Eritrean Army

Eritrean Army
Active	1991–present
Country	Eritrea
Type	Army
Role	Ground defence
Engagements	Eritrean War of Independence Hanish Islands conflict Eritrean–Ethiopian War Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict
Commanders
Current commander	Major General Ahmed Umer Kakay [1]

The Eritrean Army is the largest branch of the Eritrean Defence Forces and is based in the Eritrean capital, Asmara. It is responsible for the defence of mainland Eritrea. Eritrean army is composed of four separate corps, each broken into 20 infantry brigades, single commando division and one mechanized brigade.^[2] However, current number of divisions of the Eritrean army cannot be fully confirmed, because the organizational structure changed rapidly in early 2000, but before that Eritrean army had 24 divisions at its disposal.^[3] Encyclopedia of uniform insignia lists and provides pictures of several ranks of the Eritrean army, including major general, brigadier general, colonel, lieutenant colonel, major, captain, lieutenant 1st class, lieutenant 2nd class, master sergeant, staff sergeant, sergeant, corporal and private 1st class ^[4]

History

The current Eritrean army is an outgrowth of the revolutionary Eritrean People's Liberation Front (EPLF). The trial by fire experienced by the EPLF during the Eritrean War of Independence created a force that was able to contend with the largest armed force on the African continent.

During the Eritrean struggle for independence the EPLF fought several large scale battles towards the end of the war. The most decisive were the Battle of Afabet in 1988 and the Battle of Massawa in 1990. These battles saw the collision of major units of the EPLF versus a conventional armed force.

Since its independence in 1992, Eritrea has taken part in multiple wars and clashes with its neighbors. Most notably the war with Ethiopia and border conflict with Djibouti. Especially with Djibouti Eritrea have had several wars and clashes within the last two decades. Most recently in 2008 relations between Eritrea and Djibouti were driven to a point where war was imminent, but avoided without full-scale war.^[5]

Modern ground forces equipment

Infantry weapons

Name	Type	Origins	Notes
AKM	Assault rifle	Soviet Union	[6]
AK-47	Assault rifle	Soviet Union	[6]
vz. 58	Assault rifle	Czechoslovakia	[6]
M16 rifle	Assault rifle	United States	[6]
IMI Galil	Assault rifle	Israel
Beretta BM59	Battle rifle	Italy	[6]
Makarov pistol	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union	[6]
Uzi	Submachine gun	Israel	[7]
PK machine gun	General-purpose machine gun	Soviet Union	[6]
RPD machine gun	Light machine gun	Soviet Union	[6]
DShK	Heavy machine gun	Soviet Union	[6]
FN P90	Sub machine gun	Belgium
RPG-7	Rocket propelled grenade	Soviet Union	[6]
Kornet-E	Anti-tank guided missile	Russia	Russian KBP contracted to deliver 80 Kornet-E launchers.[8]
BGM-71-C Improved TOW	Anti-tank guided missile	United States

Armored fighting vehicles

Name	Type	Quantity	Origins	Notes
T-55A	Main battle tank	300 [9]	Soviet Union	120 T-55As were ordered in 2004 from Bulgaria and delivered in 2005 (the vehicles were previously in Bulgarian service).150 T-55As are in service and another 150 T-55As are in storage .[10][11]
BMP-1	Infantry fighting vehicle	50	Soviet Union /  Ethiopia	Eritrea is believed to have received some from Ethiopia.[12]
BTR-60PB	Armored personnel carrier	100 [13]	Soviet Union	Acquired from Bulgaria in 2005.

Artillery

Name	Type	Quantity	Origins	Notes
2S1 Gvozdika	Self-propelled gun	20 [14]	Soviet Union	Acquired from Bulgaria in 2005.
BM-21 Grad	Multiple rocket launcher	25	Soviet Union	.[15]
BM-27 Uragan	Multiple rocket launcher	9 [16]	Soviet Union	Transferred from Belarus to Eritrea in 2007.
M-46	Towed howitzer	30 [17]	Soviet Union	Acquired from Bulgaria in 1999.

Air defense

Name	Type	Quantity	Origins	Notes
ZSU-23-4 "Shilka"	Self-propelled anti-aircraft gun	9 [18]	Soviet Union
57 mm AZP S-60	Anti-aircraft gun	12 [18]	Soviet Union
9K38 Igla	Shoulder-launched surface-to-air missile	50 [19]	Russia	Some of these have been traced to Islamist group that shot down Belarusian cargo aircraft as it was departing from Mogadishu International Airport.[20]

Current issues

Since liberation, and the selection of Sebhat Ephrem as Minister of Defence, the Eritrean army has experienced a major transformation. During this period the EPLA saw many cuts into its force in an effort to professionalize the force.

During, and since, the Eritrean-Ethiopian War the army has exploded in size from its peacetime size of between 20,000-50,000 to 250,000.

References

1. "Shakat.com" (PDF). Retrieved 27 October 2014.
2. Defense & Foreign affairs handbook 2006, 590, page 15
3. Defense & Foreign affairs handbook 2006, 590, page 590
4. http://www.warandtactics.com/smf/propaganda-marches-uniforms-medals-ranks-flags/eritrean-army-insignia-of-rank/?action=dlattach;attach=753;PHPSESSID=9165187393da897c0ac48ae3997ede73
5. "Eritrea army 'entered Djibouti'". BBC News. 6 May 2008.
6. Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
7. Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. London: Salamander Books. ISBN 1-84065-245-4. OCLC 59522369. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
8. Deagel article on 9M133 Kornet
9. Military balance 2004-2005
10. "SIPRI Arms Transfers Database". Retrieved 27 October 2014.
11. Deagel article on T-54/55
12. http://www.tanknutdave.com/component/content/article/725
13. Deagel article on MT-LB
14. Deagel article on 2S1
15. "Analysis: Arms pour in for border war". BBC News. 2 March 1999.
16. Deagel article on BM-27
17. Deagel article on M-46
19. "Fas.org missile watch document". Federation Of American Scientists. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
20. http://blogs.ottawacitizen.com/2010/03/10/eritrea-and-the-manpads/