The Zambian Army is the land military branch of the Zambian Defence Force. Like all branches of the Zambian military, citizens of the nation are required to register at 16 years old, and citizens can join at 16 years old with parental consent or at 18 years old when they are classified as adults by Zambia. There is currently no conscription. (There was a Zambia National Defence Force conscription from 1975 to 1980.) Applicants must be Zambian citizens and must have a school Grade 12 certification. Applicants must also undergo a test for HIV on enlistment. Personnel can serve until age 55, when there is a mandatory retirement. Its first Commander Major General was Michael Grigg, appointed by Kenneth Kaunda. The first local Commander was Gen Kingsley Chinkuli. According to the 2014 CIA World Factbook: The current National Army Commander is Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele and his deputy is Major General Luswepo Sinyinzawho who were both appointed by President Hakainder Hichilema on 12 September 2024. There are 3,041,069 men between 16-49 who are classified as manpower (this does not mean that all of them are fit for duty), and 2,948,291 women between 16–49 who are classified as manpower. This makes a total of 5,989,360 people classified as manpower. There are 1,745,656 men who are classified as fit for military service between the ages of 16–49. There are 1,688,670 women who are classified as fit for military service between the ages of 16–49. Therefore, Zambia has 3,434,326 people fit for military service between the ages of 16–49. 1.55% of the GDP of Zambia is spent on the military, ranked 70th in the world.

Organisation

The current Army organisation is as follows:Lungu H. & Ngoma, N. (2005) The Zambian military—trials, tribulations and hope. In: Rupiya, M. (ed.) Evolutions and Revolutions: A Contemporary History of Militaries in Southern Africa. Institute for Security Studies, Pretoria: 331-329.

Three infantry brigades:

1 Brigade (Lusaka) 2 Brigade (Kabwe) 3 Brigade (Ndola)

With the following units: 64th Armoured Tank Regiment (tank). 17th Cavalry Regiment (armoured reconnaissance) 10th Medium Artillery Regiment 2 Artillery Battalions Multiple Rocket Launchers Battalion 1 Engineer Regiment, Mufulira 6 Construction Regiment Mechanised battalion Zambia Regiment (raised in 1964 from the Northern Rhodesia Regiment) Light Infantry 1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion 4th Battalion 5th Battalion 6th Battalion Reserve Infantry 7th Battalion 8th Battalion 9th Battalion 1 Commando Battalion 48th Marine Unit Specialist schools 83 Parachute Regiment

Ranks

Commissioned officer ranks

The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Other ranks The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Equipment

Small arms Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes Pistols TT-33Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol Stechkin APSJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 9×18mm Semi-automatic pistol Sub-machine guns SterlingJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 9×19mm Submachine gun Heckler & Koch MP5 9×19mm Submachine gun Rifles FN FALJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Heckler & Koch G3Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Zastava M59/66Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle AKMJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 7.62×39mm Assault rifle AK-74Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 5.45×39mm Assault rifle IWI Galil ACE 5.56×45mm Assault rifleCarbine IWI Tavor 5.56×45mm BullpupAssault rifle Machine guns DShKJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun SG-43Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 7.62×54mmR Medium machine gun RP-46 7.62×54mmR Light machine gun RPKJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon PKMJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun Grenade launchers RPG-7Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . 40mm Rocket-propelled grenade

Tanks Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes T-55 Medium tank 25 INS Deliveries in 1976 and 1981. PT-76 Amphibious Light tank 30 INS Type 59 Main battle tank 20International Institute for Strategic Studies: The Military Balance 2014, p.467 INS

Armored vehicles Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes BTR-60 Armoured personnel carrier 13 INS BTR-70 Armoured personnel carrier 20 INS BTR-80 Armoured personnel carrier 20 INS BRDM-1 Amphibious armored scout car 44 INS Acquired in 1980. BRDM-2 Amphibious armored scout car 44 INS Acquired in 1981. GAZ Tigr Infantry Mobility Vehicle 35 INS GAZ-233014 WZ551 Armoured personnel carrier 20 INS 6X6 WZ551B variant. Ratel Infantry fighting vehicle 14SA Ratels in Libya spur DA to call for investigation INS Buffel Infantry mobility vehicle 1 INS Rhino variant. Saymar Musketeer Armored car INS

Anti-tank weapons Name Image Type Origin Caliber Notes Carl GustavJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . Recoilless rifle 84mm M18Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). . Recoilless rifle 57mm M20 Recoilless rifle 75mm 9M14 Malyutka Anti-tank missile 75mm

Artillery Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes Self-propelled artillery ATMOS 2000 Self-propelled 6 INS Mounted on a Czech 6×6 Tatra 10-tonne chassis. Elbit Spear MK2 Cardom Self-propelled mortar 6 INS Mounted on an Indian Tata Trucks LPTA 713TC 4×4 chassis. Rocket artillery BM-21 Grad Multiple rocket launcher 50 INS Field artillery Type 59 Towed field gun 18 INS D-30 Howitzer 24 INS Mod.56 Howitzer 18 INS

Air defence systems Name Image Type Origin Quantity Status Notes KS-12 Anti-aircraft gun 16 INS 61-K Autocannon 40 INS AZP S-60 Autocannon 30 INS Zastava M55 Autocannon 50 INS

Unmanned aerial vehicles Name Image Type Origin In service Notes Elbit Skylark Miniature UAV 2

References

Works cited