The Lao People's Armed Forces (LPAF) (, Vietnamese transliteration: Koong-thắp Pa-xa-xôn Lào) is the armed forces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic and the military institution of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.

History

According to some journalists, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), humanitarian and human rights organisations, the Lao People's Army has repeatedly engaged in egregious human rights violations and the practice of corruption in Laos.The Centre for Public Policy Analysis, CPPA, Washington, D.C. (1 August 2013), http://www.centerforpublicpolicyanalysis.org The LPAF and its military intelligence play a role in the arrest, imprisonment and torture of foreign prisoners in Vientiane's Phonthong Prison and the communist Lao gulag system where Australians Kerry and Kay Danes were imprisoned and where civic activist Sombath Somphone may be imprisoned following his arrest in December 2012.

On 17 May 2014, Defence Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Douangchay Phichit was killed in a plane crash, along with other officials. The officials were to participate in a ceremony to mark the liberation of the Plain of Jars from the former Royal Lao government forces. Their Russian-built Antonov AN 74-300 with 20 people on board crashed in Xiangkhouang Province.

Organisation The LPRP statute states that its political leadership over the military emanates from the LPRP Central Committee's Central Committee for National Defense and Security and is the highest decision-making institution regarding military and security affairs. The committee is chaired by the LPRP General Secretary, making the officeholder the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces.

Branches The LPAF has three known service branches: Lao People's Army (includes Riverine Force) Lao People's Air Force Self-Defense Militia Forces

Regional structure LPA Headquarters (Vientiane) Military Region 1 Military Region 2 Military Region 3 Military Region 4 Vientiane Capital Military Command

Education Kaysone Phomvihane National Defence Academy Viengxay Military Training School

Equipment

Tanks, armoured vehicles and trucks Photo Model Type Origin Quantity Notes Tanks T-72B1MS Main battle tank ~50 T-55 Main battle tank 85 PT-76 Light tank 25 30 were in service in 1996. APC/IFV BTR-60PB Armored personnel carrier 70 Currently 70 are in service. BTR-60s have been seen in service as recently as January 2019 BTR-152 Armored personnel carrier Unknown BTR-40 Armored personnel carrier 10 BRDM-2M Armoured car 20 Upgraded BRDM-2M supplied by Russia in late 2018. At least 10 in service. Light armoured vehicle/Light assault vehicle Dima DMT5070XFB Armored personnel carrier Unknown Chinese Tiger 4x4 Infantry mobility vehicle Unknown CS/VN3 4x4 Infantry mobility vehicle UnknownTruck/Utility KrAZ-6322 Truck Unknown Ural-4320 Medium truck Unknown GAZ-3308 Medium truck Unknown FAW Jiefang 141 Medium truck Unknown Ural-43206 Light truck Unknown GAZ-66 Platform truck Unknown BAIC 4x4 vehicles Military light utility vehicle Unknown UAZ-469 Military light utility vehicle Unknown BJ2022JC Military light utility vehicle Unknown PTS Tracked amphibious transport Unknown Shaanxi SX2190 Launched bridge Unknown Shaanxi SX2190 Floating bridge UnknownEngineering and support vehicles XCMG backhoe loader Engineering vehicle Unknown XCMG excavator Engineering vehicle Unknown XCMG wheel loader Engineering vehicle Unknown XCMG XJY240WQ Engineering vehicle Unknown XCMG XJY240Z Engineering vehicle Unknown

Artillery Photo Model Type Origin Quantity Notes Dongfeng CS/SS4 Self propelled mortar system SR-5 Multiple rocket launcher 12 BM-21 Grad 122mm multiple rocket launcher 32 Retired from parade in 2019 BM-14 Multiple rocket launcher 20 2S3 Akatsiya 152mm self-propelled howitzer Unknown 122-HL-70 122mm self-propelled howitzer 18 PCL-09 122mm self-propelled howitzer 12 M-30 122 mm howitzer Towed howitzers and guns 15 122 mm howitzer 2A18 (D-30) 20 130 mm towed field gun M1954 (M-46) M114 155 mm howitzer 12 M101 howitzer 105mm (towed): M-101 20 M116 howitzer 75mm (towed): M-116 pack 10

Air defence Photo Model Type Origin Quantity NotesS-125 Neva/PechoraShort-range SAM systemUnknown9K35 Strela-10Vehicle-mounted SAM systemUnknownYitian anti air systemSurface-to-air missileUnknownZSU-23-4 ShilkaSelf-propelled anti-aircraft gunUnknown Strela-2 Surface-to-air missile Unknown Received 100 launchers from Soviet Union in the 80s 37 mm automatic air defence gun M1939 (61-K) Air defence gun Unknown 57 mm AZP S-60 Automatic anti-aircraft gun Unknown ZPU Auto anti-aircraft gun Unknown ZU-23-2 Anti-aircraft gun Unknown

Weapons Photo Model Type Caliber Origin NotesTT-33Semi-automatic pistol7.62×25mm TokarevStandard service pistols for Laotian Armed Forces.PMSemi-automatic pistol9×18mm MakarovG2Semi-automatic pistol9x19mm ParabellumJS 9 mmBullpup Submachine gun9×19mm Parabellum Winchester Model 1200Pump shotgun12-gaugeVepr-12Semi-automatic shotgun12-gaugeUsed by Laotian special forces.Simonov SKSSemi-automatic rifle7.62×39mm M43Limited use, used for ceremonial purpose onlyMosin-NagantBolt-action rifle7.62×54mmRLimited use, in storage9A-91Assault rifle, Carbine9x39mmUsed by Laotian special forces. AKM AKMSAssault rifle7.62×39mmStandard service rifles for Laotian Armed Forces, including police officer and Lao People's army. To be replaced by AK-74 and AK-12. AK-74 Assault rifle 5.45x39mm Seen in the hands of Laotian troops during Lao National Day military parade on 2 December 2025. AK-12 Assault rifle 5.45x39mm Used by Laotian special forces. QBZ-95 Bullpup Assault rifle 5.8×42mm DBP87 5.56×45mm NATO Used by Laotian Special Forces and Special Police Forces. Type 56 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Type 81 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm AMD-65 Assault rifle 7.62×39mm Pindad SS1 Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO In 2014, Laos imported 35 SS1 V2s and SS1 V4s. Pindad SS2 Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO M16A2 Assault rifle 5.56×45mm NATO IWI Galil ACE Assault rifle 7.62×39 mm Laos received Vietnamese-made Galil ACEs in January 2019. RPD Light machine gun 7.62×39mm PK machine gun General-purpose machine gun 7.62×54mmR M60 machine gun General-purpose machine gun 7.62×51mm NATO KPV heavy machine gun Heavy machine gun 14.5×114mm DShK Heavy machine gun 12.7×108mm Dragunov SVD Designated marksman rifle, Sniper rifle 7.62×54mmR RPG-7 Rocket-propelled grenade 40mm RPG-2 Rocket-propelled grenade 40mm

Mortars 81mm 82mm 120mm M1938 mortar 120mm: M-43 M2 4.2 inch mortar

See also Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force Military ranks of the Lao People's Armed Forces

References

bn:লাওসের সামরিক বাহিনী