List of equipment of the South African Army

This is a list of equipment of the South African Army. It includes equipment such as small arms, combat vehicles, explosives, missile systems, engineering vehicles, logistical vehicles, artillery, air defence systems, as well as future equipment. Due to how large and secretive the South African Army is, it is currently almost impossible to calculate all equipment in the army.

Vehicles
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;" ! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Name ! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Image ! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Origin ! style="text-align: center; width:10%;"|Type ! style="text-align:center; width:0;"|Quantity ! style="text-align: center; width:54%;"|Details ! colspan="6" |

Main battle tanks
178 ( Reserve ) The MK1A tanks were commissioned in 1985, MK1Bs were commissioned in 1991 and the MK2 tanks were commissioned in 2007.
 * Olifant 
 * Olifant Mk2 AAD2014.JPG
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Main battle tank
 * 70 ( Active )
 * 70 ( Active )
 * A heavily modified and modernized Centurion tank.

The fleet is soon to be replaced by a new MBT in the future through project aorta. ! colspan="6" |
 * ~ 178 MK1A
 * ~ 44 MK1B
 * ~ 26 MK2

Tank destroyers
64 ( Reserve ) The Rooikat is armed with a 76 mm or 105 mm cannon as well as two 7.62mm machine guns, one co-axial to the main armament and one at the commander’s position providing both ground and aerial defence, its countermeasures are 2 x 81 mm smoke grenade launchers, mounted in a forward firing position on each side of the turret. ! colspan="6" |
 * Rooikat 
 * Rooikat Armoured Car (9686598433).jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Tank destroyer
 * 176 ( Active )
 * 176 ( Active )
 * Armoured fighting vehicle used for reconnaissance, aggressive search-and-destroy, anti-armour operations, combat patrols, raids, day and night hot pursuit operations.

Infantry fighting vehicles
228 (On order) Variants to be fielded by the Army include:
 * Badger IFV 
 * Badger-infanteriegevegsvoertuig, c, Waterkloof Lugmagbasis.jpg
 * 🇫🇮 Finland 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Infantry fighting vehicle
 * 22 (Active)
 * 22 (Active)
 * The Badgers are a new generation of armoured fighting vehicles planned to partially replace the Army's current Ratel IFV fleet over the next decade.

Originally 264 were ordered, of which 22 pre-production vehicles have been delivered from Finland. Due to staff shortages at Denel, there have been numerous delays in completing the project so the order has been revised to only 250 units.
 * Standard variant (armed with a EMAK-30 30 mm Cam Gun)
 * Fire support variant (armed with a EMAK-30 30 mm Cam Gun and 2 x ZT3 Ingwe ATGM launchers)
 * Mortar variant (armed with a 60 mm breech-loading gun-mortar with a high rate of fire
 * Tank destroyer variant (armed with 2 x ZT3 Ingwe ATGM launchers, can also be fitted with a 120 mm gun)
 * Ratel IFV 
 * Ratel IFV (973):
 * Ratel IFV (973):

Ratel ZT3 (52):

455 ( Reserve ) Variants in service include:
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Infantry fighting vehicle
 * 570 ( Active )
 * Primary armoured fighting vehicle in service with the South African Mechanized infantry units.

A total of 1,380 units were delivered to the army in all variants. At least 355 Ratels were sold to foreign countries bringing the total down to 1,025 units as of 2024. ! colspan="6" |
 * Ratel 20 (armed with a 20 mm GI-2 autocannon)
 * Ratel 25 (armed with a 25 mm TRT-25 RCWS autocannon)
 * Ratel 60 (armed with a 60 mm breech-loading mortar gun)
 * Ratel 81 (armed with a 81 mm long range mortar gun)
 * Ratel 90 (armed with a 90 mm GT-2 low-velocity cannon)
 * Ratel ZT-3 Tank Destroyer (16 active and 36 in reserve armed with a triple ZT3 Ingwe Anti-Tank Guided Missile (ATGM) turret.

Armoured personnel carriers
Mamba Mk2 and Mk3 variants are used by the Army with an undisclosed number of Mamba's in reserve/storage.
 * Mamba 
 * [[File:SANDF Armed Forces Day 2017 - South African Army Mamba MkIII APC (32203158584).jpg|200x200px]]
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Armoured personnel carrier, MRAP
 * 538 ( Active )
 * Mine-resistant APC with significant protection against anti-tank mines and small arms fire.
 * Mine-resistant APC with significant protection against anti-tank mines and small arms fire.

Around 100 Mamba APC's in reserve were refurbished and brought back into service at the end of 2023 and assigned to the light modern brigade increasing the amount of active Mamba's from 440 to 538. These are one of the APCs that will replace the Toyota Land Cruisers used for border patrol. The army is looking to order R500 million worth of APC's / MRAP's from multiple South African armoured vehicle companies to boost its border patrol capabilities and its defence industry by the end of April 2024. ! colspan="6" |
 * MAX 3
 * SVI engineering max 3 (cropped).jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Armoured personnel carrier, MRAP
 * Several units
 * An undisclosed number of 4x4 and 6x6 MAX 3s were acquired from South African Defence Contractor SVI Engineering in early 2024 and delivered to the Joint Operations Division of the SANDF.
 * An undisclosed number of 4x4 and 6x6 MAX 3s were acquired from South African Defence Contractor SVI Engineering in early 2024 and delivered to the Joint Operations Division of the SANDF.

MRAPs
1,800 (Reserve) More than 2,800 Casspirs were manufactured in South Africa in multiple variants, around 600 of these were sold to foreign countries.
 * Casspir 
 * Bakaara Market (6152937169).jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Infantry mobility vehicle, MRAP
 * 370+ ( Active )
 * 370+ ( Active )
 * Multi-purpose mine-resistant infantry mobility vehicle with significant protection against anti-tank mines and small arms fire.

The Army uses the Casspir Mk3 variant and has around 370 Casspirs in its active inventory, a further 1,800 Casspir's are in reserve/storage or are being operated by the South African Police Service and Internal security forces.

Variants such as armoured personnel carrier, ambulance, light cargo vehicle, tanker, a fire support team vehicle (FISTV), a light recovery vehicle and a mine clearing vehicle are in use.

At the end of 2023 an unspecified number of the Casspir's in reserve were refurbished and added to South African Army's active inventory. The vehicles are equipped with a remote controlled weapon station (RCWS) and overall armor protection of the vehicle exceeds NATO STANAG 4569 Level 2.
 * RG-31 Nyala
 * International Defence Industry Exhibition 2009 (03).jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Infantry mobility vehicle, MRAP
 * Several units
 * Multi-purpose mine-resistant infantry mobility vehicle with significant small arms fire and mine blast protection.
 * Multi-purpose mine-resistant infantry mobility vehicle with significant small arms fire and mine blast protection.

Mk5E variant in limited use, potential replacement for the Mamba APC. The leading vehicle acts as a Mine Detection Vehicle (MDV) and is designated as "Meerkat".
 * Husky 
 * USMC-090120-M-8478B-004.jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Vehicle mounted mine detection system, MRAP
 * Unknown
 * A system designed to clear routes of mines, usually they operate in pairs one after the other.
 * A system designed to clear routes of mines, usually they operate in pairs one after the other.

The second Husky in the system tows a trailer called a "Duisendpoot" and is known as a towing /mine detection vehicle (T/MDV). The latest version of the Husky, the 2G, has high sensitivity low metal content detectors, ground penetrating radar, powerful air blowers and a robotic arm.
 * }

Artillery
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="margin:auto; width:100%;" ! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Name ! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Image ! style="text-align: center; width:12%;"|Origin ! style="text-align: center; width:10%;"|Type ! style="text-align:center; width:0;"|Quantity !Max Range ! style="text-align: center; width:54%;" |Details ! colspan="7" |

Rocket artillery
! colspan="7" |
 * Bateleur MRL 
 * [[File:SANDF Armed Forces Day 2017 - South African Army Samil 100 MPV Valkiri MkII rocket launcher (32203261424).jpg|170x170px]]
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 127 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
 * 25
 * 40 km
 * 127 mm standard multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) of the South African Army Artillery Formation. 40 launch tubes mounted on an armoured Samil 100 6×6 truck.
 * Valkiri MRL 
 * Vilkha MLRS final tests 2.jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 127 mm self-propelled multiple rocket launcher
 * 76
 * 40 km
 * 127 mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). 24 launch tubes mounted on a Unimog light 4×4 truck.
 * 40 km
 * 127 mm multiple launch rocket system (MLRS). 24 launch tubes mounted on a Unimog light 4×4 truck.

Self-propelled artillery
The G6 Rhino holds the world record of scoring the longest 155 mm artillery shot recorded at 76 kilometres, making it one of the most accurate artillery systems in the world.
 * G6 Rhino 
 * Denel G6-45 Ysterplaat Airshow 2006.jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
 * 43
 * 76 km
 * The G6 Rhino also known as "GV6 Renoster" is a South African 155 mm long-range mine-resistant wheeled self-propelled howitzer and is the largest piece of artillery system in the South African Army arsenal; the army originally had 153 in service, but due to the lack of external threats and the end of the Cold War, the government sold 110 units to foreign countries leaving the army with only 43 G6's in service as of 2024.
 * The G6 Rhino also known as "GV6 Renoster" is a South African 155 mm long-range mine-resistant wheeled self-propelled howitzer and is the largest piece of artillery system in the South African Army arsenal; the army originally had 153 in service, but due to the lack of external threats and the end of the Cold War, the government sold 110 units to foreign countries leaving the army with only 43 G6's in service as of 2024.

Denel was awarded a contract to upgrade the Rhino's to the latest G6-52 standard by 2024. 6 units of T5-52 SPHs were received from Denel as a replacement for the 6 G5 towed howitzers sold to Saudi Arabia.
 * T5-52  
 * Denel T5 Truck-Mounted Artillery System.jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 155 mm self-propelled howitzer
 * 6 (+ option for more)
 * 60+ km
 * The T5-52 is a South African truck-mounted self-propelled howitzer, it is the latest piece of South African Artillery that was launched in 2018.
 * The T5-52 is a South African truck-mounted self-propelled howitzer, it is the latest piece of South African Artillery that was launched in 2018.

The Army plans to acquire more T5-52s if funding is adequate. ! colspan="7" |

Towed artillery
Small amounts of artillery pieces are used by the School of Artillery to train gun crews from multiple regiments.
 * G5 Leopard 
 * [[File:SANDF Armed Forces Day 2017 - South African Army G5 155mm howitzer (32892350632).jpg|170x170px]]
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 155 mm towed howitzer
 * 72
 * 50–60 km
 * The G5 Leopard is a South African long-range 155 mm towed howitzer and is the primary piece of towed artillery in the South African Army.
 * The G5 Leopard is a South African long-range 155 mm towed howitzer and is the primary piece of towed artillery in the South African Army.

Denel was awarded a contract to upgrade the G5 Leopard to the latest G5-52 standard by 2024. 🇿🇦 South Africa 32 units were acquired in the 1980s, these guns were replaced by the G5 Leopard and remaining G4 M-71 howitzers are kept in army reserves. ! colspan="7" |
 * G4 M-71
 * 2024-06-16 PMC M71 001.jpg
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 155 mm towed howitzer
 * 32
 * 30 km
 * Long-range towed 155 mm howitzer.
 * GV1 
 * - Flickr - Joost J. Bakker IJmuiden (6).jpg
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * 87 mm towed howitzer
 * 30
 * 12 km
 * GV1 88 mm guns are still maintained in several reserve regiments such as the Cape Field Artillery regiment and the Transvaal Horse Artillery which they fire on ceremonial occasions.
 * GV1 88 mm guns are still maintained in several reserve regiments such as the Cape Field Artillery regiment and the Transvaal Horse Artillery which they fire on ceremonial occasions.

Mortars
In use with the Special Forces and Airborne Infantry. Upgraded in 2016 with improved range and accuracy. Locally produced in South Africa as the M3 and M8 mortars (improved versions with heavier barrels compared to the French LLR 81mm).
 * M4 Commando Mortar 
 * 60mm mortar round being launch.JPG
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 60 mm light mortar
 * 2300+
 * 2 km
 * Uses the M-61 series of bombs in High Explosive, Smoke, Illumination and Practice versions.
 * Uses the M-61 series of bombs in High Explosive, Smoke, Illumination and Practice versions.
 * M3/M8 Mortar 
 * Mortier 81 LLR 01.jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * 81 mm medium mortar
 * 1890
 * 5 km
 * Based on the French LLR 81mm mortar.
 * Based on the French LLR 81mm mortar.

The mortar is usually operated by a three-man team. It is also often mounted and fired from a armoured vehicle.

Around 1890 mortars are in service with the South African Army Infantry Formation.
 * M5 Mortar
 * Mortar-120mm-beyt-hatotchan-1.jpg
 * 🇮🇱 Israel
 * 120 mm heavy mortar
 * 36
 * 6 km
 * 36 mortars are in service with 18 Light Regiment.
 * }
 * }

Air defence
{| class="wikitable" ! style="width:15%;"| Name ! style="width:170px;" | Image ! style="width:12%;" | Origin ! style="width:20%;" | Type ! style="width:12%;"| Quantity ! Details ! colspan="6" |

Surface-to-air missiles
92 (On order) ! colspan="6" |
 * Umkhonto GBADS 
 * Umkhonto gbads1 (cropped).jpg
 * 🇿🇦 South Africa
 * Surface-to-air missile system
 * Unknown
 * Up to 120 systems planned. The Umkhonto GBADS vertical launching system is being developed for the South African Army’s ground-based air defence system (GBADS) requirement. The Umkhonto GBADS can carry up to eight Umkhonto-R and Umkhonto-IR (Infrared) Mk II missiles.
 * Starstreak 
 * [[File:Stormer vehicle fring a Starstreak High Velocity Missile (HVM) on Ex Javelin. MOD 45158838.jpg|170x170px]]
 * 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
 * Manportable/Vehicle mounted surface-to-air missile
 * 178 (Active)
 * Manportable/Vehicle mounted surface-to-air missile
 * 178 (Active)
 * Eight Lightweight Multiple Launchers (LML), two 20 km-range Thales Page continuous-wave (CW) low-observable battery air defence local warning radars as well as about 100 VSHORAD (very short range air defence) high-velocity missiles were ordered in December 2002 and are in use with 10 Air Defence Artillery Regiment. These missiles have a range of between 5–7 km. Stockholm International Peace Research Institute lists the number of Portable SAMs delivered as 96 for the GBADS phase 1 project with another order for 82

Anti-aircraft guns

 * Oerlikon GDF (Skyshield) 
 * [[File:Indonesian Air Force Oerlikon Skyshield GBADS transported at Supadio AFB, West Kalimantan. March 2023.jpg|170x170px]]
 * 🇨🇭 Switzerland 🇩🇪 Germany
 * Radar-guided 35 mm anti-aircraft autocannon
 * 169
 * 169 acquired (along with 75 Super Fledermaus fire control units) These guns were upgraded by Rheinmetall AG in 2017 to use Oerlikon Skyshield fire control systems and Ahead airburst ammunition capable of shooting down modern aerial threats.
 * ZU-23-2 Zumlac
 * Zu-23 30 M1-3 - InnovationDay2013part1-40.jpg
 * Soviet Union
 * Twin 23 mm anti-aircraft autocannon
 * 36
 * These guns were captured in the 1980s during the South African Border War and are mounted on armoured SAMIL 100 heavy trucks.
 * }
 * These guns were captured in the 1980s during the South African Border War and are mounted on armoured SAMIL 100 heavy trucks.
 * }