List of equipment of the Albanian Armed Forces

Albanian Armed Forces
Components
General Staff Land Force - Air Force - Naval Force Training and Doctrine Command Support Command
Support Units
Military Police - Coast Guard Regional Support Battalion Recruitment Personnel Center United Operational Center Information Liaison Agency
Personnel
Military ranks
Equipment
Current equipment Former equipment

Modern equipment of the Albanian Army is a list of the equipment currently in use with the Albanian Armed Forces. It includes small arms, combat vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, artillery and transport vehicles. Its main mission is the defense of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania, participation in humanitarian, combat, non-combat and peace support operations.^[1][2] After the integration of the Albania in North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) was start implementing a defence modernisation programme which consist on the demolition of the surplus armament inherited from the communist regime and its replacement with modern weapons of NATO standards.^[3]

Modernisation programme

The process of modernization of the AAF is based on the shortiterm, middle-term and long-term objectives and priorities of their restructuring and development aiming at achieving the increase of the operational capacities. The modernization programme started before the country's North Atlantic Treaty Organization membership (on 1 April 2009) with the purchase of armaments produced by the NATO countries. It also started a programme for the disposal and alienation of surplus ammunition inherited from the communist regime for 50 years.

Naval Force
In 2007, was signed a contracts with the Damen Group for the or completing of the Albanian Naval Forces with Patrol vessels to be used to perform a number of tasks and duties, including coastal patrols, search and rescue, control and monitoring of maritime traffic, marine environment protection. The contract envisaged the construction of 4 vessels of the Damen Stan 4207 class, which the first of them would be built in Netherlands and 3 others in the Pasha Liman naval base in Albania. The first patrol vessel, named Iliria P-132, was built and delivered to the Albanian Coast Guard in August 2008. Enabling thus the following construction of 3 other patrol vessels in Pasha Liman Base by Albanian carpenters assisted by the experts of Damen Group. The second patrol vessel Oriku P-133 will be commissioned on September 2011, the third ship, Lisus P-133, will be operational in 2012 and fourth Butrint P-134 in 2013.^[4][5][6]

Personal equipment

Weapon	Caliber / Type	Origin	Silhouette	Notes
Pistols
Beretta Px4	9×19mm	Italy		Standard service handgun of Albanian Land Force. Since 2013 has started the replacement of TT-33, PM eventually, the M9.[7]
H&K USP P8 H&K USP P12	9×19mm .45 ACP	Germany		Used by BFS, and elsewhere in limited quantities to serve alongside the Beretta Px4.
Glock 19	9×19mm	Austria		Used by BFS, and elsewhere in limited quantities to serve alongside the Beretta Px4.
Beretta 92 Yavuz 16	9×19mm	Italy  Turkey		In service since the late 90s as service handgun alongside with TT-33 and PM. Used mostly by General Staff and special forces until the introductions of Px4, Glock 19 and H&K USPs'.
Submachine Guns
H&K MP5 MKEK MP5	9×19mm	Germany  Turkey		Entirely replaced the PPS-43 and P-84 SMG (domestic version). Used mostly by BFS, Albanian Commandos and the Military Police. The weapon comes in multiple variants, from the standard MP5, MP5PDW and the suppressed MP5SD, to the more easily concealable MP5K, which are stockless and have vertical foregrips.[8] Some of the MP5s were produced in Turkey under license from MKEK and were donated to AAF in December 2013.[9]
Assault Rifles, Battle Rifles and Carbines
AK-47 Type 56 ASH-78	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union  China  Albania		Standard issue assault rifle, in service since the late 1950s. There are 3 variants, including domestic manufactured version, which are in use by the Albanian Land Forces. Since 2013 being phased out in favour of the Beretta AR70/90 and Colt M4A1.
ASh-82	5.45×39mm	Albania		Copy of AKMS, locally manufactured under license since 1982 by UM Gramsh. There have also been modifications and modernization of heavily modified ASH-82 with SOPMOD accessories, mainly used by BFS, Commandos and Police Special Forces, such as RENEA and Republican Guard special unit and so on.
Beretta ARX160	5.56×45mm	Italy		Since 2010, initially the Beretta ARX160 version has been used by BFS in their missions in Iraq and Afghanistan, serving as well as evaluation purpose. Currently the weapon is in use by Special Forces, Military Police and Engineer Battalion.[8]
Beretta AR70/90	5.56×45mm	Italy		AR70/90 intended be the standard weapon of the Albanian Armed Forces. By the end of 2016, the Italian government confirmed that it would donate approximately 5,000 units which will serve to replace the AK-47 as the standard service rifle. The weapon was introduced in 2018.[10][11]
Colt M4A1	5.56×45mm	United States		Delivered in 2015, with the intention that with the AR70/90, it will replace the AK-47 within the next 5 years. Common accessories included the AN/PEQ-2, ACOG or EOTech optic and holographic sights, also the grenade launcher M203 can be mounted. Used as service rifle by 2nd Infantry Battalion (B2K), whereas the BFS, until now has only used it in training.[7][8]
H&K HK417	7.62×51mm	Germany		The primary designated marksman rifle. It is equipped with an S&B PMII Ultra Short optical sight for long-range engagements. Limited quantity, used by BFS.[8]
Sniper Rifles
Dragunov SVD	7.62×54mmR	Soviet Union		Standard issue sniper rifle, part of the Albanian Armed Forces arsenal since before the collapse of the communist regime. Since 2015 being phased out in favour of the Sako TRG-22 and Sako TRG-42.[7][8]
Sako TRG-22 Sako TRG-42	7.62×51mm .300WM	Finland		Both versions were adopted in 2015 and used as standard snipers of Albanian Armed Forces, to be the replacement of old Dragunov SVDs. The replacement started from the B2K, with the intention within the next 5-years entirely replace on all branches.[7][8]
Barrett M82	.50 BMG	United States		The M82 recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle. Very limited quantity, mostly used by BFS as Long-Range Precision Anti Structure rifle.
Machine Guns
H&K MG4	5.56×45mm	Germany		The MG4 is the standard light support weapon. It features a longer barrel, a bipod and a shoulder strap for greater range and accuracy. Adopted in 2013 with the intention of replacing the RPK within 5 years. Currently used as standard LMG weapon by 2nd Infantry Battalion (B2K) and special forces (BFS and Commandos).[7][8]
H&K MG5	7.62×51mm	Germany		Was adopted in the Army in 2013 to serve as infantry support, deployment as a vehicle-mounted support weapon, and perhaps in the near future to be used as a helicopter door-gun. Currently used as standard GPMG weapon by 2nd Infantry Battalion (B2K) and special forces (BFS and Commandos).[7][8]
RPD	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union
RPK ASh-78 Tip-2	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union  Albania
Shotguns
Benelli M4 Super 90	12-gauge	Italy		Adopted since 2015 as standard shotgun, mostly used by Military Police and special forces. Is a Semi-automatic shotgun that has a capacity of twelve rounds and a maximum effective range of 140 m for solid shot and 40 m for buckshot.
Grenades and Grenade launchers
RGD-5		Soviet Union		Hand grenade used by Albanian Land Force since 1970. Being withdrawn from service.
M203	40×46mm	United States		Grenade launcher used on Colt M4A1.[7]
GLX160	40×46mm	Italy		Grenade launcher used on Beretta ARX160[8]
Mortars
Hirtenberger M6C-210	60 mm	Austria		It has been introduced in service since 2017. Currently used by the Combat Support Battalion
Miscellaneous
AN/PSV-18 (MNVD)		United States		[8]
AN/PSV-15 (NVB)		United States		[8]
MED-ENG EOD 9	Bomb suit	Canada

Vehicles

Model	Type	Origin	Image	No.	Note
Light utility vehicles
Land Rover Defender	Utility vehicle	United Kingdom  Turkey		~150	The Defender's militarized version is the main utility vehicle of Albanian Armed Forces. More than 50 Land Rover Defender, which are produced by Otokar under license, were donated in two tranches on December 2013 and June 2015 by Turkish government. There are included the Land Rover Defender 110 and Defender 130 to use as utility, ambulances, and rescue vehicles, which will be join to the other part that AAF had in inventory since 2000s.[12][9][13]
Mercedes-Benz G-Class	Utility vehicle	Germany		~100	No accurate info about the number, year of military activity, or the acquisition method for the G-Class. Since the late 90s, they are often used by the Albanian Armed Forces, alongside with the Defender, in training, convoys and missions, within the country and abroad. The G-Class number is estimated around 100 and is mostly used as a general utility and liaison vehicle.
Iveco VM 90 Torperdo	Utility vehicle	Italy		Unknown
Light armored vehicles and MRAPs
Iveco LMV	IMV	Italy		7	The LMV was considered as evaluation purpose as the standard armored vehicle for the Albanian Armed Forces. The first four were purchased in October 2015 for the Military Police.[14] In 2018, 3 new vehicles entered service, of which two were donations of the Italian Armed Forces.[15]
Iveco VM 90 Protetto	IMV	Italy		Unknown
HMMWV M1114	IMV	United States		77	In 25 November 2015, the Minister of Defence announced in the Committee on National Security that AAF would be supplied with about 250 armored vehicles (divided into 3 tranches) acquired from the Excess Defense Articles programme, part of the DSCA, in a short term period.[16] In March 2017 it was confirmed that the first tranche, which amounted to 77 HMMWV up-armored M1114 variant would be delivered within the same year. The HMMWV, most likely will be the standard AFV of the Albanian Land Force.[17][18]
International MaxxPro	MRAP	United States		3	The MaxxPro has been used by BFS since 2012 in their ISAF mission in Afghanistan. Probably they were acquired under leasing contract with US Army. On March 2017, 3 MaxxPro's Plus acquired from Excess Defense Articles (EDA), part of the DSCA, were delivered to Albania.[19] Mostly used by BFS and Commandos for training purposes in Zall-Herr Regiment, serving as well as evaluation purpose for future acquisitions.
Infantry fighting vehicles
BMP-1		Soviet Union  East Germany		17	Albanian Armed Forces obtained 17 ex East German BMP-1s in 1995[20]
Armored personnel carriers
M113	APC	United States
Trucks and Transport vehicles
Otokar Navigo	Liaison	Turkey		11
Ford Transit VI	Liaison	Germany  Turkey		10	[12][9]
Mercedes-Benz Actros	Liaison	Germany			[12][9]

Aircraft

Aircraft	Type	Origin	Image	No.	Note
Helicopters
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar	Utility helicopter	France		4	[21]
Eurocopter EC145	Utility helicopter	France		2
Agusta-Bell 205	Utility helicopter	Italy		3
Agusta-Bell 206	Utility helicopter	Italy		5
AgustaWestland AW109	Utility helicopter	Italy		1
MBB Bo 105E-4	Utility helicopter	Germany		8	8 German Army Bo 105P upgraded and overhauled for a 10 million euro contract and donated to Albania. The first batch was delivered in 2006.

Watercraft

Albanian Coast Guard

Class	Type	Origin	Ship	Image	Details
Coastal patrol vessels
Damen Stan 4207		Netherlands  Albania	Iliria P 131 Oriku P 132 Lisus P 133 Butrinti P 134		Displacement 200t
Sea Spectre Mk III		United States	R 215 R 216 R 118
Patrol Craft, Coastal		United States	R 117 R 217		45' PCC Class
Super Speranza		Italy	R ??? R 123 R 124 R 225 R 226
RB-M		United States	5 boats
Classe 2000		Italy	R 125 R 126 R 127 R 128 R 224 R 227 R 228

Albanian Navy

Class	Type	Origin	Ship	Image	Details
Submarine chasers
Kronshtadt		Soviet Union	P 207 P 208		Retired
Minesweepers
T43		Soviet Union	M 111 M ???		Retired
Anti-pollution vessels
Siman C 1297		Italy	Rodoni Y 31 Karaburuni Y 32

References

External links

• Ministry of Defense (MoD)
• Albanian Armed Forces (AAF)