List of equipment of the Nigerian Army explained

This is a list of some equipment used by the Nigerian Army. Due to how large and secretive the Nigerian army is, it is currently almost impossible to calculate all weaponry in the army.

Infantry weapons

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	Notes
Handguns
Beretta 92^[1]		Semi-automatic pistol
Beretta M1951^[2]		Semi-automatic pistol
Browning Hi-Power		Semi-automatic pistol		Produced locally under licence as the NP-1.^[3]
Walther P5		Semi-automatic pistol
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5		Submachine gun
Beretta M12^[4]		Submachine gun		Produced locally under licence by DICON.
Sten^[5]
Sterling		Submachine gun
Uzi		Submachine gun		Phased out and no longer in much use.
Rifles
IWI Tavor^[6] ^[7]		Bullpup assault rifle		Used mostly by Special Forces.
CAA AK-Alfa^[8] ^[9]		Assault rifle		Used by Special Forces.
Beryl M762^[10]		Assault rifle		Produced locally under license by DICON.Will serve as standard issued assault rifle, to replace OBJ-006 and NR-1.
FB Mini-Beryl^[11]		Compact assault rifle (carbine)		10 test units purchased.
M16A1^[12]		Assault rifle
		Assault rifle
Beretta AR70/90		Assault rifle
Daewoo K2^[13]		Assault rifle		33,000 units have been bought
OBJ-006		Assault rifle		Produced as OBJ-006.^[14] ^[15]
AKM^[16]		Assault rifle
SIG SG 540		Battle rifle
NR1		Battle rifle		Local variant designated NR1.^[17] ^[18] ^[19]
Beretta BM 59		Battle rifle		Produced locally under licence by DICON.
Machine guns
M2 Browning
DShK		Heavy machine gun
FN MAG		General-purpose machine gun
RPK		Light machine gun
Sniper rifles
Alex .338^[20]		Sniper rifle
Grenade launchers
Norinco LG3 AGL		Automatic grenade launcher

Missiles and recoilless rifles

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	Notes
Anti-tank missiles
Swingfire^[21]		Anti-tank missile		100 in stock.^[22]
Recoilless rifles
M40^[23]		Recoilless rifle
Carl Gustav		Anti-tank weapon
Rocket-propelled grenades
RPG-7		Anti-tank weapon

Armoured fighting vehicles

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Quantity	Details
Tanks
VT-4			VT-4	~17+	^[24] ^[25]
T-72			T-72AVT-72M1	~10~31	^[26] ^[27]
T-54			T-55	~100	^[28]
Vickers			Vickers Mk3	~172

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
Reconnaissance vehicles
FV101 Scorpion		Reconnaissance vehicle		157
FV107 Scimitar		Reconnaissance vehicle		5	More units purchased from Jordan
ERC-90		Armoured car		80	40 with Lynx turret.
EE-9 Cascavel		Armoured car		70	Delivered in 1994.
Panhard AML		Armoured car		130	AML-60 and AML-90 variants.
Panhard VBL		Scout car		72
Ferret		Scout car		25	40 delivered. Retired
Infantry fighting vehicles
BMP-1		Infantry fighting vehicle		22^[29]	BVP-1 variant.
BMP-2		Infantry fighting vehicle		40	^[30] ^[31]
Armoured personnel carriers
Type 89 AFV		Armoured personnel carrier		60^[32]
Saurer 4K 4FA		Armoured personnel carrier	Austria	250	.^[33]
MT-LB		Armoured personnel carrier		67	Sourced from Poland.
Mowag Piranha I 6x6		Armoured personnel carrier		110
BTR-3		Armoured personnel carrier		47	BTR-3U "Guardian" variant.
BTR-70		Armoured personnel carrier		18^[34]
BTR-60		Armoured personnel carrier		6^[35]
Saxon		Armoured personnel carrier		75	Serviceability doubtful.
Panhard M3		Armoured personnel carrier		18
Ezugwu MRAP		Armoured personnel carrier		30+^[36]	Total of more 52 ordered
Isotrex Phantom 2		Armoured personnel carrier		^[37]	At least 3 destroyed by ISWAP.^[38] ^[39]
Infantry mobility vehicles
CS/VP3 MRAP		MRAP		140	40 delivered in 2018, a further 100 was delivered in 2021.^[40]
Dongfeng Mengshi Csk131		MRAP		100	^[41]
Proforce Ara/Thunder		MRAP		40+
Otokar Cobra		Multipurpose armoured vehicle		204
Casspir		MRAP		5	Casspir III variant.
Reva		MRAP		40^[42]	Mk III.^[43]
Plasan Sand Cat		Composite armored vehicle			More units ordered
Light armored vehicles
Nurol Yörük NMS		Light armored vehicle			13 on order^[44]
Spartan MK.III		Light armored vehicle			^[45] More units ordered
INKAS LAPV		Light armored patrol vehicle
KLTV		Light tactical vehicle			^[46]
Shorland		Armoured car			Mk 3.^[47]
Armoured ambulances
FV104 Samaritan		Tracked armoured ambulance

Logistics

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
KrAZ-6322^[48]		Utility truck		Unknown	Some locally manufactured.^[49]
		Troop Carrier		Unknown	Assembled in Nigeria.700 newly inducted into service.

Engineering vehicles

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
BOZENA 5^[50]		Unmanned ground vehicle	Slovakia	N/A	Clearance of all conventional antipersonnel and antitank land mines and for IED removal assistance.^[51]
Vickers AVLB^[52]		Armored bridge-layer		26
Vickers ARV		Armored recovery vehicle		12

Utility vehicle

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
Pinzgauer^[53]		High-mobility all-terrain vehicle		N/A
Land Rover		Utility vehicle		N/A	Some of local manufacture.
Haflinger		Utility vehicle		400
Toyota Hilux^[54]		Light truck		N/A
Toyota Land Cruiser		Light truck		N/A	Used as utility vehicles and technicals^[55] Some were converted to armored cars.^[56]
Tarpan Honker^[57] ^[58]		Multipurpose pickup truck	Poland	25
IVM G-12^[59]		Special purpose vehicles^[60]	Nigeria	N/A
IVM G-80^[61]		Light truck^[62]	Nigeria	40

Artillery

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
Self-propelled artillery
SH-5		Self-propelled howitzer		5	105mm caliber^[63]
SH-2				2	122mm caliber
Palmaria		Self-propelled howitzer		25^[64]
APR–40		Multiple rocket launcher		25
BM-21 Grad		Multiple rocket launcher		5^[65]
RM-70		Multiple rocket launcher		7^[66]
Mortars
L16		81mm mortar		200
Anti-tank guns
ST-1		Tank Destroyer		N/A	Delivered in April 2020.
ZiS-3		Anti-tank gun		N/A
Howitzers
D-30		Howitzer		90
D-74		Howitzer		90
M46		Howitzer		7
D-20		Howitzer		4	Delivered in 1992.
Haubits FH77		Howitzer		24	Reportedly all guns are in storage.
OTO Melara Mod 56		Howitzer		124	200 delivered.

Air defence

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	In service	Notes
Self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons
ZSU-23-4		Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun		30
Towed anti-aircraft guns
Bofors L/60		Towed anti-aircraft gun		12
ZPU		Towed anti-aircraft gun		N/A
ZU-23-2		Towed anti-aircraft gun		350
Surface-to-air missiles
Blowpipe		Surface-to-air missile		48
Roland		Surface-to-air missile		16	Mounted on AMX-30 chassis.
9K32 Strela-2		Surface-to-air missile		100

Aircraft

Name	Photo	Type	Country of origin	Notes
Helicopters
MD500 Defender		Light Attack helicopter	United States	Status: On order12 units on order^[67]
Bell UH-1 Iroquois			United States	2 units in service

Notes and References

1. Diez, Octavio (2000). Armament and Technology: Handguns. Lema Publications, S.L. .
2. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). .
3. http://www.dicon.gov.ng/military1.html Defense Industries Corporation of Nigeria
4. Book: Gander, Jerry. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2002-2003 . Jane's Information Group. 2002. 0-7106-2434-4 . 214, 899–906.
5. Book: McNab, Chris. 20th Century Military Uniforms . 2002 . 2nd . Grange Books . Kent . 1-84013-476-3.
6. Web site: NEC okays subsidy removal from Jan . 15 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120107214234/http://www.vanguardngr.com/epaper/2011/december/13122011/index.html . 7 January 2012 . dead .
7. Web site: IWI X95s, TAR-21s in Nigeria. Silah Report. 19 October 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190718113138/https://silahreport.com/2017/10/24/iwi-x95s-tar-21s-in-nigeria/ . 18 July 2019 . live.
8. Web site: Photos Reveal that Israel’s CAA Sold AK Rifles to Nigerian Special Forces . Israel Defense . 6 June 2023 . en . 11 April 2019.
9. Web site: Adamawa State 86RRI Nigerian Army Shortlisted Candidates – Download Adamawa state 86rri shortlisted candidates pdf. Mwachangu . 6 July 2022 . en . 11 April 2020.
10. Web site: Tysiąc Beryli dla Nigerii - Altair Agencja Lotnicza. Altair.com.pl. 15 February 2015.
11. Web site: Altair Agencja Lotnicza. Altair.com.pl.
12. Jane's Special Forces Recognition Guide, Ewen Southby-Tailyour (2005) p. 446
13. Web site: Archived copy . 21 July 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120314043323/http://www.segye.com/Articles/News/Politics/Article.asp?aid=20110531004060&subctg1=&subctg2= . 14 March 2012 . dead .
14. http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200610/02/eng20061002_308128.html "Nigeria to mass-produce Nigerian version of AK-47 rifles."
15. http://www.dicon.gov.ng/military1.html "DICON – Defence Industry Corp. of Nigeria"
16. Rottman, Gordon (2011). The AK-47 Kalashnikov series assault rifles. Great Britain: Osprey Publishing. .
17. Web site: Licensed and unlicensed production of FN Herstal products, to August 2006. Small Arms Survey. 10 April 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20100705100331/http://www.smallarmssurvey.org/files/portal/issueareas/producers/Producers_pdf/2007_Production.pdf. 5 July 2010. dead.
18. Web site: Nigeria - Arms Procurement and Defense Industries. 10 April 2010. June 1991.
19. Web site: DOSSIER - The Question of Arms in Africa. 10 April 2010. Agenzia Fides. https://web.archive.org/web/20090318112305/http://www.fides.org/eng/news/2004/0407/24_2910.html. 18 March 2009. dead.
20. Web site: OBR Bor . 17 April 2022 . www.militaryfactory.com .
21. Web site: Nigeria Armée nigériane forces terrestres équipments véhicules blindés militaires information descr - Army Recognition . Armyrecognition.com . 14 July 2012 . 17 August 2012.
22. Web site: Trade Registers . Armstrade.sipri.org . 20 April 2014.
23. Web site: Nigerian Armed Forces. Guy Martin. Defenceweb.co.za. 15 February 2015.
24. Web site: Nigerian anti-terrorism operation marks combat debut of Chinese VT4 tank. 27 June 2024. defence-blog.com.
25. Web site: Nigerian Army receives Chinese weapon systems. 27 June 2024. www.janes.com.
26. Web site: Nigeria Negotiates Acquisition of Russian T-90 Tanks Amid Rising Security Concerns in Sahel Region Defense News August 2023 Global Security army industry Defense Security global news industry army year 2023 Archive News year . 2023-08-27 . www.armyrecognition.com.
27. Web site: 2 February 2015 . Nigeria receiving T-72s and other weapons from Czech Republic . 16 April 2022 . defenceWeb.
28. Web site: 7 October 2013 . Nigerian Armed Forces . 12 May 2022 . defenceWeb.
29. Web site: The Military Balance 2024 . 2024-04-19 . IISS . en.
30. Defense News Nigeria . DefenseNigeria . 1374137017152442376 . 22 March 2021 . In 2018 the Nigerian army received 40 Bigfoot Mraps from China. This was the second batch. Which means the army is expecting more. https://t.co/KJPFNiG5NJ . 24 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210322231304/https://twitter.com/DefenseNigeria/status/1374137017152442376 . 22 March 2021 . live.
31. Web site: The Military Balance 2024 . 2024-04-19 . IISS . en.
32. Web site: Martin . Guy . 2021-10-28 . Nigeria confirmed to be operating Type 89 IFVs . 2024-07-26 . defenceWeb . en-ZA.
33. Book: Metz. Helen Chapin. Helen Chapin Metz. Nigeria: A Country Study. 336–349.
34. Web site: BTR-70 Report between 1992 and 2012. Deagel.com. 26 April 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140427011039/http://www.deagel.com/equipment/Wheeled-Armored-Fighting-Vehicles/BTR-70.htm. 27 April 2014. dead.
35. Web site: The Russian BTR-60PB 8×8 Wheeled Armoured Personnel Carrier - TankNutDave. TankNutDave. 15 February 2015.
36. Web site: 18 January 2021 . Nigerian Army orders another 52 Ezugwu armoured vehicles . 17 April 2022 . defenceWeb .
37. Web site: Nigerian Army Unveils Isotrex Phantom 2 Armoured Personnel Carriers. 17 January 2021.
38. Rolbiecki . Tomasz . TomaszRolbiecki . 1351518102710841346 . 19 January 2021 . Amaq just released a photo of an Isotrex Phantom 2 captured (and later destroyed) by ISWAP in Gorigi yesterday. Those APCs were just delivered to the Nigerian Army. https://t.co/oOeNwcH2ac It's at least a 2nd Phantom 2 destroyed in Alagarno (the first one in Kafa, see 2nd photo). https://t.co/osD3izJ8nf . 22 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210119131506/https://twitter.com/TomaszRolbiecki/status/1351518102710841346 . 19 January 2021 . live.
39. War Noir ☃️ . war_noir . 1351996065453629448 . 20 January 2021 .
    1. Nigeria: #ISWAP captured/destroyed 3 Isotrex Phantom 2 APCs of Nigerian Army along with ammos (mostly 7.62x54mm API rounds)/ammo box for PK/M pattern GPMGs and at least two mags for 7.62x39mm AK platform in #Borno (between the towns #Gorji and #Kava). https://t.co/uwlKCiZQJk
    . 22 January 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210120205306/https://twitter.com/war_noir/status/1351996065453629448 . 20 January 2021 . live.
40. Web site: Martin . Guy . 2021-11-11 . CS/VP3 and Mengshi APCs delivered to Nigeria . 2024-07-26 . defenceWeb . en-ZA.
41. Web site: Lionel. Ekene. 13 March 2021. Nigerian Army orders more CS/VP3 Bigfoot MRAP. 23 March 2021. Military Africa.
42. Web site: New vehicles join Reva lineup - defenceWeb. Guy. Martin. Defenceweb.co.za.
43. Web site: Recent Nigerian military acquisitions. Revaarmoredvehicles.com. 4 May 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150423002119/http://www.revaarmoredvehicles.com/History.html. 23 April 2015. dead.
44. Web site: Nijerya Yol Güvenliği Programına Türk Akını . 2024-01-04 . www.defenceturkey.com.
45. Web site: Trade Registers. armstrade.sipri.org.
46. Defense News Nigeria . DefenseNigeria . 1374137123025137665 . 22 March 2021 . The Nigerian army took delivery of an undisclosed number of Kia Light Tactical Vehicle (KLTV) from South Korea. https://t.co/9Y0SN7ut9R . 24 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210322231332/https://twitter.com/DefenseNigeria/status/1374137123025137665 . 22 March 2021 . live.
47. Book: Celestine Bassey & Charles Dokubo. Defence Policy of Nigeria: Capability and Context. 2011. 144–146 . AuthorHouse Publishing. 978-1-4567-3156-4. 2011.
48. Web site: KRAZ Trucks on Military Service. Ukrainian Defense Review. Issuu.com. 4 May 2015.
49. Web site: Ukraine's AutoKrAZ partners with Nigeria's Proforce. 13 January 2020.
50. Web site: Nigerian army acquires more sophisticated equipment to fight Boko Haram (photos). 10 December 2016. Naij.com.
51. Web site: BOZENA 5 - medium demining system - Božena. Bozena.eu. 17 October 2020. 13 April 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160413033537/http://bozena.eu/general-b5/. dead.
52. Book: Jane's Armour and Artillery 2003–2004.
53. Web site: Steyr Puch Haflinger TDC - Nigeria. Constantin Kiesling. Tdc.haflinger-4wd.com. 15 February 2015.
54. Web site: The Official Website of the Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria » Fayemi donates 2 Hilux pick-up to the Army. The Official Website of the Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria. 15 February 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150215172254/http://ekitistate.gov.ng/2012/02/fayemi-donates-2-hilux-pick-up-to-the-army/. 15 February 2015. dead.
55. Web site: Biondo . Harold . 2021-04-24 . Type 1 Technical (Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series) . 2023-06-21 . Tank Encyclopedia . en-US.
56. Web site: Nigeria turns Toyota Land Cruisers into armored personnel carriers Defense News August 2021 Global Security army industry Defense Security global news industry army year 2021 Archive News year . 2023-06-21 . www.armyrecognition.com.
57. RemigiuszWilk. Remigiusz Wilk. 773941918422228992. 8 September 2016. 25 Honkerów w SZ Nigerii: 3 testowe, 10 Scorpion 4x4 NAF i 12 20-os. transportowe 6x4 (176 KM i 2x55 l zbiornik). Zadowoleni, chcą więcej..
58. RemigiuszWilk. Remigiusz Wilk. 774549277171445760. 10 September 2016. Kończąc temat eksportowych Honkerów - dostarczone Skorpiony w użyciu przez jednostki ochrony lotniska @NigAirForce.
59. Web site: Nigerian Army operating locally-made IVM-G-12 special purpose vehicles - defenceWeb. Guy. Martin. Defenceweb.co.za.
60. Web site: Photos: Innoson Delivers 1st Made in Nigeria Vehicles to Military – WELCOME TO NAIJANEWSUPDATE.COM . 19 December 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170708140344/http://naijanewsupdate.com/2016/11/19/photos-innoson-delivers-1st-made-in-nigeria-vehicles-to-military/ . 8 July 2017 . dead .
61. Web site: While EFCC prosecutes Innoson, Nigerian Army patronises its 'quality' vehicles, others. premiumtimes.ng.com. 2 January 2018 . 5 October 2022.
62. Web site: Nigeria manufacturing light patrol vehicle . 5 February 2019 . 5 October 2022.
63. Web site: 9 April 2020 . Nigerian military receives tanks, artillery from China .
64. Web site: Palmaria 155 mm Self-Propelled Howitzer Military-Today.com . 16 April 2022 . www.military-today.com.
65. Web site: 7 October 2013 . Nigerian Armed Forces . 12 May 2022 . defenceWeb .
66. [List of equipment of the Nigerian Army#IISS2019|IISS 2019]
67. Web site: Nigeria selects Cayuse Warrior Plus light attack helo . 8 March 2023 . 14 March 2023 . Janes.