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Algerian Army - Modernization

The army was well equipped with both older and more up-to- date models of Soviet armor and artillery. In 1993 it had nearly 1,000 tanks, including more than 600 T-62s and late-model T-72s. About 200 T-72s had been delivered since 1990. Earlier versions of wheeled armored personnel carriers (APCs), the Soviet BTR-50 and BTR-60, had been supplemented by BMP-1 and BMP-2 tracked armored infantry fighting vehicles mounted with 73mm guns and a few with Sagger antitank missiles. The army's extensive artillery inventory was headed by Soviet 122mm and 152mm self-propelled howitzers. There were also more than 100 122mm, 140mm, and 240mm multiple rocket launchers in the inventory. The principal antitank weapons were the Soviet Sagger and the French Milan. In addition to a variety of towed and self-propelled air defense guns, the army had Soviet SA-8 and SA-9 vehicle-mounted surfaceto -air missiles (SAMs) and SA-7 man-portable SAMs.

According to the 2008 issue of The Military Balance, published annually by the International Institute for Security Studies, Algeria's army has the following equipment: 920 main battle tanks, 139 reconnaissance vehicles, 1,084 armored infantry fighting vehicles, 910 armored personnel carriers, 375 towed artillery, 170 self-propelled artillery, 144 multiple rocket launchers, 330 mortars, an unspecified number of antitank guided weapons, 180 recoilless launchers, 300 antitank guns, at least 288 surface-to-air missiles, about 875 air defense guns, and an unspecified number of surface-to-air missiles.

As of 2005 Algeria planned to sign a contract worth $650 million for the purchase of 300 T-90S main battle tanks from Russia. Algeria buys more Russian weapons than any other African country. It received 18 Smerch (Tornado) multiple-launch rocket systems (MLRS) and radio-technical reconnaissance systems during the ten years 1995-2005. When president of Russia, Vladimir Putin offered to cancel debts incurred by Algeria for these Soviet-era arms transfers in exchange for new arms orders. In March 2006, during a visit by Russian President Vladimir Putin to Algeria, both countries signed a large package of contracts worth about $8 billion, including four S300PMU air defense systems, 38 Pantsir S1 short-range missile-gun systems, 185 T-90S tanks and 218 Kornet-3 anti-tank missile systems.

The Nizhny Tagil-based Ural Railroad Car Works [Uralvagonzavod], a leading Russian tank manufacturer, decided to supply the first 40 T-90S tanks in 2007, rather than in 2006. By 2007 the contract for the delivery of Pantsir S1 short-range anti-aircraft guns seemed problematic. The Tula-based instrument-making design bureau had obligations to deliver the systems to Algeria, Syria, the UAE and to a fourth unidentified country. Considering that deliveries to the UAE have been significantly delayed, problems with the other countries are also quite probable. The UAE was to have received 50 Pantsir-S1s in 2003-2006. However, the systems will only be delivered by 2010, starting in late 2007.

The army of this North African state, along with modern T-90CA, continues to operate more than 300 T-72 combat vehicles. They proved to be simple and reliable tanks. However, most of them were purchased back in the 80s, and in the new century, according to some characteristics, they are significantly outdated. For example, mounted sights do not have sufficient accuracy and have significant limitations for operations at night. Therefore, the updated samples are equipped with Sosna-U multi-channel sights with a built-in thermal imager, which make it possible to fight in the dark almost as effectively as during the day. At the same time, the TPD-1K, which were previously the main ones, were not dismantled, but left as a backup. The Algerian Ministry of Defense plans to reform the armed forces, in particular, the modernization of weapons and army communications systems. Such a statement, according to Algerie Presse Service, was made 01 March 2022 by Algerian Defense Minister Said Shangriha during a visit to the first military region. “ On this occasion, I would like to emphasize that increasing the combat capability of the National People's Army is the constant concern of the Supreme High Command, which is working with great determination in accordance with the directives of the President of the Republic, the Supreme Commander, to modernize all components of our armed forces and increase their professionalism, especially in this sensitive area - the field of communications, information systems and electronic warfare, as well as gaining effective control over modern technologies , ”said the Algerian defense minister.