List of former equipment of the Georgian Armed Forces explained

This list includes equipment that was formally used by the Defence Forces of Georgia. Some of the listed equipment could still be in reserve or used for ceremonial purposes.

Small arms

WeaponPhotoOriginNotes
Pistols
Makarov PM[1] Many inherited from Soviet Union
Stechkin APS[2] AO-44 version also used.
TT-33
PSM[3]
CZ 82
Submachine guns
MP 40Was used by Georgian Army units during Georgian civil war, probably obtained from Soviet reserve arm stocks.
Rifles
Mosin–Nagant
/
Used as ceremonial weapon as of now, sniper versions were used by Army as late as 2005.
SVT-40
SKSStill in use for ceremonial purposes.
AK-47
AKS-47
Inherited from Soviet Union, out of service by now.
Machine guns
DP-28[4]
RPD machine gunInherited from Soviet Union, was seen used during Georgian Civil War.
SG-43 GoryunovMainly used on vehicles.
Sniper rifles
Heckler & Koch MSG90Was used by Special Operation Forces.
Grenades and explosives
RKG-3Anti-tank grenade
RPG-43Anti-tank grenade

Heavy weapons

WeaponPhotoOriginTypeNotes
Artillery and mortars
152 mm howitzer M1943 (D-1)HowitzerSome were still in service in 2000, As of 2017 they are being retired.
122 mm howitzer M1938 (M-30)HowitzerSome still could be in reserve.
152 mm howitzer-gun M1937 (ML-20)Howitzer
ZiS-3Field gunAt least 4 guns are being still used as decoration on military bases.
RM-38Infantry mortar
82-BM-37Infantry mortar
120-PM-43 mortarMortar (weapon)14 soviet mortar were delivered from Bulgaria, out of service by now.
Anti-aircraft artillery
37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939Anti-aircraft cannon
Oerlikon 20 mm cannon SwitzerlandAnti-aircraft cannonUsed on navy ships and vessels.
100 mm air defense gun KS-19Anti-aircraft cannon
Anit-tank weapons
9M14 Malyutka[5] Anti-tank missileSome mounted on BMP-1 vehicles.

Vehicles

WeaponPhotoOriginTypeNotes
T-54 / Main battle tank120 T-55AM2s and T-54s were ordered from Czech Republic in 1998.[6] some were inherited from Soviet Union and saw service during 90s. 3 T-54s were in service by 2010.[7] as of 2017 they are retired.
T-34Medium tank200,At the start of the Georgian Civil War at least one tank which was used as monument, was restored by Georgian forces. Although the main gun was deactivated the Georgian army used T-34 to scare off rebels in South Ossetia, tanks were retired shortly after war ended, at least 3 can be seen in restored condition all over Georgia, Meanwhile, some are being still used as targets at firing ranges.
M4 ShermanMedium tankAt least 3 M4s were present in Tbilisi as monuments, it is not clear if they were reactivated and used in Georgian Civil War but at least one Sherman was used as target at tank firing range, later on they were scrapped around 35 units.
BTR-60Armoured personnel carrierSome 120 inherited from Soviet Union and saw action during war in Abkhazia, only 1 was in service by 2008.[8] As of 2017 they are scrapped and are out of service.

Air-defence systems

WeaponPhotoOriginTypeNotes
S-75 Dvina[9] Strategic surface-to-air missile systemSaw usage during Georgian Civil War, system was retired and scrapped in 2007.
S-125 Neva/Pechora
Strategic surface-to-air missile systemInherited from Soviet Union, some upgraded by Ukraine, mostly phased out in 2007.
2K11 KrugTransportable surface-to-air missile system
Radar systems
P-12 radarEarly warning
P-15 radarSurveillance/Target acquisition
P-19 radarSurveillance/Target acquisition
PRV-17Radar altimeter

Aircraft

WeaponPhotoOriginNotes
Combat aircraft
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21[10] [11]
At least 12 MiG-21UM were retained by Tbilaviamsheni factory and reportedly transferred to Georgian Air Force, One is still in operational condition as of 2016.
Sukhoi Su-17Several Su-17M4 were inherited from Soviet Union, they were never restored to operational condition, some inoperable aircraft were in service as of 2005.[12]
Transport aircraft
Antonov An-12
Antonov An-26
Antonov An-72

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Armament of the Georgian Army. https://web.archive.org/web/20120309192408/http://geo-army.ge/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9&Itemid=9&lang=en. dead. 9 March 2012. 19 March 2018.
  2. Web site: Საექსპორტო და საიმპორტო კონტროლს დაქვემდებარებული სამხედრო დანიშნულების პროდუქციის ნუსხის შესახებ.
  3. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). .
  4. https://www.flickr.com/photos/151545628@N03/36638745106/in/dateposted-public/
  5. Web site: AT-3 (Sagger) / 9M14 (Malyutka).
  6. Web site: Trade Registers. sipri.org. 9 December 2014.
  7. Web site: Georgia Army Equipment. John Pike. globalsecurity.org. 9 December 2014.
  8. Web site: Georgia Army Equipment.
  9. Web site: Moscow Defense Brief. 14 November 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20090711165314/http://mdb.cast.ru/mdb/3-2008/item3/article3/. 11 July 2009. dead.
  10. http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/other/mig21us/mig21us-6.jpg
  11. Web site: MiG-21UM Georgia.
  12. Military Balance 2005