Slovenian Ground Force

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

Slovenian Ground Forces
Slovenska vojska
Emblem of the Slovenian army
Active1991–1993 (as the Slovene Territorial Defense Forces), 1993–present
CountrySlovenia
TypeGround army
RoleDefending Slovene territory
Equipment56 MBTs, 380 IFVs and APCs, 240+ Artillery pieces
EngagementsFor engagements of the navy detachment see: Slovenian Navy
Commanders
Commander in ChiefNataša Pirc Musar

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
ModelImageOriginTypeCaliber or cartridgeDetails
Handguns
Beretta 92FS  ItalySemi-automatic pistol9×19mm ParabellumStandard handgun of the Slovenian Army.[2]
Pistol Rex Zero-1 S FDE  SloveniaSemi-automatic pistol9×19mm ParabellumUsed by Slovenian special forces.[3]
SIG Sauer P226  SwitzerlandSemi-automatic pistol9×19mm ParabellumUsed by officers and special forces.[4]
Submachine guns
Heckler & Koch MP5  GermanySubmachine gun9×19mm ParabellumUsed by Slovenian Military Police and special units.[5]
Shotguns
Benelli M4  ItalyPump action shotgun12 gaugeSemi-automatic shotgun
Carbine
M59 PAP  YugoslaviaCarbine7.62×39mmUsed by Slovenian Ceremonial Honor Guard.
Assault rifles and battle rifles
FN F2000S  BelgiumAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATOStandard service rifle.

Will be replaced by FN SCAR.[6]

Heckler & Koch HK416  GermanyAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATOUsed by Rdeči Panterji.[6]
Zastava M70  YugoslaviaAssault rifle7.62×39mmUsed by reserve soldiers.[7]
FN SCAR  BelgiumBattle rifle7.62×51mm NATOFuture standard service rifle.

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

Machine guns
FN Minimi Para  BelgiumLight machine gun5.56×45mm NATOStandard issue light machine gun.[8]
FN MAG  BelgiumGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62×51mm NATOStandard issue medium machine gun.[9]
M2HB  BelgiumHeavy machine gun12.7×99mm NATOM2HB QCB variant manufactured by FN Herstal.[10]
Sniper rifle
Steyr SSG 69  AustriaBolt action sniper rifle7.62×51mm NATOBolt-action sniper rifle.[5]
Sako TRG  FinlandBolt action sniper rifle7.62×51mm NATOBolt-action sniper rifle.[5]
PGM Ultima Ratio  FranceBolt action sniper rifle7.62×51mm NATOSniper rifle.[11]
PGM Mini Hecate  FranceBolt action sniper rifle.338 Lapua MagnumMedium sniper rifle.[12]
PGM Hécate II  FranceBolt action sniper rifle12.7×99mm NATOHeavy sniper rifle.[13]
Grenade launchers
Heckler & Koch GMG  GermanyAutomatic grenade launcher40x53mm HV[14]
GL1  BelgiumGrenade launcher40×46 mm LV[15]
Explosives
ARGES SPLHGR 85  AustriaFragmentation grenadeFilled with steel fragments, used in an open battlefields and for clearing enclosed spaces like trenches and bunkers.
ARGES OFFHGR 85  AustriaFragmentation grenadeFilled with plastic fragments, used to disable and shock the enemy.
Anti-tank weapons
Spike LR  IsraelAnti-tank guided missile170mm[16]
RGW 90  GermanyDisposable recoilless gun90mm
Carl Gustav M4  SwedenReusable recoillesss rifle84mmRecoilless 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]
MANPADS
Igla-S  RussiaMan-portable air-defense system72mm[17]

Artillery and Air-Defence

ModelImageOriginTypeCaliberNumberNotes
Soltam M71 (M839)

TN90

 IsraelTowed howitzer155 mm L/3918[18][19]
Soltam K6

MN 9

 IsraelHeavy mortar120 mm50[20][19]
IRIS-T SLM  GermanySAM system1 unit orderedContract signed in January 2024 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.[21]

Combat vehicles

ModelImageOriginTypeNumberNotes
Tanks
M-84A4 Sniper  Yugoslavia
 Slovenia
Main battle tank5413-20 in active use 34–41 in reserve status. All were upgraded to M-84A4 Sniper standard by 2008.[22][23]
Armoured personnel carriers
SKOV Svarun

Impro

 Finland
 Slovenia
Armoured personnel carrier3030 vehicles delivered according to a Settlement Agreement with Patria.[24][22][25] 20 equipped with Protector rcws
Valuk

Improved Pandur

 Austria
 Slovenia
Multi-role armoured fighting vehicle6565 vehicles in service. 19 of them in the 20th Infantry Regiment.[26][22][27] Variants:
BOV  SloveniaArmoured fighting vehicle40Small numbers in service.Used by Slovenian Military Police.
  • 12 BOV-3 (in reserve)
  • 28 BOV-M (in reserve)

Other vehicles

ModelImageOriginTypeNumberNotes
Reconnaissance vehicles
Otokar Cobra  TurkeyReconnaissance vehicle10Nuclear, biological, chemical reconnaissance vehicle.[22][28]
Light multi-role vehicles
Oshkosh L-ATV  United StatesLight multi-role vehicle75 (+86 on order for a total of 161)[29]
  • Batch 1: 24 Ordered in 2018, delivered in May 2021.[30]
  • Batch 2: 14 Complementary order in February 2020 for 14 additional although not disclosed.[31]
  • Batch 3: 37 Ordered in September 2021. By 2023, 75 delivered.[32]
  • Batch 4: 39 Donated by the US in a Ringtausch agreement for the Slovenian equipment donated to Ukraine.[32]
  • Batch 5: 47 Ordered in December 2022[31]

86 vehicles remaining on order. Deliveries to take place in 2024 and 2025. Will be armed with RCWS Protector RS4 which is equipped with:[33][34][29]

Humvee  United StatesLight multi-role vehicle30M1114 and M1152 variants.

Will be gradually replaced by Oshkosh L-ATV.[citation needed] 20 units sent to Ukraine.[35]

MRAPs
Cougar JERRV  United StatesMRAP7Used by EOD units.[36][37]
Military light utility vehicles
Mercedes-Benz G-Class  GermanyMilitary light utility vehicle[38][27]
Achleitner MMV Survivor  JapanMilitary light utility vehicle91A modified Toyota Land Cruiser for military missions. Will be delivered at the end of 2018.[39]
MRZR  United StatesMilitary light utility vehicleUnknown[40]
Military trucks
MAN 15 TMILGL W A1  GermanyMilitary truckThe vehicle is intended for transport of material and technical assets (MTS), mainly ammunition and mines.[41]
HX 8x8 RMMV RHEINMETALL  GermanyTransport and water trucks40In 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.[42]
  • 5 modules with 10,000-liter tanks for drinking water [43]
Mercedes-Benz Actros  GermanyMilitary truckThe vehicle is intended for transport of material and technical means (MTS) and personnel.[44]
Iveco T-series  ItalyMilitary truckThe vehicle is intended for transport of material and technical means (MTS) and personnel.[45][46][47][48]
Unimog  GermanyMilitary truck30The 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.[49]
TAM 150 T11 B/BV  YugoslaviaMilitary truckThe 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.[50]
TAM 110 T7 B/BV  YugoslaviaMilitary truckMainly used for towing mortars.[51]
Armoured recovery vehicles
JVBT-55  CzechoslovakiaArmoured recovery vehicle7[52]
VT-55  CzechoslovakiaArmoured recovery vehicle2[22]
Armoured vehicle-launched bridges
MT-55  CzechoslovakiaArmoured vehicle-launched bridge4[53]

Future equipment

EquipmentImageOriginTypeNumberNotes
Small arms
Spike LR2  Israel
 Germany
ATGM50Ordered in September 2022 to Eurospike for €6.67 million [54] (range 5.5 km)

Those will equip the JLTV on the RCWS Protector RS4

Reconnaissance vehicles
8x8 Armoured fighting vehicle

 Switzerland
 Italy
 Poland
 Finland
APCUp 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.[55]

Other vehicles
Logistic vehicles
(illustration image)
UnknownThe 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.[56]

Former equipment

Stored equipment

Retired equipment

Slovenian 9M111 Fagot anti-tank guided missile

References