Slovenian Ground Force

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 National Army (JNA) and conduct guerrilla operations in the event of an invasion.

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 Yugoslav People's Army during the Ten-Day War. The Slovenian Armed Forces were formally established in 1993 as a reorganization of the TORS.

Weapons and equipment

Infantry

A Slovene soldier with a FN F2000 assault rifles

Small Arms

Model	Image	Origin	Type	Caliber or cartridge	Details
Handguns
Beretta 92FS		Italy	Handgun	9×19mm	Standard handgun of the Slovenian Army.
Carbine
M59 PAP		Yugoslavia	Carbine	7.62×39mm	Used by Slovenian Ceremonial Honor Guard.
Assault Rifle
FN F2000		Belgium	Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm NATO	Standard Issue Rifle for the Slovenian Armed Forces.
Zastava M70		Yugoslavia	Assault Rifle	7.62×39mm	Used by Slovenian Ceremonial Honor Guard, for training and stocked in reserve.
Submachine Guns
MP5		Germany	Submachine Gun	9×19mm Parabelum	Used by Slovenian Military Police and special units.
Machine Guns
FN Minimi Para		Belgium	Light Machine Gun	5.56×45mm NATO	Standard Issue Light Machine Gun.
FN MAG		Belgium	Medium Machine Gun	7.62×51mm NATO	Standard Issue Medium Machine Gun.
Sniper Rifle
PGM Hécate II		France	Sniper Rifle	12.7×99mm NATO	Heavy sniper rifle.
PGM Mini Hecate		France	Sniper Rifle	.338 Lapua Magnum	Medium sniper rifle.
PGM Ultima Ratio		France	Sniper Rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	Sniper rifle.
Steyr SSG 69		Austria	Sniper Rifle	7.62×51mm NATO	Bolt-action sniper rifle.
Shotguns
Benelli M4		Italy	Shotgun	12 gauge	Semi-automatic shotgun
Grenade Launchers
GL1		Belgium	Grenade Launcher	40 mm caseless grenade
Anti-tank warfare
Spike MR & LR		Israel	Anti-tank guided missile	170mm
MATADOR		Singapore/ Israel/ Germany	Rocket-propelled grenade	90mm
Man-portable air-defense systems
Igla-2		Soviet Union	MANPADS	72mm

Artillery

Model	Type	Origin	Quantity
TN90 155 mm towed	Howitzer	Israel	18
MN 9 120 mm	mortar	Israel	36

Tanks, IFVs and APCs

LKOV Valuk 6x6 apc (left) and M-84 tank (right)

Man 8 x 10 ton Truck

• Main Battle Tanks

Model	Origin	Quantity
M-84	Yugoslavia	54 (19 active, rest in operational reserve)
M-55S	Slovenia /  Soviet Union (Heavily upgraded T-55)	30 (in reserve)

• Infantry Fighting Vehicles

Model	Origin	Quantity
M-80A	Yugoslavia	52 (in reserve)

• Armored Personnel Carriers

Model	Origin	Quantity
BOV VP	Yugoslavia	16
BOV M	Yugoslavia	28
Valuk	Slovenia	85
Patria AMV (Svarun)	Finland	30

Other vehicles

Slovenian HMMWV.

Model	Origin	Quantity	Role
Otokar Cobra LAV	Turkey	10	Nuclear, Biological, Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle
HMMWV	United States	42	Reconnaissance and Patrol Vehicle
JVBT-55	Soviet Union	7	Armored Recovery Vehicle
VT-55	Soviet Union	2	Armored Recovery Vehicle
MT-55	Soviet Union	4	Bridge-layer

Stored equipment

• 10× 9M111 Fagot ATGM
• 18× M2A1 105 mm towed howitzer
• 8× 2S1 Gvozdika 122 mm self-propelled howitzer
• 5x BRDM-2 (Reportedly used by Command company of 44th Armored-mechanized Battalion "Wolves")

Former equipment

Slovenian 9M111 Fagot anti-tank guided missile

• 9K11 Maljutka ATGM
• Strela 2M MANPADS
• 6× Strela 1M
• 12× BOV 3
• 24x ZSU-57-2
• 30× M48B1 76 mm towed 76 mm towed gun
• 4× M-63 Plamen MLRS
• 24x M53/59 Praga
• 6x PT 76B (?)
• 19x M36 Jackson

References