List of equipment of the Lebanese Armed Forces

Lebanese Armed forces Equipment still contains significant amounts of old weaponry, but it has embarked on some major improvements recently. The M113, which is commonly found with every regiment and brigade, is considered to be the major element of the ground forces. A collection of Western and Soviet made arms and equipment exists ranging from rifles to tanks. However, the Lebanese army is still trying to rearm and modernize itself through new aids and purchases from different countries such as the United States, Belgium, Russia, and The Netherlands.

Rearming & Modernization

The LAF has been attempting to modernize and equip itself since 2005. Due to the budget limits, and instead of spawning an indigenous arms industry the LAF is relying on donation and friendly priced equipment.

The United States has been supplying the Lebanese Armed Forces with light to medium arms since 2005, in the form of a package of more than 1.2 billion USD-worth of equipment that is still being executed. Among these supplies are HMMWV, M-35/A3, Mk 19 grenade launcher, M141 Bunker Defeat Munition, TOW 2, HELLFIRE 2, AT4, and Barrett M107 .50 Cal. sniper. The US has promised to supply Lebanon with M2A2 ODS and M109A5. In addition, the US supplied Lebanon with 12 RQ-11 Raven small hand-launched UAVs, 12 M-109A3 and 183 additional M198 Howitzers from 2008 to 2016 making the totall to 219,[1] and promised to deliver all water patrol boats and more utility, and attack helicopters.

On April 20, 2015, the Lebanese army took delivery of 48 MBDA Milan short-range anti-tank missiles as part of the $3 billion package donated by Saudi Arabia.

On February 19, 2016, The army chief expressed in an interview to Al-Akhbar newspaper the status of the Military aid to Lebanon and said: There are contributions from many countries, but they remain symbolic. The US still the largest armament supplier. Later on the same day the Saudi Arabia press agency quoted on a Saudi official, that Saudi Arabia halted the $3 billion program for military supplies to Lebanon.

Equipment

Pistols

Brand Origin Versions Photos Notes
Browning Hi-Power[2]  Belgium
P-64 CZAK  Poland Limited use

Assault Rifles

Brand Origin Versions Photos Notes
M4 carbine[3][4]  United States SOPMOD In use by all intervention regiments and special forces units.
M16 rifle[5][6] A1, A2, A4 Standard-issue rifle of the Lebanese Army. All A1 variants are being replaced by newer A4 variants.
Close Quarters Battle Receiver Used by the Navy Commandos to replace the MP5.
AK-47  Soviet Union Replaced by the M16, most AK-47 rifles of the Lebanese Army are in storage and will only be used in case of emergency. Airport Security soldiers still use the AK47 and its variants.
FAMAS[2]  France
Heckler & Koch G3  Germany In very limited use by ground forces. The G3 is used for cadet training.
SIG SG 540[2]   Switzerland Most were transferred to Lebanese Internal Security Forces
FN FAL  Belgium Not in use anymore, it was the former standard-issue rifle of the Lebanese Army.

Sniper Rifles

Brand Origin Versions Photos
Barrett M82  United States
M24
Steyr SSG 69  Austria
QBU-88  China LR2

Machine Guns

Brand Origin Versions Photos
M249  United States
M240 M240L
M60 Machine Gun
M2 Browning
FN MAG  Belgium
FN MINIMI

Other Guns

Brand Origin Type Photos
Heckler & Koch MP5  Germany Submachine Gun
FN P90[7]  Belgium Personal Defense Weapon
AKS-74U  Soviet Union
Franchi SPAS-12  Italy Combat Shotgun

Rocket/Grenade Launchers

Brand Origin Versions Photos
M203  United States
M72 LAW
M141 Bunker Defeat Munition
RPG 7  Soviet Union
AT4  Sweden

Vehicle Mounted Artillery

Artillery Type Origin Photo
M40 Recoilless Rifle  United States
MK 19 Grenade Launcher

Anti-tank missile/Guided artillery shell

Artillery Type Origin Photo
BGM-71 TOW, TOW-2A,

Bunker buster version-BGM-71H

 United States
MILAN Milan 1 & 2 versions  France
HOT[8] HOT II version
M712 Copperhead Laser-guided Artillery shell  United States

Anti-aircraft weapons

Artillery Type Origin Photo
Strela-2 SAM  Soviet Union
ZU-23-2 Anti-Aircraft Gun  Soviet Union

Helmets

Brand Origin Type Photos Notes
Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops  United States combat helmet Standard issue helmets for the lebanese army
Modular Integrated Communications Helmet/Advanced Combat Helmet Used by the Lebanese Special Operations Command and some other unites
MICH 2001/Ops-Core FAST Helmet Used by the Lebanese Special Operations Command
Modèle 1978 helmet  France Limited use

Optics

Brand Origin Type Photos
EOTech  United States Holographic weapon sight
Aimpoint CompM4 Aimpoint
Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight Telescopic sight

Night vision equipment

Brand Origin Type Photos
AN/PVS-14  United States night vision device
AN/PVS-7
AN/PEQ-2 IR laser and illuminator
AN/PEQ-15
AR-2A IR laser

Unarmoured Vehicles

Model Versions Origin In Service Notes Picturess
Humvee M998/M1025/M1046/M1035  United States +1350
Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf" ambulance  Germany 20
M54 5-ton 6x6 truck cargo  United States
Land Rover Defender 90 cargo/transport  United Kingdom
M151 MUTT A2  United States in limited use
CUCV M1008/M1009/M1010 Ambulance/M1028/M880/M882/M883/M885/M886 Ambulance in limited use
AIL M325 Command Car cargo/transport  Israel in limited use
Toyota Land Cruiser transport  Japan
M35 series 2½-ton 6x6 cargo truck cargo/transport  United States
DAF YA 4440/4442
Kamaz 4310  Russia
Volkswagen Transporter (T5) transport  Germany
Polaris Ranger 500 4×4 ATV  United States
Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4×4i  Japan

Tanks

Model Versions Origin In Service Pictures
T-72 B1 Russia 33 TBD
T-72B1
M60 A3  United States/Jordan 10/66 TBD
M48 A5 86
T-54/55  Soviet Union ~ 180

Light Reconnaissance Vehicle

Model Versions Origin In Service Notes Photos
Panhard AML-90  France 45

Armored Personnel Carrier

Model Versions Origin In Service Notes Photos
M1151  United States 109
M113 A2, A3, M577 2000+ Many armed with BGM-71 TOW and ZU-23-2.
VAB VTT(infantry transport) version  France 100

Armored Fighting Vehicle

Model Versions Origin In Service Notes Photos
Bradley Fighting Vehicle M2A2 ODS  United States 32
AIFV-B-C25 16 16 ex-Belgian AIFV-B-C25 vehicles.
VAB Mephisto ATGM version  France 15[8] equipped with HOT II missiles
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"  Soviet Union 2 Seen in action with Lebanese Commandos

Howitzers

Artillery Versions Origin In Service Photos
M109-A3 155 mm  United States 12
M109-A5 74 'A5 variants TBD
M198 219
M114-A1 20
M101-A1 105 mm 15
M102 10
D-30 122 mm  Soviet Union 42
M-1938 33
M-46 gun 130 mm 25
2A36 Giatsint-B 152 mm over 10
BM-21 Grad 122 mm 30

Recovery Vehicle/Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle

Artillery Versions Origin In Service Photos
M88A1 Recovery Vehicle A1  United States 35
M578 Light Recovery Vehicle
M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle A2 10/28 TBD

Logistics and Engineering Equipment

Military Simulation

  • Janus,[11][12][13] Engagement Skills Trainer 2000,[14]
  • TOW anti-tank simulators,
  • Milan anti-tank simulators
  • Huey Helicopter flight simulator

Recent Supplies

  • Lebanese Army received VAB and Hot missiles and other equipments from France on May 30-2017
  • Lebanon received 12 M109 155mm self-propelled howitzer from Jordan in March 2015 and 400 Tow 2 by June 2015.
  • Lebanon received 72 M-198 Howitzers from the United States in February 8, 2015, along with M1044 (Up-Armored HMMWV) vehicles donated by the US, as part of the aid for fighting terrorism.[15]
  • Lebanon received 120 Land Rover Defender 90 from the United Kingdom on December 10, 2013.[16]
  • Lebanon received 71 HMMWVs,M1038 Cargo/Troop Carrier,M1026 Armament Carrier w/ Basic Armor,M1044 Armament Carrier w/ Supplemental Armor, vehicles donated by the US on August 17, 2013 [17]
  • During August 2013 France has enhanced the operational capacities of the Lebanese army by providing military equipments. The gift, includes bulletproof vests, optical equipment and HOT missiles for Gazelle Helicopter[18]
  • Lebanon received 31 M1151 (Up-Armored HMMWV) vehicles donated by the US on August 17, 2012
  • Lebanon received 24 M1151 (Up-Armored HMMWV) vehicles donated by the US on July 22, 2011
  • Lebanon received 106 vehicles donated by the UN in Lebanon on the Thirteenth of May 2011
  • Lebanon received 30 M-198 Howitzers in January, 2010.[19] This follows an earlier supply of 41 Howitzers in 2008, and 36 Howitzers operated by the LAF since the 80's.
  • Lebanon received 16 AIFVs and 12 M-113 Ambulances early December 2009, these were purchased from Belgium.[20]
  • On May 22, Lebanon officially announced the delivery of the first 10 M60/A3, one M88, and several other items during a ceremony at Beirut International Airport.
  • On March 23, 2009 the LAF took delivery of 40 HMMWVs, and 9 sport utility vehicles from the USA.[21]
  • On March 20, 2009, the LAF purchased 6 Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4×4i.[22]
  • On December 28, 2008 the USA delivered 72 HMMWVs were recently delivered, Twelve of these vehicles are ambulances.[23]
  • During 2008, the US supplied Lebanon with 200 M35A3 and 41 M198 Howitzers.[24]
  • As of March 2008, The Netherlands has donated 100 DAF trucks to the Lebanese Army.[25]

See also

References

  1. "Heavy U.S. Military Aid to Lebanon Arrives ahead of Elections". Naharnet Newsdesk. April 9, 2009. Archived from the original on November 30, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-09.
  2. 1 2 3 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. Christopher J. Castelli (September 2008). "Department of Defense to equip Lebanon's Special Forces with Small Arms, Vehicles" (PDF). DISAM Journal. Retrieved 2009-02-08.
  4. Daniel Watters. "The 5.56 X 45mm: 2008". The Gun Zone. Archived from the original on 2010-01-04. Retrieved 2009-01-27.
  5. "Report: Profiling the Small Arms Industry – World Policy Institute – Research Project". World Policy Institute. November 2000. Retrieved 2010-07-15.
  6. McNab, Chris (2002). 20th Century Military Uniforms (2nd ed.). Kent: Grange Books. ISBN 1-84013-476-3.
  7. Thomas Smith Jr., W. (October 10, 2007). "Black-Masked Commandos Training By The Sea". National Review. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved September 18, 2009.
  8. 1 2 Template:Laf-digest.blogspot.com/2017/05/laf-receives-15-vab-hot-and-hundreds-of.html
  9. "كاسحة الألغامالجيش يتسلم كاسحة ألغام هبة من حكومة النروج". August 2005.
  10. "كاسحة الألغام "Armtrac" في تجربة تدليلية". April 2006.
  11. افتتاح المشبّه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). August 2006.
  12. خبراء فرنسيون زاروا كلية فؤاد شهاب في مهمة حول المشبه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). August 2006.
  13. المشبّه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). October 2005.
  14. "Cubic to Provide Small-Arms Trainers to New International Customers". Newsroom. Cubic Corporation. October 1, 2009. Archived from the original on 2 February 2010. Retrieved 31 January 2010.
  15. http://www.lebarmy.gov.lb/en/news/?43244#.VNnJ0k10zIU
  16. http://sdarabia.com/preview_news.php?id=30764&cat=1
  17. "More New Comers to the LAF". milinme.wordpress. August 17, 2013.
  18. "La France donne des équipements à l'armée libanaise - cérémonie à la base aérienne de Beyrouth". Ambassade de France à Beyrouth. August 13, 2013.
  19. "تسلّم مدافع وأعتدة وذخائر مختلفة". Lebanese Army News. Lebanese Army. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  20. "De Crem confirms the delivery of ex-Belgian AIFVs and M-113 Ambulances" (in Dutch and English). Belgian House of Representatives. January 6, 2010.
  21. "U.S. Government Provides Tactical Vehicles to the Lebanese Armed Forces". Press releases 2009. Embassy of the United States - Lebanon. March 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  22. "Lebanese Army purchases Kawasaki ATVs from RYMCO". Rymco. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved 2009-04-04.
  23. "U.S. Government Provides Humvees to the Lebanese Armed Forces". Press Releases 2009. Embassy of the United States - Beirut, Lebanon. January 13, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  24. Garamone, Jim (December 1, 2008). "U.S. Forces Help Lebanese Military Assert Control". American Forces Press Service - DefenseLink News. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  25. حفل تسلّم آليات عسكرية تقدمة من دولة هولندا (in Arabic). Lebanese Armed Forces. May 2008.
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