# List of equipment of the Soviet Ground Forces

This list shows equipment of Soviet Ground Forces in 1991.

## Infantry equipment
### Helmets

| Name | Type | Notes |
| SSh-40 | Helmet | Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war. |
| SSh-60 | Helmet | Still used during the Soviet-Afghan war. |
| SSh-68 | Helmet | Main service helmet. |

### Body armor

| Name | Type | Notes |
| 6B2 (Zh-RI) | Flak jacket | Issued in 1980, it provided inadequate protection in Afghanistan and subsequently phased out.$^{:41}$ |
| 6B3 | Flak jacket | Replaced the Zh-RI in 1983, it provided better protection, but it was heavier and uncomfortable to wear in the mountains of Afghanistan or in hot days.$^{:41−42}$ |
| YaB4 | Flak jacket | Replaced the Zh-RI in 1984, it provided better protection, but it was heavier and uncomfortable to wear in the mountains of Afghanistan or in hot days.$^{:41−42}$ |
| 6B4 (Zh-85) | Ballistic vest | Issued between 1985 and 1986, the Zh-85t and Zh-85k provided chest protection against bullets in the front and spinal protection against fragments in the back.$^{:42}$ |
| 6B5 "Ulej" (Zh-86) | Ballistic vest | Issued in 1988, it replaced the Zh-85t and Zh-85k vests. The Zh-86 covers a larger body area, and its construction uses titanium alloy, ceramics, and special steel.$^{:42}$ |

## Small arms
### Pistols and revolvers

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| Makarov PM | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×18mm Makarov | Main service pistol$^{:57}$ |
| PB Besshumnyy | Integrallly suppressed semi-automatic pistol | 9×18mm Makarov | Silenced pistol issued to special forces |
| Stechkin APS | Machine pistol | 9×18mm Makarov | $^{:774}$ |
| PSM | Semi-automatic pistol | 5.45×18mm | Standard sidearm of civil and military security forces$^{:56}$ |
| PSS silent pistol | Semi-automatic pistol | 7.62×41mm SP-4 | Used by Spetsnaz.$^{:57}$ |
| Tokarev TT-33$^{:774}$ | Semi-automatic pistol | 7.62×25mm Tokarev | Limited use.$^{:47}$ |
| Nagant M1895 | Revolver | 7.62×38mmR | Limited use.$^{:47}$ |

### Semi-automatic and bolt-action rifles

| Name | Type | Caliber | Photo | Notes |
| Simonov SKS | Semi-automatic rifle | 7.62×39mm | | Ceremonial use$^{:194}$ |

### Assault rifles and other automatic rifles

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| AK-74 | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm | Main service rifle$^{:201}$ |
| AKS-74 | Assault rifle | 5.45×39mm | AK-74 variant with a folding stock$^{:200}$ |
| AKS-74U | Assault Carbine | 5.45×39mm | AKS-74 variant with a shortened barrel$^{:108}$ |
| AKM | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | In service since 1959$^{:198}$ |
| AKMS$^{:198}$ | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | AKM variant with a folding stock$^{:196}$ |

### Designated marksman and sniper rifles

| Name | Type | Caliber | Photo | Notes |
| SVD | Designated marksman rifle | 7.62×54mmR | | Main service designated marksman rifle$^{:199}$ |
| VSS Vintorez | Designated marksman rifle | 9×39mm | | Suppressed sniper rifle used by special forces like Spetsnaz |

### Light and heavy machine guns

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| RPK-74 | Light machine gun | 5.45×39mm | Main service light machine gun$^{:774}$ |
| RPK | Light machine gun | 7.62×39mm | $^{:318}$ |
| PKM | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×54mmR | Main service general-purpose machine gun$^{:319}$ |
| NSV "Utyos" | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×108mm | Main service heavy machine gun$^{:323}$ |
| DShKM | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×108mm | Being replaced by the NSV machine gun.$^{:323}$ |
| KPV-14.5 | Heavy machine gun | 14.5×114mm | Base for anti-aircraft guns$^{:323–324}$ |

### Flares and Smokes

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| SPSh-44 | Flare gun | 26 mm | |
| RSP-30 | Warning Flare | | |
| RDG-2 | Smoke grenade | | $^{:571}$ |

### Launchers

| Name | Type | Caliber | Photo | Notes |
| GP-25 Kostyor | Grenade launcher | 40 mm caseless grenade | | $^{:52}$ |
| AGS-17 Plamya | Automatic grenade launcher | 30x29 mm | | $^{:247–248}$ |

### Rocket-propelled grenade launchers

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| RPG-29 Vampir | Reusable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade | 105mm | |
| RPG-27 Tavolga | Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade | 105mm | |
| RPG-26 Aglen | Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade | 72.5mm | $^{:34}$ |
| RPG-22 Netto | Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade | 72.5mm | Seen in use during the Soviet-Afghan war.$^{:404}$ |
| RPG-18 Mukha | Disposable high-explosive anti-tank rocket-propelled grenade | 64mm | $^{:403–404}$ |
| RPG-16 | Rocket-propelled grenade | 58.3mm | Used by paratroopers and Spetsnaz.$^{:33–35}$ |
| RPG-7 | Rocket-propelled grenade | 40mm | Reusable launcher with various types of anti-personnel and anti-tank munitions.$^{:401–402}$ |

### Recoilless Rifles

| Name | Type | Caliber | Photo | Notes |
| SPG-9 Kopyo | Recoilless rifle | 73 mm | | $^{:405}$ |
| B-10 | Recoilless rifle | 82 mm | | Limited use by paratroopers.$^{:405}$ |

### Man-portable air-defense systems

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| 9K32 Strela-2 | Infrared homing | 72 mm | NATO reporting name: SA-7 Grail. Being replaced by the Strela-3 and Igla systems |
| 9K34 Strela-3 | Infrared homing | 72 mm | NATO reporting name: SA-14 Gremlin |
| 9K310 Igla-1 | Infrared homing | 72 mm | NATO Reporting name: SA-16 |
| 9K38 Igla | Infrared homing | 72 mm | NATO reporting name: SA-18. Replacing the Strela-2 and Strela-3 systems. |

### Anti-tank guided missiles

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| 9M17 Fleyta | MCLOS | 148 mm | NATO reporting name: AT-2 Swatter$^{:407}$ |
| 9M14 Malyutka | MCLOS | 125 mm | NATO reporting name: AT-3 Sagger$^{:407–408}$ |
| 9K111 Fagot | SACLOS | 120 mm | NATO reporting name: AT-4 Spigot$^{:408}$ |
| 9M113 Konkurs | SACLOS | 135 mm | NATO reporting name: AT-5 Spandrel |
| 9K114 Shturm | SACLOS | | NATO reporting name: AT-6 Spiral |
| 9K115 Metis | SACLOS | 94 mm | NATO reporting name: AT-7 Saxhorn |
| 9K112 Kobra | SACLOS | 125 mm | NATO reporting name: AT-8 Songster.$^{:II-22–II-23}$ |
| 9M117 Bastion | Laser beam-riding | 100 mm | NATO reporting name: AT-10 Stabber.$^{:II-24–II-25}$ |
| 9M119 Svir/Refleks | Laser beam-riding | 120 mm | NATO reporting name: AT-11 Sniper.$^{:II-26}$ |

### Land mines

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| MON-50 | Anti-personnel | 700 g RDX | Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.$^{:252}$ |
| MON-90 | Anti-personnel | 6.2 kg RDX | |
| MON-100 | Anti-personnel | 2 kg TNT | $^{:83}$ |
| MON-200 | Anti-personnel | 12 kg TNT | $^{:83}$ |
| OZM-72 | Anti-personnel | 660 g TNT | Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.$^{:252}$ |
| PFM-1 | Anti-personnel | 37 g | |
| PMD-6 mine | Anti-personnel | 200 g | PMD-7, and PMD-7ts variants also used. |
| POMZ-2M | Anti-personnel | 75 g TNT | $^{:69–70}$ |
| PMN mine | Anti-personnel | 240 g TNT | Widely used in the Soviet-Afghan war.$^{:252}$ |

### Anti-tank mines

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| TMD-44 | Anti-tank mine | 9.7 kg Amatol | $^{:37–38}$ |
| TM-46 | Anti-tank mine | 5.7 kg TNT | $^{:15–16}$ |
| TM-57 | Anti-tank mine | 6.34 kg TNT | $^{:15–16}$ |
| TM-62 | Anti-tank mine | 7.5 kg TNT | |
| TM-72 | Anti-tank mine | 2.5 kg HEAT | |
| PDM-1 | Amphibious anti-tank | 10 kg TNT | $^{:91–92}$ |
| TM-83 | Off-route mine | 6.6 kg TNT | |

### Flamethrower

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| LPO-50 | Flamethrower | 986 mm | $^{:249–250}$ |
| RPO Rys | Flamethrower | 122 mm | |
| RPO-A Shmel | Flamethrower | 93 mm | |

### Mortars

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| 82-BM-37 | Light | 82mm | M-37M$^{:474}$ |
| 2B14 Podnos | Light | 82mm | Used by paratroopers.$^{:50}$ |
| 120-PM-38 | Heavy | 120 mm | |
| 120-PM-43 | Heavy | 120 mm | $^{:476}$ |
| 2B11 | Heavy | 120 mm | $^{:V-33}$ |
| 2S12 Sani | Heavy | 120 mm | 1,387 units in 1991 |
| M-160 | Heavy | 160mm | $^{:477}$ |
| M-240 | Heavy | 240 mm | |

### Hand grenades

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| F1 | Anti-personnel | 55 mm | $^{:567}$ |
| RGD-5 | Anti-personnel | 58 mm | $^{:567}$ |
| RGN | Anti-personnel | 60 mm | Offensive type hand grenade.$^{:568}$ |
| RGO | Anti-personnel | 60 mm | Defensive type hand grenade.$^{:568}$ |
| RKG-3 | Anti-tank grenade | 362 mm | $^{:570}$ |
| RPG-6 | Anti-tank grenade | 103 mm | Still used for training purposes.$^{:569}$ |
| RPG-43 | Anti-tank grenade | 95 mm | Still used for training purposes.$^{:569}$ |
| VOG-25 | Launcher grenade | 40 mm | Used on the GP-25. |

## Vehicles
### Tanks

The International Institute for Strategic Studies estimated that the Soviet Union had around 16,000 tanks of unknown types in storage east of the Urals in 1991.
| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| T-80 | Main battle tank | 5,400 | T-80U/T-80BV |
| T-72 | Main battle tank | 9,000 | T-72B |
| T-64 | Main battle tank | 4,900 | T-64BV |
| T-62 | Main battle tank | 8,500 | T-62MV-1 |
| T-55 | Main battle tank | 10,600 | T-55AMV-1 |
| T-10 | Heavy tank | ~350 | T-10M |
| PT-76 | Light tank | 1,000 | PT-76B |

### Infantry fighting vehicles

The Soviet Union had about 28,000 Infantry fighting vehicles in 1991
| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| BMP-1 | Infantry fighting vehicle | N/A | Between 1972 and 1988 Czechoslovakia delivered 5,100 BVP-1s to the Soviet Union |
| BMP-2 | Infantry fighting vehicle | N/A | |
| BMP-3 | Infantry fighting vehicle | ~700 | |
| BMD-1 | Infantry fighting vehicle | ~3,000 | Used by airborne troops. |
| BMD-2 | Infantry fighting vehicle | ~3,000 | Used by airborne troops. |
| BMD-3 | Infantry fighting vehicle | ~3,000 | Only used by airborne troops. |

### Self-propelled guns

| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| ASU-57 | Assault gun | | Only used by airborne troops. |
| ASU-85 | Assault gun | | Only used by airborne troops. |
| 2S1 Gvozdika | Self-propelled artillery | 2,331 | |
| 2S3 Akatsiya | Self-propelled artillery | 2,044 | |
| 2S4 Tyulpan | Self-propelled mortar | 54 | |
| 2S5 Giatsint-S | Self-propelled artillery | 494 | |
| 2S7 Pion | Self-propelled artillery | 304 | |
| 2S9 Nona | Self-propelled artillery | 442 | Only used by airborne troops. |
| 2S19 Msta | Self-propelled howitzer | 13 | |
| 152 mm SpGH DANA | Self-propelled artillery | | 150 delivered by Czechoslovakia between 1986 and 1990. |

### Towed mortars and anti-tank guns

| Name | Type | Quantity | Caliber | Notes |
| 2B9 Vasilek | Gun howitzer | | 82 mm | Used by motor rifle and airborne units.$^{:475}$ |
| D-44 | Anti-tank gun | | 85 mm | $^{:404}$ |
| BS-3 | Anti-tank gun | | 100 mm | |
| T-12 | Anti-tank gun | | 100 mm | |
| 2B16 Nona-K | Gun howitzer | 37 | 120 mm | |
| 2A45 Sprut-A | Anti-tank gun | | 125 mm | |

### Towed Artillery

| Name | Type | Quantity | Caliber |
| 2A18 D-30 | Field Gun | 2,044 | 122 mm |
| D-74 | Field Gun | | 122 mm |
| KS-30 | Field Gun | 12 | 130 mm |
| D-20 | Field Gun | 767 | 152 mm |
| 2A36 Giatsint-B | Field Gun | 574 | 152 mm |
| 2A65 Msta-B | Field Gun | 400 | 152 mm |
| S-23 | Field Gun | ~180 | 180 mm |

### Anti-aircraft tanks and missile systems

| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| ZSU-57-2 | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | 750$^{:84–85}$ | In reserve.$^{:84–85}$ |
| ZSU-23-4 Shilka | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | N/A | |
| 2K11 Krug | Transportable SAM system | 1,350 | NATO reporting name: SA-4 Ganef. Being replaced by the Buk and S-300 systems |
| 2K12 Kub | Transportable SAM system | 850 | NATO reporting name: SA-6 Gainful |
| 2K22 Tunguska | Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun | 130 | NATO reporting name: SA-19 Grison |
| 9K31 Strela-1 | Transportable SAM system | 430 | NATO reporting name: SA-9 Gaskin. Being replaced by the Strela-10 system |
| 9K33 Osa | Transportable SAM system | 950 | NATO reporting name: SA-8 Gecko |
| 9K35 Strela-10 | Transportable SAM system | 860 | NATO reporting name: SA-13 Gopher |
| 9K37 Buk | Transportable SAM system | 300 | NATO reporting name: SA-11 Gadfly |
| 9K330 Tor | Transportable SAM system | 20 | NATO reporting name: SA-15 Gauntlet. Replacing the Kub and Osa systems |
| S-300 | Transportable SAM system | 70+ | NATO Reporting name: SA-12A Gladiator |

### Anti-aircraft guns

| Name | Type | Caliber | Notes |
| AZP S-60 | Autocannon | 57 mm | |
| ZU-23-2 | Autocannon | 23x152 mmB | |
| ZPU-2 | Anti-aircraft gun | 14.5x114 mm | In reserve.$^{:210–212}$ |
| KS-30 | Anti-aircraft gun | 130x845 mmR | In reserve.$^{:202}$ |
| KS-19 | Anti-aircraft gun | 100x695 mm | |

### Rocket artillery

| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| BM-14 | Multiple rocket launcher | | |
| BM-21 Grad | Multiple rocket launcher | 1,550 | |
| BM-24 | Multiple rocket launcher | | |
| BM-27 Uragan | Multiple rocket launcher | 554 | |
| 9K58 BM-30 Smerch | Multiple rocket launcher | 158 | |
| TOS-1 | Multiple rocket launcher | | First used in 1987 during the Soviet-Afghan war. |

### Tactical ballistic missiles

| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| 9K52 Luna-M | Tactical ballistic missile | 500 | |
| 9K79 OTR-21 Tochka | Tactical ballistic missile | 300 | |
| RT-17 Scud | Tactical ballistic missile | 550 | Scud-B and Scud-C variants |

### Armored personnel carriers

By 1991 the Soviet army had over 50,000 armored personnel carriers in service.
| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| BTR-80 | Armoured personnel carrier | N/A | |
| BTR-70 | Armoured personnel carrier | N/A | |
| BTR-60 | Armoured personnel carrier | N/A | BTR-60P |
| BTR-50 | Armoured personnel carrier | N/A | BTR-50P |
| BTR-152 | Armoured personnel carrier | N/A | Some vehicles were kept by 1980s as ambulances, command, radio, and engineering vehicles.$^{:III-5}$ |
| BTR-D | Armoured personnel carrier | N/A | Used by airborne units.$^{:IV-10−IV-11}$ |
| MT-LB | Tracked Armoured personnel carrier | 4,500 | |
| PTS-2 | Amphibious armoured personnel carrier | |
| PTS-M | Amphibious armoured personnel carrier | |

### Reconnaissance vehicles

Soviet army had about 8,000 reconnaissance vehicles in service in 1991.
| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| BRDM-2 | Amphibious armoured scout car | 3,500 | |
| BRM-1K | Reconnaissance tank | | $^{:III-40}$ |
| IRM Zhuk | Engineer reconnaissance tank | | $^{:III-42}$ |

### Engineering vehicles

| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| BAT-2 | Military engineering vehicle | N/A | $^{:248}$ |
| BTM-3 | Trencher | N/A | $^{:250}$ |
| IMR-2 | Military engineering vehicle | N/A | $^{:248}$ |
| MDK-3 | Trencher | N/A | $^{:250}$ |
| MTU-20 | Bridgelayer | N/A | $^{:248}$ |
| TMK-2 | Trencher | N/A | $^{:250}$ |
| TMM | Bridgelayer | N/A | $^{:248}$ |
| PMP Floating Bridge | Pontoon bridge | N/A | $^{:247}$ |

### Unarmored trucks and utility vehicles

| Name | Type | Quantity | Notes |
| UAZ-469 | Light utility vehicle | N/A | |
| Lada Niva Legende | Light utility vehicle | N/A | |
| GAZ-69 | Light utility vehicle | N/A | |
| UAZ-452 | Light truck | N/A | Used mostly as ambulances or special operation vehicles.$^{:115}$ |
| GAZ-53 | Medium truck | N/A | Used by engineering units in Afghanistan.$^{:248}$ |
| GAZ-66 | Medium truck | N/A | The GAZ-66B variant was used by Airborne troops.$^{:35–36}$ |
| ZIL-131 | Medium truck | N/A | Some had ZU-23 anti-aircraft guns mounted in Afghanistan. |