VR (64/105 mm) OG-7V (40 mm).

Vehicles

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Tanks

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Name Photo Quantity Origin Notes
T-55A/AM/AMV/M/MV[16] 280+[17](as of 2024)  Soviet Union 2,000 received from the Soviet Union.[18] A and AMV variants have been upgraded with Kontakt-1 armor and 9M117 Bastion.[19] More than 682 claimed destroyed or captured by armed groups since March 2011.[18] 200 T-55s were upgraded to MV standard by Ukraine in 1997 and AM variant by North Korea in 1980s.[20] Some T-55s upgraded with locally developed Viper thermal imager, assembled from foreign components.[21] All T-55s upgraded with soft-kill Sarab Active Protection System.[22] At least 64 T55 tanks were seized by Syrian Opposition forces.[23]
T-62A/ obr. 1972/ obr. 1975 /K/M/MV 170+ (as of 2025)[17] Soviet Union 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.[24][25] Up to 100 would have been sent.[26] In 2018 and 2019, Russia reactivated and field-tested T-62M/MV variants with Kontakt-1 ERA from war stores and transported them to Syria.[27] Most T-62s are upgraded with soft-kill Sarab Active Protection System.[citation needed]At least 21 T62 tanks were seized by Syrian Opposition forces.[23]
T-72 Ural/A/AVS/S/M/M1/M1M/M1S/ B obr. 1989/B3/Adra/[28] Shafrah[29] 220+ (as of 2025)[17]  Soviet Union
 Czechoslovakia
Russia		 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.[30] With Galileo Avionica TURMS-T computerized FCS, infrared cameras, improved gun stabilisation, stabilised sights for the gunner and the commander, added 9M119 Svir/Refleks launcher.[31] More than 850 claimed destroyed / captured by rebels.[18] Approximately 300 in 2014. T-72Bs as well as ones with Kontakt-5 were delivered by Russia in 2015–2016.[32] At least few dozens of T-72B3 in Syrian service as of 2023.[33]

T-72A/AV/M upgraded with locally assembled Viper thermal imager and Kontakt-1.[34] All T-72s were fitted with locally developed soft-kill Sarab Active Protection System providing jamming capabilities.[citation needed] At leas 51 T72 tanks were seized by Syrian Opposition forces.[23]

Infantry fighting vehicles

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Name Photo Quantity Origin Notes
BMP-1P[24] ~721 (2024)[17]  Soviet Union

Armoured personnel carriers

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Name Photo Origin Quantity Notes
Nurol Ejder
 Turkey N/A A dozen Turkish-built Ejder 6x6 armored personnel carriers were seen during its Liberation Day parade in Damascus on 8 December 2025. [35]
Otokar Cobra II
 Turkey N/A
BMC Amazon  Turkey N/A
BTR-50 Soviet Union 450 During the war, some BTR-50s have been reactivated and issued to the mechanized infantry.[36]
MT-LBM  Soviet Union N/A Additional units delivered by Russia.[37] At least 4 MT-LB vehicles were seized by Syrian Opposition forces.[23]
Al-Fateh Syria N/A Shown at the Syrian Revolution Military Expo.[38] Unclear if currently in use.
Otokar Cobra  Turkey N/A Donated by Turkey.
Humvee
 United States At least 3 Captured from Syrian Democratic Forces.[39]

Reconnaissance vehicles

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Name Photo Type Origin Quantity Notes
BRM-1K Armoured reconnaissance vehicle  Soviet Union N/A Supplied by Russia between 2017 and 2018.[25] At least 4 BRM-1K vehicles were seized by Syrian Opposition forces.[23]

Military engineering

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Name Type Quantity Origin Photo Notes
BREM-1[40] Armoured recovery vehicle 97  Soviet Union Deployed in the Rif Dimashq Governorate campaign in Syrian Civil War. 4 BREM-1 lost in the civil war. At least 3 BREM-1 vehicles were seized by Syrian Opposition forces.[23]

Logistics vehicles

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Name Type Quantity Origin Photo Notes
Mercedes-Benz Actros 8×4 off-road truck N/A  Germany Chassis of the M-46 W-SPG.[41][42]
Iveco Trakker 8×8 off-road truck N/A  Italy Chassis of the M-46 W-SPG.[41][42]
Sinotruk Howo 4×4 side truck
6×6 utility truck		 N/A ‹See TfM› People's Republic of China Transport vehicle for motorized infantry.[43]

Utility vehicles

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Name Type Quantity Origin Photo Notes
Toyota Land Cruiser Utility vehicle N/A  Japan
Model 70 is the most popular model in use. Widely used as a Technical.[44]
Toyota Hilux Utility vehicle N/A  Japan
Widely used as a Technical.[45]
Mitsubishi Triton Utility vehicle N/A  Japan
In use by security forces and government agencies.

Artillery

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Self-propelled field artillery

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Name Type Quantity Origin Photo Notes
2S1 Gvozdika Self-propelled howitzer 50[46]  Soviet Union 122 mm. 300 as of 2011. 94 lost in the civil war.[18] At least 16 2S1 self-propelled howitzers were seized by Syrian Opposition forces.[23]
130 mm M-46 W-SPG Self-propelled gun N/A  Italy
 Germany
Syria		 On Iveco Trakker and Mercedes-Benz Actros chassis. Produced and modified in Syria by SSRC since 2013.[41][42]

Bibliography

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  • Campbell, David (16 June 2016). Israeli Soldier vs Syrian Soldier: Golan Heights 1967–73. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4728-1331-2.
  • Zaloga, Steven J. (20 July 2011). Unmanned Aerial Vehicles: Robotic Air Warfare 1917–2007. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-786-3.

References

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  1. ^ "Syria - Size, Equipment, Command Structure and Organization". www.country-data.com. Retrieved 2025-10-15.
  2. ^ "Israel readies for strikes as Trump's 'maximum pressure 2.0' targets Iran's nuclear threat – the details". LBCIV7. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  3. ^ "Israel seizing on Syria chaos to strike military assets". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 2024-12-16.
  4. ^ "x.com".
  5. ^ "SDF organization targets internal security positions in Deir Ezzor countryside". 2026-01-08. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  6. ^ "Syrian Army arrests eight individuals linked to ousted regime in Aleppo Countryside". 2026-01-05. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  7. ^ "Hama security forces arrest armed group linked to remnants of deposed regime". 2026-01-07. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  8. ^ "Syrian Arab Army personnel participate in a reforestation campaign". 2025-12-24. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  9. ^ "President Al-Sharaa arrives Aleppo to participate in the city's liberation anniversary". 2025-11-29. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  10. ^ "زوار المعرض العسكري للثورة السورية: محطة توثق نصر الوطن وتجسد تضحيات الشعب" (in Arabic). 2025-12-06. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  11. ^ Rottman 2011, p. 78.
  12. ^ "عملية أمنية محكمة في منطقة وادي العيون بريف مصياف استهدفت مجموعة مسلحة خارجة عن القانون" (in Arabic). 2026-01-06. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  13. ^ "Syrian army general's weapons request". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 11 October 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
  14. ^ Oryx (17 August 2015). "Oryx Blog: From Russia with Love, Syria's PKP Pechenegs". Archived from the original on 10 October 2017. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
  15. ^ "قوات الجيش العربي السوري تنتشر على الحدود الغربية للجمهورية العربية السورية" (in Arabic). 2026-01-03. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  16. ^ James Hackett, International Institute for Strategic Studies, ed. (2023). The military balance. 2023. London. ISBN 978-1-003-40022-6. OCLC 1372013483.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  17. ^ a b c d Military Balance 2024. IISS. 2024. ISBN 978-1032780047.
  18. ^ a b c d "Nine Years of War — Documenting Syrian Arab Army's Armored Vehicles Losses". bellingcat. 2018-03-27. Retrieved 2022-12-08.
  19. ^ Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans (6 November 2016). "Photo Report: The Syrian Arab Army (1)". Oryx Blog. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  20. ^ "Syria's Steel Beasts: The T-55". Indian Defence Forum. December 4, 2014.
  21. ^ "Syrians continue to equip old tanks with thermal imagers" topwar, june 14th 2018
  22. ^ Eshel, Tamir (1 March 2017). "Home Grown Syrian Soft Kill System Successfully Defeated TOW Missiles". Defense Update.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g "x.com".
  24. ^ a b "Replenishing the Stocks: Russian deliveries of T-62Ms and BMP-1s reach Syria". Oryx. February 17, 2017.
  25. ^ a b "Rearming Syria: Russian deliveries of T-62MVs and BRM-1(K)s arrive". Oryx. February 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "IMPORTER/EXPORTER TIV TABLES". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.
  27. ^ @DFRLab (2018-09-07). "#PutinAtWar: Soviet Tanks Reactivated in Russia's East". Medium. Retrieved 2019-06-17.
  28. ^ "Танки Т-72 с динамической защитой "Контакт-5" впервые заметили в Сирии". Russian Weapons. 28 January 2016. Archived from the original on 30 January 2016. Retrieved 30 January 2016.
  29. ^ "T-72 Shafrah". Tank Encyclopedia. 13 April 2017. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  30. ^ "Syria's Steel Beasts: The T-72". 28 December 2014.
  31. ^ Cooper, Tom (2022). Syrian Conflagration: The Syrian Civil War, 2011-2013 (Revised ed.). Warwick, UK: Helion & Company Publishing. pp. 16, I. ISBN 978-1-915070-81-4.
  32. ^ John Pike. "Syria – Army Equipment". GlobalSecurity.org. Archived from the original on 17 October 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  33. ^ "Syrian Arab Army 2022 manoeuvre in cooperation with Russian forces". YouTube. 31 July 2022.
  34. ^ "Viper thermal sights appeared on Syrian tanks", topwar, November 28th 2016
  35. ^ https://www.armyrecognition.com/news/army-news/2025/intel-syrian-army-reveals-new-turkish-ejder-6x6-carrier-fleet-at-damascus-military-parade
  36. ^ "Soviet-made IFVs and APCs in Syrian conflict". Army Recognition. 19 January 2019. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  37. ^ "x.com".
  38. ^ "Defense Ministry prepares Syrian Revolution Military Expo in Damascus". 2025-12-03. Retrieved 2026-01-08.
  39. ^ "قوات الجيش السوري تتابع التقدم ودخول المناطق دون استهداف عناصر وآليات تنظيم قسد بريف حلب" (in Arabic). 2026-01-17. Retrieved 2026-01-18.
  40. ^ "Image". I.imgur.com. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2014.
  41. ^ a b c M-46 130mm 8x8 self-propelled howitzer Syrian military forces
  42. ^ a b c Arturo Giusti (5 March 2022). "130 mm M-46 Field Gun on IVECO TRAKKER and Mercedes-Benz Actros Chassis". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  43. ^ Dylan Malyasov (10 January 2016). "China to supply military trucks to Syria". Defence blog.com. Retrieved 10 August 2023.
  44. ^ Biondo, Harold (2021-04-24). "Type 1 Technical (Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series)". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 2023-06-22.
  45. ^ Bassam Mroue (5 September 2017). "Syrian troops breach IS siege on Deir Ezzor". Times of Israel. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  46. ^ Military Balance 2024. IISS. 2024. ISBN 978-1032780047.

Works cited

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