List of equipment of the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces

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

Small arms

Name	Image	Caliber	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistols
PM [1]		9×18mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union	Standard issue pistol.
APS [2]		9×18mm	Machine pistol	Soviet Union	Used by Special Forces
CZ 52 [3]		7.62×25mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Czechoslovakia
Browning Hi-Power [1]		9×19mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Belgium
Submachine guns
PPS wz.1943/1952 [1]		7.62×25mm	Submachine gun	Soviet Union Poland
PM-63 RAK [4]		9×18mm	Submachine gun	Poland	Used by some MTT units.
Sa 23 [1]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Czechoslovakia
Heckler & Koch MP5 [5]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Germany	MP5A3 used by Black Wasp (Cuban Special Forces)
Uzi [6]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	Israel
M3 Grease Gun [7]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	United States	M3 and M3A1
Shotguns
Browning Auto-5 [8]		12 gauge	Semi-automatic shotgun	United States
Rifles
SKS		7.62×39mm	Semi-automatic rifle	Soviet Union	Mostly limited to use as a ceremonial weapon.
AK [1]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
AKM [1]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union	Standard issue assault rifle.
AKS-74U [9]		5.45×39mm	Carbine Assault rifle	Soviet Union
AS Val [10]		9×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
Type 58 [11]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	North Korea
Vz. 58 [1]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Czechoslovakia
Machine guns
DP-27 [12]		7.62×54mmR	Light machine gun	Soviet Union	DP and DPM
RP-46 [12]		7.62×54mmR	Light machine gun	Soviet Union
Vz. 52/57		7.62×39mm	Light machine gun	Czechoslovakia
ZB-53 [13]		7.92×57mm	Medium machine gun	Czechoslovakia
SG-43 [14]		7.62×54mmR	Medium 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
FN MAG [1]		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	Belgium
KPV		14.5×114mm	Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union
DShK [1]		12.7×108mm	Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union
Sniper rifles
Mosin-Nagant [15]		7.62×54mmR	Bolt-action Sniper rifle	Russian Empire China
SVD		7.62×54mmR	Designated marksman rifle Sniper rifle	Soviet Union
Alejandro		7.62×54mmR	Sniper rifle	Cuba
Mambi AMR		14.5×114mm	Bullpup Anti-materiel rifle	Cuba
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7 [1]		40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union
RPG-29 [16]		64mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union
Grenades
RGD-5			Hand grenade	Soviet Union Cuba
F-1			Hand grenade	Soviet Union Cuba
Grenade launchers
AGS-17 [1]		30×29mm	Automatic grenade launcher	Soviet Union

Anti-tank weapons

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Caliber	Notes
SPG-9 [17]		Recoilless rifle	Soviet Union	73mm
9M14 Malyutka [18]		Anti-tank weapon	Soviet Union		Mounted on the BTR-60
9K111 Fagot [18]		Anti-tank weapon	Soviet Union		99.9 in service.

Vehicles

Tanks

See also: Tanks of Cuba

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
PT-76		Amphibious Light tank	Soviet Union	50 [19]
T-55		Main Battle Tank	Soviet Union	400	T-55Ms active
T-62		Main Battle Tank	Soviet Union		T-62Ms active

Tank destroyers

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
2P26		Tank destroyer	Soviet Union	250 [20]
2P27		Tank destroyer	Soviet Union
9P133		Tank destroyer	Soviet Union	40 [21]

Scout cars

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
BRDM-1		Amphibious armored scout car	Soviet Union	50
BRDM-2		Amphibious armored scout car	Soviet Union	50 [22]

Infantry fighting vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
BMP-1		Infantry fighting vehicle	Soviet Union	50 [22]

Armored personnel carriers

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
BTR-152		Armored personnel carrier	Soviet Union	150 [21]
BTR-50		Amphibious Armored personnel carrier	Soviet Union	200 [21]
BTR-60		Armored personnel carrier	Soviet Union	400 [21]
BTR-70M		Armored personnel carrier	Soviet Union	6 [21]

Utility vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
GAZ-69 [23]		Utility vehicle	Soviet Union	Unknown
UAZ-469 [24]		Utility vehicle	Soviet Union Cuba	Unknown
Dongfeng EQ2050 [25]		Utility vehicle	China	Unknown
Trucks
GAZ-63 [26]		Utility truck	Soviet Union	Unknown
Ural-4320 [27]		Utility truck	Soviet Union	100+
Ural NEXT		Utility truck	Russia	Unknown
KrAZ-255		Utility truck	Soviet Union	Unknown [28]

Command vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
R-145BM		Command vehicle	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]

Air Defence Command Vehicle

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
PU-12		Command vehicle	Soviet Union	10 [21]

Engineering vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
BTS-4		Armored recovery vehicle	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
IMR-2		Combat engineering vehicle	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
TMM-3		Bailey bridge	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]

Radars

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
P-10 "Knife Rest B		Radar	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
P-12 "Spoon Rest A"		Radar	Soviet Union	Unknown	S-75 radar. [21]
P-14 "Tall King"		Radar	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
P-18 "Spoon Rest D"		Radar	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
P-18 "Flat Face B"		Radar	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
SNR-75		Radar	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
P-35 "Bar Lock"		Radar	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
1S91		Radar	Soviet Union	Unknown	2K12 Kub radar. [21]

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Self-propelled artillery
2S1 Gvozdika		Self-propelled artillery	Soviet Union	60 [21]
2S3 Akatsiya		Self-propelled artillery	Soviet Union	40 [21]
BTR-100		Self-propelled artillery	Cuba	Unknown [21]	100mm T-54/55 turret, based on BTR-60
Jupiter V		Self-propelled artillery	Cuba	Unknown [21]
Rocket artillery
BM-14		Multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	30 [21]
BM-21 Grad		Multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	145 [21]
9P132 Grad-P		Multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	Unknown [29]
Mortars
PM-43		Mortar	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
Field artillery
ZiS-2		Anti-tank gun	Soviet Union	600 [21]
A-19		Field gun	Soviet Union	100 [21]
D-44		Field gun	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]
M-46		Field gun	Soviet Union	197 [21]
ML-20		Howitzer	Soviet Union	100 [21]
M-30		Howitzer	Soviet Union	100 [21]
D-1		Howitzer	Soviet Union	50 [21]
D-20		Howitzer	Soviet Union	100 [21]
D-30		Howitzer	Soviet Union	180 [21]

Air defence systems

Man-portable air-defense systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
9K32 Strela-2		MANPADS	Soviet Union	[21]
9K34 Strela-3		MANPADS	Soviet Union	[21]
9K38 Igla		MANPADS	Soviet Union	[21]

Towed anti-aircraft guns

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
ZPU		Anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	200 [21]
ZU-23-2		Autocannon	Soviet Union	400 [21]
61-K		Autocannon	Soviet Union	300 [21]
KS-19		Anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	Unknown [21]	KS-19 and KS-19M

Self-propelled anti-aircraft guns

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
ZSU-57-2		SPAAG	Soviet Union	25 [21]
ZSU-23-4		SPAAG	Soviet Union	36 [21]

Surface-to-air missile systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
S-75 Dvina		Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	24 [21]
S-125 Neva		Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	12 [21]
2K12 Kub		Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	12 [21]
9K31 Strela-1		Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	60 [21]
9K33 Osa		Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	16 [21]
9K35 Strela-10		Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	200 [21]

Coastal defence systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
4K51 Rubezh		Anti-ship missile	Soviet Union	4 [21]

Historical equipment

Sidearms

• M1911 ^[1]

Rifles

• M1903 Springfield ^[30]
• M1 Garand ^[31]
• M1 Carbine ^[32]
• M1941 Johnson rifle ^[32]
• ArmaLite AR-10
• FN FAL ^[32]

Submachine gun

• M1A1 Thompson ^[33]
• Sten ^[34]
• PPSh-41 ^[32]
• Star Model Z-45 ^[35]

Machine guns

• M1917 Browning ^[36]
• M1918 BAR ^[32]
• M1919 Browning ^[1]
• M1941 Johnson LMG ^[37]
• MG-34

Grenade launchers

• M20 Super Bazooka ^[32]

Tanks

• 8 Marmon–Herrington CTLS
• 12 M3A1 Stuart
• 7 M4A1 Sherman ^[38]
• 15 Comet A34
• 41 IS-2M
• 642 T-34 ^[39]
• 51 T-72

Infantry fighting vehicles

• 70 BMD-1

Armored personnel carriers

• 20 M8 Greyhound ^[21]
• 100 BTR-40

Tank destroyers

• 100 SU-100 ^[21]

Field artillery

• ZiS-3
• D-74
• 2A29 T-12 ^[40]

Multiple rocket launchers

• BM-13
• 20 BMD-20
• 20 BM-24 ^[41]
• 20 RM-51 ^[42]

Anti-aircraft artillery

• Vz. 53

Balllistic launchers

• 45 2K6 Luna ^[43]
• 70 9K52 Luna-M ^[43]

References

1. Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland S., eds. (January 27, 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN   978-0-7106-2869-5.
2. "Photo by Francesco Rossi". Archived from the original on 16 January 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2017.
3. "For Sale: Rare CZ 52 Cuban 7.62x25 Surplus Semi Auto Pistol NO MAG". armslist.com. Retrieved 2022-12-25.
4. "PM-63 RAK - Submachine gun". Archived from the original on 15 April 2021.
5. "Cuban Special Forces - MININT and Black Wasps". Youtube. 5 July 2012. Archived from the original on 2019-02-16.
6. Gonzalez, Servando (2001). The Secret Fidel Castro: Deconstructing the Symbol. Oakland, California: InteliNet/InteliBooks. p. 93. ISBN   0-9711391-1-3. FN manufactured Uzis were provided in 1960 in an arms shipment aboard 'La Coubre'. An example can be seen in the Military Museum at Valencia, with Cuban markings.
7. Jurado, Carlos Caballero (1990). Central American Wars 1959–89. Men-at-Arms 221. London: Osprey Publishing. p. 38. ISBN   978-0-85045-945-6.
8. Jowett, Phillip, Latin American Wars 1900-1941: Osprey Publishing (2018)
9. "Fidel Castro Ruz, pagando en vida por crímenes cometidos". Cuba al Descubierto. Retrieved 2017-01-14.
10. "Tropas Especiales "Avispas Negras"". cuba-militaria.org (in English, Spanish, and German). 8 April 2014. Retrieved May 31, 2021.
11. Iannamico, Frank (11 September 2018). "DPRK's AKs: Inside the Shadowy World of North Korean AK Rifles". Tactical Life Gun Magazine.
12. Smith 1969, p. 22.
13. Rob Krott (April 2000). "The Bay of Pigs Museum: Playa Giron, Cuba". Small Arms Review. Vol. 3, no. 7. Chipotle Publishing. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
14. Smith 1969, p. 300.
15. Snodgrass, Brent. "The Chinese Type 53 Mosin Nagant Carbine". Mosin-Nagant.net. Archived from the original on 19 December 2010. Retrieved 10 September 2012.
16. "RPG-29 Vampir (Vampire)". www.militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 2022-07-02.
17. The Military Balance 2016, p. 393.
18. International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (14 February 2018). "The Military Balance 2018". The Military Balance. 118. Routledge.
19. "Cuban Tanks". Cuban Aviation • Rubén Urribarres. Retrieved 24 April 2016.
20. "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Archived from the original on 2010-04-14. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
21. Oryx. "The Oryx Handbook Of Cuban Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 2023-04-05.
22. International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2025, p. 429
23. Foss & Gander 1985, p. 311. sfn error: no target: CITEREFFossGander1985 (help)
24. Foss & Gander 1999, p. 728. sfn error: no target: CITEREFFossGander1999 (help)
25. Oryx. "The Oryx Handbook Of Cuban Fighting Vehicles". Oryx. Retrieved 2024-04-29.
26. Foss & Gander 1991, p. 392. sfn error: no target: CITEREFFossGander1991 (help)
27. https://translatingcuba.com/the-cuban-army-exhibits-its-new-acquisitions-russian-ural-4320-trucks-and-chinese-howo-trucks/] Translating Cuba(11/04/2024)
28. Владислав Морозов. Остров в океане. Бронетанковая техника Революционных Вооружённых сил Республики Куба 1961 - 2016 гг. // «Техника и вооружение», № 4, 2016. стр.14-24
29. "Легкая переносная реактивная система «Град-П»".
30. Thompson 2013, p. 63. sfn error: no target: CITEREFThompson2013 (help)
31. Thompson 2012, p. 59. sfn error: no target: CITEREFThompson2012 (help)
32. de Quesada, Alejandro (10 Jan 2009). The Bay of Pigs: Cuba 1961. Elite 166. pp. 60–61. ISBN   978-1-84603-323-0.
33. Yenne 2009, pp. 111–114. sfn error: no target: CITEREFYenne2009 (help)
34. Weyman, Bay. "Finding Fidel: The Journey of Erik Durschmied". TV Ontario. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2014.
35. Gander, Terry J. (2000). "National inventories, Cuba". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 1508.
36. Jowett, Philip (28 Jun 2018). Latin American Wars 1900–1941: "Banana Wars," Border Wars & Revolutions. Men-at-Arms 519. Osprey Publishing. p. 38. ISBN   9781472826282.
37. SMALL ARMS OF THE CUBAN REVOLUTIONS PART1: ?Cuba Libre? Firearms News. February 1, 2021. Paul Scarlata
38. Rivas, Santiago (22 April 2018). "Paraguayan Army retires last M4 Shermans from service". Jane's Information Group. Archived from the original on 23 April 2018. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
39. IISS 2010, p. 78. sfn error: no target: CITEREFIISS2010 (help)
40. International Institute for Strategic Studies (2006). "Caribbean and Latin America". The Military Balance. 106 (1): 323. doi:10.1080/04597220600782895. S2CID   219623774.
41. Prenatt 2016, p. 25. sfn error: no target: CITEREFPrenatt2016 (help)
42. "Stockholm International Peace Research Institute". Archived from the original on 2011-05-13. Retrieved 2011-11-17.
43. Foss 2011, p. 1089. sfn error: no target: CITEREFFoss2011 (help)

Works cited

• International Institute for Strategic Studies (February 2016). The Military Balance 2016. Vol. 116. Routlegde. ISBN   9781857438352.
• Smith, Joseph E. (1969). Small Arms of the World (11 ed.). Harrisburg, Pennsylvania: The Stackpole Company. ISBN   9780811715669.