By Thomas Nachtrab in collaboration with Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans
The goal of this list is to comprehensively catalogue Mali's current and past inventory of (armoured fighting) vehicles and heavy weaponry. Historically a major recipient of Soviet military aid, frequent arms deliveries in the 1970s and 1980s turned Mali into one of the strongest militaries in western Africa, operating advanced equipment such as dedicated tank destroyers, S-125 SAM systems and MiG-21bis jet fighters. The 1990s and 2000s saw the Malian Army retiring much of this equipment amid a changed security situation and resulting decrease in its defence expenditure.
Like most other African militaries, the Malian Army's combat effectiveness in the late 2000s and early 2010s was extremely low, a fact that prevented it from dealing with the 2012 Tuareg insurgency and the subsequent rise of Al-Qaeda, ultimately forcing France to intervene to prevent a hostile takeover of Mali and throwing the rest of the region into turmoil. In the years since, the Malian military has been rebuild with the help of the European Union (EU), with Soviet heavy weaponry making place for modern MRAPs and infantry mobility vehicles.
Nonetheless, Mali continues to operate equipment like the T-54 and PT-76, albeit in much small numbers than before. Interestingly, the Malian Army appears to have returned several other Soviet-era AFVs back to operational condition in recent years, although these appear to spend most of their time collecting dust in barracks with little training being undertaken as they are of little use in fighting the ongoing insurgency. Nonetheless, the ultimate result is an exotic inventory of equipment that could surprise many seasoned analyst for its sheer diversity.
(Click on the equipment to get a picture of them in Malian service)
Equipment currently in service with the Malian Army
Tanks
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T-54 MBT (Rarely used operationally)![]()
PT-76 Mod. 1952 light tank (Rarely used operationally) ![]()
Type-62 light tank (In operational condition but not in active use)
Armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs)
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BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicle![]()
BMP-1 IFV (In operational condition but not in active use)![]()
BTR-152 APC![]()
BTR-60PB APC (At least one operates without a turret)![]()
BTR-70 APC![]()
Fahd APC Two configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)
Mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles
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Streit Group Typhoon 4x4 Six configurations: (2, with a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(3, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)(4, with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)(5, with a 30mm AGS-17 AGL)(6, with a 12.7mm M2 HMG)![]()
Streit Group Gladiator Two configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)![]()
Streit Group Typhoon 6x6 (Armed with a HMG)![]()
Streit Group Tornado 6x6![]()
Streit Group/KrAZ MPV TC ''Shrek One''![]()
OTT PUMA M26-15 (Armed with a 12.7mm DShK)![]()
Paramount Maurader Two configurations: (2, with a 14.5mm KPV HMG RWS)![]()
Casspir Two configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)![]()
OTT Casspir (Armed with a 12.7mm DShK)![]()
RG-31 Nyala (Used by the Gendarmerie)
Infantry mobility vehicles (IMVs)
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Panhard PVP (Armed with a 12.7mm M2 HMG)![]()
ACMAT Bastion Four configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)(3, with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)(4, with a 14.5mm KPV HMG)![]()
ACMAT Bastion Ambulance![]()
Stark Motors Storm Three configurations: (2, with a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(3, with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)![]()
Kia KLTV (Armed with a 7.62mm PKM LMG) Two configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)![]()
VN-4![]()
Streit Group Cougar Three configurations: (2, with a 7.62mm SGMB LMG)(3, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)![]()
Streit Group Python (Not yet seen)
Utility vehicles
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ACMAT ALTV Five configurations: (2)(3, with a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(4, with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)(5, with a 12.7mm M2 HMG)![]()
ACMAT ALTV Ambulance![]()
Kia KM450 Eleven configurations: (2, with a 7.62mm RPD LMG)(3, with a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(4, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)(5, with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)(6, with a 12.7mm M2 HMG)(6, with a 14.5mm KPV)(7, with a 14.5mm ZPU-1 AA gun)(8, with a 14.5mm ZPU-2 AA gun)(9, with a 14.5mm BPU-1 turret)(10, with a 23mm ZU-23 AA gun)(11, with a 30mm AGS-17 AGL)![]()
Kia KM450 Ambulance![]()
Dongfeng EQ2500 Four configurations: (2)(3, with a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(4, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)![]()
Toyota Land Cruiser Nineteen configurations: (2)(3, armed with a 7.62mm SG-43 Goryunov LMG)(4, armed with a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(5, armed with a 7.62mm PKT LMG)(6, armed with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)(7, armed with a 12.7mm NSV HMG)(8, armed with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)(9, armed with a 12.7mm Type 77 HMG)(10, armed with a 12.7mm M2 HMG)(11, armed with a 14.5mm KPV HMG)(12, armed with a 14.5mm ZPU-1 AA gun)(13, armed with a 14.5mm ZPU-2 AA gun)(14, armed with a 14.5mm ZPU-2 AA gun and a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(15, armed with a 14.5mm BPU-1 turret)(16, armed with a ZU-23 AA gun)(17, armed with a 73mm SPG RCL)(18, armed with a 83mm RL-83 Blindicide RCL)(19, with a 107mm Type-63 MRL) ![]()
Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance![]()
Toyota Land Cruiser Prado![]()
Nissan NP300 Two configurations: (2, armed with a 7.62mm SG-43 Goryunov LMG)![]()
Nissan Frontera![]()
Mitsubishi L200![]()
Land Rover Defender
Towed artillery
Multiple rocket launchers (MRLs)
Mortars
(Self-propelled) anti-aircraft guns
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12.7mm DShK![]()
14.5mm ZPU-1 ![]()
23mm ZSU-23-4 'Shilka' (Rarely used operationally)
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)
Trucks
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ACMAT VLRA 4x4 Four configurations: (2)(3, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)(4, with a 14.5mm ZPU-1 AA gun)(5, with a 14.5mm ZPU-2 AA gun)![]()
ACMAT VLRA 6x6![]()
Berliet GBC-180 Two configurations: (2)![]()
Renault T430 Two configurations: (2)![]()
SNVI M120![]()
SNVI M350![]()
Iveco Eurocargo![]()
MAN KAT1 4x4 ![]()
MAN KAT1 6x6 ![]()
MAN TGS 35.440 ![]()
Mercedes-Benz MB1017 ![]()
Mercedes-Benz Actros Two configurations: (2)![]()
Magirus Eckhauber 3. Generation![]()
Unimog 1300![]()
Ural-4320 Two configurations: (2, armed with a 14.5mm ZPU-4 AA gun)![]()
Dongfeng Two configurations: (2)![]()
Howo Sinotruk 4x4 Two configurations: (2)![]()
Howo Sinotruk 6x6 Three configurations: (2)(3)![]()
Sachman SX2190
Engineering vehicles
Equipment formerly in service with the Malian Army
Tanks
Armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs)
Towed artillery
Multiple rocket launchers (MRLs)
Anti-aircraft guns
Surface-to-air missile systems (SAMs)
Radars
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P-12/18 'Spoon Rest'![]()
P-15 'Flat Face A'![]()
SNR-125 'Low Blow' (for S-125) (Not yet seen)
Utility vehicles
Trucks
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GAZ-66![]()
ZiL-131 Three configurations: (2)(3)![]()
ZiL-157![]()
MAZ-537 ![]()
Dongfeng EQ240 ![]()
MAN Hauber![]()
Magirus Eckhauber![]()
Unimog Ambulance![]()
DAF 2800 6x4 ![]()
Renault R340
Engineering vehicles
