Albanian Land Force | |
---|---|
Forca Tokësore | |
![]() | |
Founded | 2000 |
Country | ![]() |
Type | Army |
Role | National Defense |
Size | 8,500 (2015)[1] |
Motto(s) | Fatherland, Honour, And Duty |
Commanders | |
President of Albania | Ilir Meta |
Minister of Defense | Olta Xhaçka |
Chief of the Albanian General Staff | Brig. Gen. Bardhyl Kollçaku |
Commander of the Land Forces | Brig. Gen. Albert Mullai |
Insignia | |
Identification symbol | ![]() |
The Albanian Land Force (Albanian: Forca Tokësore të Republikës së Shqipërisë) is a branch of the Albanian Armed Forces.
The Albanian Land Force's main mission is the defense of the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Albania, participation in humanitarian, combat, non-combat and peace support operations.[2]
Land Force is a priority unit in the structure of the Armed Forces. Land Force was established on August 29, 2000, and included military units with traditions and rich multi-year activity, spread across the territory of the Republic of Albania. In 2000 the Land Force included five infantry divisions with 55 brigades and 300 battalions deployed in 167 different regions of the country. During its continuous reform, the Land Force underwent new changes. In 2006 it was dissolved and the Joint Force Command was established. In the context of the ongoing transformation of the Armed Forces, based on the concept of an army small in number, operational and professional, on 9 December 2009 the Land Force was re-established on the basis of Rapid Reaction Brigade and Commando Regiment.
Based on the constitutional mission, the Land Force was involved in a process of profound transformation according to Western military concepts, and with the transition of the entire force from a conscript military service into a professional army, its operational level has increased. The structures of Land Force have been engaged in Peace Support Operations in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Iraq, Chad and currently in Herat and Kandahar, Afghanistan. Land Force has the major share in peacekeeping operations in the framework of NATO, UN and EU. The Land Force is managed by young qualified leaders educated in military schools of NATO countries, as in the United States, Italy, Turkey, Germany, United Kingdom, Austria, etc., based on cooperation projects with these countries.
Land Force is engaged in civil emergency operations to help the community in cases of natural disasters, such as floods and blocked roads, and aid in distribution in cases of heavy snowfalls, fire suppression operations, etc.
Since its establishment the Land Force has been led by experienced commanders. From 2000-06 it was headed by Maj. Gen. Kostaq Karoli; from 2006-08 it was led by Brig. Gen. Shpëtim Spahiu; from 2008-August 2012 by Brig. Gen. Viktor Berdo. From August 2012 to November 2013 it has been commanded by Maj. Gen. Zyber Dushku. Since 11 November 2013, Maj. Gen. Jeronim Bazo has been Chief of Staff.
Organizational divisions of the land force include:
In 2014, Minister of Defense Kodheli announced that Albania would transition from the Kalashnikov family of rifles to the M4 family, in part because of the association of the Kalashnikov with terrorism.[3]
Model | Image | Caliber | Origin | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
M4 carbine | ![]() |
5.56×45mm | ![]() |
The Colt M4, alongside the Beretta AR70/90 ( 5.000 units delivered in 2017), have become the standard weapons of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Albania, replacing the different models of AK[4] |
AKM | ![]() |
7.62×39mm | ![]() |
Phased out in favor of the M4 and the Beretta AR70/90.[4] |
ASH-78 Tip-1 | ![]() |
7.62×39mm | ![]() |
Phased out in favor of the M4 and the Beretta AR70/90.[4] |
Beretta ARX160 | ![]() |
5.56×45mm | ![]() |
Used by Albanian special forces (BFS), RENEA and Military Police. |
Model | Image | Caliber | Origin | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Beretta Px4 Storm | ![]() |
9×19mm | ![]() |
Standard issue[5] |
P8 Pistol | ![]() |
9×19mm | ![]() |
Limited use in the B.O.S.[6] |
P12 Pistol | ![]() |
.45 ACP | ![]() |
Limited use in the B.O.S.[6] |
Beretta 92 | ![]() |
9×19mm | ![]() |
In use with the B.O.S.[7] |
HK MP5 | ![]() |
9×19mm | ![]() |
Standard SMG in the B.O.S[8] |
HK MP7 | ![]() |
HK 4.6×30mm | ![]() |
Limited use in the B.O.S. Mostly used by the RENEA, the Albanian police[6][8] |
HK UMP | .45 ACP | ![]() |
Limited use in the B.O.S.[8] |
Model | Image | Caliber | Origin | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Sako TRG | ![]() |
.308 Winchester | ![]() |
Used by the Army, RENEA and B.O.S[9] |
Barrett M99 | ![]() |
.50 BMG | ![]() |
Used by B.O.S and RENEA[10] |
Model | Image | Caliber | Origin | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Heckler & Koch MG4 | ![]() |
5.56×45 NATO | ![]() |
The Commando Battalion was the first unit seen to use it in an exercise hel in late December 2015.It was also seen used by 2nd Infantry Battalion during exercises it participated in Poland. It will be used as a squad machinegun of the army[11] |
DSHKM | ![]() |
12.7×108mm | ![]() ![]() |
DSHKM is used as Close AA gun also on APCs, MBTs, transport vehicles and some times on patrol boats.[12] |
RPD machine gun | ![]() |
![]() ![]() |
Phased out in favor of the H&K MG4/MG5[citation needed] |
Image | Caliber | Origin | Note | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Soviet RPG-7 and Chinese Type 69 | ![]() |
40 mm | ![]() ![]() |
Soviet and Chinese version is still used in the army[12] |
Strela-2 | ![]() |
72 mm | ![]() ![]() |
[citation needed] |
HJ-8 | 120 mm | ![]() |
Last seen in 2007 parade[13] |
Model | Image | Caliber | Origin | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
82mm | ![]() |
82mm | ![]() |
370[citation needed] |
M-120 | ![]() |
120mm | ![]() |
750[citation needed] |
M-43 | ![]() |
160mm | ![]() |
20 stocked for museum purposes |
Model | Image | Caliber | Origin | Note |
---|---|---|---|---|
Iveco VM 90 | ![]() |
Armoured vehicle | ![]() |
Template:250 |
Iveco LMV | ![]() |
Armoured Vehicle | ![]() |
23 (+2 to be delivered by the end of 2017 alongside 5000 AR70/90 rifles from Italy. Also, Albania has shown interest in acquiring a further 120 vehicles of this type by the end of 2019 and 40 8x8 vehicles from Italy.)[15][16] |
HMMWV | ![]() |
Armoured Vehicle | ![]() |
87 (further to arrive after missions in Afghanistan and Iraq are completed)[17][18] |
MRAP | Armoured Vehicle | ![]() |
40 (further to arrive after missions in Afghanistan are completed)[citation needed] |
Model | Image | Type | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Eurocopter AS532 Cougar | Multi-role | ![]() |
4 | |
Eurocopter EC145 | Utility | ![]() |
3 | |
Bell 204/205 | Utility | ![]() |
4 | |
Bell 206 | Utility | ![]() |
2 | |
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk | Attack | ![]() |
3 | |
AgustaWestland AW109 | Utility | ![]() |
2 | |
AgustaWestland AW139 | Attack | ![]() |
1 | |
MBB Bo 105 | Utility | ![]() |
15 |
Model | Image | Type | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
Type-59 | ![]() |
Main Battle Tank | ![]() |
721 Type 59 delivered by China from 1966–1975, today none in working condition and all in storage for scrap or for selling. |
Albanian soldiers with VHS rifles
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