Conflict catalog

1964 Colombian Armed Conflict: Weapons and Equipment

Long-running internal armed conflict in Colombia involving state forces and multiple armed groups.

The 1964 Colombian Armed Conflict is a long-running internal conflict that continues to pit state forces against multiple armed groups across rural and remote parts of the country. ICRC reporting in 2024 described Colombia as having eight active non-international armed conflicts, with civilians in rural, Afro-descendant, and Indigenous communities bearing much of the burden.

This catalog tracks weapon systems documented in Colombia's long-running internal armed conflict, including state operations, helicopter mobility, and clashes involving multiple armed groups.

Entries should be tied to source-backed conflict use or clearly identified operator context rather than general Colombian service history.

4 weapon systems

Conflict Actors

Colombian government and security forces / Armed groups in Colombia

Context

Status
Published catalog
Location
Colombia
Countries
Colombia
Domains
land, air

The catalog is centered on internal security, counterinsurgency, policing, and remote-terrain operations. Helicopters, transport aircraft, light armored mobility, and small arms are all relevant because the conflict affects rural and hard-to-reach areas where state forces and armed groups contest territory.

Map

Colombia

Open map

Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.

Timeline

Key Events

  1. Peace agreement signed with FARC-EP

    The Government of Colombia and the FARC-EP signed a peace agreement intended to end the internal armed conflict and begin disarmament.

    Sources: Colombia Peace Agreement | ICRC Casebook

  2. Former FARC commanders announced a return to arms

    ICRC casebook coverage noted that former FARC commanders announced they were returning to arms, while dissident and successor factions continued to fight the government.

    Sources: Colombia, FARC Guerrillas "Return to Arms" | How does law protect in war? - Online casebook

  3. ICRC described worsening humanitarian consequences

    ICRC reporting described a sharp humanitarian burden in Colombia, including displacement, confinement, explosive devices, disappearances, and violence against health-care services.

    Sources: The human cost of armed conflicts in Colombia | International Committee of the Red Cross

Phases

Nov 24, 2016 - present

Post-peace-agreement fragmentation

The 2016 peace agreement reduced the FARC-EP war but did not end armed violence, as dissident and successor groups, the ELN, the AGC, and other armed actors remained active.

Jan 1, 2024 - present

Current multi-actor armed conflict

ICRC reporting in 2024 described eight active non-international armed conflicts in Colombia and ongoing clashes between regular forces and armed groups, as well as between armed groups themselves.

Weapons

1964 Colombian Armed Conflict Weapon Systems

Category

Aircraft & UAVs

Crewed aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

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AH-60L Arpia, Armed utility / attack helicopter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsAH-60L ArpiaArmed utility / attack helicopterSide: Colombian government and security forcesRole: UnknownBuilt: Fuerza Aeroespacial Colombiana / ColombiaThe AH-60L Arpia is Colombia's armed Black Hawk conversion family, developed around UH-60L and related airframes for attack, escort, reconnaissance, and close-air-support missions. Colombian Air Force reporting traces the first Arpia combat mission to January 1996 near Urrao, while later Arpia IV upgrades added modern sensors, helmet display aids, 70 mm rocket launchers, GAU-19 machine guns, and Spike-family air-to-ground missiles.
IAI Kfir, Fighter-bomber and multirole combat aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIAI KfirFighter-bomber and multirole combat aircraftSide: Colombian government and security forcesRole: Precision-strike aircraftBuilt: Israel Aerospace Industries / IsraelThe IAI Kfir is an Israeli fighter-bomber and multirole combat aircraft developed by Israel Aircraft Industries from the Mirage 5 and IAI Nesher lineage. Powered by a license-built General Electric J79 turbojet, the type entered Israeli service in 1975, became Israel's first home-grown fighter-bomber, and later served export operators in Colombia, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, and U.S. adversary-training fleets.
A-29 Super Tucano, Turboprop light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsA-29 Super TucanoTurboprop light attack and armed reconnaissance aircraftSide: Colombian government and security forcesRole: UnknownBuilt: Embraer Defense & Security / Sierra Nevada Corporation / Brazil / United StatesThe A-29 Super Tucano is an Embraer-designed turboprop light attack, armed reconnaissance, and advanced-training aircraft built for counter-insurgency and austere-base operations. Documented combat use includes Afghan laser-guided bomb strikes against Taliban targets, Colombian counter-FARC precision strikes, Burkinabe counter-terror air operations in the Sahel, and Nigerian close air support against Boko Haram and ISWAP.

Category

Infantry Weapons

Portable weapons used by soldiers and small units.

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Conflict Sources

The ICRC classifies multiple concurrent non-international armed conflicts within Colombia, so this catalog uses a broad umbrella label for catalog organization. Specific weapon entries still need direct system-level sourcing when possible.