List of equipment of the Afghan Armed Forces

Not to be confused with Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

This is a list of equipment used by the Afghan Armed Forces.

Small arms

Name	Image	Caliber	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistols
PM [1]		9×18mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union
TT-33		7.62×25mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union	Used by the Red Unit [2]
Smith & Wesson SD		9x19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	United States	Unknown number in service captured from former Afghan National Army [3]
Submachine guns
PM-63 RAK [4]		9×18mm	Submachine gun	Poland
Škorpion [1]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Czechoslovakia
Heckler & Koch MP5 [5]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Germany Pakistan
Rifles
AK [1]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
AKM [1]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
AK-74 [1]		5.45×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union	AK-74 , AKS-74 and AKS-74U variants
Type 56 [6]		7.62x39mm	Assault rifle	China	Captured from the former Afghan National Army
ASH-78		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Albania	36,900 captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
AMD-65		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Hungary	Unknown number captured from former Afghan police [7]
Zastava M70B1		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Yugoslavia	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
AIMS-74		5.45×39mm	Assault rifle	Romania	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
Zastava M70B1		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Yugoslavia	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
FB Beryl		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	Poland	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
M16A2/A4		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	United States	104,000 captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
M4A1		5.56×45mm	Carbine Assault rifle	United States	10,000 captured from the former Afghan National Army [8]
SA80 [9]		5.56×45mm	Bullpup Assault rifle	United Kingdom	Captured from the former Afghan National Army
Heckler & Koch G3 [10] [11]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Germany Iran Turkey
SMLE No.4 Mk.1		.303 British	Bolt-action	United Kingdom	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
Sniper rifles
PSL		7.62×54mmR	Designated marksman rifle Sniper rifle	Romania	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
SVD		7.62×54mmR	Designated marksman rifle Sniper rifle	Soviet Union	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
M40A5 [12]		7.62×51mm	Sniper rifle	United States
Machine guns
ZB-53 [13]		7.92×57mm	Medium machine gun	Czechoslovakia
SG-43 [14]		7.62×54mmR	Medium machine gun	Soviet Union	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
M249 SAW		5.56×45mm	Light machine gun	United States	Unknown number in service captured from former Afghan National Army [3]
RPD [1]		7.62×39mm	Light machine gun	Soviet Union
RPK [1]		7.62×39mm	Squad automatic weapon	Soviet Union
PKM [1]		7.62×54mmR	General-purpose machine gun	Soviet Union
Zastava M84		7.62×54mmR	General-purpose machine gun	Yugoslavia	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
UK vz. 59		7.62×54mmR	General-purpose machine gun	Czechoslovakia	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
MG-3		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	Germany	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
KPV [1]		14.5×114mm	Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union
DShK [1]		12.7×108mm	Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union
M2 Browning		.50 BMG	Heavy machine gun	United States	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
M134 Minigun		7.62×51mm	Rotary Medium machine gun	United States	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7 [15]		40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union
RPG-16 [1]		58mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union
RPG-18		64mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
Type-69		40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	China	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
RPO-A Shmel		93mm	Missile launcher	Soviet Union	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
Grenade launchers
M203		40×46mm	Grenade launcher	United States	At least 1,394 grenade launchers were captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
AGS-17 [1]		30×29mm	Automatic grenade launcher	Soviet Union
QLZ-87		35×32mm	Automatic grenade launcher	China	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]

Anti-tank weapons

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Caliber	Notes
B-10 [15]		Recoilless rifle	Soviet Union China	82mm
SPG-9 [15]		Recoilless rifle	Soviet Union	73mm
9M14 Malyutka [1]		Anti-tank weapon	Soviet Union
MILAN		Anti-tank weapon	Germany France		271 captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
BGM-71 TOW		Anti-tank weapon	United States

Vehicles

Tanks

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
T-55		Medium tank	Soviet Union Czechoslovakia	110+	T-55A and T-55AM2 spotted during 2025 Afghanistan–Pakistan conflict
T-62		Main Battle Tank	Soviet Union	34	Still seen in parades [16]

Infantry fighting vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
BMP-1 [17]		Infantry fighting vehicle	Soviet Union	50

Armored personnel carriers

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
BTR-70 [18]		Armored personnel carrier	Soviet Union	25
M113A2 [19]		Armored personnel carrier	United States	117
M1117 Guardian [16]		Internal security vehicle	United States	200

Mine-resistant ambush protected vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
International MaxxPro [16]		MRAP	United States	30

Utility vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
HMMWV [20]		LUV	United States	1,800
Ford Ranger [21]		Utility vehicle	United States	500
Toyota Hilux [22]		Utility vehicle	Japan	500
Trucks
ZIL-131 [23]		Utility truck	Soviet Union	Unknown
KamAZ-4310 [23]		Utility truck	Soviet Union	Unknown
Navistar 700 [21]		Utility truck	United States	323
M915 [21]		Semi-tractor	United States	7
HEMTT [21]		Heavy tactical truck	United States	2

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Rocket artillery
BM-21 Grad [16]		Multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	3
Mortars
BM-37		Infantry mortar	Soviet Union	152	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
PM-43		Mortar	Soviet Union	55	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
M1938		Heavy mortar	Soviet Union	Unknown	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [6]
Field artillery
M-30 [24]		Howitzer	Soviet Union	15
D-30 [16]		Howitzer	Soviet Union	41

Air defence systems

Man-portable air-defense systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
FIM-92 Stinger [16]		MANPADS	United States	Unknown

Towed anti-aircraft guns

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
ZU-23-2 [21]		Autocannon	Soviet Union	18

Individual equipment

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Notes
Camouflage pattern
Universal Camouflage Pattern		Combat uniform	United States	Unknown number in service, captured from the United States Army during the War in Afghanistan. Used in unconventional warfare to attack government targets. [25]
U.S. Woodland		Combat uniform	United States	Unknown number in service, captured from the former Afghan National Army. [25]
Wz. 89 Puma		Combat uniform	Poland	Unknown number in service, captured from the former Afghan National Army [26]
Helmets
Vz. 53		Combat helmet	Czechoslovakia	Captured from the former Afghan National Army and police
Hełm wz. 50		Combat helmet	Poland	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [27]
Hełm wz. 67		Combat helmet	Poland	Captured from the former Afghan National Army [28]
MICH		Combat helmet	United States	Captured from the former Afghan National Army
Body armor
Interceptor		Body armor	United States	Captured from the former Afghan National Army and police [29]

Aircraft

Main article: Afghan Air Force § Current inventory

Bibliography

• Brayley, Martin J. (22 April 2013). Kalashnikov AK47 Series: The 7.62 x 39mm Assault Rifle in Detail. Crowood. ISBN   978-1-84797-526-3.
• Foss, Christopher F.; Gander, Terry J., eds. (1999). Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics, 1999-2000 (20th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN   978-0-7106-1912-9.
• International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). "Chapter Five: Asia" . The Military Balance. 124 (1). Taylor & Francis: 218–327. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298593. ISSN   0459-7222 . Retrieved 17 April 2024.
• Jones, Richard; Ness, Leland S., eds. (14 January 2010). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010-2011 (36th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN   978-0-7106-2908-1.
• Shankar, Colonel C. P. (2015). Military in Pakistan and Afghanistan A Brief History. Neha Publishers & Distributors. ISBN   978-9380318851.

References

1. Jones & Ness 2010, p. 903.
2. "Taliban's 'Red Unit' spearheads blitzkrieg in Afghanistan". ETV Bharat News. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2025.
3. Calibre Obscura (15 August 2021). "How the Taliban Captured Billions of Dollars Worth of Weapons". Grey Dynamics. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
4. "The Polish PM-63 is One Scary Ultra-Compact Automatic Weapon". 2 August 2020.
5. "Birth of a four decade nightmare | David Loyn | The Critic Magazine - husale.shopsfashion2023.ru". husale.shopsfashion2023.ru. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.^{[ failed verification ]}
6. F., Mick (14 October 2021). "Arms Captured by the Taliban during their Conquest of Afghanistan". The Hoplite. Armament Research Services (ARES). Retrieved 21 April 2024.
7. Ellison, Graham (2012). Globalization, police reform and development : doing it the Western Way?. Nathan Pino. [Basingstoke]: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN   978-0-230-58102-9. OCLC   785873574.
8. Batchelor, Tom (2021). "Afghanistan: What American equipment has been left for the Taliban?". The Independent . Retrieved 3 September 2021.
9. ""Operation Cortes Bank 11" (Lvl 1) Cache Storyboard" (PDF). Arms trafficking, arms trade, and weapons ID docs- Wordpress. International Security Assistance Force. 18 April 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2021. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
10. Bhatia, Michael Vinai; Sedra, Mark (May 2008). Small Arms Survey (ed.). Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society. Routledge. p. 65. ISBN   978-0-415-45308-0. Archived from the original on 1 September 2018. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
11. Thompson 2019, p. 59. sfn error: no target: CITEREFThompson2019 (help)
12. Neville 2016, p. 322. sfn error: no target: CITEREFNeville2016 (help)
13. Bhatia, Michael Vinai; Sedra, Mark (May 2008). Small Arms Survey (ed.). Afghanistan, Arms and Conflict: Armed Groups, Disarmament and Security in a Post-War Society. Routledge. p. 65. ISBN   978-0-415-45308-0.
14. Smith 1969, p. 300. sfn error: no target: CITEREFSmith1969 (help)
15. "How The Taliban Captured Billions Of Dollars Worth Of Weapons". greydynamics. 10 September 2021. Retrieved 4 October 2021.
16. IISS 2024, p. 245.
17. Defence Express News – РОССИЯ И АФГАНИСТАН ВЫПОЛНЯЮТ ДОГОВОРЕННОСТИ, ЗАКЛЮЧЕННЫЕ МЕЖДУ ВОЕННЫМИ ВЕДОМСТВАМИ ДВУХ СТРАН В КАБУЛЕ В 2002 Г. Defense-ua.com (29 January 2003). Retrieved 6 January 2012.
18. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 14 April 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2013.
19. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). The Military Balance. Vol. 120. Routledge. ISBN   978-0-367-46639-8.
20. Polumbo, Brad (1 September 2021). "Here's the list of billions in military equipment the US left behind for the Taliban". The Maine Wire. Retrieved 13 December 2024.
21. Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (23 July 2021). "Disaster At Hand: Documenting Afghan Military Equipment Losses Since June 2021 until August 14, 2021". Oryx. Retrieved 21 April 2024.
22. "Even Toyota seemed to know that the Taliban would take Kabul". Quartz. 16 August 2021. Retrieved 6 September 2021.
23. Foss & Gander 1999, p. 727.
24. The Military Balance 2016, p. 320. sfn error: no target: CITEREFThe_Military_Balance_2016 (help)
25. Cox, Matthew (30 May 2018). "Militants Killed in Kabul Attack Were Wearing US Army Uniforms". Military. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
26. "INFOR.PL – portal nowoczesnych księgowych, przedsiębiorców, kadrowych – podatki, rachunkowość, kadry, prawo pracy, sektor publiczny - kalkulatory, wskaźniki, ujednolicone akty prawne, quizy". www.infor.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 12 July 2023.
27. "Afghanistan". alexdhelmet.free.fr. Retrieved 6 January 2025.
28. "Prime Minister announces reduction in UK troop numbers in Afghanistan". GOV.UK. Retrieved 24 April 2024.
29. GovTribe. "Department of the Army W91CRB08D0045-0002 To Unicor $27.9m". govtribe.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2017. Retrieved 22 September 2017.