Peru Army

The Peruvian Army, or Ejercito del Peru, operates under the General Command of the Army, headquartered in Lima. Command is divided across five territorial divisions. The 1st Army Division is headquartered in Piura, controlling northern border units including armored and jungle infantry brigades. The 2nd Army Division is headquartered in Rimac, Lima, overseeing central forces and urban security units. The 3rd Army Division is based in Arequipa, managing armored, mountain, and cavalry brigades in southern Peru. The 4th Army Division operates from Pichari, focusing on counter-insurgency operations in interior river valleys. The 5th Army Division is based in Iquitos, commanding Amazonian jungle infantry formations.

Missions center on territorial defense, border security, disaster response, and internal security. The army maintains continuous counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics deployments in the Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers region against insurgent remnants of the Shining Path. Combat history includes 20th-century border conflicts with Ecuador, including the 1981 Paquisha War and the 1995 Cenepa War.

Armored units field T-55 main battle tanks and AMX-13 light tanks. Mechanized and motorized infantry utilize M113, UR-416, Fiat 6614, and BTR-80 armored personnel carriers. Infantry anti-tank assets include Kornet-E and Spike guided missile systems. Standard infantry small arms include FN SCAR, Galil ACE, and locally assembled IWI Arad assault rifles. Artillery formations operate D-30 122mm and M101 105mm towed howitzers, Soltam M-71 and M114 155mm howitzers, along with BM-21 Grad and Chinese Type 90B multiple launch rocket systems. Air defense assets comprise ZSU-23-4 Shilka self-propelled anti-aircraft guns, Pechora static surface-to-air missile systems, and Igla-S man-portable air defense launchers. Peruvian Army Aviation operates Mi-17 and Mi-171Sh transport helicopters, Mi-25 and Mi-35 attack helicopters, Enstrom 280 training helicopters, and An-32 transport aircraft.

Modernization programs focus on local assembly and technology transfer through state enterprise Fabrica de Armas y Municiones del Ejercito. A partnership with Israel Weapon Industries established domestic assembly lines for Arad assault rifles. An agreement with South Korean manufacturer Hyundai Rotem provides for direct delivery and subsequent licensed local assembly of K808 White Tiger 8x8 armored vehicles and K2 Black Panther main battle tanks. In 2025, assembly operations commenced in Lurigancho-Chosica to produce K808 armored personnel carriers and Kia Light Tactical Vehicles for ground units.