Major General James G. Blunt

The Slovenian Ground Force is the primary component of Slovenian Armed Forces.

History

The current Slovenian Armed Forces are descended from the Territorial Defense of the Republic of Slovenia (Teritorialna Obramba Republike Slovenije; TORS), which was formed in 1968 as a paramilitary complement to the regular army of the former Yugoslav within the territory of Slovenia. The main objectives of TORS were to support the Yugoslav People's Army (JNA) and conduct guerrilla operations in the event of an invasion.[citation needed]

When Slovenia declared independence at the onset of the Yugoslav Wars in 1991, the TORS and the Slovenian police comprised the majority of forces engaging the JNA during the Ten-Day War. The Slovenian Armed Forces were formally established in 1993 as a reorganization of the TORS.[citation needed]

Current equipment

Small arms

A Slovene soldier with an FN F2000 assault rifle
Model Image Origin Type Caliber or cartridge Details
Handguns
Beretta 92FS  Italy Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Standard handgun of the Slovenian Army.[2]
Pistol Rex Zero-1 S FDE  Slovenia Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Used by Slovenian special forces.[3]
SIG Sauer P226  Switzerland Semi-automatic pistol 9×19mm Parabellum Used by officers and special forces.[4]
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5  Germany Submachine gun 9×19mm Parabellum Used by Slovenian Military Police and special units.[5]
Shotguns
Benelli M4  Italy Pump action shotgun 12 gauge Semi-automatic shotgun
Carbine
M59 PAP  Yugoslavia Carbine 7.62×39mm Used by Slovenian Ceremonial Honor Guard.
Assault rifles and battle rifles
FN F2000S  Belgium Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Standard service rifle.

Will be replaced by FN SCAR.[6]

Heckler & Koch HK416  Germany Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO Used by Rdeči Panterji.[6]
Zastava M70  Yugoslavia Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Used by reserve soldiers.[7]
FN SCAR  Belgium Battle rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Future standard service rifle.

Scar H and L are used by Slovenian Special forces (ESD) .[6]

Machine guns
FN Minimi Para  Belgium Light machine gun 5.56×45mm NATO Standard issue light machine gun.[8]
FN MAG  Belgium General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO Standard issue medium machine gun.[9]
M2HB  Belgium Heavy machine gun 12.7×99mm NATO M2HB QCB variant manufactured by FN Herstal.[10]
Sniper rifle
Steyr SSG 69  Austria Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Bolt-action sniper rifle.[5]
Sako TRG  Finland Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Bolt-action sniper rifle.[5]
PGM Ultima Ratio  France Bolt action sniper rifle 7.62×51mm NATO Sniper rifle.[11]
PGM Mini Hecate  France Bolt action sniper rifle .338 Lapua Magnum Medium sniper rifle.[12]
PGM Hécate II  France Bolt action sniper rifle 12.7×99mm NATO Heavy sniper rifle.[13]
Grenade launchers
Heckler & Koch GMG  Germany Automatic grenade launcher 40x53mm HV [14]
GL1  Belgium Grenade launcher 40×46 mm LV [15]
Anti-tank warfare
Spike LR  Israel Anti-tank guided missile 170mm [16]
RGW 90  Germany Disposable recoilless gun 90mm
Carl Gustav M4  Sweden Reusable recoillesss rifle 84mm Recoilless anti tank weapon which will replace the RGW 90. Bought with different types of ammunition from high explosive anti tank to dual purpose.[citation needed]
Man-portable air-defense systems
Igla-S  Russia Man-portable air-defense system 72mm [17]

Artillery

Model Image Origin Type Caliber Number Notes
Artillery
Soltam M71 (M839)

TN90

 Israel Towed howitzer 155 mm L/39 18 [18][19]
Soltam K6

MN 9

 Israel Heavy mortar 120 mm 50 [20][19]

Combat vehicles

Model Image Origin Type Number Notes
Tanks
M-84A4 Sniper  Yugoslavia
 Slovenia 		Main battle tank 54 13-20 in active use 34–41 in reserve status. All were upgraded to M-84A4 Sniper standard by 2008.[21][22]
Armoured personnel carriers
SKOV Svarun

Impro

 Finland
 Slovenia 		Armoured personnel carrier 30 30 vehicles delivered according to a Settlement Agreement with Patria.[23][21][24] 20 equipped with Protector rcws
Valuk

Improved Pandur

 Austria
 Slovenia 		Multi-role armoured fighting vehicle 65 65 vehicles in service. 19 of them in the 20th Infantry Regiment.[25][21][26] Variants:
BOV  Slovenia Armoured fighting vehicle (?) Used by Slovenian Military Police.

Small numbers in service.

Other vehicles

Model Image Origin Type Number Notes
Reconnaissance vehicles
Otokar Cobra  Turkey Reconnaissance vehicle 10 Nuclear, biological, chemical reconnaissance vehicle.[21][27]
Light multi-role vehicles
Oshkosh L-ATV  United States Light multi-role vehicle 75 (+86 on order for a total of 161)[28]
  • Batch 1: 24 Ordered in 2018, delivered in May 2021.[29]
  • Batch 2: 14 Complementary order in February 2020 for 14 additional although not disclosed.[30]
  • Batch 3: 37 Ordered in September 2021. By 2023, 75 delivered.[31]
  • Batch 4: 39 Donated by the US in a Ringtausch agreement for the Slovenian equipment donated to Ukraine.[31]
  • Batch 5: 47 Ordered in December 2022[30]

86 vehicles remaining on order. Deliveries to take place in 2024 and 2025. Will be armed with RCWS Protector RS4 which is equipped with:[32][33][28]

Humvee  United States Light multi-role vehicle 30 M1114 and M1152 variants.

Will be gradually replaced by Oshkosh L-ATV.[citation needed] 20 units sent to Ukraine.[34]

MRAPs
Cougar JERRV  United States MRAP 7 Used by EOD units.[35][36]
Military light utility vehicles
Mercedes-Benz G-Class  Germany Military light utility vehicle [37][26]
Achleitner MMV Survivor  Japan Military light utility vehicle 91 A modified Toyota Land Cruiser for military missions. Will be delivered at the end of 2018.[38]
Military trucks
MAN 15 TMILGL W A1  Germany Military truck The vehicle is intended for transport of material and technical assets (MTS), mainly ammunition and mines.[39]
HX 8x8 RMMV RHEINMETALL  Germany Transport and water trucks 40 In exchange for sending 28 Slovenian M55S tanks (upgraded T-55 tanks) to Ukraine, Germany handed over 40 MAN HX 8×8 RMMV trucks to Slovenia in December 2022.[40]
Mercedes-Benz Actros  Germany Military truck The vehicle is intended for transport of material and technical means (MTS) and personnel.[41]
Iveco T-series  Italy Military truck The vehicle is intended for transport of material and technical means (MTS) and personnel.[42][43][44][45]
Unimog  Germany Military truck 30 The vehicle is intended for transport of material and technical means (MTS) and special vehicle with superstructure. The vehicle is equipped with a roof lining, which allows infantry weapons to be installed.[46]
TAM 150 T11 B/BV  Yugoslavia Military truck The vehicle is intended for transport of material and technical means (MTS), also used as water/fuel tank vehicle, as decontamination vehicle and special vehicle with superstructure.[47]
TAM 110 T7 B/BV  Yugoslavia Military truck Mainly used for towing mortars.[48]
Armoured recovery vehicles
JVBT-55  Czechoslovakia Armoured recovery vehicle 7 [49]
VT-55  Czechoslovakia Armoured recovery vehicle 2 [21]
Armoured vehicle-launched bridges
MT-55  Czechoslovakia Armoured vehicle-launched bridge 4 [50]

Future equipment

Equipment Image Origin Type Number Notes
Small arms
Spike LR2  Israel
 Germany 		ATGM 50 Ordered in September 2022 to Eurospike for €6.67 million [51] (range 5.5 km)

Those will equip the JLTV on the RCWS Protector RS4

Reconnaissance vehicles
8x8 Armoured fighting vehicle

 Switzerland
 Italy
 Poland
 Finland 		APC Up to 106 €700 million after rejecting the contract for the Boxer.

The finalists of the competition are the Piranha V, the Freccia, the Rosomak L and the Patria AMVXP.[52]

Other vehicles
Logistic vehicles Unknown The Government included in the defence development plan for the period from 2023 to 2026 the purchase of new trucks and light utility vehicles, to replace the old and worn-out ones. The project is estimated at €24 million.[53]
Air Defence
IRIS-T SLM  Germany SAM system 1 unit Contract signed in January for €147 million. The purchase order includes one fire unit, consisting of the components radar, tactical operations center and four missile launchers as well as IRIS-T SL guided missiles and logistic support.

Former equipment

Stored equipment

Retired equipment

Slovenian 9M111 Fagot anti-tank guided missile

References

  1. ^ http://www.siol.net/novice/slovenija/2008/04/slovenski_vojaki_prvic_v_misiji_na_afriski_celini.aspx [dead link]
  2. ^ "Pištola - Beretta M92 FS". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  3. ^ "Pištola - Arex REX Zero 1S". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  4. ^ "Pištola - SIG Sauer P226". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  5. ^ a b c "The Warrior of the 21st Century" (PDF). www.mo.gov.si. Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Slovenia.
  6. ^ a b c "Avtomatska puška - FN HerstalF 2000 S". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  7. ^ "Avtomatska puška - Zastava M70 AB2". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian). Archived from the original on 2018-03-13. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  8. ^ "Puškomitraljez - FN Herstal MINIMI". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  9. ^ "Puškomitraljez - FN Herstal MAG". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  10. ^ "Mitraljez - FN Herstal M2HB QCB". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  11. ^ "Ostrostrelna puška –PGM Precision Ultima Ratio Commando". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  12. ^ "Ostrostrelna puška – PGM Precision Mini Hecate". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  13. ^ "Ostrostrelna puška – PGM PrecisionHecate II". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  14. ^ "Avtomatski bombomet –Heckler & Koch GMG". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  15. ^ "Podcevni bombomet - FN Herstal LG1". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  16. ^ "Trade Registers". armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  17. ^ "Lahki prenosni raketni sistem zračne obrambe - Igla-S (9K338)". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  18. ^ "Cannon-Howitzer 155/45mm TN90". www.slovenskavojska.si. Retrieved 22 August 2018.
  19. ^ a b International Institute for Strategic Studies (2020). "Chapter Four: Europe". The Military Balance. 120 (1): 145. doi:10.1080/04597222.2020.1707964. S2CID 219623996.
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  27. ^ "Lahko izvidniško vozilo JRKBO – Otokar LIV Cobra 4x4". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  28. ^ a b "Prispela nova pošiljka za Slovensko vojsko: 37 štirikolesnikov | 24ur.com". www.24ur.com (in Slovenian). Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  29. ^ "JLTVs bound for five export customers under US$160 million deal with Oshkosh | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
  30. ^ a b "Slovenia shows 38 JLTVs armed with CROWS after ordering 47 more of the vehicles". Janes.com. Retrieved 2024-01-09.
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  34. ^ "Answering The Call: Heavy Weaponry Supplied To Ukraine". Oryx.
  35. ^ Bozinovski, Igor (20 December 2017). "Slovenia upgrades MRAP-JERRV vehicles". IHS Jane's 360. Archived from the original on 26 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.
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  37. ^ "Osebno terensko vozilo – Mercedes Benz G270 CDI". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  38. ^ "Slovenska vojska je prevzela Toyote Land Cruiser". www.avto-magazin.si (in Slovenian). 6 January 2018.
  39. ^ "Tovorno vozilo – MAN 15TMILGL W A1". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  40. ^ ESD (2022-12-16). "Rheinmetall Supplies Slovenia with Military Trucks Under 'Ringtausch' Exchange Programme". European Security & Defence. Retrieved 2022-12-16.
  41. ^ "Tovorno vozilo – Mercedes BenzActros 3336 AK". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  42. ^ "Cisterna za prevoz vode – IvecoTrakker 190 T 35W (ACV)". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  43. ^ "Cisterna za prevoz vode – IvecoTrakker AD 380 T 44W (ACV)". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  44. ^ "Cisterna za prevoz goriva – IvecoTrakker 190 T 35W (ACG)". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  45. ^ "Cisterna za prevoz goriva – IvecoTrakker AD 380 T 44W (ACG)". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  46. ^ "Tovorno vozilo – Mercedes BenzUnimog 2150L/38 4x4". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  47. ^ "Tovorno vozilo – TAM 150 T11 BV 6x6". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  48. ^ "Tovorno vozilo – TAM 110 T7 4x4". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  49. ^ "Tank za evakuacijo – ZTS Martin JVBT 55A". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
  50. ^ "Tank nosilec mostu – ZTS Martin MT-55". www.slovenskavojska.si (in Slovenian).
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source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slovenian_Ground_Force