Sons of Bamako - Malian Armed Forces Fighting Vehicles

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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Clik here to view.T-54 MBT (Rarely used operationally)
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Clik here to view.PT-76 Mod. 1952 light tank (Rarely used operationally)
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Clik here to view.Type-62 light tank (In operational condition but not in active use)

Armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs)

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Clik here to view.BRDM-2 reconnaissance vehicle
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Clik here to view.BMP-1 IFV (In operational condition but not in active use)
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Clik here to view.BTR-152 APC
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Clik here to view.BTR-60PB APC (At least one operates without a turret)
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Clik here to view.BTR-70 APC
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Clik here to view.Fahd APC Two configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)

Mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) vehicles

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Clik here to view.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)
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Clik here to view.Streit Group Gladiator Two configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)
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Clik here to view.Streit Group Typhoon 6x6 (Armed with a HMG)
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Clik here to view.Streit Group Tornado 6x6
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Clik here to view.Streit Group/KrAZ MPV TC ''Shrek One''
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Clik here to view.OTT PUMA M26-15 (Armed with a 12.7mm DShK)
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Clik here to view.Paramount Maurader Two configurations: (2, with a 14.5mm KPV HMG RWS)
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Clik here to view.Casspir Two configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)
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Clik here to view.OTT Casspir (Armed with a 12.7mm DShK)
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Clik here to view.RG-31 Nyala (Used by the Gendarmerie)

Infantry mobility vehicles (IMVs)

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Clik here to view.Panhard PVP (Armed with a 12.7mm M2 HMG)
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Clik here to view.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)
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Clik here to view.ACMAT Bastion Ambulance
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Clik here to view.Stark Motors Storm Three configurations: (2, with a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(3, with a 12.7mm Kord HMG)
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Clik here to view.Kia KLTV (Armed with a 7.62mm PKM LMG) Two configurations: (2, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)
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Clik here to view.VN-4
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Clik here to view.Streit Group Cougar Three configurations: (2, with a 7.62mm SGMB LMG)(3, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)
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Clik here to view. Streit Group Python (Not yet seen)

Utility vehicles

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Clik here to view.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)
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Clik here to view.ACMAT ALTV Ambulance
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Clik here to view.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)
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Clik here to view.Kia KM450 Ambulance
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Clik here to view.Dongfeng EQ2500 Four configurations: (2)(3, with a 7.62mm PKM LMG)(4, with a 12.7mm DShK HMG)
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Clik here to view.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)
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Clik here to view.Toyota Land Cruiser Ambulance
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Clik here to view.Toyota Land Cruiser Prado
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Clik here to view.Nissan NP300 Two configurations: (2, armed with a 7.62mm SG-43 Goryunov LMG)
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Clik here to view.Nissan Frontera
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Clik here to view.Mitsubishi L200
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Clik here to view.Land Rover Defender

Towed artillery

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Clik here to view.122mm (D-30) howitzer 2A18

Multiple rocket launchers (MRLs)

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Clik here to view.107mm Type-63
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Clik here to view.122mm 9P122 'Grad-P'
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Clik here to view.122mm BM-21 'Grad'

Mortars

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Clik here to view.60mm M57
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Clik here to view.82mm 82-BM-37
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Clik here to view.120-PM-43 mortar

(Self-propelled) anti-aircraft guns

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Clik here to view.12.7mm DShK
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Clik here to view.14.5mm ZPU-1
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Clik here to view.23mm ZSU-23-4 'Shilka' (Rarely used operationally)

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs)

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Clik here to view.Hawker Q800X

Trucks

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Clik here to view.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)
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Clik here to view.ACMAT VLRA 6x6
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Clik here to view.Berliet GBC-180 Two configurations: (2)
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Clik here to view.Renault T430 Two configurations: (2)
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Clik here to view.SNVI M120
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Clik here to view.SNVI M350
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Clik here to view.Iveco Eurocargo
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Clik here to view.MAN KAT1 4x4
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Clik here to view.MAN KAT1 6x6
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Clik here to view.MAN TGS 35.440
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Clik here to view.Mercedes-Benz MB1017
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Clik here to view.Mercedes-Benz Actros Two configurations: (2)
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Clik here to view.Magirus Eckhauber 3. Generation
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Clik here to view.Unimog 1300
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Clik here to view.Ural-4320 Two configurations: (2, armed with a 14.5mm ZPU-4 AA gun)
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Clik here to view.Dongfeng Two configurations: (2)
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Clik here to view.Howo Sinotruk 4x4 Two configurations: (2)
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Clik here to view.Howo Sinotruk 6x6 Three configurations: (2)(3)
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Clik here to view.Sachman SX2190

Engineering vehicles

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Clik here to view.Caterpillar bulldozer
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Clik here to view.M-Boot