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 and 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 donations 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 US$1.2 billion-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 total 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 Standard-issue for military and police
Glock  Austria G17, G18 In Use with Special Forces.
Beretta 92  Italy Limited use.
P-64 CZAK  Poland In Reserve.

Assault rifles
Brand Origin Versions Photos Notes
M4 carbine[3][4]  United States SOPMOD Standard-issue rifle of all intervention regiments and special forces units.
M16 rifle[5][6]  United States A1, A4 Standard-issue rifle, in total 70000 A4 are being received all deliveries will be made by the year 2021 to replace the remaining A1 variant
Close Quarters Battle Receiver  United States Used by the Navy Commandos to replace the MP5. Lebanese Special Units operate the CQBR.
AKM  Soviet Union Replaced by the M16 and M4. Used by reserve.
AK-74  Soviet Union AKS-74,

AK-74U,

AK-74M

 Limited usage.
FAMAS[2]  France Limited usage,In use with some Special Forces Squads.
Heckler & Koch G3  Germany The G3 is only used for cadet training.
SIG SG 540[2]   Switzerland Most were transferred to Lebanese Internal Security Forces
Daewoo Precision Industries K2  South Korea K2 Limited usage.

Sniper rifles
Brand Origin Versions Photos
Barrett M82  United States
M24  United States
Steyr SSG 69  Austria

Machine guns
Brand Origin Versions Photos
M249  United States
MK-46  United States
M240  United States M240L PEO M240L MG Telescoping Stock Right Side
M60 machine gun  United States
M2 Browning  United States
Rheinmetall MG 3  Germany
FN MAG  Belgium
FN Minimi  Belgium

SMGs and Shotguns
Brand Origin Type Photos
Heckler & Koch MP5  Germany Submachine gun
FN P90[7]  Belgium Personal defense weapon
Franchi SPAS-12  Italy Combat shotgun
Mossberg 500  United States Riot / Combat shotgun

Rocket/Grenade launchers
Brand Origin Versions Photos
M203  United States
M72 LAW  United States
M141 Bunker Defeat Munition  United States
MK-153 SMAW[8]  United States
RPG-7  Soviet Union
AT4  Sweden

Vehicle mounted artillery
Artillery Type Origin Photo
M40 Recoilless rifle (113 units)  United States
MK 19 Grenade launcher  United States

Anti-tank missiles
Artillery Type Origin Photo
BGM-71 TOW Anti tank version tandem warhead TOW-2A, wireless TOW, and bunker buster version BGM-71H  United States
M712 Copperhead Laser-guided artillery shell  United States
MILAN MILAN 1
MILAN 2		  France
HOT[9] HOT II  France

Anti-aircraft Weapons/Vehicles
Artillery Type Origin Quantity Photo
9K32 Strela-2 Surface-to-air missile  Soviet Union
ZU-23-2 Anti-aircraft gun  Soviet Union
ZPU Anti-aircraft gun  Soviet Union
ZSU-23-4 Shilka Mobile Anti-Aircraft vehicle  Soviet Union 2

Helmets
Brand Origin Type Photos Notes
ECH  United States Combat helmet Standard issue helmet of the Lebanese army replaced the Personnel Armor System for Ground Troops in 2018
PASGT  United States Combat helmet Former Standard issue helmet for the Lebanese army replaced by the Enhanced Combat Helmet in 2018
MICH / ACH  United States Combat helmet Used by the Lebanese Special Operations Command and some other units
Ops-Core FAST Helmet  United States Combat helmet Main users are the Lebanese Special Operations Command and the intervention regiments also seen used by conventional brigades
Modèle 1978 helmet  France Combat helmet Limited use

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

Night vision equipment
Brand Origin Type Photos
AN/PVS-14  United States Night-vision device
AN/PVS-7  United States Night-vision device
AN/PEQ-2  United States IR laser and illumination

Unarmoured vehicles
Model Versions Origin In service Notes Pictures
Humvee M998/M1025/M1046/M1035  United States +1500
M54 5-ton 6x6 truck Cargo  United States
M151 MUTT A2  United States In limited use
CUCV M1008/M1009/M1010 Ambulance/M1028/M880/M882/M883/M885/M886 Ambulance  United States In limited use
M35 series 2½-ton 6×6 cargo truck Cargo/Transport  United States
DAF YA 4440/4442 Cargo transport  Netherlands
FMTV Humanitarian relief, troop and Cargo transport  United States 31 / 69 TBD.[10]
Polaris Ranger 500 4×4 All-terrain vehicle  United States
Land Rover Defender 90 Cargo/Transport  United Kingdom
Mercedes-Benz 250 GD "Wolf" Ambulance  Germany 20
Volkswagen Transporter (T5) Transport  Germany
KamAZ-4310 Cargo transport  Russia 100~
Iveco Trakker cargo transport  Italy seen during the military parade in Beirut 2017
Iveco Daily Homeland security  Italy used by internal security forces
Toyota Land Cruiser Transport  Japan
Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4×4i  Japan

Tanks
Model Versions Origin In service Pictures Note
M60 A3  United States 56 The first 10 tanks received in May 2009 were rejected for service by the Lebanese government. Delivery in 2009 4 M-60A3 TTC and 6 M-60A3 IFCS ref. Lebanese army magazine issue of December 2009 issue number 294.
M48 A5  United States 81 Delivery in 1984 of a total number of 106. Used by the 5th Infantry brigade and the 1st armored regiment which brings the total number to 81
T-54/55  Soviet Union 270 In 1988 Iraq delivered an unknown number of T-54/55, around 50 from militias after the civil war, 30 T-55 delivered from Libya after the civil war, 180 delivery in 1993 from Syria. Used by 10 Infantry brigades which brings the total to 270 tanks in use;some are retired.

Armored personnel carrier
Model Versions Origin In service Notes Photos
M1151  United States 259 +300 TBD
M113 A2, A3, M577  United States 1,275 Many armed with BGM-71 TOW, ZPU and ZU-23-2;some are captured from Israeli army in 2006 Lebanon War and 1982 Lebanon War
VAB VTT  France 100 Used also by the military police
Iveco LMV LBTP  Italy 45 Lebanon bought 25 Iveco LMV in 2014 and 20 Iveco LBTP in 2015
VBTP MR  Italy/ Brazil 10 10 units (initial order) Unveiled to the public in 2017.
MPV  Italy 5 5 vehicles delivered from Italy (4x4 chassis variant from Iveco DV)
TM-170  Germany 10

Armored fighting vehicle
Model Versions Origin In service Notes Photos
Bradley Fighting Vehicle M2A2 ODS  United States 32
AIFV-B-C25  United States 16 16 ex-Belgian AIFV-B-C25 vehicles.
VAB Mephisto ATGM  France 35[9] Equipped with HOT II missiles
Panhard AML  France 45

Artillery
Artillery Versions Origin In service Photos
M109A3 155 mm  United States 84
M198 155 mm  United States 219
M114-A1 155 mm  United States 20
M101A1 105 mm  United States 15
M102 105 mm  United States 10
D-30 122 mm  Soviet Union 42
M-1938 122 mm  Soviet Union 33
M-46 gun 130 mm  Soviet Union 25
2A36 Giatsint-B 152 mm  Soviet Union 10+
BM-21 Grad 122 mm  Soviet Union 30

Other vehicle
Artillery Versions Origin In service Photos
M88A2 Recovery Vehicle A2  United States 2
M88A1 Recovery Vehicle A1  United States 35
M578 Light Recovery Vehicle  United States 31
Caterpillar D9 D9N  United States 2
M992 Field Artillery Ammunition Support Vehicle A2  United States 10/28 TBD
Oshkosh M1070  United States 8

Logistics and engineering equipment

Military simulation
  • Janus,[13][14][15] Engagement Skills Trainer 2000,[16]
  • TOW anti-tank simulators,
  • Milan anti-tank simulators
  • Huey Helicopter flight simulator

Recent supplies
  • Lebanese Army received 3 Huey 2 helicopters from the US on February-2021[17]
  • 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 on February 8, 2015, along with M1044 (Up-Armored HMMWV) vehicles donated by the US, as part of the aid for fighting terrorism.[18]
  • Lebanon received 120 Land Rover Defender 90 from the United Kingdom on December 10, 2013.[19]
  • 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[20]
  • During August 2013 France has enhanced the operational capacities of the Lebanese army by providing military equipment. The gift, includes bulletproof vests, optical equipment and HOT missiles for Gazelle Helicopter[21]
  • 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.[22] 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.[23]
  • 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.[24]
  • On March 20, 2009, the LAF purchased 6 Kawasaki Brute Force 750 4×4i.[25]
  • On December 28, 2008 the USA delivered 72 HMMWVs were recently delivered, Twelve of these vehicles are ambulances.[26]
  • During 2008, the US supplied Lebanon with 200 M35A3 and 41 M198 Howitzers.[27]
  • As of March 2008, The Netherlands has donated 100 DAF trucks to the Lebanese Army.[28]

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 April 9, 2009.
  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. Christopher J. Castelli (September 2008). "Department of Defense to equip Lebanon's Special Forces with Small Arms, Vehicles" (PDF). DISAM Journal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-27. 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. Archived from the original on 2017-10-11. 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. "Mk.153 SMAW Anti-Tank Rocket Launcher | Military-Today.com". www.military-today.com. Archived from the original on 2 July 2020. Retrieved 26 July 2020.
  9. laf-digest.blogspot.com/2017/05/laf-receives-15-vab-hot-and-hundreds-of.html
  10. "Security assistance enterprise delivers to Lebanese troops". Archived from the original on 2021-03-10. Retrieved 2021-03-13.
  11. "كاسحة الألغامالجيش يتسلم كاسحة ألغام هبة من حكومة النروج". August 2005. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  12. "كاسحة الألغام "Armtrac" في تجربة تدليلية". April 2006. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  13. افتتاح المشبّه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). August 2006. Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  14. خبراء فرنسيون زاروا كلية فؤاد شهاب في مهمة حول المشبه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). August 2006. Archived from the original on 2009-01-20. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  15. المشبّه التكتي. Lebanese Army Magazine (in Arabic). October 2005. Archived from the original on 2019-12-13. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  16. "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.
  17. "Lebanon: Army receives US-donated helicopters worth $32 million | the National". 14 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
  18. "The Handover ceremony of equipment presented as a donation from the US authorities to the Lebanese Army". Archived from the original on 2015-02-10. Retrieved 2015-02-10.
  19. "الجيش اللبناني يتسلّم مساعدات عسكرية بريطانية". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-12-15.
  20. "More New Comers to the LAF". milinme.wordpress. August 17, 2013. Archived from the original on November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  21. "La France donne des équipements à l'armée libanaise - cérémonie à la base aérienne de Beyrouth". Ambassade de France à Beyrouth. August 13, 2013. Archived from the original on January 5, 2014. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  22. "تسلّم مدافع وأعتدة وذخائر مختلفة". Lebanese Army News. Lebanese Army. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 29 November 2010.
  23. "De Crem confirms the delivery of ex-Belgian AIFVs and M-113 Ambulances" (in Dutch and English). Belgian House of Representatives. January 6, 2010. Archived from the original on July 13, 2011. Retrieved January 31, 2010.
  24. "U.S. Government Provides Tactical Vehicles to the Lebanese Armed Forces". Press releases 2009. Embassy of the United States - Lebanon. March 25, 2009. Archived from the original on August 23, 2009. Retrieved 2009-03-26.
  25. "Lebanese Army purchases Kawasaki ATVs from RYMCO". Rymco. March 20, 2009. Archived from the original on July 15, 2011. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
  26. "U.S. Government Provides Humvees to the Lebanese Armed Forces". Press Releases 2009. Embassy of the United States - Beirut, Lebanon. January 13, 2009. Archived from the original on January 20, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  27. Garamone, Jim (December 1, 2008). "U.S. Forces Help Lebanese Military Assert Control". American Forces Press Service - DefenseLink News. Archived from the original on 2009-11-30. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  28. حفل تسلّم آليات عسكرية تقدمة من دولة هولندا (in Arabic). Lebanese Armed Forces. May 2008. Archived from the original on 2014-08-26. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
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