Zambian Army | |
---|---|
Founded | 1963 |
Country | Zambia |
Type | Army |
Role | Ground warfare |
Size | 5,989,360 Active duty personnel |
Part of | Zambian Defence Force |
Headquarters | Lusaka |
Motto(s) | Defend and Serve with Pride |
Colours | Scarlet and Dartmouth Green |
Mascot(s) | Buffalo |
Commanders | |
Commander-in-chief | Hakainde Hichilema |
Minister of Defence | Ambrose Lufuma |
Commander | Lt Gen Geoffrey Zyeele |
Deputy Army Commander | Maj Gen Luswepo Sinyinza |
The Zambian Army is the land military branch of the Zambian Defence Force. Like all branches of the Zambian military, citizens of the nation are required to register at 16 years old, and citizens can join at 16 years old with parental consent or at 18 years old when they are classified as adults by Zambia. There is currently no conscription. (There was a Zambia National Defence Force conscription from 1975 to 1980.) Applicants must be Zambian citizens and must have a school Grade 12 certification. Applicants must also undergo a test for HIV on enlistment. Personnel can serve until age 55, when there is a mandatory retirement. Its first Commander Major General was Michael Grigg, appointed by Kenneth Kaunda. The first local Commander was Gen Kingsley Chinkuli. According to the 2014 CIA World Factbook: The current National Army Commander is Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele and his deputy is Major General Luswepo Sinyinzawho who were both appointed by President Hakainder Hichilema on 12 September 2024. [1]
The current Army organisation is as follows: [3] [4]
Three infantry brigades:
With the following units:
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
T-55 | Medium tank | Soviet Union | 25 [9] | INS | Deliveries in 1976 and 1981. | |
PT-76 | Amphibious Light tank | Soviet Union | 30 [9] | INS | ||
Type 59 | Main battle tank | China | 20 [10] | INS |
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BTR-60 | Armoured personnel carrier | Soviet Union | 13 [9] | INS | ||
BTR-70 | Armoured personnel carrier | Soviet Union | 20 [9] | INS | ||
BTR-80 | Armoured personnel carrier | Soviet Union | 20 [11] | INS | ||
BRDM-1 | Amphibious armored scout car | Soviet Union | 44 | INS | Acquired in 1980. [9] | |
BRDM-2 | Amphibious armored scout car | Soviet Union | 44 | INS | Acquired in 1981. [9] | |
GAZ Tigr | Infantry Mobility Vehicle | Russia | 35 [12] | INS | GAZ-233014 | |
WZ551 | Armoured personnel carrier | China | 20 | INS | 6X6 WZ551B variant. [9] | |
Ratel | Infantry fighting vehicle | South Africa | 14 [13] | INS | ||
Buffel | Infantry mobility vehicle | South Africa | 1 [9] | INS | Rhino variant. | |
Saymar Musketeer | Armored car | Israel | INS | [14] |
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Caliber | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Carl Gustav M4 [5] | Recoilless rifle | Sweden | 84mm | ||
M18 [5] | Recoilless rifle | United States | 57mm | ||
M20 [15] | Recoilless rifle | United States | 75mm | ||
9M14 Malyutka [16] | Anti-tank missile | Soviet Union | 75mm |
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Self-propelled artillery | ||||||
ATMOS 2000 | Self-propelled | Israel | 6 | INS | Mounted on a Czech 6×6 Tatra 10-tonne chassis. [7] | |
Elbit Spear MK2 | Self-propelled mortar | Israel | 6 | INS | Mounted on an Indian Tata Trucks LPTA 713TC 4×4 chassis. [7] | |
Rocket artillery | ||||||
BM-21 Grad | Multiple rocket launcher | Soviet Union | 50 [17] | INS | ||
Field artillery | ||||||
Type 59 | Towed field gun | Soviet Union China | 18 [9] | INS | ||
D-30 | Howitzer | Soviet Union | 24 [9] | INS | ||
Mod.56 | Howitzer | Italy | 18 [18] | INS |
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
KS-12 | Anti-aircraft gun | Soviet Union | 16 | INS | ||
61-K | Autocannon | Soviet Union | 40 [17] | INS | ||
Zastava M55 | Autocannon | Yugoslavia | 50 [17] | INS |
Name | Image | Type | Origin | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elbit Skylark | Miniature UAV | Israel | 2 [7] |
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