Eastern Africa · Military profile

Zambia

Name: Zambia military and economic data
Creator: ForceTally

ForceTally Index rank#1273.7 FTIof 170 countriesTop 75%▼ 1 since edition 1 Compare countries

Zambia country profile with source-backed equipment operators and dated national observations. The linked records retain their published sources and reference years.

Capital: Lusaka
Documented equipment: 69 types
National data: 6 sourced figures
Source coverage: 3 publications

01 / National data

Force profile

Military, personnel and economic indicators

Economy

Defence spending

US$370m

Estimate · 2025 IISS defence budget assessmentSingle source

1.1% of GDPGDP 2026

Source-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2025 economic-table year column; USD 370m. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. Source coverage/fiscal-year notes: [a] Budget for Ministry of Defence - other defence-function related expenses not included

02 / Equipment catalogueExplore all equipment

EQUIPMENT & WEAPONS

Equipment arsenal

69 equipment types documented

Equipment listed in inventory and operator sources, grouped by force and category. Sourced quantities retain their date, variant coverage and inventory status. Equipment without a documented count is listed by type.

Find equipment

69 matching equipment types

Air force

21 equipment types

Air force equipment for Zambia
Equipment	Zambia
Support aircraft
Alenia C-27J Spartan	2Air Force · 2025 2Zambian Air Force · 2025Wikipedia
Beechcraft 1900	1Zambian Air Force · 2025Wikipedia
Cessna 208 Caravan	1Air Force · 2025 2Zambian Air Force · 2025Wikipedia
Harbin Y-12	7Zambian Air Force · 2025Wikipedia
Hawker Siddeley HS 748	1Air Force · 2025
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	In service
Xi'an MA60	2Air Force · 2025 2Zambian Air Force · 2025
Trainer aircraft
Hongdu JL-10	6Zambian Air Force · 2025Wikipedia
Hongdu JL-8	15Zambian Air Force · 2025Wikipedia
Saab Safari	8Air Force · 2025
SIAI-Marchetti SF.260	11Zambian Air Force · 2025Wikipedia
Helicopters
AgustaWestland AW139	1Air Force · 2025 1Zambian Air Force · 2025

Land force

21 equipment types

Land force equipment for Zambia
Equipment	Zambia
Tanks
PT-76	32Army · 2025 30Zambian Army · 2026Wikipedia
T-54/T-55	10Army · 2025 10Zambian Army · 2025
Type 59 tank	20Zambian Army · 2014Wikipedia
Armoured vehicles
BRDM-1	44Zambian Army · 2026Wikipedia
BRDM-2	44Zambian Army · 2026Wikipedia
BTR-60	13Army · 2025 13Zambian Army · 2025
BTR-70	20Army · 2025 20Zambian Army · 2025
BTR-80	10Army · 2025 10Zambian Army · 2025
CS/VP3 MRAP	In service
Marauder (vehicle)	≥3Police Paramilitary Unit · 2025
Ratel IFV	14Zambian Army · 2026Wikipedia
Tigr (military vehicle)	22Zambian Army · 2025

Air defence and missiles

7 equipment types

Air defence and missiles equipment for Zambia
Equipment	Zambia
Air defence
Rapier (missile)	In service
S-125 Neva/Pechora	In service
ZSU-23-4 Shilka	4Army · 2025 4Zambian Army · 2025
Anti-aircraft guns
37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K)	In service
AZP S-60	30Zambian Army · 2016Wikipedia
ZPU	In service
ZU-23-2	In service

Infantry weapons

20 equipment types

Infantry weapons equipment for Zambia
Equipment	Zambia
Small arms
AK-63	In service
AK-74	In service
AKM	In service
Degtyaryov machine gun	In service
DShK	In service
FN FAL	In service
Heckler & Koch G3	In service
Heckler & Koch MP5	In service
IWI Galil ACE	In service
IWI Tavor	In service
PK machine gun	In service
RPK	In service

Coverage is incomplete. “Not documented” means no linked inventory evidence, not zero equipment. Methodology ↗

03 / Continue exploring

04 / Data record

Sources through time

Sources & definitions

Evidence over time

Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.