Army comparison: Eritrea vs South Africa
Overview
South Africa's army fields 2,043 active vehicles — 4.2x Eritrea's 488. Additionally, Eritrea has 0 and South Africa has 2,442 vehicles in storage.
The breakdown includes 270 vs 200 tanks, 15 vs 608 infantry fighting vehicles, 35 vs 1,070 armored personnel carriers, 45 vs 52 self-propelled artillery, 39 vs 72 towed artillery, 44 vs 35 rocket launchers (Eritrea vs South Africa).
Eritrean Army 🇪🇷
| Total vehicles | 488 as of 2026 |
South African Army 🇿🇦
| Total vehicles | 2043 as of 2026 |
| In storage | 2442 |
| On order | 232 |
Eritrean vehicles by category
| Vehicle category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank | 270 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 15 | |
| Armored Personnel Carrier | 35 | |
| Light Armoured Vehicle | 40 | |
| Tank Destroyer | 0 | |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 45 | |
| Towed Artillery | 39 | |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System | 44 | |
South African vehicles by category
| Vehicle category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank | 200 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 608 | |
| Armored Personnel Carrier | 1070 | |
| Light Armoured Vehicle | 6 | |
| Tank Destroyer | 0 | |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 52 | |
| Towed Artillery | 72 | |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System | 35 | |
Vehicle Categories Radar Comparison
Ground Forces Analysis
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more armored vehicles, Eritrea or South Africa?
South Africa has a larger ground force with 2,043 vehicles compared to Eritrea's 488 vehicles.
Which country has more tanks, Eritrea or South Africa?
Eritrea operates more main battle tanks with 270 compared to South Africa's 200.
Which army has more infantry fighting vehicles, Eritrea or South Africa?
South Africa has 608 infantry fighting vehicles compared to Eritrea's 15.
Which country has more armored personnel carriers, Eritrea or South Africa?
South Africa operates 1,070 APCs compared to Eritrea's 35.
Which country has more artillery systems, Eritrea or South Africa?
South Africa fields 159 artillery systems (self-propelled, towed, and MLRS) compared to Eritrea's 128.
How do the Eritrea and South Africa armies compare in size?
South Africa's army is 4.2 times larger than Eritrea's in terms of total vehicles (2,043 vs 488).