Wikipedia

List of former equipment of the Iraqi Ground Forces

The following is a list of former equipment used by the Iraqi Ground Forces. For a list of current equipment, please see List of current equipment of the Iraqi Ground Forces.

For a list of Former Iraqi Air Force equipment, please see Former Iraqi Air Force equipment.

Pre-1958 equipment

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Small arms

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Handguns

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Country of Name Country of Origin
Webley Revolver United Kingdom

Submachine guns

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Country of Name Country of Origin
M1A1 Thompson[1]  United States
Sterling L2A3  United Kingdom

Rifles

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Name Country of origin
Lee–Enfield[1]  United Kingdom

Light machine guns

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Anti-tank rifles

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Name Country of origin
Boys anti-tank rifle  United Kingdom

Rocket launchers

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Country of Name Country of Origin
M20 Super Bazooka[1]  United States

Tanks and tankettes

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SPG

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Аrmored cars

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Cars

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Trucks

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Tractors

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Engineering vehicles

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Howitzers

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AA guns

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Name Country of origin
Bofors 40 mm gun United Kingdom

Mortars

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Name Country of Origin
Ordnance ML 3-inch mortar United Kingdom

1958–2003 equipment

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Small arms

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Handguns

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Submachine guns

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Name Country of Origin Caliber Notes
M84  Yugoslavia .32 ACP Yugoslav copy of the Škorpion vz. 61 built under license.[7]

Assault rifles

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Rifles

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Machine guns

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Name Country of origin Type Caliber Notes
RPD[3]  Soviet Union Light machine gun 7.62×39mm
RPK[12]  Soviet Union Light machine gun 7.62×39mm
Zastava M72[13]  Yugoslavia Light machine gun 7.62×39mm
Al-Quds[12] Iraq Light machine gun 7.62×39mm Locally produced copy of the Zastava M72.[13]
SG-43 Goryunov  Soviet Union Medium machine gun 7.62×54mmR SGM variant used.[6]
PK machine gun[8][page needed][14]  Soviet Union General-purpose machine gun 7.62×54mmR
FN MAG[6][8][page needed]  Belgium General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO
AA-52[8][page needed]  France General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO
DShK[6]  Soviet Union Heavy machine gun 12.7×108mm DShK 1938 and 38/46 models used.[15]
KPV[3]  Soviet Union Heavy machine gun 14.5×114mm

Sniper rifles

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Name Country of Origin Caliber Notes
Dragunov SVD[6]  Soviet Union 7.62×54mmR
Al-Kadisa[16] Iraq 7.62×54mmR Locally produced copy of the SVD.[6]
Tabuk[17] Iraq 7.62×39mm Licensed copy of the Zastava M70B1.[13]

Hand grenades

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Name Country of Origin Type Notes
RG-42[18]  Soviet Union Fragmentation grenade
F1[18]  Soviet Union Fragmentation grenade
RGD-5[18]  Soviet Union Fragmentation grenade
RGO-78[18] Bulgaria Fragmentation grenade Bulgarian copy of the RGD-5.
RKG-3[18]  Soviet Union Anti-tank grenade
No. 2 Grenade[18]  Egypt Offensive grenade Egyptian copy of the Czechoslovak RG-4 grenade.

Rocket launchers

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Name Country of Origin Notes
RPG-7[3][19]  Soviet Union
Al-Nassira Iraq Locally produced copy of the RPG-7.[20][21]

Grenade launchers

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Name Country of origin
GP-25  Soviet Union
AGS-17  Soviet Union[6]

Recoilless guns

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Name Country of origin
SPG-9[19]  Soviet Union
M40A1[19]  United States

Anti-tank missiles

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Man-portable air-defense systems

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Mortars

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Name Country of origin Caliber Notes
M70 commando mortar[25]  Yugoslavia 60 mm
Al-Jaleel 60 mm Commando Mortar Iraq 60 mm Locally produced copy of the M70.[25]
Al-Jaleel 60 mm[26] Iraq 60 mm
M-37M[3]  Soviet Union 82 mm
Al-Jaleel 82 mm[27] Iraq 82 mm
120-PM-43 mortar[3]  Soviet Union 120 mm
Al-Jaleel 120mm[28] Iraq 120 mm
M1943[3]  Soviet Union 160 mm
M-240[22]  Soviet Union 240 mm

Towed artillery

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Name Country of origin Number Caliber Type Notes
M116 howitzer[29]  United States 75 mm Mountain gun
D-44[30]  Soviet Union 85 mm Field gun
Ordnance QF 25-pounder[31]  United Kingdom 88 mm Gun-howitzer
OTO Melara Mod 56[32]  Italy 105 mm Mountain gun
M-56 Howitzer[33]  Yugoslavia 105 mm Howitzer
D-74[32]  Soviet Union 122 mm Field gun
D-30[32]  Soviet Union 861[22] 122 mm Howitzer
M-30[32]  Soviet Union 30[22] 122 mm Field gun
M-46[32]  Soviet Union 772[22] 130 mm Field gun
Type 56-I[32]  China 130 mm Field gun Chinese copy of the M-46.
M1937[32]  Soviet Union 50[22] 152 mm Gun-howitzer
D-1[32]  Soviet Union 250[22] 152 mm Howitzer
2A36 Giatsint-B  Soviet Union 180[22] 152 mm Field gun
Type 83  China 50[22] 152 mm Howitzer
G5 South Africa 100[32] 155 mm Howitzer
GHN-45  Canada 200[32] 155 mm Howitzer Illegally transferred to Iraq via Jordan.[22]
M114[32]  United States 155 mm Howitzer Captured from Iran.[34]
Type 63  China 100[22] 107 mm Multiple rocket launcher

Anti-tank guns

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Name Country of origin Caliber Notes
D-48[35]  Soviet Union 85 mm
MT-12[35]  Soviet Union 100 mm 100 delivered by the Soviet Union.[22]
M1977[36] Romania 100 mm

Anti-aircraft artillery

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Name Country of origin Number Caliber Type Notes
ZPU  Soviet Union 14.5×114mm Towed anti-aircraft gun ZPU-1, ZPU-2, and ZPU-4 variants used.[24]
Zastava M55  Yugoslavia 20 mm Towed anti-aircraft gun M75 variant also used.[37]
ZU-23-2  Soviet Union 23 mm Towed anti-aircraft gun [24]
Oerlikon GDF  Switzerland 35 mm Towed anti-aircraft gun Captured from Kuwait, used with the Skyguard fire control system.[38]
61-K  Soviet Union
 China		 250[24] 37 mm Towed anti-aircraft gun Chinese Type 55 also used.[39]
AZP S-60  Soviet Union
 China		 500[24] 57 mm Towed anti-aircraft gun Chinese Type 59 also used.[39]
52-K  Soviet Union 200 85 mm Towed anti-aircraft gun Used with the Fire Can radar.[24]
KS-19  Soviet Union 200[24] 100 mm Towed anti-aircraft gun
KS-30  Soviet Union 200[24] 130 mm Towed anti-aircraft gun
ZSU-23-4  Soviet Union 200+[24] 23 mm Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
M53/59 Praga[37]  Czechoslovakia 30 mm Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
ZSU-57-2  Soviet Union 100+[24] 57 mm Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun

Tanks

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Name Country of origin Type Number Variant Notes
PT-76  Soviet Union Light tank 100[32]
T-34  Soviet Union Medium tank 175 T-34/85 [22]
T-54  Soviet Union　 Main battle tank 300[22]
T-55  Soviet Union
 Poland
 Czechoslovakia		 Main battle tank 1,400[22]
T-55 Enigma Iraq Main battle tank Local upgrade of the T-55. Designated as the Al-Najm or Al-Faw.[40]
TR-580 Romania Main battle tank 150 Transferred by Egypt.[22]
Type 59 tank  China Main battle tank 1,000[22]
Type 69 tank  China Main battle tank 1,500 Type 69-I
Type 69-II		 [22]
Type 69-II Enigma Iraq Main battle tank Local upgrade of the Type 69-II. Designated as the Al-Najm or Al-Faw[40]
T-62  Soviet Union
 Czechoslovakia		 Main battle tank 2,850[22]
T-72  Soviet Union
 Poland
 Czechoslovakia		 Main battle tank 550[22] 1,038[41] T-72M1
Lion of Babylon (tank) Iraq Main battle tank Locally assembled T-72M1 using Polish knock-down kits, none were built according to Polish officials.[41]
M-84[42]  Yugoslavia Main battle tank Captured from Kuwait.
Chieftain  United Kingdom Main battle tank 30[32] Mk 3
Mk 5		 Captured from Iran, most were given to Jordan.[22]
M47 Patton[32]  United States Main battle tank M47M Captured from Iran, most were given to Jordan.[22]
M60 tank[32]  United States Main battle tank M60A1 Captured from Iran, some were given to Jordan.[22]

Tank destroyers

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Name Country of origin Number Notes
SU-100  Soviet Union 250[22]
9P133  Soviet Union 100[22] Armed with Sagger missiles.
9P148  Soviet Union Armed with Konkurs missiles.
VCR/TH  France 100[32] Armed with HOT missiles.[43]

Reconnaissance vehicles

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Name Country of origin Type Number Variant Notes
BRDM-2  Soviet Union Scout car 250[22]
D-442 FUG[32]  Hungary Scout car 200 D-944 PSzH [22]
MOWAG Roland[32]  Switzerland Scout car
EE-3 Jararaca  Brazil Scout car 300[32]
Panhard AML  France Armored car 300[32] AML-60
AML-90
Panhard ERC  France Armored car 50 ERC-90 Sagaie [22]
EE-9 Cascavel  Brazil Armored car 200[22]

Armoured fighting vehicles

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Name Country of origin Type Number Variant Notes
BMP-1[22]  Soviet Union
 Czechoslovakia		 Infantry fighting vehicle 1,000[32] BVP-1
Saddam II Iraq Infantry fighting vehicle Locally upgraded BMP-1, used by Republican Guard units.[44]
BMP-2  Soviet Union
 Czechoslovakia		 Infantry fighting vehicle 200[22] BVP-2
BMD-1  Soviet Union Infantry fighting vehicle 25[22]
AMX-10P  France Infantry fighting vehicle 45 Includes AMX-10 VLA and AMX-10 VFA command post versions.[22]
BTR-152[32]  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier 200[22]
BTR-50[32]  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier 250[22]
BTR-60[32]  Soviet Union Armoured personnel carrier 250[22] BTR-60PB
MT-LB  Soviet Union
 Poland		 Armoured personnel carrier 750 Some were modified into mortar carriers.[22]
OT-62 TOPAS[32]  Czechoslovakia
 Poland		 Armoured personnel carrier 100[22] OT-62A
OT-64 SKOT[32]  Czechoslovakia
 Poland		 Armoured personnel carrier 200[22] OT-64A
M113  United States Armoured personnel carrier M113A1[32] Captured from Iran, some were given to Jordan.[22]
Panhard M3  France Armoured personnel carrier 200 M3 VTT
M3 VAT		 Includes 5 M3 VAT armoured recovery vehicles.[22]
EE-11 Urutu[32]  Brazil Armoured personnel carrier 200[22]
Type 63  China Armoured personnel carrier 650 Type YW701 Includes some command post vehicles.[22]
Walid  Egypt Armoured personnel carrier 100 Status uncertain.[22]

Self-propelled artillery

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Name Country of origin Type Number Caliber Variant Notes
2S1 Gvozdika[32]  Soviet Union Self-propelled gun 150[22] 122 mm
2S3 Akatsiya[32]  Soviet Union Self-propelled gun 150[22] 152 mm
AMX 30 AuF1[45]  France Self-propelled gun 85[32] 155 mm CGT
M109 howitzer[32]  United States Self-propelled gun 155 mm M109A1
M109A2		 Captured from Iran and Kuwait.[46]
M-1978 Koksan  North Korea Self-propelled gun 170 mm Captured from Iran.[47]
BM-21 Grad[32]  Soviet Union
 Egypt		 Multiple rocket launcher 1,060[22] 122 mm BM-21
RL-21
Katyusha  Soviet Union Multiple rocket launcher 132 mm BM-13-16[32]
ASTROS II[32]  Brazil
Iraq		 Multiple rocket launcher 67-260 127 mm
180 mm
300 mm		 SS-40
SS-60
Sajeel		 Produced under license as the Sajeel.[22]
M-87 Orkan  Yugoslavia Multiple rocket launcher 2[22] 262 mm

Engineering vehicles

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Name Country of origin Type Notes
T-54/55 ARV[48]  Soviet Union Armoured recovery vehicle
Type 653[48]  China Armoured recovery vehicle
Chieftain ARV[48]  United Kingdom Armoured recovery vehicle Captured from Iran.
Engesa E-11[48]  Brazil Repair and recovery vehicle
BAT-M[49]  Soviet Union Military engineering vehicle
MDK[49]  Soviet Union Excavator
TMK-2 [uk][49]  Soviet Union Trencher
IMR  Soviet Union Obstacle clearing vehicle Based on the T-55 tank chassis.[49]
KMT-4/6  Soviet Union Mine plow One KMT-6 was assigned per tank platoon, depending on supplies.[50]
KMT-5  Soviet Union Mine roller One KMT-5 was assigned per tank company, depending on supplies.[50]
UR-77[50]  Soviet Union Mine-clearing line charge
MTU-20[51]  Soviet Union Bridgelayer
MT-55  Czechoslovakia Bridgelayer Used by armored units.[51]
BLG-60[51]  East Germany Bridgelayer 24+ in service in 1991.[48]
TMM[51]  Soviet Union Pontoon bridge
PMP[51]  Soviet Union Pontoon bridge
GSP[51]  Soviet Union Amphibious ferry
PTS[51]  Soviet Union Amphibious transport

Ground surveillance radars

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Name Country of origin
SNAR-2 China
SNAR-10 Soviet Union

Tactical ballistic missiles based on SCUD and Luna

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Conversion rocket 5Я23, 5В27Д, 2К12, Р-15/HY-2 to surface to surface missiles

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Name Country of origin Description
Al Fahd 300 Ba'athist IraqConversions of the S-75
Al Fahd 500 Ba'athist IraqConversions of the S-75, did not go operational
Al-Barq Ba'athist IraqModification of S-125
Al-Kasir Ba'athist IraqModification of 2K12
Modified Р-15/HY-2 Ba'athist Iraqfor use as surface to surface missiles

Iraqi liquid-propellant ballistic missiles

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Iraqi solid-propellant ballistic missiles

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Anti-ship missile

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Name Country of origin
HY-2 China
P-15 Soviet Union

Radar systems

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Light utility vehicles

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Trucks

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Bibliography

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 Morris, James (26 July 2017). "Military coup in Iraq ousts monarchy - archive, 1958". The Guardian. Retrieved 2 June 2025.
  2. 1 2 National Training Center 1991, p. 5.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Hogg 1988, p. 769.
  4. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-1.
  5. 1 2 Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-3.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Gander & Cutshaw 2002, p. 2570.
  7. 1 2 McNab 2022, p. 50.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Ezell, Edward Clinton (1 November 1988). Small Arms Today - 2nd Edition (2nd ed.). Stackpole Books. ISBN 978-0-8117-2280-3.
  9. ↑ "AKM, Romanian". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  10. ↑ McCollum, Ian (4 October 2023). "Baghdad Carbine: Iraq's Super-Rare Copy of the Rasheed - Forgotten Weapons". www.forgottenweapons.com. Retrieved 9 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-5.
  12. 1 2 Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-12.
  13. 1 2 3 McNab 2022, p. 57.
  14. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-14.
  15. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-15.
  16. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-11.
  17. ↑ Gander & Cutshaw 2002, pp. 2562−2563.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-18.
  19. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 National Training Center 1991, p. 126.
  20. ↑ Gander & Cutshaw 2002, pp. 2558–2559.
  21. ↑ "al Nasirah & RPG7". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 "Trade Registers". SIPRI Arms Transfers Database. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 1 May 2023.
  23. ↑ Tucker 2014, p. 29.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Cullen & Foss 1992, p. 300.
  25. 1 2 Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-17.
  26. ↑ Gander & Cutshaw 2002, pp. 2556−2557.
  27. ↑ Gander & Cutshaw 2002, pp. 2554−2555.
  28. ↑ Gander & Cutshaw 2002, pp. 2552−2553.
  29. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-61.
  30. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-62.
  31. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-63.
  32. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 IISS 1989, p. 101.
  33. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-65.
  34. ↑ U.S. Army Intelligence and Threat Analysis Center 1991, p. 81.
  35. 1 2 Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-51.
  36. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-52.
  37. 1 2 National Training Center 1991, p. 132.
  38. ↑ National Training Center 1991, p. 133.
  39. 1 2 National Training Center 1991, pp. 132–133.
  40. 1 2 Zaloga 2023, pp. 84–85.
  41. 1 2 Zaloga 2011, p. 24.
  42. ↑ "The Fearsome Tanks That Fought Saddam Hussein May Soon Come for Vladimir Putin". Popular Mechanics. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 13 July 2025.
  43. ↑ Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. A-60.
  44. ↑ Tucker 2014, p. 61.
  45. ↑ Foss, Christopher F. (12 February 2002). "Giat Industries 155 mm GCT self-propelled gun". Jane's Armour and Artillery 2002–2003.
  46. ↑ U.S. Army Intelligence and Threat Analysis Center 1991, p. 82.
  47. ↑ Foss, Christopher F., ed. (2002). Jane's Armour and Artillery. Jane's Information Group. p. 638. ISBN 978-0-7106-2425-3.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Foss 1991, p. 647.
  49. 1 2 3 4 National Training Center 1991, p. 149.
  50. 1 2 3 National Training Center 1991, p. 151.
  51. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 National Training Center 1991, p. 150.
  52. 1 2 National Training Center 1991, p. 7.
  53. 1 2 3 4 Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 1998, p. 155.
  54. ↑ National Training Center 1991, p. 178.
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