List of equipment of the Nigerian Army

This is a list of some equipment used by the Nigerian Army. Due to how large and secretive the Nigerian army is, it is currently almost impossible to calculate all weaponry in the army.

Infantry weapons

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	Notes
Handguns
Beretta 92 [1]		Semi-automatic pistol	Italy
Beretta M1951 [2]		Semi-automatic pistol	Italy
Browning Hi-Power		Semi-automatic pistol	Belgium	Produced locally under licence as the NP-1. [3]
Walther P5 [1]		Semi-automatic pistol	West Germany
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5 [2]		Submachine gun	West Germany
Beretta M12 [4]		Submachine gun	Italy   Nigeria	Produced locally under licence by DICON.
Sten [5]		Submachine gun	United Kingdom
Sterling [2]		Submachine gun	United Kingdom
Uzi [2]		Submachine gun	Israel	Phased out and no longer in much use.
Rifles
IWI Tavor [6] [7]		Bullpup assault rifle	Israel	Used mostly by Special Forces.
CAA AK-Alfa [8] [9]		Assault rifle	United States   Israel	Used by Special Forces.
Beryl M762 [10]		Assault rifle	Poland   Nigeria	Produced locally under license by DICON. Will serve as standard issued assault rifle, to replace OBJ-006 and NR-1.
FB Mini-Beryl [11]		Compact assault rifle (carbine)	Poland	10 test units purchased.
M16A1 [12]		Assault rifle	United States
FN FNC [2]		Assault rifle	Belgium
Beretta AR70/90 [2]		Assault rifle	Italy
Daewoo K2 [13]		Assault rifle	South Korea	33,000 units have been bought
OBJ-006		Assault rifle	Soviet Union   Nigeria	Produced as OBJ-006. [14] [15]
AKM [16]		Assault rifle	Soviet Union
SIG SG 540 [2]		Battle rifle	Switzerland
NR1		Battle rifle	Belgium   Nigeria	Local variant designated NR1. [17] [18] [19]
Beretta BM 59		Battle rifle	Italy   Nigeria	Produced locally under licence by DICON.
Machine guns
M2 Browning [2]		Heavy machine gun	United States
DShK		Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union
FN MAG		General-purpose machine gun	Belgium
RPK		Light machine gun	Soviet Union
Sniper rifles
Alex .338 [20]		Sniper rifle	Poland
Grenade launchers
Norinco LG3 AGL		Automatic grenade launcher	China

Missiles and recoilless rifles

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	Notes
Anti-tank missiles
Swingfire [21]		Anti-tank missile	United Kingdom	100 in stock. [22]
Recoilless rifles
M40 [23]		Recoilless rifle	United States
Carl Gustav		Anti-tank weapon	Sweden	[2]
Rocket-propelled grenades
RPG-7		Anti-tank weapon	Soviet Union

Armoured fighting vehicles

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Quantity	Details
Tanks
VT-4		China	VT-4	~17+	[24] [25]
T-72		Soviet Union	T-72AV T-72M1	~10 ~31	[26] [27] [26] [27]
T-54		Soviet Union	T-55	~100	[26] [28]
Vickers		United Kingdom	Vickers Mk3	~172	[26] [28]

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
Reconnaissance vehicles
FV101 Scorpion		Reconnaissance vehicle	United Kingdom	157 [23]
FV107 Scimitar		Reconnaissance vehicle	United Kingdom	5 [23]	More units purchased from Jordan
ERC-90		Armoured car	France	80 [29]	40 with Lynx turret.
EE-9 Cascavel		Armoured car	Brazil	70 [23]	Delivered in 1994. [22]
Panhard AML		Armoured car	France	130 [23]	AML-60 and AML-90 variants.
Panhard VBL		Scout car	France	72 [22]
Ferret		Scout car	United Kingdom	25 [29]	40 delivered. [22] Retired
Infantry fighting vehicles
BMP-1		Infantry fighting vehicle	Soviet Union	22 [30]	BVP-1 variant.
BMP-2		Infantry fighting vehicle	Russia	40	[31] [32]
Armoured personnel carriers
Type 89 AFV		Armoured personnel carrier	China	60 [33]
Saurer 4K 4FA		Armoured personnel carrier	Austria	250 [23]	. [29]
MT-LB		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union	67 [22]	Sourced from Poland.
Mowag Piranha I 6x6		Armoured personnel carrier	Switzerland	110 [23]
BTR-3		Armoured personnel carrier	Ukraine	47 [22]	BTR-3U "Guardian" variant.
BTR-70		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union	18 [34]
BTR-60		Armoured personnel carrier	Soviet Union	6 [35]
Saxon		Armoured personnel carrier	United Kingdom	75 [22]	Serviceability doubtful. [23]
Panhard M3		Armoured personnel carrier	France	18 [23]
Ezugwu MRAP		Armoured personnel carrier	Nigeria	30+ [36]	Total of more 52 ordered
Isotrex Phantom 2		Armoured personnel carrier	Canada	[37]	At least 3 destroyed by ISWAP. [38] [39]
Infantry mobility vehicles
CS/VP3 MRAP		MRAP	China	140	40 delivered in 2018, a further 100 was delivered in 2021. [40]
Dongfeng Mengshi Csk131		MRAP	China	100	[41]
Proforce Ara/Thunder		MRAP	Nigeria	40+	[42]
Otokar Cobra		Multipurpose armoured vehicle	Turkey	204 [23]
Casspir		MRAP	South Africa	5 [23]	Casspir III variant.
Reva		MRAP	South Africa	40 [43]	Mk III. [44]
Plasan Sand Cat		Composite armored vehicle	Israel		More units ordered
Light armored vehicles
Nurol Yörük NMS		Light armored vehicle	Turkey		13 on order [45]
Spartan MK.III		Light armored vehicle	Canada		[46] More units ordered
INKAS LAPV		Light armored patrol vehicle	Canada		[46]
KLTV		Light tactical vehicle	South Korea		[42]
Shorland		Armoured car	United Kingdom		Mk 3. [47]
Armoured ambulances
FV104 Samaritan		Tracked armoured ambulance	United Kingdom

Logistics

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
KrAZ-6322 [48]		Utility truck	Ukraine	Unknown	Some locally manufactured. [49]
Ashok Leyland		Troop Carrier	India	Unknown	Assembled in Nigeria. 700 newly inducted into service.

Engineering vehicles

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
BOZENA 5 [50]		Unmanned ground vehicle	Slovakia	N/A	Clearance of all conventional antipersonnel and antitank land mines and for IED removal assistance. [51]
Vickers AVLB [52]		Armored bridge-layer	United Kingdom	26
Vickers ARV [52]		Armored recovery vehicle	United Kingdom	12

Utility vehicle

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
Pinzgauer [53]		High-mobility all-terrain vehicle	Austria	N/A
Land Rover		Utility vehicle	United Kingdom   Nigeria	N/A	Some of local manufacture. [47]
Haflinger		Utility vehicle	Austria	400 [53]
Toyota Hilux [54]		Light truck	Japan	N/A
Toyota Land Cruiser		Light truck	Japan	N/A	Used as utility vehicles and technicals [55] Some were converted to armored cars. [56]
Tarpan Honker [57] [58]		Multipurpose pickup truck	Poland	25
IVM G-12 [59]		Special purpose vehicles [60]	Nigeria	N/A
IVM G-80 [61]		Light truck [62]	Nigeria	40

Artillery

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In Service
Self-propelled artillery
SH-5		Self-propelled howitzer	China	5	105mm caliber [63]
SH-2				2	122mm caliber
Palmaria		Self-propelled howitzer	Italy	25 [64]
APR–40		Multiple rocket launcher	Romania	25 [23]
BM-21 Grad		Multiple rocket launcher	Soviet Union	5 [65]
RM-70		Multiple rocket launcher	Czechoslovakia	7 [66]
Mortars
L16		81mm mortar	United Kingdom	200 [29]
Anti-tank guns
ST-1		Tank Destroyer	China	N/A	Delivered in April 2020. [63]
ZiS-3 [29]		Anti-tank gun	Soviet Union	N/A
Howitzers
D-30		Howitzer	Soviet Union	90 [22]
D-74		Howitzer	Soviet Union	90 [22]
M46		Howitzer	Soviet Union	7 [23]
D-20		Howitzer	Soviet Union	4 [23]	Delivered in 1992. [22]
Haubits FH77		Howitzer	Sweden	24 [29]	Reportedly all guns are in storage.
OTO Melara Mod 56		Howitzer	Italy	124 [23]	200 delivered. [22]

Air defence

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons
ZSU-23-4		Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	30 [23]
Towed anti-aircraft guns
Bofors L/60		Towed anti-aircraft gun	Sweden	12 [23]
ZPU [29]		Towed anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	N/A
ZU-23-2		Towed anti-aircraft gun	Soviet Union	350 [23]
Surface-to-air missiles
Blowpipe		Surface-to-air missile	United Kingdom	48 [29]
Roland		Surface-to-air missile	France	16 [29]	Mounted on AMX-30 chassis.
9K32 Strela-2		Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	100 [23]

Aircraft

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	Notes
Helicopters
MD500 Defender		Light Attack helicopter	United States	Status: On order 12 units on order [67]
Bell UH-1 Iroquois		Utility	United States	2 units in service
HAL Prachand		Attack helicopter	India	Status: Planned 4 to be ordered. [68] [69]
Bayraktar TB2		Unmanned Aerial Vehicle	Turkey	3 units in service

References

1. Diez, Octavio (2000). Armament and Technology: Handguns. Lema Publications, S.L. ISBN   84-8463-013-7.
2. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN   978-0-7106-2869-5.
3. Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria Archived 27 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 1 May 2013.
4. Gander, Jerry (2002). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003. Jane's Information Group. pp. 214, 899–906. ISBN   0-7106-2434-4.
5. McNab, Chris (2002). 20th Century Military Uniforms (2nd ed.). Kent: Grange Books. ISBN   1-84013-476-3.
6. "NEC okays subsidy removal from Jan". Archived from the original on 7 January 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
7. "IWI X95s, TAR-21s in Nigeria". Silah Report. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2022.
8. "Photos Reveal that Israel's CAA Sold AK Rifles to Nigerian Special Forces". Israel Defense. 11 April 2019. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
9. "Adamawa State 86RRI Nigerian Army Shortlisted Candidates – Download Adamawa state 86rri shortlisted candidates pdf". Mwachangu. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
10. "Tysiąc Beryli dla Nigerii - Altair Agencja Lotnicza". Altair.com.pl. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
11. "Altair Agencja Lotnicza". Altair.com.pl.
12. Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide, Ewen Southby-Tailyour (2005) p. 446
13. 軍보급 앞서 외국에 먼저 수출돼 ‘명성’ [It gained fame by being exported to foreign countries before being supplied to the military] (in Korean). Archived from the original on 14 March 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
14. "Nigeria to mass-produce Nigerian version of AK-47 rifles." Retrieved on 5 October 2008.
15. "DICON – Defence Industry Corp. of Nigeria" Archived 27 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved on 23 June 2012.
16. Rottman, Gordon (2011). The AK-47 Kalashnikov series assault rifles. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. ISBN   978-1-84908-461-1.
17. "Licensed and unlicensed production of FN Herstal products, to August 2006" (PDF). Small Arms Survey. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 July 2010. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
18. "Nigeria - Arms Procurement and Defense Industries". June 1991. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
19. "DOSSIER - The Question of Arms in Africa". Agenzia Fides. Archived from the original on 18 March 2009. Retrieved 10 April 2010.
20. "OBR Bor". militaryfactory.com. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
21. "Nigeria Armée nigériane forces terrestres équipments véhicules blindés militaires information descr - Army Recognition". Armyrecognition.com. 14 July 2012. Retrieved 17 August 2012.
22. "Trade Registers". Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
23. Guy Martin. "Nigerian Armed Forces". Defenceweb.co.za. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
24. "Nigerian anti-terrorism operation marks combat debut of Chinese VT4 tank". defence-blog.com. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
25. "Nigerian Army receives Chinese weapon systems". Janes. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
26. "Nigeria Negotiates Acquisition of Russian T-90 Tanks Amid Rising Security Concerns in Sahel Region | Defense News August 2023 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2023 | Archive News year". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 27 August 2023.
27. "Nigeria receiving T-72s and other weapons from Czech Republic". defenceWeb. 2 February 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
28. "Nigerian Armed Forces". defenceWeb. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
29. Metz, Helen Chapin (ed.). Nigeria: A Country Study. pp. 336–349.
30. "The Military Balance 2024". IISS. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
31. Defense News Nigeria [@DefenseNigeria] (22 March 2021). "In 2018 the Nigerian army received 40 Bigfoot Mraps from China. This was the second batch. Which means the army is expecting more. https://t.co/KJPFNiG5NJ" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022– via Twitter.
32. "The Military Balance 2024". IISS. Retrieved 19 April 2024.
33. Martin, Guy (28 October 2021). "Nigeria confirmed to be operating Type 89 IFVs". defenceWeb. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
34. "BTR-70 Report between 1992 and 2012". Deagel.com. Archived from the original on 27 April 2014. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
35. "The Russian BTR-60PB 8×8 Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier - TankNutDave". TankNutDave. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
36. "Nigerian Army orders another 52 Ezugwu armoured vehicles". defenceWeb. 18 January 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2022.
37. "Nigerian Army Unveils Isotrex Phantom 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers". 17 January 2021.
38. Rolbiecki, Tomasz [@TomaszRolbiecki] (19 January 2021). "Amaq just released a photo of an Isotrex Phantom 2 captured (and later destroyed) by ISWAP in Gorigi yesterday. Those APCs were just delivered to the Nigerian Army. https://t.co/oOeNwcH2ac It's at least a 2nd Phantom 2 destroyed in Alagarno (the first one in Kafa, see 2nd photo). https://t.co/osD3izJ8nf" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021– via Twitter.
39. War Noir ☃️ [@war_noir] (20 January 2021). "#Nigeria: #ISWAP captured/destroyed 3 Isotrex Phantom 2 APCs of Nigerian Army along with ammos (mostly 7.62x54mm API rounds)/ammo box for PK/M pattern GPMGs and at least two mags for 7.62x39mm AK platform in #Borno (between the towns #Gorji and #Kava). https://t.co/uwlKCiZQJk" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 20 January 2021. Retrieved 22 January 2021– via Twitter.
40. Martin, Guy (11 November 2021). "CS/VP3 and Mengshi APCs delivered to Nigeria". defenceWeb. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
41. Lionel, Ekene (13 March 2021). "Nigerian Army orders more CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAP". Military Africa. Retrieved 23 March 2021.
42. Defense News Nigeria [@DefenseNigeria] (22 March 2021). "The Nigerian army took delivery of an undisclosed number of Kia Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV) from South Korea. https://t.co/9Y0SN7ut9R" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 22 March 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022– via Twitter.
43. Martin, Guy. "New vehicles join Reva lineup - defenceWeb". Defenceweb.co.za.
44. "Recent Nigerian military acquisitions". Revaarmoredvehicles.com. Archived from the original on 23 April 2015. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
45. "Nijerya Yol Güvenliği Programına Türk Akını". defenceturkey.com. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
46. "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org.
47. Celestine Bassey & Charles Dokubo (2011). Defence Policy of Nigeria: Capability and Context (2011 ed.). AuthorHouse Publishing. pp. 144–146. ISBN   978-1-4567-3156-4.
48. Ukrainian Defense Review. "KRAZ Trucks on Military Service". Issuu.com. Retrieved 4 May 2015.
49. "Ukraine's AutoKrAZ partners with Nigeria's Proforce". 13 January 2020.
50. "Nigerian army acquires more sophisticated equipment to fight Boko Haram (photos)". Naij.com. 10 December 2016.
51. "BOZENA 5 - medium demining system - Božena". Bozena.eu. Archived from the original on 13 April 2016. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
52. Jane's Armour and Artillery 2003–2004.
53. Constantin Kiesling. "Steyr Puch Haflinger TDC - Nigeria". Tdc.haflinger-4wd.com. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
54. "The Official Website of the Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria » Fayemi donates 2 Hilux pick-up to the Army". The Official Website of the Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Archived from the original on 15 February 2015. Retrieved 15 February 2015.
55. Biondo, Harold (24 April 2021). "Type 1 Technical (Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series)". Tank Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
56. "Nigeria turns Toyota Land Cruisers into armored personnel carriers | Defense News August 2021 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2021 | Archive News year". armyrecognition.com. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
57. Remigiusz Wilk [@RemigiuszWilk] (8 September 2016). "25 Honkerów w SZ Nigerii: 3 testowe, 10 Scorpion 4x4 NAF i 12 20-os. transportowe 6x4 (176 KM i 2x55 l zbiornik). Zadowoleni, chcą więcej" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
58. Remigiusz Wilk [@RemigiuszWilk] (10 September 2016). "Kończąc temat eksportowych Honkerów - dostarczone Skorpiony w użyciu przez jednostki ochrony lotniska @NigAirForce" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
59. Martin, Guy. "Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehicles - defenceWeb". Defenceweb.co.za.
60. "Photos: Innoson Delivers 1st Made in Nigeria Vehicles to Military – WELCOME TO NAIJANEWSUPDATE.COM". Archived from the original on 8 July 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2016.
61. "While EFCC prosecutes Innoson, Nigerian Army patronises its 'quality' vehicles, others". premiumtimes.ng.com. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
62. "Nigeria manufacturing light patrol vehicle". 5 February 2019. Retrieved 5 October 2022.
63. "Nigerian military receives tanks, artillery from China". 9 April 2020.
64. "Palmaria 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer". Military-Today.com. Retrieved 16 April 2022.
65. "Nigerian Armed Forces". defenceWeb. 7 October 2013. Retrieved 12 May 2022.
66. IISS 2019, pp. 483
67. "Nigeria selects Cayuse Warrior Plus light attack helo". Janes. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
68. "Nigeria poised for historic helicopter purchase: What HAL's LCH could mean for military power!". Financialexpress. 17 September 2024. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
69. "One More Arms Market Lost by russia: Nigeria Becomes the First Country to Buy Indian Helicopters". Defense Express. Retrieved 22 September 2024.