Nations that use ageing Soviet equipment?

Hello anyone,

Does anybody know of any countries around the world that use a lot of out dated, ageing soviet military equipment from as early as the 1950's?

I know that North Korea uses a lot but if you could give me a list of countries that do, I can go away and do some research.

Many thanks

Cuba, large chunks of Africa, the Middle East (Syria, Iraq, Iran, Hezbollah, Afghanistan) the FSU states (Ukraine, Belarus, the CARs, the Caucus), Russia, China, India, Vietnam...

To be honest it would be easier to make a list of countries that don't use aging Soviet equipment. It would probably be shorter.

smith88 said:

Hello anyone,

Does anybody know of any countries around the world that use a lot of out dated, ageing soviet military equipment from as early as the 1950's?

I know that North Korea uses a lot but if you could give me a list of countries that do, I can go away and do some research.

Many thanks

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Do upgraded Soviet equipment from that era count? In that case you can add virtually every third-world and developing nation in that list.

vivtho said:

Do upgraded Soviet equipment from that era count? In that case you can add virtually every third-world and developing nation in that list.

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And even a few developed ones. Like Greece.

The traditional big users - other than China and India - sit in Eastern Europe and North Africa. With the rest you often get a weird mix at some levels due to changing allegiances a couple times in the past 40 years.

1950s equipment is often a bit hard to find; vehicles like BTR-152 or T-54 are in most countries resigned to reserve stocks or completely inoperational, even in Africa. Aircraft from the 50s are similarly hard to find; MiG-19 and MiG-17 for example may be in use in a handful African nations in sporadic numbers and doubtful operational status.

kato said:

With the rest you often get a weird mix at some levels due to changing allegiances a couple times in the past 40 years.

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A good example is Indonesia which still has PT-76s [some upgraded by Nimba in Israel], RPG-7s and ZSUs. Indonesia at one time even had a Sverdlov class criuser, Badger bombers and Whiskey class SSKs!!

To cancel a debt owed by the Soviet Union, South Korea received T-80's, BMPs and Metis's in the mid-90's from Russia.

Kato, probably a few early AK-series rifles floating around in various armouries around the world still if they count.

STURM said:

A good example is Indonesia which still has PT-76s [some upgraded by Nimba in Israel], RPG-7s and ZSUs. Indonesia at one time even had a Sverdlov class criuser, Badger bombers and Whiskey class SSKs!!

To cancel a debt owed by the Soviet Union, South Korea received T-80's, BMPs and Metis's in the mid-90's from Russia.

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RoK also operates Ka-32 helos, though I think they're operated in a civilian capacity. The interesting examples would be the ones like the RoK using T-80s, BMP-3s, and Metis-M ATGMs, or Greece with their S-300PMUs, and Tor-M1s. Countries that you wouldn't expect to see with Soviet kit.

Bangladesh still has some BTR-60s/70s they are probably in storage and no longer used for front line activity.

Also if AK-47s count in as old soviet weponry than a lot of countries still use them, I know the RAB and the armed police battalion in Bangladesh still have some Ak- 47s although for the RAb they are mainly training weapons.

Specialized BTR-60PB variants are still in Russian Army service. I suspect Bangladesh isn't alone.

Technically the BTR-60 is 1960s equipment, being formally introduced in 1961

Apart from RPG-7 i think there's a couple nations that still use good old RPG-2 btw. B10 too. If we go into artillery we get the real old stuff: BM12/Type63, D20, even a couple old 152mm D-1/M1943.

Regarding old stocks and AK47 - i've seen the lists of what Ukraine had in its depots a few years ago. AK47 are new compared to most everything else in there...

D-30 is in service with the 18th Machinegun-Arty Division on the Kuril Islands.

Kato where could one see this list?

Several JJ-6 (Mig-19) are still in service in China, for basic flight training for pilot cadets. J-7 (Mig-21) variants are still widely used in second tier units. H-6 (Tu-16) bombers are in service with both airforce and naval aviation. With the exception of JJ-6, most J-7s and H-6s were built between 1990's and early 2000's.

As far as ground forces are concerned, there are more than 2000 Type 59 (T-55) tanks in serivce. Some are being upgraded while others are being retired by newer tanks. However, I suspect they'll keep these old toys around for at least another decade. Oh almost forgot, about two hundred Type 86 (BMP-1) are in inventory. While they're based on obsolete old Soviet designs, these systems received several upgrades throughout their operational lives.

Pathfinder-X said:

... As far as ground forces are concerned, there are more than 2000 Type 59 (T-55) tanks in serivce. ...

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Talking about T-55s ... if we count upgraded/modified variants I believe Israel will be a big user.

vivtho said:

Talking about T-55s ... if we count upgraded/modified variants I believe Israel will be a big user.

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JS-2 and JS-3 along with T-55 are used as static gun emplacements on the Kuril Islands, by the 18th Machinegun-Arty Div. Some T-34-85 were used as parade training vehicles by Vietnam not too long ago.

Feanor said:

Kato where could one see this list?

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It was posted a couple years ago when Ukraine was selling off most of its depots wholesale. Whole list was maybe 80-100 letter pages, all in Russian (edit: Ukrainian actually of course). Would have to hunt around on my computer for the link, if it still exists.

It contained primarily probably several million spare parts (both mechanical and electronic) for various Soviet systems and about two million small arms, primarily AK, SKS and M1891 in a broad variety of variants; also some leftover lend-lease equipment, primarily pistols and SMGs (a few 10,000 units) and a similar number of captured WW2 German equipment.

Several hundred aircraft, tanks etc. in there too, though mostly newer stuff (70s/80s).

Edit: It's still online. From 2008.

I wish I could read russian/ukrainian..

I want my T-55 and my Mig 19. Have them parked out the front of my 3rd world Palace...

PS: It's Ukrainian of course, not Russian.

Columns are:
1) Name of item (and kyrillic isn't really that hard to read)
2) Units (sets, pieces, sets of thousand etc)
3) Number of units within item listed
4) Year of manufacture
5) Age of item
6) State (repair level required? - I is best, V is worst)
7) Original procurement value
8) Value per single unit within item
9) Value of whole list item
10) Current whereabouts of item

The values are in thousands of USD if i get it right.

The funnier items are near the bottom. Like the one million matchboxes for 10 cents a piece, or half a million aluminium spoons for 30 cents apiece. Or the, if i get that right, some 12 million 10V batteries. Ammunition is somewhere down the middle of the document.

kato said:

PS: It's Ukrainian of course, not Russian.

Columns are:
1) Name of item (and kyrillic isn't really that hard to read)
2) Units (sets, pieces, sets of thousand etc)
3) Number of units within item listed
4) Year of manufacture
5) Age of item
6) State (repair level required? - I is best, V is worst)
7) Original procurement value
8) Value per single unit within item
9) Value of whole list item
10) Current whereabouts of item

The values are in thousands of USD if i get it right.

The funnier items are near the bottom. Like the one million matchboxes for 10 cents a piece, or half a million aluminium spoons for 30 cents apiece. Or the, if i get that right, some 12 million 10V batteries. Ammunition is somewhere down the middle of the document.

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Beautiful list. :coffee Thank you Kato. Everything from matches and aluminum plates to supporting and engineering equipment, to tanks and planes, and spare parts.

By the way, prices are in thousands of hryvnias (or grivnas) (Ukranian currency - UAH). So you can convert that to your currency of choice.

Edit To StingrayOZ: There are T-55s on the list (thanks again Kato, I feel bad missing T-55s on the list..., my eyes skipped right to BMPs) but no Mig 19, but plenty of Mig 21 and T-64, T-72, T-80 different models.

Cheers.

Humming Drone said:

By the way, prices are in thousands of hryvnias (or grivnas) (Ukranian currency - UAH). So you can convert that to your currency of choice.

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Seriously? For reference sake, in late 2008: 1000 UAH = 100 EUR = 140 USD... roughly.

Ok, then the matches go for 1 cent

Edit: The values given are extremely screwy in my opinion. Treat with caution.

Humming Drone said:

Edit To StingrayOZ: Sorry, no T-55 or Mig 19, but plenty of Mig 21 or T-64, T-72, T-80 different models.

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There are in total 54 T-55 in there: Items 53) to 56) in part 94 (Танки - Tanks)