List of equipment of the Land Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The following is a list of equipment of the Land Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo from creation to present day.

Small arms edit

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Details
Pistols
Browning HP[1]     Belgium
  United States
Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum
Smith & Wesson Model 39[1]     United States Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum
Heckler & Koch P7     Germany Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum P7M13 model used.[1]
Rifles
AK-47[1]     Soviet Union Assault rifle 7.62×39mm
AKM[1]     Soviet Union Assault rifle 7.62×39mm
FN FNC[1]     Belgium Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO
M16A1     United States Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO The M16A1 HB machine gun variant is also used.[1]
SIG SG 540[1]     Switzerland Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO
CETME Model 58[1]     Spain Battle rifle 7.62×51mm NATO
FN FAL     Belgium Battle rifle 7.62×51mm NATO The Heavy Barrel machine gun variant is also used.[1]
IMI Galil[1]     Israel Battle rifle 7.62×51mm NATO
Machine guns
Bren L4[1]     United Kingdom Light machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO
FN MAG[1]     Belgium General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO
M60[1]     United States General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO
DShK[1]     Soviet Union Heavy machine gun 12.7×108mm
M2 Browning[1]     United States Heavy machine gun .50 BMG

Anti-tank weapons edit

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Details
Rocket launchers
RPG-7[1]     Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade 40 mm
Recoilless guns
M18[2]     United States Recoilless rifle 57 mm
SPG-9[2]     Soviet Union Recoilless rifle 73 mm
M20[2]     United States Recoilless rifle 75 mm
M40A1[2]     United States Recoilless rifle 106 mm
Anti-tank guns
Type 56     China Anti-tank gun 85 mm 10 in service as of 2024.[2]

Vehicles edit

Model Image Origin Type Quantity Details
Tanks
PT-76     Soviet Union Light tank 10[2]
Type 62     China Light tank 30[2]
T-55     Soviet Union Medium tank 32[2]
Type 59     China Main battle tank 12-17[2]
T-64BV1     Soviet Union
  Ukraine
Main battle tank 25[2]
T-72AV     Soviet Union Main battle tank 100[2]
Armored fighting vehicles
Panhard AML-60     France Armoured car Up to 17[2]
Panhard AML-90   Armoured car 14[2]
EE-9 Cascavel     Brazil Armoured car 19[2]
BMP-1     Soviet Union Infantry fighting vehicle 20[2]
BTR-50     Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier 3[2]
MT-LB   Armoured personnel carrier 6[2]
BTR-60PB   Armoured personnel carrier 30–70[2]
Mbombe 4     South Africa Armoured personnel carrier 20[2]
Panhard M3     France Armoured personnel carrier 58[2]
TH 390 Fahd     Egypt Armoured personnel carrier 7[2]
Calidus MCAV-20   United Arab Emirates Infantry mobility vehicle 30[2]
Logistics
Auverland/SAMO[3]     France Utility
M151[3]     United States Utility
ACMAT[3]     France Truck
M35     United States Medium truck M44 variant also used.[3]
M809[3]     United States Heavy truck

Artillery edit

Model Image Origin Caliber Quantity Details
Mortars
Brandt Mle 1935[1]     France 60 mm
PRB NR 475 A1[1]   Belgium 81 mm 100[2]
M-37M[1]     Soviet Union 82 mm 400[2]
M30[2]     United States 107 mm
MO-120-RT     France 12 mm 28[2] The MO-120-LT variant is also used.[1]
Towed
M-30     Soviet Union 122 mm 77[2]
D-30  
Type 60     China
Type 59   130 mm 42 The Type 59-I variant is also used.[2]
D-20     Soviet Union 152 mm 6 Reportedly used.[2]
Self-propelled
2S1 Gvozdika     Soviet Union 122 mm 6[2]
2S3 Akatsiya   152 mm 10[2]
Multiple rocket launchers
Type-63     China 107 mm 12[2]
BM-21 Grad     Soviet Union 122 mm 24[2]
RM-70[2]     Czechoslovakia
RM-51   128 mm 6[2]
Type 82   China 130 mm 3[2]
Katyusha     Soviet Union 132 mm 12[2]

Air defence edit

Model Image Origin Caliber Quantity Details
Man-portable air-defense systems
9K32 Strela-2[2]     Soviet Union 72 mm
Anti-aircraft guns
ZPU-4     Soviet Union 14.5×114mm 12[2]
M-1939   37 mm 52[2]

Bibliography edit

  • Foss, Christopher F.; Gander, Terry J., eds. (1999). Jane's Military Vehicles and Logistics, 1999-2000 (20th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-1912-9.
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). "Chapter Eight: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance. 124 (1). Taylor & Francis: 458–531. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298597. ISSN 0459-7222. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
  • Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland, eds. (2010). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010-2011 (36th ed.). Janes Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2908-1.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u Jones & Ness 2010, p. 906.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an IISS 2024, p. 486.
  3. ^ a b c d e Foss & Gander 1999, p. 728.