By Stijn Mitzer and Joost Oliemans
The Moldovan Armed Forces is one of the most elusive fighting forces in Europe. As the poorest country on the European continent, Moldova has the dubious honour of not having made one acquisition for its military since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Instead, it has been the recipient of military aid from Romania in the 1990s and the United States throughout the 2000s and 2010s, and has in recent years attempted to improve the fighting efficacy of its forces by launching a number of upgrade projects for its armoured fighting vehicles (AFVs).
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
Infantry Fighting Vehicles
Armoured Personnel Carriers
Infantry Mobility Vehicles
Engineering Vehicles And Equipment
Artillery Tractors
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
Though modest in scope, these upgrades have meanwhile resulted in an exotic arsenal of AFVs that include Soviet-legacy designs like the BMD-1 IFV, the 9P149 Shturm-S ATGM carrier and the BM-27 Uragan MRL in addition to a number of homegrown upgrades performed on BTRs and even U.S.-made Humvees. Even as Moldova inherited a vast arsenal of engineering vehicles, its military does not possess any tanks, BMPs or SPGs. And with its only potential adversary being the breakaway republic of Transnistria, any future investments into such equipment appears unlikely.
Our list of Transnistria's inventory of armoured fighting vehicles can be viewed here.
This list attempts to list all AFV types currently in service with the Moldovian Army. This list only includes vehicles and equipment of which photographic evidence is available. ATGMs, MANPADS, trucks and jeeps are not included in the list.
(Click on the vehicle or equipment type to get a picture of them)
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
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BRDM-2 With TAB-71M Turret![]()
MT-LB![]()
MT-LB With ZU-23-2 AA Gun![]()
MT-LBu![]()
GT-MU![]()
BTR-60PU-12 With ZU-23-1 AA Gun Two configurations: (2)
Self-Propelled Anti-Tank Missile Systems
Infantry Fighting Vehicles
Armoured Personnel Carriers
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BTR-60PB![]()
BTR-60PU-12 Used As APC![Romania]()
TAB-71M![]()
BTR-70![]()
BTR-80![]()
BTR-D With 12.7mm DShK In Cupola![]()
BTR-D With 73mm SPG-9 RCL And 7.62mm PKT In Cupola![]()
BTR-D With 73mm SPG-9 RCL And 12.7mm DShK In Cupola![]()
Piranha IIIH
Infantry Mobility Vehicles
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M1123 With MAK (Marine Armour Kit)![]()
M1025 Two configurations: (2)![]()
M1109 UAH![]()
M1044![]()
M1044 With MAK (Marine Armour Kit)
Technicals
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M1008 Chevrolet CUCV Two configurations: (2)
Command Posts And Communications Stations
Engineering Vehicles And Equipment
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IMR-2 Combat Engineering Vehicle![]()
PTS-2 Tracked Amphibious Transport![]()
RKhM Kashalot Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle![]()
BRDM-2RKh Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle![]()
GMZ-3 Minelayer![]()
PMZ-4 Minelayer![]()
BTM-3 Trench Digger![]()
MDK-2M Trench Digger![]()
PZM-2 Trench Digger![]()
PMP Floating Bridge![]()
BMK-130M/BMK-150 Towing And Motor Boat![]()
BMK-T Towing And Motor Boat
Artillery Tractors
Artillery And Air Defence Support Vehicles
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PRP-3 'Val' Artillery Reconnaissance Vehicle![]()
1V18 'Klyon-1' Artillery Command And Forward Observer Vehicle![]()
1V119 Artillery Fire Direction Vehicle![]()
SNAR-10 Battlefield Surveillance Radar![]()
9T452 Transporter-Loader (For BM-27 Uragan MRL)
Towed Artillery
Self-Propelled Artillery
Multiple Rocket Launchers
Towed Anti-Aircraft Guns
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12.7mm DShK![]()
14.5mm ZPU-2 (Not yet seen in original configuration)![]()
23mm ZU-23-2![]()
57mm AZP S-60
Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Guns
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14.5mm KPV On GAZ-66![]()
14.5mm ZPU-2 On GAZ-66![]()
23mm ZU-23-2 On GAZ-66![]()
23mm ZU-23-2 On BTR-D![]()
57mm AZP S-60 On ZiL-135
Static Surface-To-Air Missile (SAM) Systems
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S-125 (One site protecting the capital Chișinău)
Radars
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P-14 'Tall King'![]()
P-15 'Flat Face A'![]()
P-12 'Spoon Rest A'![]()
P-18 'Spoon Rest D'![]()
PRV-13 'Odd Pair'![]()
PRV-16 'Thin Skin B'![]()
36D6 'Tin Shield'![]()
SNR-125 'Low Blow' (For S-125)
Special thanks to Buschlaid.
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