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THE

MILITARY
BALANCE
2023

published by

for
The International Institute for Strategic Studies
Arundel House | 6 Temple Place | London | wc2r 2pg | UK
THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023
The International Institute for Strategic Studies
Arundel House | 6 Temple Place | London | wc2r 2pg | UK

Director-General and Chief Executive Dr John Chipman


Director for Defence and Military Analysis Dr Bastian Giegerich
Editor James Hackett
Associate Editor Alasdair McKay

Military Aerospace Douglas Barrie MRAeS


Land Warfare Brigadier (Retd) Benjamin Barry
Military Forces and Equipment Henry Boyd
Naval Forces and Maritime Security Nick Childs
Defence Economics Fenella McGerty
Defence Procurement Haena Jo, Tom Waldwyn
Research and Analysis Jonathan Bentham, Charlotte Le Breton, Hugo Decis, Joseph Dempsey,
Amanda Lapo, Yohann Michel, Robert Mitchell, Meia Nouwens, Ester Sabatino, Dr Simona
Soare, Michael Tong, Timothy Wright

Editorial Christopher Harder, Jill Lally, Jana Phillips, Nicholas Woodroof, Charlie Zawadzki
Design, Production, Information Graphics Alessandra Beluffi, Ravi Gopar, Jade Panganiban,
James Parker, Kelly Verity, Jillian Williams, Loraine Winter
Cartography Alessandra Beluffi, Kelly Verity
Research Support Hannah Aries, Anna Blacklaws, Daniel Gearie, Yuka Koshino, Erica Pepe

This publication has been prepared by the Director-General and Chief Executive of the Institute and his
Staff, who accept full responsibility for its contents. The views expressed herein do not, and indeed cannot,
represent a consensus of views among the worldwide membership of the Institute as a whole.

first published February 2023

© The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2023


All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, transmitted, or disseminated, in
any form, or by any means, without prior written permission from Taylor & Francis, to whom all requests to
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ISBN 978-1-032-50895-5
ISSN 0459-7222
Cover images: The Boeing X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle (DoD/Corbis via Getty Images); Launch of China’s third aircraft carrier, the Fujian
(Li Tang/VCG via Getty Images); The B-21 Raider, the next-generation US bomber, is unveiled at Palmdale, California (Frederic J. Brown/
AFP via Getty Images); Ukrainian soldiers fire a CAESAR self-propelled artillery-piece (Aris Messinis/AFP via Getty Images); K2 main
battle tanks and K9 self-propelled artillery pieces delivered to Poland from South Korea (Mateusz Slodkowski/AFP via Getty Images).

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1

Contents
Indexes of Tables, Figures and Maps .........................................................................................................................................................................................4
Editor’s Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................5

Part One Capabilities, Trends and Economics


Chapter 1 Defence and military analysis .....................................................................................................................................................................8
The shadow of war 8
Chapter 2 Defence and military analysis ..................................................................................................................................................................14
Defence budgets and expenditure 14
Chapter 3 North America.......................................................................................................................................................................................................16
Regional trends in 2022 16; Arms procurements and deliveries 29;
United States: defence policy and economics 18; Armed forces data section 32
Canada: defence policy 28;
Chapter 4 Europe .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................50
Regional trends in 2022 50; Arms procurements and deliveries 69;
Regional defence policy and economics 52; Armed forces data section 72
Poland: defence policy 66;
Chapter 5 Russia and Eurasia ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 150
Regional trends in 2022 150; Ukraine: defence policy 165;
Regional defence policy and economics 152; Arms procurements and deliveries 169;
Russia: defence policy and economics 153; Armed forces data section 171
Chapter 6 Asia ............................................................................................................................................................................................................................ 208
Regional trends in 2022 208; Arms procurements and deliveries 226;
Regional defence policy and economics 210; Armed forces data section 229
China: defence policy and economics 220;
Chapter 7 Middle East and North Africa ................................................................................................................................................................ 302
Regional trends in 2022 302; Arms procurements and deliveries 312;
Regional defence policy and economics 304; Armed forces data section 315
Chapter 8 Latin America and the Caribbean...................................................................................................................................................... 364
Regional trends in 2022 364; Arms procurements and deliveries 373;
Regional defence policy and economics 366; Armed forces data section 376
Chapter 9 Sub-Saharan Africa ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 420
Regional trends in 2022 420; Regional defence economics 426;
West Africa: defence policy 422; Arms procurements and deliveries 431;
East Africa: defence policy 423; Armed forces data section 433
Central and Southern Africa: defence policy 425;

Part Two Reference


Explanatory notes ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 490
Principal land definitions 494; Principal naval definitions 495; Principal aviation definitions 496
List of abbreviations for data sections ............................................................................................................................................................................... 498
International comparisons of defence expenditure and military personnel ............................................................................................ 500
Index of country/territory abbreviations .......................................................................................................................................................................... 506
Index of countries and territories ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 507
Index of TABLES
1 The US DoD budget request by appropriation title, USDm ............. 24 10 Russia: Volume of military-technical cooperation and arms
2 US DoD FY2023 budget request vs House and Senate Armed exports (USD billion, current) ....................................................................164
Services and Appropriations Committees’ proposed defence 11 Selected equipment donations to Ukraine, February–
budgets, USDbn ............................................................................................... 25 September 2022 .............................................................................................170
12 Philippines: selected aerospace procurement since 2010 ..............227
3 The US DoD total budget request by military service, USDm.......... 26
13 Pakistan: selected naval procurement since 2000 .............................228
4 US National Defense Budget Function and other selected
14 Qatar: selected procurement since 2010...............................................313
budgets, 2000, 2010–2023 ........................................................................... 27
15 Peru: selected procurement since 2010.................................................374
5 United States: Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV) .................. 30
16 Kenya: defence procurement since 2000 ..............................................432
6 United States: fixed-wing combat aircraft exports, 2010–22 ........... 31
17 List of abbreviations for data sections....................................................498
7 Poland: Rosomak wheeled armoured vehicle family .......................... 70 18 International comparisons of defence expenditure and
8 Spain: selected aerospace procurement since 2010 ........................... 71 military personnel..........................................................................................500
9 Russia: defence expenditure, 2015–22 (trillion roubles, 19 Index of country/territory abbreviations...............................................506
current prices) .................................................................................................162 20 Index of countries and territories .............................................................507

Index of FIGURES
North America Middle East and North Africa
1 US defence budget as % of GDP................................................................. 25 14 Middle East and North Africa: defence spending by country
Europe and sub-region, 2022....................................................................................310
2 The FREMM frigate: selected national variants ..................................... 57 15 Middle East and North Africa: defence spending as % of
3 Europe: selected countries, inflation (%) 2017–27............................... 60 GDP (average)..................................................................................................310
4 Europe: regional defence spending as % of GDP (average) ............. 62
Latin America and the Caribbean
5 Europe: defence spending by country and sub-region, 2022 ......... 63
16 Latin America and the Caribbean: defence spending by
6 Europe defence budget announcements, 2022 ................................... 64
country and sub-region, 2022 ...................................................................371
Russia and Eurasia 17 Latin America and the Caribbean: regional defence
7 Recapitalising Russia’s bomber inventory .............................................158 spending as % of GDP (average) ..............................................................371
8 Russia: defence expenditure as % of GDP .............................................161 18 Latin America: selected countries, inflation (%), 2017–27 ..............372
9 Ukraine: selected Ukrainian main battle tank (MBT) upgrades.....166
Sub-Saharan Africa
Asia
19 Sub-Saharan Africa: defence spending by country and
10 Asia: defence spending by country and sub-region, 2022 .............216
sub-region, 2022 ............................................................................................428
11 Asia: regional defence spending as % of GDP (average) .................217
20 Sub-Saharan Africa: regional defence spending as % of
12 Asia: sub-regional real-terms defence-spending growth,
2021–22 (USDbn, constant 2015).............................................................219 GDP (average)..................................................................................................428
13 China: defence budget compared with the rest of Asia (total), 21 Sub-Saharan Africa: total defence spending by sub-region,
2008–22, USDbn, constant 2015 ..............................................................225 2008–22 .............................................................................................................429

Index of MAPS
1 Europe: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy) ..................... 61 7 Middle East and North Africa: regional defence
2 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine: February–March 2022 .......154 spending (USDbn, %ch yoy).......................................................................309
3 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine: April–October 2022 ...........155 8 Egypt: defence industry ...............................................................................314
4 Russia and Eurasia: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy)..161 9 Latin America and the Caribbean: regional defence spending
5 China and Russia: selected military cooperation (USDbn, %ch yoy)...........................................................................................370
activities, 2019–22 .........................................................................................211 10 Sub-Saharan Africa: regional defence spending
6 Asia: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy) .........................218 (USDbn, %ch yoy)...........................................................................................427
Editor’s Introduction
Change in military affairs is often incremental and slow. In Change is under way elsewhere too. In some cases,
many nations there is a formal process in which national- however, procurement and modernisation plans are being
security priorities are assessed, defence policies are produced delayed by economic realities. Higher rates of inflation
or updated and restructuring efforts reshape military organ- in 2022 eroded the value of many defence investments.
isations. Meanwhile, procurement plans lead to the arrival of Indeed, despite announced increases to defence budgets, in
new or upgraded equipment, changing the size and compo- 2022 global defence spending fell for the second year in real
sition of inventories, which in turn can lead to equipment terms because of soaring inflation rates. European and Asian
being retired, stored or destroyed, or sold or transferred to defence spending still grew in real terms, and with spending
others. War, or other national emergencies, can change the uplifts set to continue into the mid-2020s, these will be more
trajectory and pace of change. In 2022, Russia’s ill-fated deci- effective as inflation abates. The application of special funds
sion to launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine illustrates how or off-budget expenditure to supplement defence spending
defence transformation can be accelerated or even prompted, has become more prevalent in 2022 as countries seek to
especially in Europe. rapidly increase investment. Such measures can reduce trans-
The Military Balance captures important changes that are parency and accountability while also creating issues for
under way in military organisations and inventories. Russia’s defence economists seeking to accurately track and compare
armed forces, of course, have suffered considerable losses in like-for-like international defence budgets.
personnel and equipment in the invasion, though Moscow’s In China, the 7% nominal increase in the 2022 budget,
decision to mobilise means that personnel numbers remain over 2021 figures, represents a CNY95bn (USD16bn) boost in
relatively similar to previous years’ figures. The assessment funding for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the largest-
of personnel strength in Ukraine has also changed this year, ever annual increase in absolute terms, even though growth
as that country has looked to boost numbers and improve has in recent years stalled in real terms. These funds are
combat capability after Russia’s invasion. Elsewhere, war
enabling the PLA’s continued modernisation. The launch of a
in East Africa has also led to notable changes in this year’s
new aircraft carrier drew headlines, but China also continues
estimate for the personnel numbers of the armed forces of
to launch more, and more complex, frigates and destroyers.
Ethiopia and Eritrea.
According to the US Department of Defense (DoD), Beijing
Equipment inventories are changing too. Russia failed to
has also improved its strategic capabilities by introducing
gain air superiority over Ukraine and relied mainly on stand-
new and longer-range submarine-launched ballistic missiles
off attacks using its land-attack cruise missiles, depleting
like the JL-3 (CH-SS-N-20). The PLA Navy (PLAN), according
its inventory. As a consequence, Moscow has turned to
to the DoD, likely began ‘near-continuous at-sea deterrence
importing Iranian direct-attack munitions. In turn, this
patrols’, with the JL-3 possibly allowing the PLAN to target
is driving closer defence-industrial cooperation between
the US from longer ranges than before, giving it options to
Moscow and Tehran. Russia’s tank and artillery fleets have
enhance the survivability of its deterrent. And then there
suffered significant attrition. Around 50% of its pre-war fleet
is the change to China’s land silo-based nuclear deterrent,
of modern T-72B3s and T-72B3Ms is assessed to have been
first publicly observed in the West by open-source analysts.
lost. Moreover, the composition of Russia’s inventory has
China’s air-force inventory is also changing: there are more
changed. As modern vehicles have been destroyed, Russia
has looked to maintain its fleet by bringing older vehicles out Y-20 transport aircraft and now YY-20A tankers, and yet
of store. The war is finally driving out of many East European more J-20A combat aircraft. Moreover, new J-20As and new
inventories the Soviet-era equipment that many states have Y-20s are now considered to be fitted with locally manu-
retained since the end of the Cold War. The flow of Western factured engines, respectively the Shenyang WS-10C after-
artillery to Ukraine is modernising Kyiv’s inventory and burning turbofan and the Shenyang WS-20, replacing the
delivering improved capability. Meanwhile, Russia’s 2022 Russian Saturn AL-31F and Soloviev D-30KP engines. For
invasion sharpened Poland’s threat perceptions. Warsaw is years, China’s inability to domestically manufacture military-
accelerating its plans to build up its armoured vehicles and specification turbofans had been held as one of the factors
artillery, on top of its existing goals of boosting its air and limiting the development of its military capability.
naval power. Indeed, the strategic centre of gravity in Europe This is important as numerical changes to the invento-
has moved further north and east: Germany announced a ries in The Military Balance reflect only one aspect of military
special EUR100 billion (USD106bn) fund for defence and, capability. The process of generating numerical estimates is
like Poland and Finland, joined the group of European made somewhat easier where countries exhibit a degree of
nations ordering from the United States the fifth-generation transparency in defence affairs, particularly open societies
F-35 combat aircraft. Meanwhile, in 2023 Finland will almost and nations that ascribe to defence-reporting systems – such
certainly formally join NATO, alongside Sweden, a decision as to NATO for defence-planning purposes, or to the OSCE
that they only took after Russia’s 2022 invasion. and UN for arms-control and confidence-building purposes.
6 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

And there is an increasing volume of online reporting and More broadly, headline numbers remain useful as an indi-
imagery through, for instance, social media, and informa- cator, but they have to be scrutinised. For instance, despite
tion from commercial providers of satellite imagery. Data significant combat losses, Russia’s personnel numbers
gathered through these sources has to then be assessed remained relatively high, but attrition and mobilisation meant
alongside other information including from routine open- that, by the end of the year, the ground forces contained large
source monitoring and consultations with other defence numbers of relatively inexperienced personnel. And while
specialists. An active conflict sharpens the challenge yet the numbers of China’s fleet of destroyers and frigates, or
further. And the war in Ukraine illustrates the importance of heavy transport aircraft, may be relatively uniform, these
of information warfare, and the risks of this for analysts, fleets generally comprise more modern platforms than before.
as governments actively exploit the information space in If anything, these factors highlight the importance of
order to shape narratives. However, the increasing number looking beyond numbers to qualitative evaluations of mili-
of open-source citizen analysts and independent research tary capability. Equipment holdings may look good on
organisations scrutinising conflict and defence affairs has paper, but can they be effectively used? Assessments like
in recent years provided an increasingly rich source of these include judgements of industrial sustainability, logis-
information, for instance in contributing to assessments tics, maintenance, strategies and plans and training, areas
of Russian and Ukrainian equipment losses during the in which Russia’s armed forces have in 2022 demonstrated
current war. The growth in publicly-available courses in significant deficiencies. Such evaluations may also include
analytical techniques, as well as technical tools, has helped difficult-to-gauge factors such as the effect of corruption
this process. The expanding activity of groups like these, on industry or the armed forces, military morale or even
and the profusion of open-source data more generally, are ‘will’ among populations. Additionally, they must consider
leading government agencies to establish units focused on the broader defence-funding burden for states, and where
open source. In the case of the war in Ukraine, this volume appropriate include assessments of purchasing power parity.
of information, and the pace at which it has been generated, Assessments like these require considered methodological
has meant that analysts have to consider carefully a profu- approaches. These qualitative factors do not readily lend
sion of often very diverse data, and in many cases repriori- themselves to comparable assessments between states – a key
tise analytical capacity; this inevitably creates risk for other function of IISS defence data in The Military Balance. For this
areas of study. That said, though conflict makes it prob- reason, the IISS Defence and Military Analysis Programme
lematic to judge numbers with precision, assessments can has expanded its work in these areas and is looking to devise
nonetheless be made, including judgements that a particular ways of assessing the broader factors influencing capability,
category of equipment may be in service, but the numerical in ways that are comparable between states. We are inte-
breakdown between types is unclear. An additional compli- grating our judgements into the MilitaryBalance+ database,
cation is that combat attrition to both formations as well as and this volume illustrates in graphic form one aspect: our
equipment makes it yet more difficult to generate accurate approach to identifying important factors that we think influ-
estimates based on long-established methods, such as on ence equipment capability. We are continuing similar work
tables of organisation and equipment. However, more infor- on military-cyber issues and on defence expenditure while
mation often becomes available over time, enabling more exploring other means to deliver in our work further qualita-
precise judgements. tive as well as numerical assessments of global defence data.
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Chapter One: Defence and military analysis

The shadow of war

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February in Russia’s military power that took place after the
2022 is reshaping the security environment in latest modernisation phase (the ‘New Look’) began
Europe and has ramifications elsewhere. The scale in 2008 has not brought the desired outcome. While
of Moscow’s miscalculation is apparent nearly a year important vulnerabilities in Russian capabilities have
on, but at the outset it was not clear that Russia would been demonstrated, once Russia resorted to artil-
face such difficulty. One of the preliminary lessons lery-heavy assaults the gap between expectation and
offered by the war – beyond those for the bellig- performance was – in relation to Russia’s weapons –
erents – is that defence and intelligence specialists perhaps reduced a little. But in other aspects – such
need to sharpen focus on methodologies important as command and control, maintenance, logistics, plan-
to the assessment of military capabilities, and in this ning, reconnaissance and soldier training – significant
case revise how they evaluate Russia’s armed forces. deficiencies soon became apparent. In the first real test
Other early take-aways include those related to the of Russian combat power against a peer adversary for
importance of aspects of military capability such as decades, the armed forces have so far come up short.
intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), Military setbacks and the only incrementally-
longer range artillery and better targeting, and the growing resources that Russia is committing to the war
importance of training and morale. Yet more concern have meant that there is a growing gap between mili-
resilience, both civil and military. Meanwhile, tary realities and Russia’s aims. As of late 2022, though
although the United States has led international mili- state media control remained tight, and public support
tary support for Ukraine, and Washington perceives ostensibly remained high, some in the Russian secu-
Russia as the immediate threat, its longer-term focus rity community likely recognised this gap. A crucial
remains what it views as the challenge from China. issue was whether this was recognised also by
Beijing continues to modernise its armed forces at President Putin and the military leadership and, if it
pace. Russia’s war also offers lessons for the US was, whether they would sustain their intentions or
armed forces and its defence industry, both for its revise goals in line with miltary realities on the ground.
involvement in Europe, but also in possible contin- If a key objective of the war was to reassert Russian
gencies elsewhere, including in Asia. primacy over its ‘near abroad’, it has had the oppo-
site effect. The war has reinforced Ukrainian state-
Military miscalculation hood and galvanised its population and armed
Russia’s initial military campaign was launched on a forces. The effect of the war on Russia’s periphery
range of assumptions that proved to be ill-judged and has been varied. Belarus has been drawn closer to
over-optimistic: Ukraine’s leaders did not flee, and the Moscow and has been complicit in Russia’s actions
Ukrainian armed forces did not collapse. Moreover, by offering logistical and material – if not directly
Russia’s strategy was based on a poor understanding physical – support. But in Central Asia, Russia’s grip
of its own armed forces. Russia’s recent military oper- appeared weaker at the end than at the start of 2022,
ations, and forces with important elements postured while its ability to be an effective broker elsewhere,
for fast and decisive missions, gave its leaders a false such as between Armenia and Azerbaijan, is in doubt.
sense of confidence. Recent operations took place The effect in Europe has been profound. Russia’s
within relatively permissive operating environments, European strategy, as winter deepened, appeared to
while training and exercises did not adequately focus on weakening Western public resolve by cutting
prepare Russian forces for offensive actions against gas supplies. This has caused European states to
a determined and well-armed opponent. Russian sharpen their attention on resilience and energy secu-
forces displayed lower standards of tactical compe- rity. It has made more important continued Ukrainian
tence, command, leadership and logistics than their military progress in winter 2022–23 – even if this is
Ukrainian counterparts. The significant investment at a reduced tempo compared to its mid-September
Defence and military analysis: The shadow of war 9

to early November 2022 high point. This is impor- the main challenge for Washington. Moreover, while
tant not only to maintain pressure on a Russian force there is concern across the world about the conflict,
that is trying to reconstitute, but also to bolster argu- many responses were circumspect. China and India
ments in Western Europe that holding firm during an remained ‘neutral’, while several Middle Eastern and
energy crisis and, indeed, providing continued mili- African states also hedged. President Xi Jinping of
tary support to Ukraine were worthwhile. China has claimed that the growth in NATO member-
ship resulted in the Ukrainian crisis – a narrative that
Europe refocuses on Russia was first articulated by Moscow. And in other states
The security environment in Europe is shifting there are more hard-headed calculations of how the
sharply against Russia due to further NATO enlarge- conflict may directly affect them, for instance in rela-
ment, decisions by European states to boost their tion to the supply of hydrocarbons or military mate-
military capability and additional US commitments. riel. Although the leaders of China and Russia in
In 2019, NATO was described as experiencing ‘brain early February 2022 announced a ‘no limits’ bilateral
death’ by French President Emmanuel Macron, at a friendship, the rhetoric may exaggerate the depth
time when the then US president, Donald Trump, and potential of contemporary Sino-Russian rela-
was at best ambivalent about the value of the Alliance, tions, and a formal Sino-Russian military alliance or
following decades of various US presidents exhorting direct Chinese military support for Russia’s war in
Europeans to increase their defence spending. Ukraine both seem unlikely prospects. Nevertheless,
Russia’s 2022 invasion has given NATO a renewed the bilateral partnership is now closer and includes
raison d’être and impelled Finland and Sweden to an increasingly strong military dimension that goes
formally apply to join the Alliance. It has caused beyond defence-industrial cooperation.
many states to reassess their defence priorities and
has in effect shifted further north and east the stra- East Asia
tegic centre of gravity in Europe. For Germany, In Asia, the war in Ukraine added complications
Russia’s invasion marked a new era in European secu- to an already-deteriorating security environment.
rity, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced Concerns were expressed in some states about the
a EUR100 billion (USD106bn) fund for defence. And potential problems arising from a dependence on
as of the end of 2022, Helsinki and Stockholm were Russia for defence sales and support; Soviet- and
well on the path to NATO membership in 2023. At its Russian-origin equipment comprises a significant
Madrid Summit in 2022, NATO agreed a new force portion of the inventories of nations such as India
model to boost force size and readiness and to replace and Vietnam. Meanwhile, China has grown more
the NATO Response Force, but as before, a key chal- assertive regarding reunification with Taiwan, while
lenge will be in transforming members’ commitments relations between China and the US have become
into effective capability. At the same time, European more abrasive. Beijing was harsh in its criticism of
defence expenditure is being increased. This the visit to Taipei, in August 2022 by Nancy Pelosi,
spending trajectory is readily apparent in Russia’s then-speaker of the US House of Representatives;
immediate European neighbours and at its most the visit was accompanied by large-scale Chinese
obvious in Poland, where the defence minister said military exercises near Taiwan. Meanwhile, China’s
the defence budget should increase from 2% to 3% of military modernisation continued to prompt concern
GDP in 2023. The February 2022 invasion reinforced in Washington, which views it as the Department of
Warsaw’s security concerns and spurred a rapid Defense’s ‘pacing challenge’. China appears to have
programme to modernise its land forces with new expanded its nuclear capabilities, and at the end of
equipment, including South Korean and US armour. the year the Pentagon’s annual report on China’s
For at least the next decade, Russia will be central military capability noted other important develop-
to European security concerns, and will be important ments including in submarine capability and the
in driving defence policy developments and acqui- integration onto modern Chinese combat aircraft and
sition plans. But these concerns are not universally transport aircraft of domestically produced military-
held. The United States led the Western response grade jet engines.
to Russia’s actions, and while the Biden adminis- Tensions also rose on the Korean Peninsula. By
tration’s National Security Strategy did say that late October 2022, North Korea had launched more
Russia was indeed an acute threat, China was still ballistic missiles than in any previous year. These
10 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

activities included, for the first time since 2017, inter- judgement that Russia was planning an attack and
continental ballistic missile-related launches and that Moscow was plotting to stage a ‘false flag’ attack
the launch, in October, of a claimed new interme- as a pretext for this. Although for many govern-
diate-range ballistic missile; this reportedly overflew ments these did not appear to dramatically ‘move the
Japan. Speculation continued that North Korea was needle’ in the weeks leading up to 24 February, there
preparing for its seventh nuclear test. Meanwhile, is a case to be made that such ‘intelligence diplomacy’
the new South Korean administration has stressed strategies may in future gain more traction, not least
the development of independent national military because of what Russia’s invasion implied about US
capabilities and strengthened military cooperation intelligence penetration of Russian decision-making
with the US. Large-scale bilateral exercises have circles and the accuracy of its assessment in this case.
resumed, after some years in which these were scaled That said, gaining such information may be more
back to support diplomatic discussions with North difficult elsewhere.
Korea. And in July, the government emphasised the It is unclear whether governments have integrated
importance of South Korea’s ‘Kill Chain’ system and this rapid declassification process such that it will
the other two associated systems (Korea Massive automatically be employed in the next crisis, or even
Punishment and Retaliation and Korean Air and that they see a requirement for this. Processes have
Missile Defense) which had been renamed amid the been established that would make it easier to share
short-lived thaw in inter-Korean relations after 2018. intelligence assessments and it is becoming easier to
Meanwhile, the lifting of US-imposed ‘missile guide- share information with trusted partners. Nonetheless,
lines’ in 2021 has allowed Seoul to accelerate its devel- briefings like these, including the declassification of
opment of ballistic missiles with two-ton warheads intelligence information and making this available
which could help to provide a powerful precision- to the public, have value in keeping populations
strike capability. informed and helping to shape narratives. They are
In Japan, the war in Ukraine and Taiwan-related particularly valuable when civilians are being asked
developments influenced the defence policy consid- to endure degrees of hardship because of wars else-
erations of the Kishida administration. As antici- where, as in the energy crisis in Europe in the winter
pated, the government released revised versions of of 2022. And they are important when civilians
the National Security Strategy, National Defense receive information from so many sources, some of
Program Guidelines and Medium-Term Defense varied analytical provenance, that can often provide
Program at the end of 2022 , recasting the latter two as information faster than governments have tradition-
the National Defense Strategy and Defense Buildup ally been able to, often because they are restricted by
Program. The annual defence White Paper noted an classification constraints. Moreover, there has been
‘increasingly severe’ security environment and that a wealth of open-source information on the war in
Japan needed to strengthen its defence capabilities Ukraine produced by citizen analysts and private
‘dramatically’. Alongside a raft of important defence firms, making use of commercially available satellite
procurements, including the plan to modify the two systems to deliver imagery-based assessments that
Izumo-class helicopter carriers to allow shipborne were until recently the preserve of governments.
F-35B operations, in December it was announced
that Japan would join Italy and the United Kingdom Questions of analysis
in a programme to develop a new sixth-generation The war raises other questions relating to military
combat aircraft. Governments in Asia and elsewhere capability assessments, in that Russia’s military power
are continuing to monitor the war in Ukraine for was in many quarters misjudged. A caveat is needed:
early lessons relating to military capability and also some elements of the armed forces have been used
broader national-security issues. only sparingly, such as the submarine service, while
the strategic-bomber force has for the most part been
The Ukraine war: some early lessons able to launch its stand-off munitions – even if some
In late 2021 and early 2022, US national-security offi- of these have appeared to be sub-optimal. However,
cials engaged in a series of briefings to Ukrainian and Russia’s military exercises, for instance, were more
European leaders, relating intelligence assessments scripted than they appeared. This was widely under-
about Russia’s intent to mount a full-scale invasion. stood to be the case for large-scale strategic exercises
Intelligence assessments were declassified with the like Zapad, but not so much for Russia’s snap exer-
Defence and military analysis: The shadow of war 11

cises – designed to test combat readiness – that had to also consider that the impressive performance of
become a feature since Sergei Shoigu became defence Ukraine’s forces has been against a Russian adversary
minister in 2012. The same goes for Ukraine, where that has proven surprisingly poor, so caution should
there was generally an underestimation of the capa- be taken in judging whether all of Ukraine’s forces
bility of its still-nascent non-commissioned officer have improved to the same degree, or that they have
(NCO) corps and, more broadly, of the fighting overcome all of the challenges associated with their
potential and ‘will’ of its armed forces and society. post-Soviet heritage.
This calls for stricter application of structured analyt- However, in Russia, achieving effective change
ical techniques to avoid cognitive biases like mirror- in this regard will require political will, as well
imaging. But this is challenging when it is difficult as improvements in education and training. But
to gain access to armed forces and harder still when devolving and encouraging independent decision-
these forces are themselves deceived by their own making seems to conflict with the type of control
reporting. It calls for techniques, possibly including and governance that has characterised President
environmental scanning, that could lead to thorough Putin’s rule. This may be a risk in other authori-
study of societies as well as their armed forces, and tarian states too, perhaps including China, though
for more regular and more qualitative assessments of circumstances are different there (for instance,
military capability. China has had prominent anti-corruption initia-
For instance, while Russia has sunk consider- tives), and again, much depends on the quality of
able sums into its post-2008 military-modernisation the enemy these forces would face. Nonetheless, this
process, it may be that the effectiveness of these invest- is a problem for the Russian armed forces moving
ments has been reduced by the impact of Russia’s forward. The ground forces now need to rebuild
political culture and of corruption. Alongside poor while engaged in a high-intensity fight. Many of
military and political leadership, further revelations its most experienced troops were lost in the early
of entrenched corruption in Russia’s armed forces months of the war, and it is unclear not only how
will not help to improve mutual trust. In advanced Russia will address the issue of adequately training
Western armed forces this is seen as an important and then integrating new troops into existing units,
factor in helping to enable effective military leader- but also whether its military culture can change
ship at all levels. Indeed, the war has highlighted the enough in future so that its troops can become mili-
importance of the human factor in war and reinforced tarily effective against a peer adversary.
the value of investing in personnel, including the
competence of commanders at all levels and adequate Military matters
individual and collective training, without which The war in Ukraine has shown how important it is
investments in equipment can be wasted. for armed forces to be able to adapt. Both Russian
After 2014, Ukraine’s armed forces embarked and Ukrainian forces adapted during combat, though
on a programme to train and professionalise its with varying degrees of success. After failing in its
troops, including the development of a profes- initial attempt to seize the country with a dispersed
sional NCO cadre. With the support of NATO and set of multiple axes of advance and an optimistic
individual member states, through vehicles such as ‘thunder run’ approach, Russia reshaped its offen-
NATO’s Ukraine Defence Education Enhancement sives towards the east. Russia’s failure to gain control
Programme (DEEP), four areas were addressed of the air meant it had to resort to greater use of
for bilateral support from allies: basic training; stand-off weaponry and, towards the end of 2022,
train-the-trainer courses; the development of a to augment these with uninhabited aerial vehicles
professional NCO career system; and the creation of (UAVs) and direct-attack munitions sourced from
professional military education systems for NCOs. Iran. Ukraine, for its part, has also rapidly sourced
Reports on the progress of Ukraine’s military reform and used direct-attack munitions and has developed
were in many cases mixed, though the demonstration a capacity to fuse information from small UAVs to
under fire of Ukraine’s military adaptability and resil- improve the capability of its artillery forces. It also
ience indicates not only that more structured analysis dispersed its air force and maintained combat effec-
would have been helpful here, but also that such tiveness and has also developed a capability to attack
reforms can bring results in traditionally hierarchical Russian targets at-reach using UAVs and missiles.
post-Soviet armed forces. However, it is important These include the attacks on the Russian Black Sea
12 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Fleet flagship Moskva and some of Russia’s strategic- from anti-armour systems, but not eliminate it.
bomber bases, and at closer ranges using direct-attack Urban operations have highlighted the continued
munitions. Attacks like these have highlighted risks importance of capabilities, and training, suitable for
to static locations including supply bases and head- this terrain. Meanwhile, the war suggests that both
quarters and also troop concentrations; it appears to unguided and smart ammunition have comple-
be increasingly difficult to hide on the battlefield. mentary roles. Large amounts of both conventional
The war has also been a stark reminder of the unguided ammunition and precision weapons have
importance of magazine depth, evidenced by high been expended. Anti-armour weapons illustrate the
usage rates for guided weapons and artillery ammu- benefits but also the costs of precision, with concerns
nition and the severe attrition of armour. It indicates expressed not only over whether Ukraine may run out
that any future military capability that relies exclu- of stocks of Western supplied anti-armour systems,
sively on precision weapons will not only likely but also about national stocks and defence-industrial
be costly, but will also need careful replenishment capacity in countries that have supplied such systems
planning. This may require some production lines to Ukraine.
to remain open that would otherwise close, and Neither combatant in Ukraine has secured overall
government and industry to work together on suit- air superiority. Ground-based air defence has proved
able procurement mechanisms. It may also require effective in limiting freedom of action and losses
striking a balance between mass and capability. have been inflicted, while Russia’s comparative lack
There is greater concern over supply-chain issues of modern short- and medium-range air-launched
because of the war – concerns which had already precision-guided munitions has been exposed. The
been expressed during the coronavirus pandemic. importance of ISR has also been highlighted, along-
There are now additional concerns relating to side the ability to rapidly distribute information from
sourcing and traceability in the lower levels of the the sensor to the shooter. And the vulnerability of
supply chain. Along with interest in supply chain helicopters to air defences has been apparent on both
assurance, this is also leading to a reconsideration in sides. But while air forces have looked to the war for
some countries over what supply chains and compo- lessons in 2022, some key developments in aerospace
nents may need to be onshored. At the same time, technology have more direct relevance elsewhere.
industrial capacity issues highlight potential near- The unveiling in December of the new US strategic
term difficulties in increasing production to replace bomber, the B-21, was clearly focused on Asia-Pacific
Western materiel supplied to Ukraine. contingencies; it was anticipated that China’s next-
Moreover, concerns over supply-chain vulner- generation bomber would also be shown. In areas
abilities form only one aspect of resilience. There is such as combat-aircraft design and manufacture, a
also now greater focus than for decades on the resil- problem for Washington’s allies and partners is that
ience of critical national infrastructure and of soci- its requirements mean its designs will be at a price
eties to state-based threats, including from physical point that few of them will be willing or able to accept.
attack as well as from cyber and broader disinfor- In turn, this may lead groups of nations to team up in
mation threats. However, effectively tackling these order to deliver advanced capabilities. However, the
challenges requires long-term government attention, more diverse their requirements, the harder it will be
including in the education sphere, and a joined-up to produce systems on time that are affordable and
approach within government and between govern- able to meet all their needs.
ment, the private-sector business community and In the maritime domain, Russia’s navy has been
broader society. embarrassed by Ukrainian tactics, but it was not
The war has illustrated the continuing impor- really configured to face an opponent with very
tance of the combined-arms approach to warfare – limited naval capability but adept at using naval
including the integration of UAV and counter-UAV guerrilla tactics. Rather, it was designed to hold
capabilities into land units, and also how increasingly at bay an opponent with significant naval depen-
pervasive surveillance can pose risk for manoeuvre dence. For all the setbacks, Russia was at the end
forces. Furthermore, it has highlighted the importance of 2022 still essentially enforcing a distant blockade
of long-range precision artillery and also the armour of Ukraine’s trade. This underscores global energy
versus anti-armour fight. Fitting active-protection and resource interdependence, and the importance
systems to armoured vehicles can reduce the threat of maritime trade flows and sea lanes of communi-
Defence and military analysis: The shadow of war 13

cation, as well as the potential of blockades. More economic environment that will persist in the short
broadly, for navies as for land and air forces, Ukraine term will impose constraints on public expenditure,
has brought home the need to consider attrition, not least the higher cost of debt financing in light of
magazine depth and sustainment ability. It has also increased interest rates designed to curb inflation.
brought home the threat of unconventional tactics Global defence expenditure grew in nominal
and emerging technologies, and critical undersea terms in 2021 and 2022 but higher rates of inflation
infrastructure vulnerabilities. meant expenditure fell in real terms in both years. In
recent years, high inflation eroded defence spending
Money counts in real terms in countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin
In the wake of the disruption caused by the corona- America and the Caribbean, the Middle East and
virus pandemic, the global economic climate is again North Africa and Russia and Eurasia, but this trend
fraught. Surging inflation, commodity-price spikes, is now more widespread. Europe and Asia were the
supply-chain crises and heightened economic uncer- only regions globally to continue to exhibit defence-
tainty resulting from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine spending growth in real terms in 2021 with Russia
have derailed an economic recovery that, in some and Eurasia joining them in 2022 as war fuelled
countries, was far from complete. Inflation rates above-inflation increases in the region.
increased globally in 2021 as a result of higher energy For some governments, such as those in Europe
costs, a recovery in demand and ongoing pandemic- and Asia, security challenges continue to sharpen
related supply-chain disruptions. even as the value of their defence investments is being
The war had led some countries in Europe to undercut. This makes it more important not only to
increase their defence spending, and others else- spend wisely and ensure that procurements deliver
where to take the opportunity to revise defence strat- on time and on budget, but also to see that full use is
egies. In 2022, around 20 countries in Europe pledged made of the possibilities deriving from collaborative
to increase defence spending, with varying degrees of equipment development and from defence and mili-
size and immediacy. Nonetheless, the difficult global tary partnerships.
Chapter Two: Defence budgets and expenditure
Top 15 defence budgets in 2022 (USDbn)†*
1. United States a
2. China
3. Russiab 4. United
Kingdomc USDbn
900
242.4 87.9
800

70.0 700
(PPP ε192)
(PPP ε360) 600
5. India 6. France 7. Germany
500

766.6
400

66.6 54.4 53.4 300

8. Japan 9. Saudi Arabiad 10. Iran 200

100

48.1 45.6 44.0 0


United Other Rest
11. South Korea 12. Australia 13. Italy 14. Canada 15. Brazil States top 15 of the
countries world

43.0 33.8 31.1 24.6 23.0


a
OMB adjusted figure. bTotal defence expenditure including military R&D funding, military pensions, paramilitary forces’ budgets, and other MoD-related expenses such as housing. cIncludes Armed
Forces Pension Scheme and military aid to Ukraine. dExcludes security expenditure. Note: Unless otherwise indicated, US dollar totals are calculated using average market exchange rates for 2022,
derived using IMF data. The relative position of countries will vary not only as a result of actual adjustments in defence spending levels, but also due to exchange-rate fluctuations between domestic
currencies and the US dollar. The use of average exchange rates reduces these fluctuations, but the effects of such movements can be significant in a number of cases. Dashed line reflects an estimate
for the value of the Chinese and Russian defence budget in PPP (purchasing power parity) terms to take into account the lower input costs in these countries. These PPP figures are not used in any
regional or global totals in this publication and should not be used in comparison with other international data.
©IISS

2022 Top 15 defence budgets as a % of GDP*


Oman Kuwait Algeria Jordan Saudi Mali Morocco Israel Armenia Russia UAE Qatar Azerbaijan Greece Cambodia
Arabia

5.9% 5.0% 4.8% 4.8% 4.5% 4.5% 4.5% 4.3% 4.2% 4.1% 4.0% 3.8% 3.8% 3.5% 3.5%
©IISS

Planned global defence spending by region 2022†* Planned defence spending by country 2022†*
Other Eurasia, 0.5%
Latin America and the Caribbean, 2.6% Sub-Saharan Africa, 1.0%
Russia, 4.4% Latin America, 2.6%
Other Middle
Asia, 25.7% East and North
Africa, 7.3% United
Saudi States
Arabia, 2.3% 38.2%
North America
Other Asia
39.5% 5.8%
South
Middle East Korea, 2.1%
and North Africa Japan, 2.4%
9.6% United
India, 3.3% Kingdom
Sub-Saharan China, 12.1% 3.5%
Europe
Africa, 1.0% 16.7% Non-NATO France, 2.7%
Russia and Eurasia, 4.9% Europe, 1.3% Other NATO, 7.8% Germany, 2.7%
©IISS
† At current prices and exchange rates
* Analysis only includes countries for which sufficient comparable data is available. Notable exceptions include Cuba, Eritrea, Libya, North Korea and Syria.
Defence and military analysis: Defence budgets and expenditure 15

Real global defence spending changes by region 2020–22*


10
8 2020
6 2021
4 2022
2
% 0
-2
-4
-6
-8
North America Europe Russia and Asia Middle East and Latin America Sub-Saharan Global
Eurasia North Africa and the Africa
Caribbean
* Excludes states for which insufficient data is available

Impact of inflation on global defence expenditure 2015–22


2.1

2.0

1.9
USDtr

1.8

1.7

1.6 Current/Nominal, USDtr


Constant/Real, 2015 USDtr

1.5
2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Composition of real defence Composition of real defence


spending increases 2021–22† spending reductions 2021–22†
Other Sub-Saharan Russia and Other North
Other Sub-Saharan Africa, 3.7% Latin America and Africa, 0.8% Eurasia, 1.2% America, 0.3%
Other Russia the Caribbean, 1.5%
Other Asia, 4.7%
and Eurasia, 0.6% China, 15.6%
Other Latin
Other Europe, 12.5% America and the
Caribbean, 0.8% United
Other Middle States
East, 1.5% Other Europe, 2.3%
58.6%
Other Asia, 2.5% Russia Other Middle
Total increases East and North Total reductions
13.3% 2021–22†
Iraq, 3.0% 2021–22† Africa, 1.0%
USD66.3bn
Ethiopia, 3.6% USD30.1bn
Pakistan, 1.2%
United Israel, 1.6%
Kingdom, 4.7% Japan Mexico, 1.9%
Germany, 4.9% 11.7%
Myanmar, 2.1%
Qatar, 5.9% Iran, 8.3% Brazil, 2.2% Saudi Arabia, 8.7%
Netherlands, 6.7%
Kuwait, 2.7% India, 3.0% Turkey, 6.9%

©IISS
† At constant 2015 prices and exchange rates
16 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Chapter Three

North America
 According to the 2022 National Defense Strategy  The US Navy ‘Navigation Plan’ outlined goals, including
(NDS), released in unclassified form in October, Russia 12 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, 66 tactical
is an ‘acute’ threat but China is the pacing challenge submarines, 96 large and 56 small surface combatants,
for the Department of Defense. The modernisation of as part of a force design for 373 crewed vessels, plus
China’s armed forces remains the principal driver of US approximately 150 uninhabited surface and subsurface
policy attention and capability development. platforms, to be achieved by 2045.
 The US has led the international response to Russia’s  The US Air Force unveiled the Northrop Grumman
2022 invasion of Ukraine. US officials have played key B-21 Raider bomber in December 2022, but a timeline for
roles in coordinating defence assistance to Ukraine, the public display of a prototype crewed element of the
and the US has delivered significant stocks, including Next-Generation Air Dominance project remains unclear.
anti-armour weapons, various air and missile defence  The FY2023 DoD budget request prioritises the
systems, and HARM anti-radiation missiles and artillery Pentagon’s plan to build advantage by investing in
(particularly HIMARS rocket artillery). innovation and modernisation as well as industrial
 The US Army is focused on regenerating its capability capability. The Pentagon is also looking to improve
for large-scale combat operations under its Multi- recruitment and retention, and the FY2023 budget
Domain Operations (MDO) concept. Integrating includes a 4.6% pay raise for both military and
lessons drawn from Ukraine delayed the official civilian personnel.
publication of MDO as army doctrine, though the  Canada and the US agreed to upgrade infrastructure
updated document – FM 3-0, Operations – was and systems associated with the North American
eventually published in October. Aerospace Defense Command.

US cruisers, destroyers and frigates, 2014–22 Active military personnel


(25,000 per unit)

Cruisers Destroyers Frigates Global


total
120
20,773,950

100

80
US
1,359,600
60

40
Canada 66,500

20

Regional
0
6.9% total
2014 2016 2018 2020 2021 2022 1,426,100
North America 17

Regional defence policy and economics 18 ►

North America
Arms procurements and deliveries 29 ►

Armed forces data section 32 ►

US F-35 numbers, 2014–22


350
300 Air Force (F-35A) Naval Aviation (F-35C)
Marine Corps Aviation (F-35B) Air National Guard (F-35A)
250
Marine Corps Aviation (F-35C)
200
150
100
50
0
2014 2016 2018 2020 2021 2022

United States: selected tactical combat aircraft, 2014–22 Advanced Modern Ageing Obsolescent

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500

0
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
*Including only Ftr, FGA and Atk aircraft (not incl AC-130J)

US real-terms defence budget trend, 2012–22 Canada real-terms defence budget trend, 2012–22
800 10 100 15
8 12
6 80 9
USDbn, constant 2015

USDbn, constant 2015

600 4
Year-on-year % change

Year-on-year % change

6
2
60
0 3
400
-2 0
40
-4
-3
200 -6
20 -6
-8
-10 -9

0 -12 0 -12
2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
18 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

North America

Canada and the United States took strides to deepen politically and materially. Well before Moscow’s
cooperation over continental defence in 2022. It is troops crossed their start line, administration officials
increasingly acknowledged that both have important were briefing Ukraine’s leaders with Washington’s
defence and security interests in the Arctic, the assessment of President Vladimir Putin’s intent, with
Atlantic and the Pacific. The year also saw the similar disclosures to other European leaders. And
release of major strategic documents by the US. The a public campaign saw the rapid declassification of
unclassified versions released in the public domain intelligence pointing to indicators of Russian activity,
are shorter than the classified versions for government alongside the significant amount of information
but still contain important insights into US priorities. derived from commercially available sources that was
Washington also released an Arctic strategy. For its made available by civilian analysts. US officials have
part, Canada stepped up its maritime deployments played key roles in coordinating defence assistance to
to the Indo-Pacific and Europe and made progress Ukraine, and the US has delivered significant stocks
on some key defence acquisitions, such as the future including anti-armour weapons, various air- and
fighter programme. Both nations delivered defence missile-defence systems, and HARM anti-radiation
assistance to Ukraine in the wake of Russia’s full- missiles and artillery – particularly HIMARS rocket
scale invasion, with the US leading contributions artillery. Nonetheless, the president has maintained
from NATO Allies and partner states in terms of a solid ‘red line’ against the commitment of any
both political coordination and material assistance. US forces. Military trainers were withdrawn from
Washington also increased its deployments to Ukraine in advance of 24 February. Meanwhile,
Europe, with forces increasing by over 20,000 in 2022. the administration has been firm about the US
At the same time debates in the US over prioritisation commitment to NATO, deploying additional troops
continue, notwithstanding Russia’s actions in to Romania, Poland and the Baltic states, as well as
Ukraine, because of China’s military modernisation bolstering the air and naval presence in Europe and
and deepening concern over its activities in the Indo- being central to the movement to bring Finland and
Pacific more generally, but particularly in relation to Sweden into the Alliance, following their application
Taiwan. China is Washington’s ‘pacing challenge’ and to join.
its principal security concern. According to the 2022 National Defense
Shared continental security concerns led both states Strategy (NDS), released in unclassified form in
to re-establish in 2022 the Cross Border Crime Forum, October, Russia is an ‘acute’ threat, but China is the
which includes counter-terrorist and cyber-security pacing challenge for the Department of Defense
collaboration as well as law enforcement cooperation (DoD). Indeed, the report continued, the ‘most
over borders, travel and transportation. Both states, comprehensive and serious challenge to U.S. national
but especially the US, also remain concerned by security is the PRC’s coercive and increasingly
security challenges from transnational organised aggressive endeavor to refashion the Indo-Pacific
criminal groups, including drug cartels active in region and the international system to suit its interests
Latin America. Importantly, Ottawa and Washington and authoritarian preferences’. The US is concerned
in 2022 took steps to upgrade the capabilities of the by China’s policy and military posture in relation to
North American Aerospace Defense Command Taiwan, which it sees as part of this broader pattern of
(NORAD) following a Joint Statement on NORAD destabilising and coercive behaviour. In late October,
Modernisation in 2021. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Beijing had
decided that the status quo over Taiwan was ‘no
THE UNITED STATES longer acceptable, that they wanted to speed up the
process by which they would pursue reunification’,
The Biden administration has led the international with the possibility that if pressure on Taiwan did not
response to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, both speed reunification Beijing could use force to meet
North America 19

its goals. Yet this view is not uniformly espoused in produce ‘plutonium pits’ for nuclear weapons. For its
the administration, and there remains considerable part, the Missile Defense Review reflected a growing

North America
debate internally over the likelihood of Chinese diversity and sophistication of threats, indicating the
aggression against Taiwan, the most plausible time need for sensors and command-and-control systems
period and the form that any such attack might take. to be able to operate more seamlessly and rapidly
While the administration has sent select equipment to across the threat landscape, though with minimal
Ukraine, but not personnel, the president has leaned detail overall in the unclassified version on plans for
in a more assertive direction in East Asia. Without meeting these challenges.
formally abandoning US ‘strategic ambiguity’ over
Taiwan, President Joe Biden had, by October, stated Meeting ambition
on more than one occasion that he would likely send A key challenge for the DoD will lie in delivering on
US combat forces to help Taiwan defend itself in the the ambitions contained in its strategy documents,
event of a Chinese attack. not simply in terms of military capability
The modernisation of China’s armed forces development and maintaining the funding needed
remains the principal driver of US policy attention to support these but also in relation to the broader
and capability development. Washington believes capabilities required to support its ambitions – for
Beijing ‘has modernized and expanded nearly every instance in national defence industry, the supply
aspect’ of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) and that chain and innovation. Moreover, the DoD and the
China is focused on offsetting US military advantage. national security establishment and industry need
The NDS says that the PLA is ‘rapidly advancing and to meet these requirements at the right timescale
integrating its space, counterspace, cyber, electronic, – not only during what the Biden administration’s
and informational warfare capabilities to support its 2022 National Security Strategy called the ‘decisive
holistic approach to joint warfare’, and that it is also decade’ of the next ten years, but beyond that. At
speeding and expanding nuclear modernisation. the same time, it must cope with the prioritisation
To deliver a force able to ‘strengthen and sustain problem highlighted by actual and potential threats
deterrence, and to prevail in conflict if necessary’, to security in Europe as well as in the Indo-Pacific.
the DoD says in the NDS that it will prioritise a But these are not new problems. And much of the
force that possesses capabilities that can ‘penetrate rhetoric in the Biden administration’s strategic
adversary defenses at range’, that ‘securely and documents will be familiar to readers of recent
effectively provides logistics and sustainment to versions, even if there was more on the importance
continue operations in a contested and degraded of allies and partners than before. Indeed, in early
environment’, that maintains information and November 2022, Under Secretary of Defense Colin
decision advantage and is able to rapidly mobilise Kahl described the 2022 NDS as in some ways just
force and generate combat power. Integrated with the next iteration of the 2018 version, issued under
the NDS were unclassified versions of the Nuclear the leadership of president Donald Trump and
Posture Review (NPR) and Missile Defense Review. secretary of defense Jim Mattis. But after nearly two
DoD did not release an unclassified space strategy. years in office, perhaps the most striking aspect of the
The NPR reflects international tensions in its Biden administration’s defence and military policy,
language and also seems to balance the revived move under Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, is its
to retire older systems such as the B83 gravity bomb, broad continuity – from the Trump administration
as well as the cancellation of the development agreed as well as the last major military initiatives of the
by the Trump administration of the nuclear-armed Obama years and the bipartisan agreement on
sea-launched cruise missile, with maintenance of how to size, structure, modernise and fund the US
other developments agreed during the Trump-era. defence establishment.
These include the low-yield warhead for Trident II In practical terms, these conceptual and rhetorical
(the W76-2), the life extension to the B61 gravity bomb initiatives help justify the significant emphasis
(the B61-12) and the developmental Long-Range on research, development, test and evaluation
Standoff weapon. Also prominent were commitments (RDT&E). The RDT&E budget is now greater than
to upgrade all legs of the nuclear triad, make nuclear USD130 billion annually, an historic high that
command and control more resilient, and expand the considerably exceeds the full investment budget
capability of the National Nuclear Safety Agency to of the rest of NATO combined. These investments
20 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

have reached such a scale largely because systems short-duration crises without substantially impairing
that have been at the conceptual or laboratory level high-end warfighting readiness’. Washington is
for years are now reaching advanced prototyping looking to build strength in key areas, including
and field-testing phases, with low-level production surveillance and decision systems, ‘particularly in the
to follow. space domain’, hardening its command-and-control
Investments have also led to the creation of a networks and developing systems that can ‘mitigate
Pacific Deterrence Initiative to complement the adversary anti-access/area-denial capability’. It was
European Deterrence Initiative developed after noteworthy that the NDS also highlighted the need to
Russia’s aggressions against Ukraine from 2014. The improve logistics and sustainment, reinforcing the US
Pacific Deterrence Initiative’s funding stands at ability to ‘quickly mobilise and deploy’ forces in the
about USD6bn compared with USD4bn for Europe face of denial operations.
in the president’s 2023 budget request. The plan But the sustainment reference points to other
helps with infrastructure modernisation, enhanced concerns, including not only those highlighted
training initiatives – including in the Indo-Pacific by growing strategic competition with China but
with the other ‘Quadrilateral Security Dialogue’ also those deriving from the war in Ukraine, and
nations of India, Japan and Australia – and greater related to security of supply and weapons stocks. It
targeted experimentation and research (including is significant that in 2022 defence officials have paid
with Australia and the United Kingdom under the numerous visits to US defence plants at varying
AUKUS arrangement of 2021). To date, however, it positions in the supply chain. Measures being
has not led to significant changes to US posture, at considered include mitigating vulnerabilities in the
least in the broader Indo-Pacific. Modest alterations current supply chain and improving innovation
continue, such as deployment changes of a few and planning for procurement mechanisms that can
thousand troops at most in Guam and in Australia. help industry develop or maintain the capability to
Moreover, according to analysts, it remains unclear boost production. But although investments may be
if the Pentagon is moving quickly enough to address growing, and US strategic logic increasingly shifts
acute gaps and vulnerabilities, such as shortages to a paramount focus on China, there remains much
of sensors and munitions that would be useful in continuity in force structure and in strategy. While
helping Taiwan fend off possible Chinese attack and the defence debate suggests a desire for greater
vulnerabilities in military and national infrastructural change, actual adjustments have so far occurred
command and control, or alternatives to forward- more slowly.
located airfields and aircraft carriers that could This may change with the influx of greater
survive possible Chinese pre-emption in any war. resources into the Pentagon. Since the mid-2010s,
Meanwhile, the documents also note the challenge there has been a notable defence-budget build-up in
from what the NDS termed ‘persistent threats’ from the US. The process began under former secretary
North Korea, Iran and violent extremist organisations. of defense Mattis, whose 2018 NDS called for
Their persistence perhaps helps explain why the ‘additional resources in a sustained effort to solidify
shift towards great-power competition has been our competitive advantage’. That objective has been
constrained in scope, pace, and overall strategic largely attained over the ensuing half decade even if,
effect within the DoD. Under the updated force- during the Biden years, it has been sustained more by
planning construct, the joint force is intended to Congress than by the administration. Vast spending
‘simultaneously defend the homeland, maintain on COVID-19 relief made it hard even for fiscal hawks
strategic deterrence and deter and, if necessary, and defence doves to turn off the tap, while inflation
prevail in conflict’. However, the precise force-sizing pressures have further strengthened the argument
construct remains unclear from the public document. in the course of 2022 for large defence outlays. And
Risk-mitigation efforts ‘rooted in integrated Congress has added tens of billions of dollars to the
deterrence’ are seen as key to deterring ‘opportunistic requested defence budget in each of the first two
aggression’ if the US is involved in an ‘all domain years of the Biden presidency. Nonetheless, these
conflict’. Cooperation with allies is seen as key, as sums need to be focused correctly, provide quality
is the US nuclear deterrent and other capabilities and quantity, and deliver on the range of technologies
such as space and cyber. But the force is also meant and systems for this and the next generation of US
to have the ability to ‘respond to small-scale, armed forces.
North America 21

US Army fire-support platforms deferred in favour of lighter,


The US Army is focused on regenerating its capability reconnaissance-oriented systems.

North America
for large-scale combat operations under its Multi- Under Waypoint 2028–2029, the 10th Mountain
Domain Operations (MDO) concept. These plans and 25th Infantry Divisions will likely become ‘Light
pre-date Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine Divisions’ and the 82nd Airborne and 101st Air
in February 2022, but that conflict has influenced Assault Divisions ‘Joint Forcible Entry Divisions’.
thinking in key areas. These include the importance All of these divisions will receive a new light tank
of being able to conduct effective combined-arms battalion operating the General Dynamics Griffin
warfare at scale, precision long-range firepower II design selected to fulfil the Mobile Protected
and mobile air- and missile-defence capabilities. Firepower (MPF) programme requirement in June
Integrating lessons drawn from Ukraine delayed the 2022. Original plans to assign an MPF company to each
official publication of MDO as army doctrine, though Brigade Combat Team have been dropped following
the updated document – FM 3-0, Operations – was concerns about overloading brigade headquarters
eventually published in October. staff. The 82nd and 101st will also receive a dedicated
Moving into 2022, the army had already identified cavalry squadron for divisional reconnaissance, but
a number of ‘critical gaps’ in the design of its current the Light Divisions will not. The newly formed 11th
divisional structures, and new divisional structures Airborne Division, created from US Army Alaska in
proposed under its Waypoint 2028–2029 initiative mid-2022, may retain a tailored structure due to its
are intended to help overcome these shortcomings. role as the army’s dedicated Arctic and extreme cold-
Under these proposals, the 1st Cavalry Division (and weather operations formation.
likely the 1st Armored Division) will restructure All of the new divisional designs will also receive a
as ‘Penetration Divisions’, each retaining three new combat support brigade with engineer, chemical,
Armored Brigade Combat Teams (ABCTs), but with biological, radiological and nuclear, military police
the addition of an organic engineering brigade, a battalions and a short-range air-defence battalion
dedicated division-level armoured cavalry squadron operating the new M-SHORAD system to counter
and an extra artillery battalion to be equipped with helicopters and UAVs. M-SHORAD was first fielded
the forthcoming 155mm M1299 Extended Range in Germany in 2021, and the first CONUS-based
Cannon Artillery system. These changes are intended M-SHORAD battalions began activating in 2022.
to make the revised formations better able to conduct The army plans to take delivery of its first platoon of
breakthrough operations against peer opponents in M-SHORAD Increment 2 (Directed Energy) systems
defensive positions. The Army National Guard is also by the end of 2022 to go alongside the already-issued
expected to form its own Penetration Division, with production models of the M-SHORAD Increment 1
the realignment of existing brigades under the 34th (Kinetic Effect) system.
Infantry Division’s headquarters. There has been a significant short-term expansion
The remaining nine active force ABCTs and of the army’s presence in Europe following Russia’s
medium-weight Stryker Brigade Combat Teams invasion of Ukraine. By May 2022, this had grown to
(SBCTs) based in the continental US (CONUS) seem 45,000 personnel, with a full corps headquarters, two
set to be redistributed into three ‘heavy divisions’ division headquarters, two further ABCTs and one
comprising two ABCTs and one SBCT each. These airborne brigade combat team deployed in addition
divisions will lack the dedicated division-level assets to regular forward-based and rotational forces.
available to the two Penetration Divisions and serve Balancing these deployments, the army has also
instead as general-purpose heavy armoured and continued to adjust its long-term posture elsewhere.
mechanised formations. Having previously ended its ABCT rotations to the
With the Optionally Manned Fighting Vehicle Middle East, the transfer of the Korea Rotational
programme still in the prototyping stage, and not Force deployment from an ABCT to an SBCT in late
expected to begin being issued to units until 2029, 2022 means that the vast majority of the army’s heavy
the army is now taking delivery of upgraded M2A4 armour is now concentrated in Europe and CONUS.
Bradley variants, and the first unit set was issued in In the Pacific, the army has instead focused on
early 2022. Development efforts in the Robotic Combat lighter forces, and longer-range missile capabilities,
Vehicle uninhabited ground vehicle programme with the establishment of an additional brigade-
have been refocused, with work on medium-weight level Multi-Domain Task Force (MDTF) included
22 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

in the president’s FY2023 budget. This third MDTF III Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, despite various
was officially established in Hawaii at the end of proposals to try to accelerate destroyer construction.
September 2022. In 2022, one new destroyer commissioned up to
The army’s new theatre-missile capabilities, November, while two Flight IV Virginia-class nuclear-
including the short-range Precision Strike Missile powered guided-missile submarines joined the fleet,
(PrSM), will not start to be fielded until 2023, plus the 12th San Antonio-class landing platform
although deliveries of the first modernised M270A2 dock, to a slightly improved design. A keel-laying
multiple-launch rocket system, one of the intended ceremony took place in June 2022 for the first of the
launch platforms for PrSM, began in mid-2022. The new Columbia-class nuclear-powered ballistic-missile
Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft programme, submarines, although concerns are mounting as to
intended to replace the retired OH-58D Kiowa whether these vessels – the navy’s top procurement
helicopter, appears to be behind schedule, with the priority – will remain on schedule. The ceremonial
competitive demonstration phase now delayed until keel laying for the third Gerald R. Ford-class carrier,
at least late 2023. On 5 December 2022, the army the new USS Enterprise, took place in August. The
announced it had selected the Bell-Textron V-280 same month, construction began on the first of the
Valor as their chosen option to replace the ubiquitous Constellation-class frigates.
UH-60 Black Hawk under the Future Long-Range Efforts to maintain and refurbish the existing
Assault Aircraft programme. fleet continue to be challenged by high operational
demands as well as maintenance backlogs. The
US Navy Ukraine war saw the extended deployment to the
The US Navy is still struggling to deal with the Mediterranean of an aircraft carrier (initially the
growing challenge from China and multiple other USS Harry S. Truman, replaced by the USS George H.
demands. Several proposals to address the navy’s W. Bush), while in early 2022 the navy surged four
future fleet size and structure have been forthcoming. additional destroyers into the European theatre.
These involve varying combinations of large and Separately, in June, the Biden administration
small surface combatants and uninhabited vehicles of announced that two additional destroyers would
various descriptions. be forward deployed to Europe, bringing the total
Perhaps the most notable is the new Navigation forward-deployed presence to six.
Plan from the Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral In the Indo-Pacific, deployments remained at a high
Michael Gilday. Released in July 2022, the goals tempo, including a number of freedom-of-navigation
outlined included 12 nuclear-powered aircraft transits of the Taiwan Strait during 2022. The latest
carriers, 66 tactical submarines, 96 large and 56 Rim of the Pacific exercise included significantly
small surface combatants (as part of a force design greater integration of uninhabited platforms. The
for 373 crewed vessels, to be achieved by 2045), LHA USS Tripoli also carried out a further test of the
and approximately 150 uninhabited surface and ‘Lightning carrier’ with a record 20 Lockheed Martin
subsurface platforms. F-35B Lightning II aircraft aboard, potentially adding
Gilday also argued that industrial capacity needs options to US Navy aviation operations at sea.
to increase, as it is the greatest obstacle to growing The latest update to the US Marine Corps’ Force
the fleet. However, the US Navy is also facing friction Design 2030 plan to make the force more agile
with Congress over its shipbuilding plans and its included an increased emphasis on reconnaissance
efforts to decommission older vessels in order to and counter-reconnaissance to both strike and hide.
focus on newer capabilities and future programmes. The first Marine Littoral Regiment was formed in
Five of the US Navy’s Ticonderoga-class cruisers March with the re-designation of the 3rd Marine
were among the ships decommissioned in FY2022, Regiment. The plan intends to make the marines
and nearly 40 more vessels are slated by the navy more expeditionary, more focused on long-range
for decommissioning in FY2023, although Congress missile strikes, less dependent on centralised
was seeking to prevent a significant number of command, control, communications and intelligence
these planned retirements. All the Ticonderogas are support, and generally more focused on China. The
scheduled to leave the fleet by 2027, a significant loss USMC is looking to diversify its footprint in the
of vertical launch system firepower that will not be Asia-Pacific region in particular, and the goals of
replaced straight away by the arrival of new Flight USMC Commandant General David Berger include
North America 23

helping joint-force commanders better monitor the course of the next decade or so. The air force’s plan
China and deter it from committing various ‘gray to cut the size of the F-22A fleet, removing 33 Block 20

North America
zone’ micro-aggressions as well as possible larger aircraft during FY2023 to free up additional funding
attacks in places such as Taiwan. The plan received for NGAD, met with political opposition.
considerable criticism from a number of senior retired The fall in total fleet numbers is due to ongoing
USMC officers. Differences between the navy and the and historical issues with the Lockheed Martin F-35
marines also appeared to be holding up plans for a Lightning II. The aircraft’s entry into service was
new light amphibious ship for dispersed operations, delayed by years and it is now being bought at lower
particularly in the Pacific. production rates than first envisaged. The F-35A,
For the US Coast Guard, top procurement priorities however, will provide a central element of the mass of
are a new class of medium-sized Offshore Patrol the air force’s future combat capability. Before then,
Cutters (OPCs) and new icebreakers. After delays, however, several technical and financial concerns
the first of up to 25 OPCs was due for completion in will need to be addressed. The air force is looking
late 2022. A detailed design and construction contract to the Block 4 development of the aircraft, combined
for a second new heavy icebreaker, or Polar Security with Technical Refresh 3 to allow the F-35 to operate
Cutter, was awarded at the end of 2021, with the first against the advanced threats now envisaged. The
ship scheduled for delivery in the spring of 2025. air force has cautioned that these aircraft need to be
affordable and delivered in time.
US Air Force While there has been no indication yet of when
The US Air Force turned 75 in 2022, while the average a prototype, or prototypes, of the crewed element
age of a key fleet component – the Boeing KC-135 of NGAD will be made public, roll-out of the
tanker – is 59. Although the KC-135 is a comparative Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bomber took place
outlier, the air force continues to grapple with the in December 2022. As of September 2022, six test
challenges of recapitalising a swathe of ageing types aircraft were on the production line. The B-21 will
in its combat and support fleets at the same time as operate alongside the KC-135 which, irrespective of
attempting to build combat capacity. There remains its age, will remain in the inventory beyond 2040. The
also a 1,650 shortfall in pilots and the wider demands McDonnell Douglas KC-10 Extender, operated in far
of recruitment and retention. smaller numbers, will be retired during FY2024.
The USAF continues to view China as the pacing The KC-46A has now been cleared to refuel
challenge, but it is also confronted by the ‘acute both the F-22A and F-35 (currently up to 97% of US
threat’ of Russia. While the latter is more immediate, aircraft) and was deployed on operations to Europe
the former is more sustained and technologically and the Middle East in 2022. However, the revised
demanding. Russia’s war on Ukraine has reinforced refuelling vision system required for initial operating
concerns over Moscow’s willingness to use military capability (IOC) has been delayed again, this time to
force, but the performance of its Aerospace Forces October 2025. Despite this, the USAF is reportedly
(VKS) in the conflict has so far been lacklustre at best. considering dropping the KC-Y tanker programme
The USAF is trying to employ a strategy centred contest altogether and bringing forward the planned
on combat aircraft fleets to address the immediate KC-Z programme instead.
challenge of Russia and the longer-term and more The first of 351 T-7A Red Hawk training aircraft,
demanding issue of the build-up of Chinese airpower. intended to replace the T-38C Talon, was delivered
It is far from a simple task, with the confluence of in April 2022. Boeing also delivered the first test
several long-term issues compounding the difficulty. MH-139A helicopters in August 2022 following a
The combat aircraft fleet continues to decline in lengthy Federal Aviation Administration certification
number and, along with the overall cut, the service process. The MH-139 will replace the USAF ICBM
will also see the number of types fielded reduced to force’s venerable UH-1N models.
four, the latter by design. Combat aircraft types will The HH-60W Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR)
be reduced to the Boeing F-15EX Eagle II, Lockheed programme of record was cut by one-third in the
Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, Lockheed Martin F-35A president’s FY2023 budget (from 113 to 75 helicopters)
Lightning II, and Next Generation Air Dominance as the USAF reportedly re-examines its future CSAR
(NGAD) aircraft. The F-15C/D Eagle, F-15E Strike Eagle requirements. This, in turn, has significantly increased
and Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor will be retired over the HH-60W’s unit cost.
24 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

The USAF expects to divest an initial batch of A-10 which was tied to the US armed forces’ withdrawal
attack aircraft in 2023, although retiring the whole from Afghanistan (USD6.5bn), support for Ukraine
fleet remains politically contentious. Nearly the entire (USD6.5bn) and other priorities. This additional
C-130H fleet remained grounded well into October spending increased the FY2022 DoD budget from
due to engine issues. The AIM-260 Joint Advanced USD742bn to USD757bn. Against this number, the
Tactical Missile has not yet officially achieved its Biden administration’s FY2023 DoD budget only
projected 2022 IOC, although it is reportedly in live- constitutes a 2.2% increase over FY2022. However, it
fire testing. The hypersonic AGM-183A Air-launched is possible that additional DoD funds will be used to
Rapid Response Weapon (ARRW) achieved its first support Ukraine in FY2023, as the war has become
successful live firings from a B-52 bomber in summer a strategic priority for the Biden administration.
2022, but the USAF has delayed any production In May, Congress passed a USD40bn Ukraine aid
decision on the system to 2023. In late 2022 the package that provided a framework for continuing
USAF selected a Raytheon and Northrop Grumman military, economic and humanitarian support.
team to develop prototypes of its planned scramjet In September, the administration requested an
Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile design. additional USD11.7bn for Ukraine as part of an
Supply-chain issues delayed the planned launch emergency funding package to hedge against the
of 28 Tranche 0 small satellites as part of the USSF likelihood of a ‘continuing resolution’, or temporary
proliferated low Earth orbit constellation test and funding measure, starting in FY2023.
demonstration phase from September 2022 to perhaps Even more important to the discussion of
March 2023. Earlier in 2022, the USSF awarded year-on-year growth is the impact of inflation on
contracts for the follow-on Tranche 1 satellites for budget growth and purchasing power. Inflation
the communications Transport Layer and missile- estimates for the FY2023 budget request are tied
warning Tracking Layer constellations. to the GDP Price Index and an assumed average
inflation rate of 2.2% during 2023. The defence
DEFENCE ECONOMICS budget’s buying power will be eroded if inflation
exceeds 2.2% on average over the course of 2023, as
On 28 March 2022, the DoD submitted its Fiscal Year other indices and forecasts suggest.
(FY) 2023 budget request to Congress with a top line
DoD budget of USD773bn. Biden called the request
Table 1 The US DoD budget request by appropriation
‘one of the largest investments in our national security title, USDm
in history’.
Requests/ 2022 DoD 2022 2023 DoD Change
The proposed discretionary budget request Enacted budget Requested Base Base between
included USD29.8bn for Department of Energy by Appropriation Enacted Requested FY2022
Title (USDm) Enacted
atomic-energy defence activities and USD10.6bn and FY23
for ‘defense-related activities’ carried out by the FBI Requested
and other government agencies. Defence-related Military 163,699 166,714 173,883 +7,169
discretionary spending amounts to USD813bn, Personnel
with total DoD funding reaching USD827bn when Operations and 292,299 294,550 309,343 +14,793
Maintenance
mandatory spending is included.
Procurement 143,256 145,212 145,939 +727
Inflation, growth and purchasing power Research, 107,456 118,787 130,097 +11,310
Development,
According to the DoD announcement, the USD773bn Testing, and
top line request constitutes a 4.1% increase over the Evaluation
enacted 2022 defence budget of USD742bn, which Military 7,143 13,375 10,198 -3,177
Construction
itself included USD25.6bn in additional funding over
President Biden’s FY2022 request. However, some Family Housing 1,401 1,525 1,956 +431
have questioned the accuracy of the announced 4.1% Revolving 1,394 2,112 1,583 -529
Management
increase due to two developments that complicate and Trust Funds
year-on-year comparisons. Totals 716,648 742,275 773,000 +30,725
Firstly, Washington authorised USD14.3bn in Source: Defense Comptroller, FY23 Defense Budget Overview Book,
supplemental defence spending during FY2022, Appendix A, April 2022
North America 25

5 budget must also balance the Pentagon’s focus


on China with the need to meet other kinetic and

North America
4 3.71 non-kinetic threats to the US homeland as well as US
3.37 3.54 3.49
3.30 allies, interests and personnel.
3.06
3 For its part, Russia constitutes an immediate and
% of GDP

acute threat, while the NDS summary and budget


2 document commit the US to working with NATO
allies and Kyiv to repel Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
1 ‘Persistent threats’ from Iran, North Korea and violent
extremist groups are also of concern as are pandemics
0 and other ‘transboundary challenges’. The budget
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
‘[devotes] more than USD3bn to address the effects of
[1] Figures refer to the National Defense (050) Budget Function (Budget Authority) as a
% of GDP
climate change’ by improving installation resilience
and adaptation to climate challenges.
▲ Figure 1 US defence budget as % of GDP1
Integrated deterrence, campaigning and
As the FY2023 budget passed through Congress, building advantage
various uplifts were proposed for the defence budget The FY2023 budget request stresses three activities
amid concerns over the effects of inflation on the and investment areas central to realising the NDS.
DoD’s purchasing power and on its ability to meet Integrated deterrence – a point of emphasis for the
the challenges of an increasingly tense security DoD throughout the Biden administration – revolves
environment. During summer 2022, three of the four around integrating and coordinating activities across
congressional committees charged with marking up all domains and all instruments of national power.
the administration’s FY2023 budget recommended In the FY2023 defence budget, integrated
funding increases ranging from USD37bn to deterrence is supported through emphasis on the
USD44bn. The House and Senate armed services modernisation, development and procurement of
committees agreed on the FY2023 National Defense capabilities in several areas. Most notably, the FY2023
Authorization Act (NDAA) on 6 December with a budget allocates USD34.4bn to modernise all three
final figure of USD878bn for defence, USD45bn above legs of the US nuclear triad – up from USD27.7bn
the presidential request. However, Congress failed to in the FY2022 request. It also includes USD24.7bn in
pass the FY2023 spending bill by 30 September 2022, funding for capabilities to defend against and defeat
the end of the US fiscal year. Instead, it enacted a missile threats, up from USD20.4bn in the FY2022
continuing resolution that would maintain funding DoD request.
levels for all government departments until 16 Meanwhile, key FY2023 investments in
December 2022. The resolution also prevents the DoD campaigning (which the NDS describes as ‘the
from using the level funding for new or accelerated conduct and sequencing of logically linked military
production or certain multi-year procurements. activities to achieve strategy-aligned objectives over
time’) include the USD6.1bn Pacific Deterrence
Pacing, acute and persistent challenges
The FY2023 budget is linked to the threat perceptions
and objectives articulated in the 2021 Interim National Table 2 US DoD FY2023 budget request vs House and
Senate Armed Services and Appropriations
Security Strategic Guidance and the NDS. A classified
Committees’ proposed defence budgets, USDbn
version of the NDS was sent to Congress on the same
Committee / Organisation Recommended DoD Budget
day as the FY2023 budget was released in March 2022,
with the unclassified version released in October. House Appropriations Committee 762 billion
According to the budget-release document Department of Defense Request 773 billion
and March 2022 NDS fact sheet, the USD773bn House Armed Services Committee 839 billion
proposed budget is principally designed to provide Senate Armed Services Committee 847 billion
the capabilities to deter and compete with China – Senate Appropriations Committee 850 billion
identified as the United States’ ‘most consequential Source: “Senate appropriators seek $850 billion for defense, largest
strategic competitor’ and pacing challenge. The total of 4 key committees”, Breaking Defense, 28 July 2022
26 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Initiative and the USD4.2bn European Deterrence Military; USD34m to help the DoD deter, detect and
Initiative, both of which intersect with the broader address ‘extremism in the ranks’; and development
integrated deterrence approach. and implementation of talent-management initiatives
The FY2023 DoD budget request also prioritises that improve racial and gender diversity at key points
DoD’s plan to build advantage by investing in in the military-career lifecycle.
innovation and modernisation as well as industrial
capability. The DoD’s RDT&E requests have been Military departments and armed services
important in funding modernisation projects in recent The FY2023 request reveals uplifts to the budgets of the
years. The FY2023 RDT&E request, at USD130bn, DoD’s military departments, though the Department
was USD11bn higher than the USD119bn enacted of the Air Force (including the US Space Force (USSF))
in FY22, itself a record amount. Priorities within and the Department of the Navy (including the US
this broad category of spending include investment Marine Corps (USMC)) receive significantly larger
in science and technology, artificial intelligence, increases than the Department of the Army.
microelectronics, 5G, and an Industrial Base Analysis The Department of the Air Force technically
and Sustainment (IBAS) programme to strengthen has the highest budget and received the biggest
the US defence-related supply chain. The FY2023 increase in funding, at USD11.8bn. Modernisation
budget’s IBAS programme will focus on building efforts across both the US Air Force (USAF) and the
capacity in chemical production, bio-manufacturing USSF are crucial to supporting the air force’s seven
and rare-earth element supply chains. ‘operational imperatives’: 1) establishing space
resiliency; 2) achieving an operationally optimised
A people-friendly budget Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS), the
The Pentagon is also looking to improve recruitment air force’s contribution to the DoD’s Joint All-Domain
and retention, and the FY2023 budget includes a Command and Control (JADC2); 3) advancing
4.6% pay rise for military and civilian personnel – the development of the sixth-generation Next Generation
largest in 20 years for military personnel – among Air Dominance family of systems; 4) achieving more
several other programmes to ‘cultivate [the US] target engagements at scale; 5) defining optimised,
military and civilian workforce, grow [DoD] talent, resilient basing, sustainment and communications;
build resilience and force readiness’. 6) defining the family of systems supporting the B-21
The pay rise and funding of a USD15/hour long-range strike capability; and 7) transitioning to a
minimum wage for the federal workforce also serves wartime posture against a peer competitor.
as a measure to offset the effects of what could be a Nonetheless, funding issues threaten to slow air
prolonged period of inflation volatility. Personnel force and space force modernisation precisely as there
investments also include several measures to ‘ensure is increasing demand for USAF capabilities to help
accountable leadership’ and build a more diverse and maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific. It should
equitable workforce. These include USD479 million to also be noted that the overall Department of the Air
implement the recommendations of the Independent Force FY2023 budget is distorted by USD40.2bn in
Review Commission on Sexual Assault in the pass-through funding (USD41.4bn in FY22), which is
allocated to, but not controlled by, the USAF and which
Table 3 The US DoD total budget request by military usually funds classified or non-disclosed programmes.
service, USDm Moreover, of the remaining USD194bn, USD170bn
Requested/ FY22 FY2023 Difference % of Total goes to the air force (22% of the total FY2023 budget
Enacted budget Enacted Requested between Base request) while USD24.5bn (3% of the total budget
by service Budget FY2022 Topline
(USDm) (USDm) and Request request) goes to the space force. This means the overall
FY2023 for FY2023 USAF budget is less than that of the US Army.
Army 174,854 177,315 +2,461 22.9 As a result, the USAF is increasingly looking to
Navy 221,302 230,848 +9,546 28.9 divest legacy systems to free up funds to reinvest
Air Force 222,279 234,116 +11,837 30.3 in more modern capabilities. The FY2023 budget
Defense Wide 138,125 130,721 -7,404 16.9 calls for the retirement of 150 aircraft, the transfer
Total 756,560 773,000 +16,640 100 of 100 MQ-9 Reaper uninhabited aerial vehicles
Source: Defense Comptroller, FY23 Defense Budget Overview Book, (UAVs) to another government agency, as well as the
Appendix A, April 2022 divestment of 1,463 aircraft during the Future Years
North America 27

Defense Program (FYDP). The same FYDP calls for up funds for modernisation. For the USN, the budget
the procurement of just 467 aircraft, just under 90 envisions the retirement of 12 ships in FY2023 and 24

North America
of which are to be procured in FY2023, including 15 over the course of the FYDP, including 16 before the
F-35A and F-15EX combat aircraft. end of their service life. The USMC budget stresses the
The FY2023 budget increases the Department need to continue the retirement of ‘legacy capabilities
of the Navy’s budget by USD9.5bn over the and excess capacity’ while the force ‘reallocates
enacted FY2022 budget with more funding across savings for initiatives that support readiness’ and the
military personnel, maintenance and operations, USMC’s Force Design 2030.
procurement, and RDT&E. Procurement funding is The Department of the Army budget has the
set at USD27.9bn for nine battle-force ships, including least overall growth, at USD2.5bn. This reflects
two Block V Virginia-class attack submarines, two the continuing transition from 20 years of counter-
Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, one Constellation-class terrorism and counter-insurgency operations to
frigate, incremental funding for the Columbia-class preparing for high-intensity large-scale operations.
ballistic-missile submarine, and four support and Interestingly, even though the RDT&E budget is
logistics ships. Another USD16.8bn is dedicated to the highest it has ever been, both army RDT&E and
the procurement of 96 fixed-wing, rotary-wing, and procurement funding have decreased in the FY2023
uncrewed aircraft with plans to buy 15 F-35Bs and budget request. Funding for military personnel sees
13 F-35Cs. The budget also includes USD4.7bn for the biggest increase, at USD2.9bn, reflecting the strong
weapons procurement. emphasis placed in the budget request on ‘the army’s
As with the USAF, the US Navy (USN) and the most enduring advantage’: its ‘highly qualified
USMC budgets include platform retirements to free and capable people’. The army budget request also

Table 4 US National Defense Budget Function and other selected budgets, 2000, 2010–23
USD in National Atomic Other Total National Defense Department Department Total Total
billions, Defense Energy Defense of of Federal Federal
current- Budget Defense Activities Homeland Veterans’ Government Budget
year Function Activities Security Affairs Outlays Surplus/
dollars Deficit
Discretionary
FY BA Outlay BA BA BA BA Outlay BA BA
2000 290.3 281.0 12.4 1.3 304.0 300.8 294.4 13.8 45.5 1,789.0 236.2
2010 695.6 666.7 18.2 7.3 721.2 714.1 693.5 45.4 124.3 3,457.1 -1,294.4
2011 691.5 678.1 18.5 7.0 717.0 710.1 705.6 41.6 122.8 3,603.1 -1,299.6
2012 655.4 650.9 18.3 7.7 681.4 669.6 677.9 45.9 124.0 3,526.6 -1,076.6
2013 585.2 607.8 17.5 7.4 610.2 600.4 633.4 61.9 136.0 3,454.9 -679.8
2014 595.7 577.9 18.4 8.2 622.3 606.2 603.5 44.1 165.7 3,506.3 -484.8
2015 570.8 562.5 19.0 8.5 598.4 585.9 589.7 45.3 160.5 3,691.9 -442.0
2016 595.7 565.4 20.1 8.3 624.1 606.8 593.4 46.0 163.3 3,852.6 -584.7
2017 626.2 568.9 21.4 8.7 656.3 634.1 598.7 62.3 178.8 3,981.6 -665.4
2018 694.5 600.7 23.3 9.0 726.8 700.9 631.2 103.0 191.8 4,109.0 -779.1
2019 712.6 654.0 24.0 9.1 745.7 718.8 686.0 61.4 194.2 4,447.0 -983.6
2020 738.8 690.4 26.0 9.7 774.5 756.6 724.6 114.2 233.3 6,553.6 -3,132.4
2021 719.5 717.6 29.4 10.8 759.6 741.7 753.9 123.2 255.4 6,822.4 -2,775.3
2022* 727.0 741.0 29.5 10.1 766.6 753.7 779.7 71.4 257.9 5,851.6 -1,415.0
2023* 784.0 767.6 31.8 11.1 827.0 813.4 808.6 76.5 296.7 5,792.0 -1,153.9
Notes Selective Service System). It does not include 2
Early in each calendar year, the US government
FY = Fiscal Year (1 October–30 September) funding for International Security Assistance presents its defence budget to Congress for the
* (request) (under International Affairs), the Veterans next fiscal year, which begins on 1 October. The
1
The National Defense Budget Function Administration, the US Coast Guard (Department government also presents its Future Years Defense
subsumes funding for the DoD, the Department of Homeland Security), nor for the National Program (FYDP), which covers the next fiscal year
of Energy Atomic Energy Defense Activities Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). plus the following five. Until approved by Congress,
and some smaller support agencies (including Funding for civil projects administered by the the budget is called the Budget Request; after
Federal Emergency Management and DoD is excluded from the figures cited here. approval, it becomes the Budget Authority (BA).
28 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

mentions the service’s leadership in publishing More broadly for Canada, Russia’s 2022 invasion
a climate strategy in 2022, its continued focus on increased security concerns over the Arctic and may
the electrification of its vehicle fleet, and efforts to have helped to stimulate a renewed focus in Ottawa
develop and test tactics for Arctic operations. on the defence and security aspects of Canada’s
interests there.
CANADA The significant modernisation and upgrading
that Canada announced in June to its NORAD
Canada’s defence minister, Anita Anand, said at the capabilities was partly a reflection of this. The
June 2022 IISS Shangri-La Dialogue that Canada is government said it would invest in an Arctic
‘an Atlantic, Arctic and Pacific nation’. The challenges over-the-horizon radar system, a polar over-the-
that this presents for the country were underscored horizon radar system, and a new network of sensors
during the year, with perceived security concerns called Crossbow distributed across northern Canada.
emerging on all three fronts. These plans also reignited debates in Canada over
Following the invasion of Ukraine, the government missile defence more broadly. Prime Minister Justin
unveiled in April an uplift of CAD8bn (USD6.3bn) in Trudeau attended Canada’s signature Arctic exercise
defence spending over five years. Accompanying the Operation Nanook in August. NATO Secretary-
budget move was the announcement of a new defence General Jens Stoltenberg undertook his first official
policy review – billed as an update of the 2017 review visit to Canada’s Arctic at the same time. Meanwhile,
proposition entitled ‘Strong, Secure, Engaged’ – Canada hosted the first meeting since 2014 of chiefs
because of the requirement ‘to reassess Canada’s role, of defence of Arctic nations (without Russia). The
priorities and needs in the face of a changing world’. Canadian Navy has enhanced its presence in the
In Europe, Canada sought to adjust and bolster, region, including extended deployments by the first
to a degree, its contributions. Its training mission in two of its new Harry DeWolf-class Arctic Offshore
Ukraine, Operation Unifier, was paused weeks before Patrol Ships; the third of the class was delivered to
the start of hostilities with the intention to relocate the navy in September.
it outside Ukraine. It was announced in August Meanwhile, Canada sought to enhance its
that up to 225 personnel would resume the training presence in the Indo-Pacific, including a two-frigate
effort based in the United Kingdom, initially for deployment during 2022. One of the ships, HMCS
four months. Canadian military aid to Ukraine has Vancouver, joined a US Navy destroyer on a transit
included M777 howitzers, replacement barrels and of the Taiwan Strait in September. The same vessel
funding for 20,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition. It undertook operations to support implementation
also redeployed its military air transport detachment of UN sanctions against North Korea, maintaining
in the Middle East of two C-130J Hercules transport a task also performed by Canadian vessels in
aircraft to the UK to help with the Ukraine military previous years.
aid effort. At the end of March, Ottawa finally chose the
Under its Operation Reassurance mission to support Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II as its preferred
NATO, Canadian personnel deployed to Poland for bidder for its future combat aircraft programme.
several months to support the reception of Ukrainian But the delivery targets are challenging, with a
refugees there. Other modest enhancements included requirement for the first nine aircraft to be in service
the addition of a battery of four M777 howitzers by December 2027 and all 88 of the planned aircraft to
and personnel to join the 540 Canadian personnel be in service by 2031.
leading the NATO Enhanced Presence Battlegroup Concerns remain over costs and the timetable
in Latvia. Canada also deployed two Halifax-class for the navy’s new Canadian Surface Combatant,
frigates on NATO operations during 2022 as well as for which Lockheed Martin is the prime contractor
two Kingston-class mine-countermeasures vessels. with a heavily modified version of the UK Type-26
Ottawa also assigned a CP-140M Aurora (P-3 Orion) Global Combat Ship design. Likewise, the new
Maritime Patrol aircraft to NATO from February to Protecteur-class Joint Support Ships appeared to be
July and deployed from August to December 2022 further delayed, with deliveries of the two vessels
a new rotation of six CF-18 (F/A-18) Hornet combat now expected in 2025 and 2027 respectively. As a
aircraft to the enhanced NATO Air Policing Mission result, Canada has extended the lease on its interim
in Romania. converted auxiliary Asterix.
North America 29

Arms procurements and deliveries – North America

North America
Significant events in 2022

LOCKHEED’S AEROJET ACQUISITION FALLS THROUGH


FEBRUARY
Objections by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) halted Lockheed Martin’s (LM) planned USD4.4bn
acquisition, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Mizar Sub, of Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings (Aerojet).
A month before, the FTC had expressed concern that the buyout might harm competition, saying that
Aerojet was the ‘last independent supplier of key missile propulsion inputs’ including solid propellant
rocket motors (SRM). Northrop Grumman is the only other company competing against LM and Raytheon
Technologies for missile programme contracts. Industrial consolidation means that Aerojet and Northrop
Grumman currently hold over 90% of the SRM market in the US; two decades ago there were six SRM
manufacturers. A February 2022 Pentagon report expressed concern regarding a lack of competition in several
sectors, including SRM.

CANADA FUTURE FIGHTER DECISION


MARCH
Canada selected the Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning II as the preferred bid to replace its ageing fleet of
CF-18 Hornets. A contract for 88 aircraft is due to be awarded by the end of 2022. A shortlisting process in
December 2021 eliminated Boeing’s F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, with the final competitors being the F-35 and
Saab’s Gripen E. The project is valued at CAD15–19bn (USD11.74–14.87bn) and first deliveries are expected
as early as 2025. However, this is not the first time Canada has selected the F-35. It joined the concept phase
of the US Joint Strike Fighter programme in 1998 and, while in 2006 it postponed an acquisition decision,
Ottawa agreed in July 2010 to buy the aircraft, with deliveries planned from 2016. The deal was cancelled
in 2012, reportedly on cost grounds, and since then Canada has acquired 18 F/A-18A/B Hornets from Australia.

JAVELIN PRODUCTION RAMPS UP


MAY
In an interview, the CEO of Lockheed Martin discussed a plan to increase Javelin missile production from
2,100 to nearly 4,000 systems annually. The same month, it was announced that the Javelin Joint Venture
(JJV), a partnership between Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Technologies, had been awarded two
production contracts, worth USD309m, for Javelin missiles and support functions. After Russia’s full-scale
invasion of Ukraine, the US – along with other states – increased the number of Javelin systems that it
shipped to Ukraine. In September, another contract, worth USD311m, was awarded for 1,800 Javelins to
replenish US Army stocks. Meanwhile, there is focus also on the supplier base, so that firms can not only
expand production but also mitigate dependencies on components from overseas. In November 2022,
the US government announced that it had so far sent more than 8,500 Javelins to Ukraine. Production increases are
also planned elsewhere: for example, the Pentagon is seeking to increase HIMARS production from 60 to 96 units a year.

F-35 ENGINE DECISION HEATS UP


AUGUST
GE Aviation announced that its prototype engine for the Adaptive Engine Transition Program (AETP),
the XA100, passed the final tests as part of a USD1.01bn R&D contract awarded in 2016. The AETP seeks to
improve the F-35’s power generation, fuel efficiency and operational capability. The XA100 is designed to
fit in the F-35A and F-35C without any structural modification, but it is not compatible with the F-35B. GE’s
competitor Pratt & Whitney supplies the F-135, the current F-35 engine, and is developing a modernisation
package for it and a new engine prototype, dubbed XA101. Both prototypes are intended to provide 25%
more fuel efficiency and 10% more thrust as well as greater power for future software blocks, which will
be needed in future F-35 developments. An appraisal of whether the new engine or the upgrade should be
pursued is due to be completed by February 2023.
30

Table 5 United States: Next Generation Combat Vehicle (NGCV)

In 2014, the US cancelled the Ground Combat Vehicle programme, which had been OMFV and AMPV are direct replacements for systems already in service, but the
designed to produce a series of replacement armoured vehicles for its Armored and MPF project is intended to give Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCTs) a direct
Stryker Brigade Combat Teams, including for the 1980s-era M2 Bradley infantry fighting precision-fire capability that they have not had before. Following a four-and-a-half-
vehicle. Two years later, the army proposed the NGCV as the replacement programme. year ‘middle-tier acquisition-rapid prototyping phase’, the army selected General
Indeed, the NGCV is now envisaged as one of the army’s ‘big six’ modernisation Dynamics’ Griffin, which is based on the Austrian–Spanish ASCOD chassis. Vehicles
priorities, but it encompasses five programmes at different stages of development. will undergo further tests before unit deliveries begin in 2025.
The Bradley replacement effort is now called the Optionally Manned Fighting The army has been experimenting with uninhabited ground systems for many years
Vehicle (OMFV). This is in the concept-design phase and contracts were awarded and in 2018 announced that it would pursue a Robotic Combat Vehicle (RCV) programme
to five industry teams in 2021. The army intends to give the next-stage contracts in three weight categories. In 2020, contracts were awarded to two industry teams for
THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

to three teams in 2023 with the aim to award a low-rate initial production (LRIP) experimental prototype trials vehicles in the Light and Medium categories. These trials
contract in 2027. also featured modified M113 and Stryker vehicles acting as surrogates for Heavy RCVs. In
The Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicle (AMPV) and the Mobile Protected Firepower mid-2022, the army announced that it would prioritise the Light variant and use it to inform
(MPF) programmes are both now in low-rate production. The former will replace development of the other two.
support versions of the M113 family of tracked vehicles with five variants and is The least developed, yet potentially most expensive, of these programmes is the Decisive
potentially worth over USD15 billion. The AMPV has an improved version of the Bradley Lethality Platform (DLP), which is intended to replace the M1 Abrams main battle tank. The
hull and, with approximately 5,000 M113s in US service, the programme has potential Abrams is currently undergoing SEPv3 upgrades; a further SEPv4 variant is planned later in the
for expansion. decade, and the army is exploring either a further iteration of Abrams or a brand-new design.

Programme Classification Replacing Status Quantity to DoD-estimated Potential contractors First unit Notes
be acquired total acquisition equipped
cost (USD billions)
Decisive Lethality Main battle tank M1 Abrams Technical-analysis tbd tbd Extent of programme
Platform (DLP) phase likely dependent
on RCV-H success
Optionally Manned Infantry fighting M2 Bradley Concept-design tbd 2029 LRIP decision
Fighting Vehicle (OMFV) vehicle phase expected 2027
Armored Multi-Purpose Armoured personnel M113 LRIP 2,897 15.33 BAE Systems Land 2023 First LRIP contract
Vehicle (AMPV) carrier (tracked) & Armaments awarded February 2019
Mobile Protected Light tank New capability LRIP 504 6.65 General Dynamics 2025 First LRIP contract
Firepower (MPF) Land Systems awarded June 2022
Heavy (RCV-H) Heavy uninhabited New capability Tests conducted tbd tbd To weigh
ground vehicle with surrogate 18.1-27.2 tonnes
systems
Medium (RCV-M) Medium uninhabited New capability Experimental tbd tbd To weigh
ground vehicle prototype testing 9.1-18.1 tonnes; EMD
decision in FY2024

Vehicle (RCV)
Light (RCV-L) Light uninhabited New capability Experimental tbd 2028 To weigh no more

Robotic Combat
ground vehicle prototype testing than 9.1 tonnes; EMD
decision in FY2023
DoD = Department of Defense (US); EMD = engineering, manufacturing and development; tbd = to be decided
North America 31

Table 6 United States: fixed-wing combat aircraft exports, 2010–22

North America
Country Equipment 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022†
Australia F-35A 2 8 8 14 12 12
Denmark F-35A 4 2

Egypt F-16C/D 7 20

Iraq F-16C/D 4 10 7 6 11

Israel F-35I 2 7 5 6 4 6 3

Italy F-35A 6* 2* 2* 1* 2* 1* 3*

F-35B 1* 1* 1* 1* 1*

Japan F-35A 2 3 & 1* 4* 6* 6* 6* 4*

Korea, F-15K 2 2 3
Republic of
F-35A 6 7 11 12 4

Kuwait F/A-18E/F 12 16
Morocco F-16C/D 3 13 6

Netherlands F-35A 1 1 6 & 2* 5* 7* 8*

Norway F-35A 2 2 6 6 6 6 6 3

Pakistan F-16C/D 14 14 1

Qatar F-15QA 4 4 14
Saudi F-15SA 4 29 19 21 11
Arabia
Singapore F-15SG 4 2 8

Turkey F-16C/D 3 11

F-35A 2 2

United Arab F-16E/F 3 3 1


Emirates
United F-35B 2 1 5 6 3 1 3 3 3
Kingdom
Total = 579 26 35 34 22 2 6 39 61 62 78 79 78 57
*Final assembly outside the US January–October

32 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

is renewed focus on recruitment and retention, amid reports of


Canada CAN personnel shortages and readiness problems; the Chief of Defence
said in October that the force was reconstituting. Canada main-
Canadian Dollar CAD 2021 2022 2023 tains a well-developed range of mainly small and medium-sized
GDP CAD 2.49tr 2.81tr defence firms. The strongest sector is in combat vehicles and
USD 1.99tr 2.20tr components, though the government is using its latest naval pro-
curements to establish a long-term national shipbuilding strategy.
per capita USD 52,015 56,794
Growth % 4.5 3.3 ACTIVE 66,500 (Army 22,500 Navy 12,600
Inflation % 3.4 6.9 Air Force 12,100 Other 19,300) Gendarmerie &
Def exp [a] CAD 32.8bn 35.5bn Paramilitary 4,500
USD 26.2bn 27.7bn
RESERVE 34,400 (Army 26,800 Navy 4,100 Air 2,000
Def bdgt [b] CAD 29.1bn 31.5bn
Other 1,500)
USD 23.2bn 24.6bn
USD1= CAD 1.25 1.28
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
[a] NATO figure
[b] Department of National Defence and Veterans Affairs
Space
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
19.7
SATELLITES • SPACE SURVEILLANCE 1 Sapphire
15.6
2008 2015 2022 Army 22,500
FORCES BY ROLE
Population 38,232,593
MANOEUVRE
Mechanised
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
1 (1st) mech bde gp (1 armd regt, 2 mech inf bn, 1 lt inf
Male 8.1% 2.7% 2.8% 3.4% 23.4% 9.2% bn, 1 arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt, 1 log bn)
Female 7.7% 2.6% 2.7% 3.1% 23.6% 10.8% 2 (2nd & 5th) mech bde gp (1 armd recce regt, 2 mech
inf bn, 1 lt inf bn, 1 arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt, 1 log bn)
Capabilities COMBAT SUPPORT
Canada’s armed forces are focused principally on territorial 1 engr regt
defence, as well as contributing important capabilities to interna- 3 MP pl
tional missions, chiefly through NATO. The 2017 defence review AIR DEFENCE
reaffirmed commitments not only to NATO, but also to modern-
1 AD regt
ising capabilities, including cyber power. The review promised to
increase regular and reserve forces, with particular enhancements EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
in the areas of cyber and intelligence. In April 2022 the govern- ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
ment announced a boost in defence spending over five years as MBT 82: 42 Leopard 2A4 (trg role); 20 Leopard 2A4M
a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and a new policy review to (upgraded); 20 Leopard 2A6M (52 Leopard 1C2 in store)
update thinking in light of the changed global environment. Can-
ada’s deployments, although relatively small in scale, underscore RECCE ε120 LAV-25 Coyote
a determination to maintain both international engagement and IFV 550 LAV 6.0
power-projection capability. Canada’s leadership of a NATO bat- APC 443
tlegroup in Latvia highlights a continuing capability to deploy APC (T) 268: 235 M113; 33 M577 (CP)
medium-sized land formations. It has also contributed to NATO’s APC (W) 175 LAV Bison (incl 10 EW, 32 amb, 32
air-policing mission and enhanced its European deployment in
repair, 64 recovery)
April 2022. Meanwhile, the deployments of frigates to the NATO
theatre and the Pacific demonstrate continuing blue-water naval AUV 507: 7 Cougar; 500 TAPV
capabilities. In March 2022 it extended for a further year its coali- ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
tion contribution to military capacity-building in Iraq, Jordan and AEV 23: 5 Buffalo; 18 Wisent 2
Lebanon, with most personnel based in Kuwait. In June additional ARV 12 BPz-3 Büffel
funding was announced including for NORAD modernisation.
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
The 2017 review pledged to finally deliver on a range of delayed
procurements. It raised the target for a future fighter capability MSL • MANPATS TOW-2
to 88 aircraft and in March 2022 it was announced that the F-35A RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
Lightning II had been selected. In the interim, Canada has been ARTILLERY 287
supplementing its existing fighter force with second-hand Aus- TOWED 163 105mm 126: 98 C3 (M101); 28 LG1 MkII;
tralian F/A-18 Hornets. Despite continuing cost concerns, design
155mm 37 M777
work has progressed on the future Canadian Surface Combat-
ant programme, based on the UK Type-26 frigate design, while MOR 124: 81mm 100; SP 81mm 24 LAV Bison
the navy has received three of its six new Arctic Offshore Patrol UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Light 5
Ships intended to enhance its Arctic operating capability. There RQ-21A Blackjack
North America 33

Reserve Organisations 26,800 Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) 12,100

North America
Canadian Rangers 5,300 Reservists FORCES BY ROLE
Provide a limited military presence in Canada’s northern, FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
coastal and isolated areas. Sovereignty, public-safety and 4 sqn with F/A-18A/B Hornet (CF-18AM/BM)
surveillance roles ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
FORCES BY ROLE 2 sqn with CH-148 Cyclone
MANOEUVRE MARITIME PATROL
Other 2 sqn with P-3 Orion (CP-140M Aurora)
5 (patrol) ranger gp (209 patrols) SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT
Army Reserves 21,500 Reservists 3 sqn with AW101 Merlin (CH-149 Cormorant);
Most units have only coy-sized establishments C-130H/H-30 (CC-130) Hercules
FORCES BY ROLE 1 sqn with C295W (CC-295)
COMMAND TANKER/TRANSPORT
10 bde gp HQ 1 sqn with A310/A310 MRTT (CC-150/CC-150T)
MANOEUVRE 1 sqn with KC-130H
Reconnaissance TRANSPORT
18 recce regt (sqn) 1 sqn with C-17A (CC-177) Globemaster
Light
1 sqn with CL-600 (CC-144B)
51 inf regt (coy)
1 sqn with C-130J-30 (CC-130) Hercules
COMBAT SUPPORT
16 fd arty regt (bty) 1 (utl) sqn with DHC-6 (CC-138) Twin Otter
3 indep fd arty bty TRAINING
10 cbt engr regt (coy) 1 OCU sqn with F/A-18A/B Hornet (CF-18AM/BM)
1 EW regt (sqn) 1 OCU sqn with C-130H/H-30/J (CC-130) Hercules
4 int coy 1 OCU sqn with CH-148 Cyclone
10 sigs regt (coy) 1 OCU sqn with Bell 412 (CH-146 Griffon)
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT 1 sqn with P-3 Orion (CP-140M Aurora)
10 log bn (coy)
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
3 MP coy
5 sqn with Bell 412 (CH-146 Griffon)

Royal Canadian Navy 12,600 3 (cbt spt) sqn with Bell 412 (CH-146 Griffon)
1 (Spec Ops) sqn with Bell 412 (CH-146 Griffon –
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SUBMARINES 4 OPCON Canadian Special Operations Command)
SSK 4 Victoria (ex-UK Upholder) (of which 1 in long-term 1 sqn with CH-47F (CH-147F) Chinook
refit) with 6 single 533mm TT with Mk 48 HWT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 12 AIRCRAFT 110 combat capable
FFGHM 12 Halifax with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84L FGA 96: 71 F/A-18A (CF-18AM) Hornet; 25 F/A-18B (CF-
Harpoon Block II AShM, 2 8-cell Mk 48 mod 0 VLS with
18BM) Hornet
RIM-162C ESSM SAM, 2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 mod 9
ASW 14 P-3 Orion (CP-140M Aurora)
ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1
SAR 7 C295W (CC-295)
57mm gun (capacity 1 CH-148 Cyclone ASW hel)
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 2 TKR/TPT 5: 2 A310 MRTT (CC-150T); 3 KC-130H
PSOH 2 Harry DeWolf (capacity 1 CH-148 Cyclone TPT 42: Heavy 5 C-17A (CC-177) Globemaster III;
ASW hel) Medium 26: 7 C-130H (CC-130) Hercules; 2 C-130H-30
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 12 (CC-130) Hercules; 17 C-130J-30 (CC-130) Hercules; Light
MCO 12 Kingston (also used in patrol role) 4 DHC-6 (CC-138) Twin Otter; PAX 7: 3 A310 (CC-150
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 10 Polaris); 4 CL-600 (CC-144B/C)
AORH 1 Asterix (Resolve) (capacity 2 CH-148 Cyclone TRG 4 DHC-8 (CT-142)
ASW hel)
HELICOPTERS
AX 9: AXL 8 Orca; AXS 1 Oriole
ASW 22 CH-148 Cyclone
Reserves 4,100 reservists MRH 68 Bell 412 (CH-146 Griffon)
24 units tasked with crewing 10 of the 12 MCOs, harbour SAR 14 AW101 Merlin (CH-149 Cormorant)
defence & naval control of shipping TPT • Heavy 15 CH-47F (CH-147F) Chinook
34 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

RADAR 53 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,500


AD RADAR • NORTH WARNING SYSTEM 47: 11
AN/FPS-117 (range 200nm); 36 AN/FPS-124 (range 80nm) Canadian Coast Guard 4,500
STRATEGIC 6: 4 Coastal; 2 Transportable Incl Department of Fisheries and Oceans; all platforms
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES are designated as non-combatant
AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARH AIM-120C AMRAAM PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 72
BOMBS PSOH 1 Leonard J Cowley
Laser-guided: GBU-10/-12/-16 Paveway II; GBU-24 PSO 1 Sir Wilfred Grenfell (with hel landing platform)
Paveway III PCO 13: 2 Cape Roger; 1 Gordon Reid; 9 Hero; 1 Tanu
Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II PBF 1 Response Boat-Medium (RB-M)
INS/GPS-guided: GBU-31 JDAM; GBU-38 JDAM PB 56: 9 Baie de Plaisance; 9 Type-300A; 36 Type-300B;
1 S. Dudka; 1 Vakta
NATO Flight Training Canada AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE UCAC 4 Type-400
AIRCRAFT LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 32
TRG 45: 26 T-6A Texan II (CT-156 Harvard II); 19 Hawk ABU 6
115 (CT-155) (advanced wpns/tactics trg) AG 4
AGB 18
Contracted Flying Services – Southport AGOS 4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE HELICOPTERS • MRH 7 Bell 412EP • TPT 19:
AIRCRAFT Medium 1 S-61; Light 18: 3 Bell 206L Long Ranger;
TPT • Light 7 Beech C90B King Air 15 Bell 429
TRG 11 G-120A
HELICOPTERS DEPLOYMENT
MRH 9 Bell 412 (CH-146)
TPT • Light 7 Bell 206 Jet Ranger (CH-139) CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP (Operation Snowgoose) 1
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
Canadian Special Operations Forces MONUSCO (Operation Crocodile) 7
Command 1,500 EGYPT: MFO (Operation Calumet) 55; 1 MP team
FORCES BY ROLE IRAQ: NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 16
SPECIAL FORCES
KUWAIT: Operation Inherent Resolve (Impact) 200
1 SF regt (Canadian Special Operations Regiment)
1 SF unit (JTF 2) LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence (Operation
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT Reassurance) 540; 1 mech inf bn HQ; 1 mech inf coy(+); 1
1 CBRN unit (Canadian Joint Incident Response Unit – cbt spt coy; LAV 6.0; M777
CJIRU) MALI: UN • MINUSMA (Operation Presence) 5
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO (Operation Jade) 4
1 (spec ops) sqn, with Bell 412 (CH-146 Griffon – from
the RCAF) POLAND: Operation Unifier 40 (UKR trg)

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ROMANIA: NATO • Enhanced Air Policing 170; 6 F/A-


NBC VEHICLES 4 LAV Bison NBC 18A Hornet (CF-18AM)
HELICOPTERS • MRH 10 Bell 412 (CH-146 Griffon) SERBIA: NATO • KFOR • Joint Enterprise (Operation
Kobold) 5
Canadian Forces Joint Operational SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS (Operation Soprano) 8
Support Group
UNITED KINGDOM: Air Task Force Prestwick (ATF-P)
FORCES BY ROLE
55; 3 C-130J-30 Hercules (CC-130J); Operation Unifier 170
COMBAT SUPPORT
(UKR trg)
1 engr spt coy
1 (close protection) MP coy
1 (joint) sigs regt FOREIGN FORCES
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT United Kingdom BATUS 400; 1 trg unit; 1 hel flt with
1 (spt) log unit SA341 Gazelle AH1
1 (movement) log unit United States 150
North America 35

market, and in the wake of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine there


United States US has been focus on issues relating to defence-industrial capacity

North America
and security of supply.
United States Dollar USD 2021 2022 2023
ACTIVE 1,359,600 (Army 464,900 Navy 346,300
GDP USD 23.0tr 25.0tr
Air Force 325,100 Space Force 8,400 US Marine Corps
per capita USD 69,227 75,180
174,550 US Coast Guard 40,350)
Growth % 5.7 1.6
Inflation % 4.7 8.1 RESERVE 817,450 (Army 506,600 Navy 98,250
Def exp [a] USD 794bn 822bn Air Force 173,400 Marine Corps Reserve 33,050
Def bdgt [b] USD 760bn 767bn 827bn
US Coast Guard 6,150)
[a] NATO figure
[b] National Defense Budget Function (50) Budget Authority. ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Includes DoD funding, as well as funds for nuclear weapons-
related activities undertaken by the Department of Energy. US Strategic Command
Excludes some military retirement and healthcare costs
HQ at Offutt AFB (NE)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
785 US Navy
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
598 SUBMARINES • STRATEGIC • SSBN 14 Ohio with
2008 2015 2022
up to 20 UGM-133A Trident D-5/D-5LE nuclear SLBM,
Population 337,341,954 4 single 533mm TT with Mk 48 ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus US Air Force • Global Strike Command
Male 9.3% 3.2% 3.3% 3.5% 22.0% 7.9%
FORCES BY ROLE
MISSILE
Female 8.9% 3.1% 3.2% 3.3% 22.4% 9.8%
9 sqn with LGM-30G Minuteman III
BOMBER
Capabilities 5 sqn with B-52H Stratofortress
The United States remains the world’s most capable military 2 sqn with B-2A Spirit (+1 ANG sqn personnel only)
power, with a unique ability to project power on a global
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
basis. In October 2022, the Biden administration issued a new
National Security Strategy clearly prioritising China as the ‘most SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
consequential geopolitical challenge’ facing the US, with Russia ICBM • Nuclear 400 LGM-30G Minuteman III (1
an immediate but mainly regional threat. These priorities were Mk12A or Mk21 re-entry veh per missile)
echoed in a new National Defense Strategy (NDS) that was AIRCRAFT
accompanied by a new Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and a new BBR 66: 20 B-2A Spirit; 46 B-52H Stratofortress
Missile Defense Review (MDR). The NDS emphasised homeland AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
defence, integrated deterrence and ‘campaigning’ to tackle sub- ALCM • Nuclear AGM-86B
conflict competition that is already under way. It reflected the fact
that the force structure is under strain, requires recapitalising with Strategic Defenses – Early Warning
an emphasis on new technology, and needs improved resilience,
including of the industrial base. Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
in February 2022 led the US to bolster its presence in Europe and RADAR
also supply large amounts of military and other aid to Ukraine. The NORTH WARNING SYSTEM 50: 14 AN/FPS-117;
NPR reaffirmed broad nuclear modernisation plans but cancelled 36 AN/FPS-124
the proposed nuclear-capable sea-launched cruise missile SOLID STATE PHASED ARRAY RADAR SYSTEM
capability. It also stated that the US would consider using nuclear (SSPARS) 5 AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning
weapons only ‘in extreme circumstances’ but did not institute a
Radar located at Beale AFB (CA), Cape Cod SFS
‘no first use’ policy. The MDR reinforced increasing US concern
(MA), Clear SFS (AK), Thule AB (GL) and RAF
about growing air and missile threats. The US maintains an all-
volunteer force, including significant reserves, with high levels of Fylingdales (UK)
training throughout all commands and services. The Pentagon is SPACETRACK SYSTEM 7: 1 AN/FPS-85 Spacetrack
trying to improve readiness. Modernisation priorities include a Radar at Eglin AFB (FL); 6 contributing radars at
renewal of strategic nuclear capabilities, including a new class of Cavalier SFS (ND), Clear SFS (AK), Thule AB (GL),
ballistic-missile submarine and a new long-range bomber, as well RAF Fylingdales (UK), Beale AFB (CA) and Cape Cod
as improved naval capabilities likely to include both crewed and SFS (MA); 3 Spacetrack Optical Trackers located at
uninhabited platforms. The US Army is focused on regenerating Socorro (NM), Maui (HI), Diego Garcia (BIOT)
its capability for large-scale combat operations under its Multi-
PERIMETER ACQUISITION RADAR ATTACK
Domain Operations concept, and the updated doctrine document
‘FM 3-0, Operations’ was published in October. The US continues to CHARACTERISATION SYSTEM (PARCS) 1 AN/
actively develop its defensive and offensive cyber capabilities. The FPQ-16 at Cavalier SFS (ND)
country has the world’s most capable defence industry, active in all DETECTION AND TRACKING RADARS 5 located
sectors and with a dominant position in the international defence at Kwajalein Atoll, Ascension Island, Australia, Kaena
36 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Point (HI), MIT Lincoln Laboratory (MA) sqn, 3 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1
GROUND BASED ELECTRO OPTICAL DEEP SP arty bde HQ; 1 log bde; 1 (hy cbt avn) hel bde)
SPACE SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (GEODSS) 1 (7th) inf div (2 (1st & 2nd SBCT, 2nd ID) mech bde (1
Socorro (NM), Maui (HI), Diego Garcia (BIOT) armd recce sqn, 3 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn,
STRATEGIC DEFENCES – MISSILE DEFENCES 1 CSS bn))
SEA-BASED: Aegis engagement cruisers and destroyers 2 (2nd & 3rd CR) mech bde (1 armd recce sqn, 3 mech
LAND-BASED: 40 ground-based interceptors at sqn, 1 arty sqn, 1 cbt engr sqn, 1 CSS sqn)
Fort Greely (AK); 4 ground-based interceptors at Light
Vandenburg SFB (CA) 1 (10th Mtn) inf div (3 (1st–3rd IBCT) lt inf bde (1 recce
sqn, 3 inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1 log
Space bde; 1 (cbt avn) hel bde)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 (25th) inf div (2 (2 & 3rd IBCT) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 2
SATELLITES 144 inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1 log bde; 1
COMMUNICATIONS 47: 6 AEHF; 6 DSCS-III; 2 (cbt avn) hel bde)
Milstar-I; 3 Milstar-II; 5 MUOS; 5 SDS-III; 2 SDS-IV; 1 5 (Sy Force Assist) inf bde(-)
TacSat-4; 1 TacSat-6; 6 UFO; 10 WGS SV2
Air Manoeuvre
POSITIONING, NAVIGATION & TIMING 30: 12
1 (11th) AB div (1 (1st IBCT) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 3 inf
NAVSTAR Block IIF; 7 NAVSTAR Block IIR; 7
bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1 (2nd AB BCT)
NAVSTAR Block IIRM; 4 NAVSTAR Block III
AB bde (1 recce bn, 2 para bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn,
METEOROLOGY/OCEANOGRAPHY 4 DMSP-5
1 CSS bn))
ISR 14: 5 FIA Radar; 5 Evolved Enhanced/Improved Crystal
(visible and infrared imagery); 2 NRO L-71; 2 NRO L-76 1 (82nd) AB div (1 (1st AB BCT) AB bde (1 recce bn, 1
ELINT/SIGINT 31: 6 Mentor (advanced Orion); 2 mech coy; 3 para bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS
Mercury; 2 Nemesis; 1 Sharp (NRO L-67); 3 Trumpet; 4 bn); 2 (2nd & 3rd AB BCT) AB bde (1 recce bn, 3 para
Improved Trumpet; 12 Naval Ocean Surveillance System bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1 (cbt avn) hel
(NOSS); 1 NRO L-85 bde; 1 log bde)
SPACE SURVEILLANCE 8: 6 GSSAP; 1 SBSS (Space 1 (101st) air aslt div (3 (1st–3rd AB BCT) AB bde (1 recce
Based Surveillance System); 1 ORS-5 bn, 3 para bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1 (cbt
EARLY WARNING 10: 4 DSP; 6 SBIRS Geo avn) hel bde; 1 log bde)
REUSABLE SPACECRAFT 1 X-37B OTV 1 (173rd AB BCT) AB bde (1 recce bn, 2 para bn, 1 arty bn,
COUNTERSPACE • EW Counter Communications 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn)
System (CCS) Other
1 (11th ACR) trg armd cav regt (OPFOR) (2 armd cav
US Army 464,900 sqn, 1 CSS bn)
FORCES BY ROLE COMBAT SUPPORT
Sqn are generally bn sized and tp are generally coy sized 3 MRL bde (2 MRL bn)
COMMAND 1 MRL bde (1 MRL bn; 1 SSM bn (forming))
4 (I, III, V & XVIII AB) corps HQ 1 MRL bde (5 MRL bn)
1 (2nd) inf div HQ 4 engr bde
1 (56th) arty comd 2 EOD gp (2 EOD bn)
SPECIAL FORCES 10 int bde
(see USSOCOM) 2 int gp
MANOEUVRE 4 MP bde
Armoured 1 NBC bde
2 (1st Armd & 1st Cav) armd div (3 (1st–3rd ABCT) armd
3 (strat) sigs bde
bde (1 armd recce sqn, 2 armd bn, 1 armd inf bn, 1 SP
4 (tac) sigs bde
arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1 SP arty bde HQ; 1
1 (1st MDTF) cbt spt bde (1 (I2CEWS) cbt spt bn)
log bde; 1 (hy cbt avn) hel bde)
2 (2nd & 3rd MDTF) cbt spt bde(-)
1 (1st) inf div (2 (1st & 2nd ABCT) armd bde (1 armd
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
recce sqn, 2 armd bn, 1 armd inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 cbt
engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1 SP arty bde HQ; 1 log bde; 1 (cbt 2 log bde
avn) hel bde) 3 med bde
1 (3rd) inf div (2 (1st & 2nd ABCT) armd bde (1 armd 1 tpt bde
recce sqn, 2 armd bn, 1 armd inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 cbt ISR
engr bn, 1 CSS bn); 1 lt inf bn; 1 SP arty bde HQ; 1 log 1 ISR avn bde
bde; 1 (cbt avn) hel bde) HELICOPTER
Mechanised 2 (cbt avn) hel bde
1 (4th) inf div (1 (3rd ABCT) armd bde (1 armd recce sqn, 1 (cbt avn) hel bde HQ
2 armd bn, 1 armd inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, AIR DEFENCE
1 CSS bn); 2 (1st & 2nd SBCT) mech bde (1 armd recce 6 SAM bde
North America 37

Reserve Organisations COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT


9 log bde

North America
Army National Guard 329,750 reservists 11 med bde
Normally dual-funded by DoD and states. Civil- HELICOPTER
emergency responses can be mobilised by state 2 (exp cbt avn) hel bde
governors. Federal government can mobilise ARNG for
major domestic emergencies and for overseas operations Army Stand-by Reserve 700 reservists
FORCES BY ROLE Trained individuals for mobilisation
COMMAND EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
8 div HQ ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
SPECIAL FORCES MBT 2,645: ε540 M1A1 SA Abrams; 1,605 M1A2 SEPv2
(see USSOCOM) Abrams; ε500 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams; (ε2,000 more M1A1/
MANOEUVRE A2 Abrams in store)
Reconnaissance ASLT ε100 M1128 Stryker MGS (being divested 2022)
1 armd recce sqn RECCE 1,745: ε1,200 M3A2/A3 Bradley; 545 M1127
Armoured Stryker RV (ε800 more M3 Bradley in store)
5 (ABCT) armd bde (1 armd recce sqn, 2 armd bn, 1 IFV 2,959: ε14 LAV-25; ε2,500 M2A2/A3 Bradley; 21
armd inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn) M2A4 Bradley; 334 M7A3/SA BFIST (OP); 83 M1296
Mechanised Stryker Dragoon (ε2,000 more M2 Bradley in store); 7
2 (SBCT) mech bde (1 armd recce sqn, 3 mech inf bn, 1 Stryker MCWS (in test)
arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 CSS bn) APC 10,477
Light APC (T) 4,930: 130 AMPV (in test); ε4,800 M113A2/A3
14 (IBCT) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 3 inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt (ε8,000 more in store)
engr bn, 1 CSS bn) APC (W) 2,613: 1,348 M1126 Stryker ICV; 280 M1130
6 (IBCT) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 2 inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 cbt Stryker CV (CP); 167 M1131 Stryker FSV (OP); 258
engr bn, 1 CSS bn) M1133 Stryker MEV (Amb); 21 M1251A1 Stryker FSV
1 (Sy Force Assist) inf bde(-) (OP); 46 M1254A1 Stryker MEV (Amb); 68 M1255A1
4 inf bn Stryker CV (CP); 425 M1256A1 Stryker ICV
Air Manoeuvre PPV 2,934: 2,633 MaxxPro Dash; 301 MaxxPro
1 AB bn LWB (Amb)
COMBAT SUPPORT AUV 21,516: ε12,500 JLTV; 2,900 M1117 ASV; 465 M1200
8 arty bde Armored Knight (OP); 5,651 M-ATV
1 SP arty bn ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
8 engr bde AEV 567: 149 M1150 ABV; 250 M9 ACE; 152 M1132
1 EOD regt Stryker ESV; 16 M1257A1 Stryker ESV
3 int bde ARV 1,274+: 360 M88A1; ε914 M88A2 (ε1,000 more
3 MP bde M88A1 in store); some M578
1 NBC bde VLB 383: ε230 M60 AVLB; 93 M1074 Joint Assault Bridge;
2 (tac) sigs bde 20 REBS; 40 Wolverine HAB
17 (Mnv Enh) cbt spt bde MW 3+: Aardvark JSFU Mk4; some Husky 2G; 3+ Hydrema
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT 910 MCV-2; M58/M59 MICLIC; M139; Rhino
10 log bde NBC VEHICLES 234 M1135 Stryker NBCRV
17 (regional) log spt gp ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
HELICOPTER MSL
8 (cbt avn) hel bde SP 1,133: 120 M1134 Stryker ATGM; 13 M1253A1
5 (theatre avn) hel bde Stryker ATGM; ε1,000 M1167 HMMWV TOW
AIR DEFENCE MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin
3 SAM bde RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
ARTILLERY 5,096
Army Reserve 176,850 reservists SP 155mm 689: 486 M109A6; 203 M109A7 (ε850 more
Reserve under full command of US Army. Does not have M109A6 in store)
state-emergency liability of Army National Guard TOWED 1,267: 105mm 821 M119A2/3; 155mm 446 M777A2
FORCES BY ROLE MRL 227mm 594: 368 M142 HIMARS; 226+ M270A1/A2
SPECIAL FORCES MLRS
(see USSOCOM) MOR 2,507: 81mm 990 M252; 120mm 1,076 M120/
COMBAT SUPPORT M1064A3; SP 120mm 441; 363 M1129 Stryker MC; 78
4 engr bde M1252A1 Stryker MC
4 MP bde SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
2 NBC bde SRBM • Conventional MGM-140A/B ATACMS; MGM-
2 sigs bde 168 ATACMS (All launched from M270A1 MLRS or
3 (Mnv Enh) cbt spt bde M142 HIMARS MRLs)
38 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AMPHIBIOUS 4 Los Angeles Flight II with 1 12-cell VLS with UGM-


PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 7 109E Tomahawk Block IV LACM, 4 single 533mm
LSL 7 Frank Besson (capacity 24 Abrams MBT) TT with Mk 48 ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT
LANDING CRAFT 70 22 Los Angeles Flight III with 1 12-cell VLS with
LCT 34 LCU 2000 (capacity 5 M1 Abrams MBT) UGM-109E Tomahawk Block IV LACM, 4 single
LCM 36 LCM 8 (capacity either 1 M1 Abrams MBT or 533mm TT with Mk 48 ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT
200 troops) 10 Virginia Flight I/II with 1 12-cell VLS with UGM-
AIRCRAFT 109E Tomahawk Block IV LACM, 4 single 533mm
ISR 46: 8 EMARSS-G; 4 EMARSS-V; 7 EMARSS-M; 19 TT with Mk 48 ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT
RC-12X Guardrail (5 trg); 8 RO-6A ARL-E 8 Virginia Flight III with 2 6-cell VPT VLS with UGM-
SIGINT 2 CL-600 Artemis 109E Tomahawk Block IV LACM, 4 single 533mm
ELINT 9: 4 EMARSS-S; 4 EO-5C ARL-M (COMINT/ TT with Mk 48 ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT
ELINT); 1 TO-5C (trg) 3 Virginia Flight IV with 2 6-cell VPT VLS with UGM-
TPT 156: Light 152: 113 Beech A200 King Air (C-12 109E Tomahawk Block IV LACM, 4 single 533mm
Huron); 28 Cessna 560 Citation (UC-35A/B); 11 SA- TT with Mk 48 ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT
227 Metro (C-26E); PAX 4: 1 Gulfstream IV (C-20F); 2 SSN 2 Seawolf (one other damaged in collision in 2021,
Gulfstream V (C-37A); 1 Gulfstream G550 (C-37B) repair to begin in 2023) with 8 single 660mm TT
TRG 4 T-6D Texan II with UGM-109E Tomahawk Block IV LACM/Mk 48
HELICOPTERS ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT
ATK 740: ε250 AH-64D Apache; ε490 AH-64E Apache PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 122
SAR 356: 19 HH-60L Black Hawk; 337 HH-60M Black AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • CVN 11:
Hawk (medevac) 1 Gerald R. Ford with 2 octuple Mk 29 mod 5 GMLS
TPT 2,768: Heavy 450 CH-47F Chinook; Medium 1,857: with RIM-162D ESSM SAM, 2 Mk 49 mod 3 GMLS
ε20 UH-60A Black Hawk; ε900 UH-60L Black Hawk; 931 with RIM-116C RAM Block 2 SAM, 3 Mk 15 Phalanx
UH-60M Black Hawk; 6 UH-60V Black Hawk; Light 524: Block 1B CIWS (typical capacity 75+ F/A-18E/F
457 UH-72A Lakota; 2 UH-72B Lakota; 65 UH-1H/V Super Hornet FGA ac; F-35C Lightning II FGA ac;
Iroquois E-2D Hawkeye AEW&C ac; EA-18G Growler EW ac;
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 416 MH-60R Seahawk ASW hel; MH-60S Knight Hawk
CISR • Heavy ε180 MQ-1C Gray Eagle MRH hel)
ISR • Medium 236 RQ-7B Shadow 10 Nimitz with 2 8-cell Mk29 GMLS with RIM-162
AIR DEFENCE ESSM SAM, 2 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116
SAM 1,187+ RAM Block 2 SAM, 3 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS
Long-range 480 M902/M903 Patriot PAC-3/PAC-3 MSE (typical capacity 55 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet FGA ac;
Short-range Iron Dome; NASAMS F-35C Lightning II FGA ac; 4 EA-18G Growler EW ac;
Point-defence 471+: FIM-92 Stinger; 18 M-SHORAD; 4 E-2C/D Hawkeye AEW ac; 6 MH-60R/S Seahawk/
453 M1097 Avenger Knight Hawk hel)
GUNS • Towed • 20mm Phalanx (LPWS) CRUISERS • CGHM 19:
17 Ticonderoga with Aegis Baseline 5/6/8/9 C2, 2 quad
MISSILE DEFENCE • Long-range 42 THAAD
lnchr with RGM-84D Harpoon Block 1C AShM, 16
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
8-cell Mk 41 VLS (of which 2 only 5-cell and fitted
ASM AGM-114K/L/M/N/R Hellfire II; AGM-179A JAGM;
with reload crane) with RGM-109E Tomahawk Block
AGR-20A APKWS
IV LACM/SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB/IV SAM/SM-3
Block IA/B SAM/SM-6 Block I SAM, 2 triple 324mm
US Navy 346,300 SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 54 LWT, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx
Comprises 2 Fleet Areas, Atlantic and Pacific. 6 Fleets: 2nd
Block 1B CIWS, 2 127mm guns (capacity 2 MH-60R
– Atlantic; 3rd – Pacific; 4th – Caribbean, Central and South Seahawk/MH-60S Knight Hawk hels)
America; 5th – Arabian Sea, Persian Gulf, Red Sea; 6th – 2 Zumwalt with 20 4-cell Mk 57 VLS with RGM-109E
Mediterranean; 7th – Indian Ocean, East Asia, W. Pacific; Tomahawk Block IV LACM/RIM-162 ESSM SAM/
plus Military Sealift Command (MSC); Naval Reserve SM-2 Block IIIA SAM/ASROC A/S msl, 2 155mm
Force (NRF). For Naval Special Warfare Command, see US guns (capacity 2 MH-60R Seahawk ASW hel or 1 MH-
Special Operations Command 60R Seahawk ASW hel and 3 Fire Scout UAV)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE DESTROYERS 70:
SUBMARINES 67 DDGHM 42:
STRATEGIC • SSBN 14 Ohio (opcon US STRATCOM) 5 Arleigh Burke Flight IIA with Aegis Baseline 5/9 C2,
with up to 20 UGM-133A Trident D-5/D-5LE nuclear SLBM, 12 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with RGM-109E Tomahawk
4 single 533mm TT with Mk 48 ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT Block IV LACM/SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB/IV SAM/
TACTICAL 53 SM-3 Block IA/B SAM/SM-6 Block I SAM/ASROC
SSGN 51: A/S msl, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with
4 Ohio (mod) with 22 7-cell MAC VLS with UGM- Mk 54 LWT, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1
109E Tomahawk Block IV LACM, 4 single 533mm 127mm gun (capacity 2 MH-60R Seahawk/MH-60S
TT with Mk 48 ADCAP mod 6/7 HWT Knight Hawk hels)
North America 39

37 Arleigh Burke Flight IIA with Aegis Baseline 6/7/9 Block 2 SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS (capacity
C2, 12 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with RGM-109E Tomahawk up to 23 ac/hel incl: 6 AV-8B Harrier II FGA or F-35B

North America
Block IV LACM/SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB/IV SAM/ Lightning II FGA ac (possible 20 F-35B as full ‘Lightning
SM-3 Block IA/B SAM/SM-6 Block I SAM/ASROC carrier’); 4 AH-1Z Viper atk hel; 4 CH-53E Sea Stallion
A/S msl, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with hel; up to 6 MV-22B Osprey tpt ac; 3 UH-1Y Iroquois tpt
Mk 54 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1
hel; 3 LCAC(L); 60 tanks; 1,687 troops)
127mm gun (capacity 2 MH-60R Seahawk/MH-60S
LPD 12 San Antonio with 2 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with
Knight Hawk hels) (of which 1 vessel also with 1
Mk 15 SeaRAM with RIM-116C RAM Block 2 and RIM-116C RAM Block 2 SAM (1 vessel also fitted with
3 vessels also with 1 Optical Dazzling Interdictor, 1 Solid-State Laser Technology Maturation (SSL-TM)
Navy (ODIN) LWS) LWS) (capacity 2 CH-53E Sea Stallion hel or 2 MV-22
DDGM 28 Arleigh Burke Flight I/II with Aegis Baseline Osprey; 2 LCAC(L); 14 AAV; 720 troops)
5/9 C2, 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84D Harpoon Block 1C LSD 10:
AShM, 12 8-cell Mk 41 VLS (of which 2 only 5-cell and 4 Harpers Ferry with 2 Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-
fitted with reload crane) with RGM-109E Tomahawk 116C RAM Block 2 SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block
Block IV LACM/SM-2 Block III/IIIA/IIIB/IV SAM/SM-3 1B CIWS (capacity 2 CH-53E Sea Stallion hel; 2
Block IA/B SAM/SM-6 Block I SAM/ASROC A/S msl, LCAC(L); 40 tanks; 500 troops)
2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 54 LWT, 2
6 Whidbey Island with 2 Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-
Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS (of which 5 vessels with
116C RAM Block 2 SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block
1 Mk 15 SeaRAM with RIM-116C RAM Block 2, 1 Mk
15 Phalanx Block 1B instead of 2 Phalanx), 1 127mm 1B CIWS (capacity 2 CH-53E Sea Stallion hel; 4
gun, 1 hel landing platform LCAC(L); 40 tanks; 500 troops)
FRIGATES 22: LANDING CRAFT 145:
FFGHM 6 Independence with 2 quad lnchr with NSM LCU 32 LCU 1610 (capacity either 1 M1 Abrams MBT
(RGM-184A) AShM, 1 11-cell SeaRAM lnchr with RIM- or 350 troops)
116C Block 2 SAM, 1 57mm gun (capacity 2 MH-60R/S LCM 8 LCM 8
Seahawk/Knight Hawk hel and 3 MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV) LCP 33 Maritime Positioning Force Utility Boat (MPF-UB)
FFHM 16: LCAC 72: 68 LCAC(L) (MLU ongoing) (capacity either
10 Freedom with 1 21-cell Mk 49 lnchr with RIM-116C
1 MBT or 60 troops); 4 Ship to Shore Connector (SSC
RAM Block 2 SAM, 1 57mm gun (capacity 2 MH-
(capacity 1 MBT or 145 troops)
60R/S Seahawk/Knight Hawk hel or 1 MH-60 with 3
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 13
MQ-8 Fire Scout UAV)
6 Independence with 1 11-cell SeaRAM lnchr with AFDL 1 Dynamic
RIM-116C Block 2 SAM, 1 57mm gun (capacity 2 AGOR 6 (all leased out): 2 Ocean; 3 Thomas G.
MH-60R/S Seahawk/Knight Hawk hel and 3 MQ-8 Thompson; 1 Kilo Moana
Fire Scout UAV) ARD 2
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 89 AX 1 Prevail
PCFG 5 Cyclone with 1 quad Mk 208 lnchr with BGM- ESB 3 Lewis B. Puller (capacity 4 MH-53/MH-60 hel)
176B Griffin B SSM UUV (1 Cutthroat for testing)
PBF 84: 32 Combatant Craft Assault; 2 Combatant Craft MISSILE DEFENCE • Long-range 3 8-cell Mk 41 VLS
Heavy; 30 Combatant Craft Medium Mk 1; 20 Defiant 40
with SM-3
(40PB)
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 8 Naval Reserve Forces 98,250
MCO 8 Avenger
COMMAND SHIPS Selected Reserve 55,500
LCC 2 Blue Ridge with 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS
(capacity 3 LCPL; 2 LCVP; 700 troops; 1 med hel) (of Individual Ready Reserve 42,750
which 1 vessel partially crewed by Military Sealift
Command personnel) Naval Inactive Fleet
AMPHIBIOUS Notice for reactivation:
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 31: 60–90 days minimum (still on naval-vessel register)
LHA 2 America with 2 8-cell Mk 29 GMLS with RIM- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
162D ESSM SAM, 2 Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116C PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS
RAM Block 2 SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS
FRIGATES • FFH 1 Freedom with 1 57mm gun
(capacity up to 29 ac/hel incl: 6-13 F-35B Lightning II
AMPHIBIOUS 4
FGA ac (possible 20 as full ‘Lightning carrier’); 4 AH-1Z
Viper atk hel; up to 12 MV-22B Osprey tpt ac; 2 MH-60S LHA 2 Tarawa
Knight Hawk MRH; 4 CH-53E Sea Stallion tpt hel; 2 UH- LSD 2 Whidbey Island
1Y Iroquois tpt hel; up to 1,800 troops) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 4
LHD 7 Wasp with 2 8-cell Mk 29 GMLS with RIM-7M/P AOE 2 Supply
Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116C RAM ARS 2 Safeguard
40 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Military Sealift Command (MSC) AK 2: 1 Sea Eagle; 1 SLNC Corsica (long-term chartered)
AOT 4: 2 Empire State; 1 SLNC Pax; 1 SLNC Goodwill
Fleet Oiler (PM1) (long-term chartered)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 16 US Maritime Administration (MARAD)
AOR 16: 1 John Lewis with 1 hel landing platform;
National Defense Reserve Fleet
15 Henry J. Kaiser with 1 hel landing platform
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Special Mission (PM2) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 20
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ACS 2: 1 Flickertail State; 1 Keystone State
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 21 AGOS 2 General Rudder
AGM 2: 1 Howard O. Lorenzen; 1 Sea-based X-band AGM 2: 1 Pacific Collector; 1 Pacific Tracker
radar AK 8: 2 Cape Ann (breakbulk); 1 Cape Chalmers
AGOR 6 Pathfinder (breakbulk); 1 Cape Jacob; 2 Cape May; 1 Del Monte
AGOS 5: 1 Impeccable (commercial operator); (breakbulk); 1 Savannah
4 Victorious AP 4: 1 Empire State VI; 1 Golden Bear; 1 Kennedy; 1
AGS 1 Waters State of Maine
ARC 1 Zeus AX 2: 1 Freedom Star; 1 Kings Pointer
AS 4 Arrowhead (long-term chartered)
ATF 2: 1 HOS Red Rock (leased); 1 MV Hercules Ready Reserve Force
Ships at readiness up to a maximum of 30 days
Prepositioning (PM3) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 40
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 14 ACS 4: 1 Flickertail State; 1 Gopher State; 2 Keystone State
AG 2: 1 V Adm K.R. Wheeler; 1 Fast Tempo AK 2 Wright (breakbulk)
AKR 5: 2 Bob Hope; 1 Stockham; 2 Watson AKR 34: 1 Adm W.M. Callaghan; 4 Algol; 1 Cape Arundel;
AKRH 5 2nd Lt John P. Bobo 4 Cape Capella; 1 Cape Decision; 4 Cape Ducato; 1 Cape
ESD 2 Montford Point Edmont; 1 Cape Henry; 2 Cape Hudson; 2 Cape Knox;
Service Support (PM4) 4 Cape Island; 1 Cape Orlando; 1 Cape Race; 1 Cape
Trinity; 2 Cape Trinity; 2 Cape Victory; 2 Cape Washington
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 12 Naval Aviation 98,600
AH 2 Mercy with 1 hel landing platform
10 air wg. Average air wing comprises 8 sqns: 4 with F/A-
ARS 2 Safeguard
18; 1 with MH-60R; 1 with EA-18G; 1 with E-2C/D; 1 with
AS 4: 1 Dominator; 2 Emory S. Land; 1 Malama (long-
MH-60S
term chartered)
ATF 4: 1 Gary Chouest; 1 MV Ocean Valour; 2 Powhatan FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
Sealift (PM5) 22 sqn with F/A-18E Super Hornet
(At a minimum of 4 days’ readiness) 10 sqn with F/A-18F Super Hornet
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 sqn with F-35C Lightning II
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 18 1 sqn (forming) with F-35C Lightning II
AOT 1 Maersk Peary (long-term chartered) ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
AK 4: 2 LTC John U.D. Page; 1 Maj. Bernard F. Fisher; 12 sqn with P-8A Poseidon
1 CPT David I. Lyon 1 (special projects) sqn with P-8A Poseidon
AKR 13: 5 Bob Hope; 2 Gordon; 6 Watson 12 sqn with MH-60R Seahawk
3 ASW/ISR sqn with MH-60R Seahawk; MQ-8B Fire Scout
Fleet Ordnance and Dry Cargo (PM6)
ELINT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 sqn with EP-3E Aries II
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 16
ELINT/ELECTRONIC WARFARE
AOE 2 Supply
13 sqn with EA-18G Growler
AKEH 14 Lewis and Clark
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
Expeditionary Fast Transport (PM8) 3 sqn with E-2C Hawkeye
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 6 sqn with E-2D Hawkeye
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 14 COMMAND & CONTROL
AP 2 Guam 2 sqn with E-6B Mercury
EPF 12 Spearhead MINE COUNTERMEASURES
2 sqn with MH-53E Sea Dragon
Dry Cargo and Tankers TRANSPORT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 2 sqn with CMV-22B Osprey (forming)
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 6 2 sqn with C-2A Greyhound
North America 41

TRAINING AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES


1 (FRS) sqn with EA-18G Growler AAM • IR AIM-9M Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X

North America
1 (FRS) sqn with C-2A Greyhound; E-2C/D Hawkeye; Sidewinder II; SARH AIM-7 Sparrow (being
TE-2C Hawkeye withdrawn); ARH AIM-120C-5/C-7/D AMRAAM
1 sqn with E-6B Mercury ASM AGM-65F Maverick; AGM-114B/K/M Hellfire;
2 (FRS) sqn with F/A-18E/F Super Hornet APKWS
1 (FRS) sqn with F-35C Lightning II AShM AGM-84D Harpoon; AGM-119A Penguin 3;
1 (FRS) sqn with MH-53 Sea Dragon AGM-158C LRASM
2 (FRS) sqn with MH-60S Knight Hawk; HH-60H Seahawk ARM AGM-88B/C/E HARM/AARGM
2 (FRS) sqn with MH-60R Seahawk ALCM • Conventional AGM-84E/H/K SLAM/
1 (FRS) sqn with P-3C Orion; P-8A Poseidon SLAM-ER
6 sqn with T-6A/B Texan II BOMBS
2 sqn with T-44C Pegasus Laser-guided: GBU-10/-12/-16 Paveway II; GBU-24
5 sqn with T-45C Goshawk Paveway III; GBU-51 LCDB
2 hel sqn with TH-57B/C Sea Ranger Laser & INS/GPS-guided: EGBU-12 Paveway II;
1 hel sqn with TH-73A EGBU-24 Paveway III; GBU-52 LCDB; GBU-54 Laser
1 (FRS) UAV sqn with MQ-8B Fire Scout; MQ-8C Fire Scout JDAM
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER INS/GPS-guided: GBU-31/-32/-38 JDAM; AGM-
13 sqn with MH-60S Knight Hawk 154A/C/C-1 JSOW
2 tpt hel/ISR sqn with MH-60S Knight Hawk; MQ-8B
Naval Aviation Reserve
Fire Scout; MQ-8C Fire Scout
FORCES BY ROLE
ISR UAV
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with MQ-4C Triton
1 sqn with F/A-18E/F Super Hornet
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
AIRCRAFT 988 combat capable 1 sqn with P-3C Orion
FGA 704: 10 F-16A Fighting Falcon; 4 F-16B Fighting 1 sqn with P-8A Poseidon (forming)
Falcon; 52 F-35C Lightning II; 5 F/A-18B Hornet; 16 1 sqn with MH-60R Seahawk
F/A-18C Hornet; 4 F/A-18D Hornet; 327 F/A-18E Super ELECTRONIC WARFARE
Hornet; 286 F/A-18F Super Hornet 1 sqn with EA-18G Growler
ASW 126: 14 P-3C Orion; 112 P-8A Poseidon TRANSPORT
EW 158 EA-18G Growler* 6 log spt sqn with B-737-700 (C-40A Clipper)
ELINT 9 EP-3E Aries II 1 log spt sqn with Gulfstream V/G550 (C-37A/B)
AEW&C 74: 20 E-2C Hawkeye; 54 E-2D Hawkeye 5 sqn with C-130T/KC-130T Hercules
C2 16 E-6B Mercury TRAINING
TKR/TPT 3: 1 KC-130R Hercules; 1 KC-130T Hercules; 1 2 (aggressor) sqn with F-5F/N Tiger II
KC-130J Hercules 1 (aggressor) sqn with F-16C Fighting Falcon
TPT • Light 54: 4 Beech A200 King Air (C-12C Huron); TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
6 Beech A200 King Air (UC-12F Huron); 8 Beech A200 1 sqn with MH-60S Knight Hawk
King Air (UC-12M Huron); 27 C-2A Greyhound; 2 DHC- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 Beaver (U-6A); 7 SA-227-BC Metro III (C-26D) AIRCRAFT 64 combat capable
TRG 576: 44 T-6A Texan II; 231 T-6B Texan II; 7 FTR 31: 2 F-5F Tiger II; 29 F-5N Tiger II
T-38C Talon; 55 T-44C Pegasus; 237 T-45C Goshawk; FGA 24: 12 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 10 F/A-18E Super
2 TE-2C Hawkeye Hornet; 2 F/A-18F Super Hornet
TILTROTOR • TPT 27 CMV-22B Osprey ASW 4: 2 P-3C Orion; 2 P-8A Poseidon
HELICOPTERS EW 5 EA-18G Growler*
ASW 271 MH-60R Seahawk TKR/TPT 11 KC-130T Hercules
MRH 258 MH-60S Knight Hawk (Multi Mission Support) TPT 40: Medium 19 C-130T Hercules; PAX 21: 17
MCM 28 MH-53E Sea Dragon B-737-700 (C-40A Clipper); 1 Gulfstream V (C-37A);
ISR 3 OH-58C Kiowa 3 Gulfstream G550 (C-37B)
TPT 13: Heavy 2 CH-53E Sea Stallion; Medium 3 UH- HELICOPTERS
60L Black Hawk; Light 8: 5 UH-72A Lakota; 2 UH-1N ASW 5 MH-60R Seahawk
Iroquois; 1 UH-1Y Venom MRH 12 MH-60S Knight Hawk
TRG 116: ε10 TH-57B Sea Ranger; 76 TH-57C Sea MCM 6 MH-53E Sea Dragon
Ranger; 30 TH-73A
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR 114 US Marine Corps 174,550
Heavy 64: 5 MQ-4C Triton; 19 MQ-8B Fire Scout; 36 3 Marine Expeditionary Forces (MEF), 3 Marine
MQ-8C Fire Scout; 4 RQ-4A Global Hawk (evaluation Expeditionary Brigades (MEB), 7 Marine Expeditionary
and trials); Medium 35 RQ-2B Pioneer; Light 15 RQ- Units (MEU) drawn from 3 div. An MEU usually consists
21A Blackjack of a battalion landing team (1 SF coy, 1 lt armd recce coy,
42 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

1 recce pl, 1 armd pl, 1 amph aslt pl, 1 inf bn, 1 arty bty, COMBAT SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT
1 cbt engr pl), an aviation combat element (1 medium-lift 1 sqn with Beech A200/B200 King Air (UC-12F/M Huron);
sqn with attached atk hel, FGA ac and AD assets) and a Beech 350 King Air (UC-12W Huron); Cessna 560 Citation
composite log bn, with a combined total of about 2,200 Ultra/Encore (UC-35C/D); Gulfstream IV (C-20G)
personnel. Composition varies with mission requirements TANKER
FORCES BY ROLE 3 sqn with KC-130J Hercules
SPECIAL FORCES TRANSPORT
(see USSOCOM) 16 sqn with MV-22B Osprey
MANOEUVRE TRAINING
Reconnaissance 1 sqn with F/A-18C/D Hornet
3 (MEF) recce coy 2 sqn with F-35B Lightning II
Amphibious 1 sqn with MV-22B Osprey
1 (1st) mne div (2 armd recce bn, 1 recce bn, 3 mne regt (4 1 hel sqn with AH-1Z Viper; UH-1Y Venom
mne bn), 1 amph aslt bn, 1 arty regt (3 arty bn, 1 MRL 1 hel sqn with CH-53E Sea Stallion
bn), 1 cbt engr bn, 1 EW bn, 1 int bn, 1 sigs bn) ATTACK HELICOPTER
6 sqn with AH-1Z Viper; UH-1Y Venom
1 (2nd) mne div (1 armd recce bn, 1 recce bn, 3 mne regt
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
(3 mne bn), 1 amph aslt bn, 1 arty regt (2 arty bn), 1 cbt
6 sqn with CH-53E Sea Stallion
engr bn, 1 EW bn, 1 int bn, 1 sigs bn)
1 sqn with CH-53K King Stallion (forming)
1 (3rd) mne div (1 recce bn, 1 mne regt (2 mne bn, 1 AD
1 (VIP) sqn with MV-22B Osprey; VH-3D Sea King;
bn, 1 log bn), 1 arty regt (2 arty bn), 1 cbt spt bn (1 armd
VH-60N White Hawk
recce coy, 1 amph aslt coy, 1 cbt engr coy), 1 EW bn, 1
CISR UAV
int bn, 1 sigs bn)
1 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
ISR UAV
3 log gp
2 sqn with RQ-21A Blackjack
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AIR DEFENCE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 2 bn with M1097 Avenger; FIM-92 Stinger
IFV 488 LAV-25
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
APC • APC (W) 207 LAV variants (66 CP; 127 log; 14 EW)
AIRCRAFT 417 combat capable
AAV 1,360: 1,200 AAV-7A1 (all roles); ε160 ACV (in test)
FGA 417: 135 F-35B Lightning II; 10 F-35C Lightning
AUV 6,929: 1,725 Cougar; ε4,500 JLTV; 704 M-ATV
II; 134 F/A-18C Hornet; 79 F/A-18D Hornet; 53 AV-8B
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Harrier II; 6 TAV-8B Harrier
AEV 42 M1 ABV
TKR/TPT 46 KC-130J Hercules
ARV 105: 60 AAVRA1; 45 LAV-R
TPT 20: Light 18: 2 Beech B200 King Air (UC-12F Huron);
MW 38 Buffalo; some Husky 2G 2 Beech B200 King Air (UC-12M Huron); 7 Beech 350
VLB ε30 M60 AVLB King Air (C-12W Huron); 7 Cessna 560 Citation Encore
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE (UC-35D); PAX 2 Gulfstream IV (C-20G)
MSL TRG 3 T-34C Turbo Mentor
SP 106 LAV-AT TILTROTOR • TPT 273 MV-22B Osprey
MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; FGM-172B SRAW- HELICOPTERS
MPV; TOW ATK 134 AH-1Z Viper
ARTILLERY 1,459 TPT 288: Heavy 135: 129 CH-53E Sea Stallion; 6 CH-
TOWED 812: 105mm: 331 M101A1; 155mm 481 M777A2 53K King Stallion (in test); Medium 25: 11 VH-3D Sea
MRL 227mm 47 M142 HIMARS King (VIP tpt); 8 VH-60N White Hawk (VIP tpt); 6 VH-
MOR 600: 81mm 535 M252; SP 81mm 65 LAV-M; 92A (in test); Light 128 UH-1Y Venom
120mm (49 EFSS in store for trg) UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES CISR • Heavy 2 MQ-9A Reaper
ISR • Light 100 BQM-147 Exdrone ISR • Light 40 RQ-21A Blackjack
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger AIR DEFENCE
SAM • Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger; M1097 Avenger
Marine Corps Aviation 34,700 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
3 active Marine Aircraft Wings (MAW) and 1 MCR MAW AAM • IR AIM-9M Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X
FORCES BY ROLE Sidewinder II; SARH AIM-7P Sparrow; ARH AIM-
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK 120C AMRAAM
4 sqn with AV-8B Harrier II ASM AGM-65E/F IR Maverick; AGM-114 Hellfire; AGM-
1 sqn with F/A-18C Hornet 176 Griffin; AGM-179A JAGM; AGR-20A APKWS
5 sqn with F/A-18C/D Hornet AShM AGM-84D Harpoon
5 sqn with F-35B Lightning II ARM AGM-88 HARM
1 sqn with F-35C Lightning II LACM AGM-84E/H/K SLAM/SLAM-ER
North America 43

BOMBS PCC 12 Island


Laser-guided GBU-10/-12/-16 Paveway II PBF 174 Response Boat-Medium (RB-M)

North America
Laser & INS/GPS-guided: EGBU-12 Paveway II; GBU- PBI 63 Marine Protector
49 Enhanced Paveway II; GBU-54 Laser JDAM LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 65
INS/GPS guided GBU-31/-32/-38 JDAM; AGM-154A/ ABU 52: 16 Juniper; 4 WLI; 14 Keeper; 18 WLR
C/C-1 JSOW AGB 12: 9 Bay; 1 Mackinaw; 1 Healy; 1 Polar (1 Polar
in reserve)
Reserve Organisations AXS 1 Eagle
Marine Corps Reserve 33,050 US Coast Guard Aviation
FORCES BY ROLE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MANOEUVRE
AIRCRAFT
Reconnaissance
SAR 44: 11 HC-130H Hercules; 15 HC-130J Hercules; 5
2 MEF recce coy
HC-144A; 13 HC-144B
Amphibious
TPT 16: Medium 14 C-27J Spartan; PAX 2 Gulfstream
1 (4th) mne div (1 armd recce bn, 1 recce bn, 2 mne
V (C-37A)
regt (3 mne bn), 1 amph aslt bn, 1 arty regt (2 arty bn,
HELICOPTERS
1 MRL bn), 1 cbt engr bn, 1 int bn, 1 sigs bn)
SAR 142: 44 MH-60T Jayhawk; 49 AS366G1 (MH-65D)
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Dauphin II; 49 AS366G1 (MH-65E) Dauphin II;
1 log gp

Marine Corps Aviation Reserve 12,000 reservists US Air Force (USAF) 325,100
FORCES BY ROLE Almost the entire USAF (plus active-force ANG and AFR)
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK is divided into 10 Aerospace Expeditionary Forces (AEF),
1 sqn with F/A-18C/C+ Hornet each on call for 120 days every 20 months. At least 2 of the
TANKER 10 AEFs are on call at any one time, each with 10,000–15,000
2 sqn with KC-130J Hercules personnel, 90 multi-role ftr and bbr ac, 31 intra-theatre
TRANSPORT refuelling aircraft and 13 aircraft for ISR and EW missions
2 sqn with MV-22B Osprey
TRAINING
Global Strike Command (GSC)
1 sqn with F-5F/N Tiger II 2 active air forces (8th & 20th); 8 wg
ATTACK HELICOPTER FORCES BY ROLE
2 sqn with AH-1Z Viper; UH-1Y Venom SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER 9 ICBM sqn with LGM-30G Minuteman III
1 sqn with CH-53E Sea Stallion BOMBER
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 4 sqn with B-1B Lancer
AIRCRAFT 24 combat capable 2 sqn with B-2A Spirit
FTR 12: 1 F-5F Tiger II; 11 F-5N Tiger II 5 sqn (incl 1 trg) with B-52H Stratofortress
FGA 12: 5 F/A-18C Hornet; 7 F/A-18C+ Hornet COMMAND & CONTROL
TKR/TPT 17 KC-130J Hercules 1 sqn with E-4B
TPT • Light 7: 2 Beech A200 King Air (UC-12F); 2 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Beech 350 King Air (UC-12W Huron); 3 Cessna 560 3 sqn with UH-1N Iroquois
Citation Encore (UC-35D)
TILTROTOR • TPT 24 MV-22B Osprey
Air Combat Command (ACC)
HELICOPTERS 2 active air forces (9th & 12th); 12 wg. ACC numbered
ATK 26 AH-1Z Viper air forces provide the air component to CENTCOM,
TPT 30: Heavy 8 CH-53E Sea Stallion; Light 22 UH- SOUTHCOM and NORTHCOM
1Y Venom FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER
Marine Stand-by Reserve 700 reservists 3 sqn with F-22A Raptor
Trained individuals available for mobilisation FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
4 sqn with F-15E Strike Eagle
US Coast Guard 40,350 3 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (+6 sqn personnel
9 districts (4 Pacific, 5 Atlantic) only)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 3 sqn with F-35A Lightning II
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 334 GROUND ATTACK
PSOH 23: 1 Alex Haley; 13 Famous; 9 Legend with 1 Mk 3 sqn with A-10C Thunderbolt II (+1 sqn personnel only)
15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 57mm gun (capacity 2 MH- ELECTRONIC WARFARE
65 hel) 1 sqn with EA-18G Growler (personnel only –
PCO 62: 14 Reliance (with 1 hel landing platform); 48 USN aircraft)
Sentinel (Damen 4708) 2 sqn with EC-130H Compass Call
44 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ISR FORCES BY ROLE


2 sqn with E-8C J-STARS (personnel only) FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
5 sqn with OC-135/RC-135/WC-135 2 sqn with F-15E Strike Eagle
2 sqn with U-2S 3 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL 2 sqn with F-35A Lightning II (forming)
5 sqn with E-3 Sentry COMBAT SEARCH & RESCUE
COMBAT SEARCH & RESCUE 1 sqn with HH-60G Pave Hawk
TANKER
2 sqn with HC-130J Combat King II
1 sqn with KC-135R Stratotanker
1 sqn with HH-60G Pave Hawk
TRANSPORT
2 sqn with HH-60W Jolly Green II (forming)
1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules
TRAINING
2 sqn with Gulfstream V (C-37A); Learjet 35A (C-21A);
1 (aggressor) sqn with F-16C Fighting Falcon B-737-700 (C-40B)
1 (aggressor) sqn with F-35A Lightning II
1 sqn with A-10C Thunderbolt II Air Mobility Command (AMC)
1 sqn with E-3 Sentry Provides strategic and tactical airlift, air-to-air refuelling
2 sqn with F-15E Strike Eagle and aeromedical evacuation. 1 active air force (18th); 12
1 sqn with F-22A Raptor wg and 1 gp
1 sqn with RQ-4A Global Hawk; TU-2S FORCES BY ROLE
1 UAV sqn with MQ-9A Reaper TANKER
COMBAT/ISR UAV 3 sqn with KC-10A Extender
9 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper 1 sqn with KC-46A Pegasus
ISR UAV 1 sqn with KC-46A Pegasus (forming)
2 sqn with RQ-4B Global Hawk 8 sqn with KC-135R/T Stratotanker (+2 sqn with
2 sqn with RQ-170 Sentinel personnel only)
1 sqn with RQ-180 TRANSPORT
1 VIP sqn with B-737-200 (C-40B); B-757-200 (C-32A)
Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) 1 VIP sqn with Gulfstream V (C-37A); Gulfstream 550
Provides the air component of PACOM, and commands (C-37B)
1 VIP sqn with VC-25 Air Force One
air units based in Alaska, Hawaii, Japan and South
2 sqn with C-5M Super Galaxy
Korea. 3 active air forces (5th, 7th, & 11th); 8 wg
8 sqn with C-17A Globemaster III (+1 sqn personnel only)
FORCES BY ROLE 5 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules (+1 sqn personnel only)
FIGHTER 1 sqn with Learjet 35A (C-21A)
2 sqn with F-15C/D Eagle
2 sqn with F-22A Raptor (+1 sqn personnel only) Air Education and Training Command
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK 1 active air force (2nd), 10 active air wg and 1 gp
5 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon FORCES BY ROLE
2 sqn with F-35A Lightning II TRAINING
GROUND ATTACK 1 sqn with C-17A Globemaster III
1 sqn with A-10C Thunderbolt II 1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL 4 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
5 sqn with F-35A Lightning II
2 sqn with E-3 Sentry
1 sqn with KC-46A Pegasus
COMBAT SEARCH & RESCUE
1 sqn with KC-135R Stratotanker
1 sqn with HH-60G Pave Hawk
5 (flying trg) sqn with T-1A Jayhawk
TANKER
10 (flying trg) sqn with T-6A Texan II
1 sqn with KC-135R (+1 sqn personnel only) 10 (flying trg) sqn with T-38C Talon
TRANSPORT 5 UAV sqn with MQ-9A Reaper
1 sqn with B-737-200 (C-40B); Gulfstream V (C-37A)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with C-17A Globemaster (+1 sqn personnel only) SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules ICBM • Nuclear 400 LGM-30G Minuteman III (1 Mk12A
1 sqn with Beech 1900C (C-12J); UH-1N Huey or Mk21 re-entry veh per missile)
TRAINING AIRCRAFT 1,574 combat capable
1 (aggressor) sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon BBR 123: 45 B-1B Lancer; 20 B-2A Spirit; 58 B-52H
Stratofortress (46 nuclear capable)
United States Air Forces in Europe - Air FTR 214: 45 F-15C Eagle; 4 F-15D Eagle; 165 F-22A Raptor
Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) FGA 1,063: 218 F-15E Strike Eagle; 2 F-15EX Eagle II; 410
Provides the air component to both EUCOM and F-16C Fighting Falcon; 91 F-16D Fighting Falcon; 342 F-35A
AFRICOM. 1 active air force (3rd); 5 wg Lightning II
North America 45

ATK 135 A-10C Thunderbolt II FIGHTER


CSAR 16 HC-130J Combat King II 5 sqn with F-15C/D Eagle

North America
EW 7 EC-130H Compass Call 1 sqn with F-22A Raptor (+1 sqn personnel only)
ISR 38: 2 E-9A; 4 E-11A; 26 U-2S; 4 TU-2S; 1 WC-135R FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
Constant Phoenix 10 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
ELINT 22: 8 RC-135V Rivet Joint; 9 RC-135W Rivet Joint; 1 sqn with F-35A Lightning II
3 RC-135S Cobra Ball; 2 RC-135U Combat Sent GROUND ATTACK
AEW&C 31: 7 E-3B Sentry; 1 E-3C Sentry; 23 E-3G 4 sqn with A-10C Thunderbolt II
Sentry ISR
C2 4 E-4B TKR 156: 126 KC-135R Stratotanker; 30 KC- 1 sqn with E-8C J-STARS
135T Stratotanker COMBAT SEARCH & RESCUE
TKR/TPT 70: 36 KC-10A Extender; 34 KC-46A Pegasus 3 sqn with HC-130J Combat King II
TPT 336: Heavy 182: 36 C-5M Super Galaxy; 146 C-17A 3 sqn with HH-60G Pave Hawk
Globemaster III; Medium 105: 10 C-130J Hercules; 95 TANKER
C-130J-30 Hercules; Light 23: 4 Beech 1900C (C-12J); 1 sqn with KC-46A Pegasus
19 Learjet 35A (C-21A); PAX 26: 4 B-737-700 (C-40B); 4 16 sqn with KC-135R Stratotanker (+1 sqn personnel only)
B-757-200 (C-32A); 9 Gulfstream V (C-37A); 7 Gulfstream 3 sqn with KC-135T Stratotanker
550 (C-37B); 2 VC-25A Air Force One TRANSPORT
TRG 1,126: 178 T-1A Jayhawk; 443 T-6A Texan II; 505 1 sqn with B-737-700 (C-40C)
T-38A/C Talon 6 sqn with C-17A Globemaster (+2 sqn personnel only)
HELICOPTERS 10 sqn with C-130H Hercules
MRH 4 MH-139A Grey Wolf (in test) 1 sqn with C-130H/LC-130H Hercules
CSAR 62: 52 HH-60G Pave Hawk; 10 HH-60W Jolly Green II 4 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules
TPT • Light 62 UH-1N Huey TRAINING
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 261 1 sqn with C-130H Hercules
CISR • Heavy 210 MQ-9A Reaper 1 sqn with F-15C/D Eagle
ISR • Heavy 27: 10 RQ-4B Global Hawk; ε10 RQ-170 4 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
Sentinel; ε7 RQ-180 1 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper
AIR DEFENCE COMBAT/ISR UAV
SAM • Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger 10 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AAM • IR AIM-9M Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder AIRCRAFT 596 combat capable
II; SARH AIM-7M Sparrow; ARH AIM-120C/D FTR 157: 123 F-15C Eagle; 14 F-15D Eagle; 20 F-22A Raptor
AMRAAM FGA 354: 288 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 46 F-16D Fighting
ASM AGM-65D/G Maverick; AGM-114K/M/N/R Hellfire Falcon; 20 F-35A Lightning II
II; AGM-130A; AGM-176 Griffin; AGR-20A APKWS ATK 85 A-10C Thunderbolt II
AShM AGM-158C LRASM CSAR 12 HC-130J Combat King II
ALCM ISR 13 E-8C J-STARS
Nuclear AGM-86B (ALCM) ELINT 11 RC-26B Metroliner
Conventional AGM-158A JASSM; AGM-158B TKR 162: 138 KC-135R Stratotanker; 24 KC-135T Stratotanker
JASSM-ER TKR/TPT 12 KC-46A Pegasus
ARM AGM-88B/C HARM TPT 197: Heavy 50 C-17A Globemaster III; Medium
EW MALD/MALD-J 144: 99 C-130H Hercules; 35 C-130J-30 Hercules; 10 LC-
BOMBS 130H Hercules; PAX 3 B-737-700 (C-40C)
Laser-guided GBU-10/-12/-16 Paveway II, GBU-24 HELICOPTERS • CSAR 18 HH-60G Pave Hawk
Paveway III; GBU-28 UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • CISR • Heavy
Laser & INS/GPS-guided EGBU-24 Paveway III; EGBU- 24 MQ-9A Reaper
28; GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II; GBU-54 Laser JDAM
Air Force Reserve Command 68,300 reservists
INS/GPS-guided GBU-15 (with BLU-109 penetrating
warhead or Mk84); GBU-31/-32/-38 JDAM; GBU-39B FORCES BY ROLE
Small Diameter Bomb (250lb); GBU-43B MOAB; GBU- BOMBER
57A/B MOP 1 sqn with B-52H Stratofortress (personnel only)
Multi-mode guided GBU-53/B Stormbreaker FIGHTER
2 sqn with F-22A Raptor (personnel only)
Reserve Organisations FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
2 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (+1 sqn
Air National Guard 105,100 reservists personnel only)
FORCES BY ROLE 1 sqn with F-35A Lightning II (personnel only)
BOMBER GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with B-2A Spirit (personnel only) 1 sqn with A-10C Thunderbolt II (+2 sqn personnel only)
46 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ISR EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


1 (Weather Recce) sqn with WC-130J Hercules SATELLITES see Space
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL COUNTERSPACE see Space
1 sqn with E-3 Sentry (personnel only) RADAR see Strategic Defenses – Early Warning
COMBAT SEARCH & RESCUE
1 sqn with HC-130J Combat King II US Special Operations Command
2 sqn with HH-60G Pave Hawk (USSOCOM) 65,800
TANKER Commands all active, reserve and National Guard Special
4 sqn with KC-10A Extender (personnel only) Operations Forces (SOF) of all services based in CONUS
1 sqn with KC-46A Pegasus
1 sqn with KC-46A Pegasus (personnel only) Joint Special Operations Command
6 sqn with KC-135R Stratotanker (+2 sqn personnel only) Reported to comprise elite US SOF, including Special
TRANSPORT Forces Operations Detachment Delta (‘Delta Force’),
1 (VIP) sqn with B-737-700 (C-40C) SEAL Team 6 and integral USAF support
2 sqn with C-5M Super Galaxy (+2 sqn personnel only)
3 sqn with C-17A Globemaster (+9 sqn personnel only) US Army Special Operations Command 35,000
6 sqn with C-130H Hercules FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules SPECIAL FORCES
1 (Aerial Spray) sqn with C-130H Hercules 5 SF gp (4 SF bn, 1 spt bn)
TRAINING 1 ranger regt (3 ranger bn; 1 cbt spt bn)
1 (aggressor) sqn with A-10C Thunderbolt II; COMBAT SUPPORT
F-15C/E Eagle; F-16 Fighting Falcon; F-22A Raptor 1 civil affairs bde (5 civil affairs bn)
(personnel only) 1 psyops gp (3 psyops bn)
1 sqn with A-10C Thunderbolt II 1 psyops gp (4 psyops bn)
1 sqn with B-52H Stratofortress COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 sqn with C-5M Super Galaxy 1 (sustainment) log bde (1 sigs bn)
1 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
HELICOPTER
5 (flying training) sqn with T-1A Jayhawk; T-6A Texan
1 (160th SOAR) hel regt (4 hel bn)
II; T-38C Talon (personnel only)
COMBAT/ISR UAV EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper (personnel only) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
ISR UAV APC • APC (W) 28: 16 M1126 Stryker ICV; 12 Pandur
1 sqn with RQ-4B Global Hawk (personnel only) AUV 640 M-ATV
ARTILLERY 20
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MOR • 120mm 20 XM905 EMTAS
AIRCRAFT 133 combat capable
AIRCRAFT
BBR 18 B-52H Stratofortress
TPT 12: Medium 7 C-27J Spartan (parachute training);
FGA 54: 52 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 2 F-16D Fighting Falcon
Light 5 C-212 (parachute training)
ATK 61 A-10C Thunderbolt II
HELICOPTERS
CSAR 4 HC-130J Combat King II
MRH 51 AH-6M/MH-6M Little Bird
ISR 10 WC-130J Hercules (Weather Recce)
TPT 139: Heavy 67 MH-47G Chinook; Medium 72 MH-
TKR 62 KC-135R Stratotanker
TKR/TPT 9 KC-46A Pegasus 60M Black Hawk
TPT 98: Heavy 42: 16 C-5M Super Galaxy; 26 C-17A UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
Globemaster III; Medium 52: 42 C-130H Hercules; 10 CISR • Heavy 24 MQ-1C Gray Eagle
C-130J-30 Hercules; PAX 4 B-737-700 (C-40C) ISR • Light 29: 15 XPV-1 Tern; 14 XPV-2 Mako
HELICOPTERS • CSAR 16 HH-60G Pave Hawk TPT • Heavy 28 CQ-10 Snowgoose

Civil Reserve Air Fleet Reserve Organisations


Commercial ac numbers fluctuate
Army National Guard
AIRCRAFT • TPT 517 international (391 long-range
and 126 short-range); 36 national FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
Air Force Stand-by Reserve 16,850 reservists 2 SF gp (3 SF bn)
Trained individuals for mobilisation
Army Reserve
US Space Force 6,400 FORCES BY ROLE
New service established December 2019, currently in COMBAT SUPPORT
the process of being stood up. Tasked with organising, 2 psyops gp
training and equipping forces to protect US and allied 4 civil affairs comd HQ
space interests and to provide space capabilities to the joint 8 civil affairs bde HQ
Combatant Commands 32 civil affairs bn (coy)
North America 47

US Navy Special Warfare Command 10,500 UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • CISR • Heavy
50 MQ-9 Reaper
FORCES BY ROLE

North America
SPECIAL FORCES Reserve Organisations
8 SEAL team (total: 48 SF pl)
2 SEAL Delivery Vehicle team Air National Guard
FORCES BY ROLE
Reserve Organisations ELECTRONIC WARFARE
Naval Reserve Force 1 sqn with C-130J Hercules/EC-130J Commando Solo
ISR
FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with MC-12W Liberty
SPECIAL FORCES
TRANSPORT
8 SEAL det
1 flt with B-737-200 (C-32B)
10 Naval Special Warfare det
2 Special Boat sqn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 Special Boat unit AIRCRAFT
1 SEAL Delivery Vehicle det EW 7 EC-130J Commando Solo
ISR 13 MC-12W Liberty
US Marine Special Operations Command TPT 5: Medium 3 C-130J Hercules; PAX 2 B-757-200
(MARSOC) 3,500 (C-32B)
FORCES BY ROLE Air Force Reserve
SPECIAL FORCES
FORCES BY ROLE
1 SF regt (3 SF bn)
TRAINING
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 sqn with AC-130J Ghostrider (personnel only)
1 int bn
1 sqn with M-28 Skytruck (C-145A) (personnel only)
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
COMBAT/ISR UAV
1 spt gp
1 sqn with MQ-9 Reaper (personnel only)
Air Force Special Operations Command
(AFSOC) 16,800 DEPLOYMENT
FORCES BY ROLE
ARABIAN SEA: US Central Command • US Navy • 5th
GROUND ATTACK
Fleet 1,000: 2 SSGN; 2 DDGHM; Combined Maritime
3 sqn with AC-130J Ghostrider Forces • TF 53: 3 AKEH; 1 AOR
TRANSPORT
4 sqn with CV-22B Osprey ARUBA: US Southern Command • 1 Forward
1 sqn with Do-328 (C-146A) Operating Location
1 sqn with MC-130H Combat Talon ASCENSION ISLAND: US Strategic Command • 1 detection
3 sqn with MC-130J Commando II and tracking radar at Ascension Auxiliary Air Field
3 sqn with PC-12 (U-28A) AUSTRALIA: US Pacific Command • 1,700; 1 SEWS at Pine
TRAINING Gap; 1 comms facility at Pine Gap; 1 SIGINT stn at Pine
1 sqn with M-28 Skytruck (C-145A) Gap; US Strategic Command • 1 detection and tracking
1 sqn with CV-22A/B Osprey radar at Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt
1 sqn with HC-130J Combat King II; MC-130J
BAHRAIN: US Central Command • 4,700; 1 HQ (5th
Commando II
Fleet); 10 PCFG; 4 MCO; 1 ESB; 1 ASW flt with 2 P-8A
1 sqn with Bell 205 (TH-1H Iroquois)
Poseidon; 1 EP-3E Aries II; 2 SAM bty with M902/M903
1 sqn with HH-60W Jolly Green II; UH-1N Huey
Patriot PAC-3/PAC-3 MSE
COMBAT/ISR UAV
3 sqn with MQ-9 Reaper BELGIUM: US European Command • 1,150
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY: US Strategic
AIRCRAFT 31 combat capable Command • 300; 1 Spacetrack Optical Tracker at
ATK 31 AC-130J Ghostrider Diego Garcia; 1 ground-based electro-optical deep
ISR 22 MC-12 Javaman space surveillance system (GEODSS) at Diego Garcia
CSAR 3 HC-130J Combat King II US Pacific Command • 1 MPS sqn (MPS-2 with equipment for
TPT 109: Medium 49: 8 MC-130H Combat Talon II; 41 one MEB) at Diego Garcia with 2 AKRH; 3 AKR; 1 AKEH; 1 ESD;
MC-130J Commando II; Light 60: 20 Do-328 (C-146A); 5 1 naval air base at Diego Garcia, 1 support facility at Diego Garcia
M-28 Skytruck (C-145A); 35 PC-12 (U-28A) BULGARIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 150; 1
TILT-ROTOR 51 CV-22A/B Osprey armd inf coy with M2A3 Bradley
HELICOPTERS
CANADA: US Northern Command • 150
CSAR 7 HH-60W Jolly Green II
TPT • Light 34: 28 Bell 205 (TH-1H Iroquois); 6 UH- CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 10
1N Huey COLOMBIA: US Southern Command • 70
48 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

CUBA: US Southern Command • 650 (JTF-GTMO) at HUNGARY: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 150; 1
Guantanamo Bay armd inf coy with M2A3 Bradley
CURACAO: US Southern Command • 1 Forward ICELAND: US European Command • 100; 1 ASW flt with
Operating Location 2 P-8A Poseidon
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • IRAQ: US Central Command • Operation Inherent Resolve
MONUSCO 3 2,000; 1 mech inf bde(-); 1 atk hel bn with AH-64E Apache;
MQ-1C Gray Eagle; 1 spec ops hel bn with MH-47G Chinook;
DJIBOUTI: US Africa Command • 4,000; 1 tpt sqn with
MH-60M Black Hawk; 1 CISR UAV sqn with MQ-9A Reaper;
C-130H/J-30 Hercules; 1 tpt sqn with 12 MV-22B Osprey; 2
NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 12
KC-130J Hercules; 1 spec ops sqn with MC-130H/J; PC-12
(U-28A); 1 CSAR sqn with HH-60G Pave Hawk; 1 CISR UAV ISRAEL: US Strategic Command • 100; 1 AN/TPY-2
sqn with MQ-9A Reaper; 1 naval air base X-band radar at Mount Keren

EGYPT: MFO 426; elm 1 ARNG inf bn; 1 ARNG spt bn ITALY: US European Command • 13,050

EL SALVADOR: US Southern Command • 100; 1 ASW US Army 4,250; 1 AB bde(-)


flt with 2 P-8A Poseidon; 1 Forward Operating Location US Navy 3,600; 1 HQ (US Naval Forces Europe-Africa
(Military, DEA, USCG and Customs personnel) (NAVEUR-NAVAF/6th Fleet) at Naples; 1 LCC; 1 ASW
sqn with 5 P-8A Poseidon at Sigonella
GERMANY: US Africa Command • 1 HQ at Stuttgart
US European Command • 39,050; 1 Combined Service HQ USAF 4,800; 1 FGA wg with (2 FGA sqn with 21 F-16C/D
(EUCOM) at Stuttgart–Vaihingen Fighting Falcon at Aviano; 1 CSAR sqn with 8 HH-60G Pave
US Army 24,700 Hawk at Aviano); 1 CISR UAV sqn with MQ-9A Reaper at
Sigonella; 1 ISR UAV flt with RQ-4B Global Hawk at Sigonella
FORCES BY ROLE
1 HQ (US Army Europe & Africa (USAREUR-AF)) at USMC 400; 1 tpt sqn with 6 MV-22B Osprey; 2 KC-
Wiesbaden; 1 arty comd; 1 spec ops gp; 1 recce bn; 1 130J Hercules
mech bde(-); 1 MRL bde (3 MRL bn); 1 fd arty bn; 1 (cbt JAPAN: US Pacific Command • 55,600
avn) hel bde; 1 (cbt avn) hel bde HQ; 1 int bde; 1 MP US Army 2,600; 1 corps HQ (fwd); 1 SF gp; 1 avn bn; 1
bde; 1 sigs bde; 1 (MDTF) cbt spt bde(-); 1 spt bde; 1 SAM bn with M903 Patriot PAC-3 MSE
SAM bde; 1 (APS) armd bde eqpt set
US Navy 20,000; 1 HQ (7th Fleet) at Yokosuka; 1 base at
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Sasebo; 1 base at Yokosuka
M1A2 SEPv2/v3 Abrams; M2A3/M3A3 Bradley; M1296
FORCES BY ROLE
Stryker Dragoon, M109A6; M119A3; M777A2; M270A1;
3 FGA sqn at Iwakuni with 10 F/A-18E Super Hornet;
M142 HIMARS; AH-64D Apache; CH-47F Chinook; UH-
1 FGA sqn at Iwakuni with 10 F/A-18F Super Hornet;
60M Black Hawk; HH-60M Black Hawk; M902 Patriot
2 ASW sqn at Misawa/Kadena with 5 P-8A Poseidon; 2
PAC-3; M1097 Avenger; M-SHORAD
EW sqn at Iwakuni/Misawa with 5 EA-18G Growler; 1
US Navy 400 ELINT flt at Okinawa – Kadena AB with 2 EP-3E Aries
USAF 13,400 II; 1 AEW&C sqn at Iwakuni with 5 E-2D Hawkeye; 2
FORCES BY ROLE ASW hel sqn at Atsugi with 12 MH-60R;1 tpt hel sqn at
1 HQ (US Air Forces in Europe and Africa) at Ramstein Atsugi with 12 MH-60S
AB; 1 HQ (3rd Air Force) at Ramstein AB; 1 FGA wg EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
at Spangdahlem AB with (1 FGA sqn with 24 F-16C/D 1 CVN; 3 CGHM; 4 DDGHM; 4 DDGM; 1 LCC; 4
Fighting Falcon); 1 tpt wg at Ramstein AB with 14 MCO; 1 LHA; 2 LPD; 2 LSD
C-130J-30 Hercules; 2 Gulfstream V (C-37A); 5 Learjet USAF 13,000
35A (C-21A); 1 B-737-700 (C-40B) FORCES BY ROLE
USMC 550 1 HQ (5th Air Force) at Okinawa – Kadena AB; 1 ftr wg
GREECE: US European Command • 400; 1 ELINT flt with 1 at Misawa AB with (2 FGA sqn with 22 F-16C/D Fighting
EP-3E Aries II; 1 naval base at Makri; 1 naval base at Souda Falcon); 1 wg at Okinawa – Kadena AB with (2 ftr sqn with
Bay; 1 air base at Iraklion 27 F-15C/D Eagle; 1 tkr sqn with 15 KC-135R Stratotanker; 1
AEW&C sqn with 2 E-3B Sentry; 1 CSAR sqn with 10 HH-
GREENLAND (DNK): US Strategic Command • 100; 1 AN/
60G Pave Hawk); 1 tpt wg at Yokota AB with 10 C-130J-30
FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar and 1 Spacetrack Hercules; 3 Beech 1900C (C-12J); 1 Spec Ops gp at Okinawa
Radar at Thule – Kadena AB with (1 sqn with 5 MC-130J Commando II; 1
GUAM: US Pacific Command • 9,000; 4 SSGN; 1 MPS sqn sqn with 5 CV-22B Osprey); 1 ISR sqn with RC-135 Rivet
(MPS-3 with equipment for one MEB) with 2 AKRH; 4 AKR; Joint; 1 ISR UAV flt with 5 RQ-4A Global Hawk
1 ESD; 1 AKEH; 1 tkr sqn with 12 KC-135R Stratotanker; 1 USMC 20,000
tpt hel sqn with MH-60S; 1 ISR UAV unit with 2 MQ-4C FORCES BY ROLE
Triton; 1 SAM bty with THAAD; 1 air base; 1 naval base 1 mne div; 1 mne regt HQ; 1 arty regt HQ; 1 recce bn;
HONDURAS: US Southern Command • 400; 1 avn bn 1 mne bn; 1 amph aslt bn; 1 arty bn; 1 FGA sqn with 12
with 4 CH-47F Chinook; 12 UH-60 Black Hawk F/A-18D Hornet; 2 FGA sqn with 10 F-35B Lightning II;
North America 49

1 tkr sqn with 12 KC-130J Hercules; 2 tpt sqn with 12 PORTUGAL: US European Command • 250; 1 spt facility
MV-22B Osprey at Lajes

North America
US Strategic Command • 1 AN/TPY-2 X-band radar at QATAR: US Central Command • 10,000: 1 ISR sqn with
Shariki; 1 AN/TPY-2 X-band radar at Kyogamisaki 4 RC-135 Rivet Joint; 1 ISR sqn with 4 E-8C JSTARS;
JORDAN: US Central Command • Operation Inherent 2 tkr sqn with 12 KC-135R/T Stratotanker; 1 tpt sqn
Resolve 3,000: 1 FGA sqn with 18 F-15E Strike Eagle; 1 CISR with 4 C-17A Globemaster; 4 C-130H/J-30 Hercules; 2
UAV sqn with 12 MQ-9A Reaper SAM bty with M902/M903 Patriot PAC-3/PAC-3 MSE
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF: US Pacific Command • 30,400 US Strategic Command • 1 AN/TPY-2 X-band radar
US Army 21,500 ROMANIA: US European Command • 4,000; 1 air aslt bde
FORCES BY ROLE with M119A3; M777A3; 1 Aegis Ashore BMD unit with three
1 HQ (8th Army) at Pyeongtaek; 1 div HQ (2nd Inf) 8-cell Mk 41 VLS launchers with SM-3
located at Pyeongtaek; 1 mech bde; 1 (cbt avn) hel bde;
SAUDI ARABIA: US Central Command • 2,000; 1 FGA sqn
1 MRL bde; 1 AD bde; 1 SAM bty with THAAD
with 12 F-16C Fighting Falcon
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams; M2A3/M3A3 Bradley; M109A6; SERBIA: NATO • KFOR • Joint Enterprise 660; elm 1 ARNG
M270A1 MLRS; AH-64D/E Apache; CH-47F Chinook; inf bde HQ; 1 ARNG recce bn; 1 hel flt with UH-60
UH-60L/M Black Hawk; M902 Patriot PAC-3; THAAD; SINGAPORE: US Pacific Command • 200; 1 log spt sqn; 1
FIM-92A Avenger; 1 (APS) armd bde eqpt set spt facility
US Navy 350
SLOVAKIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigiliance Activities 400; 1
USAF 8,350 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3
FORCES BY ROLE
SOMALIA: US Africa Command • 100
1 (AF) HQ (7th Air Force) at Osan AB; 1 ftr wg at Osan
AB with (1 ftr sqn with 20 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon; SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 8
1 atk sqn with 24 A-10C Thunderbolt II); 1 ftr wg at SPAIN: US European Command • 3,250; 4 DDGM; 1 air
Kunsan AB with (2 ftr sqn with 20 F-16C/D Fighting base at Morón; 1 naval base at Rota
Falcon); 1 ISR sqn at Osan AB with U-2S
SYRIA: US Central Command • Operation Inherent Resolve
USMC 200
900; 1 armd inf coy; 1 mne bn(-)
KUWAIT: US Central Command • 10,000; 1 ARNG armd bn;
THAILAND: US Pacific Command • 100
1 ARNG (cbt avn) hel bde; 1 spt bde; 1 CISR UAV sqn with
MQ-9A Reaper; 1 (APS) armd bde set; 1 (APS) inf bde set TURKEY: US European Command • 1,700; 1 tkr
LIBYA: UN • UNSMIL 1 sqn with 14 KC-135; 1 air base at Incirlik; 1 support
facility at Ankara; 1 support facility at Izmir
LITHUANIA: US European Command • 250; 1 radar unit
US Strategic Command • 1 AN/TPY-2 X-band radar at Kürecik
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 10
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: US Central Command • 5,000: 1
MARSHALL ISLANDS: US Strategic Command • 20; 1 ISR sqn with 4 U-2; 1 AEW&C sqn with 4 E-3B/G Sentry; 1 tkr
detection and tracking radar at Kwajalein Atoll
sqn with 12 KC-10A; 1 ISR UAV sqn with RQ-4 Global Hawk; 2
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: US European Command • 6th Fleet SAM bty with M902/M903 Patriot PAC-3/PAC-3 MSE
6,000; 1 CVN; 1 CGHM; 2 DDGHM; NATO • SNMG 2; 300;
UNITED KINGDOM: US European Command • 10,000
1 DDGHM
FORCES BY ROLE
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 2
1 ftr wg at RAF Lakenheath with (2 FGA sqn with 23
NETHERLANDS: US European Command • 450 F-15E Strike Eagle, 1 FGA sqn with 21 F-35A Lightning II;
NIGER: US Africa Command • 800; 1 CISR sqn with MQ- 1 FGA sqn with F-35A Lightning II (forming)); 1 ISR sqn
9A Reaper at RAF Mildenhall with OC-135/RC-135; 1 tkr wg at RAF
NORWAY: US European Command • 1,100; 1 (USMC) Mildenhall with 15 KC-135R/T Stratotanker; 1 spec ops gp
MEU eqpt set; 1 (APS) SP 155mm arty bn set at RAF Mildenhall with (1 sqn with 8 CV-22B Osprey; 1
PERSIAN GULF: US Central Command • US Navy • 5th sqn with 8 MC-130J Commando II)
Fleet 500: 1 DDGHM; 6 (Coast Guard) PCC US Strategic Command • 1 AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early
PHILIPPINES: US Pacific Command • Operation Pacific Warning Radar and 1 Spacetrack Radar at Fylingdales Moor
Eagle – Philippines 200
POLAND: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 700; FOREIGN FORCES
1 armd bn with M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams; M2A3 Bradley
Germany Air Force: trg units with 40 T-38 Talon; 69 T-6A
US European Command • 15,000; 1 corps HQ; 2 div HQ; 2
Texan II; • Missile trg at Fort Bliss (TX)
armd bde with M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams; M3A3 Bradley; M2A3
Bradley; M109A6/7; 1 AB bde with M119A3; M777A2; Netherlands 1 hel trg sqn with AH-64D Apache; CH-47D Chinook
2 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3; 1 FGA sqn with 12 Singapore Air Force: trg units with F-16C/D; 12 F-15SG;
F-22A Raptor; 1 CISR UAV sqn with MQ-9A Reaper AH-64D Apache; 6+ CH-47D Chinook hel
50 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Chapter Four

Europe
 The war in Ukraine has caused many states to reassess 300,000 troops no later than 30 days. But as before,
their defence priorities, and it has effectively shifted a key challenge will be in transforming members’
the strategic centre of gravity in Europe further commitments into a capability.
to the north and east. Poland has accelerated its  Finland and Sweden were on the path to NATO
project to recapitalise and expand its ground forces’ membership in 2023. For NATO, their accession implies
armour and artillery capabilities. This change has an expanded collective defence obligation. Nevertheless,
been accompanied by a rapid increase in defence NATO will benefit from Northern Europe becoming
expenditure: a new spending level was set at 3% of a more integrated space in terms of deterrence and
GDP from 2023. defence. It means that, bar Russian coastlines in the
 As part of efforts to close Germany’s long-standing Gulf of Finland and in Kaliningrad, the shores of the
defence-capabilities gap, Germany’s Chancellor Baltic Sea will be controlled by NATO members.
Olaf Scholz announced in February the creation of  One outcome of the drive to deliver security
a EUR100bn (USD106bn) special fund to finance assistance to Ukraine is that legacy equipment and
Bundeswehr investment and equipment projects. ageing ammunition stocks are being flushed out of
 Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine has European inventories. This will be more pronounced in
reinvigorated NATO. At its Madrid summit in June Central and Eastern European countries, where many
2022, NATO agreed a new force model to boost force states had retained Soviet-era legacy equipment
size and readiness and to replace the NATO Response in their inventories. It creates an opportunity to
Force. The assumption under the new three-tier model accelerate military modernisation and consider
is that the new force would be able to deploy at least expanding equipment commonality.

Europe defence spending, 2022 – top 5 Active military personnel – top 10


(15,000 per unit)
United States Turkey Global
355,200 total
USD767bn 20,773,950

France 203,250

Germany 183,150

Total European
spending Italy 161,050
USD335bn
United Kingdom 150,350

United Kingdom France Germany Greece 132,200

Spain 124,150

USD70.0bn USD54.4bn USD53.4bn Poland 114,050


Italy Netherlands
Romania 71,500
Regional
9.4%
total
USD31.1bn USD15.2bn Bulgaria 36,950 1,948,260
Europe 51

Regional defence policy and economics 52 ►

Arms procurements and deliveries 69 ►

Armed forces data section 72 ►

Europe: selected tactical combat aircraft, 2022*

Europe
France Advanced
Germany Modern
Greece Ageing
Obsolescent
Italy
Netherlands
Poland
Spain
Sweden
Turkey
United Kingdom
0 50 100 150 200 250 300
*’Combat aircraft’ includes fighter, fighter ground-attack and attack aircraft

Europe: selected main battle tank fleets, 2022

France Modern
Germany Ageing
Obsolescent
Greece
Italy
Poland
Romania
Serbia
Spain
Turkey
United Kingdom
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500

Europe: medium transport aircraft, 2022


Operator Equipment Total Operator Equipment Total
Austria C-130K Hercules 3 Norway C-130J-30 Hercules 4
Bulgaria C-27J Spartan 3 Poland C-130H/C-130E Hercules 7
Denmark C-130J-30 Hercules 4 Portugal C-130H/C-130H-30 Hercules 5
France C-130H/C-130H-30/C-130J-30 Hercules 16 Romania C-130B/C-130H Hercules/C-27J Spartan 12
Germany C-130J-30 Hercules 3 Slovakia C-27J Spartan 2
Greece C-130B/C-130H Hercules/C-27J Spartan 23 Sweden C-130H Hercules 5
Italy C-130J/C-130J-30 Hercules/C-27J Spartan 33 Turkey C-130B/C-130E Hercules/C-160D Transall 24
Lithuania C-27J Spartan 3 United Kingdom C-130J/C-130J-30 Hercules 14
Netherlands C-130H/C-130H-30 Hercules 4
52 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Europe

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which frameworks such as the UK-led Joint Expeditionary
began on 24 February 2022, has profoundly affected Force (JEF). In capability terms, both countries bring
defence-policy debates in Europe, both at the national valuable assets into the Alliance, albeit in limited
and at the multilateral level. It is leading some nations numbers. Taken together, their defence spending
to reconsider the likely character of a potential war amounts to less than 5% of the combined spending of
in Europe and resulting capability requirements, European NATO nations. For NATO, the accession of
including doctrine, equipment and personnel, and Finland and Sweden implies an expanded collective-
also dispositions. Between January and the end defence obligation. This would include protecting
of July, 20 European states announced defence Finland’s 1,340-kilometre land border with Russia.
spending increases. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Nevertheless, NATO will benefit from Northern
the United Kingdom declared ambitions to raise their Europe becoming a more integrated space in terms
defence spending to 2.5% of GDP. The UK ambition of deterrence and defence. It means that, bar Russian
was briefly raised to 3% by 2030 (the figure for coastlines in the Gulf of Finland and in Kaliningrad,
which Poland is aiming) but by late year, and amid the shores of the Baltic Sea will be controlled by NATO
a changed economic outlook, the new administration members. However, both Finland and Sweden will
of Rishi Sunak reduced the target back to 2% of likely need to make additional defence investments
GDP. Germany announced a special EUR100 billion due to demand signals from the NATO Defence
(USD106bn) fund to pay for defence-modernisation Planning Process (NDPP), notwithstanding their
needs. NATO and European Union members also history of partnering with NATO members. Filling
agreed to several packages of sanctions against Russia billets in NATO’s multinational command structure
and began to deliver substantial military assistance will increase the burden on the cohort of staff officers.
to Ukraine. Russia’s invasion caused other notable At the same time, both states will need to consider
shifts in government policy and public opinion. how they would enable the inflow of a large number
Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership, of NATO forces in the event of a collective defence
and Denmark held a referendum on 1 June which contingency on NATO’s eastern flank. No decisions
effectively ended Copenhagen’s opt-out from the have yet been made on permanent NATO structures
military aspects of the EU’s Common Security and in Finland and Sweden. But, at the very least, NATO
Defence Policy (CSDP). states will likely want to discuss the prepositioning
Finland and Sweden are likely to formally join of equipment and command and control (C2)
NATO at some point in 2023. At NATO’s Madrid arrangements that, while primarily staffed by Finland
Summit, held from 28–30 June, the Alliance formally and Sweden, include a multinational layer that could
invited the two nations to join, after they both applied expand quickly if required. This will also require
the preceding month. By October, 28 NATO member Finland’s and Sweden’s exercise posture to evolve
states had ratified the required accession documents, further. Currently both states conduct some exercises
with only Hungary and Turkey remaining. Finland with NATO members, but closer ties with Alliance
and Sweden had previously collaborated closely members will mean closer integration with NATO
with NATO, including on operations and through exercise cycles.

NATO: new posture, new strategy


Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine reinvigorated (underpinned by a new force model), and triggered
the NATO Alliance. Furthermore, Russia’s actions applications to join NATO by Finland and Sweden. This
strengthened unity among Alliance members over threat followed a year in which the Alliance had to weather two
perceptions, sharpened focus on deterrence and defence crises. In August 2021, the fall of Kabul to the Taliban,
Europe 53

after the collapse of the Afghan government and security which Russia threatens the Alliance and the desirability of
forces, damaged NATO’s standing and also suggested accepting the costs – and loss of flexibility – that a larger
a degree of strategic failure. (Alliance members had and more permanent presence would demand.
withdrawn their troops earlier, in April 2021.) Then, in NATO’s enhanced forward presence has expanded
September 2021, France was caught off guard by the from four battlegroups – in Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and
Australia–UK–US defence trilateral known as AUKUS, Poland – to eight with new multinational deployments
which caused significant upset in Paris. in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania and Slovakia. At the time
A new Strategic Concept, agreed at NATO’s 28–30 June of the Madrid Summit, these comprised some 9,600

Europe
summit in Madrid, elaborated on some of these changes, personnel from 24 NATO nations. Furthermore, Canada,
stating that ‘the Euro-Atlantic area is not at peace’ and France, Germany and the UK have indicated that they
that Russia is ‘the most significant and direct threat to will pre-assign forces to reinforce the countries where
Allies’ security and to peace and stability in the Euro- they already lead NATO’s forward-presence battlegroups.
Atlantic area’. The document also said that terrorism is These pre-assigned forces are up to brigade-level
‘the most direct asymmetric threat to the security of strength, but it is unclear whether dedicated assets exist
our citizens and to international peace and prosperity’, to enable their rapid deployment, when needed, from
reflecting NATO’s 360-degree approach and the need their respective home bases.
to demonstrate concern for the security priorities of NATO also agreed a new force model to increase the
NATO’s southern member states. China was, for the first scale and readiness of its forces and to replace the NATO
time, explicitly assessed in a NATO Strategic Concept, Response Force (NRF). Founded in 2002 and expanded in
and Beijing’s ambitions and policies were considered 2015 to include up to 40,000 personnel, the NRF concept
to ‘challenge [NATO] interests, security and values’. The includes the ambition to be able to deploy initial elements
Strategic Concept did not create any new core tasks for within five days and the whole force no later than 30 days.
NATO – some had mooted resilience as a potential addition In contrast, the new force model is based on a three-tier
– but the task list has been reordered with deterrence structure. The first tier, intended to be deployable in less
and defence, crisis prevention and management, and than ten days, encompasses at least 100,000 troops.
cooperative security all folded under the overarching The second tier, ready at 10–30 days’ notice, comprises
theme of collective defence. The summit declaration 200,000 troops, and the third tier, ready at 30–180 days’
stated that NATO had ‘set a new baseline for our deterrence notice, comprises an additional 500,000. As such, the
and defence posture. NATO will continue to protect our assumption is that the new force model would generate
populations and defend every inch of Allied territory at at least 300,000 troops at a readiness level comparable to
all times.’ However, realising this ambition will require the NRF of old (i.e., deployed no later than 30 days).
significant and coordinated efforts by member states. These forces are intended to be drawn together
NATO members began to increase defence spending across multiple domains, including cyber elements, and
in the years after Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014, will be pre-assigned to specific defence plans. NATO
and additional uplifts were announced by some after plans to transition to this new force model in 2023, even
February 2022. Madrid saw additional commitments though the details of the composition and exact scale
to ‘build on’ the 2014 defence investment pledge, are still being discussed. Germany was the first country
agreed at that year’s Wales Summit, and to ‘decide next to publicly outline its intended offer to this new force
year on subsequent commitments beyond 2024’. As model, suggesting that by 2025, Berlin would provide
well as this, important outcomes evident after Madrid approximately 30,000 troops, 65 aircraft and 20 naval
relate to additional forward-deployed personnel, vessels for the high-readiness component (within the
more prepositioned equipment and a much-increased first 30 days). However, unless the US force posture in
ambition for high-readiness forces. These efforts are Europe changes significantly, it is likely that most of
intended to increase the defence and deterrence posture the high-readiness forces will need to be European. In
on the eastern flank. That said, certain media reports at the past, similar initiatives, including both the NRF and
the time of the Madrid Summit suggested that some of the NATO Readiness Initiative (agreed in 2020), suffered
NATO’s eastern members had hoped for an even greater from the tendency of allies to make offers to contribute,
effort to underpin a strategy of forward defence, making while finding it time-consuming and challenging to
permanent some of the rotational deployments by NATO actually meet the required standards. These issues
allies to their countries. However, despite NATO’s new- are unlikely to disappear now that the ambition has
found unity, member states disagree on the extent to increased significantly.
54 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Defence-policy decisions by Germany and (USD106bn) special fund to finance Bundeswehr


Poland also attracted headlines. In July, Warsaw investment and equipment projects. Germany’s
signed agreements to purchase up to 1,000 Hyundai defence budget stood at 1.3% of GDP in 2021. Initially,
Rotem K2 Black Panther main battle tanks, 672 there were expectations among some allies – and
Hanwha Defense K9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled some observers in Germany – that the special fund
artillery pieces and 48 Korea Aerospace Industries would come on top of moves to raise the regular
(KAI) FA-50 Fighting Eagle light fighter ground- defence budget to 2% of GDP, in line with NATO
attack aircraft from South Korea. They will be recommendations. However, deliberations in Berlin
acquired in stages that include technology transfer since Scholz’s announcement suggest that over the
and local production, and initial deliveries began coming years it is instead likely to be used to reach
in 2022. Polish licensed production of the K2 and 2% through successive drawdowns from the fund. In
K9, in their Poland-specific variants, is set to start 2022, the German government announced its intention
in 2026, and there are plans for follow-on joint to purchase up to 70 additional Eurofighter aircraft,
development work by the two nations. If it is fully some 35 F-35A Lightning IIs and about 60 CH-47F
implemented, the scale of the deal will challenge Chinook heavy transport helicopters. According to
South Korea’s defence-industrial base, but it will government plans, close to 41% of the special fund
also test Poland. With these orders coming alongside will be invested in air capabilities, followed by
significant procurements from United States and around 25% in the Bundeswehr’s digitisation needs
European manufacturers, Warsaw will need to not (primarily around C2), 20% in land systems and just
only generate the required funding but also fulfil under 11% in the maritime domain. It seems that the
its plans to grow its armed forces, and at the same requirement for a wide-ranging replenishment of
time maintain, sustain and enable the capability munitions stocks will have to be funded by the regular
these purchases are intended to generate. While budget. It is likely that much of the special fund will
it is apparent that Russia’s conventional military be invested in programmes that were already planned
capability has been diminished as a result of its war before 24 February and had been indicated in both
on Ukraine, Warsaw clearly continues to see Moscow Bundeswehr and NATO planning documents, but
as a direct threat. This is evidenced by the speed with which had not received adequate funding due to the
which Poland entered into initial negotiations with limitations placed by Germany’s core defence budget.
South Korea and Warsaw’s interest in early delivery. Furthermore, it is not clear that Scholz’s Zeitenwende
In Europe, arguably the most significant gap speech has yet translated into a true shift in mindset.
between the potential and actual delivery of defence Berlin’s Central and Eastern European partners have
capability is in Germany. In a speech on 27 February, been disappointed by Germany’s hesitance over
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz argued that Russia’s supplying heavy weapons to Ukraine and extending
invasion of Ukraine amounted to a new era (in into the energy and financial sectors meaningful
German, Zeitenwende) for European security, which sanctions against Russia. Nevertheless, Germany’s
will mean radical shifts in policy. As part of efforts to defence-policy debate has evolved rapidly in 2022,
close Germany’s long-standing defence-capabilities and the country will adopt its first-ever national-
gap, Scholz announced the creation of a EUR100bn security strategy in early 2023.

Supporting Ukraine
Ukraine’s efforts to defend itself have been actively industry stocks. The EU used its European Peace Facility
supported by NATO and EU members, though the level (EPF) to commit EUR3.1 billion (USD2.6bn) by October
and speed of support has varied. Assistance has included 2022 – half of the EPF budget for 2021–27 – and approve,
ammunition, intelligence, some maintenance and repair for the first time ever, the supply of lethal weapons to
support, as well as funding. Equipment donations have a third country. (The EPF is an off-budget instrument,
ranged from Soviet-era legacy equipment to more established in March 2021, to fund partner nations’
sophisticated systems in active service with NATO armed equipment and infrastructure needs.) To help with the
forces. They have also included refurbished equipment coordination and logistics of the national contributions
that was either in deep storage or has been purchased from to Ukraine, a US European Command (EUCOM) Control
Europe 55

Centre Ukraine/International Donor Coordination Centre ammunition stocks are being flushed out of European
(ECCU/IDCC) was established in March 2022 under US and inventories. While these effects will be more pronounced
UK leadership, with a Ukrainian liaison element. This helps in Central and Eastern European countries, where many
match Ukrainian requests with donor offers and assists states had retained Soviet-era legacy equipment in their
with the delivery of equipment to Ukraine and training inventories, this creates an opportunity to accelerate
requirements for Ukrainian personnel. The EU agreed on the pace of military modernisation and to consider
17 October to launch the EU Military Assistance Mission expanding equipment commonality within the broader
(EUMAM Ukraine), which initially aims to train 15,000 context of rising budgets. However, it is questionable

Europe
Ukrainian soldiers on the territory of EU member states whether (particularly) Europe’s defence industries
and is, at first, mandated for two years. Meanwhile, one will be able to deliver at the timescales needed by
notable effort has been the training programme set up customers. Another potential problem is that additional
in July by the UK, with the aim of training in the UK up funding might tempt governments to either invest in
to 10,000 Ukrainian recruits and existing personnel every their national defence-industrial base, where it exists,
120 days. The programme, run by the UK’s 11th Security or pursue industrial-policy goals rather than focus on
Force Assistance Brigade, involves some 1,000 UK immediate capability needs. Careful calibration will be
personnel. Since it started, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the needed to balance national programmes and industrial
Netherlands, Norway and Sweden have indicated they capacity, given the desire by some to strengthen Europe’s
would participate in the effort. defence-industrial and technology base and the instinct
One side effect of the drive to deliver security assistance of others to cement existing international partnerships
to Ukraine is that legacy equipment and ageing through arms orders.

The war in Ukraine has caused many states to region, as well as the planned deployment of a new
reassess their defence priorities, and it has effectively amphibious Littoral Response Group in 2023 and a
shifted further north and east the strategic centre of frigate later in the decade. But while the Indo-Pacific
gravity in Europe. For NATO, this will likely make tilt, announced in March 2021 by the UK government,
it harder to maintain its 360-degree approach. The is likely to remain only a modest driver of British
clear positioning of Russia as the key threat in the military planning, the UK deployed forces in 2022 –
new Strategic Concept, when viewed alongside including four Typhoon combat aircraft and an A330
the mixed legacy of crisis-management operations Multi-Role Tanker Transport (MRTT) – to take part
– including arguable failure in Afghanistan and a in Australia’s Pitch Black air exercise. Germany also
sense in some capitals that the EU might be a more sent aircraft to Pitch Black. Following on from the
appropriate vehicle for dealing with instability and Indo-Pacific deployment of the frigate Bayern in 2021
state fragility on NATO’s southern periphery – is and early 2022, Berlin sent six Eurofighter Typhoons,
making it harder to ensure that the southern flank four A400M transport aircraft and three A330
receives appropriate attention. Nevertheless, finding MRTTs to Pitch Black and to Australia’s navy-led
credible ways to do so will be needed for unanimity Kakadu drill. Additional engagements with Japan,
over NATO’s engagement on the eastern flank. The Singapore and South Korea were planned in the
Strategic Concept characterises China’s attempts to framework of this deployment. For its part, France
undermine and reshape the international order as maintains warships and troops in the region and
a systemic challenge to Euro-Atlantic security. But routinely deploys additional vessels and aircraft.
China has not been placed directly into a deterrence In 2022, it deployed to the region several Rafale
and defence framework because a number of NATO combat aircraft and tanker and transport aircraft as
allies do not believe that Beijing poses a military part of a force-projection exercise, including some to
threat to their security. That said, the return of take part in Pitch Black.
war to Europe has not displaced the ambitions of
several European governments to play a growing EU defence initiatives
security and defence role in the Indo-Pacific, though In March 2022, the EU published its ‘Strategic
resources to achieve this will be limited. The UK Compass for Security and Defence’. The process
has demonstrated intent, with the deployment of was initiated in June 2020, with a threat analysis
two River-class offshore-patrol vessels (OPVs) to the presented in November 2020 and most of the writing
56 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

completed in 2021. The document was intended to in air and missile defence. As a result, in July the
provide strategic guidance for EU activity in relation Commission proposed a regulation to establish the
to crisis management, resilience, military capability European Defence Industry Reinforcement through
development and multinational partnerships. Common Procurement Act (EDIRPA). EDIRPA is
However, despite last-minute edits and additions, meant to have a EUR500 million (USD528m) budget
the profound change to Europe’s security landscape between 2022 and 2024, and the plan is that it would
resulting from Russia’s war in Ukraine means that effectively subsidise EU member states’ procurement
the Strategic Compass cannot but look like it has from the EU budget. In the longer run, steps like these
been overtaken by events. Josep Borrell, EU High towards directly incentivising joint procurement
Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and will inform and reinforce the European Defence
Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Investment Programme (EDIP), another proposal
Commission, wrote in its Foreword that the Compass the Commission planned to launch before the end of
should help to ‘turn the EU’s geopolitical awakening 2022. Overall, these initiatives are likely to encourage
into a more permanent strategic posture’. Initiatives more intra-EU collaborative defence development
outlined in the strategy include the establishment and procurement, objectives that are already features
of an EU Rapid Deployment Capacity (RDC) to of the EDF and PESCO.
deliver a 5,000-strong crisis-management capability
for operations in non-permissive environments and Sub-regional defence: the V4 and the JEF
to be fully operational by 2025. It also called for the As well as national efforts and cooperation at the
development of an EU Space Strategy for Security NATO and EU level, European states also use mini-
and Defence, as well as for investment in common lateral and other sub-regional defence formats to
solutions for strategic enablers and in technology advance their defence-policy aims, although they
to drive defence innovation and next-generation have variable focus on the war in Ukraine. While the
capabilities, using the European Defence Fund (EDF) Visegrad Four (V4) seems largely to be continuing
and Permanent Structured Cooperation (PESCO). to implement existing work programmes with
The RDC is meant to be built on modified EU limited adjustments, others, like the UK-led JEF,
Battlegroups and forces and capabilities earmarked have a greater operational focus. For instance,
by member states. However, this approach has so the work programmes for the V4 presidencies
far only generated limited success in an EU context. by Hungary (2021–22) and Slovakia (2022–23)
For instance, EU Battlegroups have been fully reflected a focus on preparing the V4 Battlegroup
operational on paper since 2007 but have not been that is due to go on standby for EU operations
used once despite there, arguably, being no shortage in the first half of 2023. The Battlegroup will be
of crises. Nonetheless, a military rapid-response working on military-mobility projects within the
concept document was in the drafting stages in context of the Strategic Compass, while also scaling
mid-2022 to further inform RDC architecture and up joint training and exercise activity to improve
planning. As of summer 2022, the EU was also readiness and interoperability. In contrast, the
working on its first military strategy to assist the JEF nations (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland,
planning of EU operations and deliver military- Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway,
specific guidance. Sweden and the UK) announced in March a set of
The return of war to Europe has triggered a enhanced exercises focused on the High North, the
raft of other initiatives that may generate some North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, reflecting key
effect in the future, particularly in relation to areas of concern for their governments. In May,
the defence-industrial sector. In March 2022, the the Standing Joint Force Headquarters (SJFHQ)
European Commission was tasked with assessing, based in Northwood, UK, began deploying forces
in coordination with the European Defence Agency, to Lithuania and Latvia to help coordinate the
European defence-investment gaps and outlining military activities of JEF nations in the Baltic Sea
measures to strengthen Europe’s defence-industrial (the decision to do so was made in February, just
base. The findings were presented on 18 May and before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine). Then, in July,
indicated that EU members should increase stocks JEF governments announced additional exercises
of weapons and munitions, replace remaining while Finland and Sweden awaited ratification of
Soviet-era equipment in their inventories and invest their NATO membership.
Europe 57

▼ Figure 2 The FREMM frigate: selected national variants

In 2002, France and Italy agreed to jointly develop and acquire a new generation of multi-mission frigates (European multi-
mission frigates, FREMM). Twenty-seven vessels were originally planned (17 French and ten Italian). While the different national
versions share a common basic hull form and major common components, they differ significantly in detail design, and each navy
operates different FREMM variants. The first vessel (for the French Navy) was launched in April 2010 and commissioned in
November 2012. France has successfully exported one FREMM to Morocco and another to Egypt, while Italy has delivered two
to Egypt and, in 2021, won an order for six from Indonesia. A much-modified version of the Italian FREMM was chosen by the US
Navy (USN) as the basis for its FFG(X) (subsequently reclassified FFG-62) new-generation small surface combatant (or frigate).

Europe
The USN plans to procure 20 of the vessels. The export successes of the FREMM family have been due largely to the fact that it
represents a modern, capable and proven design that also remains relatively cost-effective.

FREMM family basic dimensions/characteristics: FREMM customers:


 France: 142m x 19.8m, 6,200 tonnes full-load displacement;  France: 8  Egypt: 3
crew complement: 108–118  US: three on order
 Italy: 8 (two general purpose
 Italy: 144m x 19.7m, 6,700 tonnes; crew complement: 145–167 (GP) variants under construction) (with 20 planned)
 US: 151m x 19.7m, (est.). 7,200 tonnes, crew complement: 200 (est)  Morocco: 1  Indonesia: six on order

France’s Aquitaine class

 x6 Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) variants


 x2 Air Defence (AD) variant  16-cell VLS with Aster 15  16-cell VLS  16-cell VLS with MdCN
 Shared features or Aster 30 surface-to-air with Aster 15 or (SCALP Naval) land-attack
missile (SAM) Aster 30 SAM cruise missile (LACM)

 Capacity for one NH90


medium helicopter
 Herakles radar
 1 x 76/62 Super
Rapid 76mm gun

 CAPTAS 4  2 x twin 324mm B-515 ASTT with  2 x quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block  UMS 4110
variable-depth sonar MU90 lightweight torpedoes 3 long-range anti-ship missile (AShM) hull-mounted sonar

French and Italian versions


Differences between the Italian and French vessels reflect divergent national requirements as well as ambitions to maximise domestic
defence industrial workshare. France’s Aquitaine class was originally to have comprised eight anti-submarine warfare (ASW) variants and
nine land-attack variants. However, ASW numbers were reduced to six, the land-attack variant was cancelled and two air defence vessels
were added. France’s ASW FREMMs have 16 vertical launch system (VLS) tubes for air defence missiles (either A43 or A50 launchers) and
16 A70 VLSs for land-attack missiles. France’s air defence FREMMs are equipped with 32 A50 tubes, while Italy’s two FREMM variants,
comprising four ASW and six general-purpose (GP) ships, have 16 A50 tubes for air defence. For anti-surface warfare, the French FREMMs
all carry up to eight MM40 Exocet anti-ship missiles (AShMs) on slanted deck launchers, while the Italian GP frigates carry eight Teseo
AShMs and the ASW versions four Teseo missiles and four MILAS anti-submarine missiles.
58 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Italy’s Bergamini class


 x4 Anti-Submarine Warfare variants
 x4 General Purpose variants (two under construction)  Kronos radar  16-cell VLS with Aster  1 x 76/62 STRALES
 Shared features 15 and Aster 30 SAM (Davide) 76mm gun

 1 x 127/54 LW –
 Capacity for two NH90  1 x 76/62 STRALES Vulcano 127mm gun
medium helicopters (Davide) 76mm gun

 CAPTAS 4  2 x triple 324mm B-515  1 x quad lnchr with Otomat (Teseo) Mk2a long-range AShM  UMS 4110 hull-
variable- ASTT with MU90 1 x quad lnchr with MILAS anti-submarine missile mounted sonar
depth sonar lightweight torpedo

 2 x quad lnchr with Otomat (Teseo) Mk2a long-range AShM

The US Navy’s Constellation class


 32-cell Mk 41 VLS likely with
RIM-162 ESSM and SM-2
 AN/SPY-6(V)3 Enterprise Air
Surveillance Radar (EASR)

 Capacity for one MH-60R


Seahawk medium  1 x 57/70 Mk3
helicopter and one UAV (Mk 110) 57mm gun

 CAPTAS 4  1 x 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with  4 x quad lnchr with Naval Strike Missile
variable-depth sonar RIM-116C RAM Block II (RGM-184A) long-range AShM

The US Navy’s FFG-62


In 2020, the US Navy chose Italy’s ASW FREMM design as the basis for its future Constellation-class (FFG-62) small surface combatant or
frigate programme. The basic FREMM design has been heavily modified to meet the USN's requirements for larger and better armed and
protected platforms, with an emphasis on survivability and surface warfare capability; the programme is also intended to secure workshare
for US defence industry. The Constellation-class will have a larger crew, 32 Mk 41 VLS tubes for Evolved SeaSparrow and SM-2 missiles
(with some critics pressing to raise this to 48), 16 AShMs and a version of the Aegis combat system. The Constellation-class will carry the
same towed-array sonar as the French and Italian vessels, the CAPTAS 4 variable-depth sonar, but no bow-mounted sonar.

Sources: IISS; Fincantieri, Naval Group, seaforces.org; navalanalyses.com; Congressional Research Service ©IISS
Europe 59

Studies in capability generation: the regeneration of UK maritime-patrol aircraft capability


In February 2020, the arrival at Royal Air Force (RAF) Committee was critical, then-minister of state for the
Lossiemouth of a Boeing P-8A Poseidon heralded the armed forces Nick Harvey told the committee in 2012 that
regeneration of the UK’s fixed-wing maritime-patrol the MOD believed it was carrying an ‘acceptable level’ of
aircraft (MPA) capability after a decade’s gap. The UK risk. Moreover, he added that the capability could one
Ministry of Defence (MOD) declared initial operating day be regenerated, stating, ‘we have not, as yet, taken a
capability (IOC) in April 2020 with two aircraft. The UK’s view that we would not want to come back into this in the
MPA capability had been shelved following the retirement slightly longer term’.

Europe
in March 2010 of the RAF’s existing Nimrod MR2 MPA fleet That time came in 2015, when the National Security
and the subsequent cancellation in the Strategic Defence Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review
Review of October that year of the replacement Nimrod announced that the UK would ‘buy nine new Maritime
MRA4 programme. Patrol Aircraft, based in Scotland, to protect our nuclear
The gap in capability that resulted from the Nimrod’s deterrent, hunt down hostile submarines and enhance
demise was widely criticised. The UK had been one of our maritime search and rescue’. There seems little doubt
the leading MPA operators globally. Critically, as far as that the start of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine the year
the government was concerned, the MRA4 programme before, and the fact that European states subsequently
had overrun and was over budget. Furthermore, there began reassessing the risk of a major conflict in Europe,
were doubts over whether the airframe would even be hastened this apparent U-turn. At the time, the UK
certified airworthy. However, concerns quickly emerged government did not confirm the preferred aircraft.
about the UK’s ability to sustain a comprehensive Speculation ranged from the Boeing P-8 Poseidon to the
maritime-surveillance picture amid reports of increased Airbus C295, to the Kawasaki P-1 and to uninhabited
Russian naval (and especially submarine) activity in and platforms, with these all offering differing levels of
around UK and NATO waters, particularly the challenge capability. The government finally committed publicly
of supporting and protecting UK ballistic-missile to the P-8 Poseidon in July 2016 when then-prime
submarines when transiting to and from their home base minister David Cameron made the announcement at the
in Scotland. Although the House of Commons Defence Farnborough international air show.

Project Seedcorn
The Nimrod MRA4 airframes were quickly broken up in In 2012, RAF personnel were sent to Naval Air Station
the first months of 2011, and over the next few years the Jacksonville, in Florida, to work with USN aircrew and
UK relied on other technical capabilities, such as signals mission specialists on the P-8 Poseidon, operating with the
intelligence, while allies also provided information as well USN’s Patrol Squadron 30 (VP-30) training establishment.
as, on occasion, deploying MPAs to the UK to support This was one year before the USN itself declared that the
maritime-surveillance operations. However, while Harvey’s Poseidon had reached IOC. RAF personnel comprised pilots,
remarks in 2012 indicated that officials had not ruled tactical coordinators and weapons-system operators.
out reinstating a dedicated maritime-patrol and anti- The year 2012 also saw UK personnel fly the P-8A during
submarine warfare capability, the UK MOD was taking Exercise Joint Warrior off Scotland. The programme even
steps to sustain the required skills under Project Seedcorn. resulted in an all-UK crew flying a US Poseidon.
Seedcorn began in 2012 and was renewed for a further Over the years, more personnel trained with US
three years in 2015. It saw UK personnel – many of whom forces, with some rising to become instructors in VP-30.
had worked on Nimrod – posted to Australia, Canada, New UK personnel were also posted to the USN’s VX-1 test and
Zealand and, most significantly, the US to maintain and evaluation squadron at Naval Air Station Patuxent River.
develop skills in maritime patrol, anti-submarine warfare, The effect of Seedcorn was broader, as the RAF reported in
anti-surface warfare and intelligence, surveillance and 2022 that UK personnel had also been involved in training
reconnaissance. These countries all operated the P-3 Orion, Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and US personnel. Bar
but importantly the US Navy (USN) was, by the early Canada, all these nations are, or will shortly be, Poseidon
2010s, in the initial stages of transitioning its capability to operators; Boeing is, meanwhile, offering the aircraft for
the new Boeing P-8 Poseidon, based on the 737 airliner. In Canada’s project to replace its CP-140 Aurora aircraft.
retrospect, the UK’s posting of personnel to the US provided From the mid-2010s, USN P-8s occasionally flew from
an indication of the UK’s likely direction of travel towards RAF Lossiemouth. This airbase, in northern Scotland,
regaining its MPA capability, in the form of the P-8A. had been earmarked by the UK MOD for investment to
60 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

accommodate the new aircraft and related facilities. agreement relating to maritime-patrol aircraft, with
The first aircraft to arrive in the UK were based at RAF Norway receiving its fifth and final P-8 in 2022. Germany
Kinloss (formerly the main Nimrod base) while works has also ordered the type and may well seek a similar
at Lossiemouth continued; Poseidon was moved to arrangement. Both of these nations, plus the US, are
Lossiemouth in October 2020. The UK’s P-8s arrived in likely to make use of Lossiemouth. In addition, Germany,
rapid succession. The ninth, and final, aircraft was flown Norway and the UK will all be looking to benefit in
in to Lossiemouth in January 2022. According to analysts, terms of support functions as well as the operational
this pace means that the RAF still lacks enough crew for advantages of using the same aircraft as the USN. Project
the fleet. Nonetheless, the RAF still plans to declare full Seedcorn is now being used to grow the UK’s capability
operational capability in October 2024. The P-8-related on the Boeing E-7A Wedgetail airborne early warning
facilities at Lossiemouth will also be of broader use. In and control aircraft. As of late 2022, personnel were
2018, Norway and the UK announced a cooperation embedded with the Royal Australian Air Force.

short-term outlook for both the UK and the Eurozone.


DEFENCE ECONOMICS In 2022, the Eurozone performed stronger than
expected, partly because tourism picked up in
Macroeconomics Italy and Spain. But significant downside risks are
European economies were buffeted by strong weighing on growth, not least the disruption to gas
economic headwinds in 2022, and these are set to supplies from Russia and the impact this will have on
continue into 2023. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in industrial production.
early 2022 caused widespread damage and disruption Europe’s economic foundations are weaker now
to European economies. Europe’s short-term than they were coming into 2020, when the continent
economic outlook is constrained by soaring energy was hit by the first wave of COVID-19 infections.
prices, security-of-supply issues, high inflation and Fiscal deficits extended from an average of 0.3%
rising – and increasingly expensive – government of GDP in 2019 to 6.5% in 2020 and have remained
debt levels. According to the International Monetary elevated ever since at 3.6% in 2021 and 2.7% of GDP in
Fund (IMF), real GDP growth in the Eurozone will 2022. These figures indicate that Europe had not fully
slow to 3.1% in 2022 and drop even lower to 0.5% recovered from the economic fallout of the pandemic
in 2023, compared to the pandemic-related 6.3% when Russia invaded Ukraine. Private consumption
contraction in 2020 and 5.2% growth in the recovery and investment were still below pre-pandemic levels.
year of 2021. The UK saw real GDP contract by 9.3% As a proportion of GDP, European debt levels
in 2020, recover strongly by 7.4% in 2021 and, while extended from an average of 59.8% in 2019 to 71.5% in
it is projected to grow by 3.6% in 2022, the projection 2020; they remained high at 68.7% in 2021 and 64.8%
of 0.3% growth in 2023 points to a more challenging in 2022. This level of debt was sustainable while

15

12
Germany
9 Netherlands
Italy
6
UK
3 France
Spain
0 Poland

-3
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2022 ©IISS

▲ Figure 3 Europe: selected countries, inflation (%) 2017–27


Europe 61

Increase
Albania
USD0.29bn Serbia
USD1.22bn

Lithuania Malta
USD1.59bn USD0.09bn Netherlands
USD15.23bn
Montenegro
USD0.10bn Hungary

Europe
Luxembourg USD2.99bn
USD0.44bn

North Macedonia Greece


USD0.23bn USD7.87bn
Slovenia
USD0.88bn

Bulgaria
USD1.34bn
Slovakia
USD2.01bn
Germany
USD53.37bn
Spain
εUSD14.67bn

Sweden
USD8.07bn Belgium
Finland USD5.66bn
USD5.82bn
United Kingdom*
εUSD70.03bn
France
USD54.42bn
Italy
Estonia USD31.12bn
USD0.84bn Latvia
USD0.86bn

Denmark
USD5.06bn Poland
Iceland USD13.40bn Switzerland
Croatia Norway
USD0.04bn USD5.55bn
USD1.27bn Czech Republic USD7.43bn
Cyprus
USD0.50bn USD3.83bn
Austria
Ireland Romania
Portugal USD3.64bn
USD5.19bn Turkey
Decrease

USD2.59bn USD1.17bn
Bosnia & Herzegovina
USD6.19bn
USD0.17bn

*includes Armed Forces Pension Service and military aid to Ukraine


Real % Change (2021–22)
[1] Map illustrating 2022 planned defence-spending levels (in USDbn at market
More than 20% increase Between 0% and 3% decrease
exchange rates) as well as the annual real percentage change in planned
Between 10% and 20% increase Between 3% and 10% decrease defence spending between 2021 and 2022 (at constant 2015 prices and exchange
Between 3% and 10% increase Between 10% and 20% decrease rates). Percentage changes in defence spending can vary considerably from
year to year, as states revise the level of funding allocated to defence. Changes
Between 0% and 3% increase More than 20% decrease indicated here highlight the short-term trend in planned defence spending
between 2021 and 2022. Actual spending changes prior to 2021, and projected
ε Estimate Spending 2% of GDP or above spending levels post-2022, are not reflected. ©IISS

▲ Map 1 Europe: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy)1


Sub-regional groupings referred to in defence economics text: Central Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Switzerland), Northern Europe
(Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway and Sweden), Southern Europe (Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal and Spain), Southeastern Europe (Bulgaria, Romania
and Turkey), the Balkans (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia) and Western Europe (Belgium, France, Iceland, Ireland,
Luxembourg, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom).
62 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

interest rates were low and borrowing was cheap. 2.0

The IMF has characterised the war as a supply


1.46 1.47 1.46
shock in economic terms, arguing its effects have 1.5 1.40
1.25 1.29
aggravated the policy challenges created by the
pandemic. As such, the IMF says that these new

% of GDP
1.0
shocks are better addressed by fiscal policy than
monetary policy, as the latter needs to be employed
to stem inflation. Countries in the region are using 0.5
monetary policy to stem rising inflation, with
the effect that interest rate increases will make 0.0
borrowing less manageable. 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Inflation across the region was a concern even
before the February invasion. Rates increased globally ▲ Figure 4 Europe: regional defence spending as %
in 2021 due to higher energy costs, a recovery in of GDP (average)
demand and ongoing pandemic-related supply-chain
disruptions. Despite countries continuing to commit of fiscal pressure following the pandemic. However,
increasing amounts of funding to defence in 2021, Russia’s decision to invade Ukraine on 24 February
surging rates of inflation in all regions resulted in a caused a marked change of course. In the weeks and
negative global trend in real terms. The impact was months that followed, around 20 countries pledged to
more acute in 2022 as inflation soared, driven by the increase defence spending, though the relative scale
commodity crisis, supply disruptions and heightened – and timelines – differed. Announcements spanned
economic uncertainty resulting from the war in the region – from the UK, France, Germany and Italy
Ukraine. The disruption to energy supply caused the to Poland and Romania as well as most Nordic and
oil price to spike, after February, to levels in excess all Baltic states.
of USD100 per barrel. The US Energy Information The most notable uplift was the announcement on
Administration (EIA) expects the price of Brent crude 27 February by Chancellor Olaf Scholz that Germany
oil to average USD105 per barrel throughout 2022 and would establish a special fund for defence in 2022,
remain high at USD95 per barrel in 2023. amounting to EUR100 billion (USD106bn), and the
In its October 2022 World Economic Outlook defence budget would reach 2% of GDP ‘from now on’.
Update, the IMF revised upward its projection for The announcement came at the end of a period
global inflation in light of rising food and energy in which Germany’s defence spending had seen
prices and lingering supply–demand imbalances. increases averaging 4.4% in real terms since 2016.
The year saw several countries, particularly in Germany’s defence budget for 2022 was a 7.3%
Eastern Europe, face double-digit inflation rates. In increase over the 2021 figure, rising to EUR50.4bn
September 2022, rates reached 9.9% in the Eurozone (USD53.4bn). However, the financial plan to 2026,
and 10.1% in the UK. Policymakers in Europe now approved on 1 July 2022, shows spending remaining
face the challenge of easing the impact of higher flat at this level. As such, in order to reach 2% of GDP
inflation by managing effectively fiscal and monetary ‘from now on’, the defence budget will need to be
instruments, but without allowing wage–price spirals supplemented by the special fund if the core budget
(where the demand for higher wages drives up costs is not increased to meet the target.
for suppliers with these costs then passed on to the This presents a significant divergence from trend
consumer). Should wage–price spirals occur, inflation in Germany. Therefore, the uplift will have to be
will increase further. managed effectively to ensure that funds are allocated
according to strategic imperatives and managed well
Defence spending thereafter. Moreover, increased investment without
European defence spending grew significantly in a capability development plan raises questions over
2021, with regional spending increasing by 3.5% in real the ability of the armed forces and defence-industrial
terms, a rate higher than in any other region. Indeed, base to absorb new resources.
2021 was the seventh consecutive year of real growth. Details of the special fund (Sondervermögen
It had been projected that, in the short term, European Bundeswehr) were announced in June 2022. The
defence spending growth would be subdued in light EUR100bn (USD106bn) falls to EUR82bn (USD87bn)
Europe 63

Norway, 2.2% Other Northern announcing at the Madrid NATO Summit that
Sweden, 2.4%
Europe, 4.2% the country’s defence budget would reach 2.5% of
The Balkans, 1.2%
Other South-Eastern GDP by 2030. As part of her leadership campaign,
Europe, 1.9%
United Kingdom the target was increased further to 3% of GDP in
Turkey, 1.8% 20.9%
Other Southern the same time frame by the next leader in London,
Europe, 3.3%
prime minister Liz Truss, in July 2022. The viability
Spain, 4.4%
of this commitment was questionable given
other draws on public spending and caution was

Europe
Italy, 9.3% expressed at the time about the need for increases to
France be accompanied by greater oversight and targeted
16.2%
Other Central industrial development to help ensure higher
Europe, 5.4%
funding translated into improved capability.
Poland
4.0%
Netherlands, 4.5% Truss resigned in October 2022 and the 3%
Other Western commitment was not repeated by her successor,
Germany Europe, 2.2%
amount
15.9% Rishi Sunak, and his Chancellor Jeremy Hunt in the
Other Western Europe – Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Luxembourg Autumn Statement, released on 17 November 2022.
Other Central Europe – Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary,
Slovakia, Switzerland Pursuing a more fiscally conservative path, the
Other Northern Europe – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania target was reduced back to the NATO minimum of
Other Southern Europe – Cyprus, Greece, Malta, Portugal
The Balkans – Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, 2% of GDP. The statement did concede that defence
North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia spending needed to increase, but said that this would
Other South-Eastern Europe – Bulgaria, Romania
©IISS be considered as part of an update to the Integrated
Review. The outlook for defence spending in the UK
▲ Figure 5 Europe: defence spending by country and is therefore more subdued and likely to see cuts in
sub-region, 2022 real terms as inflation rates remain high.
Other notable announcements in the region
after VAT and the costs of interest on borrowing include the EUR700 million (USD740m) increase
are taken into account. Air procurement takes up in Finland’s 2022 defence budget, with EUR2.2bn
40.8% of the fund with major programmes being (USD2.3bn) also added for defence over the 2023–26
the Eurofighter and F-35 combat aircraft, the Future fiscal plan first published in April 2022, the USD340m
Combat Air System (FCAS), heavy transport uplift to the Norwegian budget for border defence,
helicopters, uninhabited systems, space surveillance and sizeable uplifts in Estonia and Lithuania as both
and ground-based air defence. A significant 25.3% move towards their goal of spending 2.5% of GDP.
of the funding is to be used for ‘management ability/ Latvia’s budget will rise from 2.2% of GDP to 2.5% in
digitisation’ procurement with programmes including 2025. Authorities in Italy have considered increasing
the digitisation of land-based operations, battle military spending by EUR1.5bn (USD1.6bn), with the
management systems, tactical wide area networks, longer-term goal to raise spending to 2% of GDP from
data centre networks and satellite communications. 1.4%. The right-wing coalition government, elected
Land procurement accounts for 20.3%, with this in September 2022, stated in their election manifesto
covering the retrofitting of all remaining Puma that the country would respect NATO commitments,
infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) in the first phase as including the pledge to increase defence spending to
well as a successor IFV. Naval procurement comprises 2% of GDP, but progress is likely to be slow in light of
only 10.8% with major programmes including K130 economic realities.
corvettes, F126 frigates, the Type-212CD diesel-electric In March 2022, the Polish government announced
submarine being jointly developed with Norway, its intention to increase the defence budget from
the Future Naval Strike Missile and the submarine- 2.1% to 3% of GDP in 2023. The official budget for
launched Interactive Defence and Attack System for 2023 was approved in August and enacted this uplift
Submarines, which is being developed by Diehl and with an increase in defence funding from PLN58bn
ThyssenKrupp Marine Systems and is designed to (USD13.4bn) to PLN97bn (USD20.8bn); this will bring
defeat airborne anti-submarine warfare threats. the budget to 2.8% of GDP. In addition, in March
The UK also pledged to increase funding for the president signed into law homeland-defence
defence, with then-prime minister Boris Johnson legislation (the Law on the Defence of the Fatherland).
64 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

▼ Figure 6 Europe defence budget announcements, 2022

Denmark Latvia Norway Lithuania


2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget: USD7.4bn / 1.5% GDP 2022 defence budget: USD1.6bn / 2.3% GDP
USD5.1bn / 1.3% GDP      USD0.9bn / 2.1% GDP 18 March 2022 – NOK3bn (USD313m) 14 March 2022 – State-budget
6 March 2022 – Prime Minister Mette 1 March 2022 – Cabinet approves added to 2022 defence budget for amendment to add EUR298m to 2022
Frederiksen: defence budget increase in defence from 2.2% border defence. Long-Term Defense Plan defence budget; aim to increase defence
will reach 2% of GDP by 2033. to 2.5% of GDP by 2025. (April 2020) to reach 2% of GDP by 2028. budget to 2.5% of GDP by end of 2022.

Germany Finland Estonia 2022 defence budget as % of GDP*


2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget: USD0.8bn / 2.1% GDP <2.0 >2.0 
USD53.4bn / 1.3% GDP USD5.8bn / 2.1% GDP 25 March 22 – Government approved EUR476m
27 February 2022 – Chancellor 5 April 2022 – EUR2.2bn uplift to defence between 2022–26 to boost *Only countries with announcements shaded
Olaf Scholz: EUR100bn special additional funding for defence air-defence capabilities. This is intended to
fund for defence, with budget in the 2023–26 fiscal plan. increase the budget to over 2.5% of GDP.
increasing to 2% of GDP. EUR700m more for 2022. EUR15.7m added to 2022 budget.

Slovenia Luxembourg
2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget:
USD0.9bn / 1.4% GDP USD0.4bn / 0.5% GDP
16 March 2022 – Minister of 24 June 2022 – Minister of
Defence Matej Tonin: defence Defence François Bausch:
budget will reach 2% of GDP budget will increase to 1%
by 2030. of GDP by 2028.

United Kingdom
2022 defence budget: USD70bn / 2.2% GDP
30 June 2022 – Then-prime minister
Boris Johnson: defence budget will increase to
2.5% of GDP by 2030. Liz Truss pledge to reach
3% of GDP while briefly Prime Minister not
reiterated by her replacement, Rishi Sunak.

Netherlands
2022 defence budget: USD15.2bn / 1.5% GDP
7 March 2022 – Prime Minister
Mark Rutte: the Netherlands is already working
towards a 2% of GDP goal and will now look
at implementing further increases to defence.

Slovakia
2022 defence budget: USD2.0bn / 1.8% GDP
12 July 2022 – Minister of Defence
Jaroslav Nad: first draft of 2023 budget
increases defence budget to 2% of GDP.

Italy Sweden France Belgium


2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget: USD8.1bn / 1.3% GDP 2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget: USD5.7bn / 1.0% GDP
USD31.1bn / 1.6% GDP 10 March 2022 – Prime Minister USD54.4bn / 2.0% GDP 21 January 2022 (pre-invasion) –
31 March 2022 – Government Eva Magdalena Andersson: defence budget 2 March 2022 – President Minister of Defence Ludivine Dedonder:
considering increasing 2022 will increase to 2% of GDP 1 November 2022: Emmanuel Macron: France update of the Strategic Defense Vision for
defence budget by EUR1.5bn. Supreme Commander Micael Byden: will increase defence 2030; defence budget will be increased to
Long-term goal to reach 2% of 2% of GDP target reached by 2026. investment from the 1.54% of GDP by 2030.
GDP by 2028. 2019–25 LPM.

Austria Poland Romania Czech Republic


2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget: USD13.4bn / 1.9% GDP 2022 defence budget: 2022 defence budget: USD3.8bn / 1.3% GDP
USD3.6bn / 0.8% GDP 3 March 2022 – Minister of National USD5.2bn / 1.7% GDP 6 April 2022 – Government approves plans
7 March 2022 – Chancellor Defence Mariusz Błaszczak: defence 1 March 2022 – President to accelerate procurement over 2022–24.
Karl Nehammer: need to budget should increase from 2% to 3% of Klaus Iohannis: Romania Minister of Defence Jana Černochová seeks
increase defence budget from GDP in 2023. Uplift then enacted in the should raise budget from to bring the 2% of GDP target forward by
0.7% to 1% of GDP. 2023 budget. 2% to 2.5% of GDP. one year from 2025 to 2024.
©IISS
Europe 65

This established an Armed Forces Support Fund. having remained steady at 30% for the previous five
It will be funded through the National Economy Bank years. This is notwithstanding the extra-budgetary
(BGK), a state development bank designed to support Armed Forces Support Fund that will be used for the
national economic and industrial growth, with up to acquisition of foreign equipment.
PLN40bn (USD8.5bn) made available to fund foreign With defence spending increasing swiftly and
acquisitions for defence. In July, Poland signed a significantly, there is a sharpening focus on the
major procurement deal with South Korea for up to absorptive capacity of domestic defence industries.
1,000 Hyundai Rotem K2 Black Panther main battle Related to this, there are now questions over the

Europe
tanks, 672 Hanwha Defense K9 Thunder 155 mm self- amount that countries will invest in developing their
propelled artillery systems and 48 KAI FA-50 Fighting domestic defence sector or whether the immediacy
Eagle light fighter ground-attack aircraft. of the security threat posed by Russia will lead some
Defence investments across Europe will increase to simply buy off-the-shelf to speed up capability
significantly over the next decade if all of the acquisition. That said, a balanced combination of both
announced increases occur. The average allocation is perhaps necessitated by the fragmented nature of
of GDP to defence among European NATO members the European defence-industrial base. As one example,
would reach an estimated 1.8–1.9% of GDP by 2032, Poland’s deal with South Korea includes technology
up from 1.6% in 2022 and 1.3% back in 2014. transfer and local production.
Despite these announcements, in 2022 European Looking beyond the immediate efforts to raise
defence spending was still effectively flat in real defence spending, Russia’s actions have refocused
terms, due to soaring inflation rates. Spending attention on how best to achieve scalable agile
uplifts are set to continue into the 2020s and will be production and establish increased stockpiles with
more effective as inflation abates. However, they will more strategic positioning across NATO: both require
be tempered by other public-spending constraints, more weapons systems, such as missiles and other
not least the higher costs of debt servicing as interest munitions. It is likely, therefore, that higher sales in the
rates increase. short term will focus on upgrades and modifications
to existing equipment in order to ensure readiness
Defence industry and sustainment.
The challenges facing aerospace and defence supply The replacement of equipment donated to
chains sharpened from 2021–22 due to labour Ukraine is both a driver and a concern for defence
shortages and disruptions to global shipping caused industry. For some states, particularly those in the
by ongoing COVID-19-related lockdowns in China, east, donating equipment designed in the Soviet-era
as well as Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. – even if this was later upgraded – creates an
They have been exacerbated by the higher cost of raw opportunity to modernise their inventory, and an
materials, components, energy and labour, which opportunity for defence industry. For others, such as
have driven up costs of production. the UK, it raises questions over the cost of resupply
Countries like the UK have made adjustments and the industrial capacity to do so. In 2022, the
within their defence budgets to accommodate for UK donated lethal equipment, including NLAW
inflation, setting aside funding to cover cost uplifts. and Javelin anti-armour systems, multiple-launch
But any further disruption to supply chains or rocket systems and Starstreak air-defence systems,
increased costs for raw materials and components and non-lethal equipment, including helmets,
will create further inflationary pressure. Higher body armour and night vision goggles. Replacing
costs for skilled personnel will also push up equipment creates extra demand for defence firms
industry expenses, which will feed through to in Europe. In June, the UK defence secretary held
higher contract values. talks with defence suppliers over how to increase
The primary focus for defence establishments, production. However, rising inflation and the
amid the wave of defence spending increases, is on higher factor input costs of raw materials will make
equipment modernisation and enhancing overall it difficult to rapidly increase capacity, adding to
capability. As such, the proportion of European the challenges for scalable and agile production. As
defence budgets devoted to investments is set to a result, it may become more expensive to replace
increase. A key example is Poland, where the amount equipment, creating further upward pressure on
allocated to capital spending will jump to 40% in 2023, defence spending.
66 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Early lessons from the war in Ukraine


POLAND
The course of military operations in Ukraine has led
Poland to double down on its technical modernisation
A transformative moment and force transformation priorities. From the Polish
Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has prompted perspective, while anti-armour weapons, man-portable
important changes to Poland’s defence posture. air-defence systems and armed uninhabited aerial
It has vindicated the long-standing Polish concern vehicles (UAVs) enabled effective Ukrainian defences
about Russia’s willingness to use its military in the immediate aftermath of 24 February, Russia’s
power to subjugate a neighbouring nation. In the attack was ultimately blunted by armour, firepower,
days immediately after 24 February, Poland was air-defence and personnel strength.
preoccupied with a potential Russian escalation Meanwhile, Poland donated a significant
against NATO and an increased risk of attacks on amount of its own weapons to Ukraine. Transfers
Polish territory. These anxieties grew when Poland involved around 230 T-72 main battle tanks (MBTs),
became the hub for deliveries of weapons for Ukraine, constituting the bulk of Poland’s inventory; an
via Rzeszów–Jasionka Airport, close to the Ukrainian unspecified number of other systems, such as PT-91
border. For Poland, the material and human cost of MBTs (a Polish derivative of the T-72), post-Soviet
Russia’s war on Ukraine, and the nature of Moscow’s BMPs and various artillery systems, including 54
military operations there, has changed Poland’s new Polish-designed Krab self-propelled howitzers.
perceptions of Russia. However, these donations led to gaps in the
Indeed, towards the end of 2022, a broad consensus inventories of Poland’s armoured and mechanised
emerged among Poland’s political class that Russia brigades and affected Polish stocks.
had evolved into a serious long-term threat, despite
being temporarily weakened militarily by the war. New acquisitions
It is assumed by Poland’s leaders that Moscow’s The scale of Poland’s weapons transfers to Ukraine,
desire to erase Ukraine’s sovereignty will persist early operational lessons learned from the war
as a policy regardless of the outcome of the war. and the change in Poland’s threat perceptions have
Warsaw also fears that Russia may be able to rebuild all informed Warsaw’s decision to dramatically
the core of its ground forces’ capacity relatively accelerate defence investments.
quickly and thereby continue to pose an existential In the months following 24 February, Poland
threat to its neighbours, with Poland, as a flank launched several ambitious armaments programmes.
nation, first in line. Although the total cost of these projects is unclear at the
time of writing, because some terms of the contracts
A change to budgeting and technical features of the equipment have yet to
This change in Poland’s threat perception has be finalised, they could be worth between USD30–
been accompanied by a rapid increase in defence 40bn. Moreover, this figure comes on top of existing
expenditure. Before 24 February, Warsaw planned flagship programmes that are already under way,
to incrementally increase the defence budget and it also does not include planned investments like
from 2.2% of GDP in 2022 to 2.6% of GDP in 2026. the long-delayed programme for new submarines.
This was amended in March, and a new spending The total value of Polish investments in 2022–35 may
level was set at 3% of GDP from 2023. In May, an reach USD135bn.
extra-budgetary fund (Funduszu Wsparcia Sił Land systems comprise most of the new
Zbrojnych, FWSZ) was also established, having investments. In July, in an historic turn to an Asian
been announced in 2021, and is intended to finance prime contractor, Poland signed a framework
investments by issuing sovereign bonds. The plan agreement with South Korea regarding the delivery
is that in 2023 the fund will bring an additional and licensed production of up to 1,000 K2 MBTs and
USD6.3–8.4 billion to the baseline USD20.8bn 672 K9 Thunder self-propelled howitzers. The first
defence budget, potentially increasing Poland’s contracts were signed in August for 180 K2s and
total defence expenditure to over USD29bn. The 212 K9s to be delivered in the 2022–26 timeframe.
latter figure would come close to 4% of GDP which They are designed to fill the most pressing gaps in
would, according to this measure, make Poland the Polish armoured capabilities. In December, the first
highest defence spender in NATO. vehicles arrived by sea at Gdinya, in Poland. The total
Europe 67

value of both contracts is USD6.06bn. Contracts are Against this backdrop, new investments in the
also expected for the licensed production of further air force seem less ambitious. Seeking a replacement
vehicles after 2026. These will be more advanced for its ageing fleet of Soviet-era MiG-29 Fulcrum and
versions, tailored to Polish needs and dubbed K2PL Su-22 Fitter combat aircraft, in September Poland
and K9PL. It is noteworthy that the government signed a contract worth approximately USD3.02bn
highlighted security of supply issues in justifying for 48 FA-50 Fighting Eagle multi-role aircraft as part
the choice of South Korea as a strategic partner. This of its broader partnership with South Korea. The first
suggests that the bilateral defence relationship may batch of 12 FA-50s will be delivered in 2022–23 in a

Europe
be driven, at least in part, by a view that South Korean baseline lead-in jet-trainer configuration. This will be
munitions and spares could be useful should the war followed by 32 upgraded FA-50PL aircraft from 2025–
in Europe escalate. 28, including features such as an active electronically
In May, Poland sent a letter of request to the scanned array radar and designed to serve in both
US regarding the potential acquisition of up to air-to-air and ground-attack roles.
500 M142 HIMARS launchers. This would equal
80 standard US Army batteries and, if the contract Force transformation
were to proceed at this scale, could be worth well The scale of the investment in new capabilities is
over USD10bn. However, in October, Poland signed accompanied by an ambitious plan to increase the
a framework contract for the delivery of 288 K239 armed forces to 300,000 personnel by 2035. This total
Chunmoo launchers from South Korea in 2023–28, is intended to comprise around 187,000 professionals
stating that the US would be unable to deliver (as of 2022, this number stood at approximately
the desired number of HIMARS systems in this 114,000), augmented by 50,000 voluntary Territorial
timeframe. In July, Poland secured an agreement Defence Force personnel (32,000 as of the end of
for the delivery in 2023–24 of 116 M1A1 SA Abrams 2021) and a further 50,000 personnel recruited under
MBTs from US Army stocks. The main motivation a new type of one-year service. While this plan may
behind the Abrams decision was to quickly fill the resemble conscription, with troops undergoing
gap in Poland’s armoured brigades; it will be partly one month of basic training and up to 11 months of
financed by the US through the Foreign Military specialist training, the roles are salaried (troops will
Financing system. Meanwhile, Poland’s 2021 request be paid more than conscripts of previous years) and
for 250 M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams remains on track. are designed for volunteers only.
General Dynamics Land Systems said in August that The new personnel plan stems from the decision
it had received the order. The same month saw an to establish two more divisions (making six divisions
Abrams Tank Training Academy open in Poland. in total) and to strengthen existing mechanised
In a move to strengthen close-air-support divisions with an additional armoured brigade
capability, hitherto reliant on some Soviet-era Mil each. These are understood to be key assumptions
Mi-24 helicopters, Poland announced in September of Poland’s ‘Model 2035’ concept, which is
its interest in purchasing 96 AH-64E Apache attack informing modernisation and transformation
helicopters. A letter of request was sent to the US plans. The process of establishing the fifth division
and included a proposal to lease US Army-owned began in September. It will be deployed in eastern
helicopters until the new helicopters could be Poland, between the 16th Mechanised Division,
delivered. It is difficult to estimate the total value which is generally focused towards the north and
of the programme, but it could be in the region of northeast (including the Suwalki Gap and the
USD12–15bn. A smaller contract, worth USD1.7bn, border with Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave), and the
was signed in July with Italian firm Leonardo for 18th Mechanised Division, which is responsible
the acquisition of 32 AW149 multi-role helicopters for defending eastern and southeastern Poland.
(with some close-air-support capability). Intelligence, The latter unit is still being developed and will be
surveillance and reconnaissance capability will be equipped with the M1A1 SA and M1A2 SEPv3
augmented with MQ-9A Reaper systems, which were Abrams MBTs and, in the future, the AH-64 Apache –
leased in October from the US as a ‘bridging’ option, in effect resembling US Army structures. The intent
enabling both the rapid provision of a new capability is for the unit to provide defence and deterrence
and the establishment of a training package, in against potential Russian–Belarussian operations
advance of the acquisition process. from the direction of Brest, in Belarus.
68 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Sustainability capability plans but also the requirements that will be


Poland’s technical-modernisation and force- expected of allies.
transformation plans can be seen as an attempt However, questions have been raised over the
to develop a posture capable of at least blunting, sustainability of Poland’s plans. Concerns include
and possibly also stopping, potential Russian personnel shortages and inadequate infrastructure,
aggression against NATO’s eastern flank below as well as doubts about the capacity of Poland’s
the nuclear level. The security guarantees under economy to continue funding defence at such a
Article 5 of the Washington Treaty are undisputed historically high level. The high level of inflation
by Poland’s political class. So too is the broader (17.2% year-on-year as of September 2022) and a
strategic relationship with the US, which involves US possible recession are important factors that may
deployments to Poland. And Poland welcomed, as a limit Polish investment ambitions. In October, the
step in the right direction, the overhaul to NATO’s issue of bonds worth USD3.2bn, intended to provide
defence and deterrence posture vis-à-vis Russia at money for the extra-budgetary modernisation fund,
the 2022 summit in Madrid. Nonetheless, Warsaw was suddenly halted. According to analysts, this may
seems to be considering a scenario in which the suggest only limited interest by financial markets.
military response to a potential Russian escalation These investments will also be required in areas other
by the US and NATO may be slower than required than equipment purchases. Poland’s new systems
– perhaps because of a military contingency in the will need a separate modernisation effort for military
Indo-Pacific. This is also important in the context of infrastructure, such as training and maintenance
the longstanding US calls for its European allies to facilities. Moreover, there are doubts over whether
take on a greater share of the burden of defence and the armed forces can attract enough young people
deterrence in Europe. The 2022 Madrid Summit was to reach the 300,000 target, even with the flexibility
followed by a process of updating not only NATO’s offered by new types of service.
Europe 69

Arms procurements and deliveries – Europe


Significant events in 2022

POLAND: PROCUREMENT REORGANISATION


JANUARY
Poland transformed its Armaments Inspectorate (IU), the organisation responsible for procurement and

Europe
offsets, into the Armaments Agency (AU). The reform is intended to simplify procedures and responsibilities.
The government originally wanted the organisation to control the state-owned defence conglomerate
Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ), though this idea was shelved. Since its inception in January, the AU has
already overseen the signing of significant import contracts such as the USD13.35bn package of equipment
with South Korea and the USD1.15bn deal for M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams main battle tanks (MBT) with General
Dynamics. These deals all include significant work for local industry.

OTO MELARA FOR SALE


MAY
Rheinmetall offered EUR190–210m (USD200.82–221.96m) for a 49% stake in the Oto Melara division of Italian
firm Leonardo, with an option to acquire an additional 2% of shares. Oto Melara has a dominant position
within the naval gun sector and a smaller share of the armoured-vehicle gun market. Leonardo announced
its intention to sell in 2021, saying it would also sell torpedo producer Whitehead Alenia Sistemi Subacquei,
in order to focus on aircraft, electronics and helicopters. Initially, Leonardo offered all of Oto Melara for sale.
KNDS and Fincantieri each expressed interest in Oto Melara in late 2021, and while the firms are reportedly
willing to spend around EUR650m (USD687.03m) or EUR450–550m (USD475.64–581.33m) respectively for a
100% stake, neither has yet made an offer. However, reports indicated that any sale may be held up until Rome
receives assurances regarding Italy’s role in the Franco-German Main Ground Combat System MBT programme.

NORWAY NH90 CANCELLATION


JUNE
Norway announced that it was cancelling its 2001 contract for 14 NH90 NATO Frigate Helicopters (NFH)
for the Norwegian Armed Forces and the Coast Guard. Although deliveries were originally expected to
begin in 2005 and be completed in 2008, the first NH90 only arrived in November 2011. In cancelling the
contract, Oslo cited delivery delays and an inability by NHIndustries to meet Norwegian requirements.
NHIndustries said it considered the termination to be ‘legally groundless’. 13 out of 14 helicopters have
been delivered, but only eight are in fully operational configurations. Norway is looking to return to
NHIndustries the helicopters that have been delivered and is seeking a refund of NOK5bn (USD521.01m).

TEMPEST COLLABORATION
JULY
The United Kingdom said that, by 2027, it aims to fly the test demonstrator of its Future Combat Air System
(FCAS) programme, also known as Tempest. It also outlined a roadmap for a strategic partnership with
Japan’s F-X programme, with the nature of the bilateral collaboration between the Tempest/F-X projects
to be decided before the end of 2022. Both countries already cooperate on multiple aerospace research
projects including a new air-to-air missile (JNAAM), sensors (JAGUAR) and propulsion systems. Italy and
Sweden also participate in the Tempest programme, which is led by BAE Systems and involves Rolls-Royce
and the UK divisions of Leonardo and MBDA. Tempest and F-X are intended to start replacing the Typhoon
and the F-2 from the late 2030s.

FCAS/SCAF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT


NOVEMBER
France and Germany announced that discussions on the next phase of the French–German–Spanish FCAS/
SCAF programme, planned to replace the Rafale and the Eurofighter, had been concluded. A research
and technology study (Phase 1A) was completed in 2020–21, but the companies subsequently struggled
to establish clear leadership, division of labour and intellectual property rules. The next stage, Phase 1B,
is intended to define the architecture of the aircraft demonstrator and was originally planned for 2021–24,
while Phase 2, covering the construction and testing of the demonstrator, was due to take place in 2024–27.
The first flight of a demonstrator is not now expected until 2028, with the aircraft entering service in the
2050s. Despite the three governments hailing the announcement, Dassault head Eric Trappier described it as
a “pseudo-political announcement” suggesting there was much yet to be done before Phase 1B could start. The
trilateral relationship is already strained in part because Germany announced it would buy the F-35A in March; there is
speculation that Spain may follow suit and buy the F-35 to replace its F/A-18A Hornets.
70

▼ Table 7 Poland: Rosomak wheeled armoured vehicle family

Selected Rosomak vehicle contracts*


Over 870 Rosomak armoured vehicles have been
produced since Poland selected the vehicle in 2002. Date Variant Type Quantity Value Delivery Contract Notes
They are manufactured, by a firm now also called dates type
Rosomak, at a factory in Siemianowice Śląskie. Based
on Finnish company Patria’s Armoured Modular Vehicle Apr 2003 WB; base Infantry fighting 570 PLN4.63bn (USD1.46bn) 2004–13 Production Originally 690
(AMV), the family of variants in Polish service has over vehicle vehicle (IFV); vehicles for
time had an increased level of local content. A 2003 armoured personnel PLN4.93bn
contract for 690 vehicles was reduced to 570, increasing carrier (APC) (USD1.27bn)
the number of infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) but Dec 2010 WSRiD Reconnaissance 2 PLN49.85m (USD16.53m) 2012–13 Conversion Conducted by
delaying others, such as reconnaissance (recce) and Elbit Systems
THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

command-post variants. Deliveries began in 2004 and


up-armoured Rosomaks were deployed to Afghanistan Oct 2013 Base APC 307 PLN1.65bn (USD522.05m) 2014–20 Production
in 2007. Licensed production was extended for another vehicle
ten years in 2013 and was followed the same year by a Jun 2014 WRT Armoured 33 PLN233.56m (USD74.06m) 2016–17 Conversion
contract for 307 additional base vehicles for conversion engineering vehicle
to variants under separate contracts. Today, as well as
IFVs, the army also operates variants in the armoured Dec 2014 WPT Armoured recovery 18 PLN230m (USD72.93m) By end Conversion Development
engineering (WRT), mortar, command post, armoured vehicle of 2025 extended
ambulance and armoured personnel carrier (APC) roles. Dec 2018
Some APCs can transport infantry squads equipped with
Apr 2016 Rak 120mm mortar 96 PLN968.32m (USD245.4m) 2017–19 Conversion To equip eight
Spike-LR. Development of recce and recovery vehicles
companies (coy)
has taken longer (bar two recce versions delivered for
use in Afghanistan), with deliveries now likely to be Mar 2018 WD Command post (CP) 7 PLN80m (USD22.15m) 2018 Conversion
complete by the mid-2020s if the projects continue.
A contract to deliver 70 Polish-designed ZSSW-30 turrets Sep 2019 WD CP 2 PLN24.7m (USD6.43m) 2020 Conversion
will be completed within the same time frame. These Nov 2019 Rak 120mm mortar 24 PLN275.5m (USD71.75m) 2021 Conversion To equip two coy
will be installed on base vehicles rather than replacing
the IFVs already in service. The turret will be equipped May 2020 Rak 120mm mortar 60 PLN703.1m (USD180.3m) 2022–24 Conversion To equip five coy
with Spike beyond-line-of-sight missiles, unlike the Oto Sep 2020 RSK Nuclear, biological 11 PLN524.4m (USD134.47m) 2028–29 Production
Melara Hitfist-30P turret that was licence-produced in and chemical
Poland. (An earlier initiative to install Spike onto those defence
turrets had been halted.) In September 2022, Rosomak
announced that its production licence had been Sep 2020 Rosomak-S APC 60 PLN105.5m (USD27.05m) 2021– Conversion
extended by five years, to the end of 2028. This will allow ongoing
production of the delayed recce variants and possibly
additional vehicles fitted with ZSSW-30 turrets. Dec 2020 WD CP 8 PLN73.7m (USD18.9m) 2021–22 Conversion
Jul 2022 ZSSW-30 IFV turret 70 PLN1.7bn (USD409.87m) 2023–27 Turret
production
Sep 2022 AWR Reconnaissance 30 PLN1.59bn (USD383.35m) 2024–26 Production
*As of end of September 2022
AWR = artyleryjskie wozy rozpoznawcze [artillery reconnaissance vehicles]; RSK = rozpoznania skażeń kołowy transporter opancerzony
[contamination recognition wheeled armoured vehicle]; WB = wozów bojowych [combat vehicles]; WD = wozach dowodzenia [command
vehicles]; WPT = wozu pomocy technicznej [technical assistance vehicle]; WR = wozy rozpoznawcze [reconnaissance vehicles]; WRT
= wóz rozpoznania technicznego [technical reconnaissance vehicle]; WSRiD = wielosensorowy system rozpoznania i dozorowania
[multisensor surveillance and recognition system]; ZSSW = zdalnie sterowany system wieżowy [remote-controlled turret system]
Europe 71

Table 8 Spain: selected aerospace procurement since 2010

Spain maintains a sophisticated defence-industrial base, (to be converted into the MRTT configuration in 2023–25),
largely centred on aerospace systems through part-ownership 36 H135 light transport helicopters (with an additional 59 in
of European defence giant Airbus. Spain’s state-owned future), 20 Eurofighter combat aircraft and four C295 light
industrial holding company, the Sociedad Estatal de transport aircraft. Contracts have been signed for all, apart
Participaciones Industriales (SEPI), holds 4.1% of Airbus from the C295s. Also, Spain is participating with other European
shares, though the governments of France and Germany Union members in Phase II of the Future Combat Air System
hold more, at 10.9% each. In the 2010s, Spain’s aerospace (FCAS) programme, the Tiger MkIII attack helicopter project

Europe
procurement was generally limited to small-scale contracts, and the Medium-Altitude Long-Endurance Remotely Piloted
mostly due to budgetary constraints caused by delays to long- Aircraft System (MALE RPAS) uninhabited aerial vehicle (UAV)
running international projects. However, once the economic venture. These will secure substantial local workshare into the
impact of the coronavirus pandemic became clear, the 2020s and beyond. Although Spain has denied claims that it is
government signed several large deals that are partly intended interested in the F-35, speculation persists that the air force
to support the aerospace sector. After Airbus announced would like to acquire these to replace its F/A-18 Hornets.
redundancies in Spain, in 2020, the government agreed to Following Germany’s decision to acquire the F-35, any Spanish
buy a number of aircraft in order to reinforce the industrial purchase would likely add to French unease over its partners’
base. Madrid agreed to acquire three A330 transport aircraft commitment to the FCAS programme.

Contract Equipment Type Quantity Value Contractor Deliveries


Date
Feb 2010 H135 Light transport helicopter 12 n.k. M Airbus 2010–12
Nov 2012 SH-60F Anti-submarine warfare 2 EUR24.51m US government 2015
Seahawk** (ASW) helicopter (USD31.51m) surplus
Dec 2013 H135 (EC135T2) Light transport helicopter 8 EUR45m M Airbus Mar 2014–
(USD59.77m) Feb 2015
Feb 2016 MQ-9A Reaper Heavy combat, 4 EUR161m General Atomics Dec 2019–
intelligence, surveillance (USD178.16m) Aeronautical Nov 2020
and reconnaissance Systems (GA-ASI)
(CISR) uninhabited aerial
vehicle (UAV)
Jul 2016 H215 (AS332 C1e) Search and rescue 1 EUR15m M Airbus Oct 2016
Super Puma (SAR) helicopter (USD16.60m)
Dec 2016 SH-60F ASW helicopter 2 EUR40m US government Aug 2017–
Seahawk** (USD44.26m) surplus Apr 2018
c.2017 H215 (AS332 C1e) SAR helicopter 2 EUR30m M Airbus Nov 2017
Super Puma (USD338.78m)
Dec 2017 SH-60F ASW helicopter 2 EUR28m US government n.k.
Seahawk** (USD31.62m) surplus
Q2 2019 NH90 TTH Medium transport 16 EUR1.38bn M NHIndustries 2023–28*
helicopter (USD1.55bn)
NH90 NFH ASW helicopter 7
May 2019 Spainsat NG Communications satellite 2 EUR850m M Airbus 2023–24*
(USD1bn)
Nov 2019 SH-60F ASW helicopter 2 EUR35.97m US government n.k.
Seahawk** (USD40.27m) surplus
Jan 2020 PC-21 Training aircraft 24 EUR225m Pilatus Aircraft Sep 2021–
(USD256.79m) Jun 2022
Nov 2021 A330 MRTT Tanker/transport aircraft 3 EUR810m M Airbus Nov 2021–
(USD958.66m) 2025*
Dec 2021 H135 Light transport helicopter 36 EUR310m M Airbus 2022–26*
(USD366.89m)
Feb 2022 MALE RPAS Heavy CISR UAV 12 EUR1.43bn M Airbus 2029*
(USD1.51bn)
Jun 2022 Eurofighter Fighter ground-attack aircraft 20 EUR2.04bn M Eurofighter 2026–30*
(USD2.16bn)
*planned
**second-hand
M = multinational
72 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Albania ALB ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Albanian Lek ALL 2021 2022 2023 Land Force 2,350
GDP ALL 1.89tr 2.06tr FORCES BY ROLE
USD 18.3bn 18.3bn SPECIAL FORCES
per capita USD 6,373 6,369 1 spec ops regt (1 SF bn, 1 cdo bn)
Growth % 8.5 4.0
MANOEUVRE
Light
Inflation % 2.0 6.2
3 lt inf bn
Def exp [a] ALL 23.1bn 32.6bn COMBAT SUPPORT
USD 224m 289m 1 mor bty
Def bdgt [b] ALL 25.2bn 32.2bn 40.3bn 1 NBC coy
USD 245m 286m EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD1=ALL 103.21 112.79 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
[a] NATO figure
APC • PPV 40 MaxxPro Plus
ARTILLERY • MOR 32: 82mm 20; 120mm 12
[b] Excludes military pensions
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) Naval Force 700
221
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD
148
2008 2015 2022 Coast Guard
Population 3,095,344 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 14
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus PB 9: 4 Iliria (Damen Stan Patrol 4207); 3 Mk3 Sea
Spectre; 2 Shqypnia
Male 9.3% 3.1% 4.0% 4.6% 21.7% 6.5%
PBR 5: 2 Type-227; 1 Type-246; 2 Type-2010
Female 8.4% 2.8% 3.7% 4.4% 23.8% 7.6%
Air Force 650
Capabilities EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
The MOD’s Defence Directive for 2022, published in February, listed HELICOPTERS
priorities including improved conditions for personnel, equip- TPT 16: Medium 4 AS532AL Cougar†; Light 12: 1 AW109;
ment modernisation, institutional reform, strengthening civil 3 Bell 205 (AB-205); 2 Bell 206C (AB-206C); 4 Bo-105; 2 H145
defence capabilities, better cyber security and greater contribu-
tions to regional operations and engagements. An Integrity Plan
2022–2025 indicated broader efforts to bring Albania’s armed Military Police
forces closer to NATO standards. Tirana is looking to improve the FORCES BY ROLE
readiness and capability of its infantry battalion, including with COMBAT SUPPORT
new equipment, and is trying to improve recruitment and retention 1 MP bn
with enhanced benefits and educational and training opportuni-
ties. Salary increases were announced in 2022. The Development EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Plan 2022–2031 will determine future military structures, capacities, ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
capabilities and obligations. Limited modernisation is underway, AUV 8 IVECO LMV
including the acquisition of helicopters and the installation of an
airspace-surveillance system. Additional helicopter aircrew gradu- Support Command 1,650
ated in 2022. A ground-based air defence capability may also be
FORCES BY ROLE
developed. Other priorities include increasing communications and
cyber defence capabilities. Albania contributes to NATO, UN and
COMBAT SUPPORT
EU missions but does not possess an independent expeditionary 1 engr bn
capability. In March 2022, a forward-deployed headquarters for US 1 cbt spt bn
Special Operations Command Europe was established in Albania. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
NATO allies Greece and Italy police Albania’s airspace, and Tirana is 1 log bde (1 tpt bn, 1 log bn)
upgrading Kuçova Air Base into a NATO tactical air base. A cyber- 1 maint unit
attack in mid-year, attributed to Iran by Albania and NATO Allies,
affected government infrastructure and NATO and individual allies
subsequently offered additional security assistance. Albania has DEPLOYMENT
little in the way of a domestic defence industry, with no ability to
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 1
design and manufacture modern military platforms. Nevertheless,
the country has some publicly owned defence companies that are BULGARIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activites 30; 1 inf pl
capable of producing small arms, explosives and ammunition. LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 21; 1 EOD pl
ACTIVE 7,500 (Land Force 2,350 Naval Force 700 SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 61
Air Force 650 Support Command 1,650 Other 2,150) SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2
Europe 73

RESERVE 112,250 (Joint structured 36,050;


Austria AUT Joint unstructured 76,200)
Some 12,000 reservists a year undergo refresher trg in tranches
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
GDP EUR 403bn 443bn
USD 477bn 468bn
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
per capita USD 53,332 52,062
Land Forces 13,000
Growth % 4.6 4.7
FORCES BY ROLE
Inflation % 2.8 7.7
MANOEUVRE

Europe
Def bdgt [a] EUR 3.55bn 3.45bn 3.39bn Armoured
USD 4.20bn 3.64bn 1 (4th) armd inf bde (1 recce/SP arty bn, 1 tk bn, 2 armd
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95 inf bn, 1 spt bn)
[a] Includes military pensions Mechanised
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 1 (3rd) mech inf bde (1 recce/SP arty bn, 3 mech inf bn,
3.56 1 cbt engr bn, 1 spt bn)
Light
1 (7th) lt inf bde (1 recce bn, 3 inf bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 spt bn)
2.56
2008 2015 2022 1 (6th) mtn inf bde (3 mtn inf bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 spt bn)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Population 8,913,088 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 56 Leopard 2A4
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus IFV 112 Ulan
Male 7.2% 2.4% 2.6% 3.2% 24.5% 9.0% APC 153
Female 6.8% 2.3% 2.6% 3.1% 24.6% 11.5% APC (T) 32 BvS-10
APC (W) 121: 71 Pandur; 50 Pandur EVO
Capabilities AUV 216: 66 Dingo 2; 150 IVECO LMV
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Austria remains constitutionally non-aligned, but is an EU member ARV 65: 27 4KH7FA-SB Greif (11 more in store);
and actively engaged in the EU’s CSDP. Defence-policy objec- 28 Dingo 2 ARV; 10 M88A1
tives are based on the 2013 National Security Strategy, the 2014 NBC VEHICLES 12 Dingo 2 AC NBC
Defence Strategy and the 2017 Military Strategy, including pro-
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
viding military capabilities to maintain sovereignty and territorial
integrity, to enable military assistance to the civil authorities and
MSL • MANPATS Bill 2 (PAL 2000)
to participate in crisis-management missions. Authorities are ARTILLERY 105
now shifting emphasis from international operations to home- SP 155mm 48 M109A5ÖE
land defence, and capabilities needed to counter hybrid threats MOR 120mm 57 sGrW 86 (40 more in store)
at home. Assets for international deployments may eventually be
embedded in the EUFOR Crisis Response Operation Core. In June Air Force 2,800
2021, plans to streamline Ministry of Defence structures were The Air Force is part of Joint Forces Comd and consists of
announced. Implementation began in May 2022. There is a plan 2 bde; Air Support Comd and Airspace Surveillance Comd
to group Cyber, CIS and EW capabilities together in one director-
ate. While not a NATO member, Austria joined NATO’s Partnership FORCES BY ROLE
for Peace framework in 1995. A September 2019 defence ministry FIGHTER
report defined recapitalisation requirements until 2030. It warned 2 sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon
that the gap between requirements and available resources ISR
was growing and would ultimately undermine the ability of the 1 sqn with PC-6B Turbo Porter
armed forces to implement its missions. The level of ambition for TRANSPORT
crisis response is to be able to deploy and sustain a minimum (on 1 sqn with C-130K Hercules
average) of 1,100 troops. The September 2019 report also called TRAINING
for the Eurofighter fleet to be upgraded rather than replaced. In
1 trg sqn with PC-7 Turbo Trainer
October 2022, plans were mooted to procure a small number of
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
additional Eurofighters, two-seaters from the German inventory,
and upgrade the existing fleet. There is cooperation with Italy over 2 sqn with Bell 212 (AB-212)
helicopter procurement. Austria’s defence-industrial base is com- 1 sqn with OH-58B Kiowa
prised of some 100 companies with significant niche capabilities 1 sqn with S-70A Black Hawk
and international ties in the areas of weapons and ammunitions, 2 sqn with SA316/SA319 Alouette III
communications equipment and vehicles. AIR DEFENCE
2 bn
ACTIVE 23,300 (Land Forces 13,000 Air 2,800 1 radar bn
Support 7,500)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Conscript liability 6 months recruit trg, 30 days reservist refresher
AIRCRAFT 13 combat capable
trg for volunteers; 120–150 days additional for officers, NCOs and
specialists. Authorised maximum wartime strength of 55,000 FTR 13 Eurofighter Typhoon (Tranche 1)
74 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

TPT 11: Medium 3 C-130K Hercules; Light 8 PC-6B


Turbo Porter Belgium BEL
TRG 16: 12 PC-7 Turbo Trainer; 4 DA40NG
HELICOPTERS Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
MRH 18 SA316/SA319 Alouette III GDP EUR 506bn 558bn
ISR 10 OH-58B Kiowa USD 599bn 590bn
TPT 32: Medium 9 S-70A-42 Black Hawk; Light 23 Bell per capita USD 51,849 50,598
212 (AB-212)
Growth % 6.2 2.4
AIR DEFENCE
SAM • Point-defence Mistral Inflation % 3.2 9.5
GUNS 35mm 24 GDF-005 (6 more in store) Def exp [a] EUR 5.28bn 6.53bn
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IIR IRIS-T USD 6.24bn 6.90bn
Def bdgt [b] EUR 4.66bn 5.36bn 5.99bn
Special Operations Forces USD 5.52bn 5.66bn
FORCES BY ROLE USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
SPECIAL FORCES
[a] NATO figure
2 SF gp
1 SF gp (reserve) [b] Includes military pensions
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
Support 7,500 4.88
Support forces comprise Joint Services Support Command
and several agencies, academies and schools 3.80
2008 2015 2022

DEPLOYMENT Population 11,847,338

BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
167; 1 inf bn HQ; 1 inf coy; 1 hel unit
Male 8.8% 2.9% 2.9% 3.1% 23.0% 8.7%
CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 3
Female 8.4% 2.7% 2.8% 3.0% 22.8% 11.0%
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 171; 1 log coy
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 5; UN • MINUSMA 2 Capabilities
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 4 In July 2016, the government published its Strategic Vision for
Defence for 2030. This was updated in June 2022, when the Secu-
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 244; 1 recce coy; 1 mech inf coy;
rity/Service, Technology, Ambition, Resilience (STAR) Plan was
1 log coy; UN • UNMIK 1 approved by parliament. A month later, in July, a new military pro-
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 4 gramming law was approved which heralded increased defence
budgets out to 2030. These are intended to address three key areas:
to increase personnel numbers, strengthen the defence technologi-
cal and industrial base, and deliver major equipment investments.
Recruitment and retention criteria are under scrutiny, after retire-
ments and establishment reductions in recent decades. Invest-
ments are planned for the motorised brigade, medical support
and mobility, with over half of the STAR Plan’s investments slated
for the land domain. There is focus on ‘dual capability’ investments
that can used in contingencies at home as well as for miliary opera-
tions. A Cyber Command was inaugurated in October, falling under
the authority of the military intelligence service. NATO, EU and UN
membership are central to defence policy. Belgium often cooper-
ates with neighbours and has committed with Denmark and the
Netherlands to form a composite combined special-operations
command. The air force is forming a joint A400M unit with Luxem-
bourg. Investment projects include fighter aircraft, frigates, mine-
countermeasures vessels (being procured jointly with the Neth-
erlands), UAVs and land-combat vehicles. The army has ordered
French Griffon and Jaguar wheeled armoured vehicles as well as the
US JLTV. CAESAR NG self-propelled artillery pieces are being pro-
cured and will likely arrive from 2027. The air force has selected the
F-35 to replace its F-16s and deliveries are planned from 2023, with
IOC expected in 2025. It is also procuring UAVs and is looking to
buy light utility, heavy transport and search-and-rescue helicopters.
Belgium has an advanced, export-focused defense industry, focus-
ing on components and subcontracting, though in FN Herstal it has
one of the world’s largest manufacturers of small arms.
Europe 75

ACTIVE 23,200 (Army 8,500 Navy 1,400 Air 4,900 TRANSPORT


Medical Service 1,450 Joint Service 6,950) 1 sqn with Falcon 7X (VIP)
1 sqn (BEL/LUX) with A400M
RESERVE 5,900 TRAINING
1 OCU sqn with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 sqn with SF-260D/M
1 OCU unit with AW109
Land Component 8,500 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
2 sqn with AW109 (ISR)
FORCES BY ROLE

Europe
SPECIAL FORCES EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 spec ops regt (1 SF gp, 1 cdo bn, 1 para bn, 1 sigs gp) AIRCRAFT 53 combat capable
MANOEUVRE FTR 53: 44 F-16AM Fighting Falcon; 9 F-16BM
Mechanised Fighting Falcon
1 mech bde (1 ISR bn; 3 mech bn; 2 lt inf bn; 1 arty bn; TPT 8: Heavy 6 A400M; PAX 2 Falcon 7X (VIP, leased)
2 engr bn; 2 sigs gp; 2 log bn) TRG 32: 9 SF-260D; 23 SF-260M
COMBAT SUPPORT HELICOPTERS
1 CIMIC gp ASW 4 NH90 NFH (opcon Navy)
1 EOD unit TPT 11: Medium 4 NH90 TTH; Light 7 AW109 (ISR)
1 MP coy (7 more in store)
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
1 log bn AAM • IR AIM-9M Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE II; ARH AIM-120B AMRAAM
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES BOMBS
ASLT 18 Piranha III-C DF90 Laser-guided: GBU-10/-12 Paveway II; GBU-24 Paveway III
RECCE 30 Pandur Recce Laser & INS/GPS-guided: GBU-54 Laser JDAM
IFV 19 Piranha III-C DF30 (dual-mode)
APC • APC (W) 78: 64 Piranha III-C; 14 Piranha III-PC (CP) INS/GPS guided: GBU-31 JDAM; GBU-38 JDAM;
AUV 655: 219 Dingo 2 (inc 52 CP); 436 IVECO LMV GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
AEV 14: 6 Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs; 8 Piranha III-C Medical Service 1,450
ARV 13: 4 Pandur; 9 Piranha III-C
FORCES BY ROLE
VLB 4 Leguan
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
MSL • MANPATS Spike-MR 4 med unit
ARTILLERY 60 1 fd hospital
TOWED 105mm 14 LG1 MkII EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MOR 46: 81mm 14 Expal; 120mm 32 RT-61 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
APC • APC (W) 10: 4 Pandur (amb); 6 Piranha III-C (amb)
Naval Component 1,400 AUV 10 Dingo 2 (amb)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 2
DEPLOYMENT
FFGHM 2 Leopold I (ex-NLD Karel Doorman) with 2 quad
lnchr with RGM-84 Harpoon AShM, 1 16-cell Mk 48 mod DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
1 VLS with RIM-7P Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 twin 324mm MONUSCO 1
SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Goalkeeper CIWS, IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 6; NATO • NATO
1 76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel) Mission Iraq 7
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
PCC 2 Castor (FRA Kermorvan mod) LITHUANIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 150;
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 1 mech inf coy with Piranha DF30/DF90
MHC 5 Flower (Tripartite) MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 15; UN • MINUSMA 53
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 2
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: NATO • SNMCMG 2: 50; 1 MHC
AGOR 1 Belgica
AXS 1 Zenobe Gramme MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 1
MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 3
Air Component 4,900 ROMANIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 250;
FORCES BY ROLE 1 mech inf coy with Piranha IIIC
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK/ISR
4 sqn with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon
SEARCH & RESCUE FOREIGN FORCES
1 sqn with NH90 NFH United States US European Command: 1,150
76 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

1 MP bn, 1 CBRN coy, 1 sigs bn)


Bosnia-Herzegovina BIH COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 log comd (5 log bn)
Convertible Mark BAM 2021 2022 2023
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
GDP BAM 38.6bn 43.8bn ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
USD 23.4bn 23.7bn MBT 45 M60A3
per capita USD 6,712 6,818 APC • APC (T) 20 M113A2
Growth % 7.5 2.5 ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Inflation % 2.0 10.5 VLB MTU
MW Bozena
Def bdgt BAM 318m 313m 324m
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
USD 192m 169m SP 60: 8 9P122 Malyutka; 9 9P133 Malyutka; 32 BOV-1;
USD1=BAM 1.65 1.85 11 M-92
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 9K111
229 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn);
HJ-8; Milan
140 ARTILLERY 224
2008 2015 2022 TOWED 122mm 100 D-30
MRL 122mm 24 APRA-40
Population 3,816,459 MOR 120mm 100 M-75

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Air Force and Air Defence Brigade 800
Male 6.8% 2.3% 2.9% 3.2% 26.6% 7.0% FORCES BY ROLE
Female 6.4% 2.2% 2.7% 2.9% 26.8% 10.2% HELICOPTER
1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); Mi-8MTV Hip;
Capabilities Mi-17 Hip H
1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II); Mi-8 Hip;
The armed forces’ primary goals are to defend territorial integ-
rity and contribute to peacekeeping missions and potential tasks SA-341H/SA-342L Gazelle (HN-42/45M)
relating to aid to the civil authorities. Bosnia-Herzegovina joined AIR DEFENCE
NATO’s Partnership for Peace in 2006 and a Membership Action 1 AD bn
Plan was presented in 2010. Its aspiration to join NATO has been EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
delayed due to unresolved defence-property issues, and con- AIRCRAFT
tinuing ethnic tensions have seen the ethnic Serb community FGA (7 J-22 Orao in store)
threaten to withdraw from national structures including the
ATK (6 J-1 (J-21) Jastreb; 3 TJ-1(NJ-21) Jastreb all in store)
armed forces. The country is reforming its armed forces and mod-
ernising its equipment in accordance with its Defence Review,
ISR (2 RJ-1 (IJ-21) Jastreb* in store)
Development and Modernisation Plan for 2017–27 and its NATO TRG (1 G-4 Super Galeb (N-62)* in store)
aspirations. The armed forces are professional and represent all HELICOPTERS
three ethnic groups. However, low salaries may negatively affect MRH 9: 4 Mi-8MTV Hip; 1 Mi-17 Hip H; 1 SA-341H
recruitment and retention. Bosnia-Herzegovina contributes to EU, Gazelle (HN-42); up to 3 SA-342L Gazelle (HN-45M)
NATO and UN missions, but the armed forces have no capacity to TPT 17: Medium 8 Mi-8 Hip Light 9: 6 Bell 205 (UH-1H
deploy independently and self-sustain beyond national borders. Iroquois) (of which 2 MEDEVAC); 3 Bell 205 (UH-1H
The inventory comprises mainly ageing Soviet-era equipment, Huey II) (1 UH-1H Huey II in store)
though some new helicopters have been procured from the US.
AIR DEFENCE
Bosnia-Herzegovina has little in the way of a domestic defence
industry, with only the capability to produce small arms, ammuni-
SAM
tion and explosives. Short-range 20 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
Point-defence 9K34 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin);
ACTIVE 10,500 (Armed Forces 10,500) 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
GUNS • TOWED 40mm 47: 31 L/60, 16 L/70
RESERVE 6,000 (Armed Forces 6,000)

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE FOREIGN FORCES


Part of EUFOR – Operation Althea unless otherwise stated
Armed Forces 10,500 Albania 1
Austria 167; 1 inf bn HQ; 1 inf coy; 1 hel unit
1 ops comd; 1 spt comd
Bulgaria 110; 1 inf coy
FORCES BY ROLE
Chile 7
MANOEUVRE
Light Czech Republic 2
3 inf bde (1 recce coy, 3 inf bn, 1 arty bn) France 5
COMBAT SUPPORT Germany 25
1 cbt spt bde (1 tk bn, 1 engr bn, 1 EOD bn, 1 int bn, Greece 7
Europe 77

Hungary 192; 1 inf coy requested also from Israel and the US. In 2022, Bulgaria estab-
Ireland 5 lished and led a NATO multinational battle group. In an attempt
Italy 346; 1 inf bn HQ; 1 inf coy; 1 ISR coy to cope with personnel shortfalls, the military retirement age
and salaries have been increased, yet several roles needed to
Macedonia, North 1 strengthen the armed forces remain understrength. Training is
Poland 38 understood to be prioritised for units intended for international
Portugal 1 operations and those with certain readiness levels declared to
Romania 203; 1 inf coy NATO and the EU. Bulgaria regularly trains and exercises with
Slovakia 53 NATO partners and regional allies. There are also plans for acqui-
sitions to enable the formation of battalion battlegroups within
Slovenia 16

Europe
its mechanised brigades. The navy is looking to procure a multi-
Spain 3 purpose patrol vessel and modernise its frigates to boost its pres-
Switzerland 20 ence in the Black Sea. T-72 modernisation is underway, and the
Turkey 242; 1 inf coy local upgrade of 40 T-72s for the ground forces is expected to be
complete in 2023, with this including upgraded battle manage-
ment systems. Bulgaria’s defence industry exports small arms but
Bulgaria BLG has limited capacity to design and manufacture platforms.

Bulgarian Lev BGN 2021 2022 2023 ACTIVE 36,950 (Army 17,000 Navy 4,450 Air 8,500
GDP BGN 133bn 157bn Central Staff 7,000)
USD 80.3bn 85.0bn
RESERVE 3,000 (Joint 3,000)
per capita USD 11,746 12,505
Growth % 4.2 3.9
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Inflation % 2.8 12.4
Def exp [a] BGN 2.11bn 2.48bn
Army 17,000
USD 1.28bn 1.34bn
FORCES BY ROLE
Def bdgt [b] BGN 2.10bn 2.48bn 2.97bn
MANOEUVRE
USD 1.27bn 1.34bn
Reconnaissance
USD1=BGN 1.65 1.85 1 recce bn
[a] NATO figure Mechanised
[b] Excludes military pensions 2 mech bde (4 mech inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 cbt engr bn,
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) 1 log bn, 1 SAM bn)
1730 Light
1 mtn inf regt
565 COMBAT SUPPORT
2008 2015 2022 1 arty regt (1 fd arty bn, 1 MRL bn)
1 engr regt (1 cbt engr bn, 1 ptn br bn, 1 engr spt bn)
Population 6,873,253
1 NBC bn
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
1 log regt
Male 7.3% 2.6% 2.5% 2.7% 25.4% 8.3%
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Female 6.9% 2.4% 2.3% 2.4% 24.9% 12.3%
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 90 T-72M1/M2†
Capabilities IFV 160: 90 BMP-1; 70 BMP-23
The armed forces’ main priority is defending state sovereignty and APC 120
territorial integrity. The Programme 2032 long-term development APC (T) 100 MT-LB
plan was adopted in 2021, involving significant re-equipment and APC (W) 20 BTR-60
modernisation and a focus on artificial intelligence and cyber capa-
AUV 44: 17 M1117 ASV; 27 Plasan SandCat
bility. Bulgaria signed a ten-year Defence Cooperation Roadmap
with the US in 2020 to assist force development. There are several ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
bilateral defence cooperation agreements with regional states. AEV MT-LB
Bulgaria’s airspace is protected by joint activities with NATO’s ARV T-54/T-55; MTP-1; MT-LB
Air Policing Mission, due to the country’s limited numbers of VLB BLG67; TMM
combat aircraft. In September, the defence ministry announced ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
it had allocated funds to purchase a further eight F-16C/Ds, on MSL
top of the eight agreed earlier. These aircraft are not expected
SP 24 9P148 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel)
to arrive until 2025. Bulgaria’s MiG-29s are due for retirement
in 2023, and the government in October said it was looking at MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1
options to improve their availability, including by securing addi- Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); (9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3
tional engines from Poland. The government also received offers Sagger) in store)
for interim combat aircraft from Sweden and France, with offers GUNS 126: 85mm (150 D-44 in store); 100mm 126 MT-12
78 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ARTILLERY 176 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER


SP 122mm 48 2S1 1 sqn with AS532AL Cougar; Bell 206 Jet Ranger; Mi-17
TOWED 152mm 24 D-20 Hip H
MRL 122mm 24 BM-21 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MOR 120mm ε80 Tundza/Tundza Sani AIRCRAFT 26 combat capable
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
FTR 14: 11 MiG-29 Fulcrum; 3 MiG-29UB Fulcrum†
SRBM • Conventional 9K79 Tochka (RS-SS-21 Scarab)
FGA (Some MiG-21bis Fishbed/MiG-21UM Mongol B
AIR DEFENCE
in store)
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡;
ATK 6: 5 Su-25K Frogfoot K; 1 Su-25UBK Frogfoot B
24 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko)
ISR 1 An-30 Clank
GUNS 400
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 TPT 7: Medium 3 C-27J Spartan; Light 4: 1 An-2T Colt;
TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2; 57mm S-60 2 L-410UVP-E; 1 PC-12M
TRG 12: 6 L-39ZA Albatros*; 6 PC-9M (basic)
Navy 4,450 HELICOPTERS
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ATK 6 Mi-24V Hind E (6 Mi-24D Hind D in store)
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 3 MRH 5 Mi-17 Hip H
FFM 3 Drazki (ex-BEL Wielingen) (of which 2†) with 1 TPT 18: Medium 12 AS532AL Cougar; Light 6 Bell 206
octuple Mk 29 GMLS with RIM-7P Sea Sparrow SAM, Jet Ranger
2 single 533mm ASTT with L5 mod 4 HWT, 1 sextuple UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • EW Yastreb-2S
Bofors ASW Rocket Launcher System 375mm A/S mor, AIR DEFENCE
1 100mm gun (Fitted for but not with 2 twin lnchr with SAM 20
MM38 Exocet AShM) Long-range 20: 12 S-200 (RS-SA-5 Gammon);
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4 8 S-300PMU (RS-SA-10 Grumble)
CORVETTES • FS 1 Smeli (ex-FSU Koni) with 2 RBU Short-range S-125M Neva-M (RS-SA-3 Goa); 2K12 Kub
6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 twin 76mm guns (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
PCF 1 Molnya† (ex-FSU Tarantul II) with 2 AK630M AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
CIWS, 1 76mm gun AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 Atoll)‡; R-73 (RS-AA-11A
PCT 2 Reshitelni (ex-FSU Pauk I) with 4 single 406mm TT, Archer); SARH R-27R (RS-AA-10 Alamo A)
2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 1 76mm gun ASM Kh-29 (RS-AS-14 Kedge); Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen)
MINE COUNTERMEASURES 9
MHC 3: 2 Mesta (ex-NLD Alkmaar); 1 Tsibar (Tripartite – Special Forces
ex-BEL Flower)
FORCES BY ROLE
MSC 3 Briz (ex-FSU Sonya) (of which 1†)
SPECIAL FORCES
MSI 3 Olya (ex-FSU)† (3 more non-operational)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 1 spec ops bde (1 SF bn, 1 para bn)
LCM 2 Vydra† (capacity either 3 MBT or 200 troops)
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 9: 3 AGS; 2 AOL; 1 ARS; DEPLOYMENT
2 ATF; 1 AX
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea)
Naval Aviation 110; 1 inf coy
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE IRAQ: NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 2
HELICOPTERS MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 4
ASW 2 AS565MB Panther
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 30
MRH 1 AS365N3+ Dauphin 2

Air Force 8,500 FOREIGN FORCES


FORCES BY ROLE Albania NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities: 30; 1 inf pl
FIGHTER/ISR Greece Enhanced Vigilance Activities: 30; 1 AT pl
1 sqn with MiG-29/MiG-29UB Fulcrum
Italy NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities: 750; 1 mech
TRANSPORT
inf BG
1 sqn with An-30 Clank; C-27J Spartan; L-410UVP-E;
Spain NATO Enhanced Air Policing: 130; 6 Eurofighter
PC-12M
TRAINING Typhoon
1 sqn with L-39ZA Albatros* United Kingdom NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities:
1 sqn with PC-9M 120; 1 lt mech inf coy
ATTACK HELICOPTER United States NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities: 150;
1 sqn with Mi-24D/V Hind D/E 1 armd inf coy
Europe 79

Croatia CRO ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Croatian Kuna HRK 2021 2022 2023 Joint 2,350 (General Staff )
GDP HRK 431bn 494bn FORCES BY ROLE
USD 67.7bn 69.4bn SPECIAL FORCES
per capita USD 16,785 17,318 5 SF gp
Growth % 10.2 5.9
Army 11,100
Inflation % 2.6 9.8
FORCES BY ROLE

Europe
Def exp [a] HRK 8.67bn 9.37bn
MANOEUVRE
USD 1.36bn 1.32bn Armoured
Def bdgt [b] HRK 8.99bn 9.07bn 8.43bn 1 armd bde (1 tk bn, 2 armd inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 ADA
USD 1.41bn 1.27bn bn, 1 cbt engr bn)
USD1=HRK 6.36 7.13 Mechanised
[a] NATO figure 1 mech bde (3 mech inf bn, 1 lt mech inf bn, 1 fd arty bn,
1 ADA bn, 1 cbt engr bn)
[b] Includes military pensions
Other
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) 1 inf trg regt
1209
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty/MRL regt
620 1 engr regt
2008 2015 2022
1 NBC bn
Population 4,188,853 1 sigs bn
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 log regt
AIR DEFENCE
Male 7.3% 2.5% 2.8% 3.1% 23.5% 9.2%
1 ADA regt
Female 6.8% 2.3% 2.6% 2.9% 24.0% 13.0%
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Capabilities MBT 74 M-84
Principal tasks for the armed forces include defending national IFV 102 M-80
sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as tackling terrorism APC 184
and contributing to international peacekeeping missions. The APC (T) 11: 7 BTR-50; 4 OT M-60
defence ministry is working on a new long-term development plan APC (W) 132: 6 BOV-VP; 126 Patria AMV (incl variants)
and a new defence strategy. Croatia reformed its armed forces, to PPV 41: 21 Maxxpro Plus; 20 RG-33 HAGA (amb)
create a small professional force, prior to joining NATO in 2009. AUV 133: 10 IVECO LMV; 123 M-ATV
There have been recent moves to improve conditions of service ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
and to increase the proportion of the budget focused on equip- ARV 22: 12 JVBT-55A; 1 M-84AI; 1 WZT-2; 2 WZT-3;
ment investment. Zagreb has defence cooperation agreements 5 Maxxpro Recovery
with Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary and Romania, and person- VLB 5 MT-55A
nel frequently train with regional and international allies. Croatia MW 4 MV-4
hosts the NATO Multinational Special Aviation Programme and ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
training centre and participates in EU and NATO missions, includ- SP 20 BOV-1
ing NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence in Poland. The inventory MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 9K111
is mainly composed of ageing Soviet-era equipment. In May 2021, Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5
Croatia announced the purchase of second-hand Rafale F3-R fight- Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn)
ers from France. Maintenance personnel were training in France as ARTILLERY 157
of November 2022, with pilot training expected to start in 2023. SP 21: 122mm 8 2S1 Gvozdika; 155mm 13 PzH 2000
The army will re-equip with Bradley IFVs, acquired from the US, and TOWED 122mm 24 D-30
the year saw a modest boost to rotary-wing capability with the
MRL 122mm 18: 6 M91 Vulkan; 12 BM-21 Grad
US donation of two UH-60M helicopters. The authorities are also
MOR 94: 82mm 54 LMB M96; 120mm 40 M-75/UBM 52
looking to acquire short- and medium-range air-defence systems.
AIR DEFENCE
Croatia has a small defence industry, focused on small arms,
SAM • Point-defence 9+: 3 9K35 Strela-10M3
ammunition, explosives and naval systems.
(RS-SA-13 Gopher); 6 9K35 Strela-10CRO; 9K310 Igla-1
ACTIVE 16,700 (Army 11,100 Navy 1,650 Air 1,600 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
Joint 2,350) GUNS SP 20mm 6 BOV-3 SP
Conscript liability Voluntary conscription, 8 weeks
Navy 1,650
RESERVE 21,000 (Army 21,000) Navy HQ at Split
80 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Special Forces Command


PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5 FORCES BY ROLE
PCFG 1 Končar with 2 twin lnchr with RBS15B Mk I
SPECIAL FORCES
AShM, 1 AK630 CIWS, 1 57mm gun
2 SF gp
PCG 4:
2 Kralj with 4 single lnchr with RBS15B Mk I AShM, 1
AK630 CIWS, 1 57mm gun (with minelaying capability) DEPLOYMENT
2 Vukovar (ex-FIN Helsinki) with 4 single lnchr with HUNGARY: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 60
RBS15B Mk I AShM, 1 57mm gun
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 1 INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 8
MHI 1 Korcula IRAQ: NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 10
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 5: LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1
LCT 2 Cetina (with minelaying capability)
POLAND: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 4
LCVP 3: 2 Type-21; 1 Type-22
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AKL 1 PDS 713 SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 147; 1 inf coy; 1 hel unit with
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 3 RBS15K Mi-8 Hip
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 8
Marines
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE Cyprus CYP
Amphibious
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
1 indep mne coy
GDP EUR 23.4bn 25.3bn
Coast Guard USD 27.7bn 26.7bn
FORCES BY ROLE per capita USD 30,957 29,535
Two divisions, headquartered in Split (1st div) and Pula Growth % 5.6 3.5
(2nd div) Inflation % 2.2 8.0
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Def bdgt EUR 482m 470m 465m
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 5: 4 USD 571m 497m
Mirna; 1 Omiš
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 3:
AAR 1 Faust Vrancic (YUG Spasilac) Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
514
AKL 1 PT-71†
AX 1 Andrija Mohorovicic (POL Project 861)
328
2008 2015 2022
Air Force and Air Defence 1,600
FORCES BY ROLE Population 1,295,102
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 (mixed) sqn with MiG-21bis/UMD Fishbed Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
TRAINING Male 8.0% 2.8% 3.5% 4.4% 26.4% 5.9%
1 sqn with PC-9M; Z-242L Female 7.6% 2.4% 2.9% 3.7% 24.6% 7.7%
ISR HELICOPTER
1 hel sqn with Bell 206B Jet Ranger II; OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Capabilities
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
2 sqn with Mi-8MTV Hip H; Mi-8T Hip C; Mi-171Sh The National Guard is focused on protecting the island’s territorial
integrity and sovereignty, and safeguarding Cyprus’s EEZ. Its main
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE objective is to deter any Turkish incursion, and to provide enough
AIRCRAFT 8 combat capable opposition until military support can be provided by Greece, its
FGA 8: 4 MiG-21bis Fishbed; 4 MiG-21UMD Fishbed primary ally. Cyprus has been enhancing its defence cooperation
TPT • Light (2 An-32 Cline in store) with Greece, including on cyber defence. Nicosia has also pledged
TRG 21: 17 PC-9M; 4 Z-242L deeper military ties with Israel, while France has renewed and
HELICOPTERS enhanced its defence-cooperation agreement with Cyprus. In 2018
MRH 25: 10 Mi-8MTV Hip H; 15 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior Cyprus also signed a memorandum of understanding on enhanc-
TPT 23: Medium 15: 3 Mi-8T Hip C; 10 Mi-171Sh; 2 UH- ing defence and security cooperation with the UK. Having reduced
conscript liability in 2016, Nicosia began recruiting additional
60M Black Hawk; Light 8 Bell 206B Jet Ranger II
contract-service personnel, as part of the effort to modernise
AIR DEFENCE • SAM
and professionalise its forces. Cyprus exercises with several inter-
Point-defence 9K31 Strela-1 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin); 9K34 national partners, most notably France, Greece and Israel. External
Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) deployments have been limited to some officers joining EU and UN
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES missions. Cyprus has little logistics capability to support operations
AAM • IR R-60; R-60MK (RS-AA-8 Aphid) abroad. Equipment comprises a mix of Soviet-era and modern Euro-
ASM AGM-114R Hellfire pean systems and in 2022 an announcement was made relating to
Europe 81

the procurement of H145M helicopters from France. Cyprus has little Maritime Wing
in the way of a domestic defence industry, with no ability to design
and manufacture modern equipment. However, the government is FORCES BY ROLE
looking for opportunities to cooperate with defence firms in Greece. COMBAT SUPPORT
1 (coastal defence) AShM bty with MM40 Exocet AShM
ACTIVE 12,000 (National Guard 12,000) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 250 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 6
Conscript liability 15 months PCC 2: 1 Alasia (ex-OMN Al Mabrukha) with 1 hel
RESERVE 50,000 (National Guard 50,000) landing platform; 1 OPV 62 (ISR Sa’ar 4.5 derivative)
Reserve service to age 50 (officers dependent on rank; PBF 4: 2 Rodman 55; 2 Vittoria

Europe
military doctors to age 60) COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 3 MM40 Exocet

Air Wing
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
HELICOPTERS
National Guard 12,000 (incl conscripts) ATK 11 Mi-35P Hind E (offered for sale)
FORCES BY ROLE MRH 7: 3 AW139 (SAR); 4 SA342L1 Gazelle (with
SPECIAL FORCES HOT for anti-armour role)
1 comd (regt) (1 SF bn)
MANOEUVRE Paramilitary 250
Armoured
1 armd bde (2 armd bn, 1 armd inf bn) Maritime Police 250
Mechanised EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
4 (1st, 2nd, 6th & 7th) mech bde PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 10
Light PBF 5: 2 Poseidon; 1 Shaldag; 2 Vittoria
1 (4th) lt inf bde PB 5 SAB-12
2 (2nd & 8th) lt inf regt
COMBAT SUPPORT
DEPLOYMENT
1 arty comd (8 arty bn)
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 2
1 (3rd) spt bde
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE FOREIGN FORCES
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Argentina UNFICYP 251; 2 inf coy; 1 hel flt
MBT 134: 82 T-80U; 52 AMX-30B2
Austria UNFICYP 3
RECCE 79 EE-9 Cascavel
IFV 43 BMP-3 Brazil UNFICYP 2
APC 294 Canada UNFICYP 1
APC (T) 168 Leonidas Chile UNFICYP 6
APC (W) 126 VAB (incl variants) Ghana UNFICYP 1
AUV 8 BOV M16 Milos Greece Army: 950
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES Hungary UNFICYP 13
ARV 2+: 2 AMX-30D; BREM-80U India UNFICYP 1
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Norway UNFICYP 2
MSL
Pakistan UNFICYP 3
SP 33: 15 EE-3 Jararaca with Milan; 18 VAB with HOT
RCL 106mm 144 M40A1 Paraguay UNFICYP 12
GUNS • TOWED 100mm 6 M-1944 Russia UNFICYP 6
ARTILLERY 412 Serbia UNFICYP 8
SP 155mm 48: 24 NORA B-52; 12 Mk F3; 12 Zuzana Slovakia UNFICYP 300; 2 inf coy; 1 engr pl
TOWED 60: 105mm 48 M-56; 155mm 12 TR-F-1 United Kingdom 2,260; 2 inf bn; 1 hel sqn with 4 Bell 412
MRL 22: 122mm 4 BM-21; 128mm 18 M-63 Plamen Twin Huey • Operation Inherent Resolve (Shader) 500: 1 FGA
MOR 282: 81mm 170 E-44 (70+ M1/M9 in store); sqn with 10 Typhoon FGR4; 1 A330 MRTT Voyager KC3;
120mm 112 RT61 2 C-130J-30 Hercules • UNFICYP (Operation Tosca) 253: 2
AIR DEFENCE inf coy
SAM 22+
Medium-range 4 9K37M1 Buk M1-2 (RS-SA-11 Gadfly)
Short-range 18: 12 Aspide; 6 9K331 Tor-M1 (RS-
TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
SA-15 Gauntlet) DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL
Point-defence Mistral Data here represents the de facto situation on the northern
GUNS • TOWED 60: 20mm 36 M-55; 35mm 24 GDF-003 section of the island. This does not imply international
(with Skyguard) recognition as a sovereign state.
82 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Capabilities PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 1


AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 3 Cessna 185 (U-17)
ACTIVE 3,000 (Army 3,000) Gendarmerie & HELICOPTERS • TPT 3: Medium 2 AS532UL Cougar
Paramilitary 150 Light 1 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
Conscript liability 15 months AIR DEFENCE
SAM Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger
RESERVE 15,000 GUNS • TOWED 150: 20mm 122: 44 Rh 202; 78
Reserve liability to age 50
GAI-D01; 35mm 28 GDF-003

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Czech Republic CZE
Army ε3,000 Czech Koruna CZK 2021 2022 2023
FORCES BY ROLE GDP CZK 6.11tr 6.89tr
MANOEUVRE USD 282bn 296bn
Light
per capita USD 26,849 28,095
5 inf bn
Growth % 3.5 1.9
7 inf bn (reserve)
Inflation % 3.8 16.3
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Def exp [a] CZK 84.9bn 89.2bn
MSL • MANPATS Milan USD 3.91bn 3.83bn
RCL • 106mm 36 Def bdgt [b] CZK 85.4bn 89.1bn 112bn
ARTILLERY • MOR • 120mm 73 USD 3.94bn 3.83bn
USD1=CZK 21.68 23.30
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary [a] NATO figure
Armed Police ε150 [b] Includes military pensions
FORCES BY ROLE Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
SPECIAL FORCES 2.95
1 (police) SF unit
1.73
Coast Guard 2008 2015 2022
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Population 10,705,384
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 6
PCC 5: 2 SG45/SG46; 1 Rauf Denktash; 2 US Mk 5
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
PB 1
Male 7.7% 2.5% 2.4% 2.8% 25.1% 8.8%
Female 7.3% 2.4% 2.2% 2.6% 24.2% 12.1%
FOREIGN FORCES
TURKEY Capabilities
Army ε33,800
The ‘Long Term Outlook for Defence 2035’ and the ‘Czech Armed
FORCES BY ROLE Forces Development Concept 2030’, both published in 2019, dis-
1 corps HQ; 1 SF regt; 1 armd bde; 2 mech inf div; cussed the evolving security environment, among other issues. In
1 mech inf regt; 1 arty regt; 1 avn comd January 2022, the defence ministry released a priorities list that
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE included recruiting more personnel, a commitment to spend 2%
of GDP on defence by 2025, to streamline the acquisition process
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
and to establish an investment fund for strategic modernisation
MBT 287 M48A5T1
projects by 2024. After Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine,
IFV 145 ACV AIFV Prague announced a boost to defence spending and has donated
APC • APC (T) 488: 70 ACV AAPC (incl variants); a significant amount of materiel to Kyiv. In response, allies have
418 M113 (incl variants) donated equipment to the Czech armed forces including, from
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Germany, 14 Leopard 2A4 MBTs. A Defence Cooperation Agree-
MSL ment was agreed with the US in April 2022. The US has granted
SP 66 ACV TOW funds under the Foreign Military Financing programme in part to
MANPATS Milan help replace equipment donated to Ukraine. Modernisation pri-
RCL 106mm 219 M40A1 orities include infantry fighting vehicles (IFV) for a heavy brigade,
self-propelled howitzers, multi-role helicopters, transport aircraft,
ARTILLERY 656
short-range air-defence systems and UAVs. In July, the govern-
SP 155mm 178: 30 M44T; 144 M52T1; 4 T-155 Firtina ment cancelled a tender for new IFVs, and opened negotiations
TOWED 84: 105mm 36 M101A1; 155mm 36 M114A2; with Sweden for the CV90. Prague has entered into negotiations
203mm 12 M115 with the US to acquire 24 F-35s as a long-term replacement for its
MRL 122mm 18 T-122 leased Gripen combat aircraft, and it is reported that the ministry
MOR 376: 81mm 171; 107mm 70 M30; 120mm 135 HY-12 is looking to acquire Heron 1 UAVs from Israel. The armed forces
Europe 83

deploy on a variety of international crisis-management operations, RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf


including NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence, Air Policing and ARTILLERY 96
contributing to NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force. There SP 152mm 48 M-77 Dana (up to 38 more in store)
are plans to upgrade military training and simulation facilities by MOR 48: 81mm Expal; 120mm 40 M-1982; (45 more in
2025. The defence-industrial base includes development and man-
store); SP 120mm 8 SPM-85
ufacturing capability, in particular small arms, vehicles, and train-
ing and light attack aircraft. The holding company Czechoslovak
Group brings together several companies across the munitions, Air Force 5,850
vehicles and aerospace sectors. Principal task is to secure Czech airspace. This mission is
fulfilled within NATO Integrated Extended Air Defence
ACTIVE 26,600 (Army 14,700 Air 5,850 Other 6,050) System (NATINADS) and, if necessary, by means of the

Europe
Czech national reinforced air-defence system. The air force
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE also provides CAS for army SAR, and performs a tpt role
FORCES BY ROLE
Army 14,700 FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
FORCES BY ROLE 1 sqn with Gripen C/D
MANOEUVRE 1 sqn with L-159 ALCA; L-159T1*
Reconnaissance TRANSPORT
1 ISR/EW regt (1 recce bn, 1 EW bn, 1 ISR UAV bn) 2 sqn with A319CJ; C295M/MW; CL-601 Challenger;
Armoured L-410FG/UVP-E Turbolet
1 (7th) mech bde (1 tk bn, 2 armd inf bn, 1 mot inf bn) TRAINING
Mechanised 1 sqn with L-159 ALCA; L-159T1*; L-159T2*
1 (4th) rapid reaction bde (2 mech inf bn, 1 mot inf bn) ATTACK HELICOPTER
Airborne 1 sqn with Mi-24/Mi-35 Hind D/E
1 AB regt TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-171Sh
1 (13th) arty regt (2 arty bn) 1 sqn with Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H; PZL W-3A Sokol
1 engr regt (2 engr bn, 1 EOD bn) AIR DEFENCE
1 CBRN regt (2 CBRN bn) 1 (25th) SAM regt (2 AD gp)
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 log regt (2 log bn, 1 maint bn)
AIRCRAFT 38 combat capable
Active Reserve FGA 14: 12 Gripen C; 2 Gripen D
ATK 16 L-159 ALCA
FORCES BY ROLE
TPT 15: Light 12: 4 C295M; 2 C295MW; 2 L-410FG
COMMAND
14 (territorial defence) comd Turbolet; 4 L-410UVP-E Turbolet; PAX 3: 2 A319CJ; 1 CL-
MANOEUVRE 601 Challenger
Armoured TRG 8: 5 L-159T1*; 3 L-159T2*
1 armd coy HELICOPTERS
Light ATK 17: 7 Mi-24 Hind D; 10 Mi-35 Hind E
14 inf coy (1 per territorial comd) (3 inf pl, 1 cbt spt pl, MRH 5 Mi-17 Hip H
1 log pl) TPT • Medium 30: 4 Mi-8 Hip; 16 Mi-171Sh; 10 PZL
W3A Sokol
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIR DEFENCE • SAM
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Point-defence 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K32
MBT 30 T-72M4CZ (up to 89 T-72M1 in store)
Strela-2‡ (RS-SA-7 Grail) (available for trg RBS-70
RECCE 50: 34 BPzV Svatava; 8 Pandur II (KBV-PZ);
gunners); RBS-70
8 Pandur II (KBV-PZLOK)
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
IFV 227: 120 BMP-2; 107 Pandur II (incl 17 CP, 14
comms, 4 amb); (up to 98 BMP-1; 65 BMP-2 all in store) AAM • IR AIM-9M Sidewinder; ARH AIM-120C-5
APC • PPV 1 Titus AMRAAM
AUV 141: 21 Dingo 2; 120 IVECO LMV BOMBS
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES Laser-guided: GBU-12/-16 Paveway II
AEV 4 Pandur II (KOT-Z)
ARV 13+: 10 VPV-ARV (12 more in store); VT-55A; Other Forces 6,050
3 VT-72M4 FORCES BY ROLE
VLB 6 MT-55A (3 more in store) SPECIAL FORCES
MW Bozena 5; UOS-155 Belarty 1 SF gp
NBC VEHICLES BRDM-2RCH MANOEUVRE
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Other
MSL • MANPATS 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 1 (presidential) gd bde (2 bn)
FGM-148 Javelin; Spike-LR 1 (honour guard) gd bn (2 coy)
84 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SUPPORT Capabilities


1 int gp
Denmark maintains a compact but effective force, with a focus on
1 (central) MP comd contributing to larger NATO operations. Ties to NATO, NORDEFCO
3 (regional) MP comd and other regional neighbours have increased. In late 2019 the
government agreed an action plan to ensure the promotion of
1 (protection service) MP comd
Danish interests in the EU’s European Defence Fund. Russia’s Feb-
ruary 2022 invasion of Ukraine was the driving factor behind the
DEPLOYMENT June 2022 vote in which Denmark ended its ‘opt out’ of EU military
cooperation under CSDP. It has also spurred Denmark to increase
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 2 defence spending, and further increase defence cooperation with
Norway and Sweden. The January 2022 Foreign and Security Policy
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 3 Strategy expressed concerns about cyber and hybrid attacks, as
well as pandemic preparedness. Current defence-modernisation
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
priorities include the acquisition of the F-35A, and the upgrade of
MONUSCO 2 armoured vehicles within the mechanised brigades. Other acquisi-
tion priorities include EW equipment, MALE UAVs and ASW capa-
EGYPT: MFO 18; 1 C295M
bilities, while authorities are also considering requirements for
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 60; NATO • NATO GBAD and longer-range artillery systems. The defence agreement
for 2018–23 envisages increased defence spending to deal with
Mission Iraq 3
a deteriorating security environment. The Danish armed forces
LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 81; 1 mor pl consist primarily of professional personnel, supplemented by a
substantial number of conscripts. The new defence agreement
LITHUANIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 135; foresees retaining national service and that the annual conscript
1 AD unit intake should rise modestly. The authorities are examining mea-
sures to improve recruitment and retention. The Danish armed
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 90; UN • MINUSMA 5 forces have little ability to deploy independently but have contrib-
uted to a number of larger multinational deployments. Denmark
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 8; UN • UNMIK 2
is largely reliant on imported defence equipment but maintains
SLOVAKIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 400; 1 a small defence industry focused on exports to Europe and North
America. The Danish defence industry is mainly active in defence
mech inf bn HQ; 1 mech inf coy
electronics and the design and manufacture of components and
SYRIA/ISRAEL: UN • UNDOF 4 subsystems, including subcomponents for the F-35.

ACTIVE 15,400 (Army 8,000 Navy 2,250 Air 3,000


Denmark DNK Joint 2,150)
Conscript liability 4–12 months, most voluntary
Danish Krone DKK 2021 2022 2023
RESERVES 44,200 (Army 34,400 Navy 5,300 Air
GDP DKK 2.50tr 2.73tr Force 4,500)
USD 398bn 387bn
per capita USD 68,202 65,713
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Growth % 4.9 2.6
Inflation % 1.9 7.2 Army 8,000
Def exp [a] DKK 33.2bn 37.8bn Div and a bde HQ transforming into operational formations
USD 5.27bn 5.36bn
FORCES BY ROLE
Def bdgt [b] DKK 33.8bn 35.7bn 40.2bn COMMAND
USD 5.37bn 5.06bn 1 (MND-N) div HQ
USD1=DKK 6.29 7.05 MANOEUVRE
[a] NATO figure Mechanised
[b] Includes military pensions 1 (1st) mech bde (1 ISR bn, 3 mech inf bn, 1 SP arty bn,
1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 log bn)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
1 (2nd) mech bde (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn, 1 lt inf bn)
4.61
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 CBRN/construction bn
3.36
1 EOD bn
2008 2015 2022
1 int bn
Population 5,920,767 1 MP bn
2 sigs bn
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 log bn
Male 8.4% 3.0% 3.2% 3.5% 22.4% 9.4%
1 maint bn
Female 7.9% 2.8% 3.0% 3.3% 22.0% 11.0% 1 spt bn
Europe 85

AIR DEFENCE Air Force 3,000


1 AD bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Tactical Air Command
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES FORCES BY ROLE
MBT 44: 15 Leopard 2A5 (to be upgraded to 2A7V); FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
29 Leopard 2A7V 2 sqn with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon
IFV 44 CV9035 MkIII ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
APC 286 1 sqn with MH-60R Seahawk
APC (W) 286: 81 Piranha III (incl variants); 205 Piranha V SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with AW101 Merlin

Europe
AUV 158: 84 Eagle IV; 59 Eagle V; 15 HMT-400
1 sqn with AS550 Fennec (ISR)
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
TRANSPORT
AEV 3 Wisent
1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules; CL-604 Challenger
ARV 8 Wisent
(MP/VIP)
VLB 6 BRP-1 Biber
TRAINING
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
1 unit with MFI-17 Supporter (T-17)
MSL • MANPATS Spike-LR2
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
AIRCRAFT 50 combat capable
ARTILLERY 50
FTR 44: 34 F-16AM Fighting Falcon; 10 F-16BM
SP 155mm 15 CAESAR 8×8
Fighting Falcon (30 operational)
MOR 35: TOWED 120mm 20 Soltam K6B1; SP 120mm
FGA 6 F-35A Lightning II
15 Piranha V with Cardom-10 TPT 8: Medium 4 C-130J-30 Hercules; PAX 4 CL-604
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger Challenger (MP/VIP)
TRG 27 MFI-17 Supporter (T-17)
Navy 2,250 HELICOPTERS
Three naval squadrons, headquartered at naval bases in ASW 9 MH-60R Seahawk
Frederikshavn and Korsør SAR 8 AW101 Merlin
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MRH 8 AS550 Fennec (ISR) (4 more non-operational)
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 5 TPT • Medium 6 AW101 Merlin
DESTROYERS • DDGHM 3 Iver Huitfeldt with 4 quad AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
lnchr with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 4 8-cell Mk AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder
41 VLS (to be fitted with SM-2 SAM), 2 12-cell Mk 56 II; ARH AIM-120B AMRAAM
VLS with RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 2 twin 324mm TT with BOMBS
MU90 LWT, 1 Millennium CIWS, 2 76mm guns (capacity Laser-guided GBU-24 Paveway III
Laser & INS/GPS-guided EGBU-12 Paveway II
1 AW101 Merlin/MH-60R Seahawk hel)
INS/GPS guided GBU-31 JDAM
FRIGATES • FFGHM 2 Absalon (flexible support ships)
with 4 quad lnchr with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II Control and Air Defence Group
AShM, 3 12-cell Mk 56 VLS with RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 1 Control and Reporting Centre, 1 Mobile Control and
2 twin 324mm TT with MU90 LWT, 2 Millennium CIWS, 1 Reporting Centre. 4 Radar sites
127mm gun (capacity 2 AW101 Merlin/MH-60R Seahawk
hel; 2 LCP, 7 MBT or 40 vehicles; 130 troops) Special Operations Command
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12 FORCES BY ROLE
PSOH 4 Thetis 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 MH-60R Seahawk) SPECIAL FORCES
PSO 3 Knud Rasmussen with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing 1 SF unit
platform (ice-strengthened hull) 1 diving unit
PCC 5 Diana (1 other non-operational)
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 6 Reserves
MCI 4 MSF Mk I
MSD 2 Holm Home Guard (Army) 34,400 reservists (to age 50)
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 12 2 (local) def region
ABU 2 Gunnar Thorson (primarily used for Home Guard (Navy) 5,300 reservists (to age 50)
MARPOL duties)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AE 1 Sleipner PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 30
AGS 2 Holm PB 30: 18 MHV800; 12 MHV900
AKL 2 Seatruck
AX 1 Søløven (DNK Flyvefisken) Home Guard (Air Force) 4,500 reservists (to age 50)
AXL 2 Holm EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AXS 2 Svanen AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 2 BN-2A Islander
86 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

systems are being procured from the United States, medium-


DEPLOYMENT range air defence systems will be jointly procured with Latvia and
ESTONIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 155; 1 tk short-range air-defence systems with Poland. Estonia signalled its
intention in 2022 to join the European Sky Shield initiative, to boost
sqn with Leopard 2A7
air defence capacity. As well as capability development, moderni-
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 39; NATO • NATO sation spending is directed toward improving infrastructure and
Mission Iraq 125; 1 SF gp; 1 trg team readiness. The active armed forces are supplemented by a reserve
LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 803; 1 component and modernisation plans include the creation of a sup-
plementary reserve and additional active and conscript personnel.
mech inf bn with CV9035 MkIII; Piranha V
The NATO battlegroup based in Estonia, present since mid-2017 as
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 2 part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward Presence, was bolstered in
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 10 2022. Amari air base hosts a NATO Air Policing detachment. Estonia
is a member of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. Tallinn also
NORTH SEA: NATO • SNMG 1; 170; 1 FFGHM hosts NATO’s Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence. There is limited
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 35 organic capability to deploy abroad, though Estonian forces take
part in EU, NATO and UN missions on a small scale. The country
UNITED KINGDOM: Operation Interflex 130 (UKR trg)
has a niche defence-industrial capability, including robotics, ship
repair and digital systems.
Estonia EST ACTIVE 7,200 (Army 4,100 Navy 400 Air 400
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023 Other 2,300)
GDP EUR 31.4bn 36.9bn Conscript liability 8 or 11 months (depending on specialisation;
conscripts cannot be deployed)
USD 37.2bn 39.1bn
per capita USD 27,962 29,344 RESERVE 17,500 (Joint 12,000; Territorial
Growth % 8.0 1.0 Defence 5,500)
Inflation % 4.5 21.0
Def Exp [a] EUR 633m 771m ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
USD 749m 815m
Def bdgt [b] EUR 658m 786m 1.14bn Army 1,500; 2,600 conscript (total 4,100)
USD 779m 830m 4 def region. All units except one inf bn are reserve based
FMA (US) USD 10.0m 8.8m 9.8m FORCES BY ROLE
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95 MANOEUVRE
[a] NATO figure Mechanised
1 (1st) bde (1 recce coy, 1 armd inf bn; 2 mech inf bn,
[b] Includes military pensions
1 arty bn, 1 AT coy, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 spt bn, 1 AD bn)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
Light
629
1 (2nd) inf bde (1 inf bn, 1 spt bn)
328 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2008 2015 2022 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
IFV 44 CV9035EE (incl 2 CP)
Population 1,211,524 APC • APC (W) 136: 56 XA-180 Sisu; 80 XA-188 Sisu
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus AEV 2 Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs
Male 8.1% 2.6% 2.2% 2.4% 24.1% 7.6% ARV 2 BPz-2
Female 7.7% 2.4% 2.0% 2.2% 24.4% 14.1% VLB 2 Biber
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Capabilities MSL • MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; Spike-SR/-LR
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf; 90mm PV-1110
Estonia has small active armed forces and is reliant on NATO mem-
bership as a security guarantor. Security policy is predicated on the ARTILLERY 168
goals of ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity, and Tallinn SP 155mm 6 K9 Thunder
remains concerned by Russian security policy and military activity. TOWED 122mm 36 D-30 (H 63)
In the wake of Russia’s February 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine, MOR 126: 81mm 60 B455/NM 95/M252; 120mm 66 2B11/
Estonia boosted defence spending and transferred military equip- M/41D
ment to Ukraine, including ammunition, anti-armour systems and AIR DEFENCE
artillery. The MoD publishes medium-term development plans
SAM • Point-defence Mistral
annually. Covering a four-year period, these are intended to ensure
that the goals of long-term National Defense Development Plan GUNS • TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2
(NDPP) will be achieved within the planned timeframe. The NDPP
for 2031, adopted in December 2021, focuses on improving ter- Reserve
ritorial defence and indirect fire and anti-tank capabilities, as well Reserve units subordinate to 2nd inf bde and
as boosting maritime and surveillance systems. Rocket artillery territorial defence
Europe 87

FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE DEPLOYMENT
Reconnaissance IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 10 • NATO Mission Iraq 40
1 recce coy LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1
Light
3 inf bn MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 10; UN • MINUSMA 2
4 (territorial) inf bn MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 3
COMBAT SUPPORT MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 1
1 arty bn
1 AT coy

Europe
1 cbt engr bn
FOREIGN FORCES
AIR DEFENCE All NATO Enhanced Forward Presence unless stated
1 AD bn Denmark 155; 1 tk sqn
France 219; 1 inf coy
Navy 300; 100 conscript (total 400) Germany NATO Baltic Air Policing: 150;
4 Eurofighter Typhoon
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
United Kingdom 1,750; 1 armd BG; 1 lt inf BG; 1 SP arty
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 2 Roland
bty; 1 MRL bty; 1 cbt engr coy
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4:
MCCS 1 Tasuja (ex-DNK Lindormen)
MHC 3 Admiral Cowan (ex-UK Sandown) Finland FIN
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
Air Force 400
FORCES BY ROLE GDP EUR 251bn 266bn
TRANSPORT USD 298bn 281bn
1 sqn with M-28 Skytruck per capita USD 53,774 50,818
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Growth % 3.0 2.1
1 sqn with R-44 Raven II Inflation % 2.1 6.5
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Def bdgt [a] EUR 5.00bn 5.51bn 6.62bn
AIRCRAFT USD 5.91bn 5.82bn
TPT • Light 2 M-28 Skytruck
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
TRG 1+ L-39C Albatros (leased)
[a] Includes military pensions
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 2 R-44 Raven II
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
Other 1,300; 800 conscript (total 2,100) 5.42

Includes Cyber Command, Support Command and Special


3.07
Operations Forces
2008 2015 2022
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES Population 5,601,547
1 spec ops bn
COMBAT SUPPORT Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
2 MP coy Male 8.3% 2.8% 2.8% 3.1% 22.2% 10.1%
1 sigs bn Female 8.0% 2.7% 2.6% 3.0% 21.6% 12.9%
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 log bn Capabilities
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary Finland’s armed forces are primarily focused on territorial defence.
The country’s long border with Russia has focused attention on
Border Guard Russia’s military capabilities and plans. In October 2020, the gov-
ernment’s report on foreign and security policy assessed a security
Subordinate to the Ministry of the Interior environment that is rapidly changing and deteriorating. In May
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 2022, following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland applied for
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4 (all to be NATO membership. An EU member state, key multilateral defence
transferred to Navy in Jan 2023) relationships have hitherto included NORDEFCO and the Northern
PCO 1 Kindral Kurvits (FIN Tursas derivative) Group, while there is also strong bilateral cooperation with Sweden
PB 3: 1 Pikker; 1 Raju (Baltic 4500WP); 1 Valve and the US. In 2022 Finland signed a mutual security agreement
with the UK and is looking to deepen defence ties with the US by
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCU 3
negotiating a Defence Cooperation Agreement. The country par-
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 1 Beech 305ER King Air ticipates in UN peacekeeping missions and contributes to NATO
HELICOPTERS • MRH 3 AW139 operations. Legislation limits the number of personnel deployed on
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Light international crisis-management operations to an upper ceiling of
some S-100 Camcopter 2,000 troops. Finland maintains a largely conscript-based force and
88 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

intends to increase the number of personnel in the defence forces. (CP); 48 XA-203 Sisu; 62 AMV (XA-360)
There are plans to boost readiness by increasing the number of AUV 6 SISU GTP (in test)
reservists participating in refresher training. In December 2021 the ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
F-35 was selected for the air force’s HX Fighter Program to replace AEV 5 Dachs
its F/A-18s. Under the Squadron 2020 project, the navy will replace
ARV 36: 9 BPz-2; 15 MTP-LB; 12 VT-55A
patrol boats and minelayers with corvette-sized vessels. Finland’s
defence industry consists largely of privately owned SMEs, concen- VLB 31: 12 BLG-60M2; 10 Leopard 2L AVLB; 9 SISU Leguan
trating on niche products for international markets, but it also fea- MW 6+: Aardvark Mk 2; KMT T-55; 6 Leopard 2R CEV;
tures some internationally competitive larger companies produc- RA-140 DS
ing wheeled armoured vehicles and turreted mortar systems. ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS NLAW; Spike-MR; Spike-LR
ACTIVE 19,250 (Army 13,400 Navy 3,150 Air 2,700)
ARTILLERY 682
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,700
Conscript liability 165, 255 or 347 days (latter for NCOs, officers or SP 122mm 59: 23 K9 Thunder; 36 2S1 Gvozdika (PsH 74)
those on ‘especially demanding’ duties) TOWED 288: 122mm 234 D-30 (H 63); 155mm 54 K 83/
GH-52 (K 98)
RESERVE 238,000 (Army 185,000 Navy 24,000 MRL 56: 122mm 34 RM-70; 227mm 22 M270 MLRS
Air 29,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 12,000 MOR 279+: 81mm Krh/71; 120mm 261 Krh/92; SP 120mm
18,000 reservists a year conduct refresher training: total obligation
18 XA-361 AMOS
80 days (150 for NCOs, 200 for officers) between conscript service
and age 50 (NCOs and officers to age 60) HELICOPTERS
MRH 7: 5 Hughes 500D; 2 Hughes 500E
TPT • Medium 20 NH90 TTH
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
ISR
Army 4,400; 9,000 conscript (total 13,400) Medium 11 ADS-95 Ranger
FORCES BY ROLE AIR DEFENCE
Finland’s army maintains a mobilisation strength of about SAM 60+
285,000. In support of this requirement, two conscription Short-range 44: 20 Crotale NG (ITO 90); 24 NASAMS
cycles, each for about 9,000 conscripts, take place each year. II FIN (ITO 12)
After conscript training, reservist commitment is to the age of Point-defence 16+: 16 ASRAD (ITO 05); FIM-92 Stinger
60. Reservists are usually assigned to units within their local
(ITO 15); RBS 70 (ITO 05/05M)
geographical area. All service appointments or deployments
GUNS 407+: 23mm ItK 95/ZU-23-2 (ItK 61); 35mm GDF-
outside Finnish borders are voluntary for all members of the
005 (ItK 88); SP 35mm 7 Leopard 2 ITK Marksman
armed services. All brigades are reserve based

Reserve Organisations 185,000 Navy 1,400; 1,750 conscript (total 3,150)


FORCES BY ROLE FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES Naval Command HQ located at Turku; with two
1 SF bn subordinate Naval Commands (Gulf of Finland and
MANOEUVRE Archipelago Sea); 1 Naval bde; 3 spt elm (Naval Materiel
Armoured Cmd, Naval Academy, Naval Research Institute)
2 armd BG (regt) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Mechanised PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 20
2 (Karelia & Pori Jaeger) mech bde
PCGM 4 Hamina with 4 RBS15 Mk3 (MTO-85M) AShM, 1
Light
8-cell VLS with Umkhonto-IR (ITO2004) SAM, 1 57mm gun
3 (Jaeger) bde
PBG 4 Rauma with 6 RBS15 Mk3 (MTO-85M) AShM
6 lt inf bde
PBF 12 Jehu (U-700) (capacity 24 troops)
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty bde MINE WARFARE 8
1 AD regt MINE COUNTERMEASURES 3
7 engr regt MCC 3 Katanpää (ITA Gaeta mod)
3 sigs bn MINELAYERS • ML 5:
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT 2 Hameenmaa with 1 8-cell VLS with Umkhonto-IR
3 log regt (ITO2004) SAM, 2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor,
HELICOPTER 1 57mm gun (can carry up to 120 mines)
1 hel bn 3 Pansio with 50 mines
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 52
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES LCM 1 Kampela
MBT 100 Leopard 2A6; (100 Leopard 2A4 in store) LCVP 1 Utö
IFV 212: 110 BMP-2MD; 102 CV9030FIN LCP ε50
APC 613 LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 7
APC (T) 142: 40 MT-LBu; 102 MT-LBV AG 3: 1 Louhi; 2 Hylje
APC (W) 471: 260 XA-180/185 Sisu; 101 XA-202 Sisu AX 4: 3 Fabian Wrede; 1 Lokki
Europe 89

Coastal Defence AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 6


UCAC 6
FORCES BY ROLE
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 2 Do-228
MANOEUVRE
HELICOPTERS
Amphibious
MRH 3: 1 Bell 412 (AB-412) Twin Huey; 2 Bell 412EP
1 mne bde
(AB-412EP) Twin Huey
COMBAT SUPPORT
TPT 9: Medium 5 AS332 Super Puma; Light 4
1 cbt spt bde (1 AShM bty)
AW119KE Koala
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
COASTAL DEFENCE Reserve 12,000 reservists on mobilisation

Europe
AShM 4 RBS15K
ARTY • 130mm 30 K-53tk (static) DEPLOYMENT
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS Spike (used in AShM role) IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 75; 1 trg team; NATO •
NATO Mission Iraq 5
Air Force 2,050; 1,000 conscript (total 3,050) LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 161; 1 inf coy
3 Air Comds: Satakunta (West), Karelia (East), Lapland (North) MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 12; UN • MINUSMA 4
FORCES BY ROLE MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 14
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 4
2 sqn with F/A-18C/D Hornet
ISR SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 20
1 (survey) sqn with Learjet 35A SOMALIA: EU • EUTM Somalia 12
TRANSPORT UNITED KINGDOM: Operation Interflex 20 (UKR trg)
1 flt with C295M
4 (liaison) flt with PC-12NG
TRAINING France FRA
1 sqn with Hawk Mk50/51A/66* (air-defence and Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
ground-attack trg)
GDP EUR 2.50tr 2.63tr
1 unit with G-115EA
USD 2.96tr 2.78tr
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
per capita USD 45,188 42,330
AIRCRAFT 107 combat capable
FGA 62: 55 F/A-18C Hornet; 7 F/A-18D Hornet Growth % 6.8 2.5
ELINT 1 C295M Inflation % 2.1 5.8
TPT • Light 11: 2 C295M; 3 Learjet 35A (survey; ECM Def exp [a] EUR 47.8bn 49.6bn
trg; tgt-tow); 6 PC-12NG USD 56.6bn 52.4bn
TRG 73: 28 G-115EA; 29 Hawk Mk50/51A*; 16 Hawk Mk66* Def bdgt [b] EUR 49.7bn 51.5bn 55.1bn
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES USD 58.8bn 54.4bn
AAM • IR AIM-9 Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
ARH AIM-120C AMRAAM
[a] NATO figure
ALCM • Conventional AGM-158 JASSM
[b] Includes pensions
BOMBS
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
INS/GPS-guided GBU-31 JDAM; AGM-154C JSOW
51.7

Gendarmerie & Paramilitary


44.0
2008 2015 2022
Border Guard 2,700
Ministry of Interior. 4 Border Guard Districts and 2 Coast Population 68,305,148
Guard Districts
FORCES BY ROLE Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MARITIME PATROL Male 9.3% 3.1% 3.0% 2.9% 21.5% 9.2%
1 sqn with Do-228 (maritime surv); AS332 Super Puma; Female 8.9% 3.0% 2.9% 2.8% 21.6% 11.9%
Bell 412 (AB-412) Twin Huey; Bell 412EP (AB-412EP)
Twin Huey;AW119KE Koala Capabilities
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
In November 2022, France published a new National Strategic
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 43 Review (RNS), which highlighted the deteriorating security envi-
PSO 1 Turva with 1 hel landing platform ronment, the need to strengthen resilience in France and the
PCC 2 Tursas importance of the NATO Alliance and European strategic auton-
PB 40 omy. An updated Military Planning Law was under discussion at
90 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

the end of 2022. France plays a leading military role in the EU, NATO Paramilitary
and the UN, and maintains globally deployed forces. In 2018, Paris
launched the European Intervention Initiative, in order to foster a Gendarmerie 40
common strategic culture and develop the ability to jointly deploy
quickly in case of crises. France is also expanding its capabilities in
Space
non-traditional domains, having set up a space command, devel-
oped a space strategy, formalised an offensive cyber doctrine and EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
in February 2022 adopted a seabed warfare strategy. Deployments SATELLITES 13
abroad have demonstrated the ability to support expeditionary COMMUNICATIONS 4: 2 Syracuse-3 (designed to inte-
forces independently, although some strategic and intra-theatre grate with UK Skynet & ITA Sicral); 1 Syracuse-4;
military air-transport requirements have been dependent on allies 1 Athena-Fidus (also used by ITA)
and external contractors. In October 2021, the French armed forces ISR 6: 1 CSO-1; 1 CSO-2; 1 Helios 2A; 1 Helios 2B;
issued a new ‘Strategic Outlook’ document, illustrating a sharp- 2 Pleiades
ened focus on improved readiness for high-intensity warfare. The
ELINT/SIGINT 3 CERES
2019-25 Military Planning Law sought to increase the maintenance
budget and accelerate modernisation to, among other concerns,
mitigate the effect of operations on equipment availability in light Army 114,800
of lessons from overseas deployments. The 2022 RNS discussed Regt and BG normally bn size
issues relating to weapons stocks, security of supply and industrial FORCES BY ROLE
capacity, in light of the war in Ukraine. In 2022, France reorganised COMMAND
its presence in the Sahel, effectively leaving Mali, and transferred
1 corps HQ (CRR-FR)
some forces to Niger. France has a sophisticated defence industry,
2 div HQ
exemplified by companies such as Dassault, MBDA and Nexter,
with most procurements undertaken domestically. France has MANOEUVRE
called for greater European defence-industrial cooperation and Reconnaissance
aims to increase its exports to Europe. It is also seeking to invest in 1 recce regt
future technologies and supports start-ups and innovation in the Armoured
defence realm. 1 (2nd) armd bde (2 tk regt, 3 armd inf regt, 1 SP arty
regt, 1 engr regt)
ACTIVE 203,250 (Army 114,800 Navy 34,850 1 (7th) armd bde (1 tk regt, 1 armd BG, 3 armd inf regt,
Air 40,200, Other Staffs 13,400) Gendarmerie & 1 SP arty regt, 1 engr regt)
Paramilitary 100,500 1 armd BG HQ (UAE)
RESERVE 41,150 (Army 25,750 Navy 5,400 Air 5,300 Mechanised
1 (6th) lt armd bde (2 armd cav regt, 1 armd inf regt, 1
Other Staffs 4,700) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 30,300
mech inf regt, 1 mech inf regt, 1 SP arty regt, 1 engr regt)
1 (FRA/GER) mech bde (1 armd cav regt, 1 mech inf regt)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 mech regt HQ (Djibouti)
Light
Strategic Nuclear Forces 1 (27th) mtn bde (1 armd cav regt, 3 mtn inf regt, 1 arty
regt, 1 engr regt)
Navy 2,200 3 inf regt (French Guiana & French West Indies)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 inf regt HQ (New Caledonia)
SUBMARINES • STRATEGIC 4 2 inf bn HQ (Côte d’Ivoire & Gabon)
SSBN 4 Le Triomphant with 16 M51 SLBM with 6 TN- Air Manoeuvre
75 nuclear warheads, 4 single 533mm TT with SM39 1 (11th) AB bde (1 armd cav regt, 4 para regt, 1 arty regt,
Exocet AShM/F17 mod 2 HWT 1 engr regt, 1 spt regt)
AIRCRAFT • FGA 20 Rafale M F3 with ASMPA msl 1 AB regt (La Réunion)
Amphibious
Air Force 1,800 1 (9th) amph bde (2 armd cav regt, 1 armd inf regt,
2 mech inf regt, 1 SP arty regt, 1 engr regt)
Air Strategic Forces Command Other
FORCES BY ROLE 4 SMA regt (French Guiana, French West Indies &
STRIKE Indian Ocean)
1 sqn with Rafale B with ASMPA msl 3 SMA coy (French Polynesia, Indian Ocean &
1 sqn with Rafale B with ASMPA msl (forming) New Caledonia)
TANKER COMBAT SUPPORT
2 sqn with A330 MRTT; C-135FR; KC-135 Stratotanker 1 MRL regt
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 2 engr regt
AIRCRAFT 20 combat capable 2 EW regt
FGA 20 Rafale B 1 int bn
TKR/TPT 15: 5 A330 MRTT; 10 C-135FR 1 CBRN regt
TKR 3 KC-135 Stratotanker 5 sigs regt
Europe 91

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence 12+: Mistral;


5 tpt regt 12 VAB ARLAD
1 log regt AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
1 med regt ASM AGM-114 Hellfire II; HOT
3 trg regt
HELICOPTER Navy 34,850
1 (4th) hel bde (3 hel regt)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ISR UAV
SUBMARINES 9
1 UAV regt
STRATEGIC • SSBN 4 Le Triomphant opcon Strategic
AIR DEFENCE

Europe
1 SAM regt Nuclear Forces with 16 M51 SLBM with 6 TN-75 nuclear
warheads, 4 single 533mm TT with SM39 Exocet AShM/
Special Operation Forces 2,200 F17 mod 2 HWT
FORCES BY ROLE TACTICAL • SSN 5
SPECIAL FORCES 4 Rubis (1 more severely damaged by fire) with 4 single
2 SF regt 533mm TT with SM39 Exocet AShM/F17 mod 2 HWT
HELICOPTER 1 Suffren with 4 single 533mm TT with MdCN (SCALP
1 hel regt Naval) LACM/SM39 Exocet AShM/Artémis (F-21) HWT
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 22
Reserves 25,750 reservists AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • CVN 1 Charles de Gaulle with
Reservists form 79 UIR (Reserve Intervention Units) of 4 8-cell Sylver A43 VLS with Aster 15 SAM, 2 sextuple
about 75 to 152 troops, for ‘Proterre’ – combined land Sadral lnchr with Mistral SAM (capacity 30 Rafale M
projection forces bn, and 23 USR (Reserve Specialised FGA ac, 2 E-2C Hawkeye AEW&C ac, 8 AS365 Dauphin/
Units) of about 160 troops, in specialised regt
NH90 NFH hel)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE DESTROYERS • DDGHM 4
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 2 Aquitaine (FREMM FREDA) with 2 quad lnchr with
MBT 215 Leclerc MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 4 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS
ASLT 245 AMX-10RC
with Aster 15 SAM/Aster 30 SAM, 2 twin 324mm
RECCE 64: 24 EBRC Jaguar; 40 ERC-90D Sagaie
B-515 ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity
IFV 706: 599 VBCI VCI; 107 VBCI VPC (CP)
1 NH90 NFH hel)
APC 2,499
2 Forbin with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block
APC (T) 49 BvS-10
APC (W) 2,430: 373 VBMR Griffon; ε2,000 VAB; 3 AShM, 4 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS with Aster 30
57 VAB VOA (OP) SAM, 2 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS with Aster 15 SAM, 2
PPV 20 Aravis twin 324mm ASTT with MU90 LWT, 2 76mm gun
AUV 1,503: 1,416 VBL/VB2L; 72 VBL Ultima; 15 (capacity 1 NH90 NFH hel)
VBMR-L Serval FRIGATES 17
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES FFGHM 11:
AEV 110: 38 AMX-30EBG; 72 VAB GE 4 Aquitaine (FREMM ASM) with 2 8-cell Sylver
ARV 44: 27 AMX-30D; 17 Leclerc DNG; VAB-EHC A70 VLS with MdCN (SCALP Naval) LACM, 2
VLB 48: 20 EFA; 18 PTA; 10 SPRAT quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 2
MW 16+: AMX-30B/B2; 4 Buffalo; 12 Minotaur 8-cell Sylver A43 VLS with Aster 15 SAM, 2 twin
NBC VEHICLES 26 VAB NRBC 324mm B-515 ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1 76mm gun
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL (capacity 1 NH90 NFH hel)
SP 177: 64 VAB Milan; 113 VAB with MMP 2 Aquitaine (FREMM ASM) with 2 8-cell Sylver A70
MANPATS Eryx; FGM-148 Javelin; Milan; MMP VLS with MdCN (SCALP Naval) LACM, 2 quad
ARTILLERY 245+ lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 2 8-cell
SP 155mm 90: 32 AU-F-1; 58 CAESAR Sylver A50 VLS with Aster 15 SAM/Aster 30 SAM,
TOWED 155mm 12 TR-F-1
2 twin 324mm B-515 ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1
MRL 227mm 11 M270 MLRS
76mm gun (capacity 1 NH90 NFH hel)
MOR 132+: 81mm LLR 81mm; 120mm 132 RT-F-1
3 La Fayette with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 13: 5 PC-6B Turbo Porter;
Block 3 AShM, 1 octuple lnchr with Crotale SAM, 1
5 TBM-700; 3 TBM-700B
HELICOPTERS 100mm gun (capacity 1 AS565SA Panther hel)
ATK 67: 20 Tiger HAP (to be upgraded to HAD); 2 La Fayette with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet
47 Tiger HAD Block 3 AShM, 2 sextuple Sadral lnchr with
MRH 104: 18 AS555UN Fennec; 86 SA341F/342M Gazelle Mistral 3 SAM, 1 100mm gun (capacity 1 AS565SA
(all variants) Panther hel)
TPT 167: Heavy 8 H225M Caracal (CSAR); Medium 124: FFH 6 Floreal with 1 100mm gun (fitted for but not
24 AS532UL Cougar; 2 EC225LP Super Puma; 52 NH90 with 1 twin Simbad lnchr with Mistral SAM) (capacity 1
TTH; 46 SA330 Puma; Light 35 H120 Colibri (leased) AS565SA Panther hel)
92 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 20 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


FSM 6 D’Estienne d’Orves with 1 twin Simbad lnchr with AIRCRAFT 60 combat capable
Mistral SAM, 2 twin 533mm ASTT, 1 100mm gun FGA 42 Rafale M F3-R
PSO 4 d’Entrecasteaux (BSAOM) with 1 hel landing platform ASW 18: 9 Atlantique-2 (standard 6); 9 Atlantique-2
PCO 6: 3 La Confiance, 1 Lapérouse; 1 Le Malin; 1 Fulmar (being upgraded to standard 6)
PCC 4: 1 L’Audacieuse; 3 Flamant AEW&C 3 E-2C Hawkeye
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 16 SAR 4 Falcon 50MS
MCD 4 Vulcain TPT 25: Light 10 EMB-121 Xingu; PAX 15: 6 Falcon
MHC 3 Antarès 10MER; 5 Falcon 20H Gardian; 4 Falcon 50MI
MHO 9 Éridan TRG 6 CAP 10M
AMPHIBIOUS HELICOPTERS
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 3 ASW 27 NH90 NFH
LHD 3 Mistral with 2 twin Simbad lnchr with Mistral SAM MRH 40: 3 AS365F Dauphin 2; 6 AS365N Dauphin 2;
(capacity up to 16 NH90/SA330 Puma/AS532 Cougar/Tiger 2 AS365N3; 16 AS565SA Panther; 1 H160B; 12 SA319B
hel; 2 LCT or 4 LCM/LCU; 13 MBTs; 50 AFVs; 450 troops) Alouette III (to be WFU end of 2022)
LANDING CRAFT 40 UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
LCU 2 Arbalète (EDA-S) (capacity 1 Leclerc MBT or 2 ISR • Light 4 S-100 Camcopter
Griffon/Jaguar)
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
LCT 4 EDA-R (capacity 1 Leclerc MBT or 6 VAB)
AAM • IIR Mica IR; ARH Mica RF
LCM 11 CTM
ASM AASM
LCVP 25
AShM AM39 Exocet
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 33
LACM Nuclear ASMPA
ABU 1 Telenn Mor
BOMBS
AG 2 Chamois
Laser-guided: GBU-12/16 Paveway II
AGB 1 Astrolabe with 1 hel landing platform
AGE 2: 1 Corraline; 1 Thetis (Lapérouse mod) (used as trials Marines 2,200
ships for mines and divers)
AGI 1 Dupuy de Lome Commando Units 750
AGM 1 Monge FORCES BY ROLE
AGOR 2: 1 Pourquoi pas? (used 150 days per year by MANOEUVRE
Ministry of Defence; operated by Ministry of Research Reconnaissance
and Education otherwise); 1 Beautemps-beaupré 1 recce gp
AGS 3 Lapérouse Amphibious
AORH 2 Durance with 3 twin Simbad lnchr with Mistral
2 aslt gp
SAM (capacity 1 SA319 Alouette III/AS365 Dauphin/Lynx)
1 atk swimmer gp
ATS 4 Loire (BSAM)
1 raiding gp
AXL 10: 8 Léopard; 2 Glycine
COMBAT SUPPORT
AXS 4: 2 La Belle Poule; 1 La Grand Hermine; 1 Mutin
1 cbt spt gp
Naval Aviation 6,500 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 spt gp
FORCES BY ROLE
STRIKE/FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK Fusiliers-Marin 1,450
2 sqn with Rafale M F3
1 sqn with Rafale M F3/F3-R FORCES BY ROLE
ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE MANOEUVRE
1 sqn with AS565SA Panther Other
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE 2 sy gp
2 sqn with NH90 NFH 7 sy coy
MARITIME PATROL
2 sqn with Atlantique 2
Reserves 6,000 reservists
1 sqn with Falcon 20H Gardian
1 sqn with Falcon 50MI
Air and Space Force 40,200
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with E-2C Hawkeye STRIKE
SEARCH & RESCUE 1 sqn with Rafale B with ASMPA msl
1 sqn with AS365N/F Dauphin 2 1 sqn with Rafale B with ASMPA msl (forming)
TRAINING SPACE
1 sqn with EMB 121 Xingu 1 (satellite obs) sqn
1 unit with SA319B Alouette III (to be WFU end of 2022) FIGHTER
1 unit with Falcon 10MER 1 sqn with Mirage 2000-5
1 unit with CAP 10M 1 sqn with Mirage 2000B
Europe 93

FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK Xingu; 15 TBM-700; PAX 9: 2 A310-300; 1 A330; 2 Falcon


3 sqn with Mirage 2000D 7X; 2 Falcon 900 (VIP); 2 Falcon 2000 (2 A340-200 in store)
1 (composite) sqn with Mirage 2000-5/D (Djibouti) TRG 127: 72 Alpha Jet*; 18 Grob G120A-F (leased);
2 sqn with Rafale B/C 17 PC-21; 13 SR20 (leased); 7 SR22 (leased)
1 sqn with Rafale B/C (UAE) HELICOPTERS
ELECTRONIC WARFARE MRH 37 AS555 Fennec
1 flt with C-160G Gabriel (ESM); Beech 350ER King Air TPT 35: Heavy 10 H225M Caracal; Medium 25: 1 AS332C
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL Super Puma; 4 AS332L Super Puma; 20 SA330B Puma
1 (Surveillance & Control) sqn with E-3F Sentry UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT CISR • Heavy 8 MQ-9A Reaper

Europe
5 sqn with CN235M; SA330 Puma; AS555 Fennec (Dji- AIR DEFENCE • SAM 60: Long-range 40 SAMP/T;
bouti, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Indian Ocean Short-range 20 Crotale NG
& New Caledonia) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
TANKER AAM • IR R-550 Magic 2; IIR Mica IR; ARH Meteor;
1 sqn with A330 MRTT Mica RF
TANKER/TRANSPORT ASM AASM; Apache
1 sqn with C-135FR; KC-135 Stratotanker LACM
TRANSPORT Nuclear ASMPA
1 VIP sqn with A310-300; A330 Conventional SCALP EG
2 sqn with A400M BOMBS
1 sqn with C-130H/H-30 Hercules Laser-guided: GBU-12/-16 Paveway II
1 sqn with C-130H/H-30/J-30 Hercules; KC-130J Hercules
Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II
1 sqn (joint FRA-GER) with C-130J-30 Hercules; KC-
130J Hercules Security and Intervention Brigade
2 sqn with CN235M
FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with Falcon 7X (VIP); Falcon 900 (VIP); Falcon 2000
SPECIAL FORCES
3 flt with TBM-700A
3 SF gp
1 gp with DHC-6-300 Twin Otter
MANOEUVRE
TRAINING
Other
1 OCU sqn with Mirage 2000D
24 protection units
1 OCU sqn with Rafale B/C
30 (fire fighting and rescue) unit
1 OCU sqn with SA330 Puma; AS555 Fennec
1 (aggressor) sqn with Alpha Jet* Reserves 5,300 reservists
4 sqn with Alpha Jet*
1 sqn with Grob G120A-F Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 100,500
2 sqn with Grob G120A-F; PC-21
1 sqn with EMB-121 Gendarmerie 100,500; 30,300 reservists
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 sqn with AS555 Fennec ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
2 sqn with AS332C/L Super Puma; SA330 Puma; H225M APC • APC (W) 80: 60 VXB-170 (VBRG-170); 20 VAB
ISR UAV ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm some
1 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 43
AIR DEFENCE PB 42: 1 Armoise; 2 Athos; 4 Géranium; 3 Maroni; 24
3 sqn with Crotale NG; SAMP/T VCSM; 9 VSMP
1 sqn with SAMP/T HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 60: 25 AS350BA Ecureuil;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 20 H135; 15 H145
SATELLITES see Space
AIRCRAFT 261 combat capable DEPLOYMENT
FTR 34: 27 Mirage 2000-5; 7 Mirage 2000B
FGA 155: 65 Mirage 2000D; 51 Rafale B; 39 Rafale C BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 5
(Rafale being upgraded to F3-R standard) BURKINA FASO: 300; 1 SF gp; 1 C-130H; 1 DHC-6-300;
ISR 2 Beech 350ER King Air 2 Tiger; 3 AS532UL Cougar; 2 H225M; 2 SA342 Gazelle
ELINT 2 C-160G Gabriel (ESM)
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: 160; EU • EUTM RCA 13;
AEW&C 4 E-3F Sentry
UN • MINUSCA 5
TKR 3 KC-135 Stratotanker
TKR/TPT 17: 5 A330 MRTT; 10 C-135FR; 2 KC-130J Hercules CHAD: 1,500; 1 mech inf BG; 1 FGA det with 3 Mirage 2000D;
TPT 114: Heavy 19 A400M; Medium 16: 5 C-130H 1 tkr/tpt det with 1 A330 MRTT; 1 C-130H; 2 CN235M
Hercules; 9 C-130H-30 Hercules; 2 C-130J-30 Hercules; CÔTE D’IVOIRE: 900; 1 inf bn; 1 (army) hel unit with 2
Light 70: 1 Beech 350i King Air; 19 CN235M-100; 8 SA330 Puma; 2 SA342 Gazelle; 1 (air force) hel unit with 1
CN235M-300; 5 DHC-6-300 Twin Otter; 22 EMB-121 AS555 Fennec
94 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

CYPRUS: Operation Inherent Resolve 30: 1 Atlantique-2 UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 700: 1 armd BG (1 tk coy, 1
arty bty); Leclerc; CAESAR; • Operation Inherent Resolve
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • (Chammal); 1 FGA sqn with 7 Rafale F3
MONUSCO 4
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 3
DJIBOUTI: 1,500; 1 combined arms regt with (2 recce sqn, 2
inf coy, 1 arty bty, 1 engr coy); 1 hel det with 4 SA330 Puma;
3 SA342 Gazelle; 1 LCM; 1 FGA sqn with 4 Mirage 2000-5; 1
FOREIGN FORCES
SAR/tpt sqn with 1 CN235M; 3 SA330 Puma Germany 400 (GER elm Eurocorps)
Singapore 200; 1 trg sqn with 12 M-346 Master
EGYPT: MFO 1
ESTONIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence (Operation
Lynx) 219; 1 lt inf coy
Germany GER
FRENCH GUIANA: 2,100: 2 inf regt; 1 SMA regt; 2 PCO; 1
tpt sqn with 3 CN235M; 5 SA330 Puma; 4 AS555 Fennec; 3 Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
gendarmerie coy; 1 AS350BA Ecureuil; 1 H145 GDP EUR 3.60tr 3.81tr
FRENCH POLYNESIA: 950: 1 inf bn; 1 SMA coy; 1 naval USD 4.26tr 4.03tr
HQ at Papeete; 1 FFH; 1 PSO; 1 PCO; 1 AFS; 3 Falcon 200 per capita USD 51,238 48,398
Gardian; 1 SAR/tpt sqn with 2 CN235M; 3 SA330 Puma Growth % 2.6 1.5
FRENCH WEST INDIES: 1,000; 1 inf regt; 2 SMA regt; 2 FFH; Inflation % 3.2 8.5
1 AS565SA Panther; 1 SA319 Alouette III; 1 naval base at Fort Def exp [a] EUR 53.0bn 55.6bn
de France (Martinique); 4 gendarmerie coy; 1 PCO; 1 PB; 2 USD 62.8bn 58.8bn
AS350BA Ecureuil Def bdgt [b] EUR 46.9bn 50.5bn 58.6bn
GABON: 350; 1 inf bn USD 55.5bn 53.4bn
GERMANY: 2,000 (incl elm Eurocorps and FRA/GER bde); USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
1 (FRA/GER) mech bde (1 armd cav regt, 1 mech inf regt) [a] NATO figure
GULF OF GUINEA: Operation Corymbe 1 LHD [b] Includes military pensions
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 6; NATO • NATO Mission Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
Iraq 3 47.8

JORDAN: Operation Inherent Resolve (Chammal) 300:


36.2
4 Rafale F3
2008 2015 2022
LA REUNION/MAYOTTE: 1,750; 1 para regt; 1 inf coy; 1
SMA regt; 1 SMA coy; 2 FFH; 1 PCO; 1 LCM; 1 naval HQ Population 84,316,622
at Port-des-Galets (La Réunion); 1 naval base at Dzaoudzi
(Mayotte); 1 Falcon 50M; 1 SAR/tpt sqn with 2 CN235M; 5 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
gendarmerie coy; 1 SA319 Alouette III Male 7.0% 2.3% 2.6% 2.9% 24.4% 10.3%
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 571; 1 mech inf bn(-); VBL; VBCI; Female 6.7% 2.3% 2.5% 2.7% 23.6% 12.7%
VAB; Mistral
Capabilities
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 13; UN • MINUSMA 26
The 2016 defence White Paper committed Germany to a leader-
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: Operation Inherent Resolve 100: ship role in European defence. It also emphasised the importance
1 DDGHM of NATO and the need for the armed forces to contribute to
MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 6 collective-defence tasks. Work on a national security strategy
began in March 2022 under the leadership of the foreign minis-
NEW CALEDONIA: 1,450; 1 mech inf regt; 1 SMA coy; 6 ERC- try and this is scheduled to be released in early 2023. Following
90F1 Lynx; 1 FFHM; 1 PSO; 1 PCO; 1 base with 2 Falcon 200 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the govern-
Gardian at Nouméa; 1 tpt unit with 2 CN235 MPA; 3 SA330 ment-initiated preparations for a EUR100 billion special purpose
Puma; 4 gendarmerie coy; 2 AS350BA Ecureuil vehicle to invest in modernisation of the Bundeswehr over the
next five years; the funding was approved in early June. The
NIGER: 1,200; 1 mech inf coy; 1 hel flt with 3 NH90 TTH; 1 2018 Konzeption der Bundeswehr underlines that collective- and
FGA det with 3 Mirage 2000D; 1 tkr/tpt det with 1 C-135FR; territorial-defence tasks will drive military-modernisation efforts
1 C-130J-30 Hercules; 1 UAV det with 6 MQ-9A Reaper; 1 ISR and are of equal standing with international crisis-management
det with 1 Atlantique-2 operations. The key implication for defence modernisation is that
Germany will need to invest in readiness and return to fully equip-
QATAR: Operation Inherent Resolve (Chammal) 70; 1 E-3F Sentry
ping operational units. Germany is aligning its defence-planning
ROMANIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 750; process with capability goals derived from multinational guid-
1 armd BG with Leclerc; VBCI; 1 SAM bty with SAMP/T ance. Close military cooperation has been established with the
Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands and Romania, includ-
SAUDI ARABIA: 50 (radar det)
ing the affiliation of units. The defence ministry has announced
SENEGAL: 400; 1 Falcon 50MI its objective to increase authorised active personnel numbers.
Europe 95

In July 2020, the government launched a new voluntary conscript Air Manoeuvre
initiative, with 1,000 posts, focused on homeland-security tasks. 1 (rapid reaction) AB div (1 SOF bde (3 SOF bn); 1 AB
Volunteers serve for seven months plus five months as reservists bde (2 recce coy, 2 para regt, 2 cbt engr coy); 1 atk hel
over the course of six years. This is in addition to the existing volun- regt; 2 tpt hel regt; 1 sigs coy)
tary conscript model that requires between seven and 23 months COMBAT SUPPORT
of military service. In September 2022, Germany set up a Territorial
1 engr bn(-) (Joint GER-UK unit)
Operations Command to strengthen the armed forces’ homeland
security functions and take on command-and-control functions EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
for forces deployed in Germany. The armed forces are struggling ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
to improve readiness levels in light of increasing demands on MBT 321: 223 Leopard 2A5/A6; 98 Leopard 2A7/2A7V
NATO’s eastern flank. Germany is scheduled to again become the (55 Leopard 2A4 in store)

Europe
lead nation for NATO’s Very High Readiness Joint Task Force land RECCE 220 Fennek (incl 24 engr recce, 50 fires spt)
component in 2023, with the earmarked units prioritised for mod- IFV 680: 258 Marder 1A3/A4; 72 Marder 1A5; 350 Puma
ernisation and upgrades. Germany has indicated that it intends to APC 812
provide, from 2025, some 30,000 personnel and some 85 vessels APC (T) 112: 75 Bv-206S; 37 M113 (inc variants)
and aircraft at 30 days’ notice for NATO’s New Force Model, agreed
APC (W) 700: 341 Boxer (inc variants); 359 TPz-1 Fuchs
at the Alliance’s 2022 Madrid summit. Shortages of spare parts
and maintenance problems are reported in all three services. Ger-
(inc variants)
many’s defence-industrial base is able to design and manufacture AUV 683: 247 Dingo 2; 363 Eagle IV/V; 73 Wiesel 1 Mk20
equipment to meet requirements across all military domains, with (with 20mm gun)
strengths in land and naval systems. The government is pursuing a ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
policy of closer defence-industrial cooperation in Europe. AEV 51 Dachs
ARV 170: 95 BPz-2 1; 75 BPz-3 Büffel
ACTIVE 183,150 (Army 62,950 Navy 15,900 Air VLB 59: 22 Biber; 7 Leopard 2 with Leguan; 30 M3
27,200 Joint Support Service 27,900 Joint Medical MW 30: 6 Fuchs KAI; 24 Keiler
Service 19,850 Cyber 14,250 Other 15,100) NBC VEHICLES 44 TPz-1 Fuchs NBC
Conscript liability Voluntary conscription only. Voluntary conscripts
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
can serve up to 23 months
SP 102 Wiesel ATGM with TOW or MELLS
RESERVE 32,650 (Army 7,600 Navy 1,450 Air 3,750 MANPATS Milan; Spike-LR (MELLS)
Joint Support Service 12,500 Joint Medical Service ARTILLERY 245
4,000 Cyber 1,350 Other 2,000) SP 155mm 109 PzH 2000
MRL 227mm 38 M270 MLRS
MOR 98: 120mm 58 Tampella; SP 120mm 40 M113
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE with Tampella
HELICOPTERS
Space ATK 51 Tiger
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE TPT 102: Medium 82 NH90; Light 20: 13 H135; 7 H145 (SAR)
SATELLITES 8 UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
COMMUNICATIONS 2 COMSATBw (1 & 2) ISR 123: Medium 35 KZO; Light 87 LUNA
ISR 6: 1 SARah; 5 SAR-Lupe AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ASM HOT; PARS 3 LR

Army 62,950 Navy 16,250


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FORCES BY ROLE
SUBMARINES 6
COMMAND
SSK 6 Type-212A (fitted with AIP) with 6 single 533mm
elm 2 (1 GNC & MNC NE) corps HQ
TT with DM2A4 HWT
MANOEUVRE
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 11
Armoured
DESTROYERS • DDGHM 3 Sachsen (F124) with 2 quad
1 (1st) armd div (1 (9th) armd bde (1 armd recce bn, 1 tk lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 4 8-cell
bn, 2 armd inf bn, 1 mech inf bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 spt Mk 41 VLS with SM-2 Block IIIA SAM/RIM-162B ESSM
bn); 1 (21st) armd bde (1 armd recce bn, 1 tk bn, 1 armd SAM, 2 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116 RAM SAM,
inf bn, 1 mech inf bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 spt bn); 1 (41st) 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1
mech inf bde (1 armd recce bn, 2 armd inf bn, 1 mech 76mm gun (capacity 2 Sea Lynx Mk88A hel)
inf bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs coy, 1 spt bn); 1 tk bn (for FRIGATES • FFGHM 8:
NLD 43rd Bde); 1 SP arty bn; 1 sigs coy) 4 Baden-Württemberg (F125) with 2 quad lnchr with
1 (10th) armd div (1 (12th) armd bde (1 armd recce bn, 1 RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2 21-cell Mk 49
tk bn, 2 armd inf bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs coy, 1 spt bn); GMLS with RIM-116C RAM Block 2 SAM, 1 127mm
1 (37th) mech inf bde (1 armd recce bn, 2 tk bn, 2 armd gun (capacity 2 NH90 hel)
inf bn, 1 engr bn, 1 sigs coy, 1 spt bn); 1 (23rd) mtn inf 4 Brandenburg (F123) with 2 twin lnchr with MM38
bde (1 recce bn, 3 mtn inf bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 spt bn); 1 Exocet AShM, 2 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with RIM-7P Sea
SP arty bn; 1 SP arty trg bn; 2 mech inf bn (GER/FRA Sparrow SAM, 2 Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116 RAM
bde); 1 arty bn (GER/FRA bde); 1 cbt engr coy (GER/ SAM, 2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46
FRA bde); 1 spt bn (GER/FRA bde)) LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 Sea Lynx Mk88A hel)
96 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5 TRANSPORT


CORVETTES • FSGM 5 Braunschweig (K130) with 2 twin 1 wg (3 sqn (forming) with A400M Atlas)
lnchr with RBS15 Mk3 AShM, 2 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with 1 sqn (joint FRA-GER) with C-130J-30 Hercules; KC-130J
RIM-116 RAM SAM, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform Hercules
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 23 TRAINING
MHO 10: 7 Frankenthal (2 used as diving support); 1 sqn located at Holloman AFB (US) with Tornado IDS
3 Frankenthal (mod. MJ332CL) 1 unit (ENJJPT) located at Sheppard AFB (US) with
MSO 1 Ensdorf T-6A Texan II; T-38C Talon
MSD 12 Seehund 1 hel unit located at Fassberg
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 1 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
LCU 1 Type-520 1 tpt hel wg (3 sqn with CH-53G/GA/GE/GS Stallion; 1
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 23 sqn with H145M)
AG 4: 2 Schwedeneck (Type-748); 2 Stollergrund (Type-745) AIR DEFENCE
AGI 3 Oste (Type-423) 1 wg (3 SAM gp) with M902 Patriot PAC-3
AGOR 1 Planet (Type-751) 1 AD gp with ASRAD Ozelot; C-RAM Mantis and trg unit
AOR 2 Rhön (Type-704) 1 AD trg unit located at Fort Bliss (US) with MIM-
AORH 3 Berlin (Type-702) (fitted for but not with RIM- 104C/F Patriot PAC-2/3
116 RAM SAM) (capacity 2 Sea King Mk41 hel) 3 (tac air ctrl) radar gp
AORL 6 Elbe (Type-404) with 1 hel landing platform (2
specified for PFM support; 1 specified for SSK support; Air Force Regiment
3 specified for MHO/MSO support); FORCES BY ROLE
ATF 3: 1 Helgoland; 2 Wangerooge MANOEUVRE
AXS 1 Gorch Fock Other
1 sy regt
Naval Aviation 1,850 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AIRCRAFT 226 combat capable
AIRCRAFT 6 combat capable FTR 138 Eurofighter Typhoon
ASW 6 AP-3C Orion ATK 68 Tornado IDS
TPT • Light 2 Do-228 (pollution control) ATK/EW 20 Tornado ECR*
HELICOPTERS ISR 1 A319CJ (Open Skies)
ASW 22 Lynx Mk88A TPT 58: Heavy 38 A400M; Medium 3 C-130J-30 Hercules
SAR 24: 11 Sea King Mk41; 13 NH90 NFH (Sea Lion) PAX 16: 1 A321; 2 A321LR; 2 A340 (VIP); 2 A350 (VIP);
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Light 2 2 A319; 4 Global 5000; 3 Global 6000
Skeldar V-200 (Sea Falcon) TRG 109: 69 T-6A Texan II, 40 T-38C Talon
HELICOPTERS
Naval Special Forces Command MRH 16 H145M
FORCES BY ROLE TPT 73: Heavy 70 CH-53G/GA/GS/GE Stallion; Medium
SPECIAL FORCES 3 AS532U2 Cougar II (VIP)
1 SF coy UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Heavy 6
Heron 1
Sea Battalion AIR DEFENCE
FORCES BY ROLE SAM 50
MANOEUVRE Long-range 30 M902 Patriot PAC-3
Amphibious Point-defence 20 ASRAD Ozelot (with FIM-92 Stinger)
1 mne bn GUNS 35mm 12 C-RAM Mantis
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
Air Force 27,200 AAM • IR AIM-9L/Li Sidewinder; IIR IRIS-T; ARH
FORCES BY ROLE AIM-120B AMRAAM
FIGHTER LACM Taurus KEPD 350
3 wg (2 sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon) ARM AGM-88B HARM
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK BOMBS
1 wg (2 sqn with Tornado IDS) Laser-guided GBU-24 Paveway III; GBU-48 Enhanced
1 wg (2 sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon (multi-role)) Paveway II
ISR Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-54 Laser JDAM
1 wg (1 ISR sqn with Tornado ECR/IDS; 2 UAV sqn with
Heron) Joint Support Service 27,900
TANKER/TRANSPORT FORCES BY ROLE
1 (special air mission) wg (3 sqn with A319; A321; COMBAT SUPPORT
A321LR; A340; A350; AS532U2 Cougar II; Global 5000; 3 MP regt
Global 6000) 2 NBC bn
Europe 97

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT


6 log bn
FOREIGN FORCES
1 spt regt France 2,000; 1 (FRA/GER) mech bde (1 armd cav regt,
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 mech inf regt)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES United Kingdom 185
AUV 451: 206 Dingo 2; 245 Eagle IV/V United States
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES US Africa Command: Army; 1 HQ at Stuttgart
ARV 35: 23 BPz-2; 12 BPz-3 Büffel US European Command: 39,050; 1 combined service HQ
NBC VEHICLES 35 TPz-1 Fuchs A6/A7/A8 NBC (EUCOM) at Stuttgart-Vaihingen

Europe
Army 24,700; 1 HQ (US Army Europe & Africa
Joint Medical Services 19,850 (USAREUR-AF) at Wiesbaden; 1 arty comd; 1 SF gp; 1
FORCES BY ROLE recce bn; 1 mech bde(-); 1 fd arty bn; 1 MRL bde (3 MRL
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT bn); 1 (cbt avn) hel bde; 1 (cbt avn) hel bde HQ; 1 int bde;
4 med regt 1 MP bde; 1 sigs bde; 1 spt bde; 1 (MDTF) cbt spt bde(-);
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 SAM bde; 2 (APS) armd bde eqpt set; M1A2 SEPv2/
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES v3 Abrams; M3A3 Bradley; M2A3 Bradley; M1296 Stryker
APC • APC (W) 109: 72 Boxer (amb); 37 TPz-1 Fuchs (amb) Dragoon; M109A6; M119A3; M777A2; M270A1; M142
AUV 42 Eagle IV/V (amb) HIMARS; AH-64D Apache; CH-47F Chinook; UH-60L/M
Black Hawk; HH-60M Black Hawk; M902 Patriot PAC-3;
Cyber & Information Command 14,250 M1097 Avenger; M-SHORAD
Navy 400
FORCES BY ROLE
COMBAT SUPPORT USAF 13,400; 1 HQ (US Air Forces Europe & Africa) at
4 EW bn Ramstein AB; 1 HQ (3rd Air Force) at Ramstein AB; 1
6 sigs bn FGA wg at Spangdahlem AB with (1 FGA sqn with 24
F-16C Fighting Falcon); 1 tpt wg at Ramstein AB with 14
C-130J-30 Hercules; 2 Gulfstream V (C-37A); 5 Learjet 35A
DEPLOYMENT (C-21A); 1 B-737-700 (C-40B)
BALTIC SEA: NATO • SNMCMG 1: 100; 1 MHO; 1 AORL USMC 550
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR • Operation Althea 55
ESTONIA: NATO • Baltic Air Policing 150; Greece GRC
4 Eurofighter Typhoon
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
FRANCE: 400 (incl GER elm Eurocorps)
GDP EUR 183bn 210bn
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 80; NATO • NATO
USD 216bn 222bn
Mission Iraq 15
per capita USD 20,263 20,876
JORDAN: Operation Inherent Resolve 150; 1 A400M Growth % 8.3 5.2
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 82; 1 FSGM Inflation % 0.6 9.2
LITHUANIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 1,000; Def exp [a] EUR 6.76bn 7.45bn
1 mech inf bde HQ; 1 armd inf BG with Leopard 2A6; USD 8.01bn 7.87bn
Fennek; Marder 1A3; Boxer Def bdgt [b] EUR 6.50bn 7.44bn 5.25bn
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 55; UN • MINUSMA 490; 1 sy USD 7.69bn 7.87bn
coy; 1 hel sqn with 5 CH-53G; 1 UAV sqn USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: NATO • SNMG 2: 40; 1 AOR [a] NATO figure
[b] Includes military pensions
NIGER: Operation Gazelle 200 (trg)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
POLAND: 95 (GER elm MNC-NE)
7.95
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 68
SLOVAKIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 480; 4.58
1 inf coy; 1 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3 2008 2015 2022

SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 14 Population 10,533,871


UNITED STATES: Trg units with 40 T-38 Talon; 69 T-6A
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Texan II at Goodyear AFB (AZ)/Sheppard AFB (TX); NAS
Pensacola (FL); Fort Rucker (AL); Missile trg at Fort Bliss (TX) Male 7.3% 2.8% 2.9% 2.8% 22.8% 10.2%
Female 6.9% 2.5% 2.5% 2.5% 24.1% 12.8%
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 4
98 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Capabilities COMBAT SUPPORT


2 MRL bn
Greece’s 2014 National Military Strategy identifies safeguarding 3 AD bn (2 with I-Hawk, 1 with Tor M1)
sovereignty and territorial integrity as principal defence objectives; 3 engr regt
in recent years there has been renewed focus on Eastern Medi- 2 engr bn
terranean security. The armed forces would also be expected to
1 EW regt
support Cyprus in the event of a conflict. The Force Structure 2020-
10 sigs bn
2034 document set out plans to increase military responsiveness
and sustainability, which included the establishment of a special
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
warfare command. Greece is a NATO member and has led the EU’s 1 log corps HQ
Balkan Battlegroup. The port at Alexandroupoli has become a key 1 log div (3 log bde)
hub for NATO members’ moving military equipment for military HELICOPTER
exercises in southern Europe. There is close cooperation with the 1 hel bde (1 hel regt with (2 atk hel bn), 2 tpt hel bn,
US. The Mutual Defense Cooperation Agreement, amended in 2022, 4 hel bn)
is the cornerstone of US–Greece defence cooperation and provides EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
for a naval-support facility and an airfield at Souda Bay in Crete. A ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
strategic partnership was agreed with France in 2021 that includes MBT 1,228: 170 Leopard 2A6HEL; 183 Leopard 2A4;
a mutual-assistance clause. There are also defence-cooperation
500 Leopard 1A4/5; 375 M48A5
agreements with Cyprus, Egypt and Israel while ties are develop-
IFV 175: up to 169 BMP-1; 6 Marder 1A3
ing with the UAE and Saudi Arabia. The armed forces still contain
conscripts but most personnel are regulars and Athens is looking APC • APC (T) 2,107: 74 Leonidas Mk1/2; 1,846 M113A1/
to move to a fully professional force. Greece’s deployments involve A2; 187 M577 (CP)
limited numbers of personnel and focus on the near abroad, AUV 596 M1117 Guardian; 242 VBL
although the country contributes to EU, NATO and UN missions. ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Athens is in the process of acquiring Rafale combat aircraft and ARV 262: 12 Büffel; 43 BPz-2; 94 M88A1; 113 M578
frigates from France as part of a its defence partnership. F-16s are VLB 52: 34 M48/M60 AVLB; 10 Biber; 8 Leopard 1
being upgraded. There has been significant investment in the new with Leguan
international flight training centre in Kalamata, reportedly run by MW Giant Viper
Israel’s Elbit systems. Greece hosts, and takes part in, a wide range ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
of international exercises. There is an extensive defence industry
MSL
focused on the domestic market, capable of manufacturing and
developing naval vessels, subsystems, ammunition and small arms.
SP 556: 195 HMMWV with 9K135 Kornet-E (RS-AT-14
Spriggan); 361 M901
ACTIVE 132,200 (Army 93,500 Navy 16,700 MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); Milan; TOW
Air 22,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,000 RCL 687+: 84mm Carl Gustaf; 90mm EM-67; SP 106mm
Conscript liability 9 to 12 months 687 M40A1
RESERVE 289,000 (Army 248,900 Navy 6,100 ARTILLERY 3,526
SP 599: 155mm 442: 418 M109A1B/A2/A3GEA1/A5; 24
Air 34,000)
PzH 2000; 175mm 12 M107; 203mm 145 M110A2
TOWED 463: 105mm 233: 214 M101; 19 M-56; 155mm
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 230 M114
MRL 144: 122mm 108 RM-70; 227mm 36 M270 MLRS
Army 48,500; 45,000 conscripts (total 93,500)
MOR 2,320: 81mm 1,700; 107mm 620 M30 (incl 231 SP)
FORCES BY ROLE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
COMMAND SRBM • Conventional MGM-140A ATACMS (launched
2 corps HQ (incl NRDC-GR) from M270 MLRS)
1 armd div HQ
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 12: 1 Beech 200 King Air (C-12C)
3 mech inf div HQ
2 Beech 200 King Air (C-12R/AP Huron); 9 Cessna 185
1 inf div HQ
(U-17A/B)
SPECIAL FORCES
HELICOPTERS
1 SF comd
ATK 28: 19 AH-64A Apache; 9 AH-64D Apache
1 cdo/para bde
MANOEUVRE MRH 60 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
Reconnaissance TPT 127: Heavy 25: 19 CH-47D Chinook; 6 CH-47SD
4 recce bn Chinook; Medium 14 NH90 TTH; Light 88: 74 Bell 205
Armoured (UH-1H Iroquois); 14 Bell 206 (AB-206) Jet Ranger
4 armd bde (2 armd bn, 1 mech inf bn, 1 SP arty bn) UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
Mechanised ISR • Medium 4 Sperwer
10 mech inf bde (1 armd bn, 2 mech bn, 1 SP arty bn) AIR DEFENCE
Light SAM 155+
2 inf regt Medium-range 42 MIM-23B I-Hawk
Air Manoeuvre Short-range 21 9K331 Tor-M1 (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet)
1 air mob bde Point-range 92+: 38 9K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-8B Gecko); 54
1 air aslt bde ASRAD HMMWV; FIM-92 Stinger
Amphibious GUNS • TOWED 727: 20mm 204 Rh 202; 23mm 523
1 mne bde ZU-23-2
Europe 99

National Guard 38,000 reservists PCFG 10:


Internal security role 5 Kavaloudis (FRA La Combattante IIIB) with 2 twin
lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2
FORCES BY ROLE
single 533mm TT with SST-4 HWT, 2 76mm gun
MANOEUVRE 4 Laskos (FRA La Combattante III) with 2 twin lnchr with
Light RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2 single 533mm
1 inf div TT with SST-4 HWT, 2 76mm gun
Air Manoeuvre 1 Votsis (ex-GER Tiger) with 2 twin lnchr with RGM-
1 para regt 84C Harpoon AShM, 1 76mm gun
COMBAT SUPPORT PCF 1 Votsis (ex-GER Tiger) with 1 76mm gun

Europe
8 arty bn PCO 8:
4 AD bn 2 Armatolos (DNK Osprey) with 1 76mm gun
HELICOPTER 2 Kasos (DNK Osprey derivative) with 1 76mm gun
1 hel bn 4 Machitis with 1 76mm gun
PBF 4 Aeolos (ex-US Mk V FPB)
Navy 14,300; 2,400 conscript (total 16,700) PB 6: 3 Andromeda (NOR Nasty); 2 Stamou; 1 Tolmi
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 3
SUBMARINES • SSK 10: MHO 3: 1 Evropi (ex-UK Hunt); 2 Evniki (ex-US Osprey)
3 Poseidon (GER Type-209/1200) with 8 single 533mm TT AMPHIBIOUS
with SUT HWT LANDING SHIPS • LST 5 Chios (capacity 4 LCVP; 300
1 Poseidon (GER Type-209/1200) (fitted with AIP tech- troops) with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform
nology) with 8 single 533mm TT with UGM-84C LANDING CRAFT 15
Harpoon Block 1B AShM/SUT HWT LCU 5
2 Glavkos (GER Type-209/1100) with 8 single 533mm TT LCA 7
with UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/SUT HWT LCAC 3 Kefallinia (Zubr) with 2 AK630 CIWS (capacity
4 Papanikolis (GER Type-214) (fitted with AIP) with 8 either 3 MBT or 10 APC (T); 230 troops)
single 533mm TT with UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 27
AShM/SUT HWT ABU 2
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 13 AG 5: 3 Atlas I; 2 Pandora
FRIGATES • FFGHM 13: AGOR 1 Naftilos
4 Elli Batch I (ex-NLD Kortenaer Batch 2) with 2 quad AGS 2: 1 Stravon; 1 Pytheas
lnchr with RGM-84C/G Harpoon Block 1B/G AShM, AORH 1 Prometheus (ITA Etna) with 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS
1 octuple Mk 29 GMLS with RIM-7M/P Sea Sparrow AORL 1 Axios (ex-GER Luneburg)
SAM, 2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 mod 9 ASTT with AOT 4 Ouranos
Mk 46 mod 5 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm AWT 6 Kerkini
gun (capacity 2 Bell 212 (AB-212) hel or 1 S-70B AXS 5
Seahawk hel)
2 Elli Batch II (ex-NLD Kortenaer Batch 2) with 2 quad
Coastal Defence
lnchr with RGM-84C/G Harpoon Block 1B/G AShM, EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 octuple Mk 29 GMLS with RIM-7M/P Sea Sparrow COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 2 MM40 Exocet
SAM, 2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 mod 9 ASTT with
Mk 46 mod 5 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 2 76mm
Naval Aviation
gun (capacity 2 Bell 212 (AB-212) hel or 1 S-70B FORCES BY ROLE
Seahawk hel) ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
3 Elli Batch III (ex-NLD Kortenaer Batch 2) with 2 quad 1 div with S-70B Seahawk; Bell 212 (AB-212) ASW
lnchr with RGM-84C/G Harpoon Block 1B/G AShM, 1 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
octuple Mk 29 lnchr with RIM-7P Sea Sparrow SAM, AIRCRAFT 1 combat capable
2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 mod 9 ASTT with Mk 46 ASW 1 P-3B Orion (4 P-3B Orion in store
LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity undergoing modernisation)
2 Bell 212 (AB-212) hel) HELICOPTERS
4 Hydra (GER MEKO 200) with 2 quad lnchr with ASW 14: 3 Bell 212 (AB-212) ASW; 11 S-70B Seahawk
RGM-84G Harpoon Block 1G AShM, 1 16-cell Mk AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
48 mod 2 VLS with RIM-162C ESSM SAM, 2 triple ASM AGM-114 Hellfire
324mm SVTT Mk 32 mod 5 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 2 AShM AGM-119 Penguin
Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 S-70B
Seahawk ASW hel) Air Force 18,800; 3,000 conscripts (total 21,800)
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 36
PCGM 7 Roussen (Super Vita) with 2 quad lnchr with Tactical Air Force
MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM (of which 2 still fitted with FORCES BY ROLE
Block 2), 1 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116 RAM SAM, FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 76mm gun 1 sqn with F-4E Phantom II
100 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

3 sqn with F-16CG/DG Block 30/50 Fighting Falcon EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


2 sqn with F-16CG/DG Block 52+ Fighting Falcon AIRCRAFT
1 sqn with F-16CG/DG Block 52+ Fighting Falcon; TPT 27: Medium 23: 8 C-27J Spartan; 5 C-130B Hercules;
F-16V(C/D) Viper 10 C-130H Hercules; Light 2: 1 EMB-135BJ Legacy; 1
2 sqn with F-16C/D Block 52+ ADV Fighting Falcon ERJ-135LR; PAX 2: 1 Falcon 7X (VIP); 1 Gulfstream V
1 sqn with Mirage 2000-5EG/BG Mk2 HELICOPTERS
1 sqn with Mirage 2000EG/BG; Rafale B/C F-3R TPT 31: Medium 12 AS332C Super Puma; Light 19: 12
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING
Bell 205A (AB-205A) (SAR); 4 Bell 212 (AB-212) (VIP,
1 sqn with EMB-145H Erieye
Tpt); 3 AW109
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 240 combat capable Air Training Command
FGA 240: 34 F-4E Phantom II; 69 F-16CG/DG Block
FORCES BY ROLE
30/50 Fighting Falcon; 55 F-16CG/DG Block 52+; 28 F-
TRAINING
16C/D Block 52+ ADV Fighting Falcon; 2 F-16V(C/D)
2 sqn with T-2C/E Buckeye
Viper; 19 Mirage 2000-5EG Mk2; 5 Mirage 2000-5BG
Mk2; 16 Mirage 2000EG; 2 Mirage 2000BG; 2 Rafale B 2 sqn with T-6A/B Texan II
F3-R; 8 Rafale C F3-R 1 sqn with P2002JF; T-41D
AEW 4 EMB-145AEW (EMB-145H) Erieye EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES AIRCRAFT • TRG 103: 12 P2002JF; 28 T-2C/E Buckeye;
AAM • IR AIM-9L/P Sidewinder; R-550 Magic 2; 20 T-6A Texan II; 25 T-6B Texan II; 18 T-41D
IIR IRIS-T; Mica IR; ARH AIM-120B/C AMRAAM;
Mica RF Gendarmerie & Paramilitary
ASM AGM-65A/B/G Maverick
LACM SCALP EG Coast Guard and Customs 4,000
AShM AM39 Exocet EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARM AGM-88 HARM PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 124
BOMBS
PCO 1 Gavdos (Damen 5009)
Electro-optical guided: GBU-8B HOBOS
PCC 3
Laser-guided: GBU-10/12/16 Paveway II; GBU-24
PBF 54
Paveway III; GBU-50 Enhanced Paveway II
PB 66
INS/GPS-guided GBU-31 JDAM; AGM-154C JSOW
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 4: 2 Cessna 172RG Cutlass;
Air Defence 2 TB-20 Trinidad
FORCES BY ROLE HELICOPTERS • SAR 3 AS365N3
AIR DEFENCE
6 sqn/bty with M901 Patriot PAC-2 DEPLOYMENT
2 sqn/bty with S-300PMU1 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
12 bty with Skyguard/RIM-7 Sparrow/guns; Crotale NG/ BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 7
GR; Tor-M1 (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet) BULGARIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 30;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 AT pl with M901
AIR DEFENCE CYPRUS: Army 950; 1 mech bde (1 armd bn, 2 mech inf
SAM 81 bn, 1 arty bn); 61 M48A5 MOLF MBT; 80 Leonidas APC;
Long-range 48: 36 M901 Patriot PAC-2; 12 S-300PMU1 12 M114 arty; 6 M110A2 arty
(RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
IRAQ: NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 2
Short-range 33: 9 Crotale NG/GR; 4 9K331 Tor-M1 (RS-
SA-15 Gauntlet); 20 RIM-7M Sparrow with Skygaurd LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 109; 1 FFGHM
GUNS 59: 20mm some Rh-202; 30mm 35+ Artemis-30; MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 2
35mm 24 GDF-005 with Skyguard MEDITERRANEAN SEA: EU • EUNAVFOR MED •
Operation Irini; 190; 1 FFGHM
Air Support Command
MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 8
FORCES BY ROLE
SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER SAUDI ARABIA: Air Force 100; 1 SAM bty with M901
1 sqn with AS332C Super Puma (SAR/CSAR) Patriot PAC-2
1 sqn with AW109; Bell 205A (AB-205A) (SAR); SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 113; 1 inf coy
Bell 212 (AB-212 - VIP, tpt)
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with C-27J Spartan FOREIGN FORCES
1 sqn with C-130B/H Hercules United States US European Command: 400; 1 ELINT flt
1 sqn with EMB-135BJ Legacy; ERJ-135LR; Falcon 7X; with 1 EP-3E Aries II; 1 naval base at Makri; 1 naval base at
Gulfstream V Souda Bay; 1 air base at Iraklion
Europe 101

ACTIVE 32,150 (Army 10,450 Air 5,750 Joint 15,950)


Hungary HUN
RESERVE 20,000
Hungarian Forint HUF 2021 2022 2023
GDP HUF 55.3tr 62.9tr
USD 182bn 185bn
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
per capita USD 18,732 18,983 Hungary’s armed forces have reorganised into a joint force
Growth % 7.1 5.7
Inflation % 5.1 13.9 Land Component 10,450 (incl riverine element)

Europe
Def exp [a] HUF 928bn 958bn FORCES BY ROLE
USD 3.06bn 2.81bn
SPECIAL FORCES
Def bdgt [b] HUF 794bn 1.02tr 1.58tr
1 SF bde (4 spec ops bn)
USD 2.62bn 2.99bn
MANOEUVRE
USD1=HUF 303.14 340.84
[a] NATO figure Reconnaissance
[b] Includes military pensions 1 ISR regt
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Mechanised
2.58 1 (5th) mech inf bde (3 mech inf bn, 1 cbt engr coy,
1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
0.98
2008 2015 2022 1 (25th) mech inf bde (1 tk bn; 2 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn,
1 AT bn, 1 log bn)
Population 9,699,577
COMBAT SUPPORT
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 engr regt
Male 7.4% 2.7% 2.7% 3.0% 23.6% 8.3% 1 EOD/rvn regt
Female 7.0% 2.5% 2.5% 2.9% 24.2% 13.2% 1 CBRN bn
1 sigs regt
Capabilities
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Hungary published a new National Security Strategy in April
2020 and a new National Military Strategy in June 2021. The strat- 1 log regt
egy documents speak of a deteriorating security environment, EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
marked by great-power competition and an increasing military
component. The security strategy also characterises mass migra- ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
tion as a key concern for Hungary. Hungary is implementing MBT 56: 12 Leopard 2A4HU; 44 T-72M1
the Zrinyi 2026 national-defence and armed-forces modernisa-
IFV 121: 120 BTR-80A/AM; 1 KF41 Lynx (in test)
tion plan. Second editions of the doctrines on SOF, CBRN and
CIMIC were published in 2021. A new Cyber- and Information APC 322
Operations Centre was established in January 2022, and a Mili- APC (W) 260 BTR-80
tary Cyberspace Operations Doctrine was published in 2022. A
PPV 62: 50 Ejder Yalcin 4×4 (Gidran); 12 MaxxPro Plus
doctrine for NEO operations is expected in 2023. Hungary coor-
dinates policy with other member states of the Visegrád Group, ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
including on defence, and hosts the NATO Centre of Excellence AEV 5 BAT-2
for Military Medicine. The armed forces participate in interna-
tional crisis-management missions, notably in the Balkans and ARV 9: 1 BPz-3 Buffel; 8 VT-55A
Iraq, but have very limited organic capacity to deploy forces VLB 8 BLG-60; MTU; TMM
beyond national borders. Announced equipment-modernisation
NBC VEHICLES 14 BTR-80M-NBC
priorities focus on individual-soldier equipment and fixed- and
rotary-wing aircraft. While the air-force-related elements of Zrinyi ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
2026 had been a focus of attention, and current air procure- MSL • MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-
ments include transport and trainer aircraft, at the end of 2018
the ministry also initiated land procurements, including for main 1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel)
battle tanks (Leopard 2A7), Lynx IFVs and PzH2000 self-propelled ARTILLERY 33
artillery. PzH 2000 deliveries began in mid-2022. Hungary’s
SP 155mm 2 PzH 2000
defence-industrial base is limited, though the defence ministry
has set up an inter-ministerial working group to boost domestic TOWED 152mm 31 D-20
capacity in the small-arms sector. In 2020, a new defence pro- MOR 82mm
curement agency, reporting to the national armaments director,
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PBR 4
began its work and is intended to coordinate defence and secu-
rity acquisitions. MINE COUNTERMEASURES • MSR 3 Nestin
102 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Air Component 5,750


FORCES BY ROLE
Iceland ISL
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK Icelandic Krona ISK 2021 2022 2023
1 sqn with Gripen C/D GDP ISK 3.25tr 3.68tr
TRANSPORT USD 25.6bn 27.7bn
1 sqn with A319; Falcon 7X per capita USD 69,422 73,981
TRAINING Growth % 4.4 5.1
1 sqn with Z-143LSi; Z-242L; AS350 Ecureuil Inflation % 4.5 8.4
ATTACK HELICOPTER Sy Bdgt [a] ISK 5.53bn 5.56bn 5.58bn
1 sqn with Mi-24V/P Hind E/F
USD 43.5m 41.8m
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
USD1=ISK 126.99 133.02
1 sqn with H145M
[a] Coast Guard budget
AIR DEFENCE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
1 SAM regt (9 bty with Mistral; 3 bty with 2K12 Kub (RS-
47
SA-6 Gainful))
1 radar regt 28
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 2008 2015 2022
AIRCRAFT 14 combat capable
Population 357,603
FGA 14: 12 Gripen C; 2 Gripen D
TPT • PAX 4: 2 A319; 2 Falcon 7X Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
TRG 8: 2 Z-143LSi; 6 Z-242L Male 10.3% 3.2% 3.2% 3.5% 22.3% 7.7%
HELICOPTERS Female 9.9% 3.1% 3.2% 3.4% 21.9% 8.5%
ATK 8: 6 Mi-24V Hind E; 2 Mi-24P Hind F
MRH 20 H145M (incl 2 SAR) Capabilities
TPT • Light 2 AS350 Ecureuil Iceland is a NATO member but maintains only a coastguard service.
AIR DEFENCE In 2016, the country established a National Security Council to
SAM • Point-defence 16 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); implement and monitor security policy. The Coast Guard controls
the NATO Iceland Air Defence System, as well as a NATO Control
Mistral and Reporting Centre that feeds into NATO air- and missile defence
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES and air-operations centres. Increased Russian air and naval activities
AAM • IR AIM-9 Sidewinder; ARH AIM-120C in the Atlantic and close to NATO airspace have led to complaints
from Iceland. Iceland considers its bilateral defence agreement with
AMRAAM the US as an important pillar of its security policy and also partici-
ASM AGM-65 Maverick; 3M11 Falanga (RS-AT-2 pates in the security-policy dialogue of NORDEFCO. Iceland joined
Swatter); 9K114 Shturm-V (RS-AT-6 Spiral) the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force in 2021. Iceland hosts NATO
and regional partners for exercises, transits and naval task groups,
BOMBS • Laser-guided Paveway II as well as a NATO Icelandic Air Policing mission. Despite there being
no standing armed forces, Iceland makes financial contributions and
on occasion deploys civilian personnel to NATO missions. Iceland
DEPLOYMENT hosts US Navy P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, in a rotational
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • Operation Althea 192; deployment based at Keflavik air base.
1 inf coy ACTIVE NIL Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 250
CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 13
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 133; NATO • NATO
Mission Iraq 3 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 16 Iceland Coast Guard 250
LITHUANA: NATO • Baltic Air Policing; 80; 4 Gripen C EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 20 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 2
PSO 2: 1 Freyja; 1 Thor
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 469; 1 inf coy (KTM) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AGS 1 Baldur
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 6 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 1 DHC-8-300 (MP)
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Medium 3 H225 (leased)

FOREIGN FORCES FOREIGN FORCES


Croatia NATO Enhanced Vigliance Activities: 60 Icelandic Air Policing: Aircraft and personnel from various
United States NATO Enhanced Vigliance Activities: 150; NATO members on a rotating basis
1 armd inf coy United States 100; 2 P-8A Poseidon
Europe 103

Ireland IRL ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023 Army 6,750
GDP EUR 426bn 492bn FORCES BY ROLE
USD 505bn 520bn SPECIAL FORCES
per capita USD 100,129 102,217 1 ranger coy
MANOEUVRE
Growth % 13.6 9.0
Reconnaissance
Inflation % 2.4 8.4
1 armd recce sqn

Europe
Def bdgt [a] EUR 1.07bn 1.11bn 1.17bn Mechanised
USD 1.27bn 1.17bn 1 mech inf coy
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95 Light
[a] Includes military pensions and capital expenditure 1 inf bde (1 cav recce sqn, 4 inf bn, 1 arty regt (3 fd arty
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) bty, 1 AD bty), 1 fd engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 MP coy, 1
1.22 tpt coy)
1 inf bde (1 cav recce sqn, 3 inf bn, 1 arty regt (3 fd arty
0.99
bty, 1 AD bty), 1 fd engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 MP coy, l
2008 2015 2022 tpt coy)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Population 5,275,004 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
RECCE 6 Piranha IIIH 30mm
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
APC 101
Male 10.6% 3.2% 3.0% 2.9% 23.5% 6.6% APC (W) 74: 56 Piranha III; 18 Piranha IIIH
Female 10.1% 3.1% 3.0% 2.9% 23.3% 7.7% PPV 27 RG-32M
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTURCTURE
Capabilities MSL • MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin
The armed forces’ core mission is defending the state against RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
armed aggression. A 2015 White Paper broadened the scope of the ARTILLERY 131
national-security risk assessment beyond military and paramilitary TOWED • 105mm 23: 17 L118 Light Gun; 6 L119
threats, noting inter- and intra-state conflict, cyber-attacks, terror- Light Gun
ism, emergencies and natural disasters, among others. A White Paper MOR 108: 81mm 84 Brandt; 120mm 24 Ruag M87
update was issued in 2019 and Ireland’s next strategy document AIR DEFENCE
is intended be a Strategic Defence Review. Ireland is active in EU SAM • Point-defence RBS-70
defence cooperation and continues to contribute to multinational
operations. A Commission on the Defence Forces report, published Reserves 1,400 reservists
in February 2022, looked to address immediate requirements and
set a longer-term vision beyond 2030. In July, the government FORCES BY ROLE
decided to move to ‘Level of Ambition 2’, as set out in the Commis- MANOEUVRE
sion’s capability framework. This will build on ‘current capability to Reconnaissance
address specific priority gaps in [Ireland’s] ability to deal with an 1 (integrated) armd recce sqn
assault on Irish sovereignty and to serve in higher intensity Peace 2 (integrated) cav sqn
Support Operations.’ Spending will rise and personnel numbers Mechanised
are to increase by 2,000 above the current establishment. A High 1 (integrated) mech inf coy
Level Action Plan detailed government responses to recommenda- Light
tions in the Commission report and an implementation report was
14 (integrated) inf coy
expected by end-2022. The Commission recommended the creation
of a Chief of Defence post and that the air corps and naval service COMBAT SUPPORT
become services on a level with the army. Early actions for late 2022 4 (integrated) arty bty
include planning for military radar capabilities, including primary 2 engr gp
radar and the establishment of an Office of Reserve Affairs intended 2 MP coy
to develop a regeneration plan for the Reserve Defence Force. A 3 sigs coy
2020–24 Equipment Development Plan indicated priorities includ- COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
ing a mid-life upgrade for Piranha armoured personnel carriers and 2 med det
the two Roisin-class offshore patrol ships. Other stated priorities
2 tpt coy
include the procurement of two C295 maritime patrol aircraft and
upgrades to the 84mm anti-tank system. In 2023, the country will
receive two ex-New Zealand coastal patrol craft to replace decom- Naval Service 750
missioned vessels. Ireland has a small, specialist defence industry EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
focused on areas including drivetrain technologies for land systems. PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 6
PSO 6: 2 Roisin (of which 1 in refit) with 1 76mm gun;
ACTIVE 8,200 (Army 6,750 Navy 750 Air 700)
4 Samuel Beckett with 1 76mm gun
RESERVE 1,600 (Army 1,450 Navy 150) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AXS 2
104 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Air Corps 700 2017 has deployed to Latvia as part of the Enhanced Forward Pres-
ence. The EUNAVFOR-MED force is headquartered in Rome, while
2 ops wg; 2 spt wg; 1 trg wg; 1 comms and info sqn
the US Navy 6th Fleet is based in Naples. The country takes part
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE in and hosts NATO and other multinational exercises, continues
AIRCRAFT to support NATO, EU and UN operations abroad and is planning
MP 2 CN235 MPA to increasingly focus on Europe’s southern flank. Force mobility is
TPT • Light 5: 1 Learjet 45 (VIP); 4 PC-12NG enabled by a fleet of medium transport aircraft and tankers, and
TRG 8 PC-9M there are plans to procure fixed-wing aircraft to support special
forces. The White Paper and the latest multi-year planning docu-
HELICOPTERS:
ment detailed upgrades to main battle tanks and infantry fighting
MRH 6 AW139 vehicles as well as the procurement of armoured fighting vehicles
TPT • Light 2 H135 (incl trg/medevac) to replace the Dardo and the M113s. The expected retirement of
much of the naval fleet has triggered a long-term replacement
plan which includes the acquisition of two attack submarines and
DEPLOYMENT two next-generation destroyers to replace the ageing Luigi Durand
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 5 de la Penne-class vessels as well as eight new offshore patrol
vessels. F-35As have been ordered for the air force and F-35Bs for
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 338; 1 mech inf bn(-) both the air force and naval aviation, some of which have been
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 20; UN • MINUMSA 12 already delivered. Italy signed a MoU with UK and Sweden relat-
ing to the development of the UK-led Tempest programme and in
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 12
2022 increased the funds allocated for the project. Italy takes part
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 13 in European defence-industrial cooperation activities, including
PESCO projects, and has an advanced defence industry capable
SYRIA/ISRAEL: UN • UNDOF 130; 1 inf coy
of producing equipment across all domains. There are particular
strengths in shipbuilding and in aircraft and helicopter manufac-
Italy ITA turing. The country hosts Europe’s F-35 final assembly and check-
out facility at Cameri.
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
ACTIVE 161,050 (Army 93,100 Navy 28,700
GDP EUR 1.78tr 1.89tr
Air 39,250) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 176,100
USD 2.10tr 2.00tr
per capita USD 35,473 33,740 RESERVES 17,900 (Army 13,400 Navy 4,500)
Growth % 6.6 3.2
Inflation % 1.9 8.7 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Def exp [a] EUR 28.0bn 28.8bn
USD 33.2bn 30.4bn Space
Def bdgt [b] EUR 28.3bn 29.4bn 27.9bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SATELLITES 8
USD 33.5bn 31.1bn
COMMUNICATIONS 3: 1 Athena-Fidus (also used by
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
FRA); 2 Sicral
[a] NATO figure ISR 7: 4 Cosmo (Skymed); 2 Cosmo SG; 1 OPTSAT-3000
[b] Includes military pensions
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Army 93,100
29.9 Regt are bn sized
FORCES BY ROLE
24.9 COMMAND
2008 2015 2022 1 (NRDC-ITA) corps HQ (1 spt bde, 1 sigs regt, 1 spt regt)
MANOEUVRE
Population 61,095,551
Mechanised
1 (Vittorio Veneto) div (1 (Ariete) armd bde (1 cav regt, 2
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus tk regt, 1 armd inf regt, 1 SP arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt,
Male 6.3% 2.4% 2.4% 2.6% 24.4% 10.1% 1 log regt); 1 (Pozzuolo del Friuli) amph bde (1 cav regt,
Female 6.0% 2.4% 2.4% 2.6% 25.4% 12.9% 1 amph regt, 1 arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt, 1 log regt); 1
(Folgore) AB bde (1 cav regt, 3 para regt, 1 arty regt, 1
Capabilities cbt engr regt, 1 log regt); 1 (Friuli) air mob bde (1 air
mob regt, 2 atk hel regt))
Italy is concerned by security challenges in the Euro-Atlantic
1 (Acqui) div (1 (Pinerolo) mech bde (1 cav regt, 3 armd inf
environment, as well as from Europe’s southern flank. A defence
regt, 1 fd arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt, 1 log regt); 1 (Grana-
White Paper was issued in 2015. The latest three-year defence
plan for 2022–24 outlined modernisation goals. Command struc- tieri) mech bde (1 cav regt, 2 mech inf regt); 1 (Garibaldi
ture reforms are intended to improve cross-domain command Bersaglieri) mech bde (1 cav regt, 1 tk regt, 2 armd inf
and control. In July 2021, Italy issued its first directive for defence regt, 1 SP arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt, 1 log regt); 1 (Aosta)
industrial policy. Italy has taken part in NATO’s air-policing mis- mech bde (1 cav regt, 1 armd inf regt, 2 mech inf regt,
sions in the Baltic states, Iceland and Romania and since early 1 fd arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt, 1 log regt); 1 (Sassari) lt
Europe 105

mech bde (1 armd inf regt, 2 mech inf regt, 1 cbt engr Navy 28,700
regt, 1 log regt)) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Mountain SUBMARINES • SSK 8:
1 (Tridentina) mtn div (2 mtn bde (1 cav regt, 3 mtn 4 Pelosi (imp Sauro, 3rd and 4th series) with 6 single
inf regt, 1 arty regt, 1 mtn cbt engr regt, 1 spt bn, 1 533mm TT with A184 mod 3 HWT
log regt)) 4 Salvatore Todaro (Type-212A) (fitted with AIP) with 6
COMBAT SUPPORT single 533mm TT with Black Shark HWT
1 arty comd (1 arty regt, 1 MRL regt, 1 NBC regt) PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 18
1 AD comd (3 SAM regt) AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • CVS 2:
1 engr comd (2 engr regt, 1 ptn br regt)

Europe
1 Cavour with 4 8-cell Sylver A43 VLS with Aster 15
1 EW/sigs comd (1 EW/ISR bde (1 CIMIC regt, 1 EW regt, SAM, 2 76mm guns (capacity mixed air group of 20
1 int regt, 1 STA regt); 1 sigs bde with (7 sigs regt)) AV-8B Harrier II; F-35B Lightning II; AW101 Merlin;
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT NH90; Bell 212)
1 log comd (3 log regt, 4 med unit) 1 G. Garibaldi with 2 octuple Albatros lnchr with
HELICOPTER Aspide SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with Mk 46 LWT
1 hel bde (3 hel regt) (capacity mixed air group of 18 AV-8B Harrier II;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AW101 Merlin; NH90; Bell 212)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES DESTROYERS • DDGHM 4:
MBT 150: 149 C1 Ariete; 1 C1 Ariete AMV (in test) 2 Andrea Doria with 2 quad lnchr with Otomat (Teseo)
ASLT 262: 255 B1 Centauro; 7 Centauro II Mk2A AShM, 6 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS with Aster
IFV 434: 165 VCC-80 Dardo; 269 VBM 8×8 Freccia (incl 20 15/Aster 30 SAM, 2 single 324mm B-515 ASTT with
CP and 44 with Spike-LR) MU90 LWT, 3 76mm guns (capacity 1 AW101 Merlin/
APC 380 NH90 hel)
APC (T) 148 Bv-206S 2 Luigi Durand de la Penne (ex-Animoso) with 2 quad
APC (W) 199 Puma 6×6 lnchr with Otomat (Teseo) Mk2A AShM/Milas A/S
PPV 33 VTMM Orso (incl 16 amb) msl, 1 Mk 13 mod 4 GMLS with SM-1MR Block VI
AUV 1,842: 10 Cougar; 1,798 IVECO LMV (incl 82 amb); SAM, 1 octuple Albatros lnchr with Aspide SAM, 2
34 IVECO LMV 2 triple 324mm B-515 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 127mm
AAV 15: 14 AAVP-7; 1 AAVC-7 gun, 3 76mm guns (capacity 1 NH90 or 2 Bell 212
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES (AB-212) hel)
FRIGATES 12
AEV 25 Dachs; M113
FFGHM 10:
ARV 70: 69 BPz-2; 1 AAVR-7
4 Bergamini (GP) with 2 quad lnchr with Otomat
VLB 30 Biber
(Teseo) Mk2A AShM, 2 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS with
MW 34: 6 Buffalo; 3 Miniflail; 25 VTMM Orso
Aster 15/Aster 30 SAM, 2 triple 324mm B-515 ASTT
NBC VEHICLES 14: 5 VBR NBC; 9 VBR NBC Plus
with MU90 LWT, 1 127mm gun, 1 76mm gun
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
(capacity 2 AW101/NH90 hel)
MSL • MANPATS Spike
4 Bergamini (ASW) with 2 twin lnchr with Otomat
ARTILLERY 769
(Teseo) Mk2A AShM, 2 twin lnchr with MILAS A/S
SP 155mm 67 PzH 2000
msl, 2 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS with Aster 15/Aster
TOWED 173: 105mm 25 Oto Melara Mod 56; 155mm 148
30 SAM, 2 triple 324mm B-515 ASTT with MU90
FH-70 LWT, 2 76mm gun (capacity 2 AW101/NH90 hel)
MRL 227mm 21 M270 MLRS 2 Maestrale with 4 single lnchr with Otomat (Teseo)
MOR 508: 81mm 283 Expal; 120mm 204: 62 Brandt; 142 Mk2 AShM, 1 octuple Albatros lnchr with Aspide
RT-61 (RT-F1) SP 120mm 21 VBM 8×8 Freccia SAM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 6: 3 Do-228 (ACTL-1); 46 LWT, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 NH90 or 2 Bell
3 P.180 Avanti 212 (AB-212) hel)
HELICOPTERS FFH 2 Paolo Thaon di Revel (Pattugliatori Polivalenti
ATK 35 AW129CBT Mangusta d’Altura (PPA)) with 1 127mm gun, 1 76mm gun
MRH 14 Bell 412 (AB-412) Twin Huey (capacity 2 NH90 or 1 AW101)
TPT 144: Heavy 16 CH-47F Chinook; Medium 56 NH90 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 16
TTH (UH-90A); Light 72: 2 AW169LUH (UH-169B); 29 PSOH 10:
Bell 205 (AB-205); 28 Bell 206 Jet Ranger (AB-206); 13 Bell 4 Cassiopea with 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-
212 (AB-212) 212) hel
AIR DEFENCE 4 Comandante Cigala Fuligosi with 1 76mm gun (capacity
SAM 20+ 1 Bell 212 (AB-212)/NH90 hel)
Long-range 20 SAMP/T 2 Sirio (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212) or NH90 hel)
Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger PB 6: 2 Angelo Cabrini; 4 Esploratore
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 10
ASM Spike-ER MHO 10: 8 Gaeta; 2 Lerici
106 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AMPHIBIOUS Marines 3,000


PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LHD 3: FORCES BY ROLE
2 San Giorgio (capacity 3-4 AW101/NH90/Bell 212; 3 MANOEUVRE
LCM; 2 LCVP; 30 trucks; 36 APC (T); 350 troops) Amphibious
1 San Giusto with 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 AW101 1 mne regt (1 recce coy, 2 mne bn, 1 log bn)
Merlin/NH90/Bell 212; 3 LCM; 2 LCVP; 30 trucks; 36 1 (boarding) mne regt (2 mne bn)
APC (T); 350 troops) 1 landing craft gp
LANDING CRAFT 24: 15 LCVP; 9 LCM Other
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 53 1 sy regt (3 sy bn)
ABU 5 Ponza EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AFD 9 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AGE 3: 1 Leonardo (coastal); 1 Raffaele Rosseti; 1 Vincenzo AAV 17: 15 AAVP-7; 2 AAVC-7
AUV 70 IVECO LMV
Martellota
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
AGI 1 Elettra
ARV 1 AAVR-7
AGOR 1 Alliance ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
AGS 3: 1 Ammiraglio Magnaghi with 1 hel landing MSL• MANPATS Spike
platform; 2 Aretusa (coastal) ARTILLERY
AKSL 6 Gorgona MOR 22: 81mm 16 Expal; 120mm 6 RT-61 (RT-F1)
AORH 2: 1 Etna with 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 AW101/ AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger
NH90/Bell 212 hel); 1 Vulcano (capacity 2 AW101/NH90/
Bell 212) Air Force 39,250
AORL 1 Stromboli with 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 AW101/ FORCES BY ROLE
NH90 hel) FIGHTER
AOT 4 Panarea 4 sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon
ARSH 1 Anteo (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212) hel) FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
ATS 6 Ciclope 1 (SEAD/EW) sqn with Tornado ECR
AWT 3: 1 Bormida; 2 Simeto 1 sqn with F-35A Lightning II; Tornado IDS
1 sqn with F-35A/B Lightning II
AXS 8: 1 Amerigo Vespucci; 5 Caroly; 1 Italia; 1 Palinuro
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK/ISR
Naval Aviation 2,000 1 sqn with AMX Ghibli
MARITIME PATROL
FORCES BY ROLE 1 sqn (opcon Navy) with ATR-72MP (P-72A)
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK TANKER/TRANSPORT
1 sqn with AV-8B Harrier II; TAV-8B Harrier II 1 sqn with KC-767A
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE/TRANSPORT COMBAT SEARCH & RESCUE
5 sqn with AW101 ASW Merlin; Bell 212 ASW (AB- 1 sqn with AB-212 ICO; AW101 SAR (HH-101A)
212AS); Bell 212 (AB-212); NH90 NFH SEARCH & RESCUE
MARITIME PATROL 1 wg with AW139 (HH-139A); Bell 212 (HH-212)
1 flt with P-180 TRANSPORT
AIRBORNE EARLY WANRING & CONTROL 2 (VIP) sqn with A319CJ; AW139 (VH-139A); Falcon 50;
Falcon 900 Easy; Falcon 900EX
1 flt with AW101 AEW Merlin
2 sqn with C-130J/C-130J-30/KC-130J Hercules
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 sqn with C-27J Spartan
AIRCRAFT 13 combat capable 1 (calibration) sqn with P-180 Avanti/Gulfstream G550
FGA 13: 9 AV-8B Harrier II; 1 TAV-8B Harrier II; CAEW
3 F-35B Lightning II TRAINING
MP 3 P.180 Avanti 1 OCU sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon
HELICOPTERS 1 sqn with MB-339PAN (aerobatic team)
ASW 56: 8 AW101 ASW Merlin; 7 Bell 212 ASW; 1 sqn with MD-500D/E (NH-500D/E)
41 NH90 NFH (SH-90) 1 OCU sqn with Tornado
AEW 4 AW101 AEW Merlin 1 OCU sqn with AMX-T Ghibli
1 sqn with MB-339A
TPT 22: Medium 20: 10 AW101 Merlin; 10 NH90 MITT
1 sqn with M-346
(MH-90); Light 2 Bell 212 (AB-212)
1 sqn with SF-260EA; 3 P2006T (T-2006A)
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES 1 sqn with AW101 SAR (HH-101A); Bell 212 (HH-212)
AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder; ARH AIM-120 ISR UAV
AMRAAM 1 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper; RQ-1B Predator
ASM AGM-65 Maverick AIR DEFENCE
AShM Marte Mk 2/S 2 bty with Spada
Europe 107

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Air Force


AIRCRAFT 231 combat capable
FORCES BY ROLE
FTR 94 Eurofighter Typhoon
SPECIAL FORCES
FGA 60: 31 AMX Ghibli; 8 AMX-T Ghibli; 17 F-35A
1 wg (sqn) (17th Stormo Incursori)
Lightning II; 4 F-35B Lightning II
ATK 34 Tornado IDS Paramilitary
ATK/EW 15 Tornado ECR*
MP 4 ATR-72MP (P-72A) Carabinieri
SIGINT 1 Beech 350 King Air FORCES BY ROLE

Europe
AEW&C 3 Gulfstream G550 CAEW SPECIAL FORCES
TKR/TPT 4 KC-767A 1 spec ops gp (GIS)
TPT 78: Medium 33: 11 C-130J Hercules (5+ KC-130J
tanker pods); 10 C-130J-30 Hercules; 12 C-27J Spartan; Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 176,100
Light 37: 17 P-180 Avanti; 20 S-208 (liaison); PAX 8: 3
A319CJ; 2 Falcon 50 (VIP); 2 Falcon 900 Easy; 1 Falcon Carabinieri 108,000
900EX (VIP) The Carabinieri are organisationally under the MoD.
TRG 115: 21 MB-339A; 28 MB-339CD*; 16 MB-339PAN They are a separate service in the Italian Armed Forces
(aerobatics); 2+ M-345; 22 M-346; 26 SF-260EA as well as a police force with judicial competence
HELICOPTERS
MRH 54: 13 AW139 (HH-139A/VH-139A); 2 MD-500D Mobile and Specialised Branch
(NH-500D); 39 MD-500E (NH-500E) FORCES BY ROLE
CSAR 12 AW101 (HH-101A) MANOEUVRE
SAR 17 AW139 (HH-139B) Other
TPT • Light 14 Bell 212 (HH-212)/AB-212 ICO 1 (mobile) paramilitary div (1 bde (1st) with
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 12 (1 horsed cav regt, 11 mobile bn); 1 bde (2nd) with
CISR • Heavy 6 MQ-9A Reaper (unarmed) (1 (1st) AB regt, 2 (7th & 13th) mobile regt))
ISR • Heavy 6 RQ-1B Predator HELICOPTER
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Short-range SPADA 1 hel gp
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder; IIR IRIS-T; ARH AIM-
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
120C AMRAAM; Meteor
APC • APC (T) 3 VCC-2
ARM AGM-88 HARM
AUV 30 IVECO LMV
LACM SCALP EG/Storm Shadow
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 66
BOMBS
Laser-guided Lizard 2 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light: 2 P.180 Avanti
Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II; HELICOPTERS
GBU-54 Laser JDAM MRH 15 Bell 412 (AB-412)
INS/GPS-guided GBU-31/-32/-38 JDAM; GBU-39 Small TPT • Light 31: 19 AW109; 2 AW109E; 2 AW139;
Diameter Bomb 8 MD-500D (NH-500D)

Customs 68,100
Joint Special Forces Command (COFS)
(Servizio Navale Guardia Di Finanza)
Army EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FORCES BY ROLE PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 166
SPECIAL FORCES PCO 2 Monti (Damen Stan Patrol 5509)
1 SF regt (9th Assalto paracadutisti) PCF 1 Antonio Zara
1 STA regt PBF 140: 19 Bigliani; 5 Corrubia; 9 Mazzei; 79 V-2000;
1 ranger regt (4th Alpini paracadutisti) 12 V-5000; 6 V-6000; 10 V-7000
COMBAT SUPPORT PB 23 Buratti
1 psyops regt LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AX 1 Giorgio Cini
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
AIRCRAFT
1 spec ops hel regt
MP 8: 4 ATR-42-500MP; 4 ATR-72-600 (P-72B)
Navy (COMSUBIN) TPT • Light 2 P.180 Avanti
FORCES BY ROLE HELICOPTERS
SPECIAL FORCES TPT • Light 53: 10 AW109N; 17 AW139; 6 AW169M;
1 SF gp (GOI) 8 Bell 412HP Twin Huey; 4 MD-500MC (NH-500MC);
1 diving gp (GOS) 8 MD-500MD (NH-500MD)
108 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

DEPLOYMENT Latvia LVA


BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea)
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
346; 1 inf bn HQ; 1 inf coy; 1 ISR coy
GDP EUR 32.9bn 38.4bn
BULGARIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 750;
1 mech inf BG with Centauro B1; VBM Freccia 8×8; PzH 2000 USD 38.9bn 40.6bn
per capita USD 20,546 21,482
DJIBOUTI: 92
Growth % 4.5 2.5
EGYPT: MFO 75; 3 PB
Inflation % 3.2 16.5
GULF OF ADEN & INDIAN OCEAN: EU • Operation Atalanta Def exp [a] EUR 696m 806m
150; 1 FFGHM USD 824m 852m
GULF OF GUINEA: Navy 190; 1 FFGHM Def bdgt [b] EUR 696m 806m 878m
INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 2 USD 824m 852m
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve (Prima Parthica) 712; 1 inf FMA (US) USD 10.0m 8.8m 9.8m
regt; 1 trg unit; 1 hel sqn with 3 NH90; NATO • NATO USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
Mission Iraq 610 [a] NATO figure
KUWAIT: Operation Inherent Resolve (Prima Parthica) 417; [b] Includes military pensions
4 Eurofighter Typhoon; 2 MQ-9A Reaper; 1 C-27J Spartan; 1 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
KC-767A; 1 SAM bty with SAMP/T 674
LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence (Baltic
Guardian) 250; 1 armd inf coy with C1 Ariete; Centauro B1; 231
VCC-80 Dardo 2008 2015 2022

LEBANON: MIBIL 22; UN • UNIFIL 868; 1 mech bde HQ; Population 1,842,226
1 mech inf bn; 1 MP coy; 1 sigs coy; 1 hel sqn
LIBYA: MIASIT 160; 1 inf coy; 1 CRBN unit; 1 trg unit Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus

MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 9; UN • MINUSMA 2 Male 7.8% 2.6% 2.3% 2.6% 24.0% 7.2%
Female 7.3% 2.4% 2.1% 2.4% 25.3% 14.1%
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: EU • EUNAVFOR MED: 70;
1 PSOH; NATO • SNMG 2: 170; 1 FFGHM; NATO •
SNMCMG 2: 50; 1 MHO
Capabilities
MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 15 Latvia has small armed forces focused on maintaining national
sovereignty and territorial integrity and the country depends on
NIGER: MISIN 220; 1 inf coy; 1 engr unit; 1 CRBN unit; NATO membership as a security guarantor. Russia is Latvia’s over-
1 med coy; 1 trg unit; 1 ISR unit riding security concern. In the wake of the February 2022 invasion
PERSIAN GULF: EMASOH 150; 1 FFGHM of Ukraine, Latvia boosted defence spending and transferred mili-
tary equipment to Ukraine. A national service law was approved in
POLAND: NATO • Baltic Air Policing: 135;
September 2022 and will take effect in January 2023. Two intakes
4 Eurofighter Typhoon are planned annually. Males between 18-27 will be obliged to
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 715; 1 arty regt BG HQ; 1 serve, with females serving voluntarily. Posts will be filled by vol-
Carabinieri unit unteers but from late 2023 any unfilled quota will be filled com-
pulsorily. Service will last for 11 months. The September 2020 State
SOMALIA: EU • EUTM Somalia 150
Defence Concept highlighted challenges including from new tech-
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 2 nologies and low military spending in Europe, and the resulting
effect on capabilities and crisis response. It emphasised societal
FOREIGN FORCES resilience and comprehensive defence as well as the significance
of a NATO presence in the region. The NATO battlegroup based
United States US European Command: 13,050 in Latvia, present since 2017 as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced
Army 4,250; 1 AB bde(-) Forward Presence, was bolstered in 2022. Latvia is also a member
Navy 3,600; 1 HQ (US Naval Forces Europe-Africa of the UK-led Joint Expeditionary Force. There is no capacity to
(NAVEUR-NAVAF)/6th Fleet) at Naples; 1 ASW Sqn independently deploy and sustain forces beyond national bound-
with 5 P-8A Poseidon at Sigonella aries, although the armed forces have taken part in NATO and EU
missions. Improvements are being made to logistics and procure-
USAF 4,800; 1 FGA wg with (2 FGA sqn with 21
ment systems. A National Cyber Security Center is planned to be
F-16C/D Fighting Falcon at Aviano; 1 CSAR sqn with
established in January 2023 under the auspices of the Ministry of
8 HH-60G Pave Hawk); 1 CISR UAV sqn with MQ-9A
Defence. Capability-development plans include medium-range air
Reaper at Sigonella; 1 ISR UAV flt with RQ-4B Global defence (jointly with Estonia), rocket artillery and coastal defence.
Hawk at Sigonella Acquisition requirements include air, land and naval systems,
USMC 400; 1 tpt sqn with 6 MV-22B Osprey; 2 KC- transport assets and ammunition. Latvia has only a niche defence-
130J Hercules industrial capability, with cyber security a focus.
Europe 109

ACTIVE 6,600 (Army 1,800 Navy 500 Air 500 Joint LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 1
Staff 2,300 National Guard 1,200 Other 300) AXL 1 Varonis (comd and spt ship, ex-NLD)

RESERVE 15,500 (National Guard 10,000 Other 5,500) Coast Guard


Under command of the Latvian Naval Forces
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 6
PB 6: 1 Astra; 5 KBV 236 (ex-SWE)
Joint 2,300
FORCES BY ROLE Air Force 500

Europe
SPECIAL FORCES Main tasks are airspace control and defence, maritime and
1 SF unit land SAR and air transportation
COMBAT SUPPORT
FORCES BY ROLE
1 MP bn
TRANSPORT
1 (mixed) tpt sqn with An-2 Colt; Mi-17 Hip H
Army 1,800 AIR DEFENCE
FORCES BY ROLE 1 AD bn
MANOEUVRE 1 radar sqn (radar/air ctrl)
Mechanised AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 4 An-2 Colt
1 mech inf bde (2 mech inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 cbt spt bn (1 HELICOPTERS • MRH 2 Mi-17 Hip H
recce coy, 1 engr coy, 1 AD coy), 1 CSS bn HQ) AIR DEFENCE
SAM • Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger; RBS-70
National Guard 1,200; 10,000 part-time GUNS • TOWED 40mm 24 L/70
(11,200 total)
FORCES BY ROLE Gendarmerie & Paramilitary
SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF unit State Border Guard
MANOEUVRE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Light PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 3
1 (2nd) inf bde (4 inf bn; 1 engr bn) PB 3: 1 Valpas (ex-FIN); 1 Lokki (ex-FIN); 1 Randa
3 (1st, 3rd & 4th) inf bde (3 inf bn; 1 sy bn; 1 spt bn) HELICOPTERS
COMBAT SUPPORT TPT • Light 6: 2 AW109E Power; 2 AW119Kx; 2 Bell
1 cyber unit 206B (AB-206B) Jet Ranger II
1 NBC coy
1 psyops pl DEPLOYMENT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 1; NATO • NATO
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Mission Iraq 1
MBT 3 T-55 (trg)
RECCE 170 FV107 Scimitar (incl variants) MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 5; UN • MINUSMA 1
APC • APC(W) 8 Patria 6×6 MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 1
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 136; 1 inf coy
MANPATS Spike-LR
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf; 90mm Pvpj 1110
ARTILLERY 112
FOREIGN FORCES
SP 155mm 59 M109A5ÖE All NATO Enhanced Forward Presence/Enhanced
TOWED 100mm (23 K-53 in store) Vigilance Activities unless stated
MOR 53: 81mm 28 L16; 120mm 25 M120 Albania 21; 1 EOD pl
Canada 639; 1 mech inf bn HQ; 1 mech inf coy(+); 1 cbt spt
Navy 500 (incl Coast Guard) coy; 1 spt coy;
Naval Forces Flotilla separated into an MCM squadron and Czech Republic 81; 1 mor pl
a patrol-boat squadron. LVA, EST and LTU have set up a Denmark 803; 1 mech inf bn
joint naval unit, BALTRON, with bases at Liepaja, Riga, Italy 250; 1 armd inf coy
Ventspils (LVA), Tallinn (EST), Klaipeda (LTU). Each nation Macedonia, North 9
contributes 1–2 MCMVs Montenegro 11
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Poland 177; 1 tk coy
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5 Slovakia 152; 1 arty bty
PB 5 Skrunda (GER Swath) Slovenia 42
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4 Spain 504; 1 armd inf coy(+); 1 arty bty; 1 cbt engr coy;
MCCS 1 Vidar (ex-NOR) 1 SAM bty
MHO 3 Imanta (ex-NLD Alkmaar/Tripartite) United States US European Command: 800; 1 AB bn
110 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ACTIVE 23,000 (Army 14,500 Navy 700 Air 1,500


Lithuania LTU Other 6,300) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 14,150
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023 Conscript liability 9 months, 18–23 years
GDP EUR 55.4bn 64.4bn RESERVE 7,100 (Army 7,100)
USD 65.5bn 68.0bn
per capita USD 23,386 24,032 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Growth % 5.0 1.8
Inflation % 4.6 17.6 Army 8,850; 5,650 active reserves (total 14,500)
Def exp [a] EUR 1.11bn 1.50bn FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
USD 1.31bn 1.58bn
Mechanised
Def bdgt [b] EUR 1.10bn 1.50bn 1.91bn
1 (1st) mech bde (4 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 log bn)
USD 1.31bn 1.58bn Light
FMA (US) USD 10.0m 8.8m 9.8m 1 (2nd) mot inf bde (3 mot inf bn, 1 arty bn)
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95 COMBAT SUPPORT
[a] NATO figure 1 engr bn
[b] Includes military pensions COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) 1 trg regt
1206 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
288 IFV 30 Boxer (Vilkas) (incl 2 trg)
2008 2015 2022 APC • APC (T) 236: 214 M113A1; 22 M577 (CP)
AUV ε100 JLTV
Population 2,683,546 ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
AEV 8 MT-LB AEV
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
ARV 6: 2 BPz-2; 4 M113
Male 7.9% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0% 23.0% 7.2% ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Female 7.5% 2.3% 2.5% 2.7% 24.9% 13.9% MSL
SP 10 M1025A2 HMMWV with FGM-148 Javelin
Capabilities MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin
Lithuania’s armed forces are focused on maintaining sovereignty RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
and territorial integrity but the country relies on NATO membership ARTILLERY 118
for its security. Like the other Baltic states, it is reliant on NATO’s air- SP 16 PzH 2000
policing deployment for a combat-aircraft capacity. A new National TOWED 105mm 18 M101
Security Strategy was adopted in December 2021, which reflected MOR 84: 120mm 42: 20 2B11; 22 M/41D; SP 120mm 42
the worsening regional security environment. Russia is the country’s M113 with Tampella
predominant security concern, with this focus sharpened by Russia’s
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence GROM
2022 invasion of Ukraine. The authorities signalled an increase in
defence spending. Lithuania has transferred to Ukraine some mili-
tary equipment and has also repaired combat-damaged equipment.
Reserves
The authorities are looking to improve readiness and the mobilisa- National Defence Voluntary Forces 5,650 active
tion system is being reformed. In mid-2022 the government raised
reservists
the upper limit for conscript numbers. The numbers of reservists
called to annual exercises is also to increase. Lithuania has a limited FORCES BY ROLE
medium-airlift capability for use in supporting its forces on multina- MANOEUVRE
tional deployed operations. It takes an active part in NATO and EU Other
operations. Improvements to defence infrastructure are planned, 6 (territorial) def unit
alongside plans to bolster air surveillance and anti-tank capabili-
ties. Lithuania signalled its intention in 2022 to join the European Navy 700
Sky Shield initiative, to boost air defence capacity. Vilnius is also
looking to acquire new rocket artillery capabilities, in common with LVA, EST and LTU established a joint naval unit,
other Baltic states, and acquire additional self-propelled artillery as BALTRON, with bases at Liepaja, Riga, Ventpils (LVA),
well as loitering munitions. The NATO battlegroup based in Lithu- Tallinn (EST), Klaipeda (LTU)
ania, present since 2017 as part of the Alliance’s Enhanced Forward EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Presence, was bolstered in 2022. Šiauliai air base hosts a NATO Air PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4
Policing detachment. Lithuania is a member of the UK-led Joint
PCC 4 Zemaitis (ex-DNK Flyvefisken) with 1 76mm gun
Expeditionary Force. A Regional Cyber Defence Centre was set up
in 2021 and a cyber range was opened in 2022, both coming under MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4
the National Cyber Security Centre, itself under the defence ministry. MHC 2 Skalvis (ex-UK Hunt)
Lithuania has a small defence-industrial base, with niche capabili- MCCS 1 Jotvingis (ex-NOR Vidar)
ties, for instance in helicopter support and maintenance and repair. LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AAR 1 Šakiai
Europe 111

Air Force 1,500 FOREIGN FORCES


FORCES BY ROLE
All NATO Enhanced Forward Presence unless stated
AIR DEFENCE
1 AD bn Belgium 150; 1 mech inf coy
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Czech Republic 135; 1 AD unit
AIRCRAFT Germany 1,000; 1 mech inf bde HQ; 1 armd inf bn(+)
TPT 6: Medium 3 C-27J Spartan; Light 3: 1 Cessna 172RG; Hungary NATO Baltic Air Policing: 80; 4 Gripen C
2 L-410 Turbolet Luxembourg 6
HELICOPTERS Netherlands 270; 1 armd inf coy

Europe
MRH 3 AS365M3 Dauphin (SAR) Norway 270; 1 armd inf coy(+)
TPT • Medium 3 Mi-8 Hip (tpt/SAR)
AIR DEFENCE • SAM 4+
Short-range 4 NASAMS III Luxembourg LUX
Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger; RBS-70 Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
GDP EUR 73.3bn 77.7bn
Special Operation Force
USD 86.8bn 82.2bn
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES per capita USD 136,701 127,673
1 SF gp (1 CT unit; 1 Jaeger bn, 1 cbt diver unit) Growth % 6.9 1.6
Inflation % 3.5 8.4
Logistics Support Command 1,400 Def exp [a] EUR 341m 464m
FORCES BY ROLE USD 404m 490m
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT Def bdgt EUR 348m 420m 543m
1 log bn
USD 412m 444m
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
Training and Doctrine Command 1,500
[a] NATO figure
FORCES BY ROLE
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
1 trg regt 388

Other Units 2,600 154


2008 2015 2022
FORCES BY ROLE
COMBAT SUPPORT Population 650,364
1 MP bn
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 14,150 Male 8.6% 2.8% 3.1% 3.6% 25.2% 7.1%
Riflemen Union 10,600 Female 8.1% 2.6% 3.0% 3.5% 23.9% 8.6%

State Border Guard Service 3,550 Capabilities


Ministry of Interior
Luxembourg maintains a limited military capability to participate
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE in European collective security and crisis management. ‘Defence
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 3: Guidelines for 2025 and Beyond,’ published in late 2017, express
1 Lokki (ex-FIN); 1 KBV 041 (ex-SWE); 1 Bakauskas (Baltic support for NATO and EU security policy and contributions to
Patrol 2700) international missions. Defence spending is to rise to 1% of GDP
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • UCAC 2 by 2028, and acquisition priorities in this timeframe include ISR, air
Christina (Griffon 2000) transport and surveillance, cyber defence and uninhabited capa-
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 5: 1 BK-117 (SAR); bilities. There are plans to improve space situational awareness,
2 H120 Colibri; 2 H135 SATCOM and Earth observation capabilites. In 2022, Luxembourg
joined the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence.
DEPLOYMENT Luxembourg has contributed troops to NATO’s Enhanced Forward
Presence. It is part of the European Multi-Role Tanker Transport
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 1
Fleet programme, in which it partially funds one A330 MRTT. It
IRAQ: NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 34 has contributed its A400M to an airlift squadron formed jointly
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 2; UN • MINUSMA 45 with Belgium. The Belgian and Dutch air forces are responsible for
policing Luxembourg’s airspace. Sustaining the army’s personnel
MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 2
strength depends on better recruiting and retention. A review is
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 1 considering a specialist reserve of civilian experts. Industrial coop-
UNITED KINGDOM: Operation Interflex 15 (UKR trg) eration inside the EU framework and in NATO is a priority. There is a
112 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

small but advanced space industry and some foreign defence firms
have a presence, but the country is otherwise reliant on imports. Macedonia, North MKD
A strategy for defence industry, innovation and research is to be
Macedonian Denar MKD 2021 2022 2023
developed as part of the new defence guidelines.
GDP MKD 723bn 821bn
ACTIVE 410 (Army 410) Gendarmerie & USD 13.9bn 14.1bn
Paramilitary 600 per capita USD 6,714 6,816
Growth % 4.0 2.7
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Inflation % 3.2 10.6
Def exp [a] MKD 10.6bn 13.7bn
Army 410 USD 204m 235m
FORCES BY ROLE Def bdgt MKD 10.8bn 13.3bn
MANOEUVRE
USD 207m 229m
Reconnaissance
2 recce coy (1 to Eurocorps/BEL div, 1 to NATO pool of USD1=MKD 52.07 58.21
deployable forces) [a] NATO figure
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 182
AUV 48 Dingo 2
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE 106
MSL • MANPATS NLAW; TOW 2008 2015 2022
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 6+
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Heavy 1 A400M Population 2,130,936
HELICOPTERS • MRH 2 H145M (jointly operated
with Police) Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 8.3% 2.8% 3.4% 3.7% 25.2% 6.5%
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 600 Female 7.8% 2.6% 3.1% 3.5% 24.8% 8.3%

Gendarmerie 600
Capabilities
DEPLOYMENT The armed forces’ primary goals are safeguarding the state’s terri-
torial integrity and sovereignty, as well as contributing to opera-
IRAQ: NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 1 tions under the EU, NATO and UN umbrellas. North Macedonia
LITHUANIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 6 formally became NATO’s 30th member on 27 March 2020. In the
same month, it enacted a new Defence Strategy with a focus on
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 21; UN • MINUSMA 2
capability development, and improved planning based on NATO
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: EU • EUNAVFOR MED 2 Merlin and EU standards, among other areas. A 2019–2028 Defence Capa-
IIIC (leased) bility Development Plan (DCDP) consolidated long-term develop-
ment goals aimed at developing collective defence, cooperative
security and crisis-management capabilities. A Mid-Term Defence
Capabilities Development Plan, adopted in January 2020, is
intended to help implement the DCDP. The 2022 annual procure-
ment plan, adopted in April, noted government-to-government
contracts relating to JLTV vehicles, 105mm artillery systems,
VSHORAD systems, and the overhaul of utility helicopters, among
other matters. Work on MoD restructuring is under way. The armed
forces are fully professional and the country aims to train all units,
particularly those with deployable capability, to NATO standards.
A number of units are earmarked for participation in NATO-led
operations, The armed forces have increased their participation
in NATO joint exercises since joining the Alliance. Participation in
international peacekeeping missions has increased logistics capa-
bility. The country has modest maritime and air wings, and relies
on Soviet-era equipment. There is little in the way of a domes-
tic defence industry, with no ability to design and manufacture
modern equipment.

ACTIVE 8,000 (Army 8,000) Gendarmerie &


Paramilitary 7,600
RESERVE 4,850
Europe 113

MRH 6: 4 Mi-8MTV Hip; 2 Mi-17 Hip H


ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE TPT • Light 6: 2 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 4 Bell 206B
Jet Ranger
Army 8,000 AIR DEFENCE
FORCES BY ROLE SAM • Point-defence 8+: 8 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13
SPECIAL FORCES
Gopher); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
1 SF regt (1 SF bn, 1 ranger bn)
GUNS 40mm 36 L/60
MANOEUVRE
Mechanised
1 mech inf bde (4 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 NBC coy, Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 7,600

Europe
1 sigs coy)
COMBAT SUPPORT
Police 7,600 (some 5,000 armed)
1 engr bn incl 2 SF units
1 MP bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sigs bn ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT APC • APC (T) M113; APC (W) BTR-80; TM-170
1 log bde (3 log bn) Heimlin
AUV Ze’ev
Reserves
HELICOPTERS
FORCES BY ROLE
MRH 1 Bell 412EP Twin Huey
MANOEUVRE Light
TPT 3: Medium 1 Mi-171; Light 2: 1 Bell 206B (AB-
1 inf bde
206B) Jet Ranger II; 1 Bell 212 (AB-212)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
IFV 11: 10 BMP-2; 1 BMP-2K (CP) DEPLOYMENT
APC 198
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 1
APC (T) 46: 9 Leonidas; 27 M113; 10 MT-LB
APC (W) 152: 56 BTR-70; 12 BTR-80; 84 TM-170 Hermelin CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 1
AUV 2 Cobra IRAQ: NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 4
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS Milan LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 9
RCL 82mm M60A LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 3
ARTILLERY 131
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 65
TOWED 70: 105mm 14 M-56; 122mm 56 M-30
M-1938
MRL 17: 122mm 6 BM-21; 128mm 11 Malta MLT
MOR • 120mm 44
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
Marine Wing GDP EUR 14.7bn 16.2bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE USD 17.4bn 17.2bn
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 2
per capita USD 33,667 32,912
PB 2 Botica†
Growth % 10.3 6.2
Aviation Brigade Inflation % 0.7 5.9
FORCES BY ROLE Def bdgt [a] EUR 71.8m 82.7m 73.9m
TRAINING USD 85.0m 87.4m
1 flt with Z-242; Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); Bell 206B USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
ATTACK HELICOPTER [a] Excludes military pensions
1 sqn with Mi-24V Hind E
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
78
1 sqn with Mi-8MTV Hip; Mi-17 Hip H
AIR DEFENCE
47
1 AD bn
2008 2015 2022
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT Population 464,186
TPT • Light 1 An-2 Colt
TRG 5 Z-242 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
HELICOPTERS
Male 7.5% 2.3% 2.7% 3.5% 24.2% 10.2%
ATK 2 Mi-24V Hind E (8: 2 Mi-24K Hind G2; 6 Mi-24V
Hind E in store) Female 7.0% 2.2% 2.5% 3.1% 22.8% 12.0%
114 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Capabilities DEPLOYMENT
The principal roles for the armed forces are maintaining external
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 9
security and support for civil emergencies and the police. There is
also focus on maritime security in the Mediterranean. The Armed
Forces of Malta Strategy Paper 2016–2026 laid out defence-policy
objectives, including operational and organisational reforms. Malta
Montenegro MNE
is neutral but is a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace pro- Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
gramme. The country also participates in bilateral and multilateral
GDP EUR 4.96bn 5.80bn
exercises. Although deployment capacity is limited, Malta has con-
tributed to European missions. Italy has assisted Malta in meeting USD 5.87bn 6.13bn
some security requirements, including air surveillance, while the per capita USD 9,433 9,850
European Internal Security Fund is funding some modernisation. Growth % 13.0 7.2
Although there is some shipbuilding and ship-repair activity and a
Inflation % 2.4 12.8
small aviation-maintenance industry, these are not defence-specific
and Malta relies on imports to equip its armed forces. Def exp [a] EUR 77.0m 94.7m
USD 91.2m 100m
ACTIVE 1,700 (Armed Forces 1,700)
Def bdgt [b] EUR 77.0m 94.7m 113m
RESERVE 260 (Volunteer Reserve Force 110 USD 91.2m 100m
Individual Reserve 150) USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
[a] NATO figure
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE [b] Includes military pensions
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
Armed Forces of Malta 1,700 80
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES 44
1 SF unit 2008 2015 2022
MANOEUVRE Population 604,966
Light
1 (1st) inf regt (3 inf coy, 1 cbt spt coy)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 (3rd) cbt spt regt (1 cbt engr sqn, 1 EOD sqn, 1 maint sqn) Male 9.3% 3.1% 3.3% 3.1% 22.9% 7.4%
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT Female 8.7% 2.9% 3.1% 2.9% 23.6% 9.5%
1 (4th) CSS regt (1 CIS coy, 1 sy coy)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Capabilities
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm L16 According to its defence strategy, Montenegro intends to develop
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 14.5mm 1 ZPU-4 an integrated defence system, capable of defending and pre-
serving independence, sovereignty and national territory. A key
Maritime Squadron 500 concern of the authorities is integrating Montenegro into relevant
Organised into 5 divisions: offshore patrol; inshore pa- NATO and EU structures. A NATO member since 2017, Montenegro
trol; rapid deployment and training; marine engineering; has accepted NATO’s capability targets and has been aligning its
and logistics defence-planning process with NATO standards. Reform and pro-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE fessionalisation of the armed forces have been slow, and develop-
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 8 ments have been focused on structural issues around improving
PCO 1 Emer recruitment, outflow and professional development. The armed
PCC 1 Diciotti (ITA Saettia mod) with 1 hel forces are not designed to have an expeditionary capability, and as
landing platform such have little logistics capability to support deployments beyond
national borders. Personnel have deployed to EU, UN- and NATO-
PB 6: 4 Austal 21m; 2 Marine Protector
led operations, although a planned increased in Montenegro’s
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AAR 2 Cantiere Vittoria
small contribution to KFOR stalled due to internal opposition;
Air Wing similar debates are reportedly taking place as authorities look to
discuss what role Montenegro should play in NATO crisis response
1 base party. 1 flt ops div; 1 maint div; 1 integrated log
activities. Podgorica intends to replace ageing Soviet-era equip-
div; 1 rescue section
ment. Procurement priorities include light and medium helicop-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ters and light armoured vehicles, as well as improved communi-
AIRCRAFT cations capacities in accordance with NATO standards. A contract
TPT • Light 5: 3 Beech 200 King Air (maritime patrol); for 67 Oshkosh 4x4 JLTVs is expected to be fulfilled by 2023; the
2 BN-2B Islander first vehicles arrived in October 2020. Future plans include the
TRG 3 Bulldog T MK1 formation of a special-forces unit and an intelligence unit in the
HELICOPTERS MRH 6: 3 AW139 (SAR); 3 SA316B land forces. The country’s defence industry is capable of producing
Alouette III small arms and ammunition.
Europe 115

ACTIVE 2,350 (Army 1,275 Navy 350 Air Force 225 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Other 500) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,100 AIRCRAFT • TRG (4 G-4 Super Galeb non-operational;
4 Utva-75 non-operational)
RESERVE 2,800 HELICOPTERS
MRH 16: 1 Bell 412EP Twin Huey; 2 Bell 412EPI Twin
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Huey; 13 SA341/SA342L (HN-45M) Gazelle
TPT • Light 2 Bell 505 Jet Ranger X
Army 1,275
FORCES BY ROLE Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε4,100
MANOEUVRE

Europe
Reconnaissance Special Police Units ε4,100
1 recce coy
Light DEPLOYMENT
1 mot inf bn
LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 11
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 cbt spt bn MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 2
1 sigs coy SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 1
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 med bn
1 spt bn Multinational Organisations
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Capabilities
APC • APC (W) 8 BOV-VP M-86 The following represent shared capabilities held
AUV 20 JLTV by contributors collectively rather than as part of
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE national inventories
SP 9 BOV-1
MSL • MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot);
9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel) ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
ARTILLERY 135
TOWED 122mm 12 D-30 NATO AEW&C Force
MRL 128mm 18 M-63/M-94 Plamen Based at Geilenkirchen (GER). Original participating
MOR 105: 82mm 73; 120mm 32 countries (BEL, CAN, DNK, GER, GRC, ITA, NLD, NOR,
PRT, TUR, US) have been subsequently joined by five more
Reserve (CZE, ESP, HUN, POL, ROM)
FORCES BY ROLE FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
Light 1 sqn with B-757 (trg); E-3A Sentry (NATO standard)
2 inf bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
COMBAT SUPPORT
AIRCRAFT
1 arty bn
AEW&C 16 E-3A Sentry (NATO standard)
Navy 350 TPT • PAX 1 B-757 (trg)
1 Naval Cmd HQ with 4 operational naval units (patrol
boat; coastal surveillance; maritime detachment; and SAR)
NATO Alliance Ground Surveillance
with additional sigs, log and trg units with a separate Based at Sigonella (ITA)
coastguard element. Some listed units are in the process of EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
decommissioning UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ISR • Heavy 5 RQ-4D Phoenix
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PCF 2
Rade Končar† NATO Multinational Multi-Role Tanker
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AXS 1 Jadran† Transport Fleet (MMF)
Based at Eindhoven (NLD). Six participating countries
Air Force 225 (BEL, CZE, GER, NLD, NOR & LUX)
Golubovci (Podgorica) air base under army command EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FORCES BY ROLE AIRCRAFT • TKR/TPT 7 A330 MRTT
TRAINING
1 (mixed) sqn with G-4 Super Galeb; Utva-75 Strategic Airlift Capability
(none operational) Heavy Airlift Wing based at Papa air base (HUN). 12
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER participating countries (BLG, EST, FIN, HUN, LTU, NLD,
1 sqn with SA341/SA342L Gazelle NOR, POL, ROM, SVN, SWE, US)
116 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE operation, or a small-scale joint force for an extended period.


AIRCRAFT • TPT • Heavy 3 C-17A Globemaster III The Netherlands makes significant contributions to NATO and EU
military operations. An agreement is in place with Belgium on
Strategic Airlift International Solution the joint acquisition of new frigates and minehunters. Spending
Intended to provide strategic-airlift capacity pending plans outlined in June indicated plans to increase the number of
the delivery of A400M aircraft by leasing An-124s. 11 F-35A combat aircraft, set up a third airbase to operate the type,
participating countries (BEL, CZE, FIN, FRA, GER, HUN, and double the number of MQ-9 Reaper UAVs. There are plans to
NOR, POL, SVK, SVN, SWE) replace C-130s with KC-390s, remanufacture AH-64D to AH-64E,
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE and modernise the CH-47 fleet. A MLU is planned for CV90, Fennek,
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Heavy 2 An-124-100 (3 more available and the PzH2000. Replacement of the Walrus class submarines is
on 6–9 days’ notice) likely delayed. There are plans to boost defence innovation and
research and to expand the Defence Space Security Centre. The
country has an advanced domestic defence industry focusing on
Netherlands NLD armoured vehicles, naval ships and air-defence systems, and also
hosts a range of international aerospace-company subsidiaries.
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
Damen Schelde Naval Shipbuilding exports frigates, corvettes and
GDP EUR 856bn 937bn fast-attack craft, while DutchAero manufactures engine compo-
USD 1.01tr 991bn nents for the F-35.
per capita USD 57,997 56,298
ACTIVE 33,600 (Army 15,350 Navy 7,350 Air 6,400
Growth % 4.9 4.5
Other 4,500) Military Constabulary 6,500
Inflation % 2.8 12.0
Def exp [a] EUR 11.8bn 14.8bn RESERVE 6,000 (Army 3,900 Navy 1,100 Air 800
USD 14.0bn 15.7bn Other 200) Military Constabulary 300
Def bdgt [b] EUR 11.7bn 14.4bn 15.4bn Reserve liability to age 35 for soldiers/sailors, 40 for NCOs,
USD 13.9bn 15.2bn 45 for officers
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
[a] NATO figure ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
[b] Includes military pensions
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Army 15,350
13.61
FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND
8.73
2008 2015 2022 elm 1 (1 GNC) corps HQ
SPECIAL FORCES
Population 17,400,824 4 SF coy
MANOEUVRE
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Reconnaissance
Male 8.2% 2.9% 3.1% 3.2% 22.7% 9.3%
1 ISR bn (2 armd recce sqn, 1 EW coy, 2 int sqn, 1 UAV bty)
Female 7.8% 2.7% 3.0% 3.1% 22.7% 11.2% Mechanised
1 (43rd) mech bde (1 armd recce sqn, 2 armd inf bn, 1
Capabilities engr bn, 1 maint coy, 1 med coy)
The 2018 defence review tasked the armed forces with territorial 1 (13th) mech bde (1 recce sqn, 2 mech inf bn, 1 engr bn,
defence, supporting national civil authorities, improving air trans- 1 maint coy, 1 med coy)
port and ISR capabilities, and boosting integrated air and missile
Air Manoeuvre
defence. A new White Paper was issued in June 2022. Authori-
ties are looking to improve readiness and deployability, combat 1 (11th) air mob bde (3 air mob inf bn, 1 engr coy, 1 med
power and institutional agility and adaptability. Training is slated coy, 1 supply coy, 1 maint coy)
to improve and efforts will be made to meet the establishment COMBAT SUPPORT
strength set for units. Defence spending is set to rise. A National 1 SP arty bn (3 SP arty bty)
Cyber Security Strategy 2022-2028 was published in September
1 AD comd (1 AD sqn; 1 AD bty)
2022. Dutch forces have increasingly integrated with NATO allies,
particularly Germany. The army contributes to a Dutch–German 1 CIMIC bn
tank battalion and there is also cooperation in the air and naval 1 engr bn
domains. The Dutch armed forces have air-policing agreements 2 EOD coy 1 (CIS) sigs bn 1 CBRN coy
with France, Belgium and Luxembourg and the country is a COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
member of the Joint Expeditionary Force and the European Inter-
1 med bn
vention Initiative. The Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark have
committed to forming a composite special-operations command. 5 fd hospital
Dutch forces are fully professional and well trained and the Neth- 3 maint coy
erlands can deploy and sustain a medium-scale force for a single 2 tpt bn
Europe 117

Reserves 3,900 reservists AMPHIBIOUS


PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LPD 2:
National Command 1 Rotterdam with 2 Goalkeeper CIWS (capacity 6 NH90/
Cadre bde and corps tps completed by call-up of AS532 Cougar hel; either 6 LCVP or 2 LCM and 3
reservists (incl Territorial Comd) LCVP; either 170 APC or 33 MBT; 538 troops)
FORCES BY ROLE 1 Johan de Witt with 2 Goalkeeper CIWS (capacity 6 NH90
MANOEUVRE Light hel or 4 AS532 Cougar hel; either 6 LCVP or 2 LCM
3 inf bn (could be mobilised for territorial def) and 3 LCVP; either 170 APC or 33 MBT; 700 troops)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE LANDING CRAFT 17
LCU 5 LCU Mk II

Europe
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
RECCE 197 Fennek LCVP 12 Mk5
IFV 117 CV9035NL (32 more in store) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 9
APC • APC (W) 200 Boxer (8 driver trg; 52 amb; 36 CP; AGS 3: 1 Hydrograaf; 2 Snellius
92 engr; 12 log) AK 1 Pelikaan
AUV 248: 98 Bushmaster IMV; 150 Fennek AKR 1 New Amsterdam (capacity 200 containers and 300
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES vehs) (leased)
AEV 10+: Dachs; 10 Kodiak AORH 1 Karel Doorman with 2 Goalkeeper CIWS (capacity
ARV 25+: BPz-2; 25 BPz-3 Büffel 6 NH90/AS532 Cougar or 2 CH-47F Chinook hel; 2 LCVP)
VLB 22: 16 Leopard 1 with Legaun; 2 Leopard 2 with Leguan; AS 1 Mercuur
4 MLC70 with Leguan AXL 1 Van Kingsbergen
MW Bozena AXS 1 Urania
NBC VEHICLES 6 TPz-1 Fuchs NBC
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Marines 2,650
MSL • MANPATS Spike-MR FORCES BY ROLE
ARTILLERY 122 SPECIAL FORCES
SP 155mm 21 PzH 2000 (27 more in store) 1 SF gp (1 SF sqn, 1 CT sqn)
MOR 101: 81mm 83 L16/M1; 120mm 18 Brandt MANOEUVRE
AIR DEFENCE • SAM 42+ Amphibious
Long-range 18 M902 Patriot PAC-3 2 mne bn
Short-range 6 NASAMS II 1 amph aslt gp
Point-defence 18+: FIM-92 Stinger; 18 Fennek with FIM- COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
92 Stinger 1 spt gp (coy)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Navy 7,350 (incl Marines) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE APC • APC (T) 65 BvS-10 Viking (incl 20 CP)
SUBMARINES 4 ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
SSK 4 Walrus with 4 single 533mm TT with Mk 48 ARV 8: 4 BvS-10; 4 BPz-2
ADCAP mod 7 HWT MED 4 BvS-10
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 6 ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
DESTROYERS • DDGHM 4: MSL • MANPATS Spike-MR
3 De Zeven Provinciën with 2 quad lnchr with RGM- ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 12 L16/M1
84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 5 8-cell Mk 41 VLS AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger
with SM-2 Block IIIA/RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 2 twin
324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Air Force 6,400
Goalkeeper CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 NH90 hel) FORCES BY ROLE
1 De Zeven Provinciën with 2 quad lnchr with RGM- FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 5 8-cell Mk 41 VLS 1 sqn with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon
with SM-2 Block IIIA/RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 2 twin 1 sqn with F-35A Lightning II
324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 2 1 sqn (converting) with F-35A Lightning II
Goalkeeper CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 NH90 hel) ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE/SEARCH & RESCUE
FRIGATES • FFGHM 2 Karel Doorman with 2 quad 1 sqn with NH90 NFH
lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 1 16-cell TANKER/TRANSPORT
Mk 48 mod 1 VLS with RIM-7P Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 twin 1 sqn with C-130H/H-30 Hercules
324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Goalkeeper 1 sqn with Gulfstream IV
CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 NH90 hel) TRAINING
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 1 OEU sqn with F-35A Lightning II
PSOH 4 Holland with 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 NH90 hel) 1 sqn with PC-7 Turbo Trainer
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 6 1 hel sqn with AH-64D Apache; CH-47D Chinook (based
MHO 6 Alkmaar (Tripartite) at Fort Hood, TX)
118 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ATTACK HELICOPTER UNITED KINGDOM: Operation Interflex 90 (UKR trg)


1 sqn with AH-64D Apache UNITED STATES: 1 hel trg sqn with AH-64D Apache; CH-
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER 47D Chinook based at Fort Hood (TX)
1 sqn with AS532U2 Cougar II; NH90 NFH
1 sqn with CH-47D/F Chinook
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FOREIGN FORCES
AIRCRAFT 70 combat capable United States US European Command: 450
FTR 42 F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon
FGA 28 F-35A Lightning II
TPT 5: Medium 4: 2 C-130H Hercules; 2 C-130H-30
Norway NOR
Hercules; PAX 1 Gulfstream IV Norwegian Kroner NOK 2021 2022 2023
TRG 13 PC-7 Turbo Trainer GDP NOK 4.14tr 4.84tr
HELICOPTERS
USD 482bn 505bn
ATK 28: up to 27 AH-64D Apache (being remanufactured
to E standard); 1+ AH-64E Apache per capita USD 89,042 92,646
ASW 19 NH90 NFH (of which 8 not fitted with sonar) Growth % 3.9 3.6
TPT 32: Heavy 20 CH-47F Chinook; Medium 12 AS532U2 Inflation % 3.5 4.7
Cougar II Def exp [a] NOK 72.5bn 80.6bn
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • CISR • Heavy 3 USD 8.44bn 8.40bn
MQ-9 Reaper (unarmed)
Def bdgt [b] NOK 64.5bn 71.3bn 75.8bn
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR AIM-9L/M Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X USD 7.50bn 7.43bn
Sidewinder II; ARH AIM-120B AMRAAM USD1=NOK 8.59 9.60
ASM AGM-114K Hellfire [a] NATO figure
BOMBS [b] Includes military pensions
Laser-guided GBU-10/GBU-12 Paveway II; GBU-24
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
Paveway III (all supported by LANTIRN) 7.22
INS/GPS guided GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb
4.33
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 6,500 2008 2015 2022
Royal Military Constabulary 6,500 Population 5,553,840
Subordinate to the Ministry of Defence, but performs
most of its work under the authority of other ministries Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
FORCES BY ROLE Male 9.2% 2.9% 3.1% 3.4% 23.6% 8.3%
MANOEUVRE Female 8.7% 2.8% 2.9% 3.3% 22.2% 9.6%
Other
1 paramilitary comd (total: 28 paramilitary unit) Capabilities
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Norway sustains small but well-equipped and highly trained
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
armed forces. Territorial defence is at the heart of security policy.
APC • APC (W) 24 YPR-KMar A new Long Term Defence Plan was published in October 2020,
arguing that the security environment had deteriorated faster than
DEPLOYMENT expected. It envisages a gradual increase in personnel numbers
and further measures to strengthen readiness and capability in the
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 183; 2 trg unit; NATO • High North. Following Russia’s further invasion of Ukraine, in Feb-
NATO Mission Iraq 2 ruary 2022, Norway announced that it will allocate further funds to
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1 strengthening its defence in the North. A US Marine Corps contin-
gent has deployed to Vaernes, on a rotational basis, since January
LITHUANIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 270; 2017 and a second location was in 2018 added at Setermoen. In
1 mech inf coy April 2021 Norway and the US signed a Supplementary Defense
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 6; UN • MINUSMA 10 Cooperation Agreement which, among other things, provides
authorities for US forces to access specific Norwegian facilities and
MEDITERRANEAN SEA: NATO • SNMCMG 2: 50; 1 MHO conduct mutual defence activities. Four locations were mentioned
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 12 as ‘focal points’ for increased cooperation: Evenes, Rygge and Sola
air stations and Ramsund naval station. Norway signed a coopera-
NORTH SEA: NATO • SNMG 1: 230; 1 DDGHM tion agreement with the European Defence Agency in 2006. At any
ROMANIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 200; one time, around one-third of troops are conscripts. Senior officers
1 air mob inf coy reportedly expressed concerns in 2019 that Norway’s force struc-
ture was too small for defence requirements. Norway maintains
SLOVAKIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 125;
a small presence in a range of international crisis-management
1 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3 missions. Equipment recapitalisation is ongoing, but large pro-
SYRIA/ISRAEL: UN • UNDOF 1 curements will stretch budgets. Norway retired its fleet of F-16s in
Europe 119

early 2022, with the F-35 taking over responsibility for air defence. ARTILLERY 167
New submarines are being procured as part of a strategic partner- SP 155mm 24 K9 Thunder
ship with Germany. There are plans to strengthen Brigade North MOR 143: 81mm 115 L16; SP 81mm 28: 16 CV9030; 12
with new equipment and manoeuvre and support units. In June M125A2
2018, it was announced that a planned upgrade to Norway’s main-
AIR DEFENCE
battle-tank fleet would be pushed to the mid-2020s. Norway has
an advanced and diverse defence-industrial base with a high per- SAM • Medium-range NASAMS III
centage of SMEs and a mix of private and state-owned companies.
Navy 2,350; 2,250 conscripts (total 4,600)
ACTIVE 25,400 (Army 8,300 Navy 4,600 Air 4,300 Joint Command – Norwegian National Joint Headquarters.
Central Support 7,400 Home Guard 800) The Royal Norwegian Navy is organised into five elements

Europe
Conscript liability 19 months maximum. Conscripts first serve 12 under the command of the Chief of the Navy: the fleet
months from 19–28, and then up to 4–5 refresher training periods (Marinen), the Coast Guard (Kystvakten), the recruit training
until age 35, 44, 55 or 60 depending on rank and function. Con-
school (KNM Harald Haarfagre), the naval medical branch
scription was extended to women in 2015
and the naval bases (Haakonsvern and Ramsund)
RESERVE 40,000 (Home Guard 40,000) FORCES BY ROLE
Readiness varies from a few hours to several days MANOEUVRE
Reconnaissance
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 ISR coy (Coastal Rangers)
COMBAT SUPPORT
Army 3,900; 4,400 conscript (total 8,300) 1 EOD pl
The armoured infantry brigade – Brigade North – trains EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
new personnel of all categories and provides units for SUBMARINES 6
international operations. At any time around one-third of SSK 6 Ula with 8 single 533mm TT with SeaHake
the brigade will be trained and ready to conduct operations. (DM2A3) HWT
The brigade includes one high-readiness armoured PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 4
battalion (Telemark Battalion) with combat-support and FFGHM 4 Fridtjof Nansen with Aegis C2 (mod), 2 quad
combat-service-support units on high readiness lnchr with NSM AShM, 1 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with RIM-
162A ESSM SAM, 2 twin 324mm ASTT with Sting Ray
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE mod 1 LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel)
Reconnaissance PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 13
1 armd recce bn (forming) PSOH 1 Nordkapp with 1 57mm gun (capacity 1 med tpt hel)
1 ISR bn PCFG 6 Skjold with 8 single lnchr with NSM AShM,
1 (GSV) bn (1 (border) recce coy, 1 ranger coy, 1 spt coy, 1 76mm gun
1 trg coy) PBF 6 CB90N (capacity 20 troops)
Armoured MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4
1 armd inf bde (2 armd bn, 1 lt inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr MSC 2 Alta with 1 twin Simbad lnchr with Mistral SAM
bn, 1 MP coy, 1 CIS bn, 1 spt bn, 1 med bn) MHC 2 Oksoy with 1 twin Simbad lnchr with Mistral SAM
Light LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 6
1 lt inf bn (His Majesty The King’s Guards) AGI 1 Marjata IV
AGS 2: 1 HU Sverdrup II; 1 Eger (Marjata III) with 1 hel
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
landing platform
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AORH 1 Maud (BMT Aegir) (capacity 2 med hel)
MBT 36 Leopard 2A4 (16 more in store)
AXL 2 Reine
RECCE 21 CV9030
IFV 91: 76 CV9030N; 15 CV9030N (CP) Coast Guard
APC 390
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
APC (T) 315 M113 (incl variants)
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12
APC (W) 75 XA-186 Sisu/XA-200 Sisu/XA-203 (amb)
PSOH 2: 1 Jan Mayen (capacity 2 med hel); 1 Nordkapp
AUV 165: 20 Dingo 2; 25 HMT Extenda; 120 IVECO LMV
with 1 57mm gun (capacity 1 med tpt hel)
(36 more in store)
PSO 5: 3 Barentshav; 1 Harstad; 1 Svalbard with 1 57mm
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
gun, 1 hel landing platform
AEV 34+: 20 CV90 STING; 8 M113 AEV; NM109; 6
PCC 5 Nornen
Wisent-2
ARV 12: 6 BPz-2; 6 Wisent-2 LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • ATF 2 Jarl (leased)
VLB 36: 26 Leguan; 1+ Leopard 2 with Leguan; 9 Leopard 1
MW 9 910 MCV-2 Air Force 2,900; 1,400 conscript (total 4,300)
NBC VEHICLES 6 TPz-1 Fuchs NBC Joint Command – Norwegian National HQ
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE FORCES BY ROLE
MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf 2 sqn with F-35A Lightning II
120 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MARITIME PATROL
1 sqn with P-3C Orion; P-8A Poseidon
DEPLOYMENT
SEARCH & RESCUE CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 2
1 sqn with Sea King Mk43B; AW101 EGYPT: MFO 3
TRANSPORT IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 60; 1 trg unit; NATO •
1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules NATO Mission Iraq 2
TRAINING
JORDAN: Operation Inherent Resolve 20
1 sqn with MFI-15 Safari
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER LITHUANIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 270;
2 sqn with Bell 412SP Twin Huey 1 armd inf coy(+); CV9030
AIR DEFENCE MALI: UN • MINUSMA 29
2 bn with NASAMS III MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 13
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE BALTIC SEA: NATO • SNMG 1: 50; 1 AORH
AIRCRAFT 45 combat capable SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 15
FGA 37 F-35A Lightning II
ASW 8: 3 P-3C Orion; 5 P-8A Poseidon
TPT • Medium 4 C-130J-30 Hercules
FOREIGN FORCES
TRG 16 MFI-15 Safari United States US European Command 1,100; 1 (USMC)
MEU eqpt set; 1 (APS) 155mm SP Arty bn eqpt set
HELICOPTERS
ASW (13 NH90 NFH in store)
SAR 19: 9 AW101; 10 Sea King Mk43B Poland POL
MRH 18: 6 Bell 412HP; 12 Bell 412SP
Polish Zloty PLN 2021 2022 2023
AIR DEFENCE
SAM • Medium-range NASAMS III GDP PLN 2.62tr 3.09tr
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES USD 679bn 716bn
AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder II; per capita USD 17,946 19,023
IRIS-T; ARH AIM-120B AMRAAM; AIM-120C AMRAAM Growth % 5.9 3.8
BOMBS Inflation % 5.1 13.8
Laser-guided EGBU-12 Paveway II Def exp [a] PLN 58.3bn 73.9bn
INS/GPS guided JDAM USD 15.1bn 17.1bn
Def bdgt [b] PLN 51.8bn 57.8bn 97.4bn
Special Operations Command (NORSOCOM) USD 13.4bn 13.4bn
FORCES BY ROLE USD1=PLN 3.86 4.31
SPECIAL FORCES [a] NATO figure
1 (armed forces) SF comd (2 SF gp)
[b] Includes military pensions
1 (navy) SF comd (1 SF gp)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 11.9
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PBF 2 IC20M
6.80
Central Support, Administration and 2008 2015 2022
Command 5,850; 1,550 conscripts (total 7,400)
Population 38,093,101
Central Support, Administration and Command includes
military personnel in all joint elements and they are Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
responsible for logistics and CIS in support of all forces in
Male 7.6% 2.4% 2.5% 3.0% 24.8% 8.1%
Norway and abroad
Female 7.1% 2.3% 2.4% 2.9% 25.1% 11.9%

Home Guard 400; 400 conscripts (40,000 Capabilities


reserves)
Territorial defence and NATO membership are central pillars of
The Home Guard is a separate organisation, but closely
Poland’s defence policy. The primary focus of the 2017–32 defence
cooperates with all services. The Home Guard is organised concept is to prepare the armed forces to deter Russian aggression.
in 11 Districts with mobile Rapid Reaction Forces (3,000 Russia is characterised as a direct threat to Poland and to a stable
troops in total) as well as reinforcements and follow-on international order, a view sharpened by Russia’s February 2022
forces (37,000 troops in total) invasion of Ukraine. Poland is one of the main European contribu-
tors to efforts to support Ukraine and has delivered to Ukraine a
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE variety of defence equipment including armour and anti-armour
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 11: 4 systems. There has been a rapid increase in defence expenditure,
Harek; 2 Gyda; 5 Alusafe 1290 designed to support investment projects. An extra-budgetary fund
Europe 121

will deliver funds additional to the base defence budget. The EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
government continues to pursue a goal of permanently station- ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
ing US troops in the country. The US Army’s V Corps Headquarters
(Forward) was established in Poznań at the end of 2020. There are
MBT 647: 10 K2; 108 Leopard 2A4 (being upgraded to
ambitious plans to boost personnel numbers to 300,000 by 2035, 2PL); 105 Leopard 2A5; 34 Leopard 2PL; 28 M1A2 SEPv2
including 50,000 to be recruited under a new salaried one-year Abrams (on loan for trg) up to 232 PT-91 Twardy; 130
service scheme. This stems from plans to set up an additional T-72A/T-72M1/M1R
heavy division in the east. Acquisition reform has been under way
for some time and a central armaments agency was established RECCE 407: 282 BRDM-2; 38 BWR-1 (being upgraded);
in January 2022. A technical-modernisation plan, covering the 87 BRDM-2 R5
period 2021–35, was released in October 2019, which extended IFV 1,567: up to 1,212 BMP-1; 4 Borsuk (in test); 351

Europe
the planning horizon from ten to 15 years. Ambitious modernisa-
Rosomak IFV
tion plans are underway. F-35As are due to arrive from 2024, and
land forces capabilities will be boosted by the arrival of Abrams APC 450
main battle tanks. In 2022 agreements were signed with South APC (T) 6 WDSz (OP)
Korea for the procurement of FA-50 combat aircraft, K2 MBTs and APC (W) 344: 300 Rosomak APC (incl variants);
K9 self-propelled artillery pieces. Chunmoo MRLs will be bought,
44 AWD RAK (arty CP)
alongside US HIMARS systems. Warsaw continues plans to
strengthen its domestic defence-industrial base, much of which PPV 100 Maxxpro
is now consolidated in the state-owned holding company PGZ, AUV 255: 210 Cougar; 45 M-ATV
using technology transfers and international partnering, such as ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
the deals with South Korea. Beyond PGZ, several international
defence companies have subsidiaries in Poland.
AEV 106+: IWT; 65 MT-LB AEV; 33 Rosomak WRT;
8 MID Bizon
ACTIVE 114,050 (Army 58,500 Navy 6,000 Air Force ARV 122: 28 BPz-2; 68 MT-LB ARV; 26 WZT-3M
14,300 Special Forces 3,150 Territorial 3,800 Joint VLB 119: 4 Biber; 103 BLG67M2; 12 MS-20 Daglezja
28,300) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 14,300 MW 27: 17 Bozena 4; 6 ISM Kroton; 4 Kalina SUM
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger);
9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); Spike-LR
Army 58,500 ARTILLERY 773
FORCES BY ROLE SP 424: 122mm up to 227 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 111 M-77
COMMAND
Dana; 155mm 86: 24 K9A1; 62 Krab
elm 1 (MNC NE) corps HQ
MRL 122mm 179: up to 75 BM-21; 29 RM-70; 75 WR-40
MANOEUVRE
Reconnaissance Langusta
3 recce regt MOR 170: 120mm 80: 15 2B11; 65 M120; SP 120mm 90
Armoured SMK120 RAK
1 (11th) armd cav div (2 armd bde, 1 mech bde, 1 arty HELICOPTERS
regt) ATK 28 Mi-24D/V Hind D/E
Mechanised
MRH 64: 7 Mi-8MT Hip; 3 Mi-17 Hip H; 1 Mi-17AE Hip
1 (12th) mech div (2 mech bde, 1 (coastal) mech bde, 1
(aeromedical); 5 Mi-17-1V Hip; 16 PZL Mi-2URP Hoplite;
arty regt)
1 (16th) mech div (1 armd bde, 2 mech bde, 1 arty regt, 24 PZL W-3W/WA Sokol; 8 PZL W-3PL Gluszec (CSAR)
1 AT regt) TPT 37: Medium 12: 6 Mi-8T Hip; 2 PZL W-3AE Sokol
1 (18th) mech div (1 armd bde, 2 mech bde, 1 log regt) (aeromedical); 4 S-70i Black Hawk; Light 25 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
Air Manoeuvre UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 6
1 (6th) AB bde (3 para bn) CISR • Medium 6 Bayraktar TB2
1 (25th) air cav bde (2 air cav bn, 2 tpt hel bn, 1 (casevac)
AIR DEFENCE
med unit)
SAM 166+
COMBAT SUPPORT
2 engr regt Short-range 23: 3 CAMM (Narew); 20 2K12 Kub (RS-
2 ptn br regt SA-6 Gainful)
2 chem def regt Point-defence 143+: 64 9K33 Osa-AK (RS-SA-8 Gecko);
COMBAT SUPPORT GROM; Piorun; 79 Poprad
2 log bde SPAAGM 23mm 20 ZSU-23-4MP Biala
HELICOPTER GUNS 345
1 (1st) hel bde (2 atk hel sqn with Mi-24D/V Hind D/E, 1
SP 23mm 2 ZSU-23-4
CSAR sqn with Mi-24V Hind E; PZL W-3PL Gluszec; 2
ISR hel sqn with Mi-2URP; 2 hel sqn with Mi-2) TOWED 23mm 343: 268 ZU-23-2; 75 ZUR-23-2KG
AIR DEFENCE Jodek-G (with GROM msl)
3 AD regt BOMBS • Laser-guided MAM-C/L
122 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Navy 6,000 TPT • Light 7: 4 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite; 1 PZL W-3A; 2 PZL-
W-3T
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SUBMARINES • SSK 1 Orzeł (ex-FSU Kilo)† with 6 single
533mm TT each with 53-65KE HWT/TEST-71ME Air Force 14,300
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 2 FORCES BY ROLE
FFH 2 Pułaski (ex-US Oliver Hazard Perry) (of which 1 FIGHTER
used as training ship) with 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 2 sqn with MiG-29A/UB Fulcrum
ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
gun (capacity 2 SH-2G Super Seasprite ASW hel) 3 sqn with F-16C/D Block 52+ Fighting Falcon
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5 FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK/ISR
CORVETTES • FSM 1 Kaszub with 2 quad lnchr with 2 sqn with Su-22M-4 Fitter
9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, 2 twin 533mm SEARCH AND RESCUE
ASTT with SET-53 HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 1 sqn with Mi-2; PZL W-3 Sokol
1 76mm gun TRANSPORT
PSO 1 Ślązak (MEKO A-100) with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel 1 sqn with C-130H/E; M-28 Bryza
landing platform 1 sqn with C295M; M-28 Bryza
PCFGM 3 Orkan (ex-GDR Sassnitz) with 1 quad lnchr TRAINING
with RBS15 Mk3 AShM, 1 quad lnchr (manual aiming) 1 sqn with PZL-130 Orlik
1 sqn with M-346
with 9K32 Strela-2M (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, 1 AK630
1 hel sqn with SW-4 Puszczyk
CIWS, 1 76mm gun
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 21
1 (Spec Ops) sqn with Mi-17 Hip H
MCCS 1 Kontradmiral Xawery Czernicki
1 (VIP) sqn with Mi-8 Hip; W-3WA Sokol
MCO 2 Kormoran II
AIR DEFENCE
MHO 1 Krogulec
1 bde with S-125 Newa SC; S-200C Vega (RS-SA-5 Gammon)
MSI 17: 1 Gopło; 12 Gardno; 4 Mamry
AMPHIBIOUS 8 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
LANDING SHIPS • LSM 5 Lublin (capacity 9 tanks; 135 AIRCRAFT 94 combat capable
troops) FTR 28: 22 MiG-29A Fulcrum; 6 MiG-29UB Fulcrum
LANDING CRAFT • LCU 3 Deba (capacity 50 troops) FGA 66: 36 F-16C Block 52+ Fighting Falcon; 12 F-16D
Block 52+ Fighting Falcon; 12 Su-22M4 Fitter; 6 Su-
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 26
22UM3K Fitter
AGI 2 Moma
TPT 50: Medium 7: 2 C-130H Hercules; 5 C-130E Hercules;
AGS 8: 2 Heweliusz; 4 Wildcat 40; 2 (coastal)
Light 39: 16 C295M; 10 M-28 Bryza TD; 13 M-28 Bryza PT;
AORL 1 Bałtyk
PAX 4: 2 Gulfstream G550; 2 B-737-800 (VIP)
AOL 1 Moskit
TRG 40: 12 M-346; 28 PZL-130 Orlik
ARS 4: 2 Piast; 2 Zbyszko
HELICOPTERS
ATF 8: 6 Bolko (B860); 2 H960
MRH 8 Mi-17 Hip H
AX 1 Wodnik with 1 twin AK230 CIWS
TPT 65: Medium 29: 9 Mi-8 Hip; 10 PZL W-3 Sokol; 10
AXS 1 Iskra
PZL W-3WA Sokol (VIP); Light 36: 14 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite;
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 12 NSM
22 SW-4 Puszczyk (trg)
AIR DEFENCE
Naval Aviation 1,300
SAM 18
FORCES BY ROLE Long-range 1 S-200C Vega (RS-SA-5 Gammon)
ANTI SUBMARINE WARFARE/SEARCH & RESCUE Short-range 17 S-125 Newa SC
1 sqn with Mi-14PL Haze A; Mi-14PL/R Haze C GUNS • TOWED 23mm 12 Pilica (with Piorun msl)
1 sqn with PZL W-3RM Anakonda; SH-2G Super Sea- AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
sprite AAM • IR AIM-9 Sidewinder; R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid);
MARITIME PATROL R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); R-27T (RS-AA-10B Alamo);
1 sqn with An-28E/RM Bryza IIR AIM-9X Sidwinder II; ARH AIM-120C AMRAAM
TRANSPORT ASM AGM-65J/G Maverick; Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen); Kh-
1 sqn with An-28TD; M-28B TD Bryza 29 (RS-AS-14 Kedge)
1 sqn with An-28TD; M-28B; PZL Mi-2 Hoplite; PZL ALCM • Conventional AGM-158 JASSM
W-3T/A
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Special Forces 3,150
AIRCRAFT FORCES BY ROLE
MP 10: 8 An-28RM Bryza; 2 An-28E Bryza SPECIAL FORCES
TPT • Light 4: 2 An-28TD Bryza; 2 M-28B TD Bryza 3 SF units (GROM, FORMOZA & cdo)
HELICOPTERS COMBAT SUPPORT/
ASW 8: 6 Mi-14PL Haze; 2 SH-2G Super Seasprite 1 cbt spt unit (AGAT)
SAR 8: 2 Mi-14PL/R Haze C; 4 PZL W-3RM Anakonda; COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
2 PZL W-3WA RM Anakonda 1 spt unit (NIL)
Europe 123

Territorial Defence Forces 3,800 (plus 20,000


reservists) Portugal PRT
FORCES BY ROLE Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
MANOEUVRE GDP EUR 211bn 242bn
Other USD 250bn 256bn
15 sy bde
per capita USD 24,296 24,910
2 sy bde (forming)
Growth % 4.9 6.2
Inflation % 0.9 7.9
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 14,300

Europe
Def exp [a] EUR 3.30bn 3.33bn
Border Guards 14,300 USD 3.90bn 3.52bn
Ministry of Interior Def bdgt EUR 2.48bn 2.45bn 2.58bn
USD 2.93bn 2.59bn
Maritime Border Guard 2,000 USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE [a] NATO figure
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 18
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
PCC 2 Kaper 2.84
PBF 6: 2 Strażnik; 4 IC16M
PB 10: 2 Wisłoka; 2 Baltic 24; 1 Project MI-6 2.30
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 2008 2015 2022
UCAC 2 Griffon 2000TDX
Population 10,242,081

DEPLOYMENT Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus


BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 38 Male 6.7% 2.7% 2.9% 2.8% 23.7% 8.6%
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 2 Female 6.4% 2.6% 2.7% 2.7% 25.3% 13.0%

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •


Capabilities
MONUSCO 1
Principal tasks for Portugal’s all-volunteer armed forces are
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 150; NATO • NATO homeland defence, maritime security, multinational operations
Mission Iraq 30 and responding to humanitarian disasters. Investment plans
LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 177; 1 tk coy support Portugal’s ambition to field rapid-reaction and maritime-
surveillance capabilities for territorial defence and multinational
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 193; 1 mech inf coy operations. A new military programme law for 2019–30 was
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 4 approved by parliament, funding the acquisition of five KC-390
aircraft, six offshore-patrol vessels, a replenishment tanker and
ROMANIA: NATO • MNB-SE 220; 1 mech inf coy; Rosomak a multi-purpose logistics ship, as well as cyber-defence and
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 247; 1 inf coy; UN • UNMIK 2 soldier-combat systems. In 2022 a modest increase to defence
spending was announced, with the country aiming to boost by
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1 2024 the proportion of GDP spent on defence. Portugal hosts
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 2 NATO’s cyber-security academy and the country also contributes
to EU military structures. There is a close relationship with former
dependencies and with the US, which operates out of Lajes air
FOREIGN FORCES base. All three services have programmes to modernise and
sustain existing equipment platforms. There is an active defence
All NATO Enhanced Forward Presence unless stated
industry, though principally in relation to shipbuilding, broader
Canada Operation Unifier 40 (UKR trg) maintenance tasks and the manufacture of components, small
Croatia 4 arms and light weapons.
Germany MNC-NE corps HQ: 95
ACTIVE 26,700 (Army 13,350 Navy 7,400 Air 5,950)
Italy NATO Baltic Air Policing: 135; 4 Eurofighter Typhoon Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 24,700
United Kingdom 129; 1 recce sqn; Army: 250; 1 tk sqn with
Challenger 2; 1 SAM bty with CAMM (Land Ceptor) RESERVE 23,500 (Army 10,000 Navy 9,000,
United States: 780; 1 armd bn with M1A2 SEPv2 Abarms; Air Force 4,500)
Reserve obligation to age 35
M2A3 Bradley; • Operation Atlantic Resolve 15,000; 1 corps
HQ; 2 div HQ; 2 armd bde with M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams;
M3A3 Bradley; M2A3 Bradley; M109A6/A7; 1 AB bde with ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
M119A3; M777A2; 2 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC3; 1
FGA sqn with 12 F-22A Raptor 1 CISR UAV sqn with MQ- Army 13,350
9A Reaper 5 territorial comd (2 mil region, 1 mil district, 2 mil zone)
124 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

FORCES BY ROLE M125A2; 107mm 11 M30; SP 107mm 18: 3 M106A1; 15


SPECIAL FORCES M106A2; 120mm 50 Tampella
1 SF bn AIR DEFENCE
MANOEUVRE SAM • Point-defence 20+: 1 M48A2 Chaparral; 19 M48A3
Mechanised Chaparral; FIM-92 Stinger
1 mech bde (1 recce sqn, 1 tk regt, 1 mech inf bn, 1 arty GUNS • TOWED 20mm 20 Rh 202
bn, 1 AD bty, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 spt bn)
1 (intervention) bde (1 recce regt, 2 mech inf bn, 1 arty
bn, 1 AD bty, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 spt bn)
Navy 7,400 (incl 950 Marines)
Air Manoeuvre EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 (rapid reaction) bde (1 cdo bn, 1 ISR bn, 2 para bn, SUBMARINES 2
1 arty bn, 1 AD bty, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 spt bn) SSK 2 Tridente (GER Type-214) (fitted with AIP) with 8
Other 533mm TT with UGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM/Black
1 (Azores) inf gp (2 inf bn, 1 AD bty) Shark HWT
1 (Madeira) inf gp (1 inf bn, 1 AD bty) PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 5
COMBAT SUPPORT FFGHM 5:
1 STA bty 1 Bartolomeu Dias (ex-NLD Karel Doorman) (MLU
1 engr bn (1 construction coy; 1 EOD unit; 1 ptn br coy; ongoing) with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon
1 CBRN coy)
Block 1B AShM, 1 16-cell Mk 48 mod 1 VLS with
1 EW coy
RIM-7M Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 twin 324mm SVTT
1 MP bn
Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Goalkeeper CIWS, 1
1 psyops unit
1 CIMIC coy (joint) 76mm gun (capacity 1 Lynx Mk95 (Super Lynx) hel)
1 sigs bn 1 Bartolomeu Dias (ex-NLD Karel Doorman) with 2 quad
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT lnchr with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 1 16-
1 maint coy cell Mk 48 mod 1 VLS with RIM-162 ESSM SAM, 2
1 log coy twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1
1 tpt coy Goalkeeper CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Lynx Mk95
1 med unit (Super Lynx) hel)
AIR DEFENCE 3 Vasco Da Gama with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C
1 AD bn Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 1 octuple Mk 29 GMLS
with RIM-7M Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 triple 324mm
Reserves 210,000
SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx
FORCES BY ROLE
Block 1B CIWS, 1 100mm gun (capacity 2 Lynx Mk95
MANOEUVRE
(Super Lynx) hel)
Light
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 22
3 (territorial) def bde (on mobilisation)
CORVETTES • FS 2:
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 Baptista de Andrade with 1 100mm gun, 1 hel
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 37 Leopard 2A6 landing platform
IFV 30 Pandur II MK 30mm 1 Joao Coutinho with 1 twin 76mm gun, 1 hel
APC 406 landing platform
APC (T) 239: 176 M113A1; 14 M113A2; 49 M577A2 (CP) PSO 4 Viana do Castelo with 1 hel landing platform
APC (W) 167: 9 V-150 Commando; 12 V-200 Chaimite; PCC 5: 1 Cacine; 4 Tejo (ex-DNK Flyvisken)
146 Pandur II (incl variants) PBR 10: 5 Argos; 4 Centauro; 1 Rio Minho
AUV 16 VBL PB 1 Patrão Cego do Maio (SAR)
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 10
AEV M728 AGS 4: 2 D Carlos I (ex-US Stalwart); 2 Andromeda
ARV 13: 6 M88A1, 7 Pandur II ARV AXS 6: 1 Sagres; 1 Creoula; 1 Polar; 2 Belatrix; 1 Zarco
VLB M48
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Marines 950
MSL
FORCES BY ROLE
SP 26: 17 M113 with TOW; 4 M901 with TOW; 5 Pandur
SPECIAL FORCES
II with TOW
1 SF det
MANPATS Milan; TOW
RCL • 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm 45 M40A1 MANOEUVRE
ARTILLERY 320 Light
SP 155mm 24: 6 M109A2; 18 M109A5 1 lt inf bn
TOWED 62: 105mm 39: 17 L119 Light Gun; 21 M101A1; COMBAT SUPPORT
155mm 24 M114A1 1 mor coy
MOR 234: 81mm 143; SP 81mm 12: 2 M125A1; 10 1 MP coy
Europe 125

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
DEPLOYMENT
MSL • MANPATS Milan; TOW BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 1
RCL • 84mm Carl Gustaf CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 14; UN
ARTILLERY • MOR 30+: 81mm some; 120mm 30 • MINUSCA 196; 1 AB coy
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 30
Naval Aviation
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 11
HELICOPTERS • ASW 5: 4 Lynx Mk95 (Super Lynx); MEDITERRANEAN SEA: NATO • SNMCMG 2: 40; 1 PSO

Europe
1 Lynx Mk95A (Super Lynx) MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 120
SOMALIA: EU • EUTM Somalia 2
Air Force 5,950
FORCES BY ROLE
FOREIGN FORCES
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
United States US European Command: 250; 1 spt facility
2 sqn with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon
at Lajes
MARITIME PATROL
1 sqn with P-3C Orion
ISR/TRANSPORT Romania ROM
1 sqn with C295M
Romanian Leu RON 2021 2022 2023
COMBAT SEARCH & RESCUE
GDP RON 1.18tr 1.40tr
1 sqn with with AW101 Merlin
TRANSPORT USD 284bn 300bn
1 sqn with C-130H/C-130H-30 Hercules per capita USD 14,795 15,619
1 sqn with Falcon 50 Growth % 5.9 4.8
TRAINING Inflation % 5.0 13.3
1 sqn with AW119 Koala Def exp [a] RON 22.0bn 26.4bn
1 sqn with TB-30 Epsilon USD 5.29bn 5.64bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Def bdgt [b] RON 23.1bn 24.3bn
AIRCRAFT 35 combat capable USD 5.56bn 5.19bn
FTR 30: 26 F-16AM Fighting Falcon; 4 F-16BM Fighting Falcon USD1=RON 4.16 4.68
ASW 5 P-3C Orion [a] NATO figure
ISR: 7: 5 C295M (maritime surveillance), 2 C295M [b] Includes military pensions
(photo recce) Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
TPT 13: Medium 5: 2 C-130H Hercules; 3 C-130H-30 Hercules 4.35
(tpt/SAR); Light 5 C295M; PAX 3 Falcon 50 (tpt/VIP)
TRG 16 TB-30 Epsilon 2.00
HELICOPTERS 2008 2015 2022
TPT 17: Medium 12 AW101 Merlin (6 SAR, 4 CSAR, 2
Population 18,519,899
fishery protection); Light 5 AW119 Koala
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
AAM • IR AIM-9L/I Sidewinder; ARH AIM-120C
Male 8.1% 2.7% 2.5% 2.3% 23.7% 9.0%
AMRAAM
ASM AGM-65A Maverick Female 7.7% 2.5% 2.5% 2.3% 23.9% 12.8%
AShM AGM-84A Harpoon
BOMBS
Capabilities
Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II Romania’s armed forces are structured around territorial defence,
INS/GPS guided GBU-31 JDAM support to NATO and EU missions, and contributing to regional
and global stability and security. According to the National Defence
Strategy 2020–2024, principal security threats include Russia’s
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 24,700 increased presence in the Black Sea, hybrid warfare, cyber-attacks,
terrorism and the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
National Republican Guard 24,700 Under the Armata 2040 project, authorities are looking to moder-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE nise and upgrade the armed forces to NATO standards. A defence
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 32 budget increase was announced in March 2022. Bucharest has
signed defence cooperation agreements with regional allies and, in
PBF 12
the aftermath of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, bolstered coop-
PB 20 eration with the US, France, and regional allies in the Bucharest Nine
HELICOPTERS • MRH 7 SA315 Lama organisation. There is a strategic partnership with the US. Romania
126 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

hosts the Aegis Ashore ballistic-missile-defence system at Deveselu. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
In May 2022, NATO’s multinational Battle Group Forward Presence 3 spt bn
achieved initial operational capability. Led by France, this unit is AIR DEFENCE
based at Cincu. Elements of the US Army’s Task Force Cougar started 3 AD regt
to arrive at Mihail Kogalniceanu air base in early 2022. There is
broad training with NATO and regional allies, and Romania contrib- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
utes to EU and NATO missions. The inventory is mainly composed ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
of Soviet-era equipment, which is seen as a factor-limiting capa- MBT 377: 220 T-55AM; 103 TR-85; 54 TR-85 M1
bility. Though Romanian airspace benefits from NATO’s Enhanced IFV 241: 41 MLI-84 (incl CP); 101 MLI-84M Jderul;
Air Policing mission, in May 2022 the authorities indicated a plan 99 Piranha V
to extend the service life of the ageing MiG-21 Lancer aircraft by APC 749
approximately a year, following delays in transitioning to the F-16.
APC (T) 76 MLVM
Romania has received a number of F-16s, purchased from Portu-
APC (W) 613: 69 B33 TAB Zimbru; 37 Piranha IIIC;
gal, and in 2023 is expected to receive the first batch of F-16s pur-
chased from Norway. Acquisition plans include armoured vehicles, 354 TAB-71 (incl variants); 153 TAB-77 (incl variants)
air-defence radars, surface-to-air missiles and corvettes. The Naval PPV 60 Maxxpro
Strike Missile will be procured for coastal defence from 2024, while AUV 480 TABC-79 (incl variants)
Bucharest has received the first elements of the HIMARS system ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
ordered in 2018. The country’s defence industry has struggled since ARV 55: 3 MLI-84M TEHEVAC; 8 TERA-71L; 44
1989. Current production focuses on small arms and ammunition. TERA-77L
However, Bucharest has agreed a contract with General Dynamics VLB 43 BLG-67
to produce locally a new batch of Piranha V armoured vehicles, and
NBC VEHICLES 109 RCH-84
with Airbus to produce H215 helicopters. Bucharest continues to
look for opportunities to boost its defence industry through offset ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
agreements and technology transfers. MSL
SP 158: 12 9P122 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 98 9P133
ACTIVE 71,500 (Army 35,500 Navy 6,800 Air 11,700 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 48 9P148 Konkurs (RS-
Joint 17,500) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 57,000 AT-5 Spandrel)
MANPATS Spike-LR
RESERVE 55,000 (Joint 55,000) GUNS
SP 100mm (23 SU-100 in store)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE TOWED 100mm 218 M-1977
ARTILLERY 1,136
Army 35,500 SP 122mm 40: 6 2S1 Gvodzika; 34 Model 89
Readiness is reported as 70–90% for NATO-designated TOWED 447: 122mm 96 (M-30) M-1938 (A-19); 152mm
forces (1 div HQ, 1 mech bde, 1 inf bde & 1 mtn inf bde) 351: 247 M-1981; 104 M-1985
and 40–70% for other forces MRL 206: 122mm 170: 134 APR-40; 36 LAROM; 227mm
FORCES BY ROLE 36 M142 HIMARS
COMMAND MOR 443: SP 82mm 177: 92 TAB-71AR; 85 TABC-79AR;
2 div HQ (2nd & 4th) 120mm 266 M-1982
elm 1 div HQ (MND-SE) AIR DEFENCE
SPECIAL FORCES SAM 96
1 SF bde (2 SF bn, 1 para bn, 1 log bn) Short-range 48: 32 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); 16
MANOEUVRE 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko)
Reconnaissance Point-defence 48 CA-95
1 recce bde GUNS 65+
2 recce regt SP 35mm 41 Gepard
Mechanised TOWED 24+: 14.5mm ZPU-2; 35mm 24 GDF-003;
5 mech bde (1 tk bn, 2 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 AD bn, 57mm S-60
1 log bn)
1 (MNB-SE) mech inf bde (2 armd inf bn, 1 inf bn, 1 arty Navy 6,800
bn, 1 AD bn, 1 log bn) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Light PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 3
2 mtn inf bde (3 mtn inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 AD bn, 1 log bn) FFGH 1 Marasesti with 4 twin lnchr with P-22 (RS-SS-N-
COMBAT SUPPORT 2C Styx) AShM, 2 triple 533mm ASTT with 53–65 HWT,
1 MRL bde (3 MRL bn, 1 STA bn, 1 log bn) 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 4 AK630M CIWS, 2 twin
2 arty regt 76mm guns (capacity 2 SA-316 (IAR-316) Alouette III hel)
1 engr bde (4 engr bn, 1 ptn br bn, 1 log bn) FFH 2 Regele Ferdinand (ex-UK Type-22), with 2 triple
2 engr bn STWS Mk.2 324mm TT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 SA330
3 sigs bn (IAR-330) Puma)
1 CIMIC bn PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 24
1 MP bn CORVETTES 4
3 CBRN bn FSH 2 Tetal II with 2 twin 533mm ASTT with SET-53M
Europe 127

HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 FGA 22: 6 MiG-21 Lancer B; 16 MiG-21 Lancer C
76mm gun (capacity 1 SA316 (IAR-316) Alouette III hel) ISR 2 An-30 Clank
FS 2 Tetal I with 2 twin 533mm ASTT with SET-53M TPT • Medium 12: 7 C-27J Spartan; 4 C-130B Hercules;
HWT, 2 RBU 2500 Smerch 1 A/S mor, 2 AK230 CIWS, 2 1 C-130H Hercules
twin 76mm guns TRG 32: 10 IAR-99*; 10 IAR-99C Soim*; 12 Yak-52 (Iak-52)
PCFG 3 Zborul with 2 twin lnchr with P-22 (RS-SS-N-2C HELICOPTERS
Styx) AShM, 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun MRH 29: 21 IAR-330 SOCAT Puma; 8 SA316B Alouette III
PCFT 3 Naluca with 4 single 533mm ASTT (IAR-316B)
PCR 8: 5 Brutar II with 2 BM-21 MRL, 1 100mm gun; TPT • Medium 24: 12 SA330L Puma (IAR-330L);
3 Kogalniceanu with 2 BM-21 MRL, 2 100mm guns 12 SA330M Puma (IAR-330M)

Europe
PBR 6 VD141 (ex-MSR now used for river patrol) AIR DEFENCE • SAM 17
MINE WARFARE 11 Long-range 8 M903 Patriot PAC-3 MSE
MINE COUNTERMEASURES 10 Medium-range 13: 5 S-75M3 Volkhov (RS-SA-2 Guideline);
MSO 4 Musca with 2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 8 MIM-23 Hawk PIP III
2 AK230 CIWS AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
MSR 6 VD141 AAM • IR AIM-9M Sidewinder; R-73 (RS-AA-11A
MINELAYERS • ML 1 Corsar with up to 120 mines, Archer); R-550 Magic 2; Python 3 IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder
2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 2 AK230 CIWS II; ARH AIM-120C AMRAAM
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 8 ASM Spike-ER
AE 2 Constanta with 2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, BOMBS
2 AK230 CIWS, 2 twin 57mm guns Laser-guided GBU-12 Paveway;
AGOR 1 Corsar Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-54 Laser JDAM
AGS 2: 1 Emil Racovita; 1 Catuneanu INS/GPS guided GBU-38 JDAM
AOL 1 Tulcea
ATF 1 Grozavu Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε57,000
AXS 1 Mircea
Gendarmerie ε57,000
Naval Infantry Ministry of Interior
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE DEPLOYMENT
Light
1 naval inf regt BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 203; 1 inf coy
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 13
AUV 14: 11 ABC-79M; 3 TABC-79M DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
MONUSCO 8
Air Force 11,700 INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 2
FORCES BY ROLE
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 30; NATO • NATO
FIGHTER
Mission Iraq 170
2 sqn with MiG-21 Lancer C
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 25; UN • MINUSMA 5
1 sqn with with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 6
GROUND ATTACK
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 65; UN • UNMIK 1
1 sqn with IAR-99 Soim*
TRANSPORT SOMALIA: EU • EUTM Somalia 5
1 sqn with An-30 Clank; C-27J Spartan SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 6
1 sqn with C-130B/H Hercules
TRAINING
FOREIGN FORCES
1 sqn with IAR-99 Soim*
1 sqn with SA316B Alouette III (IAR-316B); Yak-52 (Iak-52) Canada NATO Air Policing: 170; 6 F/A-18A Hornet (CF-18AM)
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Belgium NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities: 250; 1
2 (multi-role) sqn with IAR-330 SOCAT Puma mech inf coy
2 sqn with SA330L/M Puma (IAR-330L/M) France NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities: 750; 1 armd
AIR DEFENCE BG; 1 SAM bty with SAMP/T
1 AD bde Netherlands NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities: 200;
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT 1 air mob inf coy
1 engr spt regt Poland NATO MNB-SE 220; 1 mech inf coy; Rosomak
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE United States US European Command: 4,000; 1 air aslt bde
AIRCRAFT 59 combat capable with M119A3; M777A2; 1 Aegis Ashore BMD unit with 3
FTR 17: 14 F-16AM Fighting Falcon; 3 F-16BM Fighting Falcon 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with SM-3
128 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Serbia SER ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Serbian Dinar RSD 2021 2022 2023 Army 13,250
GDP RSD 6.27tr 6.99tr FORCES BY ROLE
USD 63.1bn 62.7bn SPECIAL FORCES
per capita USD 9,178 9,164 1 SF bde (1 CT bn, 1 cdo bn, 1 para bn)
Growth % 7.4 3.5 MANOEUVRE
Mechanised
Inflation % 4.1 11.5
1 (1st) bde (1 tk bn, 2 mech inf bn, 1 inf bn, 1 SP arty bn,
Def bdgt RSD 103bn 136bn 1 MRL bn, 1 AD bn, 1 engr bn, 1 log bn)
USD 1.03bn 1.22bn 3 (2nd, 3rd & 4th) bde (1 tk bn, 2 mech inf bn, 2 inf bn,
USD1=RSD 99.40 111.40 1 SP arty bn, 1 MRL bn, 1 AD bn, 1 engr bn, 1 log bn)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) COMBAT SUPPORT
978 1 (mixed) arty bde (4 arty bn, 1 MRL bn, 1 spt bn)
2 ptn bridging bn
507 1 NBC bn
2008 2015 2022 1 sigs bn
2 MP bn
Population 6,739,471
Reserve Organisations
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus FORCES BY ROLE
Male 7.5% 2.8% 2.8% 3.0% 24.6% 8.1% MANOEUVRE
Female 7.0% 2.6% 2.7% 3.0% 24.5% 11.5% Light
8 (territorial) inf bde
Capabilities EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Serbia’s armed forces focus on territorial defence, internal secu-
rity and limited support to peacekeeping missions. According to MBT 229: 197 M-84; 2 M-84AS1 (in test); 30 T-72MS
the 2019 National-Security Strategy, key threats include separat- RECCE 76: 46 BRDM-2; 30 BRDM-2M
ism, ethnic and religious extremism, climate change and further IFV 326: 320 M-80; 3 M80AB1
international recognition of Kosovo. The armed forces are mod- APC 95
ernising to address long-term capability shortfalls and personnel APC(T) 44: 12 BTR-50 (CP); 32 MT-LB (CP)
shortages. Priorities include procurements, improving availability, APC (W) 51: 39 BOV-VP M-86; 12 Lazar-3 APC
maintenance and readiness levels, and bolstering air-defence AUV 25 BOV M16 Milos
capability. Serbia has agreed to deepen cooperation with NATO ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
through an Individual Partnership Action Plan. Belgrade aspires to AEV IWT
join the EU but not NATO. Serbia also maintains a close relation- ARV M84A1; T-54/T-55
ship with Russia, from which it has received transfers of military
VLB MT-55; TMM
equipment in recent years. However, the country has also intensi-
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
fied its security relations with China, purchasing Chinese military
equipment, including air defence equipment. The armed forces MSL
have reduced in size over the last decade, though annual recruit- SP 48 BOV-1 (M-83) with 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger)
ment goals have not yet been met. The armed forces also lack MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 9K111
skilled technicians to operate and maintain advanced systems Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); Kornet-EM
and suffer from a shortage of pilots. Air force modernisation is a RCL 90mm M-79
priority, including upgrading its MiG-29s, while there have been ARTILLERY 461
reports of negotiations with France and the UK over possible SP 95: 122mm 67 2S1 Gvozdika; 155mm 18 B-52 NORA
combat aircraft procurement. Serbia mostly trains with its Balkan TOWED 132: 122mm 78 D-30; 130mm 18 M-46; 152mm
neighbours, Russia and NATO countries. It contributes to EU, OSCE 36 M-84 NORA-A
and UN peacekeeping missions. Serbia’s defence industry focuses MRL 81: 128mm 78: 18 M-63 Plamen; 60 M-77 Organj;
on missile and artillery systems, and small arms and ammunition,
262mm 3 M-87 Orkan
but the country is reliant on external suppliers for major platforms.
MOR 163: 82mm 106 M-69; 120mm 57 M-74/M-75
Serbia continues to develop its defence industry, with a focus on
the aerospace industry.
AIR DEFENCE
SAM 94+
ACTIVE 28,150 (Army 13,250 Air Force and Air Short-range 77 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful);
Defence 5,100 Training Command 3,000 Guards Point-defence 17+: 12 9K31M Strela-1M (RS-SA-9
1,600 Other MoD 5,200) Gendarmerie & Gaskin); 5 9K35M Strela-10M; 9K32M Strela-2M (RS-
Paramilitary 3,700 SA-7B Grail)‡; Šilo (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
Conscript liability 6 months (voluntary)
GUNS
SP 40mm 20 Pasars-16
RESERVE 50,150 TOWED 40mm 36 Bofors L/70
Europe 129

UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES HELICOPTERS


CISR • Medium 6 CH-92A ATK 6: 2 Mi-24 Hind†; 4 Mi-35M Hind
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES MRH 52: 5 H145M; 1 Mi-17 Hip H; 5 Mi-17V-5 Hip; 2
ASM FT-8C SA341H Gazelle (HI-42); 26 SA341H Gazelle (HN-42)/
SA342L Gazelle (HN-45); 13 SA341H Gazelle (HO-42)/
River Flotilla SA342L1 Gazelle (HO-45)
The Serbian–Montenegrin navy was transferred to
TPT • Medium 8 Mi-8T Hip (HT-40)
Montenegro upon independence in 2006, but the
AIR DEFENCE
Danube flotilla remained in Serbian control. The flotilla
SAM 19+
is subordinate to the Land Forces

Europe
Long-range 4 FK-3 (HQ-22)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Short-range 15: 6 S-125M Neva-M (RS-SA-3 Goa); 9
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4
2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
PBR 4: 3 Type-20; 1 Jadar
Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; 9K310
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4
Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
MSI 4 Nestin with 1 quad lnchr with 9K32 Strela-2M
SPAAGM 30mm 6 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
(RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT GUNS • TOWED 40mm 24 Bofors L/70
LCVP 4 Type-22 (1 more non-operational) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 3 AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A
AG 1 Šabac (deguassing vessel also used for patrol Archer); SARH R-27ER (RS-AA-10C Alamo); ARH R-77
and troop transport) (capacity 80 troops) (RS-AA-12 Adder)
AGF 1 Kozara ASM AGM-65 Maverick; A-77 Thunder; Kh-29T (RS-AS-
AOL 1 14B Kedge)

Air Force and Air Defence 5,100 Guards 1,600


FORCES BY ROLE FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER MANOEUVRE
1 sqn with MiG-29 Fulcrum; MiG-29UB Fulcrum B; Other
MiG-29SE Fulcrum C 1 (ceremonial) gd bde (1 gd bn, 1 MP bn, 1 spt bn)
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with J-22/NJ-22 Orao 1 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 3,700
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with An-2; An-26; Yak-40 (Jak-40); 1 PA-34 Seneca V Gendarmerie 3,700
TRAINING EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with G-4 Super Galeb* (adv trg/light atk); ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
SA341/342 Gazelle; Lasta 95; Utva-75 (basic trg) APC • APC (W) 24: 12 Lazar-3; 12 BOV-VP M-86
ATTACK HELICOPTER AUV BOV M16 Milos
1 sqn with SA341H/342L Gazelle; (HN-42/45); Mi-24
Hind; Mi-35M Hind
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER DEPLOYMENT
2 sqn with H145M; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-17V-5 Hip CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 7; UN •
AIR DEFENCE MINUSCA 78; 1 med coy
1 bde (5 bn (2 msl, 3 SP msl) with S-125M Neva-M (RS-
SA-3 Goa); 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); 9K32 Strela-2 CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 8
(RS-SA-7 Grail); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)) LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 177; 1 mech inf coy
2 radar bn (for early warning and reporting)
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 1
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 sigs bn SOMALIA: EU • EUTM Somalia 6
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 maint bn TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE
AIRCRAFT 51 combat capable
CONTROL
FTR 14: 3 MiG-29 Fulcrum; 3 MiG-29UB Fulcrum B; 8
MiG-29SE Fulcrum C In February 2008, Kosovo declared itself independent.
FGA up to 18 J-22/NJ-22 Orao 1 Serbia remains opposed to this, and while Kosovo has not
ISR (10 IJ-22R Orao 1* in store) been admitted to the United Nations, a number of states
TPT • Light 8: 1 An-2 Colt; 4 An-26 Curl; 2 Yak-40 (Jak- have recognised Kosovo’s self-declared status. Data here
40); 1 PA-34 Seneca V represents the de facto situation in Kosovo. This does not
TRG 44: 19 G-4 Super Galeb*; 11 Utva-75; 14 Lasta 95 imply international recognition as a sovereign state.
130 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Kosovo Security Force 2,500; reserves 800


The Kosovo Security Force (KSF) was formed in January Slovakia SVK
2009 as a non-military organisation with responsibility for Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023
crisis response, civil protection and EOD. The new presi- GDP EUR 97.1bn 106bn
dent has reaffirmed the ambition to develop a regular USD 115bn 112bn
army following NATO standards and to join the Alliance, per capita USD 21,053 20,565
although NATO members are divided on this and the Growth % 3.0 1.8
Alliance is formally against such a development. The KSF Inflation % 2.8 11.9
has been upgrading its capabilities, including the acquisi- Def exp [a] EUR 1.68bn 2.14bn
tion of light armoured security vehicles from the United USD 1.98bn 2.27bn
States starting in 2021. A small detachment deployed to Def bdgt EUR 1.68bn 1.90bn 2.46bn
Kuwait in 2021, alongside the US Iowa National Guard. A USD 1.99bn 2.01bn
military police unit was reportedly established in 2022. The USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95
NATO peace-support mission, KFOR, continues to main- [a] NATO figure
tain a presence in Kosovo. Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1.78
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AUV 55 M1117 Guardian; some Cobra 0.75
2008 2015 2022

FOREIGN FORCES Population 5,431,252

All under Kosovo Force (KFOR) command unless Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
otherwise specified Male 7.7% 2.5% 2.6% 3.0% 25.5% 7.2%
Albania 61 Female 7.3% 2.4% 2.5% 2.8% 25.7% 10.9%
Armenia 40
Austria 244; 1 recce coy; 1 mech inf coy; 1 log coy • Capabilities
UNMIK 1 obs Slovakia is looking to modernise its armed forces and replace
Bulgaria 30 obsolete equipment while contributing to international crisis-
Canada 5 management missions. A defence White Paper in September 2016
set out security priorities and a plan to increase defence capa-
Croatia 147; 1 inf coy; 1 hel flt with Mi-8 bilities. In 2017, the government approved a Long-Term Defence
Czech Republic 8 • UNMIK 2 obs Development Plan. A new national-security strategy and a new
Denmark 35 defence strategy were drafted in 2020 and adopted by parliament
in January 2021. A NATO and EU member state, Slovakia cooper-
Finland 20
ates closely with the Visegrád Group, and there are reports that the
Germany 68 country is considering forming a collective fighter jet pilot train-
Greece 113; 1 inf coy ing programme. Bratislava has signed an agreement to enable
Hungary 469; 1 inf coy (KTM) air policing and closer integration of air-defence capabilities. A
Defence Cooperation Agreement was signed with the United
Ireland 13
States in February 2022 and funds were allocated to Slovakia under
Italy 715; 1 arty regt BG HQ; 1 Carabinieri unit the Foreign Military Financing Programme to help the country
Latvia 136; 1 inf coy replace part of the military equipment sent to Ukraine since the
Lithuania 1 Russian invasion. Germany is planning to supply 15 Leopard 2A4
MBTs, after Slovakia sent Infantry Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine. The
Macedonia, North 65 air force is in the process of procuring new jet trainers in prepa-
Moldova 41 • UNMIK 1 obs ration for the delivery of its F-16s, expected between 2023 and
Montenegro 1 2024. US Patriot air defence systems arrived, after Slovakia donated
S-300s to Ukraine. As part of plans to improve mechanised capabil-
Poland 247; 1 inf coy • UNMIK 2 obs
ities, agreements were signed in 2022 for the acquisition of Patria
Romania 65 • UNMIK 1 obs 8x8 armoured vehicles. CV90s will be delivered between 2025
Slovenia 97; 1 mot inf coy; 1 MP unit; 1 hel unit and 2028. Slovakia has deployed a company-sized unit to NATO’s
Sweden 3 Enhanced Forward Presence in Latvia and stood up the EFP Battle-
group Slovakia to assist in defending NATO’s eastern flank. In June
Switzerland 186; 1 inf coy; 1 engr pl; 1 hel flt with AS332 2021, Slovakia began planning for upgrades to Sliaĉ air base, which
Turkey 335; 1 inf coy • UNMIK 2 obs is to become the main operating base for the F-16, and pilot train-
Ukraine 40 ing began in April in the US. Part of Slovakia’s defence-industrial
base is organised within the state-controlled holding company
United Kingdom 41
DMD Group, including KONSTRUKTA Defence, which produces
United States 561; elm 1 ARNG inf bde HQ; 1 ARNG inf land systems. Other companies focus on maintenance, repair and
bn; 1 hel flt with UH-60 overhaul services.
Europe 131

ACTIVE 17,950 (Army 10,300 Air 4,000 Central Air Force 4,000
Staff 3,650) FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 sqn with MiG-29AS/UBS Fulcrum
TRANSPORT
Central Staff 3,650 1 flt with C-27J Spartan
FORCES BY ROLE 1 flt with L-410FG/T Turbolet
SPECIAL FORCES TRANSPORT HELICOPTER

Europe
1 (5th) spec ops bn 1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H
1 sqn with UH-60M Black Hawk
Army 10,300 TRAINING
FORCES BY ROLE 1 sqn with L-39CM/ZAM Albatros*
MANOEUVRE AIR DEFENCE
Armoured 1 bde with 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
1 (2nd) armd bde (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn, 2 armd inf bn, EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 mixed SP arty bn) AIRCRAFT 19 combat capable
Mechanised FTR 11: 9 MiG-29AS Fulcrum; 2 MiG-29UBS Fulcrum;
1 (1st) mech bde (3 armd inf bn, 1 MRL bn, 1 engr bn, TPT 5: Medium 2 C-27J Spartan; Light 3: 1 L-410FG
1 NBC bn) Turbolet; 2 L-410T Turbolet; (4 L-410UVP Turbolet in store)
COMBAT SUPPORT TRG 8: 6 L-39CM Albatros*; 2 L-39ZAM Albatros* (1 more
1 MP bn in store)
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT HELICOPTERS
1 spt bde (2 log bn, 1 maint bn, 1 spt bn) ATK (15: 5 Mi-24D Hind D; 10 Mi-24V Hind E all in store)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MRH 13 Mi-17 Hip H (incl 4 SAR)
ARMOURED FIGHITING VEHICLES TPT • Medium 9 UH-60M Black Hawk
MBT 30 T-72M AIR DEFENCE • SAM
RECCE 18 BPsVI Short-range 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
IFV 216: 108 BMP-1; 91 BMP-2; 17 BVP-M AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
APC 101+ AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A
APC (T) 72 OT-90 Archer); SARH R-27R (RS-AA-10A Alamo)
APC (W) 22: 7 OT-64; 15 Tatrapan (6×6)
PPV 7+ RG-32M
DEPLOYMENT
AUV IVECO LMV
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 53
ARV MT-55; VT-55A; VT-72B; WPT-TOPAS CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 2
VLB AM-50; MT-55A
CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 300; 2 inf coy; 1 engr pl
MW Bozena; UOS-155 Belarty
IRAQ: NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 5
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
SP 9S428 with Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger) on BMP-1; LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 152; 1 arty
9P135 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot) on BMP-2; 9P148 Konkurs bty with M-2000 Zuzana
(RS-AT-5 Spandrel) on BRDM-2 MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 4
MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 9K111-1
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 2
Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel)
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
ARTILLERY 60 FOREIGN FORCES
SP 30: 152mm 3 M-77 Dana; 155mm 27: 16 M-2000 All under NATO Enhanced Vigilance Activities
Zuzana; 11 Zuzana-2 Czech Republic 400; 1 mech inf bn HQ; 1 mech inf coy
MRL 30: 122mm 4 RM-70; 122/227mm 26 RM-70/85 Germany 480; 1 inf coy; 1 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3
MODULAR Netherlands 125; 1 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3
AIR DEFENCE Slovenia 101; 1 lt inf coy
SAM • Point-defence 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) United States 400; 1 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3
132 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Slovenia SVN
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023 Army 6,400
GDP EUR 52.2bn 58.8bn FORCES BY ROLE
Regt are bn sized
USD 61.8bn 62.2bn
SPECIAL FORCES
per capita USD 29,298 29,469 1 SF unit (1 spec ops coy, 1 CSS coy)
Growth % 8.2 5.7 MANOEUVRE
Inflation % 1.9 8.9 Mechanised
Def exp [a] EUR 645m 699m 1 (1st) mech inf bde (1 mech inf regt, 1 mtn inf regt,
USD 763m 739m 1 cbt spt bn (1 ISR coy, 1 arty bty, 1 engr coy, 1 MP coy,
1 CBRN coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 SAM bty))
Def bdgt [b] EUR 706m 835m 939m
1 (72nd) mech inf bde (2 mech inf regt, 1 cbt spt bn (1 ISR
USD 836m 883m coy, 1 arty bty, 1 engr coy, 1 MP coy, 1 CBRN coy, 1 sigs
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95 coy, 1 SAM bty))
[a] NATO figure COMBAT SUPPORT
[b] Includes military pensions 1 EW coy
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
783 1 log bde (1 log regt, 1 maint regt (1 tk coy), 1 med regt)

Reserves
396
2008 2015 2022
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Population 2,101,208 Mountain
2 inf regt (territorial – 1 allocated to each inf bde)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Male 7.5% 2.4% 2.4% 2.6% 25.5% 9.7% ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Female 7.2% 2.2% 2.2% 2.3% 23.5% 12.5% MBT 14 M-84 (trg role) (32 more in store)
APC 115+:
Capabilities APC (W) 115: 85 Pandur 6×6 (Valuk); 30 Patria 8×8 (Svarun)
PPV Cougar 6×6 JERRV
Since joining NATO and the EU in 2004, territorial defence and the AUV 38 JLTV
ability to take part in peace-support operations have been central ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
to Slovenia’s defence strategy. In January 2020, the defence minis- ARV VT-55A
try published a White Paper and in February 2022 authorised the VLB MT-55A
Long-Term Development Programme for the Slovenian Armed NBC VEHICLES 10 Cobra CBRN
Forces 2022-35. Subsequently, the government in April adopted
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
a Medium-Term Development Programme to serve as the guiding
MSL • MANPATS Spike MR/LR
document for defence programming and planning. Defence
ARTILLERY 68
spending is increasing. Short term plans are focused on develop-
TOWED • 155mm 18 TN-90
ing a medium infantry battalion (rather than two battalion groups
MOR 50+: 82mm M-69; 120mm 50 MN-9/M-74
originally envisaged) and equipped with IFVs and combat support
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence 9K338 Igla-S (RS-
and combat service support. In September, the country withdrew
from an MOU for the acquisition of 45 Boxer armoured vehicles.
SA-24 Grinch)
Fixed-wing and rotary-wing transport capabilities are modestly
improving with new acquisitions and upgrades. There are plans
Army Maritime Element 130
to establish a cyber reserve force. Slovenia has donated military FORCES BY ROLE
equipment to Ukraine, reportedly including MBTs. Slovenia acts SPECIAL FORCES
as the framework nation for the NATO Mountain Warfare Centre 1 SF unit
of Excellence and in 2023 will provide units to the NATO VJTF. EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Italy and Hungary currently provide air policing capability under PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 2
NATO arrangements. The country has contributed to EU, NATO PCC 1 Triglav III (RUS Svetlyak)
and UN operations. Slovenia participates in NATO’s Enhanced PBF 1 Super Dvora MkII
Forward Presence, where it contributes to the Canadian-led battle-
group in Latvia and to the newly-formed battlegroup in Slovakia. Air Element 600
Its defence industry relies heavily on exports for its revenue and FORCES BY ROLE
focuses on personal equipment, small arms and ammunition, and TRANSPORT
CBRN protection and detection. 1 sqn with Falcon 2000EX; L-410 Turbolet; PC-6B Turbo Porter
ACTIVE 6,400 (Army 6,400) TRAINING
1 unit with Bell 206 Jet Ranger (AB-206); PC-9M*;
RESERVE 750 (Army 750) Z-143L; Z-242L
Europe 133

TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Capabilities


1 sqn with AS532AL Cougar; Bell 412 Twin Huey
The 2021 National Security Strategy indicated increased effort
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
toward strengthening capacity against hybrid threats. Following
1 maint sqn Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the gov-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ernment unveiled plans to increase defence spending with the
AIRCRAFT 9 combat capable eventual goal of reaching by 2029 the NATO goal of spending 2%
on defence. The National Defence Directive, issued in June 2020,
TPT 4: Light 3: 1 L-410 Turbolet; 2 PC-6B Turbo Porter
updated defence policy guidelines and indicated a desire to foster
PAX 1 Falcon 2000EX an integrated approach to security alongside a drive to strengthen
TRG 19: 9 PC-9M*; 2 Z-143L; 8 Z-242L the national defence industry. Spain continues to support NATO,

Europe
HELICOPTERS EU and UN operations abroad, and hosts one of NATO’s two Com-
MRH 8: 5 Bell 412EP Twin Huey; 2 Bell 412HP Twin bined Air Operations Centres. The armed forces are well trained and
Huey; 1 Bell 412SP Twin Huey there is a routine exercise programme for both domestic and mul-
tinational exercises. The country’s equipment and logistics-support
TPT 8: Medium 4 AS532AL Cougar; Light 4 Bell 206 Jet capability appears to be sufficient to meet its national commitments
Ranger (AB-206) and contribution to NATO operations and exercises. Equipment-
modernisation plans include modernisation of army Chinook heli-
copters and Eurofighter combat aircraft, the acquisition of four
DEPLOYMENT S-80 submarines, new 8x8 armoured vehicles, and two military-
BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 16 communications satellites. Spain participates in the Future Combat
Air System (FCAS) project together with France and Germany. Spain’s
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 3 defence industry manufactures across all domains and exports glob-
LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 42 ally, with major firms including state-owned shipbuilder Navantia,
Airbus and Santa Barbara Sistemas, belonging to General Dynamics
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1 European Land Systems. The industry is largely integrated within the
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 9 European defence-industrial manufacturing base.

MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 3 ACTIVE 124,150 (Army 71,900 Navy 20,500 Air 20,350
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 97; 1 mot inf coy; 1 MP unit; 1 Joint 11,400) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 75,800
hel unit RESERVE 14,700 (Army 8,550 Navy 3,100 Air 2,550
SLOVAKIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 101; 1 Other 500)
lt inf coy
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Spain ESP
Space
Euro EUR 2021 2022 2023 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
GDP EUR 1.21tr 1.32tr SATELLITES 3
USD 1.43tr 1.39tr COMMUNICATIONS 2: 1 Spainsat; 1 Xtar-Eur
per capita USD 30,090 29,198 ISR 1 Paz
Growth % 5.1 4.3
Army 71,900
Inflation % 3.1 8.8
The Land Forces High Readiness HQ Spain provides one
Def exp [a] EUR 12.5bn 13.1bn
NATO Rapid Deployment Corps HQ (NRDC-ESP)
USD 14.8bn 13.9bn
FORCES BY ROLE
Def bdgt [b] EUR 12.8bn ε13.9bn ε17.5bn COMMAND
USD 15.1bn ε14.7bn 1 corps HQ (CGTAD/NRDC-ESP) (1 int regt, 1 MP bn)
USD1=EUR 0.84 0.95 2 div HQ
[a] NATO figure SPECIAL FORCES
1 comd (3 spec ops bn, 1 int coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
[b] Includes military pensions
MANOEUVRE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
Reconnaissance
14.6
1 armd cav regt (2 armd recce bn)
Mechanised
9.60 2 (10th & 11th) mech bde (1 armd regt (1 armd recce bn,
2008 2015 2022
1 tk bn), 1 mech inf regt (1 armd inf bn, 1 mech inf bn),
Population 47,163,418 1 lt inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 AT coy, 1 AD coy, 1 engr bn,
1 int coy, 1 NBC coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 (12th) mech bde (1 armd regt (1 armd recce bn, 1 tk bn),
1 mech inf regt (1 armd inf bn, 1 mech inf bn), 1 mtn
Male 7.0% 2.7% 2.5% 2.4% 25.5% 8.7%
inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 AT coy, 1 AD coy, 1 engr bn, 1 int
Female 6.7% 2.6% 2.4% 2.4% 25.6% 11.5%
coy, 1 NBC coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
134 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

1 (1st) mech bde (1 armd regt (1 armd recce bn, 1 tk bn), TOWED 268: 105mm 204: 56 L118 Light Gun; 148 Model
1 armd inf regt (1 armd inf bn), 1 SP arty bn, 1 AT coy, 56 pack howitzer; 155mm 64 SBT 155/52 SIAC
1 AD coy, 1 engr bn, 1 int coy, 1 NBC coy, 1 sigs coy, MOR 1,189: 81mm 777; SP 81mm 10 VAMTAC with
1 log bn) Cardom 81mm; 120mm 402
2 (2nd/La Legion & 7th) lt mech bde (1 armd recce bn,
COASTAL DEFENCE • ARTY 155mm 19 SBT 155/52 APU
1 mech inf regt (2 mech inf bn), 1 lt inf bn, 1 fd arty bn,
SBT V07
1 AT coy, 1 AD coy, 1 engr bn, 1 int coy, 1 NBC coy,
1 sigs coy, 1 log bn) HELICOPTERS
Mountain ATK 18 Tiger HAD-E
1 mtn comd (1 mtn inf regt (1 mtn inf bn, 1 mtn inf coy); TPT 84: Heavy 17: 13 CH-47D Chinook (HT-17D); 4 CH-
1 mtn inf bn) 47F Chinook; Medium 48: 16 AS332B Super Puma (HU-21);
Air Manoeuvre
12 AS532UL Cougar; 6 AS532AL Cougar; 14 NH90 TTH;
1 (6th) bde (1 recce bn, 2 para bn, 1 lt inf bn, 1 fd arty bn,
1 AT coy, 1 AD coy, 1 engr bn, 1 int coy, 1 NBC coy, Light 19: 3 Bell 212 (HU.18); 16 H135 (HE.26/HU.26)
1 sigs coy, 1 log bn) UAV • ISR • Medium 6: 2 Searcher MkII-J (PASI); 4
Other Searcher MkIII (PASI)
1 (Canary Islands) comd (1 lt inf bde (2 mech inf regt AIR DEFENCE
(1 mech inf bn), 1 lt inf regt (1 lt inf bn), 1 fd arty regt,
SAM 79+
1 AT coy, 1 engr bn, 1 int coy, 1 NBC coy, 1 sigs coy,
1 log bn); 1 EW regt; 1 spt hel bn; 1 AD regt) Long-range 18 M901 Patriot PAC-2
1 (Balearic Islands) comd (1 inf regt (1 lt inf bn)) Medium-range 40 MIM-23B I-Hawk Phase III
2 (Ceuta and Melilla) comd (1 recce regt, 1 mech inf bn, 1 Short-range 21: 8 NASAMS; 13 Skyguard/Aspide
inf bn, 1 arty regt (1 fd arty bn, 1 ADA bn), 1 engr bn, Point-defence Mistral
1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
GUNS • TOWED 35mm 67: 19 GDF-005; 48 GDF-007
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty comd (1 arty regt; 1 MRL regt; 1 coastal arty regt) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ASM Spike-ER
1 engr comd (2 engr regt, 1 bridging regt)
1 EW/sigs bde (2 EW regt, 3 sigs regt) Navy 20,500 (incl Naval Aviation and Marines)
1 NBC regt EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 info ops regt (1 CIMIC bn; 1 Psyops bn)
SUBMARINES 2
1 int regt
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT SSK 2 Galerna with 4 single 533mm TT with F17 mod
1 log bde (5 log regt; 1 tpt regt; 1 med regt (1 log bn, 2 HWT
2 med bn, 1 fd hospital bn)) PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 11
HELICOPTER DESTROYERS • DDGHM 5 Alvaro de Bazan with Aegis
1 hel comd (1 atk hel bn, 2 spt hel bn, 1 tpt hel bn, 1 sigs
Baseline 5 C2, 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84F Harpoon Block
bn, 1 log unit (1 spt coy, 1 supply coy))
1D AShM, 6 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with SM-2 Block IIIA/
AIR DEFENCE
1 AD comd (3 SAM regt, 1 sigs unit) RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 mod
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 9 ASTT with Mk 46 mod 5 LWT, 1 127mm gun (capacity
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 1 SH-60B Seahawk ASW hel)
MBT 327: 108 Leopard 2A4; 219 Leopard 2E FRIGATES • FFGH 6 Santa Maria with 1 Mk 13 GMLS
ASLT 84 B1 Centauro with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2 triple 324mm
RECCE 187 VEC-M1
SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 mod 5 LWT, 1 Meroka
IFV 225: 204 Pizarro; 21 Pizarro (CP)
APC 903 mod 2B CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 SH-60B Seahawk
APC (T) 473: 20 Bv-206S; 453 M113 (incl variants) ASW hel)
APC (W) 320 BMR-600/BMR-600M1 AMPHIBIOUS
PPV 110 RG-31 PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 3:
AUV 258 IVECO LMV
LHD 1 Juan Carlos I (capacity 18 hel or 10 AV-8B FGA
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
AEV 27 CZ-10/25E; 1 Pizarro CEV (Castor) (in test) ac; 4 LCM-1E; 42 APC; 46 MBT; 900 troops)
ARV 51: 16 Leopard REC; 5 BMR REC; 4 Centauro REC; 14 LPD 2 Galicia (capacity 6 Bell 212 or 4 SH-3D Sea King
Maxxpro MRV; 12 M113 hel; 4 LCM or 2 LCM & 8 AAV; 130 APC or 33 MBT;
VLB 15 M60 AVLB 540 troops)
MW 6 Husky 2G
LANDING CRAFT • LCM 12 LCM 1E
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS Spike-LR; TOW LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 2
ARTILLERY 1,552 AORH 2: 1 Patino (capacity 3 Bell 212 or 2 SH-3D Sea King
SP 155mm 95 M109A5 hel); 1 Cantabria (capacity 3 Bell 212 or 2 SH-3D Sea King hel)
Europe 135

Maritime Action Force 1 mne bde (1 recce unit, 1 mech inf bn, 2 inf bn, 1 arty
bn, 1 log bn)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Other
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 23
1 sy bde (5 mne garrison gp)
PSOH 6 Meteoro (Buques de Accion Maritima) with
1 76mm gun EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PSO 5: 3 Alboran each with 1 hel landing platform; ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
2 Descubierta with 1 76mm gun APC • APC (W) 34: 32 Piranha IIIC; 1 Piranha IIIC
PCO 4 Serviola with 1 76mm gun (amb); 1 Piranha IIIC EW (EW)
PCC 3 Anaga with 1 76mm gun AAV 18: 16 AAV-7A1/AAVP-7A1; 2 AAVC-7A1 (CP)
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES

Europe
PB 4: 2 P-101; 2 Toralla
PBR 1 Cabo Fradera AEV 4 Piranha IIIC
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 6 ARV 3: 1 AAVR-7A1; 1 M88; 1 Piranha IIIC
MHO 6 Segura ARTILLERY 30
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 30 SP 155mm 6 M109A2
AGI 1 Alerta TOWED 105mm 24 Model 56 pack howitzer
AGOR 2 (with ice-strengthened hull, for polar research ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
duties in Antarctica) MSL • MANPATS Spike-LR; TOW-2
AGS 3: 2 Malaspina; 1 Castor AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence Mistral
AKR 1 Ysabel
AP 1 Contramaestre Casado with 1 hel landing platform Air Force 20,350
ASR 1 Neptuno The Spanish Air Force is organised in 3 commands –
ATF 3: 1 Mar Caribe; 1 Mahon; 1 La Grana General Air Command, Combat Air Command and Canary
AXL 10: 6 Contramaestre; 4 Guardiamarina Islands Air Command
AXS 8 FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER
Naval Aviation 850 2 sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon
FORCES BY ROLE FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK 5 sqn with F/A-18A/B MLU Hornet (EF-18A/B MLU)
1 sqn with AV-8B Harrier II Plus MARITIME PATROL
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE 1 sqn with P-3A/M Orion
1 sqn with SH-60B/F Seahawk ISR
TRANSPORT 1 sqn with Beech C90 King Air
1 (liaison) sqn with Cessna 550 Citation II; Cessna 650 1 sqn with Cessna 550 Citation V; CN235 (TR-19A)
Citation VII SEARCH & RESCUE
TRAINING 1 sqn with AS332B/B1 Super Puma; CN235 VIGMA
1 sqn with Hughes 500MD8 1 sqn with AS332B Super Puma; CN235 VIGMA; H215
1 flt with TAV-8B Harrier (AS332C1) Super Puma
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER 1 sqn with C-212 Aviocar; CN235 VIGMA
1 sqn with Bell 212 (HU-18) TANKER/TRANSPORT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 sqn with A400M
AIRCRAFT 13 combat capable FGA 13: 12 AV-8B TRANSPORT
Harrier II Plus; 1 TAV-8B Harrier (on lease from USMC) 1 VIP sqn with A310; Falcon 900
TPT • Light 4: 3 Cessna 550 Citation II; 1 Cessna 650 1 sqn with A400M
Citation VII 1 sqn with C-212 Aviocar
HELICOPTERS 2 sqn with C295
ASW 18: 12 SH-60B Seahawk; 6 SH-60F Seahawk 1 sqn with CN235
MRH 9 Hughes 500MD TRAINING
TPT • Light 7 Bell 212 (HA-18) 1 OCU sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES 1 OCU sqn with F/A-18A/B (EF-18A/B MLU) Hornet
AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder; ARH AIM-120 1 sqn with Beech F33C Bonanza
AMRAAM 1 sqn with C-212 Aviocar
ASM AGM-65G Maverick; AGM-114K/R Hellfire II 1 sqn with PC-21
AShM AGM-119 Penguin 1 sqn with T-35 Pillan (E-26)
2 (LIFT) sqn with F-5B Freedom Fighter
Marines 5,350 1 hel sqn with H120 Colibri
FORCES BY ROLE 1 hel sqn with S-76C
SPECIAL FORCES TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 spec ops bn 1 sqn with AS332M1 Super Puma; AS532UL Cougar (VIP)
MANOEUVRE ISR UAV
Amphibious 1 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper (forming)
136 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 75,800


AIRCRAFT 175 combat capable
FTR 88: 69 Eurofighter Typhoon; 19 F-5B Freedom Fighter
Guardia Civil 75,800
17 regions, 54 Rural Comds
FGA 84: 20 F/A-18A Hornet (EF-18A); 52 EF-18A MLU;
FORCES BY ROLE
12 EF-18B MLU
SPECIAL FORCES
ASW 3 P-3M Orion
8 (rural) gp
MP 8 CN235 VIGMA MANOEUVRE
ISR 2 CN235 (TR-19A) Other
EW 1 C-212 Aviocar (TM.12D) 15 (traffic) sy gp
TPT 73: Heavy 13 A400M; Light 51: 3 Beech C90 King 1 (Special) sy bn
Air; 15 Beech F33C Bonanza; 10 C-212 Aviocar (incl 9 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
trg); 12 C295; 8 CN235; 3 Cessna 560 Citation V (ISR); PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 64
PSO 1 with 1 hel landing platform
PAX 9: 2 A310; 2 A330 (to be converted to MRTT tkt/tpt
PCC 2
configuration); 5 Falcon 900 (VIP) PBF 34
TRG 60: 24 PC-21; 36 T-35 Pillan (E-26) PB 27
HELICOPTERS AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 3: 2 CN235-300; 1 King Air 350i
TPT 43: Medium 21: 5 AS332B/B1 Super Puma; 4 HELICOPTERS
AS332M1 Super Puma; 4 H215 (AS332C1) Super Puma; 2 MRH 20: 4 AS653N3 Dauphin; 16 Bo-105ATH
TPT • Light 21: 8 BK-117; 13 H135
AS532UL Cougar (VIP); 6 NH90 TTH; Light 22: 14 H120
Colibri; 8 S-76C
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • CISR • Heavy 4
DEPLOYMENT
MQ-9A Reaper (unarmed) BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 2
AIR DEFENCE • SAM BULGARIA: NATO • Enhanced Air Policing 130; 6
Short-range Skyguard/Aspide Eurofighter Typhoon
Point-defence Mistral CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 8
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES DJIBOUTI: EU • Operation Atalanta 60; 1 P-3M Orion
AAM • IR AIM-9L/JULI Sidewinder; IIR IRIS-T; SARH GULF OF ADEN & INDIAN OCEAN: EU • Operation Atalanta
AIM-7P Sparrow; ARH AIM-120B/C AMRAAM; Meteor 220; 1 FFGHM
ARM AGM-88B HARM GULF OF GUINEA: Navy 50; 1 PCO
ASM AGM-65G Maverick IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 150; 1 trg unit; 1 hel unit
AShM AGM-84D Harpoon with 3 NH90 TTH; NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 130;
LACM Taurus KEPD 350 1 armd inf coy
BOMBS LATVIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence 504;
Laser-guided: GBU-10/-12/-16 Paveway II; GBU-24 1 armd inf coy(+); 1 arty bty; 1 cbt engr coy; 1 SAM bty
Paveway III; BPG-2000 with NASAMS
Laser & INS/GPS-guided EGBU-16 Paveway II LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 669; 1 mech bde HQ; 1 mech inf
INS/GPS guided: GBU-38 JDAM bn(-); 1 engr coy; 1 sigs coy; 1 log coy
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 420; 1 hel unit with 3 NH90 TTH;
Emergencies Military Unit (UME) 3,500 UN • MINUSMA 1
FORCES BY ROLE MEDITERRANEAN SEA: NATO • SNMG 2: 200; 1
COMMAND DDGHM; NATO • SNMCMG 2: 40; 1 MHO
1 div HQ MOZAMBIQUE: EU • EUTM Mozambique 2
MANOEUVRE SENEGAL: Operation Barkhane 65; 2 C295M
Other SOMALIA: EU • EUTM Somalia 20
5 Emergency Intervention bn TURKEY: NATO • Operation Active Fence 150; 1 SAM bty
1 Emergency Support and Intervention regt with M901 Patriot PAC-2
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 sigs bn FOREIGN FORCES
HELICOPTER United States US European Command: 3,550; 4 DDGM;
1 hel bn opcon Army 1 air base at Morón; 1 naval base at Rota
Europe 137

Sweden SWE ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Swedish Krona SEK 2021 2022 2023 Army 6,850
GDP SEK 5.45tr 5.98tr The army has been transformed to provide brigade-sized
USD 636bn 604bn task forces depending on the operational requirement
per capita USD 60,816 56,361 FORCES BY ROLE
Growth % 5.1 2.6 COMMAND
Inflation % 2.7 7.2 2 bde HQ

Europe
Def bdgt SEK 71.2bn 79.9bn 94.0bn MANOEUVRE
USD 8.30bn 8.07bn Reconnaissance
USD1=SEK 8.58 9.89 1 recce bn
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Armoured
7.75 5 armd bn
1 armd BG
5.40 Mechanised
2008 2015 2022 1 mech bn
Light
Population 10,483,647
1 mot inf bn
1 lt inf bn
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Air Manoeuvre
Male 8.9% 2.9% 2.9% 3.3% 22.7% 9.6% 1 AB bn
Female 8.4% 2.7% 2.6% 3.1% 21.9% 11.0% Other
1 sy bn
Capabilities COMBAT SUPPORT
Sweden’s armed forces remain configured for territorial defence 2 arty bn
and there has been growing concern over Russia’s military activ- 2 engr bn
ity in the Baltic area. There has also been a focus on increasing 2 MP coy
cooperation with neighbours and NATO in recent years. Sweden 1 CBRN coy
applied for NATO membership in May 2022, three months after COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Sweden also plans to 1 tpt coy
increase its defence budget to 2% of GDP. Under the 2021–25
AIR DEFENCE
defence bill, which was presented in October 2020, Sweden had
2 AD bn
already envisaged increased spending. Measures to enhance soci-
etal resilience and the ability to deal with civil emergencies have
Reserves
also been announced. In July 2019, Sweden joined the UK-led
Tempest project for a future combat aircraft, and in 2022 signed a FORCES BY ROLE
mutual security agreement with the UK. Concerns over readiness MANOEUVRE
levels have led to greater cooperation with NORDEFCO. In May Other
2018, Sweden, Finland and the US signed a statement of intent 40 Home Guard bn
to develop closer cooperation on exercises and interoperability. EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Sweden has started to re-garrison the island of Gotland, and is
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
in the process of establishing five new regiments which will raise
MBT 120 Leopard 2A5 (Strv 122)
and train new infantry battalions. Readiness challenges in the air
force triggered a discussion about extending the service life of the IFV 411: 369 CV9040 (Strf 9040; incl 54 CP); 42 Epbv 90 (OP)
JAS-39C Gripens beyond their intended 2026 retirement date, not APC 1,064
least since the air force was slated to receive a lower number of APC (T) 389: 239 Pbv 302 (incl variants); 150 BvS-10 MkII
JAS-39Es than requested. Air defence has been boosted in recent APC (W) 315+: some Bastion APC; 34 XA-180 Sisu
years with the acquisition of the Patriot system. The country’s (Patgb 180); 20 XA-202 Sisu (Patgb 202); 148 XA-203
export-oriented defence industry is privately owned and capable Sisu (Patgb 203); 113 Patria AMV (XA-360/Patgb 360)
of meeting most of the armed forces’ equipment needs, including PPV 360 RG-32M
for advanced combat aircraft and conventional submarines.
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
ACTIVE 14,600 (Army 6,850 Navy 2,350 Air 2,700 AEV 6 Pionierpanzer-3 Kodiak (Ingbv 120)
Other 2,950) Voluntary Auxiliary Organisations ARV 40: 14 Bgbv 120; 26 Bgbv 90
21,200 VLB 3 Brobv 120
MW 33+: Aardvark Mk2; 33 Area Clearing System
Conscript liability 4–11 months, depending on branch (selec-
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
tive conscription; 4,000 in total, gender neutral)
MSL • MANPATS NLAW; RBS-55
RESERVE 10,000 RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
138 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ARTILLERY 357 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


SP 155mm 35 Archer ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 12 M/86
MOR 322: 81mm 201 M/86; 120mm 81 M/41D SP 120mm COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 8 RBS-17 Hellfire
40 CV90 Mjolner (Gkpbv 90)
AIR DEFENCE Coastal Defence
SAM 14+ FORCES BY ROLE
Long-range 6 M903 Patriot PAC-3 MSE COASTAL DEFENCE
Medium-range MIM-23B Hawk (RBS-97) 1 AShM bty with RBS-15
Short-range 8 IRIS-T SLS (RBS-98); RBS-23 BAMSE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Point-defence RBS-70 COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM RBS-15
GUNS • SP 40mm 30 Lvkv 90
Air Force 2,700
Navy 1,250; 1,100 Amphibious (total 2,350) FORCES BY ROLE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK/ISR
SUBMARINE • SSK 5: 6 sqn with JAS 39C/D Gripen
1 Gotland (fitted with AIP) with 2 single 400mm TT TRANSPORT/ISR/AEW&C
with Torped 431 LWT/Torped 451 LWT, 4 single 1 sqn with C-130H Hercules (Tp-84); KC-130H Hercules
533mm TT with Torped 613 HWT/Torped 62 HWT (Tp-84); Gulfstream IV SRA-4 (S-102B); S-100B/D Argus
2 Gotland mod (fitted with AIP) with 2 single 400mm TRAINING
TT with Torped 431 LWT/Torped 451 LWT, 4 single 1 unit with Sk-60
533mm TT with Torped 613 HWT/Torped 62 HWT AIR DEFENCE
2 Södermanland (fitted with AIP) with 3 single 400mm 1 (fighter control and air surv) bn
TT with Torped 431 LWT/Torped 451 LWT, 6 single
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
533mm TT with Torped 613 HWT/Torped 62 HWT
AIRCRAFT 98 combat capable
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 150
FGA 98: 96 JAS 39C/D Gripen; 2 JAS 39E Gripen (in test)
CORVETTES • FSG 5 Visby with 8 RBS15 Mk2 AShM,
ELINT 2 Gulfstream IV SRA-4 (S-102B)
4 single 400mm ASTT with Torped 45 LWT, 1 57mm gun,
AEW&C 3: 1 S-100B Argus; 2 S-100D Argus
1 hel landing platform
TKR/TPT 1 KC-130H Hercules (Tp-84)
PCGT 4:
TPT 8: Medium 5 C-130H Hercules (Tp-84); Light 2 Saab
2 Göteborg with 4 twin lnchr with RBS15 Mk2 AShM,
340 (OS-100A/Tp-100C); PAX 1 Gulfstream 550 (Tp-102D)
4 single 400mm ASTT with Torped 431 LWT,
TRG 67 Sk-60W
1 57mm gun
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
2 Stockholm with 4 twin lnchr with RBS15 Mk2 AShM,
ISR • Medium 8 RQ-7 Shadow (AUV 3 Örnen)
4 single 400mm ASTT with Torped 431 LWT,
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
1 57mm gun
ASM AGM-65 Maverick (RB-75)
PBF 133: 100+ Combat Boat 90H (capacity 18 troops);
AShM RB-15F
27 Combat Boat HS (capacity 18 troops); 6 Combat Boat
AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder (RB-74); IIR IRIS-T (RB-
90HSM (capacity 18 troops)
98); ARH AIM-120B AMRAAM (RB-99); Meteor
PB 8 Tapper (Type 80)
BOMBS
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 7
Laser-Guided GBU-12 Paveway II
MCC 5 Koster (SWE Landsort mod)
INS/GPS guided GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb
MCD 2 Spårö (Styrsö mod)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 11 Armed Forces Hel Wing
LCVP 8 Trossbat
FORCES BY ROLE
LCAC 3 Griffon 8100TD
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 15
3 sqn with AW109 (Hkp 15A); AW109M (Hkp-15B);
AG 2: 1 Carlskrona with 1 hel landing platform (former
NH90 TTH (Hkp-14) (SAR/ASW); UH-60M Black
ML); 1 Trosso (spt ship for corvettes and patrol vessels but
Hawk (Hkp-16)
can also be used as HQ ship)
AGF 2 Ledningsbåt 2000 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AGI 1 Orion HELICOPTERS
AKL 1 Loke TPT 53: Medium 33: 15 UH-60M Black Hawk (Hkp-16);
ARS 2: 1 Belos III; 1 Furusund (former ML) 18 NH90 TTH (Hkp-14) (of which 9 configured for ASW);
AX 5 Altair Light 20: 12 AW109 (Hkp-15A); 8 AW109M (Hkp-15B)
AXS 2: 1 Falken; 1 Gladan
Special Forces
Amphibious 1,100 FORCES BY ROLE
FORCES BY ROLE SPECIAL FORCES
MANOEUVRE 1 spec ops gp
Amphibious COMBAT SUPPORT
2 amph bn 1 cbt spt gp
Europe 139

Other 2,950 Switzerland is not a member of any alliances, although it joined


NATO’s Partnership for Peace programme in 1996 and on occasion
Includes staff, logisitics and intelligence personnel
contributes to NATO- and EU-led operations alongside its engage-
FORCES BY ROLE ment in UN or OSCE missions. Switzerland does not participate
COMBAT SUPPORT in combat operations for peace-enforcement purposes and its
1 EW bn deployments are limited in size. The 2016 armed-forces develop-
1 psyops unit ment plan emphasised improvements in readiness, training and
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT equipment. In 2022, the defence ministry published a paper on
2 log bn the future of the armed forces out to the 2030s, summarising its
1 maint bn approach to modernisation requirements for air defence and

Europe
4 med coy ground forces and for stronger cyber capabilities. The approach to
1 tpt coy readiness is changing to a flexible model in which different units
are called up for active service gradually and on different timelines.
A multi-stage selection process for aircraft to replace the F-5 Tiger
DEPLOYMENT II and F/A-18 Hornet was completed in June 2021 and the F-35A
was chosen. The life of the Hornet fleet has been extended until
INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 4
2030. This was approved by parliament in September 2022, after
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 2; NATO • NATO which the contract was signed. Plans for a referendum on the
Mission Iraq 1 F-35 procurement gathered the required number of signatures
KOREA, REPUBLIC OF: NNSC • 5 but were withdrawn after the government indicated it would not
diverge from the procurement timetable. The fighter-acquisition
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 8; UN • MINUSMA 184; 1 int coy programme was capped at CHF6 billion in May 2019 and has been
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 7 separated from the ground-based air-defence procurement. Pre-
viously both programmes were linked. Other priorities include
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 3
upgrades to Switzerland’s air-surveillance systems and to transport
SOMALIA: EU • EUTM Somalia 5 helicopters. Switzerland’s defence industry has limited design and
UNITED KINGDOM: Operation Interflex 45 (UKR trg) manufacturing capabilities, with recognised capacity in the land-
vehicles sector, which has links to North American firms.
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 1
ACTIVE 19,550 (Armed Forces 19,550)
Switzerland CHE Conscript liability 260–600 compulsory service days depending on
rank. 18 or 23 weeks’ training (depending on branch) generally at
Swiss Franc CHF 2021 2022 2023 age 20, followed by 6 refresher trg courses (3 weeks each). Alterna-
tive service available
GDP CHF 731bn 766bn
USD 800bn 807bn RESERVE 123,450
per capita USD 92,249 92,434
Civil Defence 73,000 (51,000 Reserve)
Growth % 4.2 2.2
Inflation % 0.6 3.1
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Def bdgt [a] CHF 5.20bn 5.27bn 5.30bn
USD 5.69bn 5.55bn
Armed Forces 3,100 active; 16,450 conscript
USD1=CHF 0.91 0.95
(19,550 total)
[a] Includes military pensions
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Operations Command 72,600 on mobilisation
5.64 4 Territorial Regions. With the exception of military
police all units are non-active
4.61 FORCES BY ROLE
2008 2015 2022
COMMAND
Population 8,508,698 4 regional comd
SPECIAL FORCES
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 2 SF bn
Male 8.0% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0% 24.6% 8.6% MANOEUVRE
Female 7.5% 2.4% 2.6% 3.0% 24.6% 10.6% Armoured
2 (1st & 11th) bde (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn, 2 armd inf bn,
Capabilities 1 SP arty bn, 1 engr bn, 1 sigs bn)
Mechanised
The conscript-based armed forces are postured for territorial
1 (4th) bde (2 recce bn, 2 SP arty bn, 1 ptn br bn)
defence and limited participation in international peace-support
operations. The government has begun to reduce its armed forces,
Light
reflecting an assessment that in the militia-based system not all 10 inf bn
personnel would realistically be available for active service. With 7 mtn inf bn
permanent neutrality a core feature of foreign and security policy, 1 mtn inf unit
140 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SUPPORT HELICOPTERS


4 engr bn MRH 20 H135M
4 MP bn
TPT • Medium 24: 15 AS332M Super Puma; 9
1 NBC bn
AS532UL Cougar
1 int unit
COMBAT SUPPORT UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
4 engr rescue bn ISR • Medium 1 Hermes 900
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IIR AIM-9X
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Sidewinder II; ARH AIM-120B/C-7 AMRAAM
MBT 134 Leopard 2 (Pz-87 Leo)
IFV 186: 154 CV9030CH; 32 CV9030 (CP) Ground Based Air Defence (GBAD)
APC 1,233
GBAD assets can be used to form AD clusters to
APC (T) 309 M113A2 (incl variants)
APC (W) 924 Piranha I/II/IIIC be deployed independently as task forces within
AUV 292: 173 Eagle II; 119 Eagle III (CP) Swiss territory
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AEV 12 Kodiak
AIR DEFENCE
ARV 25 Büffel
VLB 9 Leopard 2 with Leguan SAM • Point-defence 56+: 56 Rapier; FIM-92 Stinger
MW 46: 26 Area Clearing System; 20 M113A2 GUNS 35mm 27 GDF-003/-005 with Skyguard
NBC VEHICLES 12 Piranha IIIC CBRN
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Armed Forces Logistic Organisation 9,650
MSL • SP 106 Piranha I TOW-2 on mobilisation
ARTILLERY 355
FORCES BY ROLE
SP 155mm 133 M109 KAWEST
MOR • 81mm 222 Mw-72 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 14 1 log bde (6 log bn; 1 tpt bn; 6 med bn)
PB 14 Watercat 1250
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger Command Support Organisation 11,150 on
mobilisation
Air Force 18,900 on mobilisation
FORCES BY ROLE
FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
2 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II 1 spt bde
3 sqn with F/A-18C/D Hornet
TRANSPORT Training Command 37,350 on mobilisation
1 sqn with Beech 350 King Air; DHC-6 Twin Otter; COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
PC-6 Turbo Porter; PC-12 5 trg unit
1 VIP Flt with Cessna 560XL Citation; CL-604
Challenger; Falcon 900EX; PC-24 Civil Defence 73,000 (51,000 Reserve)
TRAINING
(not part of armed forces)
1 sqn with PC-7CH Turbo Trainer; PC-21
1 sqn with PC-9 (tgt towing)
1 OCU Sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II DEPLOYMENT
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
6 sqn with AS332M Super Puma; AS532UL Cougar; H135M BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 20
ISR UAV DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
1 sqn with Hermes 900
MONUSCO 1
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 55 combat capable INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 3
FTR 25: 20 F-5E Tiger II; 5 F-5F Tiger II KOREA, REPUBLIC OF: NNSC • 5
FGA 30: 25 F/A-18C Hornet; 5 F/A-18D Hornet
TPT 23: Light 19: 1 Beech 350 King Air; 1 Cessna MALI: UN • MINUSMA 5
560XL Citation; 1 DHC-6 Twin Otter; 14 PC-6 MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 11
Turbo Porter; 1 PC-6 (owned by armasuisse, civil
registration); 1 PC-12 (owned by armasuisse, civil SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 186 (military volunteers); 1 inf
registration); PAX 4: 2 CL-604 Challenger; 1 Falcon coy; 1 engr pl; 1 hel flt with AS332M Super Puma
900EX; 1 PC-24 (VIP)
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1
TRG 40: 27 PC-7CH Turbo Trainer; 5 PC-9 (used for
target training only); 8 PC-21 WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 2
Europe 141

ACTIVE 355,200 (Army 260,200 Navy 45,000 Air


Turkey TUR 50,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 156,800
Conscript liability 12 months (5.5 months for university graduates;
New Turkish Lira TRY 2021 2022 2023
21 days for graduates with exemption) (reducing to 6 months)
GDP TRY 7.25tr 14.29tr
USD 818bn 853bn
RESERVE 378,700 (Army 258,700 Navy 55,000
Air 65,000)
per capita USD 9,654 9,961
Reserve service to age 41 for all services
Growth % 11.4 5.0
Inflation % 19.6 73.1
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Europe
Def exp [a] TRY 117bn 138bn
USD 13.1bn 8.2bn
Space
Def bdgt [b] TRY 84.6bn 104bn 206bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD 9.55bn 6.19bn
SATELLITES • ISR 2 Gokturk-1/2
USD1=TRY 8.87 16.74
[a] NATO figure Army ε260,200 (incl conscripts)
[b] Includes funding for Undersecretariat of Defence Industries; FORCES BY ROLE
Defence Industry Support Fund; TUBITAK Defense Industries R&D COMMAND
Institute (SAGE); and military pensions
4 army HQ
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 9 corps HQ
16.30 SPECIAL FORCES
8 cdo bde
8.61 1 mtn cdo bde
2008 2015 2022 1 cdo regt
Population 83,047,706
MANOEUVRE
Armoured
1 (52nd) armd div (2 armd bde, 1 mech bde)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
7 armd bde
Male 11.5% 4.0% 3.9% 3.7% 23.0% 4.1% Mechanised
Female 11.0% 3.8% 3.7% 3.6% 22.7% 4.9% 2 (28th & 29th) mech div
14 mech inf bde
Capabilities Light
1 (23rd) mot inf div (3 mot inf regt)
Turkey has large, generally well-equipped armed forces that are
primarily structured for national defence. Much recent activity 7 mot inf bde
has focused on internal security and cross-border operations in COMBAT SUPPORT
response to the continuing wars in Syria and Libya. The conflict 2 arty bde
with Kurdish armed groups continues. The armed forces’ 2033 stra- 1 trg arty bde
tegic plan aims to modernise military equipment and force struc- 6 arty regt
tures. Turkey is a NATO member and has provided access to its air- 2 engr regt
space and facilities for operations in Iraq and Syria. However, rela- AVIATION
tionships with NATO allies have come under pressure after Ankara’s 4 avn regt
decision to procure the Russian-made S-400 air-defence system, 4 avn bn
its operations in northern Syria, rising tensions with Greece in the
eastern Mediterranean Sea, its role in Libya and its position regard- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ing the fighting in recent years between Armenia and Azerbaijan. ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Following an attempted coup in July 2016, Ankara dismissed large MBT 2,378: 316 Leopard 2A4 (being upgraded); 170
numbers of officers from the armed forces. The armed forces train Leopard 1A4; 227 Leopard 1A3; 100 M60A1; 650 M60A3
regularly, including with NATO allies. While key subcomponents TTS; 165 M60TM Firat; 750 M48A5 T2 Patton
are still often imported, a number of locally developed equipment IFV 645 ACV AIFV
designs are in production. Efforts are under way to increase mili- APC 6,403
tary exports and Turkey has secured markets in Azerbaijan, Paki- APC (T) 3,579: 823 ACV AAPC; 2,813 M113/M113A1/
stan and Ukraine, as well as a number of African states, successfully M113A2
offering cost-effective assets in specific sectors. The US govern- APC (W) 57 Pars 6×6 (incl variants)
ment terminated Turkey’s participation in the F-35 programme
PPV 2,710: 360 Edjer Yalcin 4×4; ε2,000 Kirpi/Kirpi-II;
after deliveries under the S-400 contract began in 2019. Turkey is
ε350 Vuran
also developing a domestic fighter aircraft but is dependent on
collaboration with external defence companies. The president
AUV 1,450: ε250 Akrep; 800+ Cobra; ε400 Cobra II
has authority over defence procurement and control over Turkey’s ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
top defence companies. Turkey has signed defence-cooperation AEV 12+: AZMIM; 12 M48 AEV; M113A2T2
agreements with a focus on exports and technology transfer, in an ARV 150: 12 BPz-2; 105 M48T5; 33 M88A1
effort to boost its national defence industry and achieve defence- VLB 88: 36 Leguan; 52 Mobile Floating Assault Bridge
industrial autonomy. MW 14+: 4 Husky 2G; 10 Kirpi PMKI; Tamkar; Bozena
142 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Navy ε45,000 (incl conscripts)


MSL EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SP 625: 365 ACV TOW; 184 Kaplan STA; 76 Pars STA 4×4 SUBMARINES • SSK 12
MANPATS 9K135 Kornet-E (RS-AT-14 Spriggan); Eryx; 4 Atilay (GER Type-209/1200) with 8 single 533mm TT
FGM-148 Javelin; Milan; OMTAS; Tek-Er with SST-4 HWT
RCL 106mm M40A1 4 Gür (GER Type-209/1400) with 8 single 533mm TT with
ARTILLERY 2,760+ UGM-84 Harpoon AShM/Mk 24 Tigerfish mod 2 HWT/
SP 1,080: 155mm 828: ε150 M44T1; 365 M52T (mod); SeaHake mod 4 (DM2A4) HWT
4 Preveze (GER Type-209/1400) (MLU ongoing) with 8
ε280 T-155 Firtina; εY30 T-155 Firtina II; 175mm 36 M107;
single 533mm TT with UGM-84 Harpoon AShM/Mk 24
203mm 219 M110A2
Tigerfish mod 2 HWT/SeaHake mod 4 (DM2A4) HWT
TOWED 675+: 105mm 82: 7 Boran (in test); 75+ M101A1; PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 16
155mm 557: 517 M114A1/M114A2; 40 Panter; 203mm FFGHM 16:
36+ M115 4 Barbaros (GER MEKO 200 mod) with 2 quad lnchr
MRL 98+: 122mm ε36 T-122; 227mm 12 M270 MLRS; with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2 8-cell Mk
302mm 50+ TR-300 Kasirga (WS-1) 41 VLS with RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 2 triple 324mm
MOR 907+ SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 3 Sea Zenith
SP 329+: 81mm some; 107mm ε150 M106; 120mm 179 CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212) hel)
TOWED 578+: 81mm some; 120mm 578 HY12 4 Gabya (ex-US Oliver Hazard Perry) with 1 Mk 13 GMLS
with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/SM-1MR
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
Block VI SAM, 1 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with RIM-162B
SRBM • Conventional Bora; MGM-140A ATACMS
ESSM SAM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with
(launched from M270 MLRS); J-600T Yildrim (B-611/CH- Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 76mm
SS-9 mod 1) gun (capacity 1 S-70B Seahawk/AB-212 ASW hel)
AIRCRAFT 4 Gabya (ex-US Oliver Hazard Perry) with 1 Mk 13
ISR 5 Beech 350 King Air GMLS with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/SM-
TPT • Light 8: 5 Beech 200 King Air; 3 Cessna 421 1MR Block VI SAM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32
TRG 49: 45 Cessna T182; 4 T-42A Cochise ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B
HELICOPTERS CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 S-70B Seahawk/AB-
ATK 96: 18 AH-1P Cobra; 12 AH-1S Cobra; 5 AH-1W 212 ASW hel)
4 Yavuz (GER MEKO 200TN) with 2 quad lnchr with
Cobra; 4 TAH-1P Cobra; 9 T129A; 48 T129B
RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 1 octuple Mk 29
MRH 28 Hughes 300C
GMLS with RIM-7M Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 triple 324mm
TPT 226+: Heavy 11 CH-47F Chinook; Medium 76+: 28 SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 3 Sea Zenith CIWS,
AS532UL Cougar; 48+ S-70A Black Hawk; Light 139: 12 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212) hel)
Bell 204B (AB-204B); ε43 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 64 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 45
Bell 205A (AB-205A); 20 Bell 206 Jet Ranger CORVETTES 10:
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES FSGHM 4 Ada with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C
CISR • Medium 33 Bayraktar TB2 Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 1 Mk 49 21-cell lnchr with
ISR • Heavy Falcon 600/Firebee; Medium CL-89; Gnat RIM-116 SAM, 2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with
Mk 46 LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 S-70B Seahawk hel)
LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS
FSG 6 Burak (ex-FRA d’Estienne d’Orves) with 2 single
Harpy
lnchr with MM38 Exocet AShM, 4 single 324mm ASTT
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Creusot-Loire Mk 54 A/S mor, 1
ASM Mizrak-U (UMTAS) 100mm gun (1 vessel with 1 76mm gun instead)
BOMBS PCFG 19:
Laser-guided MAM-C/L 4 Dogan (GER Lurssen-57) with 2 quad lnchr with
AIR DEFENCE RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 1 76mm gun
SAM 9 Kilic with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon Block
Short-range HISAR-A/A+; HISAR-O 1B AShM, 1 76mm gun
Point-defence 148+: 70 Atilgan PMADS octuple 4 Rüzgar (GER Lurssen-57) with 2 quad lnchr with
RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 1 76mm gun
Stinger lnchr, 78 Zipkin PMADS quad Stinger lnchr;
2 Yildiz with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon
FIM-92 Stinger
Block 1B AShM, 1 76mm gun
GUNS 1,404 PCC 16 Tuzla
SP 35mm 42 Korkut MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 15
TOWED 1,362: 20mm 439 GAI-D01/Rh-202; 35mm 120 MHO 11: 5 Engin (FRA Circe); 6 Aydin
GDF-001/-003; 40mm 803 L/60/L/70 MSC 4 Seydi (US Adjutant)
Europe 143

AMPHIBIOUS ISR
LANDING SHIPS • LST 5: 1 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
2 Bayraktar with 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 hel 1 unit with King Air 350
landing platform (capacity 20 MBT; 250 troops) AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
1 Osmangazi with 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS (capacity 4 1 sqn (forming) with B-737 AEW&C
LCVP; 17 tanks; 980 troops; 1 hel landing platform) EW
2 Sarucabey with 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS (capacity 11 1 unit with CN235M EW
tanks; 600 troops; 1 hel landing platform) SEARCH & RESCUE
LANDING CRAFT 38 1 sqn with AS532AL/UL Cougar
LCT 21: 2 C-120/130; 11 C-140; 8 C-151 TANKER

Europe
LCM 9: 1 C-310; 8 LCM 8 1 sqn with KC-135R Stratotanker
LCVP 8 Anadolu 16m TRANSPORT
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 37 1 sqn with A400M; C-160D Transall
ABU 2: 1 AG5; 1 AG6 with 1 76mm gun 1 sqn with C-130B/E Hercules
AGI 1 Ufuk (MILGEM) (capacity 1 S-70B Seahawk hel) 1 (VIP) sqn with Cessna 550 Citation II (UC-35); Cessna
AGS 2: 1 Cesme (ex-US Silas Bent); 1 Cubuklu 650 Citation VII; CN235M; Gulfstream 550
AOR 2 Akar with 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 hel landing 3 sqn with CN235M
platform 10 (liaison) flt with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); CN235M
AOT 3: 2 Burak; 1 Yuzbasi Gungor Durmus with 1 hel TRAINING
landing platform 1 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
AOL 1 Gurcan 1 sqn (display team) with NF-5A-2000/NF-5B-2000
AP 1 Iskenderun Freedom Fighter
ASR 3: 1 Alemdar with 1 hel landing platform; 2 Isin II 1 sqn with MFI-395 Super Mushshak; SF-260D
ATF 9: 1 Akbas; 1 Degirmendere; 1 Gazal; 1 Inebolu; 5 Onder 1 sqn with Hurkus-B; KT-IT
AWT 3 Sogut 1 sqn with T-38A/M Talon
AXL 8 1 sqn with T-41D Mescalero
AX 2 Pasa (ex-GER Rhein) COMBAT/ISR UAV
1 sqn with Akinci
Marines 3,000 AIR DEFENCE
FORCES BY ROLE 4 bn with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler)
MANOEUVRE 4 sqn with MIM-14 Nike Hercules
Amphibious 2 sqn with Rapier
1 mne bde (3 mne bn; 1 arty bn) 8 (firing) unit with MIM-23 Hawk
MANOEUVRE
Naval Aviation Air Manoeuvre
FORCES BY ROLE 1 AB bde
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 sqn with Bell 212 ASW (AB-212 ASW); S-70B AIRCRAFT 295 combat capable
Seahawk FTR 16: up to 10 NF-5A-2000 Freedom Fighter (display
1 sqn with ATR-72-600; CN235M-100; TB-20 Trinidad team); up to 6 NF-5B-2000 Freedom Fighter (display team)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE FGA 279: 19 F-4E Phantom 2020; 27 F-16C Fighting Falcon
AIRCRAFT 4 combat capable Block 30; 162 F-16C Fighting Falcon Block 50; 14 F-16C
ASW 4 ATR-72-600 Fighting Falcon Block 50+; 8 F-16D Block 30 Fighting
MP 6 CN235M-100 Falcon; 33 F-16D Fighting Falcon Block 50; 16 F-16D
TPT • Light 7: 3 ATR-72-600; 4 TB-20 Trinidad Fighting Falcon Block 50+
HELICOPTERS ISR 9: 5 Beech 350 King Air; 3 C-160D Transall; 1 CN235M
ASW 33: 9 Bell 212 ASW (AB-212 ASW); 24 S-70B Seahawk (Open Skies)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 20 EW 2 C-160D Transall
CISR 20: Heavy 9: 3 Aksungur; 8 Anka-S; Medium 9 SIGINT 3 CN235M
Bayraktar TB2 AEW&C 4 B-737 AEW&C
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES TKR 7 KC-135R Stratotanker
ASM AGM-114M Hellfire II TPT 84: Heavy 10 A400M; Medium 24: 6 C-130B Hercules;
BOMBS • Laser-guided MAM-C/L 13 C-130E Hercules; 5 C-160D Transall; Light 49: 2 Cessna
550 Citation II (UC-35 - VIP); 2 Cessna 650 Citation VII; 45
Air Force ε50,000 CN235M; PAX 1 Gulfstream 550
2 tac air forces (divided between east and west) TRG 174: 4 Hurkus-B; 39 KT-IT; 3 MFI-395 Super Mushshak;
FORCES BY ROLE 33 SF-260D; 70 T-38A/M Talon; 25 T-41D Mescalero
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK HELICOPTERS
1 sqn with F-4E Phantom 2020 TPT 35: Medium 20: 6 AS532AL Cougar (CSAR); 14
8 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon AS532UL Cougar (SAR); Light 15 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
144 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES Coast Guard 4,700


CISR • Heavy 25: 6 Akinci; 19 Anka-S
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ISR 27: Heavy 9: 9 Heron; Medium 18 Gnat 750
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 99
AIR DEFENCE • SAM 32+
PSOH 4 Dost
Long-range 32+: MIM-14 Nike Hercules; 32 S-400
PBF 50: 18 Kaan 15; 10 Kaan 19; 9 Kaan 29; 13 Kaan 33
(RS-SA-21 Growler)
PB 45: 15 Damen SAR 1906; 8 Saar 33 (1 more non-
Medium-range MIM-23 Hawk
operational); 4 Saar 35; 18 Type-80
Point-defence Rapier
AIRCRAFT • MP 3 CN235 MPA
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR AIM-9S Sidewinder; Shafrir 2‡; IIR AIM-9X HELICOPTERS • MRH 8 Bell 412EP (AB-412EP – SAR)
Sidewinder II; SARH AIM-7E Sparrow; ARH AIM- UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 6
120A/B AMRAAM CISR • Medium 6 Bayraktar TB2
ARM AGM-88A HARM
ASM AGM-65A/G Maverick; Popeye I DEPLOYMENT
LACM Coventional AGM-84K SLAM-ER
AZERBAIJAN: Army 170; 1 EOD unit
BOMBS
Electro-optical guided GBU-8B HOBOS (GBU-15) BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR • Operation Althea
Laser-guided MAM-C/-L; Paveway I/II 242; 1 inf coy
INS/GPS guided AGM-154A JSOW; AGM-154C JSOW CYPRUS (NORTHERN): ε33,800; 1 army corps HQ; 1 SF regt;
1 armd bde; 2 mech inf div; 1 mech inf regt; 1 arty regt; 1
avn comd; 287 M48A5T2; 145 ACV AIFV; 70 ACV AAPC
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 156,800
(incl variants); 418 M113 (incl variants); 36 M101A1; 36
Gendarmerie 152,100 M114A2; 12 M115; 30 M44T; 144 M52T1; 4 T-155; 18 T-122;
Ministry of Interior; Ministry of Defence in war 171 81mm mor; 70 M30; 135 HY-12; Milan; 66 ACV TOW;

FORCES BY ROLE 219 M40A1; FIM-92 Stinger; 44 Rh 202; 78 GAI-D01; 16


SPECIAL FORCES GDF-003; 3 Cessna 185 (U-17); 2 AS532UL Cougar; 1 Bell
1 cdo bde 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 1 PB
MANOEUVRE IRAQ: Army: 1,000; 1 cdo unit; NATO • NATO Mission
Other Iraq 86
1 (border) paramilitary div
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 110; 1 FFGHM
2 paramilitary bde
LIBYA: ε500; ACV-AAPC; Kirpi; 1 arty unit with T-155
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Firtina; 1 AD unit with MIM-23B Hawk; Korkut; GDF-003; 1
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
CISR UAV unit with Bayraktar TB2
RECCE 57+: Akrep; 57 Ates
APC 760+ MEDITERRANEAN SEA: NATO • SNMG 2: 220; 1 FFGHM
APC (W) 560: 535 BTR-60/BTR-80; 25 Condor • SNMCMG 2: 120; 1 MHO; 1 AOT
PPV 200+: Edjer Yaclin 4×4; Kirpi; 200 Kirpi II; Vuran QATAR: Army: 300 (trg team); 1 mech inf coy; 1 arty unit;
AUV Cobra; Cobra II; Otokar Ural 12+ ACV AIFV/AAPC; 2 T-155 Firtina
AIRCRAFT
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 335; 1 inf coy; UN • UNMIK 2
ISR Some O-1E Bird Dog
TPT • Light 2 Do-28D SOMALIA: 200 (trg team); UN • UNSOM 1
HELICOPTERS SYRIA: ε3,000; some cdo units; 3 armd BG; 1 SAM unit;
ATK 13 T129B 1 gendarmerie unit
MRH 19 Mi-17 Hip H
TPT 35: Medium 12 S-70A Black Hawk; Light 23: 8 Bell
FOREIGN FORCES
204B (AB-204B); 6 Bell 205A (AB-205A); 8 Bell 206A
(AB-206A) Jet Ranger; 1 Bell 212 (AB-212) Spain Active Fence: 150; 1 SAM bty with M901 Patriot PAC-2
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES United States US European Command: 1,700; 1 tkr sqn
CISR 24: Heavy 6 Anka-S; Medium 18 Bayraktar TB2 with 14 KC-135; 1 spt facility at Izmir; 1 spt facility at
BOMBS Ankara; 1 air base at Incirlik • US Strategic Command: 1
Laser-guided MAM-C/L AN/TPY-2 X-band radar at Kürecik
Europe 145

in early 2021 and spending on military space capabilities is increas-


United Kingdom UK ing. Weaknesses in defence procurement persist, not least with
some troubled armoured vehicle programmes, while concerns
British Pound GBP 2021 2022 2023 continue over nuclear programme delivery. The UK’s sophisticated
defence industry is globally competitive in some areas of defence
GDP GBP 2.32tr 2.54tr exports but cannot meet all of the UK’s requirements.
USD 3.19tr 3.20tr
ACTIVE 150,350 (Army 83,450 Navy 33,750
per capita USD 47,329 47,318
Air 33,150)
Growth % 7.4 3.6
Inflation % 2.6 9.1 RESERVE 71,950 (Regular Reserve 34,750 (Army

Europe
Def exp [a] GBP 52.3bn 53.9bn 22,700, Navy 5,750, Air 6,300); Volunteer Reserve
USD 71.9bn 67.7bn 35,250 (Army 28,350, Navy 3,650, Air 3,250);
Def bdgt [b] GBP 51.5bn ε55.7bn Sponsored Reserve 1,950)
Includes both trained and those currently under training within
USD 70.9bn ε70.0bn the Regular Forces, excluding university cadet units
USD1=GBP 0.73 0.80
[a] NATO figure
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
[b] Includes total departmental expenditure limits; costs of
military operations; Armed Forces Pension Service; military aid to
Ukraine; and external income earned by the MoD Strategic Forces 1,000
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
74.3 Royal Navy
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
60.3 SUBMARINES • STRATEGIC
2008 2015 2022 SSBN 4 Vanguard with 16 UGM-133A Trident II D-5/
D-5LE nuclear SLBM, 4 533mm TT with Spearfish
Population 67,791,400 HWT (recent deployment practice of no more than
8 missiles/40 warheads per boat; each missile could
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus carry up to 12 MIRV; some Trident D-5 capable of being
Male 8.7% 2.9% 3.0% 3.4% 23.1% 8.6% configured for sub-strategic role)
Female 8.3% 2.8% 3.1% 3.4% 22.5% 10.2% MSL • SLBM • Nuclear 48 UGM-133A Trident II D-5

Capabilities Royal Air Force


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
UK defence policy is based on the armed forces providing cred-
ible nuclear and conventional deterrence. The armed forces are RADAR • STRATEGIC 1 Ballistic Missile Early Warning
well trained. They also have a role in supporting the manage- System (BMEWS) at Fylingdales Moor
ment of domestic civil emergencies. Defence activity includes
maintaining the nuclear deterrent and sustaining a broad range Space
of conventional capabilities, including for counter-terrorism. The
government published an Integrated Review of Security, Defence, EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Development and Foreign Policy (IR) in March 2021 followed by a SATELLITES • COMMUNICATIONS 6: 2 Skynet-4; 4 Skynet-5
Defence Command Paper (DCP) that set out modernisation and
restructuring plans. An update of the review was underway in Army 79,350; 4,100 Gurkhas (total 83,450)
late 2022, in light of intervening events and particularly the war
in Ukraine, with revisions to the DCP likely to follow. There was an Regt normally bn size. Many cbt spt and CSS regt and bn
ambition to raise defence expenditure to 3% of GDP by 2030, but have reservist sub-units
by the end of 2022 a new government was committing only to 2% FORCES BY ROLE
of GDP, amid economic headwinds. The IR and DCP underscored COMMAND
the intent to still play a central role in NATO while also enhancing
1 (ARRC) corps HQ
engagement and presence in the Indo-Pacific region. The policy
update will likely affect how those ambitions will be balanced. MANOEUVRE
How the AUKUS defence technology accord between Australia, Armoured
the UK and the US develops will also have an impact. A signifi- 1 (3rd) armd inf div (1 armd recce/arty bde (2 armd recce
cant part of UK defence effort in 2022 was devoted to providing regt, 1 recce regt, 2 SP arty regt, 1 fd arty regt, 1 MRL
materiel and training support to Ukraine, raising some questions regt, 1 STA regt, 1 maint bn); 1 (12th) armd inf bde (2
about the UK armed forces’ own stocks and sustainment capacity.
While plans to transform and ultimately grow naval capabilities tk regt, 2 armd inf bn, 1 inf bn, 1 log regt, 1 maint regt,
were proving slow to materialise, the ambition to develop under- 1 med regt); 1 (20th) armd inf bde (1 armd recce regt, 1
sea surveillance capacity was accelerated. The prospects for the tk regt, 2 armd inf bn, 1 mech inf bn, 1 log regt, 1 maint
Future Combat Air System programme will be key to transform- regt, 1 med regt); 1 cbt engr gp (3 cbt engr regt); 1 int
ing air combat capability. The army has established a Deep Strike bn; 1 sigs bde (6 sigs regt); 1 log bde (3 log regt, 1 med
Reconnaissance Brigade. Efforts to develop greater integrated
regt); 1 AD gp (2 SAM regt))
cross-domain capability centre on Strategic Command, compris-
ing key joint-force elements, such as special forces, defence intel- Light
ligence and the military component of the civil/military National 1 (1st) inf div (1 (4th) inf bde (1 recce regt, 5 inf bn); 1 (7th) lt
Cyber Force. A new Space Command was set up within the air force mech inf bde (1 recce regt, 3 lt mech inf bn, 3 inf bn; 1 fd
146 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

arty regt; 1 cbt engr regt); 1 (11th) inf bde (2 inf bn); 1 engr APC 796
bde (1 CBRN regt, 2 EOD regt, 1 (MWD) EOD search APC (T) 409 FV430 Bulldog (incl variants)
regt, 1 engr regt, 1 (air spt) engr regt, 1 log regt); 1 int bn; 1 PPV 387 Mastiff (6×6)
log bde (2 log regt; 2 maint bn); 1 med bde (2 fd hospital)) AUV 1,588: 399 Foxhound; 138 FV103 Spartan; 63 FV105
1 inf bn (London) Sultan (CP); 17 Spartan Mk2; 4 Sultan Mk2 (CP); 197 Jackal;
1 inf bn (Brunei) 110 Jackal 2; 130 Jackal 2A; 380 Panther CLV; 150 Ridgback
Air Manoeuvre ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
1 (16th) air aslt bde (1 recce pl, 2 para bn, 1 air aslt bn, 1 inf AEV 88: 56 Terrier; 32 Trojan
bn, 1 fd arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt, 1 log regt, 1 med regt) ARV 243: 80 Challenger ARRV; 12 FV106 Samson; 5 Samson
Other Mk2; 105 FV512 Warrior; 41 FV513 Warrior
1 inf bn (trials gp) MW 64 Aardvark
COMBAT SUPPORT VLB 68: 35 M3; 33 Titan
1 (6th) cbt spt div (1 ranger bde (4 ranger bn); 1 ISR gp (1 NBC VEHICLES 8 TPz-1 Fuchs NBC
EW regt, 1 int bn, 2 ISR UAV regt); 1 (77th) info ops bde
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
(3 info ops gp, 1 spt gp, 1 engr spt/log gp))
SP Exactor-2 (Spike NLOS)
1 (geographic) engr regt
MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; NLAW
1 engr bn(-) (joint GER-UK unit)
ARTILLERY 598
1 MP bde (2 MP regt)
SP 155mm 89 AS90
1 sigs bde (1 EW regt, 2 sigs regt; 1 (ARRC) spt bn)
TOWED 105mm 114 L118 Light Gun
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 log bde (3 log regt; 1 maint regt) MRL 227mm 35 M270B1 MLRS
MOR 81mm 360 L16A1
Reserves AMPHIBIOUS • LCM 3 Ramped Craft Logistic
AIR DEFENCE • SAM 60+
Army Reserve 28,350 reservists Short-range CAMM (Land Ceptor)
The Army Reserve (AR) generates individuals, sub-units Point-defence 60 FV4333 Stormer with Starstreak;
and some full units. The majority of units are subordin- Starstreak (LML)
ate to regular-formation headquarters and paired with UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Medium 13
one or more regular units
Watchkeeper (34 more in store)
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE Joint Helicopter Command
Reconnaissance
Tri-service joint organisation including Royal Navy, Army
1 recce regt
and RAF units
Armoured
1 armd regt Army
Light
FORCES BY ROLE
1 inf bde (2 recce regt, 8 inf bn)
HELICOPTER
7 inf bn
1 bde (1 atk hel regt (2 sqn with AH-64E Apache; 1 trg
Air Manoeuvre
1 para bn sqn with AH-64D/E Apache); 1 atk hel regt (2 sqn with
COMBAT SUPPORT AH-64D Apache); 1 regt (2 sqn with AW159 Wildcat
3 arty regt AH1; 1 trg sqn with AW159 Wildcat AH1); 1 regt (1
1 STA regt sqn with SA341B Gazelle AH1); 1 (spec ops) sqn with
1 MRL regt AS365N3; SA341B Gazelle AH1; 1 sqn with Bell 212
3 engr regt (Brunei); 1 flt with SA341B Gazelle AH1 (Canada); 1
1 EOD regt maint regt)
4 int bn TRAINING
4 sigs regt 1 hel regt (1 sqn with AH-64E Apache; 1 sqn with AS350B
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT Ecureuil; 1 sqn with Bell 212; SA341B Gazelle AH1)
11 log regt
3 maint regt Army Reserve
3 med regt FORCES BY ROLE
9 fd hospital HELICOPTER
AIR DEFENCE 1 hel regt (4 sqn personnel only)
1 AD regt
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Royal Navy
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES FORCES BY ROLE
MBT 227 Challenger 2 ATTACK HELICOPTER
RECCE 145: 117 FV107 Scimitar; 28 Scimitar Mk2 1 lt sqn with AW159 Wildcat AH1
IFV 388+: 388 FV510 Warrior; FV511 Warrior (CP); FV514 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Warrior (OP); FV515 Warrior (CP) 2 sqn with AW101 Merlin HC4/4A
Europe 147

Royal Air Force PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 26


FORCES BY ROLE PSO 8: 3 River Batch 1; 5 River Batch 2 with 1 hel
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER landing platform
3 sqn with CH-47D/F/SD Chinook HC6A/6/5 PBF 2 Cutlass
2 sqn with SA330 Puma HC2 PBI 16 Archer (14 in trg role, 2 deployed to Gibraltar sqn)
TRAINING MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 9
1 OCU sqn with CH-47D/SD/F Chinook HC3/4/4A/6;
MCO 6 Hunt (incl 4 mod Hunt)
SA330 Puma HC2
MHC 3 Sandown
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE

Europe
AMPHIBIOUS
HELICOPTERS
ATK 50: 25 AH-64D Apache; 25 AH-64E Apache PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 2
MRH 56: 5 AS365N3; 34 AW159 Wildcat AH1; 17 LPD 2 Albion with 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS
SA341B Gazelle AH1 (capacity 2 med hel; 4 LCU or 2 LCAC; 4 LCVP; 6 MBT;
TPT 114: Heavy 60: 38 CH-47D Chinook HC6A; 14 CH- 300 troops) (of which 1 at extended readiness)
47F Chinook HC6; 8 CH-47SD Chinook HC5; Medium 42: LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 4
25 AW101 Merlin HC4/4A; 17 SA330 Puma HC2; Light 12: AGB 1 Protector with 1 hel landing platform
9 AS350B Ecureuil; 3 Bell 212
AGS 3: 1 Scott with 1 hel landing platform; 1 Echo with 1
Royal Navy 33,750 hel landing platform; 1 Magpie

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Royal Fleet Auxiliary


SUBMARINES 10
Support and miscellaneous vessels are mostly crewed
STRATEGIC • SSBN 4 Vanguard, opcon Strategic Forces
with 16 UGM-133A Trident II D-5/D-5LE nuclear SLBM, 4 and maintained by the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA),
single 533mm TT with Spearfish HWT (recent deployment a civilian fleet owned by the UK MoD, which has
practice of no more than 8 missiles/40 warheads per boat; approximately 1,900 personnel with type comd under
each missile could carry up to 12 MIRV; some Trident D-5 Fleet Commander
capable of being configured for sub-strategic role) AMPHIBIOUS • PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 3:
TACTICAL • SSN 6
LSD 3 Bay (capacity 4 LCU; 2 LCVP; 24 Challenger 2
1 Trafalgar with 5 single 533mm TT with UGM-109E
MBT; 350 troops)
Tomahawk Block IV LACM/Spearfish HWT
5 Astute with 6 single 533mm TT with UGM-109E LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 12
Tomahawk Block IV LACM/Spearfish HWT AOEH 4 Tide (capacity 1 AW159 Wildcat/AW101
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 20 Merlin hel)
AIRCRAFT CARRIERS 2: AORH 3: 2 Wave (extended readiness); 1 Fort Victoria
CV 2 Queen Elizabeth with up to 3 Mk 15 Phalanx Block with 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS
1B CIWS (capacity 40 ac/hel, incl 24+ F-35B Lightning AG 1 Argus (primary casualty-receiving ship with
II, 14+ Merlin HM2/Wildcat HMA2/CH-47 Chinook hel)
secondary aviation trg ship role)
DESTROYERS 6:
DDGHM 3 Daring (Type-45) with 2 quad lnchr with AKR 4 Point (not RFA manned)
RGM-84D Harpoon Block 1C AShM, 6 8-cell Sylver A50
VLS with Aster 15/30 (Sea Viper) SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx
Naval Aviation (Fleet Air Arm) 4,900
Block 1B CIWS, 1 114mm gun (capacity 1 AW159 FORCES BY ROLE
Wildcat/AW101 Merlin hel) ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
DDHM 3 Daring (Type-45) with 6 8-cell Sylver A50 3 sqn with AW101 ASW Merlin HM2
VLS with Aster 15/30 (Sea Viper) SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx 2 sqn with AW159 Wildcat HMA2
Block 1B CIWS, 1 114mm gun (capacity 1 AW159
TRAINING
Wildcat/AW101 Merlin hel)
1 sqn with Beech 350ER King Air
FRIGATES • FFGHM 12:
3 Duke (Type-23) with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84D 1 sqn with G-115
Harpoon Block 1C AShM, 1 32-cell VLS with Sea Wolf EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SAM, 2 twin 324mm ASTT with Sting Ray LWT, 1 AIRCRAFT
114mm gun (capacity either 2 AW159 Wildcat or 1 TPT • Light 4 Beech 350ER King Air (Avenger)
AW101 Merlin hel)
TRG 5 G-115
9 Duke (Type-23) with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84D
HELICOPTERS
Harpoon Block 1C AShM, 1 32-cell VLS with Sea
Ceptor SAM, 2 twin 324mm ASTT with Sting Ray ASW 58: 28 AW159 Wildcat HMA2; 30 AW101 ASW
LWT, 1 114mm gun (capacity either 2 AW159 Wildcat Merlin HM2
or 1 AW101 Merlin hel) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ASM Martlet
148 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Royal Marines 6,600 COMBAT/ISR UAV


FORCES BY ROLE 1 sqn with MQ-9A Reaper
MANOEUVRE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Amphibious AIRCRAFT 201 combat capable
1 (3rd Cdo) mne bde (2 mne bn; 2 sy bn; 1 amph gp; 1 FGA 153: 26 F-35B Lightning II; 121 Typhoon FGR4;
amph aslt sqn; 1 (army) arty regt; 1 (army) engr regt; 6 Typhoon T3; (10 Typhoon FGR4 in store)
1 ISR gp (1 EW sqn; 1 cbt spt sqn; 1 sigs sqn; 1 log ASW 9 P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk1)
sqn), 1 log regt) ISR 6 Shadow R1
2 amph sqn ELINT 3 RC-135W Rivet Joint
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AEW&C 3 E-3D Sentry
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES TKR/TPT 10: 3 A330 MRTT Voyager KC2 (of which 1
APC (T) 99 BvS-10 Mk2 Viking (incl 19 cabs with equipped for VIP tpt); 7 A330 MRTT Voyager KC3
81mm mor) TPT 44: Heavy 28: 20 A400M Atlas; 8 C-17A Globemaster;
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTUCTURE Medium 14: 1 C-130J Hercules; 13 C-130J-30 Hercules;
MSL • MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin PAX 2 Falcon 900LX (Envoy IV CC Mk1)
ARTILLERY 39 TRG 144: 5 EMB-500 Phenom 100; 86 G-115E Tutor; 28
TOWED 105mm 12 L118 Light Gun Hawk T2*; 11 Hawk T1* (Red Arrows) (ε60 more in store);
MOR 81mm 27 L16A1 14 T-6C Texan II
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 2 Island HELICOPTERS
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 26 MRH 4: 1 AW139; 3 Bell 412EP Griffin HAR-2
LCU 10 LCU Mk10 (capacity 4 Viking APC or 120 troops) TPT • Light 1 AW109SP
LCVP 16 LCVP Mk5B (capacity 35 troops) UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence Starstreak CISR • Heavy 11: 10 MQ-9A Reaper; 1 MQ-9B Sky
Guardian (Protector RG Mk1)
Royal Air Force 33,150 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
FORCES BY ROLE AAM • IR AIM-9L/L(I) Sidewinder; IIR ASRAAM; ARH
FIGHTER AIM-120C-5 AMRAAM; Meteor
2 sqn with Typhoon FGR4/T3 ASM AGM-114 Hellfire; Brimstone; Dual-Mode Brimstone;
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK Brimstone II
4 sqn with Typhoon FGR4/T3 (including one joint QTR- LACM Storm Shadow
UK sqn) BOMBS
1 sqn with Typhoon FGR4/T3 (aggressor) Laser-guided GBU-10 Paveway II; GBU-24 Paveway III
1 sqn with F-35B Lightning II Laser & INS/GPS-guided Enhanced Paveway II/III;
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE Paveway IV
2 sqn with P-8A Poseidon (MRA Mk1)
ISR
Royal Air Force Regiment
1 sqn with Shadow R1 FORCES BY ROLE
ELINT MANOEUVRE
1 sqn with RC-135W Rivet Joint Other
SEARCH & RESCUE 6 sy sqn
1 sqn with Bell 412EP Griffin HAR-2
TANKER/TRANSPORT No. 1 Flying Training School (Tri-Service
2 sqn with A330 MRTT Voyager KC2/3 Helicopter Training)
TRANSPORT FORCES BY ROLE
1 (VIP) sqn with AW109SP; Falcon 900LX (Envoy IV TRAINING
CC Mk1) 1 hel sqn with H135 (Juno HT1); H145 (Jupiter)
2 sqn with A400M Atlas 3 hel sqn with H135 (Juno HT1)
1 sqn with C-17A Globemaster EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with C-130J/J-30 Hercules HELICOPTERS
TRAINING MRH 7 H145 (Jupiter)
1 OCU sqn with A400M Atlas; C-17A Globemaster; TPT • Light 31: 2 AW109E; 29 H135 (Juno HT1)
C-130J/J-30 Hercules
1 OCU sqn with F-35B Lightning II (forming) Volunteer Reserve Air Forces
1 OCU sqn with Typhoon FGR4/T3 (Royal Auxiliary Air Force/RAF Reserve)
1 OCU sqn with RC-135W Rivet Joint MANOEUVRE
1 sqn with EMB-500 Phenom 100 Other
2 sqn with Hawk T2 5 sy sqn
1 sqn with T-6C Texan II COMBAT SUPPORT
2 sqn with G-115E Tutor 2 int sqn
Europe 149

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT FALKLAND ISLANDS: 1,200: 1 inf coy(+); 1 sigs unit; 1
1 med sqn AD det with CAMM (Land Ceptor); 1 PSO; 1 ftr flt with 4
1 (air movements) sqn Typhoon FGR4; 1 tkr/tpt flt with 1 A330 MRTT Voyager; 1
1 (HQ augmentation) sqn A400M; 1 hel flt with 2 Chinook
1 (C-130 Reserve Aircrew) flt
GERMANY: 185
UK Special Forces GIBRALTAR: 600 (including Royal Gibraltar regt); 1 PSO;
Includes Royal Navy, Army and RAF units 2 PBI
FORCES BY ROLE IRAQ: Operation Shader 100; NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 12

Europe
SPECIAL FORCES
1 (SAS) SF regt KENYA: BATUK 350; 1 trg unit
1 (SBS) SF regt KUWAIT: Operation Shader 50; 1 CISR UAV sqn with 8 MQ-
1 (Special Reconnaissance) SF regt 9A Reaper
1 SF BG (based on 1 para bn)
AVIATION LIBYA: UN • UNSMIL (Operation Tramal) 1
1 wg (includes assets drawn from 3 Army hel sqn, 1 MALI: UN • MINUSMA (Operation Newcombe) 256; 1
RAF tpt sqn and 1 RAF hel sqn) recce regt(-)
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 sigs regt NEPAL: 60 (Gurkha trg org)
NIGERIA: 80 (trg team)
Reserve
OMAN: 90
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES PACIFIC OCEAN: 60; 2 PSO
2 (SAS) SF regt
POLAND: Army 250; 1 tk sqn with Challenger 2; 1 SAM bty
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE with CAMM (Land Ceptor); NATO • Enhanced Forward
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Presence 129; 1 recce sqn
AUV 24 Bushmaster IMV
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL QATAR: 200; 1 FGA sqn with 12 Typhoon FGR4
MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; NLAW SAUDI ARABIA: 50 (radar det)
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 41
DEPLOYMENT
SOMALIA: 65 (trg team); UN • UNSOM (Operation Praiser)
ASCENSION ISLAND: 20 2; UN • UNSOS (Operation Catan) 10
ATLANTIC (NORTH)/CARIBBEAN: 140; 1 PSO; 1 AOEH SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS (Operation Vogul) 4
ATLANTIC (SOUTH): 40; 1 PSO UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 200; 1 tpt/tkr flt with C-17A
BAHRAIN: Operation Kipion 1,000; 1 FFGHM; 2 MCO; 2 Globemaster; A400M Atlas; A330 MRTT Voyager (on rotation)
MHC; 1 LSD; 1 naval facility
BELIZE: BATSUB 12 FOREIGN FORCES
BRITISH INDIAN OCEAN TERRITORY: 40; 1 navy/marine det Canada Air Task Force Prestwick (ATF-P) 55; 3 C-130J-30
BRUNEI: 2,000; 1 (Gurkha) lt inf bn; 1 jungle trg centre; 1 Hercules (CC-130J); Operation Unifier 170 (UKR trg)
hel sqn with 3 Bell 212 Denmark Operation Interflex 120 (UKR trg)
Finland Operation Interflex 20 (UKR trg)
BULGARIA: NATO • Enhanced Vigilance Activities 120; 1
lt mech inf coy Lithuania Operation Interflex 15 (UKR trg)
Netherlands Operation Interflex 90 (UKR trg)
CANADA: BATUS 400; 1 trg unit; 1 hel flt with SA341
Gazelle AH1 New Zealand Operation Interflex 149 (UKR trg)
Sweden Operation Interflex 45 (UKR trg)
CYPRUS: 2,260; 2 inf bn; 1 SAR sqn with 4 Bell 412 Griffin
United States
HAR-2; 1 radar (on det); Operation Shader 450: 1 FGA sqn
with 10 Typhoon FGR4; 1 A330 MRTT Voyager; 2 C-130J-30 US European Command: 10,000; 1 FGA wg at RAF
Hercules; UN • UNFICYP (Operation Tosca) 253; 2 inf coy Lakenheath (2 FGA sqn with 23 F-15E Strike Eagle, 1
FGA sqn with 21 F-35A Lightning II; 1 FGA sqn with F-35
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
Lightning II (forming)); 1 ISR sqn at RAF Mildenhall with
MONUSCO 3
OC-135/RC-135; 1 tkr wg at RAF Mildenhall with 15 KC-
EGYPT: MFO 2 135R/T Stratotanker; 1 spec ops gp at RAF Mildenhall (1 sqn
ESTONIA: NATO • Enhanced Forward Presence with 8 CV-22B Osprey; 1 sqn with 8 MC-130J Commando II)
(Operation Cabrit) 1,750; 1 armd BG; 1 inf BG; 1 SP arty bty; • US Strategic Command: 1 AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early
1 MRL bty; 1 cbt engr coy Warning Radar and 1 Spacetrack radar at Fylingdales Moor
150 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Chapter Five

Russia and Eurasia


 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine failed in  The heavy losses to Russia’s equipment inventory,
its initial objectives and exposed significant particularly its armour and artillery, raises significant
shortcomings in several areas of the Russian armed questions over the direction of Russia’s state
forces, including strategy, command and control, armament programme; the country needs to
training, logistics and industrial supply. By year’s end, reconstitute its ground forces’ combat capability
Russia had resorted to using Iranian uninhabited while they are at war, balancing current needs against
aerial vehicles (UAVs) and direct attack munitions existing and future development plans.
due to the Russian armed forces’ heavy use of its own  Both Russia and Ukraine have suffered significant
ballistic and cruise missiles and the continued threat casualties. Ukraine mobilised early, and Western
posed by Ukraine’s air defences. training assistance is intended to produce a steady
 The performance of some Russian weapons has stream of trained troops, though the training
been underwhelming. Russia’s tanks and infantry package lasts weeks instead of months. The
fighting vehicles proved vulnerable to modern anti- battlefield successes of Ukraine’s troops have shown
armour systems while some air-launched weapons, the benefits of the training delivered with Western
such as its cruise missiles, were not as successful as assistance after 2014 and Kyiv’s plan – also with
they were in Syria. Most notably, the Raduga Kh-101 Western assistance – to develop a professional non-
(RS-AS-23A Kodiak) air-launched cruise missile failed commissioned officer cadre.
to meet expectations.  Western materiel support has reshaped Ukraine’s
 Russia’s decision to ‘partially’ mobilise shows that artillery capabilities. But much legacy-equipment
the plan to produce a full-time service component, remains and ammunition-supply for these will be a
of contractors, failed when confronted with a key near-term constraint. However, Kyiv’s forces are
high-intensity war. The mobilisation process now able to strike faster and further and have shown
has highlighted institutional and infrastructure the capability to integrate real-time targeting into this
shortcomings as well as problems in training. process through the use of small UAVs.

Russia real-terms total military expenditure, Active military personnel – top 10


2012–22 (USDbn, constant 2015) (25,000 per unit)

70 20 Global
Russia total
1,190,000 20,773,950
60
15
Ukraine
50 688,000
USDbn, constant 2015

Year-on-year % change

10
Azerbaijan 64,050
40
5 Uzbekistan 48,000
30 Belarus 47,950
0 Armenia 42,900
20
Kazakhstan 39,000
-5
10 Turkmenistan 36,500

Georgia 20,650 Regional


0 -10 10.6%
total
2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 Kyrgyzstan 10,900 2,201,900
Russia and Eurasia 151

Regional defence policy and economics 152 ►

Arms procurements and deliveries 169 ►

Armed forces data section 171 ►

Central Asia: medium and light transport air fleets, 2014–22* Ukraine’s artillery transformation
Light Transport Aircraft Medium Transport Aircraft 2021

Quantity Number Breakdown by type Self Propelled


122mm 2S1 Gvozdika 292
2014 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya 249

Russia and Eurasia


6 An-26 Curl, 2 An-72 Coaler, 2 C295M, 2S5 Giantsit-S 18
Kazakhstan 12 2 Tu-134 Crusty 2S19 Msta-S 35
Kyrgyzstan 6 4 An-2 Colt, 2 An-26 Curl 155mm 2S3 Akatsiya 18
203mm 2S7 Pion 13
Tajikistan 1 Tu-134A Crusty
Towed
Turkmenistan 1 1 An-26 Curl 122mm D-30 129
152mm 2A36 Giantsit-B 180
Uzbekistan 2 1 An-24 Coke, 1 Tu-134 Crusty 2A65 Msta-B 130
D-20 130
Kazakhstan 2 2 An-12 Cub
MRL
2018 122mm 9P138 18
6 An-26 Curl, 2 An-72 Coaler, BM-21 191
Kazakhstan 16 6 C295M, 2 Tu-134 Crusty 220mm 9P140 Uragan 70
Kyrgyzstan 6 4 An-2 Colt, 2 An-26 Curl 300mm 9A52 Smerch 83
Vilkha
Tajikistan 1 Tu-134A Crusty
2022
Turkmenistan 3 1 An-26 Curl, An-74TK Coaler
Self Propelled
Uzbekistan 6 1 An-24 Coke, 4 C295W, 1 Tu-134 Crusty 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika 120
Kazakhstan 2 2 An-12 Cub 152mm M-77 Dana 18
Dana-M2 1+
2022 2S3 Akatsiya 140
6 An-26 Curl, 2 An-72 Coaler, 8 C295M, 2S5 Giantsit-S 10
Kazakhstan 18 2S19 Msta-S 35
2 Tu-134 Crusty
6
155mm M-2000 Zuzana 6
Kyrgyzstan 4 An-2 Colt, 2 An-26 Curl
M109A3GN 50
Tajikistan 1 Tu-134A Crusty M109L 20
Krab 53
Turkmenistan 3 1 An-26 Curl, 2 An-74TK Coaler PzH 2000 22
Caesar 17
Uzbekistan 7 2 An-26 Curl, 4 C295W, 1 Tu-134 Crusty 203mm 2S7 Pion 20
Kazakhstan 2 2 An-12 Cub Towed
Turkmenistan 2 2 C-27J Spartan 105mm L119/M119A3 30
M101 3+
Uzbekistan 2 2 An-12 Cub 122mm D-30 60
130mm M-46 18
152mm 2A36 Giantsit-B 90
2A65 Msta-B 80
Russia: main battle tanks, 2014–22* Modern Ageing D-20 60
155mm M777A2 132
3,500 FH-70 20
3,000 Gun/Mor
2,500 120mm 2B16 NONA-K
MRL
2,000
122mm RM-70 Vampir 20
1,500 Tornado-G/BM-21 100
220mm Bureviy/9P140 Uragan 40
1,000 227mm M142 HIMARS 20
M270A1/B1 MLRS 11
500
300mm 9A52 Smerch 40
0 Vilkha-M
2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 Vilkha
*active inventory
152 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Russia and Eurasia

The chaotic collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was being used to drill newly mobilised Russian troops.
followed by the creation of 15 new states from the But the Belarusian armed forces themselves stayed
former Soviet republics. These states continued to out of the fight, instead serving a useful purpose for
count large numbers of Russians within their new Moscow by ‘fixing’ elements of Ukraine’s forces on
borders. Ethnic tensions, often accompanied by its northern border as well as reportedly supplying
friction with Moscow, are a legacy of the Soviet equipment to Russia.
empire’s dissolution. Russia’s full-scale invasion Sporadic fighting also recurred in September
of Ukraine has roots in the break-up of the Soviet 2022 between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the
Union. More broadly, though, the war is the most disputed territory of Nagorno-Karabakh. Armenia
egregious example of the problematic relations is a member of the Russian-led Collective Security
between Russia and what it sometimes refers to as Treaty Organization (CSTO), and Azerbaijan is a
its ‘near abroad’. It also owes much to the failure of former member, but Moscow has been unable to
Russia’s efforts during 2021 and earlier to exercise force a lasting peace between the two. September
influence over those parts of Ukraine it did not 2022 also saw border clashes between two other
already control, as well as its government, and to CSTO members: Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. The
Vladimir Putin’s world view, made apparent in his latter dispute also stems from contested territory and
July 2021 extended text entitled ‘On the Historical the lack of an agreed border. Both countries have also
Unity of Russians and Ukrainians’. In this document, suffered from internal upheaval. In Tajikistan a civil
Putin described Russians and Ukrainians as ‘one war began in the immediate aftermath of the collapse
people’. However, the invasion has served only to of the Soviet Union, lasting from 1992 to 1997, that
cement Ukraine’s identity as an independent state. also involved Russian ground forces. Kyrgyzstan,
Moscow’s travails in its ill-judged and ill-executed meanwhile, has seen three revolutions in the past
invasion, furthermore, will make relationships with two decades.
its other neighbouring countries more problematic. Perhaps the most notable shift has been in
The war on Ukraine has led to a decline in Russia’s Moscow’s relationships with Kazakhstan and
influence over many of them and may inhibit its Uzbekistan. In recent years, Kazakhstan has started
ability to manage regional disputes. to modernise its armed forces, with its land forces
The most westerly of the former Soviet republics introducing equipment of Turkish origin and even
that remains outside NATO is Moldova. The country’s signing an agreement with Turkey in late 2022 to
pro-European government is struggling with develop ‘long-term strategic cooperation’. In January,
pro-Russian opposition and allegations of Russian in the wake of fomented protests designed to unseat
disinformation operations. The government declared him, Kazakhstan’s President Qasym-Jomart Toqaev
a state of emergency on the same day as Russia’s 2022 requested assistance from the CSTO. Russia deployed
invasion of Ukraine, with which it shares a border. elements of its airborne forces to secure Toqaev
Russian ground forces remain in the pro-Moscow in power. Toqaev has not, however, supported
Moldovan breakaway region of Transnistria because Russia’s war in Ukraine. Indeed, Kazakhstan sent
of a civil war in 1992. Russia has hinted that it could humanitarian aid to Ukraine, and in June Toqaev
use its forces in Transnistria against Ukraine. On 23 refused to recognise – in Putin’s presence – the
June 2022 Moldova gained candidate status from the independence of the Luhansk and Donetsk ‘people’s
European Union, in response to Russia’s aggression republics’; the foreign minister of Uzbekistan was
against Ukraine. Kyiv was also given candidate reported as using a similar formulation in March,
status at the same time. Meanwhile, Belarus has been though he was out of office by mid-year. Regardless,
pulled further into Russia’s orbit. At the start of the Russia’s influence over its former republics – it retains
year, Belarus was complicit in Russia’s invasion, military installations in some – cannot be taken for
and by the end of the year its training grounds were granted by Moscow. Moreover, Russia’s remaining
Russia and Eurasia 153

influence in Central Asia must also contend with and a push on multiple axes by ground forces
the financial heft of China, with Beijing building from the north, the east and the south. However,
economic ties with all the former Soviet republics in the campaign was flawed before its execution.
the region. There were poor intelligence assessments of the
attitudes of the Ukrainian population, combined
RUSSIA with an underestimation of the combat capability of
Ukraine’s armed forces and an overestimation of the
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has proven capability of the Russian armed forces. Russia hoped
a defining event for the Russian armed forces, 14 for a swift victory; its forces were not prepared for
years after they fought an unsatisfactory short war the long haul.
against Georgia and subsequently launched the At the start of the war, Russia’s advances lacked
‘New Look’ military-modernisation process. The the massed artillery fires traditionally associated with

Russia and Eurasia


war on Ukraine has also proven a defining chapter of its ground forces, while Ukrainian critical national
President Vladimir Putin’s leadership. The operation infrastructure was not targeted extensively. The
had been telegraphed. Russian troops had assembled forces deployed in the initial attacks do not appear
close to the border with Ukraine in April 2021, to to have been prepared for, or supplied for, sustained
exert pressure on Ukraine, and in late year began to high-intensity fighting. Initially poorly coordinated,
return. These forces remained in position for some and with inadequate air-, fire- and logistics-support,
weeks. Western open-source analysts – and rapidly these formations suffered very heavy losses in
declassified US intelligence assessments – indicated both personnel and equipment, and many were
after mid-February that some troops were deploying rendered combat ineffective within the first month
from their assembly areas into assault formations. of operations. Moreover, political imperatives to
Early on 24 February, the latest invasion began. Even demonstrate success on the battlefield meant that
in the early phases, instead of rapidly extinguishing battle-weary units were given little or no time to
Ukrainian resistance, Russia suffered a series of recover and reset, instead being rapidly thrown back
reversals. Since then, Moscow has become bogged into the fighting.
down in an often-attritional war that has highlighted Russia’s comparative success in fighting Ukrainian
failings in its political and high-level military decision- forces in 2014–15 likely resulted in considerable
making, while highlighting structural weaknesses overconfidence, as did the air-led campaign in Syria.
in its armed forces, particularly its ground forces. At The deployment in Syria allowed the air force to rotate
the same time, the course and conduct of the war is crews and gain experience in operations at-reach and
leading to renewed focus on the effectiveness and test new weapons, but it was nonetheless conducted
future of various modernisation initiatives pursued in a permissive air environment. Meanwhile, Russia’s
in recent years, such as the Battalion Tactical Group annual large-scale exercises (each year there is one of
concept. It also raises questions over Russia’s military the Kavkaz, Tsentr, Zapad and Vostok drills) with their
culture and organisation and the degree to which extensive use of tube and rocket artillery and combat
Moscow can learn and implement lessons, as well aviation – Zapad 2021 was the largest for some years,
as the future of the equipment-modernisation plans involving multiple military districts and large groups
pursued under the latest State Armament Programme. of forces – may have led to a distorted assessment of
capability and readiness both by outside observers
The war: overconfidence and underestimation and by the Russian armed forces. Similar doubts
Russian forces advanced along multiple axes in the remain about the value of smaller combat-readiness
initial phase of the operation, estimated to involve inspections. Such exercises, whether deliberately
127 Battalion Tactical Groups and 150,000 personnel or otherwise, masked the structural problems
as well as additional Russian-led proxy forces. The that have now been exposed in Ukraine. Perhaps
aim was apparently to quickly topple Volodymyr more fundamentally, while peacetime training and
Zelenskyy’s government in a far larger version of maintenance were nominally improved and made
the 2014 Crimean operation with a rapid assault more realistic at the same time, in practice poor
focused on seizing leadership centres in Kyiv, oversight, corruption and rapid turnover in both
while Ukraine’s armed forces and society would contract and conscript personnel seriously hindered
be effectively paralysed by shaping operations the qualitative development of individual soldiers.
Map 2 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine: February–March 2022

Russian controlled territory at 24 February Cherniv: heavy fighting


during March saw
Russian controlled territory at 29 March Ukrainian forces defeat
Russian attempts to
CENTRAL MD GROUPING occupy the city
Contested territory at 29 March EASTERN MD AND
AIRBORNE GROUPING Sumy: heavy fighting
Russian axis of advance during March saw
WESTERN MD GROUPING Ukrainian forces defeat
Possible axis of approach Russian attempts to
Chernihiv occupy the city
UK MOD assessed Russian grouping of forces
154 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Important centres of Ukrainian resistance that Sumy


either delayed or defeated Russian advances
Kyiv

Kharkiv

Situation near Kyiv as of 24 March Early March: Ukrainian


troops defeat Russian Izium
attempts to capture Myokaliv

Slavutych Chernihiv
Kherson fell
on 2 March
SOUTHERN MD
AND SEPARATIST
Myokaliv FORCES

Kropyvnya Ivankiv Mariupol


Kherson
Odesa
Borodianka Hostomel
airport Bohdanivka Donbas: separatist
Bucha SOUTHERN MD AND activity supported
Kyiv Lukyanivka
AIRBORNE GROUPING by Russia in Donetsk
Irpin
Zhytomyr and Luhansk regions
after 2014

Snake Island:
Russian controlled territory captured by the Crimea: illegally
Russian Navy on annexed by Russia
February 24th in 2014
Sources: UK MOD, IISS, Institute for the Study of War; militaryland.net © IISS
Map 3 Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine: April–October 2022

28 April: Ukrainian counterattacks forced Russia to


redeploy forces in April to concentrate instead on attacks 29 May: Russia attempts to consolidate. 29 June: Russia attempts to consolidate.
in Ukraine’s East, including around Izium.

Chernihiv Chernihiv Chernihiv


W W
Sumy E Sumy Sumy W
E
Kyiv Kyiv Kyiv E
Kharkiv C Kharkiv C Kharkiv
C
Izium Izium Izium
3
S S
S

Kherson Mariupol Kherson Mariupol Kherson Mariupol


2
S S
Odesa Odesa Odesa
1 S S
A

Chernihiv Chernihiv
1 Missile attack on CGHM Moskva, flagship of Russia’s Black Sea 31 October: UkraineSumy
makes rapid progress in the Sumy
30 September: Ukrainian advances make progress.
Fleet, which sinks on 14 April. northern
Kyiv sector and pushes to Kherson in the south. Kyiv
Kharkiv Kharkiv
2 Ukrainian forces surrendered at Mariupol on 20 May,
after having been besieged since February. C C
Izium Izium
3 After months of resistance against Russian forces, Ukrainian
armed forces withdrew from Severodonetsk on 24 June and
S S
from Lysychansk on 3 July.
4 Ukrainian forces re-occupied Snake Island on 4 July after an
intense campaign to evict Russian forces, who left on 30 June. Kherson E
Mariupol Kherson E Mariupol
S S
5 On 9 August, at least eight aircraft were destroyed at Saki
airbase, likely by Ukrainian missiles. Odesa S Odesa S
6 8 October, suspected Ukrainian forces attack and severely
6
damage the Kerch bridge between Russia and occupied Crimea. 4 5

Russian controlled territory Ukrainian counterattacks Russian line of advance: C Central MD Grouping A Southern MD and Airborne Grouping
Contested territory E Eastern MD Grouping S Southern MD Grouping
Nuclear Power Plant Sources: UK MOD; IISS; Institute for the Study of War, ACLED W Western MD Grouping © IISS
Russia and Eurasia 155

Russia and Eurasia


156 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Moreover, Russia’s forces have had to take account The way Russia has employed its precision-
of large-scale personnel losses, including among the guided weapons, coupled with problems in
more experienced personnel that participated in increasing production, means there was by late year a
the opening phase of the invasion. The subsequent lack of such systems, while there have been reliability
inflow of reservists, and later of mobilised personnel, issues with those in the inventory. Russia’s defence
has exposed weaknesses in training, with many industry may have been slowly improving, but it
newly arrived personnel seemingly lacking both remains bedevilled by inefficiencies. These include
adequate equipment and enough ammunition, multiple plants producing varied types of combat
amidst infrastructure that appears to be failing to aircraft. In terms of personnel, it has an ageing
cope with the increased number of trainees. And workforce and – while there is little firm information
the war has highlighted long-standing problems on their background beyond some reporting – the
related to command and control at both junior and flight of thousands of Russians from the country after
higher command levels, with inflexibility proving an February will not help matters. There also appears to
important weakness. have been a failure to appreciate the need for near-real
There are indications of some adaptation time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance
following the initial failings of the campaign. (ISR), integrated with the targeting cycle. And in late
Commanders were replaced and there has been a summer, when Ukrainian forces employed offensive
move to improve and unify operational command manoeuvre operations in regaining swathes of
and control; once Ukrainian forces had defeated territory in the north and south, Russia’s troops did
Russia’s push to Kyiv, forces were redeployed to not have an answer either tactically or operationally.
Ukraine’s east. Subsequently, Russian forces were While these are issues recognised by many in
concentrated on two axes, with efforts focused on the the armed forces and in the defence industry, they
two ‘self-proclaimed’ Luhansk and Donetsk people’s appear not to be acknowledged within decision-
republics (LPR and DPR). Russian tactics were making circles, which remain conservative in
also revised, with far greater reliance on artillery. nature. Moreover, Moscow’s practice of simply
However, this has highlighted another challenge replacing senior staff, or moving commanders from
relating to ammunition supply. Estimates by some one military district to another, has not addressed
analysts suggest Russian forces have at times the underlying issues of leadership culture in
expended more than ten times the ammunition on the Russian armed forces. A rigidly hierarchical
a daily basis compared to the Ukrainians and, while structure remains embedded in military education
it is difficult to verify such claims, it is clear that the and tradition. Also, continued revelations of
supply of ammunition became a more significant entrenched corruption in the armed forces will
factor as 2022 wore on. almost certainly not help to improve mutual trust;
Initial Russian operations included heliborne in advanced Western armed forces this is seen as a
assaults, and these seemed to follow the pattern of key feature in assisting effective military leadership
recent experimentation with such capability, but at all levels. Achieving change in Russia will
Russia’s drills had not adequately prepared its require political will, combined with fundamental
forces for actions against a determined and well- improvements in education and training.
armed opponent. And though the air war has been
immensely destructive for Ukraine, Russia’s relatively Ground Forces, Airborne Forces and
haphazard application of airpower, including missile Naval Infantry
strikes, did not allow it to gain control of the air. These Russia’s initial invasion employed around 75% of
failures forced Russia’s helicopters and ground-attack its total deployable ground-combat forces. Many of
aircraft to adopt unconventional weapons-release the formations engaged in February suffered heavy
tactics, its fixed-wing aircraft to engage targets from attrition in the months that followed. This initially
greater range and commanders to use large numbers forced the Russian armed forces to turn to a variety
of long-range stand-off weapons. And both Russian of sources to find new personnel in order to sustain
and Ukrainian helicopters and ground-attack aircraft operations, including reservists, mercenaries and
have, at least close to the front lines, been flown at conscripts from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions,
extremely low-level in order to minimise the threat before ultimately opting for widespread mobilisation
from air defences. in Russia. Older armoured fighting vehicles and
Russia and Eurasia 157

artillery pieces were taken out of store and reactivated political leadership, it is unclear what alternative
to replace combat losses. These measures have, for approaches might realistically be adopted in
now, proved just about sufficient to maintain an ‘army their stead. Both a larger, conscript-based, mass-
in being’ in Ukraine. However, attempts to generate mobilisation model and a substantially smaller
the operational and strategic reserve forces needed to higher-quality force would pose problems in terms
restart large-scale offensive operations on the ground of both resourcing and sustainment. Such a model
appear to have been repeatedly thwarted by the may also not fit with the Russian government’s
battlefield pressure applied by Ukrainian forces. It is apparent objectives.
likely that Ukrainian forces will try to maintain this In the short term, the prospects for the project
pressure, looking to prevent Russia gaining the space to deliver new equipment to the ground forces is
to reset its forces before spring 2023. unclear. Armata remains in test, and other equipment
The current focus on short-term operational that has arrived during the last decade, such as

Russia and Eurasia


requirements also raises questions about the the TOS-1 multiple-rocket launcher and Typhoon
future shape and sustainability of Russian ground- protected patrol vehicle, has been seen in Ukraine
combat power. Under the New Look military- and in some cases observed as destroyed. The armed
modernisation process, which started in 2008, the forces have lost significant numbers of all types of
ground forces were, by 2022, the least modernised their in-service main battle tanks, and bringing out of
of all the armed forces, and they were the source store older types is a gap-filler solution at best when
of most of the formations employed. Between 2012 confronted with modern anti-armour systems. But
and 2022, and particularly after 2014, Russia’s the course of the war has forced some innovation. It
Ground Forces, Airborne Forces and Naval Infantry is likely that improving command and control and
had attempted to balance their relatively low integrating new strike systems, such as the Lancet-3
budgetary priority with a requirement to generate loitering munition, will be prioritised. These were not
an increasing amount of deployable ground-combat procured in large volumes before the war and were
power. This resulted in a series of compromises, operated only by special forces, but by late 2022 they
with advanced-equipment programmes, such as the were being more widely used. Even with increased
Armata, Kurganets and Bumerang universal combat budgets, it will be challenging to keep the military
platforms, delayed and most formations expected forces supplied for the ongoing conflict in Ukraine,
to deploy understrength by using limited numbers and that is before taking into account issues related
of contract service personnel in task-organised to industrial capacity and the impact of Western
Battalion Tactical Groups. sanctions on component supplies.
The invasion of Ukraine has laid bare many
of the limitations of this approach. Against a Weapons failings
determined adversary, many formations appear to While Russian land-attack cruise missiles were
have struggled to effectively conduct core military used with comparative success during Moscow’s
tasks, such as reconnaissance or combined-arms intervention in Syria, this has not so far been the
operations, a problem concealed to some extent by case in Ukraine. Most notably, the Raduga Kh-101
the relatively high level of performance of a small (RS-AS-23A Kodiak) air-launched cruise missile
number of select units in Ukraine in 2014, and has failed to meet expectations. The problems do
then in Syria. The exhaustion of surviving contract not appear to have been limited to the missile and
personnel, and the influx of inadequately trained extend to the launch aircraft. Furthermore, stocks
and equipped reservists, conscripts and draftees, of the Kh-101 have been depleted. As of the fourth
suggests that these performance levels are unlikely quarter of 2022, the inventory was potentially as
to improve in the short term. At the same time, the low as 25% of the pre-war holding. The Novator
impact of economic sanctions imposed on Russia 3M14 (RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) naval land-attack
and restricted access to foreign technology is likely to cruise missile may have recorded a somewhat more
curtail future re-equipment plans, even if the ground reliable performance. The Russian armed forces
forces enjoy a larger share of the procurement budget have long recognised the need to increase the quality
than they have in previous years. and quantity of precision-guided munitions but
If the compromise policies of the past decade are have so far failed to achieve this. There remains also
ultimately deemed a failure by Russian military and an inability to knit together ISR and command and
158 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Figure 7 Recapitalising Russia’s bomber inventory

Russia has long held ambitions to recapitalise its bomber (VKS) Future Long-Range Aviation Complex (PAK DA) project.
fleets, but efforts so far have been piecemeal. Ambition has A prototype of this design, almost certainly a subsonic
risked overreaching capacity in industrial, technical and low-observable flying wing, could be flown possibly by the
economic terms. As of 2022, Moscow was following three middle of this decade. Meanwhile, after a three-decade gap
paths simultaneously: upgrading current types, restarting in production, the first new-build Tu-160 was flown for the
manufacture of one design, and supporting the research and first time at the beginning of 2022. The modernised Tu-160M is
development of a new bomber. The Tupolev Tu-22M3 Backfire C, being built at the Gorbunov production site in Kazan, and the
Tu-95MS Bear H and Tu-160 Blackjack A are all the subject of design to meet the PAK DA requirement will likely be built
upgrade programmes, while the last is also re-entering there too. However, it remains unclear whether Russia has
production as the Tu-160M Blackjack B. Tupolev is also the economic and industrial capacity to sustain all its
working on the Item 80 design to meet the Aerospace Forces’ currently planned bomber projects.

Next-generation Blackjack
The Tu-160M draws on upgrade programmes implemented for the Blackjack A, but with a new airframe and aerostructures.
The VKS has ten aircraft on order for delivery by 2027, and a notional ambition to field up to 50 Tu-160Ms by the mid-2030s.

The upgrade also includes a revamp of the aircraft’s


passive and active defensive aids, though the exact
configuration of the Redut-70M suite fitted to the
aircraft is not known.

The original Obzor-K (Clam


Pipe) navigation and attack
radar is replaced by the NV-70M
radar developed by the St
Petersburg-based JSC Zaslon.

The Tu-160M is powered by four Kuznetsov


The original analogue cockpit NK-32-02 afterburning turbofan engines. This
systems are replaced with digital development of the original NK-32 includes a
multi-function displays, with the digital engine-control system. Improved fuel
aircraft’s communications suite burn is claimed to have extended the aircraft’s
also improved. combat radius by up to 500 kilometres.

Kh-101 (RS-AS-23A Kodiak)


The aircraft may be able to carry several
long-range land-attack cruise missile (LACM) PAK DA, Item 80
designs, with the most obvious system the
Raduga Kh-101/102 (RS-AS-23A/B Kodiak) A Tupolev patent published in March 2022 provides
which is already operated with the Tu-160. possible insight into the configuration of the VKS’s
The Kh-BD (Item 506) is also in development next bomber. The patent illustration showed a
by Raduga and is intended to provide a twin-engine flying wing, with the patent
yet-longer-range LACM. The Kh-BD could be related to the engine intake duct. Tupolev was
based on an extended-length Kh-101/102. awarded a 36-month bomber study contract in
As well as subsonic LACMs, the aircraft’s 2009, with the programme given the go-ahead in
weapons suite could also include high-speed 2013. However, while the 2014 decision to return the
missiles now reportedly in development. Tu-160 to production appeared to show a near-term shift
in priorities, an initial operational capability for the
low-observable design at around the end of this decade
remains possible, at least notionally.

©IISS
Russia and Eurasia 159

control at the tactical level to make better use of its US had been described as only a ‘rival’. The 2022
artillery. Even when operating the same Soviet-era document was also more ideological, with echoes of
equipment, Ukraine’s use of artillery has generally Soviet-era rhetoric. Maritime dominance was held
been more effective than Russia’s. This is likely to be the aim of the US, with the additional goal
down to a closer linkage and better use of ISR-roled of reducing Russia’s ability to exploit and develop
uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs), combined maritime resources. The doctrine also recognised
with the adoption of digital tactical command and the challenge of Russia’s lack of overseas naval
control systems. bases, and the sanctions-based constraints on its
shipbuilding capacity.
Inadequate command and control Nonetheless, the document identified building
The repeated setbacks have also prompted numerous ‘modern aircraft carriers’ as a priority. But the
changes in the military leadership, and the failures practicality of this is a different matter: for years,

Russia and Eurasia


following February resulted in the gradual Russia’s surface-ship programme has funded only
centralisation of operational command. Setbacks comparatively small warships. The revised doctrine
during the third quarter of 2022, including defeats reflected the adversarial relations between Russia,
in the Kharkiv and Kherson regions, prompted the the US and NATO, but lacked realism concerning the
appointment of General of the Army Sergei Surovikin state of Russian naval shipbuilding.
as the overall commander. The defeat in the Kharkiv Russia’s navy suffered some spectacular setbacks
region showed that many new units, especially in 2022 and its impact on the invasion of Ukraine has
volunteer battalions, were not well integrated been less than might have been expected. The Black
with the regular army units, and a loss of effective Sea Fleet has exhibited poor command direction and
command and control was still a regular problem. slow responsiveness to threats as well as questionable
This has rendered offensive operations and counter- operational readiness. Nevertheless, it continued to
attacks more difficult, with the effect that some exert influence through at least a partial and distant
Russian offensive actions have been predictable, with blockade plus the use of both surface and submarine
an increasing reliance on artillery and little emphasis platforms to launch land-attack cruise-missile strikes
on manoeuvre. against Ukrainian targets.
In the run-up to the opening of hostilities, there
To mobilise or not was a significant massing of Russian naval forces
Having avoided declaring mobilisation for over in the Mediterranean, including from the Northern,
six months, Russia’s hand was finally forced in Baltic and Pacific fleets, as well as activity in northern
September 2022, following the collapse of its European waters, ostensibly for exercises but no
position in the Kharkiv region. The 21 September doubt for strategic signalling and to exert pressure.
announcement by Putin was likely prompted by a There was also reinforcement of the Black Sea Fleet
recognition that overall defeat was an increasing with a number of amphibious ships, including a
possibility. According to official statements, the goal Project 11711 Ivan Gren-class vessel and several
was to call up 300,000 reservists, but some Russian Project 775 Ropucha-class landing ships.
commentators put the figure at nearer to one million. After 24 February, this reinforced amphibious
Mobilisation was implemented too late, with those capability played only a limited role, in part because
called up receiving as little as two weeks’ training of the known hazards of such operations in the
before being deployed to make up for combat losses area, the fact that the land war did not advance
in existing units. Prior to mobilisation, and since as Moscow planned, and also subsequently the
in parallel to it, Russia has also used ‘volunteer innovative approaches Ukraine employed to put
battalions’ as well as private military companies, the Russian naval vessels at risk. Russian shipping in
largest of which is Wagner Group. the Mediterranean may have had some deterrent
effect with, for example, the Project 1164 Slava-
Naval forces class cruisers from the Northern and Pacific fleets
Russia adopted a new Maritime Doctrine on 31 shadowing NATO aircraft-carrier formations in the
July 2022, replacing the 2015 document. Notably, area for a time. However, Turkey’s decision to close
the revised document identified the United States to warships the transit route into and out of the Black
and NATO as ‘threats’; in the previous volume the Sea has likely affected Russia’s ability both to support
160 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

its Mediterranean presence and to reinforce its forces ambition outlined in the new maritime doctrine only
in the Black Sea itself. served to highlight the fitful and accident-prone
The most attention-grabbing Russian naval modernisation of the sole aircraft carrier, Admiral
setback was the sinking of the then Black Sea Fleet Kuznetsov; the timing of its completion was uncertain
flagship, the Project 1164 Slava-class cruiser Moskva. as was the vessel’s likely combat effectiveness even if
Poor operational tactics in the use of the vessel and it does return to the fleet.
questions over the readiness and effectiveness of
both the crew and the ship’s systems appear to have DEFENCE ECONOMICS
contributed to the sinking. This raises new questions
over the combat effectiveness of the other large legacy Russia
Soviet-era surface combatants on which the Russian Assessments of Russian defence spending in 2022
fleet continues to rely for the bulk of its blue-water have to consider the situation before the start of the
operations and power-projection missions. ‘special military operation’ against Ukraine on 24
The navy also lost a Project 1171 Alligator-class February 2022, and the circumstances after that date.
landing ship alongside in the port of Berdyansk in After growing by 2.3% on average in 2017–19, the
March 2022 plus a number of minor war vessels in economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic caused
different attacks. The attack with uncrewed air and a 2.7% contraction in Russia’s real GDP in 2020. The
surface vehicles at the end of October on the naval base economic recovery got off to a strong start in 2021,
at Sevastopol appeared to cause damage to the new with real GDP growing by 4.7%, but, following the
Black Sea Fleet flagship, the Project 11356 Grigorovich- invasion of February 2022, contractions of 3.4% and
class frigate Admiral Makarov. Again, Ukraine’s use of 2.3% are projected for 2022 and 2023.
novel capabilities and combinations of capabilities, After increasing rapidly in the early years (2011–
as well as audacious tactics, has hampered Black 15) of the State Armament Programme (SAP) to 2020,
Sea Fleet operations. That said, the Russian Navy military expenditure slowed and declined in real
continued to display an ability to conduct operations terms in 2016–18 before recovering to a modest extent
on a global basis. These included several, albeit in 2019. Growth in real terms in 2019 and 2020 was
relatively limited, joint manoeuvres with the Chinese followed by a decline in 2021 when inflation rose to
navy in the Western Pacific, including in the waters 6.7% from an average of 3.6% in 2017–20. With the
around Japan. exception of 2020, when Russian GDP dipped amid
There were a number of important additions to the coronavirus pandemic, the proportion of GDP
the submarine-fleet inventory. The second Project allocated to total military spending fell below 4% in
955A Borey-A nuclear-powered ballistic-missile recent years until the revised 2022 budget following
submarine (SSBN) and the second Project 08851 the invasion of Ukraine.
Yasen-M nuclear-powered guided-missile submarine, The scale of the annual state defence order (SDO)
which were commissioned at the end of 2021, have for 2021 and 2022 has not been revealed but appears to
both joined the Pacific Fleet, boosting its capabilities. be approximately RUB1.5 trillion (USD21.4 billion) in
A third Project 08551 Yasen-M was undergoing sea both years, which means it is declining in real terms.
trials in mid-2022. July saw the commissioning of Monitoring Russian military spending in 2022
the new nuclear-powered special-mission submarine was complicated by a Ministry of Finance decision to
Belgorod, although there remains continuing limit the publication of data on the implementation
uncertainty over the operational status of the of the federal budget and, from April, only provide
Poseidon nuclear-powered and potentially nuclear- figures for total income and expenditure. The Federal
tipped large uninhabited underwater vehicle that it is Treasury initially followed suit but later resumed
designed to carry. The final Project 941UM Typhoon- publication of detailed figures, issuing a report of
class SSBN, which had for some time essentially been spending during the first half of the year and then
a reserve asset for training and trials, now appears to in July. During January–July, Russia’s core ‘National
have been retired. Defence’ budget amounted to RUB2.89tr (USD41.3bn),
Otherwise, additions to the fleet have been more than 19% of total budget expenditure,
limited, reflecting the continuing poor performance compared with the 14.8% set out in budget law for
of the naval-industrial base. This has no doubt been 2022. Total military spending amounted to RUB3.68tr
exacerbated by additional Western sanctions. The (USD52.6bn), almost one-quarter of the total and an
Russia and Eurasia 161

Increase
Kazakhstan
USD1.88bn

Tajikistan
USD0.11bn

Russia*
USD87.91bn

Belarus
USD0.82bn

Russia and Eurasia


Armenia
USD0.75bn Ukraine**
Moldova USD3.66bn
USD0.05bn

Georgia Azerbaijan
USD0.34bn USD2.64bn
Decrease

*Total defence expenditure (in line with NATO definition) based on official budget data given in 2023 budget.
Kyrgyzstan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan **Official 2022 budget. Actual spending expected to be much higher. The official 2023 defence budget of
n.k n.k n.k UAH1.14tr (USD31bn) is almost 9 times the 2022 official level. Significant real cut in 2022 due to 21% inflation rate.

[1] Map illustrating 2022 planned defence-spending levels (in USDbn at market
Real % Change (2021–22) exchange rates), as well as the annual real percentage change in planned
More than 20% increase Between 0% and 3% decrease defence spending between 2021 and 2022 (at constant 2015 prices and exchange
Between 10% and 20% increase Between 3% and 10% decrease rates). Percentage changes in defence spending can vary considerably from
year to year, as states revise the level of funding allocated to defence. Changes
Between 3% and 10% increase Between 10% and 20% decrease indicated here highlight the short-term trend in planned defence spending
Between 0% and 3% increase More than 20% decrease between 2021 and 2022. Actual spending changes prior to 2021, and projected
spending levels post-2022, are not reflected.
ε Estimate Spending 2% of GDP or above Insufficient data
©IISS

▲ Map 4 Russia and Eurasia: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy)1

estimated 4.5% of GDP. However, this total did not pressure from sanctions and living standards were
reflect the full cost to Russia of the war with Ukraine, being depressed. Beyond equipment and operational
as the evidence suggested that various aspects of costs, Russia was also reportedly seeking to increase
the conflict were funded from other sections of the the size of its armed forces.
budget. The share of GDP was probably nearer to The submission of the draft Russian 2023 budget
6–7% at a time when the Russian economy was under to the State Duma on 30 September did offer more
transparency in revealing that, as expected, final
▼ Figure 8 Russia: defence expenditure as % of GDP allocations for defence in 2022 were much higher
than initially budgeted. The original core 2022 budget
5 of RUB3.50tr (USD50.0bn) was revised upward to
4.03
3.84
4.04 4.12 RUB4.68tr (USD66.9bn), with corresponding total
4 3.78 3.71
military expenditure increasing from an estimated
RUB4.98tr (USD71.1bn) to RUB6.15tr (USD87.9bn).
3
Using purchasing-power-parity rates of conversion
% of GDP

to better reflect the lower costs of production and


2
labour in Russia, total Russian military expenditure
is estimated to be USD192bn in 2022, the third
1
largest globally behind the United States and China.
0
The official projection for 2023 shows that military
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 expenditure will be maintained at this higher level,
162 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Table 9 Russia: defence expenditure, 2015–22 (trillion roubles, current prices)


Year ‘National Defence’ (‘ND’) Annual state defence order (SDO) Total military expenditure1
RUB (trillion) % of GDP RUB (trillion) 2
% of ‘ND’ RUB (trillion) % of GDP % change
real terms
2022R3 4.680 3.13 n.k. n.k. 6.153 4.12 +7.3
2022B3 3.502 2.68 1.500 42.8 4.975 3.80 -1.6
2021 3.573 2.73 1.500 42.0 4.859 3.71 -6.5
2020 3.169 2.87 1.500 47.3 4.460 4.04 +5.2
2019 2.997 2.73 1.500 50.1 4.211 3.84 +3.8
2018 2.827 2.72 1.450 51.3 3.928 3.78 -3.6
2017 2.6664 2.90 1.400 52.5 3.7044 4.03 -8.2
2016 2.9824 3.48 1.600 53.7 3.8314 4.47 -7.4
2015 3.181 3.83 1.800 56.6 4.026 4.85 +16.5
1. According to NATO definition. GDP figures from IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2022. 2. Approximate; the annual SDO is classified, but every
a few years an approximate total is released. 3. 2022B shows the initial 2022 budget, and 2022R shows the revised budget following the invasion of
Ukraine. 4. Excludes a one-off payment to reduce accumulated debts of defence-industry enterprises under the scheme of state-guaranteed credits.
If this debt payment is included, the total share of GDP rises to 5.4% in 2016 and 4.2% in 2017.

with the core budget held at RUB4.98tr (USD71.1bn) Russia to curtail this test schedule. Deployment
and total funding reaching an estimated RUB6.65tr looks more likely in late 2023 or 2024. Testing of
(USD95.0bn). the new Tsirkon hypersonic missile for surface
ships and submarines continues, with optimistic
Weapons procurement claims that it will enter service in 2022–23. While
Due to the war and the imposition of sanctions, it was reported last year that a contract had been
less information is available on the development signed with Almaz-Antey for the delivery of ten
and procurement of new weapons than in previous new S-500 air-defence systems, scheduled to start
years. But the limited evidence suggests that many in the first half of 2022, there have been no reports
new systems are behind schedule and the rate of of its deployment. Still, there have been claims that
production of the latest weapons and other military some elements of it are in production. The medium-
hardware has fallen. The fulfilment of the main range S-350 Vityaz (RS-SA-28) air-defence system
success indicator used, the share of modern weapons is reported to have been first deployed in 2020, but
in the active stock of the armed forces, is now less the available evidence suggests that very few have
frequently cited. entered service. Only six ‘fifth generation’ Su-57
The SDO is now based on the SAP to 2027. Felon fighters had been supplied by September 2022
President Vladimir Putin signed off on it in early under the present contract, and the rate of production
2018, with total funding of approximately USD19tr is such that the supply of a planned 76 by the end
plus an additional USD1tr for infrastructure relating of 2027 is beginning to look in doubt. Development
to the deployment of new systems. It is claimed that of the new Checkmate fighter continues, with a first
work is under way on its successor for 2024–33, but no flight test planned for 2024. But it remains unclear
details have been provided. Its drafting must now be who will buy it, as the Russian air force appears to
extremely difficult given the current highly uncertain have no interest in acquiring the aircraft.
military and economic circumstances, rendering any Naval deliveries have been limited in 2022 and
forecasting and planning highly problematic. include the new strategic Borey-A-class submarine
However, some details of new systems have Knyaz Oleg; the multi-role Yasen-M (Severodvinsk
become available. Former chief of Roscosmos II) boat Krasnoyarsk; and two Project 677 Lada-class
Dmitri Rogozin in early 2022 claimed that the new, (Petersburg) diesel-electric submarines, Kronstadt
long-overdue Sarmat heavy intercontinental ballistic and Velikiye Luki. The Project 09582 special-purpose
missile would be deployed by the end of 2022, though submarine Belgorod was handed over to the navy
it had only had one flight test, in April, and will in July 2022 and will enter service with the Pacific
need more than that (some analysts estimate at least Fleet. It is associated with the future Poseidon
ten) before it can be approved for service, though nuclear-powered and potentially nuclear-tipped
it remains unclear whether war exigencies will lead large uninhabited underwater vehicle still under
Russia and Eurasia 163

development. The main new surface ships will be the delivery numbers. Moreover, as stocks of imported
Project 22350 (Gorshkov) frigate Admiral Golovko, likely systems and components have become exhausted,
to be the first ship equipped with the Tsirkon missile, the manufacture of some products has come to a
and the Project 20380 (Steregushchiy II) corvette halt. They include the Ansat helicopter, which has
Rezkiy. As for the Admiral Kuznetsov aircraft carrier a Pratt & Whitney power unit, and the Czech L-410
under repair and limited modernisation, delays keep small transport plane assembled in Russia, which has
arising and it is now unlikely that it will return to General Electric turboprop engines.
service before the end of 2024. There is little evidence Analysis of Russian weapons captured in
of anything but very limited building of the new Ukraine has revealed extensive use of foreign
Armata tank and some Russian military specialists electronic components. Now that sanctions on
think that it will never enter serial production given integrated circuits and many other components
its high unit cost and considerations that it would have been tightened, there is a question as to the

Russia and Eurasia


offer capability outcomes too marginal to justify its ability of the defence industry to maintain the
adoption. This may also apply to the new Kurganets output of some weapons. However, it is likely that
and Bumerang armoured vehicles, now not often quite large reserve stocks of imported components
mentioned in the specialist military media. were built up, following long-established Soviet
practice. Belarus, meanwhile, has been an important
Defence industry source of supply of electronic components suitable
It has become difficult to follow the development of for use in military hardware; its role may increase.
the Russian defence industry in quantitative terms The Russian government is engaged in a vigorous
as published data has become increasingly scarce, import-substitution campaign, but rapid results are
especially since the start of the war. unlikely. It may prove difficult to obtain suitable
By the summer of 2022 there were mounting advanced production equipment in some cases,
reports of defence companies working with two or for example for integrated circuits. Russia’s sole
three shifts in sectors such as munitions, armoured volume producer of microchips, Mikron, is able to
vehicles, artillery systems and high-precision missiles. produce only at the 180–190-nanometre level, with
This followed government measures in the summer a modest annual output by international standards.
facilitating the transfer of companies to defence work Taiwan was fabricating more advanced chips
on a temporary basis and requiring some workers to and processors to Russian designs, but sanctions
perform overtime or night work and delay holidays will be restricting Russia’s ability to secure such
in order to ‘optimise’ work on orders for the armed technologies from abroad.
forces. Repair facilities also appear to have become Notable organisational changes in the defence
more active than usual, and Prime Minister Mikhail industry in 2022 include completion of the merger
Mishustin in early September approved a decree of the Sukhoi and MiG design bureaus, in June 2022,
for the quick establishment of two new tank and while the United Aircraft Corporation is in the process
armoured-vehicle repair facilities, one near Moscow of converting from a holding company to a fully
and the other in the Rostov region. integrated single company. In July 2022 there was a
There are reports that sanctions are disrupting the significant change of official personnel. Yuri Borisov,
work of defence enterprises, though some of these deputy prime minister responsible for oversight of
have turned out to be misleading. They include a the defence industry since May 2018, was replaced
report that the vast Uralvagonzavod tank and rail- by the industry minister since 2012, Denis Manturov,
wagon works had ceased military production because who retains that ministerial post. Borisov became
of an inability to obtain imported components. In director general of Roscosmos, replacing Rogozin.
reality, batches of new tanks and armoured vehicles The diversification of the defence industry into
were still being delivered several months after the civil high-technology fields continues with a 26.7%
start of the war, including T-90M Proryv tanks in early share of civil and dual-use output in 2021, a modest
September. The ground forces also took delivery of increase on the 25.6% of 2020. The Rosatom nuclear
some BREM-1M armoured recovery vehicles, and corporation is at the fore in diversification: its civil
batches of modernised BMP-1K, BRM-1K and BMP-3 share was 42% in 2020 with a goal of 48% by the end
infantry fighting vehicles, but overall for the ground of 2022 and 53% in 2024. That process for much of
forces, combat losses in Ukraine dwarfed 2022 the defence industry, however, may be pushed off
164 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Table 10 Russia: Volume of military-technical cooperation and arms exports (USD billion, current)
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
FSVTS military-technical cooperation 15.0 15.0 15.0 15.2 15.6 14.6
Inc ‘Rosoboronexport’ 13.0 13.4 13.7 11.0 13.0 (13.0)1
TsAMTO arms sales 11.2 12.0 14.3 12.4 11.1
% of world arms sales 14.1 14.8 18.7 15.5 13.0
1. Rosoboronexport’s claimed approximate total, possibly overstated. FSVTS: Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation. TsAMTO: Centre for
the Analysis of the World Trade in Arms, Moscow. The centre measures all arms exports in terms of current US dollars. Note, the centre has revised its
data for 2016–19 on the basis of new information presenting a slightly more modest volume for Russia.

course by the war and sanctions. Given the scale the Russian media that the fulfilment of some export
of equipment losses during the war, it may prove contracts is being delayed – aircraft for Algeria and
necessary to increase the state defence order over the artillery systems for Vietnam being examples – to
next few years, reducing the scope for diversification. prioritise production for the domestic armed forces,
There have been mounting reports that the while the Philippines cancelled a contract for 16
defence industry is facing a shortage of labour, Mi-17 helicopters to avoid US sanctions.
especially personnel with higher education, Indeed, Russia has been resorting to arms imports
including IT specialists. In June 2022, Borisov said to meet urgent needs posed by its invasion of
that about 400,000 workers were needed, including Ukraine, particularly Iranian Shahed 136 direct-attack
120,000 graduates. Meeting this challenge may well munitions. Russia seriously lags in strike uninhabited
necessitate increased salaries and wages. aerial vehicle development. It is held back by an
inability to develop and manufacture in quantity
Arms exports suitable small piston engines, with their import
In recent years, the value of Russian arms exports has blocked by sanctions. There have also been claims
been maintained at a stable level, notwithstanding that North Korea has sent munitions but, contrary to
the imposition of sanctions on some countries opting the expectations of some commentators, there is no
to buy weapons from Russia and the impact of the evidence of China supplying weapons to Russia.
coronavirus pandemic. In fact, the volume of sales
increased in 2020. Russia’s own measure of export Regional defence economics
volumes relates to so-called military-industrial The war in Ukraine has had a dramatic economic
cooperation, which includes sales of weapons and impact on countries in Central Asia. Inflation rates,
other military equipment, components, licence sales, already high in 2021, rose even further in all countries
repairs, servicing and training. The annual volume is primarily due to increased food prices. Balancing this
reported by the Federal Service for Military-Technical are the ‘unexpected spillovers’ that the IMF identifies
Cooperation (FSVTS). The valuation of Russian as the relocation of workers and firms from Russia
arms exports is becoming more complex, as there is with associated money and capital inflows which
increasing reliance on payment in national currencies strengthened the consumption component of GDP.
rather than US dollars and on non-transparent barter Furthermore, the spike in oil prices has bolstered
and offset deals. the revenues of the oil exporters in the region –
Russia’s share of the global arms market has Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The
been declining when valued in current US dollars. short-term outlook, however, does face downside
Prospects for 2022 are uncertain. Speaking in August, risks through the exposure of these economies to
Aleksandr Mikheev, head of Rosoboronexport, said that of Russia. Several countries rely on remittances,
that sales had reached USD5.4bn, suggesting that the primarily from Russia, which are threatened by the
annual total may turn out to be less than in 2021. Some impact of sanctions on Russia’s economy and indeed
potential purchases appear to be on hold as importers the cost of war. Russian real GDP is estimated to
fear falling foul of US sanctions. A deal with Turkey have contracted by 3.4% in 2022 with a further 2.3%
to buy a second batch of S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler) contraction in 2023.
air-defence systems has been signed in principle, but Defence spending in the region is difficult
the issue of part localisation of production in Turkey to ascertain for certain countries – for example
has not been resolved. There have been reports in Kyrgyzstan and Turkmenistan – but of the countries
Russia and Eurasia 165

that The Military Balance assesses, it is evident that there moves to empower and strengthen resilience in local
has been strong growth in recent years. Armenia’s administrations and develop civil-defence measures
defence budget has grown from USD435m in 2017 were also important. The 2016 Strategic Defence
to USD749m in 2022 and is projected to increase Bulletin outlined reform plans and guided the
to USD1.1bn in 2023. As a proportion of GDP, the strategic development of the armed forces. Defence
country allocated 4.4% on average to defence between assistance by Western states since 2014 significantly
2017 and 2022, spiking to 5.57% in 2023. Growth is also aided the development of institutions by boosting
evident in Azerbaijan where spending increased from capability in areas such as cyber security and
USD1.5bn in 2017 to USD2.6bn in 2022 and reaching supplying limited amounts of military equipment,
USD3.1bn in 2023, thus maintaining a 3:1 ratio with including Javelin anti-armour systems and counter-
Armenia’s defence budget over this period. Growth battery radars.
in Kazakhstan’s budget has also been significant, Defence education has also been important. Since

Russia and Eurasia


from USD1.3bn in 2017 to USD1.9bn in 2022. Across 2008, NATO has delivered a Defence Education
the region, high rates of inflation erode increases, or Enhancement Programme (DEEP) that has been
result in cuts, in defence spending in real terms, an used as a framework to deliver training assistance
issue that will be exacerbated until the elevated rates in a number of countries, ranging from Armenia to
seen in 2021 and 2022 start to abate. Tunisia. A number of NATO trust funds, headed by
The economic impact on Ukraine following individual member states, also delivered targeted
Russia’s invasion has been severe. Real GDP is assistance in defence-transformation initiatives. DEEP
projected to have contracted by 35% in 2022 while projects in Ukraine included assistance to Ukrainian
inflation rose from 9.4% in 2021 to 20.6% in 2022. forces in developing professional military education
Projections for 2023 are difficult due to the high levels capacity, as well as plans to develop professional
of uncertainty around the trajectory of the war in the non-commissioned officers. Some Western states also
short term. The instability caused by the war means delivered training assistance in Ukraine, including
it is difficult to determine the actual level of military at the Yaroviv training centre. This led to the
spending in Ukraine in 2022. The original 2022 generation of a force that had since 2014–15 cycled
budget came to UAH131bn (USD3.6bn), presenting a large number of personnel through the front lines
a 10.8% real cut from 2021 owing to the spike in the in Ukraine’s east, with those personnel out of regular
inflation rate. Actual spending was expected to be service going into reserve. It also sparked a culture
much higher. Indeed, the official 2023 defence budget change that included the development of a group of
of UAH1.14tr (USD31bn) is almost nine times the officers and non-commissioned officers who are more
2022 official level. empowered than their predecessors to take decisions
on the battlefield.
UKRAINE As 2022 wore on, and Ukrainian losses mounted,
continued training support became more important.
Russia first invaded Ukraine in 2014. The seizure Mobilisation has led to a significant influx of recruits.
of Crimea in March 2014, and Russia’s subsequent However, with many training grounds in Ukraine
fomenting of discord and political and military under threat, and given the Western decision not
support for proxy forces in Donetsk and Luhansk to deploy training troops to Ukraine itself, this
regions, provided the impetus for significant changes expanded training initiative saw the development of
in Ukraine’s armed forces. Up to then, they had been plans to train Ukrainians in European countries. Since
significantly degraded through disinvestment in the mid-year, the United Kingdom has led a training
post-Soviet period. programme that at its inception aimed to train 10,000
Reform activities after 2014 were designed to Ukrainian personnel by the end of 2022; it also
improve not only the capability of Ukraine’s armed includes instructors from NATO allies and partners.
forces, but also its defence and security institutions. Training includes modules on weapons skills, basic
These reforms were designed to produce armed patrolling and combat tactics, and battlefield first aid
forces and a defence sector more aligned with in a compressed five-week package. According to
Western military standards, and that were capable of the UK Ministry of Defence, this has, over time, also
territorial defence. Volunteer battalions were formed, seen Ukrainians bringing with them their battlefield
and territorial-defence units were established. But experiences, which have brought mutual benefits for
166 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Figure 9 Ukraine: selected Ukrainian main battle tank (MBT) upgrades

Ukraine inherited a large fleet of main battle tanks (MBTs) from the former Soviet army, after the dissolution of the Soviet Union
in December 1991. (Ukraine had earlier declared independence in August 1991.) This fleet included examples of all three of the
major Soviet MBT families in frontline service in 1991: the T-64, T-72, and T-80. Ukraine’s post-Soviet inventory has included a
notably large fleet of T-64 series vehicles, as the primary factory for the construction of T-64s – and the home of its design
bureau – was (and still is) located in Kharkiv. The country has continued to develop upgrades for all three of these Soviet-era
MBT families, with the most recent examples shown below. The heritage of the T-72AMT and T-64BM2 Bulat is readily apparent;
the base-T-84, meanwhile, is a variant of the Soviet T-80 and was designed in Kharkiv in the 1990s. Prior to Russia’s full-scale
invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, these upgrades were principally carried out at the Kharkiv, Kyiv, and Lviv Armoured Plants.
Combat losses, and vehicles captured from Russian forces and received from Eastern European operators of Soviet-era tank
fleets, mean that Ukraine’s tank fleet is now in transition, while authorities look to improve overall capability with more modern
armour, including from foreign suppliers.

T-64BM2 Bulat
Upgrades:
 Thermal-imaging gunner’s sight
 Improved fire-control systems
 Nizh explosive reactive armour
 Bar armour
 Upgraded 1,000 hp engine
 Improved communications
and GPS systems

T-84 Oplot-M
Upgrades:
 New welded turret
 Thermal-imaging gunner’s sight
 Thermal-imaging commander’s
panoramic periscope
 Improved fire-control systems
 Duplet explosive reactive armour
 Varta soft-kill active protection system
 Upgraded 1,200 hp engine
 Auxiliary power unit

T-72AMT
Upgrades:
 Improved
fire-control systems
 Nizh explosive
reactive armour
 Bar armour
 Improved
communications
and GPS systems

©IISS
Russia and Eurasia 167

Western training personnel. The European Union also around the supply of transport vehicles. The civilian
launched a training initiative in October that will see car market has become the main source for increasing
Ukrainian personnel trained in Germany and Poland. the mobility of these formations. Here, too, private
funding has been vital. Limited funds, even before
Adaptation and innovation this latest invasion, meant that the Ukrainian forces
During 2022, the Ukrainian armed forces that had were already using pickups, jeeps, minibuses and
developed since 2014 blunted Russia’s attempt to minivans, as well as cars. This was partly down to
seize the capital and occupy other cities, including insufficient funds to acquire more suitable vehicles,
Kharkiv and Mykolaiv. The post-2014 Ukrainian but also the limited availability of four-wheel-drive
forces, which had been developed for what Kyiv vehicles on the second-hand market, including in
termed anti-terrorist operations and, after 2018, joint- Europe. Dry conditions during the offensive in
forces operations, were in 2022 faced with a different Kharkiv somewhat hid the weaknesses of such

Russia and Eurasia


type of war due to the geographic scope of Russia’s vehicles, but mobility challenges increase as weather
assault and the greater numbers of artillery and (at conditions change, raising requirements for military-
least initially) personnel among the assault troops. By style vehicles or civilian 4x4 vehicles through winter
late year this force had regained territory in the north and into the spring.
and forced a Russian retreat from Kherson in the
south by drawing upon its strengths and exploiting Aerial reconnaissance and surveillance
the weaknesses of the Russian ground forces. Combat While some foreign and Ukrainian uninhabited aerial
losses of personnel and equipment mounted on both vehicles are available, commercial quadcopters have
sides during the year, but Ukrainian forces were able also proved their utility at the tactical level. Ukrainian
to gain advantage in several important areas through specialists consider these to primarily be the DJI
adaptation, flexibility and innovation. Mavic 3, DJI Matrice 300 and 30, as well as the Autel
Evo 2, including a version with a thermal-imaging
Communications camera. These have been primarily supplied by
The provision of robust communications systems, charitable foundations and volunteer organisations
including the much-reported Starlink, has been an or purchased by individual servicemen and their
important factor. The distribution of these systems – families. While such devices have proven vulnerable
reportedly down to company level and below – has to Russian electronic-warfare interference, small-
given Ukrainian commanders the capacity to correct arms fire and weather conditions, as well as operator
artillery fire by aerial surveillance and to maintain error, they have rapidly proliferated in the Ukrainian
operational control of distributed units, including armed forces. The quadcopters have been important
those on the offensive. It was reported that these were in enabling junior commanders to deploy organic
important in maintaining control of forces in efforts reconnaissance assets and have improved information
to regain territory around Kharkiv and Kherson, sharing on a horizontal basis (between units) as well
among others. There was concern that these signals as vertically (with higher-formation headquarters).
failed at times, such as when Ukrainian forces moved They have helped increase the effectiveness of
into previously occupied territory. This highlighted Ukrainian artillery, principally mortars and towed-
the importance of counter-jamming activity and the and self-propelled artillery, and have also been used
measures data providers may be taking to prevent to deliver munitions directly onto targets. Moreover,
the exploitation of any captured material by Russian they have had an important psychological effect
troops. At the same time, many Russian troops in being used to directly target troops, including in
relied on what turned out to be vulnerable systems, ostensibly defensive positions.
including commercial radios and mobile phones;
Ukraine’s security services regularly published Artillery
intercepted calls for propaganda purposes. Ukraine’s inventory of legacy Soviet-era artillery
systems has been depleted by combat loss, overuse
Transport and also because the high rate of fire has caused
The rapid increase in personnel strength after ammunition-supply issues. Foreign assistance has
mobilisation, and the wide front of operations and supplied large numbers of 152-millimetre shells, but
related mobility and supply demands, created issues foreign stocks are reducing too. Ukrainian analysts
168 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

have said that the limited numbers of artillery to actively search for enemy armoured vehicles using
pieces, coupled with ammunition challenges and mobile teams with four-wheel-drive vehicles and
the wide operational front, have caused Ukraine’s buggies employing anti-armour weapons, including
artillery forces to be dispersed, with engagements the Stugna-P, Corsar, 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot)
conducted by small units rather than batteries and and the Western-supplied FGM-148 Javelin. At the
higher formations. In these instances, accuracy was same time, the groups use grenade launchers and
of increased importance and, even in distributed NLAWs in close combat.
operations, the arrival of more precise artillery
pieces from abroad has helped decentralised Aviation
operations to remain effective. Precision-guided Although Russia has proven unable to establish
Western-made projectiles such as the GPS-guided control of the air, its aerospace forces and missile
M982 Excalibur and SMArt 155, suitable for newly strikes have forced Ukraine’s aviation forces to
supplied 155mm systems, are said to have been disperse in order to survive, in turn increasing
particularly important. Given the central role of supply and maintenance demands. Although
rocket artillery to the capabilities of both Russia Ukraine has lost a number of aircraft and helicopters,
and Ukraine, the arrival in Kyiv’s inventory of the it has succeeded in maintaining a level of effective
M142 HIMARS and M270 MLRS systems has been capability. Western-supplied equipment has been
important. Ukraine’s widespread use of GMLRS important. Although there has been no supply of
missiles has turned these systems into a key part of Soviet-era aircraft, weapons have been sent, including
offensive operations and, because of the increased AGM-88 HARM anti-radiation missiles, which
range they offer over Ukraine’s legacy systems, has have been employed by Ukrainian aircraft against
enabled Ukrainian forces to hold at risk Russian Russian air defences. Moreover, Ukraine managed
command posts, supply depots and other targets to retain some S-300 and Buk air-defence systems
previously out of range. It has also reportedly and has used them to defend rear areas. This has
enabled Ukraine to assign to these assets some tasks led Russia to largely abandon attempts to penetrate
previously performed by tactical aircraft. deep into Ukrainian airspace with crewed aircraft
and switch to stand-off munitions; in turn, Russia’s
Anti-armour weapons frequent use of systems like cruise missiles (along
Western deliveries of anti-armour weapons have with increasingly effective Ukrainian defences) has
expanded Ukraine’s inventories of these systems, reduced the available numbers of these systems. This
ranging from lightweight disposable grenade pattern was established before the receipt of modern
launchers to more advanced NLAWs and Javelins; Western surface-to-air missiles, such as NASAMS and
small numbers of the latter had been supplied IRIS-T. On the battlefield, man-portable air-defence
after 2018. Some Ukrainian specialists claim that systems (MANPADs) have become Ukraine’s
the outcome of this has been a significant loss of primary air-defence assets. Indeed, the threat from
Russian armour as well as an apparent shift in the MANPADS has forced tactical adaptation on both
way these forces operate, now looking to avoid close- sides, with ground-attack aircraft and helicopters
quarters battle and instead focusing on long-range having to not only fly extremely low but also adopt
engagements, often from concealed locations. In novel ‘lofted launch’ tactics for unguided missiles,
turn, this has encouraged Ukrainian anti-tank units reducing the effectiveness of these attacks.
Russia and Eurasia 169

Arms procurements and deliveries – Russia and Eurasia


Significant events in 2022

UKRAINE’S DEFENCE INDUSTRY


FEBRUARY
Russia’s armed forces have attacked defence-industrial facilities across Ukraine following Moscow’s full-scale
invasion. Targets have included facilities in the land, sea and aerospace sectors, including plants capable
of repairing armoured vehicles and also missile production facilities. While many facilities have suffered
visible damage, the precise impact on defence-industrial capacity is less clear. Continued Ukrainian
combat capability indicates that local maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) capacity persists, even if
some defence equipment newly supplied in 2022 has been repaired outside Ukraine. Meanwhile, plans
to reorganise UkrOboronProm, the state-owned conglomerate, have been postponed indefinitely. The
company is now seeking to provide MRO capabilities for much of the NATO-standard equipment donated to

Russia and Eurasia


Ukraine both in the short term and as part of a post-war development plan. Plans include the licensed production
of foreign systems and a Ukraine Startup Fund; the latter will encompass 13 development initiatives including for new
armed UAVs, new vehicles and dual-use technology.

KAZAKHSTAN’S DEFENCE-INDUSTRIAL AMBITIONS


JULY
Kazakhstan’s defence minister informed parliament of plans to increase both defence exports and the share
of domestically produced products in the armed forces’ inventory. This followed a series of earlier defence-
industrial announcements. In May,  Kazakhstan Engineering  (KE)  – owned since 2019 by the Ministry
of Industry  and Infrastructural Development – signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish
Aerospace Industries (TAI) to set up a final assembly line for the Anka uninhabited air vehicle (UAV). There are
reports that a contract for three aircraft was signed in October 2021, with deliveries due in 2023. In February,
the ministry announced a series of initiatives, including the assembly of Mi-171Sh helicopters (the assembly
of other variants began in 2019) and the establishment of an Airbus maintenance centre. Kazakhstan’s defence-
industrial modernisation process has so far seen agreements with foreign firms, typically through joint ventures,
rather than the local design of platforms. This strategy has had some success, with several dozen Airbus H145 helicopters
and over 100 Arlan 4x4 protected patrol vehicles delivered to Kazakh customers so far. Export contracts are rarer, though
in August, Eurocopter  Kazakhstan Engineering (an Airbus–KE joint venture) began delivering H125 helicopters to
Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Emergency Situations, following an export contract signed with Kyrgyzstan in March. 

RUSSIAN DEFENCE EXPORTS


AUGUST
Rosoboronexport claimed that it had signed agreements worth more than USD14.5bn during the
Army-2022 exhibition. Companies from Belarus, China, India, Iran and Thailand travelled to the show,
notwithstanding international sanctions on Russia. The war in Ukraine, and sanctions on Russia, have raised
questions over the future of Russia’s defence exports. There is the potential for sanctions to be imposed
on prospective purchasers, while Russia’s customers may also make judgements on the effectiveness of its
military equipment and combat losses may make Moscow prioritise domestic deliveries over exports. In
August, the Philippines announced it was cancelling a November 2021 contract with Russian Helicopters for
16 Mi-17 medium transport helicopters worth PHP12.7bn (USD257.84m). Similarly, Egypt’s 2018 contract for
Su-35 combat aircraft seems to have been either postponed or cancelled. Continued sanctions will likely make it
harder for Russia to export defence materiel. This may lead Moscow to attempt to secure exports by setting more flexible
terms, offering yet more advanced equipment or looking to find new customers.

RUSSIA LOOKS TO SECURE


DEFENCE-INDUSTRY WORKFORCE
SEPTEMBER
President Vladimir Putin signed legislation outlining  harsher prison sentences for desertion,  looting  and
evading mobilisation. These measures include a sentence of up to ten years for violating the terms of a
contract under the state defence order, causing damage worth at least 5% of the order’s contract value, or
failing to fulfil it. Earlier, in August, it had been reported that Rostec was preventing key managers from
travelling on holiday. While this was ostensibly intended to help fulfil the state defence order, it may also
have been designed to stop personnel fleeing the country. The loss in Ukraine of large amounts of Russia’s
most modern equipment is  likely fuelling anxiety  over  defence production. Moreover, Russia’s efforts to
substitute domestic for foreign defence components since 2014 have seen limited success, and analysis of
defence equipment damaged and destroyed in Ukraine has pointed to continued dependencies, including in
microelectronics. Tighter international sanctions after February will increase the challenge for Russia in maintaining the
development and production of defence equipment. 
170 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Table 11 Selected equipment donations to Ukraine, February–September 2022


Armoured fighting Artillery Missiles Air defence
vehicles
Country MBT IFV, APC MRL Howitzer MANPATS* MANPADS Coastal Air- Short- SPAAG
and AUV defence launched to long-
range
SAM
Australia

Canada

Croatia

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

France

Germany

Greece

Italy

Latvia

Lithuania
Macedonia,
North
Netherlands

Norway

Poland

Portugal

Slovakia

Slovenia

Spain

Sweden

United Kingdom

United States

*crew operated

Origin of equipment: Delivered Pending


Western
Soviet/Warsaw Pact era n/a
Both n/a
Russia and Eurasia 171

RESERVE
Armenia ARM Some mobilisation reported, possibly 210,000 with military service
within 15 years
Armenian Dram AMD 2021 2022 2023
GDP AMD 6.98tr 8.04tr
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
USD 13.9bn 17.7bn
per capita USD 4,701 5,972
Army ε40,000
Growth % 5.7 7.0
FORCES BY ROLE
Inflation % 7.2 8.5
SPECIAL FORCES
Def bdgt [a] AMD 312bn 340bn 501bn 1 SF bde
USD 622m 749m MANOEUVRE
USD1=AMD 501.36 454.30 Mechanised
[a] Includes imported military equipment, excludes military 1 (Special) corps (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn(-), 5 MR regt, 1 sigs
pensions bn, 1 maint bn)

Russia and Eurasia


Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) 1 (2nd) corps (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn, 2 MR regt, 1 lt inf regt,
609 1 arty bn)
1 (3rd) corps (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn, 5 MR regt, 1 arty bn, 1
344 MRL bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 maint bn)
2008 2015 2022 1 (5th) corps (2 MR regt)
Other
Population 3,000,756
1 indep MR trg bde
COMBAT SUPPORT
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
1 arty bde
Male 9.6% 2.9% 3.0% 3.4% 24.3% 5.6% 1 MRL bde
Female 8.6% 2.6% 2.7% 3.4% 25.8% 8.1% 1 AT regt
1 AD bde
Capabilities 2 AD regt
The armed forces’ focus is defence and maintenance of the 2 (radiotech) AD regt
territorial integrity of the state. The country is involved in a 1 engr regt
longstanding dispute with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh. SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
Fighting flared again in September 2022, the worst since the short 1 SRBM regt
war in September 2020. The goal of moving the armed forces
from a conscript to a contract-based force remains an ambition, EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
though with no timetable apparent. The 2020 National Security Available estimates should be treated with caution
Strategy unsurprisingly identified Azerbaijan as Armenia’s primary following losses suffered in the fighting since late 2020 in
security concern, while also highlighting the role it claims Turkey Nagorno-Karabakh
plays in supporting Azerbaijan’s policy aims. The country retains ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
close ties with Russia, and irrespective of Moscow’s invasion of MBT 109: 3 T-54; 5 T-55; ε100 T-72A/B; 1 T-90A
Ukraine, Russia was viewed still as Armenia’s strategic partner as of
RECCE 12 BRM-1K (CP)
late 2022. Yerevan has also begun to build defence relations with
India. The 2021 delivery of counter-battery radars was followed in IFV 140: 100 BMP-1; 25 BMP-1K (CP); 15 BMP-2
September 2022 with an order that included the Pinaka multiple APC 150
rocket launcher and anti-tank weapons. Armenia is a member of APC (T) 20 MT-LB
the CSTO, with military doctrine continuing to be influenced by APC (W) 130: 108 BTR-60 (incl variants); 18 BTR-70;
Russian thinking. Armenia is also engaged in a NATO Individual 4 BTR-80
Partnership Action Plan. Personnel train regularly and take part in AUV Tigr
annual CSTO exercises and in bilateral drills with Russia. Equipment
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
is mainly of Russian origin. Agreements have been reached in
recent years to purchase modern Russian systems, though only AEV MT-LB
in small quantities. Serviceability and maintenance of mainly ARV BREhM-D; BREM-1
ageing aircraft have been a problem for the air force. There is some ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
capacity to manufacture defence equipment for the domestic MSL • SP 22+: 9 9P148 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 13
market, including electro-optics, light weapons and UAVs, but 9P149 Shturm (RS-AT-6 Spiral); 9K129 Kornet-E (RS-
Armenia is reliant on Russia for other equipment platforms and AT-14 Spriggan)
military systems. The government has set the goal of further
ARTILLERY 225
developing its domestic defence industry, while also looking to
improve the quality of systems fielded. SP 37: 122mm 9 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 28 2S3 Akatsiya
TOWED 122: 122mm 60 D-30; 152mm 62: 26 2A36
ACTIVE 42,900 (Army 40,000 Air/AD Aviation Giatsint-B; 2 D-1; 34 D-20
Forces (Joint) 1,100 other Air Defence Forces 1,800) MRL 54: 122mm up to 50 BM-21 Grad; 273mm 2 WM-80;
Paramilitary 4,300 300mm 2 9A52 Smerch
Conscript liability 24 months MOR 120mm 12 M120
172 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS


SRBM • Conventional 14: 7+ 9K72 Elbrus (RS-SS-1C Scud DEPLOYMENT
B); 3+ 9K79 Tochka (RS-SS-21 Scarab); 4 9K720 Iskander-E LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 31
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
ISR • Light Krunk SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 40
AIR DEFENCE
SAM FOREIGN FORCES
Medium-range 2K11 Krug (RS-SA-4 Ganef); S-75 Dvina
Russia 3,500: 1 mil base with (1 MR bde; 74 T-72; 80 BMP-
(RS-SA-2 Guideline); 9K37M Buk-M1 (RS-SA-11 Gadfly)
1; 80 BMP-2; 12 2S1; 12 BM-21); 1 ftr sqn with 18 MiG-29
Short-range 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); S-125 Pechora
Fulcrum; 4 Su-30SM Flanker H; 1 hel sqn with 11 Mi-24P
(RS-SA-3 Goa); 9K331MKM Tor-M2KM
Point-defence 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 9K35M Hind; 4 Mi-8AMTSh Hip; 4 Mi-8MT Hip; 2 SAM bty
Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 with S-300V (RS-SA-12 Gladiator/Giant); 1 SAM bty with
Gimlet); 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); 9K333 Verba (RS- Buk-M1-2 (RS-SA-11 Gadfly)
SA-29 Gizmo); 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
GUNS
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka
Azerbaijan AZE
TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2 Azerbaijani New Manat
2021 2022 2023
AZN
Air and Air Defence Aviation Forces 1,100 GDP AZN 92.9bn 119bn
1 Air & AD Joint Command USD 54.6bn 70.1bn
FORCES BY ROLE per capita USD 5,398 6,842
GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with Su-25/Su-25UBK Frogfoot Growth % 5.6 3.7

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Inflation % 6.7 12.2


AIRCRAFT 17 combat capable Def bdgt [a] AZN 4.59bn 4.49bn
FGA 4 Su-30SM Flanker H USD 2.70bn 2.64bn
ATK 13: up to 12 Su-25 Frogfoot; 1 Su-25UBK Frogfoot USD1=AZN 1.70 1.70
TPT 4: Heavy 3 Il-76 Candid; PAX 1 A319CJ
[a] Official defence budget. Excludes a significant proportion of
TRG 14: 4 L-39 Albatros; 10 Yak-52 procurement outlays.
HELICOPTERS
ATK 7 Mi-24P Hind Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
2.61
ISR 4: 2 Mi-24K Hind; 2 Mi-24R Hind (cbt spt)
MRH 14: 10 Mi-8MT (cbt spt); 4 Mi-8MTV-5 Hip
C2 2 Mi-9 Hip G (cbt spt) 1.15
TPT • Light 7 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite 2008 2015 2022
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Long-range S-300PT (RS-SA-10 Population 10,353,296
Grumble); S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble)
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
AAM • IR R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); SARH R-27R (RS-
AA-10A Alamo) Male 11.7% 3.7% 3.4% 4.1% 23.6% 3.2%
Female 10.5% 3.2% 2.9% 3.8% 25.1% 4.9%
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,300
Police Capabilities
FORCES BY ROLE The armed forces’ principal focus is territorial defence. There was
MANOEUVRE renewed fighting between Azerbaijani and Armenian forces in
Other September 2022, two years after a six-week war between the two
4 paramilitary bn over Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia has been the traditional defence
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE partner for Azerbaijan, but more recently it has bought from Israel
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES and forged a strategic relationship with Turkey. In June 2021,
Baku and Ankara signed the ‘Shusha Declaration’, which included
RECCE 5 BRM-1K (CP)
cooperation if either nation is threatened by a third state. Both
IFV 45: 44 BMP-1; 1 BMP-1K (CP)
parliaments ratified the accord in early 2022. Pakistan has also
APC • APC (W) 24 BTR-60/BTR-70/BTR-152 begun to emerge as a defence-industrial partner. Azerbaijan
ABCV 5 BMD-1 maintains a defence relationship with NATO, concluding in 2019 a
Border Troops fifth cycle of its NATO Individual Partnership Action Plan. Readiness
Ministry of National Security within Azerbaijan’s conscript-based armed services varies between
units. Azerbaijan has taken part in multilateral exercises and its
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE forces also train bilaterally with Turkey. The two air forces held TurAz
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Eagle 2022 in September, while Azerbaijani personnel also took
RECCE 3 BRM-1K (CP) part in the multinational Efes-2022 drill held in Turkey. The armed
IFV 35 BMP-1 forces have little expeditionary capability. Defence modernisation
APC • APC (W) 23: 5 BTR-60; 18 BTR-70 and procurement has been a focus in the past decade, intended
ABCV 5 BMD-1 to replace the ageing inventory of mainly Soviet-era equipment.
Russia and Eurasia 173

Recent orders include air-defence and artillery systems and ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE


wheeled and tracked armoured vehicles, predominantly of Russian MSL
origin. In recent years there has been significant procurement and SP 18 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S (RS-AT-15 Springer);
industrial cooperation with Israel, focused on UAVs and guided Cobra with Skif; 23 Sand Cat with Spike-ER; 7 Sand Cat
weapons, and increasingly with Turkey as a key defence partner. with Spike-LR
Azerbaijan’s limited but growing defence-industrial capabilities are MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 9K111
centred on the Ministry of Defence Industry, which manages and
Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5
oversees the production of small arms and light weapons. While
Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn); 9K135 Kornet
the country is reliant on external suppliers for major defence-
(RS-AT-14 Spriggan) (reported); Spike-LR
equipment platforms and systems, some defence companies have
GUNS • TOWED 85mm some D-44
started to export to foreign markets.
ARTILLERY 1,251
ACTIVE 64,050 (Army 44,500 Navy 1,750 Air 8,650 SP 153: 122mm 68 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 68: 14 2S3
Other 9,150) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 15,000 Akatsiya; 18 2S19 Msta-S; 36 Dana-M1M; 155mm 5
Conscript liability 18 months (12 for graduates) ATMOS 2000; 203mm 12 2S7 Pion

Russia and Eurasia


TOWED 551: 122mm 423 D-30; 130mm 36 M-46; 152mm
RESERVE 300,000 92: 49 2A36 Giatsint-B; 43 D-20
Some mobilisation reported; 300,000 with military service within GUN/MOR 120mm 17 2S31 Vena
15 years MRL 282: 107mm 71 T-107; 122mm 130: 78 BM-21 Grad;
16 IMI Lynx; 18 RM-70 Vampir; 18 T-122; 128mm 10 RAK-
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 12; 220mm 17 TOS-1A; 300mm 36: 30 9A52 Smerch; 6
Polonez; 302mm 18 T-300 Kasirga
MOR 248: 120mm 230: 5 Cardom; 27 M-1938 (PM-38); 198
Army 44,500
2S12; SP 120mm 18 Sand Cat with Spear
FORCES BY ROLE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
COMMAND SRBM • Conventional 7: 4 IAI LORA; 3 9K79-1 Tochka-U
5 corps HQ (RS-SS-21B Scarab)
SPECIAL FORCES AIR DEFENCE
5 cdo bde SAM
MANOEUVRE Short-range 9K33-1T Osa-1T (RS-SA-8 Gecko)
Mechanised Point-defence 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher);
4 MR bde 9K32 Strela (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; 9K34 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14
Light Gremlin); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K338 Igla-S
17 MR bde (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
COMBAT SUPPORT GUNS
2 arty bde SP 23mm ZSU-23-4
1 MRL bde TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2
1 engr bde
1 sigs bde Navy 1,750
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 log bde PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 11
SURFACE TO SURFACE MISSILE CORVETTES • FS 1 Kusar (ex-FSU Petya II) with 2 RBU
1 SRBM bde 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 twin 76mm gun
PSO 1 Luga (Wodnik 2) (FSU Project 888; additional trg role)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PCC 3: 2 Petrushka (FSU UK-3; additional trg role);
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
1 Shelon (ex-FSU Project 1388M)
MBT 497: 404 T-72A/AV/B/SIM2; 93 T-90S
PB 3: 1 Araz (ex-TUR AB 25); 1 Bryza (ex-FSU Project 722);
RECCE 7 BRM-1K
1 Poluchat (ex-FSU Project 368)
IFV 325: 64 BMP-1; 101 BMP-2; 46 BMP-3; 7 BTR-80A;
PBF 3 Stenka
107 BTR-82A
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4
APC 506 MHC 4: 2 Korund (Project 1258 (Yevgenya)); 2 Yakhont
APC (T) 336 MT-LB (FSU Sonya)
APC (W) 142: 10 BTR-60; 132 BTR-70 AMPHIBIOUS 5
PPV 28: 14 Marauder; 14 Matador LSM 2: 1 Project 770 (FSU Polnochny A) (capacity 6 MBT;
AUV 121: 35 Cobra; 86 Sand Cat 180 troops); 1 Project 771 (Polnochny B) (capacity 6 MBT;
ABCV 20 BMD-1 180 troops)
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES LCM 3: 2 T-4 (FSU); 1 Vydra† (FSU) (capacity either 3
AEV IMR-2; MT-LB MBT or 200 troops)
ARV BREM-L Brelianka LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • ATF 2 Neftegaz (Project
MW Bozena; GW-3 (minelayer) B-92) (ex-Coast Guard)
174 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Marines Coast Guard


FORCES BY ROLE The Coast Guard was established in 2005 as part of the
MANOEUVRE State Border Service
Amphibious EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 mne bn PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 19
PCG 6 Sa’ar 62 with 1 8-cell Typhoon MLS-NLOS
Air Force and Air Defence 8,650
lnchr with Spike NLOS SSM, 1 hel landing platform
FORCES BY ROLE PBF 9: 1 Project 205 (FSU Osa II); 6 Shaldag V; 2
FIGHTER
Silver Ships 48ft
1 sqn with MiG-29 Fulcrum A; MiG-29UB Fulcrum B
PB 4: 2 Baltic 150; 1 Point (US); 1 Grif (FSU Zhuk)
GROUND ATTACK
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 3
1 regt with Su-25 Frogfoot; Su-25UB Frogfoot B
TRANSPORT ATF 3 Neftegaz (Project B-92) (also used for patrol duties)
1 sqn with Il-76TD Candid
TRAINING
Internal Troops 10,000+
1 sqn with L-39 Albatros Ministry of Internal Affairs
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 regt with Bell 407; Bell 412; Ka-32 Helix C; MD-530; ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17-1V Hip; Mi-24 Hind; Mi-35M Hind APC • APC (W) 7 BTR-60/BTR-70/BTR-80
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 52 combat capable DEPLOYMENT
FTR 14: 11 MiG-29 Fulcrum A; 3 MiG-29UB Fulcrum B
ATK 38: 33 Su-25 Frogfoot; 5 Su-25UB Frogfoot B SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1
TPT • Heavy 2 Il-76TD Candid
TRG 22: 12 L-39 Albatros; 10 Super Mushshak FOREIGN FORCES
HELICOPTERS
ATK 44: 20 Mi-24 Hind; 24 Mi-35M Hind Turkey 170; 1 EOD unit
MRH 33: 1 Bell 407; 3 Bell 412; 1 MD-530; 28 Mi-17-1V Hip
TPT 11: Medium 11: 3 Ka-32 Helix C; 8 Mi-8 Hip TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL
CISR • Medium Bayraktar TB2
ISR 7+: Heavy 3+ Heron; Medium 4+ Aerostar The status of Nagorno-Karabakh is disputed by Armenia
AIR DEFENCE • SAM and Azerbaijan. Renewed clashes occurred in September
Long-range S-200 Vega (RS-SA-5 Gammon); S-300PMU2 2022 following a short war in September–November 2020.
(RS-SA-20 Gargoyle) The fighting in 2020 saw Azerbaijan’s forces regain most of
Medium-range S-75 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline); 9K37M the territory lost prior to a 1994 ceasefire. This had brought
Buk-M1 (RS-SA-11 Gadfly); Buk-MB; ε24 S-125-2TM an uneasy cessation to the first outbreak of hostilities fol-
Pechora-2TM; Barak-LRAD lowing the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Data pre-
Short-range Abisr (Barak-MRAD)
sented here represents the de facto situation and does not
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
imply international recognition.
AAM • IR R-27T (RS-AA-10B Alamo); R-60 (RS-AA-8
Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); SARH R-27R (RS-AA-
10A Alamo)
Nagorno-Karabakh ε5,000
ASM Barrier-V Available estimates vary with reference to military holdings
BOMBS in Nagorno-Karabakh and must be treated with caution
Laser-guided MAM-L due to the heavy levels of attrition in the 2020 conflict and
subsequent clashes.
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε15,000 FORCES BY ROLE
State Border Service ε5,000 MANOEUVRE
Ministry of Internal Affairs Mechanised
1 MR div(-)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 mtn div(-)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
IFV 168 BMP-1/BMP-2 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
APC • APC (W) 19 BTR-60/70/80 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 40 An-2 Colt (modified for MBT 22: ε20 T-72AV/B; 1 T-72 SIM2; 1 T-90S
use as decoys) RECCE BRDM-2
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES IFV 150: ε50 BMP-1; ε100 BMP-2
ISR • Medium 7+: 4+ Hermes 450; 3+ Hermes 900 ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS MSL • MANPATS 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel)
Harop; Skystriker (two variants) RCL 73mm SPG-9
Russia and Eurasia 175

ARTILLERY troops. The forces remain conscript-based and train regularly with
TOWED 122mm some D-30 other CSTO partners. As of the fourth quarter of 2022, Belarus had
MRL 122mm some BM-21 Grad not imposed mobilisation, despite the war on its borders. There
AIR DEFENCE has been increased emphasis on the training of territorial-defence
troops to allow them to operate more effectively with the regular
SAM
forces. There is a small heavy-airlift fleet that could be supple-
Short-range 9K331 Tor-M1 (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet)
mented by civil transport aircraft, and Minsk has a special-forces
Point-defence 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 9K310 Igla-1 brigade trained for the air-assault role. There is no requirement to
(RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse) independently deploy and sustain the armed forces, but it could
GUNS be possible for elements assigned to the CSTO. Russia continues to
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 be Minsk’s main defence-equipment supplier. There is a renewed
TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2 emphasis on air defence, with Minsk expressing interest in 2021 in
acquiring additional systems from Russia. The local defence indus-
try manufactures vehicles, guided weapons and electronic-warfare
FOREIGN FORCES systems, among other equipment. However, there is no capacity
Russia 1,960; 1 MR bde(-) (peacekeeping) to design or manufacture modern combat aircraft. The sector also

Russia and Eurasia


undertakes upgrade work for foreign customers.

Belarus BLR ACTIVE 47,950 (Army 11,700 Air 11,300 Special


Operations Forces 6,150 Joint 18,800) Gendarmerie &
Belarusian Ruble BYN 2021 2022 2023
Paramilitary 110,000
GDP BYN 173bn 195bn Conscript liability 18 months; 12 months for graduates (alternative
USD 68.2bn 79.7bn service option)
per capita USD 7,295 8,567
RESERVE 289,500
Growth % 2.3 -7.0 (Joint 289,500 with mil service within last 5 years)
Inflation % 9.5 16.5
Def bdgt BYN 1.63bn 2.00bn ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
USD 640m 818m
USD1=BYN 2.54 2.44 Army 11,700
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) FORCES BY ROLE
668 COMMAND
2 comd HQ (West & North West)
383
MANOEUVRE
2008 2015 2022 Mechanised
4 mech bde
Population 9,413,505 COMBAT SUPPORT
2 arty bde
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 engr bde
Male 8.2% 2.5% 2.5% 2.9% 24.8% 5.6% 1 engr regt
Female 7.8% 2.4% 2.3% 2.7% 27.0% 11.2% 2 sigs regt
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Capabilities ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 497: 477 T-72B; 20 T-72B3 mod
Located between Russia and NATO European members, the main
task of Belarus’s armed forces is maintaining territorial integrity, RECCE 132 BRM-1
though the army has also been used for internal security tasks. As IFV 937: 906 BMP-2; 31+ BTR-82A
of late 2022, the country was working on a revised national state APC • APC (T) 58 MT-LB
security concept to address what the regime views as changes in AUV Tigr
the security environment over the last decade. The current mili- ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
tary doctrine was approved in July 2016 and identified as security AEV BAT-2; IMR-2; MT-LB
challenges ‘hybrid methods’ and ‘colour revolutions’. A further plan ARV 2 BREM-K
for the development of the armed forces until 2030 was approved VLB 24: 20 MTU-20; 4 MT-55A
in late 2019. Belarus is a member of the CSTO and reportedly may MW UR-77
apply for membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisa- NBC VEHICLES BRDM-2RKhB; Cayman NRBC Chimera;
tion. Russia remains the country’s principal defence partner, with RKhM-4; RKhM-K
Belarus vocal in support of Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Russian forces ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
used Belarussian territory to launch attacks on Ukraine. In June
SP 160: 75 9P148 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 85 9P149
2022, Russia suggested that Belarussian armed forces could be pro-
Shturm (RS-AT-6 Spiral)
vided at least notionally with a nuclear-capable delivery system,
either in the form of the 9M723 (RS-SS-26 Stone) short-range ballis- MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs
tic missile or through an air-delivered munition. Despite Moscow’s (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn)
invasion of Ukraine joint training continued with Russian forces ARTILLERY 583
during 2022, including air defence exercises, and military training SP 333: 122mm 125 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 208: 125 2S3
areas were being used in late year to train newly-mobilised Russian Akatsiya; 71 2S5; 12 2S19 Msta-S
176 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

TOWED 152mm 72 2A65 Msta-B Special Operations Command 6,150


MRL 164: 122mm 128 BM-21 Grad; 220mm 36 9P140 Uragan FORCES BY ROLE
MOR 120mm 14 2S12 SPECIAL FORCES
AIR DEFENCE 1 SF bde
SAM Point-defence 2K22 Tunguska (RS-SA-19 Grison) MANOEUVRE
GUNS • SP 23mm ZU-23-2 (tch) Mechanised
2 mech bde
Air Force and Air Defence Forces 11,300
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FORCES BY ROLE ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
FIGHTER RECCE 13+ Cayman BRDM
2 sqn with MiG-29/S/UB Fulcrum A/C/B APC • APC (W) 217: ε64 BTR-70M1; 153 BTR-80
GROUND ATTACK AUV 12 CS/VN3B mod
2 sqn with Su-25K/UBK Frogfoot A/B ARTILLERY 114
TRANSPORT TOWED 122mm 24 D-30
1 base with An-24 Coke; An-26 Curl; Il-76 Candid; GUN/MOR • TOWED 120mm 18 2B23 NONA-M1
Tu-134 Crusty ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
TRAINING MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs
Some sqn with L-39 Albatros (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn)
ATTACK HELICOPTER
Some sqn with Mi-24 Hind Joint 18,800 (Centrally controlled units and
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER MoD staff )
Some (cbt spt) sqn with Mi-8 Hip; Mi-8MTV-5 Hip; FORCES BY ROLE
Mi-26 Halo SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 SRBM bde
AIRCRAFT 71 combat capable COMBAT SUPPORT
FTR 34: 28 MiG-29 Fulcrum A/MiG-29S Fulcrum C; 1 arty bde
6 MiG-29UB Fulcrum B 1 MRL bde
FGA 4 Su-30SM Flanker H; (21 Su-27/UB Flanker B/C 2 engr bde
non-operational/stored) 1 EW unit
ATK 22 Su-25K/UBK Frogfoot A/B 1 NBC regt
TPT 8: Heavy 2 Il-76 Candid (+9 civ Il-76 available for mil 1 ptn bridging regt
use); Light 6: 1 An-24 Coke; 4 An-26 Curl; 1 Tu-134 Crusty 2 sigs bde
TRG 11+: Some L-39 Albatros; 11 Yak-130 Mitten* EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
HELICOPTERS ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
ATK 12 Mi-24 Hind APC • APC (T) 20 MT-LB
TPT 26: Heavy 6 Mi-26 Halo; Medium 20: 8 Mi-8 Hip; NBC VEHICLES BRDM-2RKhB; RKhM-4; RKhM-K
12 Mi-8MTV-5 Hip ARTILLERY 112
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES SP 152mm 36 2S5 Giatsint-S
AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A TOWED 152mm 36 2A65 Msta-B
Archer) SARH R-27R (RS-AA-10 Alamo A) MRL 300mm 42: 36 9A52 Smerch; 6 Polonez
ASM Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen); Kh-29 (RS-AS-14 Kedge) SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
ARM Kh-58 (RS-AS-11 Kilter) (likely WFU) SRBM • Conventional 96: 36 9K79 Tochka (RS-SS-21
Scarab); 60 9K72 Elbrus (RS-SS-1C Scud B)
Air Defence
AD data from Uzal Baranovichi EW radar
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 110,000
FORCES BY ROLE
State Border Troops 12,000
AIR DEFENCE Ministry of Interior
1 bde S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble) Militia 87,000
3 regt with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble) Ministry of Interior
1 bde with 9K37 Buk (RS-SA-11 Gadfly); 9K331ME Internal Troops 11,000
Tor-M2E (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet)
1 regt with 9K331ME Tor-M2E (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet)
DEPLOYMENT
2 regt with 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 5
AIR DEFENCE • SAM
Long-range S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble) FOREIGN FORCES
Medium-range 9K37 Buk (RS-SA-11 Gadfly) Russia 10,000; 1 SSM bn with Iskander-M; 1 FGA sqn(-)
Short-range 21 9K331ME Tor-M2E (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet) with Su-34; Su-35S; 1 atk flt with MiG-31K; 2 SAM bn
Point-defence 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 9K35 with S-400; 1 radar station at Baranovichi (Volga system;
Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher) leased); 1 naval comms site
Russia and Eurasia 177

FORCES BY ROLE
Georgia GEO SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF bde
Georgian Lari GEL 2021 2022 2023 MANOEUVRE
GDP GEL 60.2bn 73.5bn Mechanised
USD 18.7bn 25.2bn 1 (4th) mech inf bde (1 armd bn, 2 mech inf bn, 1 SP
per capita USD 5,014 6,770 arty bn)
Light
Growth % 10.4 9.0
1 (1st) inf bde (1 mech inf bn, 3 inf bn)
Inflation % 9.6 11.6
1 (2nd) inf bde (3 inf bn, 1 fd arty bn)
Def bdgt GEL 900m 918m 1.26bn 1 (3rd) inf bde (3 inf bn, 1 SP arty bn)
USD 279m 314m Amphibious
FMA (US) USD 35m 25m 25m 2 mne bn (1 cadre)
USD1=GEL 3.22 2.92 COMBAT SUPPORT
1 (5th) arty bde (1 fd arty bn; 1 MRL bn)

Russia and Eurasia


Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
1 (6th) arty bde (1 SP arty bn; 1 MRL bn)
914
1 engr bde
1 engr bn
274
1 sigs bn
2008 2015 2022
1 SIGINT bn
Population 4,935,518 1 MP bn
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
1 med bn
Male 9.6% 2.7% 2.9% 3.4% 22.4% 6.9%
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Female 9.0% 2.5% 2.5% 3.1% 24.5% 10.7% ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 123: 23 T-55AM2; 100 T-72B/SIM1
Capabilities RECCE 41: 1 BRM-1K; 40+ Didgori-2
Georgia’s main security preoccupations concern Russian military IFV 71: 25 BMP-1; 46 BMP-2
deployments and the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South APC 221
Ossetia, concerns heightened by Russia’s February 2022 invasion of APC (T) 69+: 3+ Lazika; 66 MT-LB
Ukraine. The country has the goal of joining NATO, and a package APC (W) 152+: 25 BTR-70; 19 BTR-80; 40+ Didgori-1;
of ‘tailored support measures’ were agreed at the alliance’s 2022 3+ Didgori-3; 65 Ejder
Madrid Summit in response to the invasion of Ukraine. Bilateral AUV 10+: ATF Dingo; Cobra; 10 Cougar
security cooperation with the US continues with the Georgia ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Defense Readiness Program (GDRP) succeeded by the Georgia ARV IMR-2
Defense and Deterrence Enhancement Initiative, signed in October ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
2021. The GDRP was intended to bring nine Georgian infantry bat- MSL • MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot);
talions to a NATO-standard. Forces take part in several NATO multi-
9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); FGM-148 Javelin
national exercises. Georgia’s armed forces have limited expedition-
GUNS • TOWED ε40: 85mm D-44; 100mm T-12
ary logistic capability. The backbone of the armed forces’ military
ARTILLERY 240
equipment remains legacy Soviet-era systems, though the aim is
to increasingly replace these. The Major Systems Acquisitions Strat- SP 67: 122mm 20 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 46: 32 M-77
egy 2019–25 outlines efforts to procure new equipment in several Dana; 13 2S3 Akatsiya; 1 2S19 Msta-S; 203mm 1 2S7 Pion
areas, though funding availability will be key to meeting aspira- TOWED 71: 122mm 58 D-30; 152mm 13: 3 2A36
tions. Plans have included boosting special-forces capacity and Giatsint-B; 10 2A65 Msta-B
anti-armour and air-defence capability. The country has begun to MRL 122mm 37: 13 BM-21 Grad; 6 GradLAR; 18 RM-70
develop a defence-industrial base, and this is intended mainly to MOR 120mm 65: 14 2S12 Sani; 33 M-75; 18 M120
support the armed forces. The State Military Scientific-Technical AIR DEFENCE • SAM
Center has demonstrated some maintenance, repair, overhaul and Short-range Spyder-SR
design capabilities for the production of light armoured vehicles. Point-defence Grom; Mistral-2; 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7
A combat training centre is being developed under the NATO– Grail)‡; 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K36 Strela-3
Georgia Joint Training and Evaluation Centre. Conscription was (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
reinstated with revised terms and increased pay in early 2017.
Aviation and Air Defence Command 1,300
ACTIVE 20,650 (Army 19,050 National Guard 1,600) (incl 300 conscript)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 5,400 1 avn base, 1 hel air base
Conscript liability 12 months
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 5 combat capable
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE ATK 5: 3 Su-25KM Frogfoot; 2 Su-25UB Frogfoot B
(2 Su-25 Frogfoot in store)
Army 15,000; 4,050 conscript (total 19,050) TPT • Light 9: 6 An-2 Colt; 2 Yak-40 Codling
178 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

HELICOPTERS
ATK 6 Mi-24 Hind Kazakhstan KAZ
TPT 18: Medium 17 Mi-8T Hip; Light 1+ Bell 205
Kazakhstani Tenge KZT 2021 2022 2023
(UH-1H Iroquois) (up to 8 more in store)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES GDP KZT 84.0tr 103tr
ISR • Medium 1+ Hermes 450 USD 197bn 224bn
AIR DEFENCE • SAM per capita USD 10,306 11,591
Medium-range 9K37 Buk-M1 (RS-SA-11 Gadfly) (1–2 bn) Growth % 4.1 2.5
Point-defence 8 9K33 Osa-AK (RS-SA-8B Gecko) (two Inflation % 8.0 14.0
bty); 9K33 Osa-AKM (6–10 updated SAM systems) Def bdgt KZT 655bn 859bn
USD 1.54bn 1.88bn
National Guard 1,600 active reservists opcon USD1=KZT 425.91 457.73
Army Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
FORCES BY ROLE 1.85
MANOEUVRE
Light 1.11
2 inf bde 2008 2015 2022

Population 19,398,331
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 5,400
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Border Police 5,400
Male 12.5% 3.6% 3.1% 3.7% 21.4% 3.2%
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Female 13.2% 3.4% 3.0% 3.6% 23.4% 5.8%
HELICOPTERS
TPT • Medium 3 Mi-8MTV-1 Hip Capabilities
Coast Guard Kazakhstan’s October 2017 military doctrine indicates a change
in focus from countering violent extremism towards a wider
HQ at Poti. The Navy was merged with the Coast concern for border security and hybrid threats. In 2022, this
Guard in 2009 under the auspices of the Georgian doctrine was updated by consolidating the authority of the presi-
Border Police, within the Ministry of the Interior dent’s office, enhancing the capabilities of the National Guard
to respond to domestic disorder, strengthening of cyber and
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE information capabilities across all security agencies, and creating
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 24 a new military territorial directorate. Kazakhstan entered a bilat-
PCC 2 Ochamchira (ex-US Island) eral military agreement with Uzbekistan in September 2017 to
PBF 7: 4 Ares 43m; 1 Kaan 33; 1 Kaan 20; 1 Project cooperate on training and education, countering violent extrem-
ism and reducing militant movements in their region. There has
205P (Stenka)
traditionally been a close defence relationship with Russia, rein-
PB 15: 1 Akhmeta; 2 Dauntless; 2 Dilos (ex-GRC); 1 forced by CSTO and SCO membership. Moscow operates a radar
Kutaisi (ex-TUR AB 25); 2 Point; 7 Zhuk (3 ex-UKR) station at Balkash. In January 2022, Russian troops led a brief
CSTO mission to the country following anti-government protests.
Kazakhstan takes part in regional and CSTO exercises, including
DEPLOYMENT anti-terror drills. However, Kazakhstan also in 2022 sent humani-
tarian aid to Ukraine and did not recognise the independence of
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 35
the Luhansk and Donetsk ‘people’s republics.’ By regional stan-
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 1 dards, the armed forces are relatively sizeable and well equipped,
following the acquisition of significant amounts of new and
TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT upgraded materiel in recent years, primarily from Russia.
Russia has supplied Kazakhstan with S-300PS self-propelled
DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL surface-to-air missile systems as part of a Joint Air-Defence
Following the August 2008 war between Russia and Agreement, boosting its long-range air-defence capability.
Kazakhstan is expanding its indigenous defence industry, and
Georgia, the areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia declared joint ventures and the production of rotary-wing and medium-
themselves independent. Data presented here represents lift fixed-wing aircraft are envisaged with European companies.
the de facto situation and does not imply international In 2021 following a two-day summit of the CSTO and in light of
recognition as sovereign states. instability in Taliban-led Afghanistan, it was announced that
Kazakhstan’s military-industrial complex will be used to expand
the CSTO’s defense capabilities. However, Kazakhstan announced
FOREIGN FORCES in August 2022 that it would suspend arms exports for one year.
Russia ε4,000; 1 mil base at Gudauta (Abkhazia) with 1 ACTIVE 39,000 (Army 20,000 Navy 3,000 Air 12,000
MR bde(-); 1 SAM regt with S-300PS; 1 mil base at Djava/ MoD 4,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 31,500
Tskhinvali (S. Ossetia) with 1 MR bde(-) Conscript liability 12 months (due to be abolished)
Russia and Eurasia 179

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Navy 3,000


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 14
Army 20,000
PCGM 3 Kazakhstan with 1 4-cell lnchr with 4 Barrier-
4 regional comd: Astana, East, West and Southern VK SSM, 1 Arbalet-K lnchr with 4 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18
FORCES BY ROLE Grouse), 1 AK630 CIWS
MANOEUVRE PCC 1 Kazakhstan with 1 122mm MRL
Armoured PBF 3 Sea Dolphin
2 tk bde PB 7: 3 Archangel; 1 Dauntless; 1 Lashyn; 1 Turk (AB 25);
1 Other
2 mech bde
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 1
1 aslt bde
MCC 1 Alatau (Project 10750E)
Mechanised
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AGS 1 Zhaik
1 naval inf bde

Russia and Eurasia


1 (peacekeeping) inf regt Air Force 12,000 (incl Air Defence)
Air Manoeuvre FORCES BY ROLE
4 air aslt bde FIGHTER
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 sqn with MiG-29/MiG-29UB Fulcrum A/B
3 arty bde 2 sqn with MiG-31B/MiG-31BM Foxhound A/C
1 SSM unit FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with MiG-27 Flogger D; MiG-23UB Flogger C
3 cbt engr regt
1 sqn with Su-27/Su-27UB Flanker B/C
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 sqn with Su-27/Su-30SM Flanker B/H
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES GROUND ATTACK
MBT 350 T-72BA 1 sqn with Su-25 Frogfoot
TSV 3 BMPT TRANSPORT
RECCE 100: 40 BRDM-2; 60 BRM-1 1 unit with Tu-134 Crusty; Tu-154 Careless
IFV 413: 280 BMP-2; 70 BTR-80A; 63 BTR-82A 1 sqn with An-12 Cub, An-26 Curl, An-30 Clank, An-72
Coaler, C295M
APC 340
TRAINING
APC (T) 50 MT-LB
1 sqn with L-39 Albatros
APC (W) 152: 2 BTR-3E; 150 BTR-80 ATTACK HELICOPTER
PPV 138: 138 Arlan 5 sqn with Mi-24V Hind
AUV 17+: 17 Cobra; SandCat TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES Some sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); H145; Mi-8
AEV MT-LB Hip; Mi-17V-5 Hip; Mi-171Sh Hip; Mi-26 Halo
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE AIR DEFENCE
1 bty with 9K317M2 Buk-M2E (RS-SA-17 Grizzly)
MSL
2 bty with S-75M Volkhov (RS-SA-2 Guideline)
SP 6+: HMMWV with 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5
1 bty with S-125-1T
Spandrel); 6 9P149 Shturm (MT-LB with RS-AT-6 Spiral) 1 bty with S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5 Gammon)
MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs 10 bty with S-300PS (RS-SA-10 Grumble)
(RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn) Some regt with 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
GUNS 100mm 20 MT-12 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARTILLERY 490 AIRCRAFT 120 combat capable
SP 126: 122mm 66: 60 2S1 Gvozdika; 6 Semser; 152mm 60 FTR 45: 12 MiG-29 Fulcrum A; 2 MiG-29UB Fulcrum B;
2S3M Akatsiya 31 MiG-31/MiG-31BM Foxhound
TOWED 194: 122mm 100 D-30; 152mm 94: 70 2A65 FGA 61: 12 MiG-27 Flogger D; 2 MiG-23UB Flogger C;
Msta-B; 24 D-20 20 Su-27 Flanker; 4 Su-27UB Flanker; 23 Su-30SM
Flanker H
MRL 107: 122mm 80 BM-21 Grad; 220mm 3 TOS-1A;
ATK 14: 12 Su-25 Frogfoot; 2 Su-25UB Frogfoot
300mm 24: 6 BM-30 Smerch; 18 IMI Lynx (with 50 msl)
ISR 1 An-30 Clank
MOR 63+: 82mm some; SP 120mm 18 Cardom; 120mm TPT 21: Medium 2 An-12 Cub; Light 18: 6 An-26
45 2B11 Sani/M120 Curl, 2 An-72 Coaler; 8 C295; 2 Tu-134 Crusty; PAX 1
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS Tu-154 Careless
SRBM • Conventional 12 9K79 Tochka (RS-SS-21 Scarab) TRG 19: 17 L-39 Albatros; 2 Z-242L
180 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

HELICOPTERS
ATK 32: 20 Mi-24V Hind (some upgraded); 12 Mi- Kyrgyzstan KGZ
35M Hind
Kyrgyzstani Som KGS 2021 2022 2023
MRH 26: 20 Mi-17V-5 Hip; 6 Mi-171Sh Hip
GDP KGS 723bn 853bn
TPT 16: Heavy 4 Mi-26 Halo; Light 12: 4 Bell 205
(UH-1H Iroquois); 8 H145 USD 8.54bn 9.75bn
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES per capita USD 1,283 1,435
CISR • Heavy 2 Wing Loong (GJ-1) Growth % 3.7 3.8
AIR DEFENCE • SAM Inflation % 11.9 13.5
Long-range 43+: 3 S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5 Gammon); Def bdgt KGS n.k n.k
40+ S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble) USD n.k n.k
Medium-range 15: 3 9K317M2 Buk-M2E (RS-SA-17 USD1=KGS 84.69 87.45
Grizzly); 12 S-75M Volkhov (RS-SA-2 Guideline)
Short-range 3+: some 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); Population 6,071,750
3 S-125-1T
Point-defence 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher) Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES Male 15.3% 4.2% 3.7% 4.1% 19.2% 2.4%
AAM • IR R-27T (RS-AA-10B Alamo); R-60 (RS-AA-8 Female 14.5% 4.0% 3.6% 4.0% 21.0% 3.9%
Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); SARH R-27ER
(RS-AA-10C Alamo); R-27R (RS-AA-10A Alamo); R-33 Capabilities
(RS-AA-9A Amos); ARH R-77 (RS-AA-12A Adder – on Kyrgyzstan has started to expand its ties with its neighbours on
MiG-31BM) issues such as defence-industrial cooperation, though it remains
ASM Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen); Kh-29 (RS-AS-14 Kedge) generally dependent on Russian assistance for its defence require-
ARM Kh-27 (RS-AS-12 Kegler); Kh-58 (RS-AS-11 Kilter) ments. Kyrgyzstan is a member of both the CSTO and the SCO.
However, Kyrgyzstan cancelled CSTO command staff exercises
at the last minute in 2022 following heightened border tensions
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 31,500 with Tajikistan. Moscow maintains a military presence, including
a squadron of Su-25SM ground-attack aircraft at Kant air base,
National Guard ε20,000
which it has leased since 2003. Plans were reported in 2020 to
Ministry of Interior add air-defence systems and UAVs to the Russian air base. In 2020,
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Kyrgyzstan increased its annual fees, reportedly because Russian
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLE forces are using more land than outlined in the 2003 agreement.
APC Talks are ongoing over a possible second Russian base. Joint train-
ing is held with regional countries, including on anti-terror drills,
APC (W) Kamaz-43629 Vystrel
but combat readiness remains an issue. In 2021, Indian and Kyrgyz
PPV Ural-VV special forces held the eighth iteration of bilateral exercises that
AIRCRAFT focus on high-altitude and mountain operations in the broader
TPT • Medium 1 Y-8F-200WA context of counter-terrorism missions. Kyrgyzstan has a limited
capability to deploy externally, and personnel have been deployed
State Security Service 2,500 to OSCE and UN missions. The armed forces possess ageing land
equipment and limited air capabilities, relying instead on Russian
Border Service ε9,000 support, training and deployments. There is little local defence
Ministry of Interior industry, although in 2018 Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan discussed
defence-industrial cooperation. Defence ties with India have
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
increased and a joint working group has been formed on defence
AIRCRAFT 6: Light 5: 3 An-26 Curl; 1 An-74T; 1 An- cooperation. Reports in 2019 that India might provide a credit line
74TK; PAX 1 SSJ-100 to enable Kyrgyzstan to make defence purchases have yet to tran-
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Medium 15: 1 Mi-171; 14 spire. Reports in 2020 indicated discussions with Russia over the
Mi-171Sh transfer of air-defence equipment and helicopters.

Coast Guard ACTIVE 10,900 (Army 8,500 Air 2,400) Gendarmerie


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
& Paramilitary 9,500
Conscript liability 18 months
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 25
PBF 12: 2 Aibar (Project 0210); 8 FC-19; 2 Saygak
PB 13: 7 Almaty; 6 Sardar ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

DEPLOYMENT Army 8,500


FORCES BY ROLE
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 9 SPECIAL FORCES
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 6 1 SF bde
Russia and Eurasia 181

MANOEUVRE Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 9,500


Mechanised
2 MR bde Border Guards 5,000 (KGZ conscript,
1 (mtn) MR bde RUS officers)
COMBAT SUPPORT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 arty bde ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
1 AD bde AUV 54 Tigr

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Internal Troops 3,500


ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 150 T-72 National Guard 1,000
RECCE 39: 30 BRDM-2; 9 BRDM-2M
IFV 320: 230 BMP-1; 90 BMP-2 DEPLOYMENT
APC • APC (W) 55: 25 BTR-70; 20 BTR-70M; 10 BTR-80
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1

Russia and Eurasia


ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger);
9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs
(RS-AT-5 Spandrel) FOREIGN FORCES
RCL 73mm SPG-9 Russia ε500 Military Air Forces: 13 Su-25SM Frogfoot;
GUNS 100mm 36: 18 MT-12/T-12; 18 M-1944 2 Mi-8 Hip
ARTILLERY 228
SP 122mm 18 2S1 Gvozdika Moldova MDA
TOWED 123: 122mm 107: 72 D-30; 35 M-30 (M-1938);
Moldovan Leu MDL 2021 2022 2023
152mm 16 D-1
GUN/MOR 120mm 12 2S9 NONA-S GDP MDL 242bn 278bn
MRL 21: 122mm 15 BM-21; 220mm 6 9P140 Uragan USD 13.7bn 14.0bn
MOR 120mm 54: 6 2S12; 48 M-120 per capita USD 5,285 5,529
AIR DEFENCE Growth % 13.9 0.0
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; Inflation % 5.1 28.5
9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher) Def bdgt MDL 914m 902m
GUNS 48 USD 51.7m 45.5m
SP 23mm 24 ZSU-23-4 USD1=MDL 17.69 19.80
TOWED 57mm 24 S-60 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
42
Air Force 2,400
FORCES BY ROLE 15
FIGHTER 2008 2015 2022
1 regt with L-39 Albatros* Population 3,287,326
TRANSPORT
1 regt with An-2 Colt; An-26 Curl Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Male 9.4% 3.0% 2.8% 3.3% 24.5% 6.0%
1 regt with Mi-24 Hind; Mi-8 Hip Female 8.8% 2.8% 2.6% 3.1% 24.8% 9.0%
AIR DEFENCE
2 bty with S-125 Neva-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa) Capabilities
1 bty with S-75M3 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline)
The primary role of Moldova’s armed forces is to maintain territo-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE rial integrity, though their size means they would be unable to
AIRCRAFT 4 combat capable offer more than very limited resistance to a determined adversary.
TPT • Light 6: 4 An-2 Colt; 2 An-26 Curl The country is constitutionally neutral. Tensions with Russia over
the breakaway region of Transnistria, which Moscow supports,
TRG 4 L-39 Albatros*
worsened following Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
HELICOPTERS Russia alleged its ‘peace-keeping’ forces in Transnistria had been
ATK 2 Mi-24 Hind threatened, a claim Moldova rejected, instead arguing it was a
MRH 4 Mi-8MT Hip Russian attempt to destabilise the government. A state of emer-
TPT • Medium 8 Mi-8 Hip gency was declared after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Moldova continues to build relations with European states and
AIR DEFENCE • SAM
with NATO. The June 2022 NATO Summit in Madrid agreed mea-
Medium-range 6 S-75M3 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline) sures to support Moldova’s ‘national resilience and civil prepared-
Short-range 8 S-125M1 Neva-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa) ness’. A Long-Term Military Capabilities Development Plan was
182 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

approved in March 2020, covering the period to 2030, with a Air Force 600 (incl 250 conscripts)
review of the goals to be concluded by the end of 2022. There is
FORCES BY ROLE
an emphasis on improving land forces mobility and in developing TRANSPORT
more capable ground-based air defence. The services exercise reg- 1 sqn with An-2 Colt; Mi-8MTV-1/PS Hip; Yak-18
ularly with NATO states. Moldova has no requirement or capability AIR DEFENCE
to independently deploy and support its forces overseas, though 1 regt with S-125M1 Neva-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa)
personnel again deployed to the NATO-led KFOR mission during
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2022. The country has no defence-industrial capabilities beyond AIRCRAFT
the basic maintenance of front-line equipment. The country aims TPT • Light 3: 2 An-2 Colt; 1 Yak-18 Max
to move to an all-professional army and end conscription. The goal HELICOPTERS
of achieving this by the end of 2021, however, was not met. TPT • Medium 6: 2 Mi-8PS Hip; 4 Mi-8MTV-1 Hip
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Short-range 3 S-125M1 Neva-M1
ACTIVE 5,150 (Army 3,250 Air 600 Logistic Support
(RS-SA-3 Goa)
1,300) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 900
Conscript liability 12 months (3 months for university graduates) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 900
RESERVE 58,000 (Joint 58,000) Special Police Brigade 900
Ministry of Interior
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
DEPLOYMENT
Army 1,300; 1,950 conscript (total 3,250) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 4
FORCES BY ROLE LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 4
SPECIAL FORCES
MALI: EU • EUTM Mali 1
1 SF bn
SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 41; UN • UNMIK 1
MANOEUVRE
Light SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 3
3 mot inf bde
1 lt inf bn TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
Other DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL
1 gd bn Data presented here represents the de facto situation
COMBAT SUPPORT in the territory of Transnistria and does not imply
1 arty bn international recognition.
1 engr bn
1 NBC coy FOREIGN FORCES
1 sigs bn Russia ε1,500 (including 400 peacekeepers); 7 Mi-24 Hind/
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Mi-8 Hip
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
APC 153
APC (T) 61: 9 BTR-D; 52 MT-LB (variants)
APC (W) 92: 12 BTR-80; 80 TAB-71
ABCV 44 BMD-1
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot);
9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel)
RCL 73mm SPG-9
GUNS 100mm 31 MT-12
ARTILLERY 219
TOWED 67: 122mm 16 M-30 (M-1938); 152mm 51: 20
2A36 Giatsint-B; 31 D-20
GUN/MOR • SP 120mm 9 2S9 NONA-S
MRL 220mm 11 9P140 Uragan
MOR 132: 82mm 75 BM-37; 120mm 57: 50 M-1989; 7
PM-38
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 39: 23mm 28 ZU-23;
57mm 11 S-60
Russia and Eurasia 183

renewed skirmishes between the two in September 2022 and


Russia RUS also stemming from the war in Ukraine. In January 2022, Russian
forces briefly deployed to Kazakhstan, after Almaty appealed to
Russian Rouble RUB 2021 2022 2023 the CSTO in the wake of anti-government protests. Prior to the
February 2022 invasion of Ukraine, volunteers outweighed con-
GDP RUB 131tr 149tr
scripts in the armed forces. Defence reforms launched in 2008
USD 1.78tr 2.13tr had emphasised the shift from a conscript-based mass-mobilisa-
per capita USD 12,219 14,665 tion army to smaller, more professional ground forces. However,
Growth % 4.7 -3.4 the limits of Russia’s professionalisation process have become
evident in Ukraine. Setbacks and losses in Ukraine led President
Inflation % 6.7 13.8
Vladimir Putin to introduce a partial mobilisation in September
Def exp [a] RUB 4.86tr 6.15tr 2022, a move in itself that appeared to have been poorly exe-
USD 66.0bn 87.9bn cuted initially. The armed forces can independently deploy and
sustain forces on a global scale, although likely only in modest
Def bdgt RUB 3.58tr 4.68tr 4.98tr
size at extended distances. Ground force losses in Ukraine,
USD 48.5bn 66.9bn however, may further limit the size, and the competency, of the

Russia and Eurasia


USD1=RUB 73.66 70.00 units Moscow is able to deploy. Russia continues to modernise
[a] Calculated to be comparable with NATO definition of its nuclear and conventional weapons. The SAP 2020 was broadly
defence expenditure successful, although several of the more ambitious procure-
ment goals were not met. SAP 2027 continues the emphasis on
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
modernisation, though some aims are more modest. Russia can
51.9
design, develop, and manufacture advanced nuclear and con-
ventional weaponry. Its defence-industrial base suffered from a
30.2 lack of investment in the 1990s, and more recently from the loss
2008 2015 2022 of access to Ukrainian components. Tighter Western sanctions
after the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine will further restrict
Population 142,021,981
the supply of foreign components. The defence-aerospace sector
has been notably successful in terms of exports, particularly of
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus combat aircraft and surface-to-air missile systems.
Male 8.8% 2.7% 2.3% 2.6% 24.5% 5.4%
ACTIVE 1,190,000 (Army 550,000 Navy 145,000
Female 8.3% 2.5% 2.2% 2.5% 27.0% 11.2%
Air 165,000 Strategic Rocket Force 50,000 Airborne
Capabilities 40,000 Special Operations Forces 1,000 Railway
Russia supports large conventional military forces and retains Forces 29,000 1st & 2nd Army Corps 30,000
the world’s second-largest nuclear arsenal. However, its 2022 full- Command and Support 180,000) Gendarmerie &
scale invasion of Ukraine exposed weaknesses in terms of lead- Paramilitary 559,000
ership, planning, personnel, and equipment, particularly in the Conscript liability 12 months (conscripts now can opt for contract
ground and airborne forces, when faced with a committed oppo-
service immediately, which entails a 24-month contract)
nent. A lack of airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnais-
sance systems has also been evident. Russian ground forces, in RESERVE 1,500,000 (all arms)
particular, have suffered heavy personnel and equipment losses. Some 1,500,000 with service within last 5 years; reserve obligation
Estimates of personnel losses vary widely but some units became to age 50
combat ineffective. The ground forces have lost a large number
of main battle tanks and armoured fighting vehicles, while the
conflict also exposed the relative vulnerability of VDV units and ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
their armour when faced with an opponent well-equipped with
heavier assets. The navy and air force have also suffered reverses,
including the sinking of the Slava-class cruiser Moskva and losses Strategic Deterrent Forces ε80,000 (incl
of modern combat aircraft and helicopters. The invasion of personnel assigned from the Navy and
Ukraine reflects the armed forces’ role in Russia’s foreign policy. Aerospace Forces)
Military aims are guaranteeing sovereignty and territorial integ-
rity as well as maintaining and increasing Russia’s influence in Navy
its near abroad and further afield. An updated National Security
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Policy was adopted in June 2021 extending beyond core military
concerns to include countering the influence of the US and its
SUBMARINES • STRATEGIC • SSBN 11:
allies. The 2021–2025 Defence Plan was also agreed, though this 6 Delfin (Project 667BDRM (Delta IV)) with 16
remains classified. The defence ministry has also been working R-29RMU2 Sineva/R-29RMU2.1 Layner (RS-SS-N-23
on a follow-on to the State Armament Programme (SAP) 2027, Skiff) nuclear SLBM, 4 single 533mm TT with 53-65K
SAP 2033. It remains unclear how far the current SAP and its HWT/SET-65K HWT/USET-80K Keramika HWT
successor will need to be re-shaped to accommodate the costs 3 Borey (Project 955 (Dolgorukiy)) with 16 Bulava (RS-
of the Ukraine war, including Russia’s considerable equipment
SS-N-32) nuclear SLBM, 6 single 533mm TT with
losses. Russia is a leading member of both the CSTO and the SCO.
An updated CSTO security strategy is planned, to cover 2026–
USET-80K Keramika HWT/UGST Fizik HWT
2030. Moscow, as of October 2022, was having to continue to 2 Borey-A (Project 955A) with 16 Bulava (RS-SS-N-32)
manage tensions within the CSTO resulting from member states’ nuclear SLBM, 6 single 533mm TT with USET-80K
differing responses to the Armenia—Azerbaijan conflict in 2020, Keramika HWT/UGST Fizik HWT
184 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Strategic Rocket Forces 50,000 EARLY WARNING 5 Tundra (EKS)


3 Rocket Armies operating silo and mobile launchers RENDEZVOUS & PROXIMITY OPERATIONS 7: 6
Nivelir; 1 Olymp-K (Luch)
organised in 12 divs. Regt normally with 6 to 10 silos or 9
MISSILE DEFENCE some S-500 (entering service)
mobile launchers, and one control centre
RADAR 12; Russia leases ground-based radar stations
FORCES BY ROLE in Baranovichi (Belarus) and Balkhash (Kazakhstan).
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE It also has radars on its own territory at Lekhtusi
1 ICBM regt with RS-12M Topol (RS-SS-25 Sickle) (St Petersburg); Armavir (Krasnodar); Olenegorsk
8 ICBM regt with RS-12M2 Topol-M (RS-SS-27 mod 1) (Murmansk); Mishelevka (Irkutsk); Kaliningrad; Pechora
2 ICBM regt with RS-18 (RS-SS-19 Stiletto) (Komi); Yeniseysk (Krasnoyarsk); Baranul (Altayskiy);
1 ICBM regt with RS-18 with Avangard HGV (RS-SS-19 Orsk (Orenburg); and Gorodets/Kovylkino (OTH)
mod 4 Stiletto)
8 ICBM regt with RS-20 (RS-SS-18 Satan)
Aerospace Defence Command
14 ICBM regt with RS-24 Yars (RS-SS-27 mod 2) FORCES BY ROLE
AIR DEFENCE
7 ICBM regt with Yars-S
2 AD div HQ
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 4 SAM regt with S-300PM1/PM2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 5 SAM regt with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6
ICBM • Nuclear 339: 9 RS-12M Topol (RS-SS-25 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
Sickle) (mobile single warhead); 60 RS-12M2 Topol-M EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
(RS-SS-27 mod 1) silo-based (single warhead); 18 RS- AIR DEFENCE
12M2 Topol-M (RS-SS-27 mod 1) road mobile (single SAM • Long-range 186: 90 S-300PM1/PM2 (RS-SA-20
warhead); up to 20 RS-18 (RS-SS-19 Stiletto) (mostly Gargoyle); 96 S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler)
mod 3, 6 MIRV per msl) (being withdrawn); ε6 RS- SPAAGM 30mm 36 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
18 with Avangard HGV (RS-SS-19 mod 4 Stiletto); 46 MISSILE DEFENCE 68 53T6 (RS-AB-4A Gazelle)
RS-20 (RS-SS-18 Satan) (mostly mod 5, 10 MIRV per RADAR 1 BMD engagement system located at
msl); ε99 RS-24 Yars (RS-SS-27 mod 2; ε3 MIRV per Sofrino (Moscow)
msl) road mobile; ε18 RS-24 Yars (RS-SS-27 mod 2; ε3
MIRV per msl) silo-based; ε63 Yars-S (ε3 MIRV per Army ε550,000 (incl ε100,000 conscripts & up
msl) road mobile to 300,000 mobilised personnel)
COUNTERSPACE • DE • Laser Peresvet FORCES BY ROLE
As a result of heavy losses suffered during the invasion of
Long-Range Aviation Command Ukraine, almost all of the manoeuvre formations listed are
FORCES BY ROLE currently significantly understrength and some are now
BOMBER effectively only cadre-sized until mobilised personnel can
1 sqn with Tu-160/Tu-160 mod Blackjack be drafted into them.
COMMAND
3 sqn with Tu-95MS/MS mod Bear
12 army HQ
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 corps HQ
AIRCRAFT SPECIAL FORCES
BBR 76: 9 Tu-160 Blackjack with Kh-55SM (RS-AS-15B 8 (Spetsnaz) SF bde
Kent) nuclear LACM; 7 Tu-160 mod Blackjack with Kh- 1 (Spetsnaz) SF regt
55SM (RS-AS-15B Kent)/Kh-102 (RS-AS-23B Kodiak) MANOEUVRE
nuclear LACM; 42 Tu-95MS Bear H with Kh-55SM (RS- Reconnaissance
AS-15B Kent) nuclear LACM; 18 Tu-95MS mod Bear H 2 recce bde
with Kh-55SM (RS-AS-15B Kent)/Kh-102 (RS-AS-23B Armoured
Kodiak) nuclear LACM 1 (4th) tk div (1 armd recce bn, 2 tk regt, 1 MR regt, 1 arty
regt, 1 AD regt)
Space Command 1 (47th) tk div (1 tk regt)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 (90th) tk div (1 armd recce bn, 2 tk regt, 1 MR regt, 1
arty regt)
SATELLITES 89
1 tk bde (1 armd recce bn, 3 tk bn, 1 MR bn, 1 arty bn,
COMMUNICATIONS 32: 4 Blagovest; 1 Garpun;
1 MRL bn, 2 AD bn, 1 engr bn, 1 EW coy, 1 NBC coy)
3 Globus-M (Raduga-1M); 6 Meridian; 3 Meridian-M; 15
1 (3rd) MR corps (1 MR div, 1 MR bde, 1 SP arty bde, 1
Rodnik-S (Strela-3M) fd arty regt)
POSITIONING, NAVIGATION & TIMING 27: 3 2 (3rd & 144th) MR div (1 armd recce bn, 1 tk regt, 2 MR
GLONASS-K1; 24 GLONASS-M regt, 1 arty regt)
ISR 10: 3 Bars-M; 2 GEO-IK-2; 1 Neitron; 2 Persona; 1 (19th) MR div (2 MR regt, 1 arty regt)
2 Resurs-P 1 (20th) MR div (2 MR regt, 1 arty regt)
ELINT/SIGINT 8: 6 Lotos-S; 1 Pion-NKS; 1 Tselina-2 1 (127th) MR div (1 tk regt, 2 MR regt, 1 arty regt, 1 AD regt)
Russia and Eurasia 185

1 (150th) MR div (1 armd recce bn, 2 tk regt, 2 MR regt; 1 ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE


arty regt, 1 AD regt) MSL
11 (BMP) MR bde (1 armd recce bn, 1 tk bn, 3 armd inf SP 9P149 with 9K114 Shturm (RS-AT-6 Spiral); 9P149M
bn, 2 arty bn, 1 MRL bn, 1 AT bn, 2 AD bn, 1 engr bn, 1 with 9K132 Shturm-SM (RS-AT-9 Spiral-2); 9P157-2 with
EW coy, 1 NBC coy) 9K123 Khrizantema (RS-AT-15 Springer); 9P163-3 with
Mechanised 9M133 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan); 9K128-1 Kornet-T
1 (2nd) MR div (1 armd recce bn, 1 tk regt, 2 MR regt, 1 (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
arty regt, 1 AD regt) MANPATS 9K111M Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-
1 (42nd) MR div (1 armd recce bn, 3 MR regt, 1 arty regt) 1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7
8 (BTR/MT-LB) MR bde (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn, 3 mech inf Saxhorn); 9K115-1 Metis-M (RS-AT-13); 9K115-2 Metis-M1
bn, 2 arty bn, 1 MRL bn, 1 AT bn, 2 AD bn, 1 engr bn,1 (RS-AT-13); 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
EW coy, 1 NBC coy) RCL 73mm SPG-9
2 MR bde (4–5 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 AD bn, 1 engr bn) GUNS • TOWED 100mm 520 MT-12 (100mm 1,000
3 (lt/mtn) MR bde (1 recce bn, 2 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn) T-12/MT-12 in store)
1 (18th) MGA div (1 tk bn, 2 MGA regt, 1 arty regt, 2 AD bn) ARTILLERY 4,458

Russia and Eurasia


SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE SP 1,678: 122mm 130 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 1,493: 700
12 SRBM/GLCM bde with 9K720 Iskander-M (RS-SS-26 2S3/2S3M Akatsiya; 85 2S5 Giatsint-S; 400 2S19/2S19M1
Stone/RS-SSC-7 Southpaw) (3+ brigades also with 9M729 Msta-S; 300 2S19M2/2S33 Msta-SM; 8 2S35 Koalitsiya-SV
(RS-SSC-8 Screwdriver)) (in test); 203mm 55 2S7M Malka (4,260 in store: 122mm
COMBAT SUPPORT 2,000 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 2,000: 1,000 2S3 Akatsiya; 850
9 arty bde 2S5 Giatsint-S; 150 2S19 Msta-S; 203mm 260 2S7 Pion)
1 hy arty bde TOWED 220: 152mm 220: 20+ D-1 (M-1943); 100 D-20;
4 MRL bde 100 2A65 Msta-B (7,190 in store: 122mm 4,500: 2,500 D-30;
4 engr bde 2,000 M-30 (M-1938); 130mm 350 M-46; 152mm 2,300: 600
7 engr regt 2A36 Giatsint-B; 400 2A65 Msta-B; 500 D-1 (M-1943); 750
1 ptn br bde D-20; 100 M-1937 (ML-20); 203mm 40 B-4M)
5 EW bde GUN/MOR 160
5 NBC bde SP 120mm 75: 27 2S23 NONA-SVK; 48 2S34
10 NBC regt TOWED 120mm 85 2B16 NONA-K
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT MRL 886: 122mm 610: 450 BM-21 Grad; 160 9K51M
11 log bde Tornado-G; 220mm 156+: 150 9P140 Uragan; 6 9K512
AIR DEFENCE Uragan-1M; some TOS-1A; 300mm 120: 100 9A52 Smerch;
16 AD bde 20 9K515 Tornado-S; (3,220 in store: 122mm 2,420: 2,000
BM-21 Grad; 420 9P138; 132mm 100 BM-13; 220mm 700
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 9P140 Uragan)
Surface-to-surface missile systems may have very limited MOR 1,514: 82mm 800+ 2B14; 120mm 675 2S12 Sani;
numbers of available missiles remaining. 240mm 39 2S4 Tulpan (1,300 in store: 120mm 950: 500
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 2S12 Sani; 450 M-1938 (PM-38); 160mm 150 M-160; SP
MBT 1,800: 150 T-62M/MV; 400 T-72B/BA; 500 T-72B3; 240mm 200 2S4 Tulpan)
250 T-72B3M; 100 T-80BV/U; 100 T-80BVM; 200 T-90A; SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
100 T-90M; (5,000 T-62M/T-62MV/T-72/T-72A/T-72B/T- SRBM 200:
80B/T-80BV/T-80U/T-90/T-90A in store) Dual-capable 200: 50 9K79-1 Tochka-U (RS-SS-21B
TSV ε9 BMPT Scarab); 150 9K720 Iskander-M (RS-SS-26 Stone)
RECCE 700 BRM-1K (CP); (1,000+ BRDM-2/-2A in store) GLCM • Dual-capable Some 9M728 (RS-SSC-7
IFV 4,150: 500 BMP-1/-1AM; 2,350 BMP-2/-2M; 400 BMP- Southpaw); some 9M729 (RS-SSC-8 Screwdriver)
3/-3M; 100 BTR-80A; 800 BTR-82A/AM; (4,000 BMP-1/-2 UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
in store) ISR • Heavy Tu-243 Reys/Tu-243 Reys D (service status
APC 5,350+ unclear); Light BLA-07; Pchela-1; Pchela-2
APC (T) 3,050+: some BMO-T; 3,000 MT-LB; 50+ MT- LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS
LB VM1K; (2,000 MT-LB in store) Geran 1 (Shahed 131); Geran 2 (Shahed 136); (multiple
APC (W) 2,300: 800 BTR-60 (all variants); 200 BTR-70 systems below 20kg in weight)
(all variants); 1,300 BTR-80; (4,000 BTR-60/70 in store) AIR DEFENCE
PPV Typhoon-K 4×4; Typhoon-K 6×6 SAM 1,520+
AUV IVECO LMV; Linza; Tigr; Tigr-M; Tigr-M SpN; Vystrel Long-range S-300V (RS-SA-12A/B Gladiator/Giant);
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES S-300V4 (RS-SA-23)
AEV BAT-2; IMR; IMR-2; IMR-3; IRM; MT-LB Medium-range 350: ε200 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2 (RS-
ARV BMP-1; BREM-1/64/K/L; BTR-50PK(B); M1977; SA-11 Gadfly); ε90 9K317 Buk-M2 (RS-SA-17 Grizzly);
MTP-LB; RM-G; T-54/55; VT-72A ε60 9K317M Buk-M3 (RS-SA-27)
VLB KMM; MT-55A; MTU; MTU-20; MTU-72; PMM-2 Short-range 120+ 9K331/9K331M/9K331MU
MW BMR-3M; GMX-3; MCV-2 (reported); MTK; MTK- Tor-M1/M2/M2U (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet) (9M338 msl
2; UR-77 entering service)
186 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Point-defence 800+: 400 9K33M3 Osa-AKM (RS-SA-8B is possibly withdrawn; AShM capability
Gecko); 400 9K35M3 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K310 unconfirmed), 4 single 650mm TT with 65-73 HWT
Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K34 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 2 Schuka (Project 671RTMK (Victor III)) with 4 single
Gremlin); 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); 9K333 Verba 533mm TT with 53-65K HWT/SET-65K HWT/
(RS-SA-29 Gizmo); 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch) USET-80K Keramika HWT (unclear if dual-capable
SPAAGM 30mm 250+ 2K22M Tunguska (RS-SA-19 Grison) 3M14 (RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) has replaced 3M10
GUNS Granat (RS-SS-N-21 Sampson) nuclear LACM
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 which is possibly withdrawn; AShM capability
TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2; 57mm S-60 unconfirmed), 2 single 650mm TT with 65-73 HWT
3 Schuka-B (Project 971 (Akula I)) (5 more non-
Navy ε145,000 (incl conscripts) operational, return to service significantly delayed)
with 4 single 533mm TT with 53-65K HWT/TEST-
4 major fleet organisations (Northern Fleet, Pacific Fleet,
71M HWT/USET-80K Keramika HWT (unclear
Baltic Fleet, Black Sea Fleet) and Caspian Sea Flotilla
if dual-capable 3M14 (RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) has
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE replaced 3M10 Granat (RS-SS-N-21 Sampson)
SUBMARINES 51 nuclear LACM which is possibly withdrawn; AShM
STRATEGIC • SSBN 11: capability unconfirmed), 4 single 650mm TT with 65-
6 Delfin (Project 667BDRM (Delta IV)) with 16 73 HWT/RPK-7 (RS-SS-N-16 Stallion) ASW msl
R-29RMU2 Sineva/R-29RMU2.1 Layner (RS-SS-N-23 2 Schuka-B (Project 971/09711 (Akula II)) with 4
Skiff) nuclear SLBM, 4 single 533mm TT with 53-65K single 533mm TT with 53-65K HWT/TEST-71M
HWT/SET-65K HWT/USET-80K Keramika HWT HWT/USET-80K Keramika HWT (unclear if dual-
3 Borey (Project 955 (Dolgorukiy)) with 16 Bulava capable 3M14 (RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) has replaced
(RS-SS-N-32) nuclear SLBM, 6 single 533mm TT with 3M10 Granat (RS-SS-N-21 Sampson) nuclear LACM
USET-80K Keramika HWT/UGST Fizik HWT which is possibly withdrawn; AShM capability
2 Borey-A (Project 955A) with 16 Bulava (RS-SS-N-32) unconfirmed), 4 single 650mm TT with 65-73
nuclear SLBM, 6 single 533mm TT with USET-80K HWT/RPK-7 (RS-SS-N-16 Stallion) ASW msl
Keramika HWT/UGST Fizik HWT (1 Barracuda (Project 945 (Sierra I)) (in reserve)
TACTICAL 40 with 6 single 533mm TT with TEST-71M
SSGN 9: HWT/USET-80K Keramika HWT (unclear if
6 Antey (Project 949A (Oscar II)) (2 more non- dual-capable 3M14 (RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) has
operational, in long-term refit) with 24 single replaced 3M10 Granat (RS-SS-N-21 Sampson)
SM-225A lnchr with 3M45 Granit (RS-SS-N-19 nuclear LACM which is possibly withdrawn;
Shipwreck) dual-capable AShM, 2 single 650mm TT AShM capability unconfirmed))
each with T-65 HWT/RPK-7 (RS-SS-N-16 Stallion) SSK 21:
ASW msl, 4 single 553mm TT with 53-65K HWT/ 10 Paltus (Project 877 (Kilo)) (1 more non-operational, in
SET-65K HWT/USET-80K Keramika HWT long-term refit) with 6 single 533mm TT with 53-65K
1 Yasen (Project 885 (Severodvinsk I)) with 8 4-cell HWT/TEST-71M HWT/USET-80K Keramika HWT
SM-346 VLS with 3M14K (RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) 10 Varshavyanka (Project 06363 (Improved Kilo)) with 6
dual-capable LACM/3M54K1 (RS-SS-N-27) single 533mm TT with 3M14K Kalibr-PL (RS-SS-N-
30A Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54K (RS-SS-N-
AShM/3M54K (RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler) AShM/3M55
27B Sizzler) AShM/3M54K1 (RS-SS-N-27) AShM/53-
Oniks (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM (3M54K/K1
65K HWT/TEST-71M HWT/USET-80K Keramika
operational status unclear); 10 single 533mm TT
HWT (3M54K/K1 operational status unclear)
with USET-80K Keramika HWT/UGST Fizik HWT
1 Lada (Project 677 (Petersburg)) (in test) with 6 single
2 Yasen-M (Project 08851 (Severodvinsk II)) with
533mm TT with 3M14K Kalibr-PL (RS-SS-N-30A
8 4-cell SM-346 VLS with 3M14K (RS-SS-N-
Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54K (RS-SS-N-
30A Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54K1
27B Sizzler) AShM/3M54K1 (RS-SS-N-27) AShM/
(RS-SS-N-27) AShM/3M54K (RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler) USET-80K Keramika HWT (3M54K/K1 operational
AShM/3M55 Oniks (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM status unclear)
(3M54K/K1 operational status unclear); up to 10 PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 31
single 533mm TT with UGST Fizik HWT AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • CV 1 Admiral Kuznetsov (in
SSN 10: extended refit) with 12 single SM-233A lnchr with 3M45
1 Kalmar (Project 667BDR (Delta III)) with 2 single Granit (RS-SS-N-19 Shipwreck) AShM, 24 8-cell 3S95 VLS
400mm TT with SET-72 LWT, 4 single 533mm with 3K95 Kinzhal (RS-SA-N-9 Gauntlet) SAM, 2 RBU
TT with 53-65K HWT/SET-65K HWT/USET-80K 12000 Udav 1 A/S mor, 8 3M87 Kortik CIWS with 9M311
Keramika HWT (re-roled SSBN) SAM (RS-CADS-N-1), 6 AK630M CIWS (capacity 18–24
2 Kondor (Project 945A (Sierra II)) with 4 single Su-33 Flanker D/MiG-29KR/KUBR Ftr/FGA ac; 15 Ka-27
533mm TT with TEST-71M HWT/USET-80K Helix ASW hel, 2 Ka-31R Helix AEW hel)
Keramika HWT (unclear if dual-capable 3M14 CRUISERS 3:
(RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) has replaced 3M10 Granat CGHMN 1 Orlan (Project 11442 (Kirov I)) (1 other non-
(RS-SS-N-21 Sampson) nuclear LACM which operational; undergoing extensive refit and planned
Russia and Eurasia 187

to return to service in 2023) with 20 single SM-233 2 12-cell 3S90.1 VLS with 9M317 Yezh (RS-SA-N-
lnchr with 3M45 Granit (RS-SS-N-19 Shipwreck) AShM, 7B) SAM/9M317M Yezh (RS-SA-N-7C) SAM, 2 twin
6 6-cell B-203A VLS with S-300F Fort (RS-SA-N-6 DTA-53-11356 533mm TT with 53-65K HWT/SET-
Grumble) SAM, 6 6-cell B-203A VLS with S-300FM 65K HWT, 1 RBU 6000 A/S mor, 2 AK630 CIWS,
Fort-M (RS-SA-N-20 Gargoyle) SAM, 16 8-cell 3S95 1 100mm gun (capacity 1 Ka-27 Helix ASW hel)
VLS with 3K95 Kinzhal (RS-SA-N-9 Gauntlet) SAM, 1 Jastreb (Project 11540 (Neustrashimyy)) (1 other
2 quintuple 533mm TT with RPK-6M Vodopad-NK non-operational, in long-term refit) with 2 quad
(RS-SS-N-16 Stallion) A/S msl, 1 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S lnchr with 3M24 Uran (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade)
mor, 2 RBU 1000 Smerch 3 A/S mor, 6 3M87 Kortik CIWS AShM, 4 8-cell 3S95 VLS with 3K95 Kinzhal
with 9M311 SAM (RS-CADS-N-1), 1 twin 130mm gun (RS-SA-N-9 Gauntlet), 6 single 533mm ASTT with
(capacity 3 Ka-27 Helix ASW hel) RPK-6M Vodopad-NK (RS-SS-N-16 Stallion) A/S msl,
CGHM 2 Atlant (Project 1164 (Slava)) with 8 twin
1 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 3M87 Kortik
SM-248 lnchr with 3M70 Vulkan (RS-SS-N-12 mod
CIWS with 9M311 SAM (RS-CADS-N-1), 1 100mm
2 Sandbox) AShM, 8 octuple VLS with S-300F Fort
gun (capacity 1 Ka-27 Helix ASW hel)
(RS-SA-N-6 Grumble) SAM/S-300FM Fort M (RS-

Russia and Eurasia


1 Project 20380 (Steregushchiy I) with 2 quad lnchr
SA-N-20 Gargoyle) SAM, 2 twin ZIF-122 lnchr with
with 3M24 Uran (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 2
4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4 Gecko) SAM, 2 quintuple
quad 324mm SM-588 ASTT with MTT LWT, 1 3M87
533mm PTA-53-1164 ASTT with SET-65K HWT, 2 RBU
6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 6 AK630 CIWS, 1 twin 130mm Kortik-M CIWS with 9M311 SAM (RS-CADS-N-1),
gun (capacity 1 Ka-27 Helix ASW hel) 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 100mm gun (capacity 1 Ka-27
DESTROYERS • DDGHM 11: Helix ASW hel)
3 Sarych (Project 956 (Sovremenny I)) (1 more non- 6 Project 20380 (Steregushchiy II) with 2 quad lnchr
operational) with 2 quad lnchr with 3M80 Moskit with 3M24 Uran (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM,
(RS-SS-N-22 Sunburn) AShM, 2 twin 3S90 lnchr with 3 4-cell 3S97 VLS with 3K96-3 Redut (RS-SA-N-28)
9M317 Yezh (RS-SA-N-7B) SAM, 2 twin DTA-53- SAM, 2 quad 324mm SM-588 ASTT with MTT
956 533mm TT with 53-65K HWT/SET-65K HWT, 2 LWT, 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 100mm gun (capacity 1
RBU 1000 Smerch 3 A/S mor, 4 AK630 CIWS, 2 twin Ka-27 Helix ASW hel)
130mm guns (capacity 1 Ka-27 Helix ASW hel) 1 Project 20385 (Gremyashchiy) with 1 8-cell 3S14
6 Fregat (Project 1155 (Udaloy I)) with 2 quad lnchr with UKSK VLS with 3M14T Kalibr-NK (RS-SS-N-30A
URK-5 Rastrub-B (RS-SS-N-14 Silex) AShM/ASW, Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54T (RS-SS-N-27B
8 8-cell 3S95 VLS with 3K95 Kinzhal (RS-SA-N-9 Sizzler) AShM/3M54T1 (RS-SS-N-27) AShM/3M55
Gauntlet) SAM, 2 quad 533mm ChTA-53-1155 ASTT Oniks (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM (3M54T/T1
with 53-65K HWT/SET-65K HWT, 2 RBU 6000 operational status unclear), 4 4-cell 3S97 VLS
Smerch 2 A/S mor, 4 AK630 CIWS, 2 100mm guns with 3K96-2 Poliment-Redut (RS-SA-N-28) SAM, 2
(capacity 2 Ka-27 Helix ASW hel) quad 324mm TT with MTT LWT, 2 AK630 CIWS, 1
1 Fregat (Project 1155 (Udaloy I)) with 2 8-cell 3S14 100mm gun (capacity 1 Ka-27 Helix ASW hel)
UKSK VLS with with 3M14T Kalibr-NK (RS- 2 Project 22350 (Gorshkov) with 2 8-cell 3S14 UKSK
SS-N-30A Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54T VLS with 3M14T Kalibr-NK (RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris)
(RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler) AShM/3M54T1 (RS-SS-N-27) dual-capable LACM/3M54T (RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler)
AShM/3M55 Oniks (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM AShM/3M54T1 (RS-SS-N-27) AShM/3M55 Oniks
(3M54T/T1 operational status unclear), 2 quad lnchr (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM (3M54T/T1 operational
with 3M24 Uran (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, status unclear), 4 8-cell 3S97 VLS with 3K96-2
2 quad 533mm ChTA-53-1155 ASTT with 53-65K
Poliment-Redut (RS-SA-N-28) SAM, 2 quad 324mm
HWT/SET-65K HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor,
TT with MTT LWT, 2 3M89 Palash CIWS (RS-
4 AK630 CIWS, 1 100mm gun (capacity 2 Ka-27 Helix
CADS-N-2), 1 130mm gun (capacity 1 Ka-27 Helix
ASW hel)
ASW hel)
1 Fregat (Project 11551 (Udaloy II)) (in refit) with 2
FFGM 2:
quad lnchr with 3M80 Moskit (RS-SS-N-22 Sunburn)
1 Burevestnik (Project 1135 (Krivak I))† with 1 quad
AShM, 8 8-cell 3S95 VLS with 3K95 Kinzhal
(RS-SA-N-9 Gauntlet) SAM, 2 3M87 Kortik CIWS with lnchr with URK-5 Rastrub-B (RS-SS-N-14 Silex)
9M311 SAM (RS-CADS-N-1), 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 AShM/ASW, 1 twin ZIF-122 lnchr with Osa-M
A/S mor, 1 twin 130mm gun (capacity 2 Ka-27 Helix (RS-SA-N-4 Gecko) SAM, 2 quad 533mm ChTA-
ASW hel) 53-1135 ASTT with 53-65K HWT/SET-65K HWT,
FRIGATES 16 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 twin 76mm guns
FFGHM 14: 1 Burevestnik M (Project 1135M (Krivak II)) with 1
3 Project 11356 (Grigorovich) with 1 8-cell 3S14 quad lnchr with URK-5 Rastrub-B (RS-SS-N-14
UKSK VLS with 3M14T Kalibr-NK (RS-SS-N-30A Silex) AShM/ASW, 2 twin ZIF-122 lnchr with
Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54T (RS-SS-N-27B 4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4 Gecko SAM), 2 quad
Sizzler) AShM/3M54T1 (RS-SS-N-27) AShM/3M55 533mm ChTA-53-1135 ASTT with 53-65K HWT/
Oniks (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM/91RT2 A/S SET-65K HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2
msl (3M54T/T1 operational status unclear), 100mm guns
188 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 128 1 Ovod-1 (Project 1234.1 (Nanuchka III)) with 4 quad
CORVETTES 42 lnchr with 3M24 Uran (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade)
FSGM 14 AShM, 1 twin lnchr with 4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4
9 Buyan-M (Project 21631 (Sviyazhsk)) with 1 Gecko) SAM, 1 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun
8-cell 3S14 UKSK VLS with 3M14T Kalibr-NK PCFG 23:
(RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54T 5 Molnya (Tarantul II) with 2 twin lnchr with P-22
(RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler) AShM/3M54T1 (RS-SS-N-27) Termit-R (RS-SS-N-2D Styx) AShM, 2 AK630M
AShM/3M55 Oniks (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM CIWS, 1 76mm gun
(3M54T/T1 operational status unclear), 2 sextuple 17 Molnya (Tarantul III) with 2 twin lnchr with 3M80
3M47 Gibka lnchr with Igla-1M (RS-SA-N-10 Moskit (RS-SS-N-22 Sunburn) AShM, 2 AK630M
Grouse) SAM, 1 AK630M-2 CIWS, 1 100mm gun CIWS, 1 76mm gun
1 Karakurt (Project 22800 (Uragan)) with 1 8-cell 3S14
1 Molnya (Tarantul III) with 2 twin lnchr with 3M80
UKSK VLS with 3M14T Kalibr-NK (RS-SS-N-30A
Moskit (RS-SS-N-22 Sunburn) AShM, 1 3K89 Palash
Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54T (RS-SS-N-27B
(RS-CADS-N-2) CIWS, 1 76mm gun
Sizzler) AShM/3M54T1 (RS-SS-N-27) AShM/3M55
PCM 3 Buyan (Project 21630 (Astrakhan)) with 1
Oniks (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM (3M54T/T1
sextuple lnchr with 3M47 Gibka lnchr with Igla-1M
operational status unclear), 2 Pantsir-M with 57E6
(RS-SA-N-10 Grouse) SAM, 1 A-215 Grad-M 122mm
SAM, 1 76mm gun
1 Project 11661K (Gepard I) with 2 quad lnchr with MRL, 1 100mm gun
3M24 Uran (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 1 twin PCF 1 Molnya (Tarantul III) with 2 AK630M CIWS, 1
ZIF-122 lnchr with 4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4 Gecko) 76mm gun
SAM, 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun PBF 14: 12+ Raptor (capacity 20 troops); 2 Mangust
1 Project 11661K (Gepard II) with 1 8-cell VLS with PBR 4 Shmel with 1 17-cell BM-14 MRL, 1 76mm gun
3M14T Kalibr-NK (RS-SS-N-30A Sagaris) dual- PB 27 Grachonok
capable LACM/3M54T (RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler) MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 43
AShM/3M54T1 (RS-SS-N-27) AShM/3M55 Oniks MCC 6 Alexandrit (Project 12700)
(RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM (3M54T/T1 operational MHI 7 Sapfir (Project 10750 (Lida)) with 1 AK630 CIWS
status unclear), 1 3M89 Palash CIWS with 9M337 MHO 2 Rubin (Project 12660 (Gorya)) with 2 quad lnchr
Sosna-R SAM (RS-CADS-N-2), 1 76mm gun with 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, 1 AK630
2 Sivuch (Project 1239 (Dergach)) with 2 quad lnchr CIWS, 1 76mm gun
with 3M80 Moskit (RS-SS-N-22 Sunburn) AShM, 1 MSC 20: 19 Yakhont (Project 1265 (Sonya)) with 4 AK630
twin ZIF-122 lnchr with 4K33AM Osa-MA2 (RS- CIWS (some with 2 quad lnchr with 9K32 Strela-2
SA-N-4 Gecko) SAM, 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm gun (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM); 1 Korund-E (Project 1258E
FSG 2 Karakurt (Project 22800 (Uragan)) with 1 8-cell (Yevgenya))
3S14 VLS with 3M14T Kalibr-NK (RS-SS-N-30A MSO 8: 7 Akvamaren-M (Project 266M (Natya)); 1 Agat
Sagaris) dual-capable LACM/3M54T (RS-SS-N-27B (Project 02668 (Natya II)) (all with 2 quad lnchr (manual
Sizzler) AShM/3M54T1 (RS-SS-N-27) AShM/3M55 aiming) with 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, 2
Oniks (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM (3M54T/T1 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 2 twin AK230 CIWS
operational status unclear), 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 AMPHIBIOUS
76mm gun LANDING SHIPS • LST 20:
FSM 26: 12 Project 775 (Ropucha I/II) with 2 twin 57mm guns
2 Albatros (Project 1124 (Grisha III)) with 1 twin ZIF- (capacity either 10 MBT and 190 troops or 24 APC
122 lnchr with 4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4 Gecko)
(T) and 170 troops)
SAM, 2 twin 533mm DTA-53-1124 ASTT, 2 RBU
3 Project 775M (Ropucha III) with 2 AK630 CIWS, 1
6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 1 twin 57mm gun
76mm gun (capacity either 10 MBT and 190 troops
18 Albatros (Project 1124M (Grisha V)) with 1 twin
or 24 APC (T) and 170 troops)
ZIF-122 lnchr with 4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4
3 Tapir (Project 1171 (Alligator)) with at least 2 twin
Gecko) SAM, 2 twin 533mm DTA-53-1124 ASTT,
lnchr with 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, 2
1 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 1 AK630 CIWS, 1
76mm gun twin 57mm guns (capacity 20 tanks; 300 troops)
6 Project 1331M (Parchim II) with 2 quad lnchr with 2 Project 11711 (Gren) with 1 AK630M-2 CIWS, 2
9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, 2 twin AK630M CIWS (capacity 1 Ka-29 Helix B hel; 13
533mm ASTT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 1 MBT/36 AFV; 300 troops)
AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun LANDING CRAFT 26
PSOH 4 Project 22160 (Bykov) with 1 76mm gun (capacity LCM 24: 8 Akula (Project 1176 (Ondatra)) (capacity 1
1 Ka-27 Helix ASW hel) MBT); 5 Dyugon (Project 21820) (capacity 5 APC or
PCGM 10: 100 troops); 11 Serna (Project 11770) (capacity 2 APC
9 Ovod-1 (Project 1234.1 (Nanuchka III)) with 2 triple or 100 troops)
lnchr with P-120 Malakhit (RS-SS-N-9 Siren) AShM, LCAC 2 Zubr (Project 12322 (Pomornik)) with 2 22-cell
1 twin ZIF-122 lnchr with 4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4 140mm MS-227 Ogon MRL, 2 AK630 CIWS (capacity
Gecko) SAM, 1 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun 230 troops; either 3 MBT or 10 APC(T))
Russia and Eurasia 189

LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 281 ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE/ISR


SSAN 9: 2 regt with Su-24M/MR Fencer; Su-30SM
1 Belgorod (Project 22870 (Oscar II mod)) ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
2 Halibut (Project 18511 (Paltus)) 1 regt with Il-38/Il-38N May*; Il-18D; Il-20RT Coot A;
3 Kashalot (Project 1910 (Uniform)) Il-22 Coot B
1 Nelma (Project 1851 (X-Ray)) 2 sqn with Il-38/Il-38N May*; Il-18D; Il-20RT Coot A;
1 Orenburg (Delta III Stretch) Il-22 Coot B
1 Podmoskovye (Project 09787) 1 regt with Ka-27/Ka-29 Helix
(1 non-operational Losharik (Project 10831 (Norsub-5)) 1 sqn with Ka-27/Ka-29 Helix
reportedly damaged by fire in 2019) 2 sqn with Tu-142MK/MZ/MR Bear F/J*
SSA 1 Sarov (Project 20120) 1 unit with Ka-31R Helix
ABU 12: 8 Kashtan; 4 Project 419 (Sura) MARITIME PATROL/TRANSPORT
AE 9: 6 Muna; 1 Dubnyak; 2 Akademik Kovalev (Project 1 regt with An-26 Curl; Be-12 Mail*; Ka-27 Helix; Mi-8 Hip
20181) with 1 hel landing platform SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT
AEM 2: 1 Kalma-3 (Project 1791R); 1 Lama 1 sqn with An-12PS Cub; An-26 Curl; Tu-134

Russia and Eurasia


AFS 2 Longvinik (Project 23120) TRANSPORT
AG 1 Potok 1 sqn with An-12BK Cub; An-24RV Coke; An-26 Curl;
AGB 5: 1 Dobrynya Mikitich; 1 Ilya Muromets; 2 Ivan An-72 Coaler; An-140
Susanin; 1 Vladimir Kavraisky 2 sqn with An-26 Curl; Tu-134
AGE 3: 2 Seliger; 1 Tchusovoy TRAINING
AGHS 6 Project 23040G 1 sqn with L-39 Albatros; Su-25UTG Frogfoot
AGI 14: 2 Alpinist; 2 Dubridium (Project 1826); 1 Moma; 7 1 sqn with An-140; Tu-134; Tu-154, Il-38 May
Vishnya; 2 Yuri Ivanov ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
AGM 1 Marshal Nedelin 1 sqn with Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8 Hip
AGOR 7: 1 Akademik Alexandrov (Project 20183); 1 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Akademik Krylov; 2 Sibiriyakov; 2 Vinograd; 1 Yantar 1 sqn with Mi-8 Hip
AGS 67: 8 Biya; 16+ Finik; 7 Kamenka; 5 Moma; 8+ Onega; AIR DEFENCE
6 Baklan (Project 19920); 4 Baklan (Project 19920B); 4 4 AD div HQ
Vaygach; 9+ Yug 1 SAM regt with S-300PM1 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle);
AGSH 1 Samara S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble)
AH 3 Ob† 1 SAM regt with S-300PM1 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle);
AK 3: 2 Irgiz; 1 Pevek S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-
AOL 8: 2+ Dubna; 3 Uda; 3+ Altay (mod) SA-22 Greyhound)
AOR 4: 3 Boris Chilikin; 1 Akademik Pashin (Project 23130) 1 SAM regt with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble)
AORL 2: 1 Kaliningradneft; 1 Olekma 1 SAM regt with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble);
AOS 1 Luza S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-
AOTL 1 Platforma-Arktika (Project 03182) with 1 hel SA-22 Greyhound)
landing plaftorm 4 SAM regt with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6
AR ε7 Amur Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
ARC 5: 4 Emba; 1 Improved Klasma EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARS 33: 1 Kommuna; 5 Goryn; 4 Mikhail Rudnitsky; 22 AIRCRAFT 207 combat capable
Project 23040; 1 Zvezdochka (Project 20180) FTR 67: 10 MiG-31B/BS Foxhound; 22 MiG-31BM
AS 3 Project 2020 (Malina) Foxhound C; 17 Su-33 Flanker D; 18 Su-27/Su-27UB Flanker
ASR 2: 1 Elbrus; 1 Igor Belousov FGA 45: 19 MiG-29KR Fulcrum; 3 MiG-29KUBR Fulcrum;
ATF 54: 1 Okhotsk; 1 Baklan; ε3 Katun; 3 Ingul; 1 Neftegaz; up to 19 Su-30SM Flanker H; 4 Su-30SM2 Flanker H
10 Okhtensky; 13 Prometey; 3 Project 23470 with 1 hel ATK 35: up to 30 Su-24M Fencer; 5 Su-25UTG Frogfoot
landing platform; 1 Prut; 4 Sliva; 14 Sorum (trg role)
ATS 5 Project 22870 ASW 44: 12 Tu-142MK/MZ Bear F; 10 Tu-142MR Bear J
AWT 1 Manych (comms); 15 Il-38 May; 7 Il-38N May
AXL 9: 7 Petrushka; 2 Smolny with 2 RBU 2500 Smerch 1 MP 7: 6 Be-12PS Mail*; 1 Il-18D
A/S mor, 2 twin 76mm guns ISR 10 Su-24MR Fencer E*
SAR 4: 3 An-12PS Cub; 1 Be-200ES
Naval Aviation ε31,000 ELINT 4: 2 Il-20RT Coot A; 2 Il-22 Coot B
FORCES BY ROLE TPT 49: Medium 2 An-12BK Cub; Light 45: 1 An-24RV
FIGHTER Coke; 24 An-26 Curl; 6 An-72 Coaler; 4 An-140; 9 Tu-134;
1 regt with MiG-31B/BS/BM Foxhound 1 Tu-134UBL; PAX 2 Tu-154M Careless
1 regt with Su-27/Su-27UB Flanker TRG 4 L-39 Albatros
1 regt with Su-33 Flanker D; Su-25UTG Frogfoot HELICOPTERS
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK ATK 8 Mi-24P Hind
1 regt with MiG-29KR/KUBR Fulcrum ASW 52: 30 Ka-27PL Helix; 22 Ka-27M Helix
1 regt with MiG-31BM Foxhound; Su-24M/M2/MR Fencer EW 8 Mi-8 Hip J
190 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AEW 2 Ka-31R Helix ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE


SAR 16 Ka-27PS Helix D MSL
TPT 41: Medium 35: 27 Ka-29 Helix; 4 Mi-8T Hip; 4 Mi- SP 60+: 60 9P148 with 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5
8MT Hip; Light 6 Ka-226T Spandrel); 9P149 with 9K114 Shturm (RS-AT-6 Spiral);
AIR DEFENCE 9P157-2 with 9K123 Khrisantema (RS-AT-15 Springer)
SAM • Long-range 200: 56 S-300PM1 (RS-SA-20 MANPATS 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel);
Gargoyle); 40 S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble); 104 S-400 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
(RS-SA-21 Growler) GUNS 100mm T-12
SPAAGM 30mm 30 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound) ARTILLERY 395
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES SP 171: 122mm 85 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 86: 50 2S3
AAM • IR R-27T/ET (RS-AA-10B/D Alamo); R-60 Akatsiya; 36 2S19M1 Msta-S
(RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); R-74M TOWED 152mm 100: 50 2A36 Giatsint-B; 50 2A65
(RS-AA-11B Archer); ARH R-77-1 (RS-AA-12B Adder);
Msta-B
SARH R-27R/ER (RS-AA-10A/C Alamo); R-33 (RS-AA-
GUN/MOR 66
9A Amos)
SP 120mm 42: 12 2S23 NONA-SVK; 30 2S9 NONA-S
ARM Kh-25MP (RS-AS-12A Kegler); Kh-31P (RS-AS-
TOWED 120mm 24 2B16 NONA-K
17A Krypton); Kh-58 (RS-AS-11 Kilter)
MRL 58: 122mm 36 BM-21 Grad/Tornado-G; 220mm 18
ASM Kh-59 (RS-AS-13 Kingbolt); Kh-59M (RS-AS-18
9P140 Uragan; 300mm 4+ 9A52 Smerch
Kazoo); Kh-29T (RS-AS-14 Kedge)
AShM Kh-31A (RS-AS-17B Krypton) SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHER
SRBM • Dual-capable 12 9K720 Iskander-M
Naval Infantry (Marines) ε30,000 (RS-SS-26 Stone)
FORCES BY ROLE GLCM • Dual-capable Some 9M728 (RS-SSC-7
As a result of heavy losses suffered during the invasion Southpaw)
of Ukraine, almost all of the manoeuvre formations AIR DEFENCE
listed are currently significantly understrength and some SAM
are now effectively only cadre-sized until mobilised Short-range 12+ Tor-M2DT
personnel can be drafted into them. Point-defence 70+: 20 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko);
COMMAND 50 9K31 Strela-1/9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin/
3 corps HQ RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
SPECIAL FORCES GUNS • SP 23mm 60 ZSU-23-4
4 (OMRP) SF unit
11 (PDSS) cbt diver unit Coastal Missile and Artillery Forces 2,000
MANOEUVRE FORCES BY ROLE
Reconnaissance COASTAL DEFENCE
1 recce bde 5 AShM bde
Mechanised 1 AShM regt
1 MR div (1 tk regt, 2 MR regt; 1 SAM regt) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 MR bde COASTAL DEFENCE
1 MR regt ARTY • SP 130mm ε36 A-222 Bereg
6 naval inf bde AShM 96+: 40 3K60 Bal (RS-SSC-6 Sennight); 56 3K55
1 naval inf regt
Bastion (RS-SSC-5 Stooge); some 4K44 Redut (RS-SSC-1
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
Sepal); some 4K51 Rubezh (RS-SSC-3 Styx)
1 SRBM/GLCM bde with 9K720 Iskander-M (RS-SS-26
Stone/RS-SSC-7 Southpaw)
COMBAT SUPPORT
Aerospace Forces ε165,000 (incl conscripts)
A joint CIS Unified Air Defence System covers RUS, ARM,
2 arty bde
BLR, KAZ, KGZ, TJK, TKM and UZB
2 engr regt
AIR DEFENCE FORCES BY ROLE
1 SAM regt with 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); Strela-1/ BOMBER
Strela-10 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin/RS-SA-13 Gopher) 3 regt with Tu-22M3 Backfire C
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 3 sqn with Tu-95MS/MS mod Bear
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 1 sqn with Tu-160/Tu-160 mod Blackjack
MBT 220: 170 T-72B/B3/B3M; 50 T-80BV/BVM FIGHTER
IFV 1,010: 300 BMP-2; 70 BMP-3; 40 BMP-3F; 600 1 sqn with MiG-29/MiG-29UB Fulcrum (Armenia)
BTR-82A 2 regt with MiG-31BM Foxhound C
APC 300 1 regt with MiG-31BM Foxhound C; Su-35S Flanker M
APC (T) 250 MT-LB 1 regt with Su-27/Su-27SM/Su-27UB Flanker B/J/C; Su-
APC (W) 50 BTR-80 30M2 Flanker G
AUV Vystrel 2 regt with Su-30SM Flanker H
Russia and Eurasia 191

FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


1 regt with MiG-31BM Foxhound C; Su-27SM Flanker J; Su- AIRCRAFT 1,153 combat capable
30M2 Flanker G; Su-30SM Flanker H; Su-35S Flanker M BBR 137: 60 Tu-22M3 Backfire C; 1 Tu-22MR Backfire† (1
1 regt with Su-27SM Flanker J; Su-35S Flanker M in overhaul); 33 Tu-95MS Bear; 27 Tu-95MS mod Bear;
1 regt with Su-35S Flanker M; Su-30SM Flanker H 7 Tu-160 Blackjack; 7 Tu-160 mod Blackjack; 2 Tu-160M
1 regt with Su-27SM3 Flanker; Su-30M2 Flanker G Blackjack (in test)
FTR 185: 70 MiG-29/MiG-29UB Fulcrum; 85 MiG-31BM
1 regt with Su-25 Frogfoot; Su-30SM Flanker H
Foxhound C; 12 Su-27 Flanker B; 18 Su-27UB Flanker C
GROUND ATTACK
FGA 410+: 15 MiG-29SMT Fulcrum; 2 MiG-29UBT
1 regt with MiG-31K
Fulcrum; 6 MiG-35S/UB Fulcrum (in test); 47 Su-27SM
1 regt with Su-24M/M2 Fencer; Su-34 Fullback Flanker J; 24 Su-27SM3 Flanker; 19 Su-30M2 Flanker G; ε80
1 regt with Su-24M Fencer; Su-25SM Frogfoot Su-30SM Flanker H; ε105 Su-34 Fullback; 7+ Su-34 mod
3 regt with Su-25SM/SM3 Frogfoot Fullback; 99 Su-35S Flanker M; 6 Su-57 Felon
1 sqn with Su-25SM Frogfoot (Kyrgyzstan) ATK 262: 12 MiG-31K; 70 Su-24M/M2 Fencer; 40 Su-25
3 regt with Su-34 Fullback Frogfoot; ε125 Su-25SM/SM3 Frogfoot; 15 Su-25UB Frogfoot

Russia and Eurasia


GROUND ATTACK/ISR ISR 58: 4 An-30 Clank; up to 50 Su-24MR Fencer*; 2 Tu-
1 regt with Su-24M/MR Fencer 214ON; 2 Tu-214R
ISR EW 3 Il-22PP Mute
3 sqn with Su-24MR Fencer ELINT 31: 14 Il-20M Coot A; 5 Il-22 Coot B; 12 Il-22M Coot B
1 flt with An-30 Clank AEW&C 10: 3 A-50 Mainstay; 7 A-50U Mainstay
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL C2 8: 2 Il-80 Maxdome; 1 Il-82; 4 Tu-214SR; 1 Tu-214PU-SBUS
TKR 15: 5 Il-78 Midas; 10 Il-78M Midas
1 sqn with A-50/A-50U Mainstay
TPT 446: Heavy 125: 11 An-124 Condor; 4 An-22 Cock;
TANKER
98 Il-76MD Candid; 3 Il-76MD-M Candid; 9 Il-76MD-90A
1 sqn with Il-78/Il-78M Midas
Candid; Medium 65 An-12BK Cub; Light 224: ε113 An-
TRANSPORT 26 Curl; 25 An-72 Coaler; 5 An-140; 27 L-410; 54 Tu-134
6 regt/sqn with An-12BK Cub; An-148-100E; An-26 Curl; Crusty; PAX 32: 15 An-148-100E; 17 Tu-154 Careless
Tu-134 Crusty; Tu-154 Careless; Mi-8 Hip TRG 262: 35 DA42T; 118 L-39 Albatros; 109 Yak-130 Mitten*
1 regt with An-124 Condor; Il-76MD Candid HELICOPTERS
1 regt with An-124 Condor; Il-76MD/MD-90A Candid ATK 361+: ε105 Ka-52A Hokum B; 100 Mi-24D/V/P Hind;
1 regt with An-12BK Cub; Il-76MD Candid 80+ Mi-28N Havoc B; 13 Mi-28UB Havoc; ε60 Mi-35 Hind
1 sqn with An-22 Cock EW ε20 Mi-8MTPR-1 Hip
3 regt with Il-76MD Candid TPT 313: Heavy 33 Mi-26/Mi-26T Halo; Medium 280
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Mi-8/AMTSh/AMTSh-VA/MT/MTV-5/MTV-5-1 Hip
1 bde with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-28N Havoc B; Mi-35 TRG 69: 19 Ka-226U; 50 Ansat-U
Hind; Mi-26 Halo; Mi-8MTV-5 Hip UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
CISR • Heavy some Inokhodets; Medium Forpost R;
1 bde with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-26 Halo; Mi-8 Hip
Mohajer 6
1 bde with Mi-28N Havoc B; Mi-35 Hind; Mi-26 Halo;
ISR • Medium Forpost (Searcher II)
Mi-8 Hip
AIR DEFENCE
2 regt with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-28N Havoc B; Mi-35 SAM 714:
Hind; Mi-8 Hip Long-range 584: 160 S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble);
1 regt with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8MTPR-1 150 S-300PM1/PM2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle); 20 S-300V
Hip; Mi-8 Hip (RS-SA-12 Gladiator/Giant); 6 S-350 Vityaz (RS-SA-28);
1 regt with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-8 Hip 248 S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler)
1 regt with Mi-28N Havoc B; Mi-35 Hind; Mi-8 Hip Medium-range 80 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2/9K317 Buk-M2
1 regt with Mi-28N Havoc B; Mi-24P Hind; Mi-35 Hind; (RS-SA-11 Gadfly/RS-SA-17 Grizzly)
Mi-8 Hip SPAAGM 30mm 50 96K6 Pantsir-S1/S2 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
2 regt with Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8 Hip AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
2 sqn with Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8 Hip AAM • IR R-27T/ET (RS-AA-10B/D Alamo); R-73
AIR DEFENCE (RS-AA-11A Archer); R-74M (RS-AA-11B Archer); R-60T
(RS-AA-8 Aphid); SARH R-27R/ER (RS-AA-10A/C
9 AD div HQ
Alamo); R-33 (RS-AA-9A Amos); ARH R-77-1 (RS-AA-
4 regt with 9K37M1-2 Buk-M1-2 (RS-SA-11 Gadfly);
12B Adder); R-37M (RS-AA-13A Axehead); PRH R-27P/EP
9K317 Buk-M2 (RS-SA-17 Grizzly); S-300V (RS-SA-12
(RS-AA-10E/F Alamo)
Gladiator/Giant) ARM Kh-25MP (RS-AS-12A Kegler); Kh-31P/PM (RS-AS-
1 bde with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble) 17A/C Krypton); Kh-58 (RS-AS-11 Kilter)
2 regt with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble) ASM Item 305/LMUR; Kh-25ML (RS-AS-12B Kegler); Kh-
6 regt with S-300PM1/PM2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle) 29 (RS-AS-14 Kedge); Kh-38; Kh-59 (RS-AS-13 Kingbolt)
12 regt with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6 Pantsir-S1 Kh-59M (RS-AS-18 Kazoo); Kinzhal (RS-AS-24 Killjoy);
(RS-SA-22 Greyhound) 9M114 Kokon (RS-AT-6 Spiral); 9M120 Ataka (RS-AT-9
192 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Spiral 2); 9M120-1 Vikhr (RS-AT-16 Scallion) SA-18 Grouse); 9K333 Verba (RS-SA-29 Gizmo); 9K338 Igla-S
AShM Kh-22 (RS-AS-4 Kitchen); Kh-31A/AM (RS-AS- (RS-SA-24 Grinch); 9K34 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin)
17B/D Krypton); Kh-32 (RS-AS-4A mod); Kh-35U (RS- GUNS • SP 23mm 150 BTR-ZD
AS-20 Kayak)
LACM Special Operations Forces ε1,000
Nuclear Kh-55SM (RS-AS-15B Kent); Kh-102 (RS-AS- FORCES BY ROLE
23B Kodiak) SPECIAL FORCES
Conventional Kh-101 (RS-AS-23A Kodiak); Kh-555 (RS- 2 SF unit
AS-22 Kluge)
BOMBS Railway Forces ε29,000
INS/GLONASS-guided KAB-500S 4 regional commands
Laser-guided KAB-500L; KAB-1500L
FORCES BY ROLE
TV-guided Ghaem-5; KAB-500KR; KAB-1500KR; KAB-
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
500OD; UPAB 1500
10 (railway) tpt bde

Airborne Forces ε40,000 1st & 2nd Army Corps ε30,000


FORCES BY ROLE Formations drawn from the Russian-backed ‘Donetsk
As a result of heavy losses suffered during the invasion of People’s Republic’ and ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ and
Ukraine, almost all of the manoeuvre formations listed are integrated into the Russian command structure
currently significantly understrength and some are now FORCES BY ROLE
effectively only cadre-sized until mobilised personnel can MANOEUVRE
be drafted into them. Mechanised
SPECIAL FORCES 7 MR bde
1 (AB Recce) SF bde 15 MR regt
MANOEUVRE COMBAT SUPPORT
Air Manoeuvre 2 arty bde
2 AB div (1 tk bn, 3 para/air aslt regt, 1 arty regt, 1 AD
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
regt)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
2 AB div (2 para/air aslt regt, 1 arty regt, 1 AD regt)
MBT T-64A; T-72A; T-72B
1 indep AB bde
IFV BMP-1; BMP-2
2 air aslt bde
APC
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE APC (T) MT-LB
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES APC (W) BTR-60/-70/-80
MBT 50 T-72B3/B3M ARTILLERY
IFV 120 BTR-82AM SP 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika
APC 700+ TOWED 122mm D-30; 152mm 2A36 Giatsint-B; D-1 (M-
APC (T) 700: 600 BTR-D; 100 BTR-MDM 1943); D-20
PPV Typhoon-VDV MRL 122m BM-21 Grad
ABCV 850: 600 BMD-2; 250 BMD-4M MOR 120mm 2S12 Sani
AUV GAZ Tigr; UAMZ Toros
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES Russian Military Districts
ARV BREM-D; BREhM-D 5 military districts each with a unified Joint Strategic
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Command. Organisational data presented here represents
MSL peacetime assignments rather than operational deployments
SP 100 BTR-RD resulting from Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K113
Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Western Military District
Saxhorn); 9K115-1 Metis-M (RS-AT-13); 9K135 Kornet HQ at St Petersburg
(RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
RCL 73mm SPG-9 Army
GUNS • SP 125mm 36+ 2S25 Sprut-SD FORCES BY ROLE
ARTILLERY 550+ COMMAND
TOWED 122mm 140 D-30 3 army HQ
GUN/MOR • SP 120mm 210: 180 2S9 NONA-S; 30 2S9 SPECIAL FORCES
NONA-SM; (500 2S9 NONA-S in store) 2 (Spetsnaz) SF bde
MOR • TOWED 200+ 82mm 150 2B14; 120mm 50+ 2B23 MANOEUVRE
NONA-M1 Reconnaissance
AIR DEFENCE 1 recce bde
SAM • Point-defence 30+: 30 Strela-10MN (RS-SA-13 Armoured
Gopher); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K38 Igla (RS- 2 tk div
Russia and Eurasia 193

1 MR corps Coastal Artillery and Missile Forces


3 MR div
FORCES BY ROLE
Mechanised
COASTAL DEFENCE
1 MR div
1 AShM regt
3 MR bde
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE Military Air Force
3 SRBM/GLCM bde with Iskander-M
COMBAT SUPPORT 6th Air Force & Air Defence Army
2 arty bde FORCES BY ROLE
1 (hy) arty bde FIGHTER
1 MRL bde 1 regt with Su-30SM Flanker H
1 engr bde 1 regt with MiG-31BM Foxhound C; Su-35S Flanker M
3 engr regt 1 regt with Su-27SM Flanker J; Su-35S Flanker M
1 ptn br bde GROUND ATTACK
1 EW bde

Russia and Eurasia


1 regt with Su-34 Fullback
1 NBC bde
ISR
2 NBC regt
1 sqn with Su-24MR Fencer E; An-30 Clank
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
TRANSPORT
3 log bde
1 regt with An-12 Cub; An-26 Curl; Tu-134 Crusty
AIR DEFENCE
ATTACK HELICOPTER
4 AD bde
1 bde with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-28N Havoc B;
Baltic Fleet Mi-35 Hind; Mi-26 Halo; Mi-8MTV-5 Hip
1 regt with Mi-24P/Mi-35 Hind; Mi-28N Havoc B;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Mi-8 Hip
SUBMARINES • TACTICAL • SSK 1
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 6: 1 DDGHM; 1 regt with Mi-24P Hind; Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-8
5 FFGHM (1 more non-operational, in long-term refit) Hip; Mi-8PPA Hip
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 35: 3 AIR DEFENCE
FSGM; 2 FSG; 6 FSM; 4 PCGM; 7 PCFG; 12 PBF; 1 PB 3 SAM regt with S-300PM1/PM2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4 SAM regt with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6
11: 1 MCC; 4 MSC; 6 MHI Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
AMPHIBIOUS 13: 4 LST; 7 LCM; 2 LCAC
Airborne Forces
Naval Aviation FORCES BY ROLE
FORCES BY ROLE SPECIAL FORCES
FIGHTER 1 (AB Recce) SF bde
1 regt with Su-27 Flanker B MANOEUVRE
ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE/ISR Air Manoeuvre
1 regt with Su-24M/MR Fencer; Su-30SM Flanker H 3 AB div
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with An-26 Curl; Tu-134 Crusty Northern Fleet Military District
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER HQ at Severomorsk
1 regt with Ka-27/Ka-29 Helix; Mi-24P Hind;
Mi-8 Hip
Northern Fleet
AIR DEFENCE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 SAM regt with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6 SUBMARINES 26
Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound) STRATEGIC 8 SSBN (of which 2 in refit)
TACTICAL 19: 5 SSGN; 8 SSN; 5 SSK
Naval Infantry PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 10: 1 CV (in
FORCES BY ROLE refit); 1 CGHMN; 1 CGHM; 5 DDGHM (1 more in
COMMAND reserve); 2 FFGHM
1 corps HQ PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 16: 6
MANOEUVRE FSM; 2 PCGM; 8 PB
Mechanised MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 8:
1 MR div 1 MHO; 1 MSO; 6 MSC
1 MR regt AMPHIBIOUS 8: 6 LST; 2 LCM
1 naval inf bde
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE Naval Aviation
1 SRBM/GLCM bde with Iskander-M FORCES BY ROLE
COMBAT SUPPORT FIGHTER
1 arty bde 1 regt with Su-33 Flanker D; Su-25UTG Frogfoot
194 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT


1 regt with MiG-29KR/KUBR Fulcrum 2 log bde
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK/ISR AIR DEFENCE
1 regt with MiG-31BM Foxhound C; Su-24M/M2/ 3 AD bde
MR Fencer Military Air Force
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
1 regt with Il-38/Il-38N May; Il-20RT Coot A; Tu-134 14th Air Force & Air Defence Army
1 regt with Ka-27/Ka-29 Helix FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with Tu-142MK/MZ/MR Bear F/J FIGHTER
AIR DEFENCE 2 regt with MiG-31BM Foxhound C
5 SAM regt with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble); GROUND ATTACK
S-300PM1 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle); S-400 (RS-SA-21 1 regt with Su-34 Fullback
1 sqn with Su-25SM Frogfoot (Kyrgyzstan)
Growler); 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
ISR
1 sqn with Su-24MR Fencer E
Naval Infantry
TRANSPORT
FORCES BY ROLE 1 regt with An-12 Cub; An-26 Curl; Tu-134 Crusty;
COMMAND Tu-154; Mi-8 Hip
1 corps HQ ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
MANOEUVRE 1 bde with Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8 Hip
Mechanised 1 regt with Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8 Hip
2 MR bde 1 sqn with Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8 Hip (Tajikistan)
1 naval inf bde AIR DEFENCE
1 regt with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble)
COMMAND
1 bde with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble)
1 engr regt
1 regt with S-300PM2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
Coastal Artillery and Missile Forces 4 regt with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6
Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
FORCES BY ROLE
COASTAL DEFENCE Airborne Troops
1 AShM bde FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Central Military District Air Manoeuvre
HQ at Yekaterinburg 1 AB bde

Army Southern Military District


HQ at Rostov-on-Don
FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND Army
2 army HQ FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES COMMAND
2 (Spetsnaz) SF bde 3 army HQ
MANOEUVRE SPECIAL FORCES
Armoured 3 (Spetsnaz) SF bde
1 (Spetsnaz) SF regt
1 tk div
MANOEUVRE
3 MR bde
Reconnaissance
Mechanised 1 recce bde
3 (lt/mtn) MR bde Armoured
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE 3 MR div
2 SRBM/GLCM bde with Iskander-M 1 MR bde
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 MR bde (Armenia)
2 arty bde 1 MR bde (South Ossetia)
Mechanised
1 MRL bde
1 MR div
1 engr bde
1 MR bde
3 engr regt 1 MR bde (Abkhazia)
1 EW bde 1 (lt/mtn) MR bde
2 NBC bde SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
2 NBC regt 3 SRBM/GLCM bde with Iskander-M
Russia and Eurasia 195

COMBAT SUPPORT Naval Infantry


3 arty bde FORCES BY ROLE
1 MRL bde MANOEUVRE
1 engr bde Mechanised
1 EW bde 1 naval inf regt
1 NBC bde
2 NBC regt Military Air Force
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
2 log bde
4th Air Force & Air Defence Army
AIR DEFENCE FORCES BY ROLE
3 AD bde FIGHTER
1 regt with Su-30SM Flanker H
Black Sea Fleet 1 sqn with MiG-29 Fulcrum; Su-30SM Flanker H
The Black Sea Fleet is primarily based in Crimea, at (Armenia)
Sevastopol, Karantinnaya Bay and Streletskaya Bay FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK

Russia and Eurasia


1 regt with Su-27/Su-27SM Flanker B/J; Su-30M2
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Flanker G
SUBMARINES • TACTICAL 6 SSK
1 regt with Su-27SM3 Flanker; Su-30M2 Flanker G
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 5: 3 FFGHM;
GROUND ATTACK
2 FFGM
1 regt with Su-24M Fencer; Su-25SM Frogfoot
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 32: 8
2 regt with Su-25SM/SM3 Frogfoot
FSGM; 6 FSM; 3 PSOH; 5 PCFG; 6 PB; 4 PBF
1 regt with Su-34 Fullback
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES
GROUND ATTACK/ISR
10: 3 MCC; 1 MHO; 5 MSO; 1 MSC
1 regt with Su-24M/MR Fencer D/E
AMPHIBIOUS 8: 6 LST; 2 LCM
TRANSPORT
Naval Aviation 1 regt with An-12 Cub/Mi-8 Hip
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
FORCES BY ROLE
1 bde with Mi-28N Havoc B; Mi-35 Hind; Mi-8 Hip;
FIGHTER Mi-26 Halo
ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE/ISR 1 regt with Mi-28N Havoc B; Mi-35 Hind; Mi-8 Hip
1 regt with Su-24M/MR Fencer; Su-30SM Flanker H 2 regt with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-28N Havoc B;
MARITIME PATROL/TRANSPORT Mi-35 Hind; Mi-8AMTSh Hip
1 regt with Ka-27 Helix; An-26 Curl; Be-12PS Mail; 1 sqn with Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8 Hip (Armenia)
Mi-8 Hip AIR DEFENCE
TPT • Medium Mi-8 Hip 1 SAM regt with 9K317 Buk-M2 (RS-SA-17 Grizzly)
1 SAM regt with S-300PM1 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
Naval Infantry 3 SAM regt with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6
FORCES BY ROLE Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
COMMAND
1 corps HQ Airborne Forces
MANOEUVRE FORCES BY ROLE
Mechanised MANOEUVRE
2 naval inf bde Air Manoeuvre
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 AB div
1 arty regt
Eastern Military District
1 engr regt
HQ at Khabarovsk
AIR DEFENCE
1 SAM regt Army
FORCES BY ROLE
Coastal Artillery and Missile Forces COMMAND
FORCES BY ROLE 4 army HQ
COASTAL DEFENCE SPECIAL FORCES
2 AShM bde 1 (Spetsnaz) SF bde
MANOEUVRE
Caspian Sea Flotilla Armoured
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 tk bde
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 15: 3 1 MR div
FSGM; 1 PCFG; 3 PCM; 3 PB; 1 PBF; 4 PBR 6 MR bde
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 3: Mechanised
2 MSC; 1 MHI 2 MR bde
AMPHIBIOUS 9 LCM 1 MGA div
196 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE 1 regt with Su-35S Flanker M; Su-30SM Flanker H


4 SRBM/GLCM bde with Iskander-M 1 regt with Su-25 Frogfoot; Su-30SM Flanker H
COMBAT SUPPORT GROUND ATTACK
4 arty bde 1 regt with Su-24M/M2 Fencer D/D mod;
1 MRL bde Su-34 Fullback
1 engr bde 1 regt with Su-25SM Frogfoot
1 EW bde ISR
1 NBC bde 1 sqn with Su-24MR Fencer E
4 NBC regt TRANSPORT
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT 1 regt with An-12 Cub; An-26 Curl; Tu-134 Crusty/
4 log bde Tu-154 Careless
AIR DEFENCE ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
5 AD bde 1 bde with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-26 Halo
1 regt with Ka-52A Hokum B; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-26 Halo
Pacific Fleet 1 regt with Mi-24P Hind; Mi-8 Hip
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AIR DEFENCE
SUBMARINES 17 1 regt with 9K37M Buk-M1-2 (RS-SA-11 Gadfly);
STRATEGIC 3 SSBN 1 regt with S-300V (RS-SA-12 Gladiator/Giant);
TACTICAL 15: 4 SSGN (2 more non-operational in S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler)
long-term refit); 2 SSN (3 more non-operational in 4 regt with S-300PS (RS-SA-10B Grumble); S-400
long-term refit; 9 SSK (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 10: 1 CGHM; SA-22 Greyhound)
5 DDGHM; 4 FFGHM
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 28: 8 Airborne Forces
FSM; 4 PCGM; 10 PCFG; 6 PB FORCES BY ROLE
MINE WARFARE 11: 2 MCC; 2 MSO; 7 MSC MANOEUVRE
AMPHIBIOUS 9: 4 LST; 5 LCM Air Manoeuvre
2 air aslt bde
Naval Aviation
FORCES BY ROLE Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 559,000
FIGHTER
1 sqn with MiG-31BS/BM Foxhound A/C Border Guard Service ε160,000
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE Subordinate to Federal Security Service
1 sqn with Ka-27/Ka-29 Helix
FORCES BY ROLE
2 sqn with Il-38/Il-38N May; Il-18D; Il-22 Coot B
10 regional directorates
1 sqn with Tu-142MK/MZ/MR Bear F/J
MANOEUVRE
TRANSPORT
Other
1 sqn with An-12BK Cub; An-26 Curl; Tu-134
7 frontier gp
AIR DEFENCE
1 SAM regt with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler); 96K6 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
IFV/APC (W) 1,000 BMP/BTR/
Naval Infantry AUV BPM-97
FORCES BY ROLE ARTILLERY 90
MANOEUVRE SP 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika
Mechanised GUN/MOR • SP 120mm 2S9 NONA-S
2 naval inf bde MOR 120mm 2S12 Sani
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 205
Coastal Artillery and Missile Forces PSOHM 2 Nerey (Krivak III) with 1 twin ZIF-122 lnchr
FORCES BY ROLE with 4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4 Gecko) SAM, 2 quad
COASTAL DEFENCE PTA-53-1135 533mm TT lnchr, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch
2 AShM bde 2 A/S mor, 1 100mm gun (capacity 1 Ka-27 Helix A
ASW hel)
Military Air Force PSO 6: 4 Komandor; 2 Okean (Project 22100) with 1
76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform
11th Air Force & Air Defence Army PCM 1 Okhotnik (Project 22460) with 1 sextuple GMLS
FORCES BY ROLE with Igla-1M (RS-SA-N-10 Grouse) SAM, 1 AK630
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK CIWS
1 regt with MiG-31BM Foxhound C; Su-27SM PCO 29: 8 Alpinist (Project 503); 1 Sprut; 13 Okhotnik
Flanker J; Su-30M2 Flanker G; Su-30SM Flanker (Project 22460) with 1 AK630M CIWS, 1 hel landing
H; Su-35S Flanker M platform; 8 Purga with 1 hel landing platform
Russia and Eurasia 197

PCC 33: 4 Molnya II (Pauk II); 6 Svetlyak (Project 10410); BTR-82A/BTR-82AM


13 Svetlyak (Project 10410) with 1 AK630M CIWS, 1 PPV Ural-VV
76mm gun; 8 Svetlyak (Project 10410) with 2 AK630M AUV Patrol-A; Tigr
CIWS; 1 Svetlyak (Project 10410) with 1 AK630M CIWS; ARTILLERY 35
1 Yakhont TOWED 122mm 20 D-30
PCR 1 Slepen (Yaz) with 1 AK630 CIWS, 2 100mm guns MOR 120mm 15 M-1938 (PM-38)
PBF 87: 57 Mangust; 3 Mirazh (Project 14310); 4 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5
Mustang-2 (Project 18623); 21 Sobol; 2 Sokzhoi PBF 3 BK-16 (Project 02510)
PBR 27: 4 Ogonek; 8 Piyavka with 1 AK630 CIWS; 15 PB 2+ Grachonok
Moskit (Vosh) with 1 AK630 CIWS, 1 100mm gun AIRCRAFT
PB 18: 6 Gyuys (Project 03050); 2 Morzh (Project 1496M; TPT 29: Heavy 9 Il-76 Candid; Medium 2 An-12 Cub;
10 Lamantin (Project 1496M1) Light 18: 12 An-26 Curl; 6 An-72 Coaler
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 34 HELICOPTERS
AE 1 Muna TPT 71: Heavy 10 Mi-26 Halo; Medium 60+: 60 Mi-8
AGB 2 Ivan Susanin (primarily used as patrol ships) with Hip; some Mi-8AMTSh Hip; Light 1 Ka-226T

Russia and Eurasia


2 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform
AK 8 Pevek Wagner Group ε10,000
AKSL 5 Kanin Elements of Russian private military company ‘Wagner’
AO 3: 1 Ishim (Project 15010); 2 Envoron and associates integrated into the Russian command
ATF 15: 14 Sorum (primarily used as patrol ships) with 2 structure within Ukraine.
AK230M CIWS; 1 Sorum (primarily used as patrol ship)
AIRCRAFT • TPT ε86: 70 An-24 Coke/An-26 Curl/An-72
DEPLOYMENT
Coaler/Il-76 Candid/Tu-134 Crusty/Yak-40 Codling; 16 SM-92
HELICOPTERS: ε200 Ka-27PS Helix/Mi-24 Hind/Mi-26 ARMENIA: 3,500: 1 mil base with (1 MR bde; 74 T-72; 80
Halo/Mi-8 Hip BMP-1; 80 BMP-2; 12 2S1; 12 BM-21); 1 ftr sqn with 18
MiG-29 Fulcrum; 4 Su-30SM Flanker H; 1 hel sqn with 11
Federal Guard Service ε40,000–50,000 Mi-24P Hind; 4 Mi-8AMTSh Hip; 4 Mi-8MT Hip; 2 AD bty
Org include elm of ground forces (mech inf bde and with S-300V; 1 AD bty with Buk-M1-2)
AB regt) AZERBAIJAN: 1,960; 1 MR bde(-) (peacekeeping)
FORCES BY ROLE
BELARUS: 10,000; 1 SSM bn with Iskander-M; 1 FGA sqn(-)
MANOEUVRE
with Su-34; Su-35S; 1 atk flt with MiG-31K; 2 SAM bn
Mechanised
with S-400; 1 radar station at Baranovichi (Volga system;
1 mech inf regt
leased); 1 naval comms site
Air Manoeuvre
1 AB regt CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 14
Other CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 6
1 (Presidential) gd regt DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
MONUSCO 9
Federal Security Service Special Purpose
Centre ε4,000 GEORGIA: ε4,000; Abkhazia: 1 mil base with 1 MR bde(-);
FORCES BY ROLE 1 SAM regt with S-300PS; South Ossetia: 1 mil base with 1
SPECIAL FORCES MR bde(-)
2 SF unit (Alfa and Vympel units) KAZAKHSTAN: 1 radar station at Balkash (Dnepr
system; leased)
National Guard ε335,000
KYRGYZSTAN: ε500; 13 Su-25SM Frogfoot; 2 Mi-8 Hip
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE MEDITERRANEAN SEA: 2 SSK; 1 FFGHM; 1 FFGM; 1 AGI
Other MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 4
10 paramilitary div (2–5 paramilitary regt) MOLDOVA: Transnistria ε1,500 (including 400
17 paramilitary bde (3 mech bn, 1 mor bn) peacekeepers): 2 MR bn; 7 Mi-24 Hind; some Mi-8 Hip
36 indep paramilitary rgt
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2
90 paramilitary bn (incl special motorised units)
COMBAT SUPPORT SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2
1 arty regt SYRIA: 4,000: 1 inf BG; 3 MP bn; 1 engr unit; ε10 T-72B3;
TRANSPORT ε20 BTR-82A; BPM-97; Typhoon-K; Tigr; 12 2A65; 4 9A52
8 sqn Smerch; 10 Su-24M Fencer D; 6 Su-34; 6 Su-35S Flanker M;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 A-50U Mainstay; 1 Il-20M; 12 Mi-24P/Mi-35M Hind; 4
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Mi-8AMTSh Hip; 1 AShM bty with 3K55 Bastion; 1 SAM
RECCE some BRDM-2A bty with S-400; 1 SAM bty with Pantsir-S1/S2; air base at
IFV/APC (W) 1,600 BMP-2/BTR-70M/BTR-80/ Latakia; naval facility at Tartus
198 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

TAJIKISTAN: ε3,000; 1 (201st) mil base with 1 MR bde(-); reports in 2021 of agreements on security cooperation with Iran.
1 hel sqn with 4 Mi-24P Hind; 4 Mi-8MTV Hip; 2 Mi- Border deployments have been stepped up recently in response
8MTV-5-1 Hip; 1 SAM bn with 8 S-300PS to concerns about regional and border security and terrorism.
In late 2016, a Military Cooperation Plan was signed with Russia.
UKRAINE: Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia:
Moscow has indicated that Tajikistan is to receive military equip-
ε150,000; Crimea: ε25,000; 1 recce bde, 2 naval inf bde(-); ment, including aircraft. Some personal equipment has been
1 air aslt regt(-); 1 arty bde; 1 NBC regt; 1 AShM bde with donated by the US. Barring maintenance facilities, Tajikistan has
3K60 Bal; 3K55 Bastion; 1 FGA regt with Su-24M/MR; Su- only minimal defence-industrial capacity, though in 2022, Iran
30SM; 1 FGA regt with Su-27SM/SM3; Su-30M2; 1 atk regt reportedly opened a UAV production line in the country.
with Su-24M/Su-25SM; 1 atk/tpt hel regt; 1 ASW hel regt;
2 AD regt with S-400; Pantsir-S1; 1 Fleet HQ located at ACTIVE 8,800 (Army 7,300 Air Force/Air Defence
Sevastopol; 2 radar stations located at Sevastopol (Dnepr 1,500) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 7,500
system) and Mukachevo (Dnepr system) Conscript liability 24 months
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 13 RESERVE 20,000 (Army 20,000)

Tajikistan TJK ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Tajikistani Somoni TJS 2021 2022 2023
GDP TJS 99.0bn 112bn
Army 7,300
USD 8.75bn 9.98bn FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
per capita USD 906 1,015
Mechanised
Growth % 9.2 5.5 3 MR bde
Inflation % 9.0 8.3 Air Manoeuvre
Def bdgt [a] TJS ε1.06bn ε1.19bn 1 air aslt bde
USD ε94.0m ε107m COMBAT SUPPORT
USD1=TJS 11.31 11.18 1 arty bde
[a] Excludes budget for law enforcement AIR DEFENCE
1 SAM regt
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
133 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
n.k. n.k. MBT 38: 28 T-72 Ural/T-72A/T-72AV/T-72B; 3 T-72B1;
0
2008 2015 2022 7 T-62/T-62AV/T-62AM
RECCE 31: 9 BRDM-2; 22 BRDM-2M
Population 9,119,347 IFV 23: 8 BMP-1; 15 BMP-2
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC 36
APC (W) 23 BTR-60/BTR-70/BTR-80
Male 15.5% 4.7% 4.5% 4.2% 19.2% 1.6%
PPV 13 VP11
Female 14.9% 4.6% 4.3% 4.1% 20.0% 2.3% AUV 24 CS/VN3B mod; Tigr
ARTILLERY 40
Capabilities SP 122mm 3 2S1 Gvozdika
The Tajik armed forces have little capacity to deploy other than TOWED 122mm 13 D-30
token forces and most equipment is of Soviet-era origin. Regional MRL 122mm 14 BM-21 Grad
security and terrorism remain key security concerns, given the MOR 10+: SP 82mm CS/SS4; 120mm 10
border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan has been building its capa-
bility by hosting CSTO counter-terrorism exercises and by taking
AIR DEFENCE
part in exercises, organised by US CENTCOM, focused on sce- SAM
narios including counter-terrorism. Tajikistan is a member of the Medium-range 3 S-125 Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26)
CSTO and the SCO, and the armed forces also conduct exercises Short-range 5 S-125M1 Neva-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa)
with Russian troops based at Russia’s 201st military base. In 2021, Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
bilateral military exercises and CSTO joint drills concerned sce- GUNS
narios focused on the border with Afghanistan. Reports in early
SP 23mm 8 BTR-ZD
2019 indicated that there may be a Chinese military facility in
eastern Tajikistan, though this remains unconfirmed by either TOWED 23mm ZU-23M1
Beijing or Dushanbe. In 2021, reports indicated that China was
to fund an outpost for Tajikistan’s police special forces near to Air Force/Air Defence 1,500
the border with Afghanistan. Though the pre-existing base is still FORCES BY ROLE
officially denied by Beijing and Dushanbe, there were reports
TRANSPORT
that full control of the facility would be transferred to Beijing
and future rent will be waived in exchange for military aid from 1 sqn with Tu-134A Crusty
China. In 2018, India and Tajikistan agreed to strengthen defence ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
cooperation, in particular on counter-terrorism and there were 1 sqn with Mi-24 Hind; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17TM Hip H
Russia and Eurasia 199

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Uzbekistan, but has limited capacity to deploy externally and
AIRCRAFT maintains no international deployments. In October 2019, in Saint
TPT • Light 1 Tu-134A Crusty Petersburg, Turkmenistan and four other Caspian littoral states
TRG 4+: 4 L-39 Albatros; some Yak-52 signed a memorandum of understanding on military cooperation,
HELICOPTERS among other discussions, including on maritime security. There are
ATK 4 Mi-24 Hind plans to strengthen the border guard with new equipment and
TPT • Medium 11 Mi-8 Hip/Mi-17TM Hip H facilities. Plans to bolster the naval forces have resulted in some
procurements, leading to a modest improvement in the naval
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 7,500 presence in the Caspian Sea. There has been limited procurement
of systems such as UAVs, including from China and Turkey. A 2021
Internal Troops 3,800 military parade also featured a range of new military equipment,
including C-27J Spartan, EMB-314 Super Tucano and and M-346FA
National Guard 1,200 aircraft and Bayraktar TB2 UAVs. Apart from maintenance facilities,
Turkmenistan has little domestic defence industry, but is building
Emergencies Ministry 2,500 a number of patrol vessels of Turkish design under licence.

Russia and Eurasia


Border Guards ACTIVE 36,500 (Army 33,000 Navy 500 Air 3,000)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 20,000
FOREIGN FORCES Conscript liability 24 months

China ε300 (trg)


Russia ε3,000; 1 (201st) mil base with 1 MR bde(-); 1 hel ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
sqn with 4 Mi-24P Hind; 4 Mi-8MTV Hip; 2 Mi-8MTV-5-1
Hip; 1 SAM bn with 8 S-300PS Army 33,000
5 Mil Districts

Turkmenistan TKM FORCES BY ROLE


SPECIAL FORCES
Turkmen New Manat TMT 2021 2022 2023 1 spec ops regt
GDP TMT 218bn 261bn
MANOEUVRE
Armoured
USD 62.2bn 74.4bn
1 tk bde
per capita USD 10,111 11,929 Mechanised
Growth % 4.6 1.2 1 (3rd) MR div (1 tk regt; 3 MR regt, 1 arty regt)
Inflation % 15.0 17.5 1 (22nd) MR div (1 tk regt; 1 MR regt, 1 arty regt)
Def bdgt TMT n.k n.k 4 MR bde
USD n.k n.k 1 naval inf bde
Other
USD1=TMT 3.50 3.50
1 MR trg div
Population 5,636,011 SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
1 SRBM bde with 9K72 Elbrus (RS-SS-1C Scud B)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus COMBAT SUPPORT
Male 12.6% 3.8% 4.0% 4.6% 21.9% 2.7% 1 arty bde
Female 12.2% 3.8% 3.9% 4.6% 22.5% 3.5% 1 (mixed) arty/AT regt
1 MRL bde
Capabilities 1 AT regt
Turkmenistan has concerns over potential spillover from security 1 engr regt
challenges in Afghanistan, but its armed forces lack significant AIR DEFENCE
capabilities and equipment. Ashgabat has maintained a policy 2 SAM bde
of neutrality since 1995 and confirmed this commitment in its EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
2016 military doctrine. This aimed to increase the armed forces’
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
defensive capability in order to safeguard national interests and
territorial integrity. Turkmenistan is not a member of the CSTO or
MBT 654: 4 T-90S; 650 T-72/T-72UMG
the SCO. In 2022, Turkmenistan participated in the Organization RECCE 260+: 200 BRDM-2; 60 BRM-1; Nimr Ajban
of Turkic States (OTS) with observer status. The summit agreed to IFV 1,050: 600 BMP-1/BMP-1M; 4 BMP-1UM; 430 BMP-2;
continue regular security cooperation and called for closer defence 4 BMP-2D; 4 BMP-3; 4 BTR-80A; 4 BTR-80 Grom
industrial and military cooperation. While the ground forces APC 907+
are shifting from a Soviet-era divisional structure to a brigade APC (W) 870+: 120 BTR-60 (all variants); 300 BTR-70;
system, progress is slow. The armed forces are largely conscript-
450 BTR-80
based and reliant on Soviet-era equipment and doctrine, and the
government has stated a requirement to improve conditions of PPV 37+: 28+ Kirpi; 9+ Titan-DS; some Typhoon-K
service. Turkmenistan has participated in multinational exercises AUV 12+: 8 Nimr Ajban 440A; 4+ Cobra
and is reported to have restarted joint exercises with Russia and ABCV 8 BMD-1
200 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE TRANSPORT
MSL 1 sqn with An-26 Curl; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-24 Hind
SP 58+: 8 9P122 Malyutka-M (RS-AT-3 Sagger on BRDM- TRAINING
2); 8 9P133 Malyutka-P (RS-AT-3 Sagger on BRDM-2); 2 1 unit with EMB-314 Super Tucano*
9P148 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel on BRDM-2); 36 9P149 1 unit with L-39 Albatros
Shturm (RS-AT-6 Spiral on MT-LB); 4+ Baryer (on Karakal) AIR DEFENCE
MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 9K111 1 bty with FD-2000 (CH-SA-9)
Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 1 bty with KS-1C (CH-SA-12)
Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn) 3 bty with S-125 Neva-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa)
GUNS 100mm 60 MT-12/T-12 1 bty with S-125 Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26)
ARTILLERY 769 2 bty with S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5 Gammon)
SP 122mm 40 2S1 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
TOWED 457: 122mm 350 D-30; 130mm 6 M-46; 152mm AIRCRAFT 65 combat capable
101: 17 D-1; 72 D-20; 6 2A36 Giatsint-B; 6 2A65 Msta-B FTR 24: 22 MiG-29A/S Fulcrum; 2 MiG-29UB Fulcrum
GUN/MOR 120mm 17 2S9 NONA-S ATK 31: 19 Su-25 Frogfoot; 12 Su-25MK Frogfoot
MRL 158: 122mm 92: 18 9P138; 70 BM-21 Grad; 4 BM-21A; TPT 5: Medium 2 C-27J Spartan; Light 3: 1 An-26 Curl;
RM-70; 220mm 60 9P140 Uragan; 300mm 6 9A52 Smerch 2 An-74TK Coaler
MOR 97: 82mm 31; 120mm 66 M-1938 (PM-38) TRG 12: 5 EMB-314 Super Tucano*; 5 M-346FA*;
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 2 L-39 Albatros
HELICOPTERS
SRBM • Conventional 16 9K72 Elbrus (RS-SS-1C Scud B)
ATK 10 Mi-24P Hind F
AIR DEFENCE
MRH 2+ AW139
SAM
TPT 11+: Medium 8: 6 Mi-8 Hip; 2 Mi-17V-V Hip; Light
Short-range: FM-90 (CH-SA-4); 2K12 Kub (RS-
3+ AW109
SA-6 Gainful)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
Point-defence 53+: 40 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 13
CISR 3+: Heavy CH-3A; WJ-600; Medium 3+ Bayraktar
9K35 Strela-10 mod (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K38 Igla (RS-
TB2
SA-18 Grouse); 9K32M Strela-2M (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; ISR 3+: Medium 3+ Falco Light Orbiter-2
9K34 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); Mistral (reported); LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS
QW-2 (CH-SA-8) Skystriker
GUNS 70 AIR DEFENCE • SAM
SP 23mm 48 ZSU-23-4 Long-range 18: 2 2K11 Krug (RS-SA-4 Ganef); 4 FD-2000
TOWED 22+: 23mm ZU-23-2; 57mm 22 S-60 (CH-SA-9); 12 S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5 Gammon);
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES Medium-range 8: 4 S-125 Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26); 4 KS-
ASM CM-502KG; AR-1 1A (CH-SA-12)
Short-range 12: 12 S-125M1 Neva-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa);
Navy 500 some S-125-2BM Pechora
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5 AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer)
CORVETTES • FSGM 1 Deňiz Han with 4 twin lnchr BOMBS
with Otomat AShM, 1 16-cell CLA VLS with VL MICA, Laser-guided MAM-C; MAM-L
1 Roketsan ASW Rocket Launcher System A/S mor, 1
Gokdeniz CIWS, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 20,000
PCFG 2 Edermen (RUS Molnya) with 4 quad lnchr with
Internal Troops ε15,000
3M24E Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 2 AK630
CIWS, 1 76mm gun EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
PCGM 2 Arkadag (TUR Tuzla) with 2 twin lnchr with
IFV 2+ Lazar-3
Otomat AShM, 2 twin Simbad-RC lnchr with Mistral SAM,
APC • PPV 9: 4+ Survivor II; 5 Titan-DS
1 Roketsan ASW Rocket Launcher System A/S mor
AUV 4+ Plasan Stormrider
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT• AGHS 1 (Dearsan 41m)
Federal Border Guard Service ε5,000
Air Force 3,000 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FORCES BY ROLE ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
FIGHTER APC • PPV 8: 4+ Kirpi; 4+ Survivor II
2 sqn with MiG-29A/S/UB Fulcrum AUV 6+ Cobra
GROUND ATTACK ARTILLERY • MRL 122mm 4 BM-21A
1 sqn with Su-25 Frogfoot AIR DEFENCE
1 sqn with Su-25MK Frogfoot GUNS • TOWED • 23mm ZU-23-2
1 sqn with M-346FA* PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 33
Russia and Eurasia 201

PCGM 8 Arkadag (TUR Tuzla) with 2 twin lnchr in the near term, but it may have had an immediate propa-
with Otomat AShM, 2 twin Simbad-RC lnchr with ganda value. General mobilisation was declared on 24 February:
Mistral SAM, 1 Roketsan ASW Rocket Launcher 18–60-year-old men were not allowed to leave the country, while
System A/S mor women between 18–60 in certain professions also had to regis-
PBFG 6 Nazya (Dearsan 33) with 2 single lnchr with ter for military service. After the invasion, substantial numbers of
civilians volunteered for defence duties. At the outset of the war
Marte Mk2/N AShM
Ukraine’s equipment inventory consisted predominantly of Soviet-
PBF 18: 10 Bars-12; 5 Grif-T; 3 Sobol era weaponry, though more modern ground equipment from
PB 1 Point Western sources has increasingly supplemented the inventory.
AMPHIBIOUS • LCM 1 Dearsan LCM-1 After the February invasion there have been repeat deliveries of
HELICOPTERS Turkish-manufactured UAVs while numerous countries have pro-
MRH 2 AW139 vided portable anti-armour and anti-air weapons. Western states
TPT 3+: Medium some Mi-8 Hip; Light 3 AW109 have also started to provide heavier weapons, including main
battle tanks and artillery, as well as training on these systems. A
number of Western states are now offering training assistance to
Ukraine UKR Ukrainian troops in their own nations, with this ranging from basic

Russia and Eurasia


training and combat skills to training on new equipment. There is
Ukrainian Hryvnia UAH 2021 2022 2023 also some maintenance support. Since 2014, Western-delivered
training support developed combat and command skills, includ-
GDP [a] UAH 5.46tr n.k ing relating to NCOs. Ukraine’s development of an NCO cadre after
USD 200bn n.k 2014 has proven valuable. In 2021, Ukraine replaced its Military
per capita USD 4,862 n.k Doctrine with a new Military Security Strategy, which built on the
2020 National Security Strategy. Part of the reform programme
Growth % 3.4 ε-35.0
included the establishment of several new commands, includ-
Inflation % 9.4 ε20.6 ing a Joint Forces Command. The war will spur Kyiv’s ambition to
Def bdgt [b] UAH 118bn 131bn 1.14tr replace its Soviet-era equipment, though the country will need
USD 4.30bn 3.55bn considerable financial support in meeting this goal, as it will with
wider reconstruction costs. Ukraine has a broad defence-industrial
FMA (US) USD 115m 115m 165m
base, operating in all sectors, though its capability remains shaped,
USD1=UAH 27.34 36.93 and limited, by its Soviet heritage. The condition of its defence-
[a] Limited IMF economic data available for Ukraine in 2022 industrial facilities is unclear; many have been subject to Russian
[b] Official budget (including military pensions). Actual spending attacks. Ongoing combat, and Ukraine’s mobilisation, means that
expected to be much higher in 2022 following Russian invasion equipment, forces and personnel assessments in the data sections
in February. Significant uplift announced for 2023. should be treated with caution.
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) ACTIVE 688,000 (Army 250,000 Navy 13,000 Air
2.83
Force 37,000 Airborne 30,000 Special Operations
Forces 3,000 Territorial Defence 350,000)
0.94
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 250,000
2008 2015 2022
Conscript liability Army, Air Force 18 months, Navy 2 years.
Population 43,528,136 Minimum age for conscription raised from 18 to 20 in 2015

RESERVE 400,000 (Joint 400,000)


Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Military service within 5 years
Male 8.3% 2.5% 2.3% 2.9% 24.4% 6.0%
Female 7.8% 2.4% 2.2% 2.8% 26.8% 11.7% ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Capabilities Army ε250,00
After absorbing the initial assault of Russia’s February 2022 inva- 4 regional HQ
sion, Ukrainian forces halted Russia’s apparent attempt to seize
Kyiv. By late-year Ukraine’s forces were on the offensive, retak- FORCES BY ROLE
ing territory in the Donetsk region and also around Kherson in MANOEUVRE
the south and to the east of Kharkiv further north. Ukraine has Reconnaissance
received considerable support from Western states in the form of 5 recce bn
military materiel, most notably the US. This support has included Armoured
the supply of main battle tanks, tube and rocket artillery, anti- 2 tk bde
armour and anti-air weapons. Intelligence support has also been Mechanised
forthcoming from some of these states. Substantial numbers of 9 mech bde
Ukrainian personnel have been killed or wounded, and equip-
2 mtn bde
ment losses have been significant, but Ukrainian forces have also
inflicted heavy losses on Russian forces. In response, at the end Light
of September 2022, to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s illegal 4 mot inf bde
annexation of several regions and claims that these were now 1 (volunteer) lt inf regt
Russian, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILES
Ukraine’s application to join NATO. This move is unlikely to succeed 1 SSM bde
202 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SUPPORT ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE


5 arty bde MSL
1 MRL bde SP 9P148 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 9P148 with
1 MRL regt Stugna-P; 9P149 with 9K114 Shturm (RS-AT-6 Spiral);
1 STA regt M1064A1 HMMWV with TOW; Brimstone; Brimstone II
1 engr bde MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K113
1 engr regt Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); Corsar; FGM-148 Javelin;
1 ptn br regt NLAW: Stugna-P
1 EW regt GUNS 100mm ε200 MT-12/T-12
1 EW bn ARTILLERY 1,536
2 EW coy SP 512: 122mm 120 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 204: 140 2S3
1 CBRN regt Akatsiya; 10 2S5 Giatsint-S; 35 2S19 Msta-S; 1+ Dana-M2;
4 sigs regt 18 M-77 Dana; 155mm 168: 17 Caesar; 53 Krab; 50
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT M109A3GN/A4/A5Oe; 20 M109L; 6 M-2000 Zuzana; 22
1 engr spt bde PzH 2000; 203mm 20 2S7 Pion
3 maint regt TOWED 493: 105mm 33: 30 L119 Light Gun/M119A3; 3+
1 maint coy M101; 122mm 60 D-30; 130mm 18 M-46; 152mm 230: 90
HELICOPTERS 2A36 Giatsint-B; 80 2A65 Msta-B; 60 D-20; 155mm 152: 20
4 avn bde FH 70; 132 M777A2
AIR DEFENCE GUN/MOR • 120mm • TOWED 2B16 NONA-K
4 AD regt MRL 231: 122mm 120: 100 9K51M Tornado-G/BM-21
Grad; 20 RM-70 Vampir; 220mm 40 Bureivy/9P140 Uragan;
Reserves 227mm 31: 20 M142 HIMARS; 11 M270A1/B1 MLRS;
FORCES BY ROLE 300mm 40+: Vilkha/Vilkha-M; 40 9A52 Smerch
MANOEUVRE MOR 300: 120mm 300: 100 2S12 Sani; 140 EM-120; some
Armoured Krh/92; 60 M120-15; SP 120mm BTR-3M2
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
3 tk bde
SRBM • Conventional some 9K79 Tochka (RS-SS-21 Scarab)
Mechanised
COASTAL • DEFENCE AShM RBS-17 Hellfire
4 mech bde
HELICOPTERS
Light
ATK ε35 Mi-24/Mi-35 Hind
1 mot inf bde
TPT • Medium ε15 Mi-8 Hip
1 lt inf bde
LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS
COMBAT SUPPORT
(Multiple systems below 20kg in weight)
2 arty bde
AIR DEFENCE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE SAM 81+
Warsaw Pact calibre artillery and missile systems may Long-range Some S-300V (RS-SA-12A Gladiator)
have limited or no available ammunition. Short-range 10: 4 Crotale NG; 6 9K330 Tor-M (RS-
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES SA-15 Gauntlet)
MBT 953: 28 M-55S; 30 T-62M/MV; 250 T-64BV/BV Point-defence 9K33 Osa-AKM (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 9K35
mod 2017; 50 T-64BM Bulat; 500 T-72AV/AV mod 2021/ Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18
B1/B3/M1/M1R/PT-91 Twardy; 80 T-80BV/BVM/U/UK; Grouse); 6 FV4333 Stormer with Starstreak; Martlet;
10 T-90A; 5 T-84 Oplot Mistral; Piorun; Starstreak
RECCE 200: 150 BRDM-2/-2L1/-2T; 50 BRM-1K (CP) SPAAGM 30mm 75 2K22 Tunguska (RS-SA-19 Grison)
IFV 770: 500 BMP-1/-1AK/-2; 40 BMP-3; 60 BTR-3DA/- GUNS
3E1/-4E/-4MV1; 80 BTR-82A; 35 BVP M-80A; 55 PbV- SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka; 35mm 30 Gepard
501; YPR-765 TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2; 57mm S-60
APC 1,159 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ASM Barrier-V
APC (T) 550: 350 M113A1/AS4/G3DK/G4DK; 200
MT-LB Navy ε13,000
APC (W) 239: 39 ACSV; 200 BTR-60/-70/-80; XA-180 Sisu After Russia’s annexation of Crimea, HQ shifted to
PPV 370: 50 Kozak-2/-2M; 240 Maxxpro; 80 Varta Odessa. Several additional vessels remain in Russian
AUV 95: 30 Dingo 2; 35 FV103 Spartan; 30 Novator; possession in Crimea
Roshel Senator EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 13
AEV 40 BAT-2; MT-LB PCC 3 Slavyansk (ex-US Island)
ARV 10+: 10 BPz-2; BREM-1; BREM-M; BREM-2; BREM- PBG 3 Gyurza-M (Project 51855) with 2 Katran-M RWS
64; BTS-4; IMR-2; VT-72M4CZ with Barrier SSM
VLB 17 Biber; MTU-20 PBF 7: 6 Defiant 40; 1 Kentavr-LK
Russia and Eurasia 203

LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 8 FORCES BY ROLE


ABU 1 Project 419 (Sura) FIGHTER
AG 1 Bereza 4 bde with MiG-29 Fulcrum; Su-27 Flanker B; L-39 Albatros
AGI 1 Muna FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
AKL 1 2 bde with Su-24M Fencer; Su-25 Frogfoot
AWT 1 Sudak ISR
AXL 3 Petrushka 2 sqn with Su-24MR Fencer E*
TRANSPORT
Naval Aviation ε1,000 3 bde with An-24 Curl; An-26 Coke; An-30 Clank; Il-76
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Candid; Tu-134 Crusty
FIXED-WING AIRCRAFT TRAINING
ASW (2 Be-12 Mail non-operational) Some sqn with L-39 Albatros
TPT • Light (2 An-26 Curl in store) TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
HELICOPTERS Some sqn with Mi-8 Hip; Mi-9 Hip; PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
ASW 7+: 4+ Ka-27 Helix A; 1 Mi-14PS Haze A; 2 Mi- AIR DEFENCE

Russia and Eurasia


14PL Haze C 6 bde with S-300PS/PT (RS-SA-10 Grumble)
TPT • Medium 1 Ka-29 Helix-B 3 regt with S-300PS/PT (RS-SA-10 Grumble)
TRG 1 Ka-226 3 regt with 9K37M Buk-M1 (RS-SA-11 Gadfly)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
CISR • Medium Bayraktar TB2 AIRCRAFT 79 combat capable
BOMBS • Laser-guided MAM-C/-L FTR 50: ε20 MiG-29 Fulcrum; ε30 Su-27 Flanker B
Naval Infantry ε4,000 ATK 20: ε5 Su-24M Fencer D; ε20 Su-25 Frogfoot
ISR 12: 3 An-30 Clank; ε9 Su-24MR Fencer E*
FORCES BY ROLE
TPT 26: Heavy 4 Il-76 Candid; Medium 1 An-70; Light
MANOEUVRE
ε21: 3 An-24 Coke; ε17 An-26 Curl; 1 Tu-134 Crusty
Reconnaissance
TRG ε31 L-39 Albatros
1 recce bn
HELICOPTERS
Light
C2 ε14 Mi-9 Hip
1 nav inf bde
MRH ε25 Mi-17 Hip H
1 nav inf bde(-)
TPT 25: Medium ε20 Mi-8 Hip; Light ε5 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES CISR • Medium Bayraktar TB2
MBT T-64BV ISR • Heavy some Tu-141 Strizh
IFV BMP-1; BMP-3 AIR DEFENCE
APC SAM 271:
APC (T) MT-LB Long-range 208: 200 S-300PS/PT (RS-SA-10 Grumble);
APC (W) BTR-60; BTR-80 8 S-300PMU (RS-SA-10 Grumble)
PPV ε40 Mastiff; Varta Medium-range 63: 60 9K37M Buk-M1 (RS-SA-11
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Gadfly); 3+ IRIS-T SLM
GUNS 100mm MT-12 Short-range NASAMS
ARTILLERY GUNS • TOWED 23mm some ZU-23-2
SP 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
TOWED 152mm 2A36 Giatsint-B AAM • IR R-27ET (RS-AA-10D Alamo); R-60 (RS-AA-8
AIR DEFENCE Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); SARH R-27R (RS-AA-
GUNS • SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 10A Alamo); R-27ER (RS-AA-10C Alamo)
ASM Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen); Kh-29 (RS-AS-14 Kedge)
Coastal Defence ε1,500
ARM AGM-88 HARM; Kh-25MP (RS-AS-12A Kegler);
FORCES BY ROLE Kh-58 (RS-AS-11 Kilter)
COASTAL DEFENCE BOMBS • Laser-guided MAM-C/-L
1 arty bde
1 MRL regt Airborne Assault Troops ε30,000
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE FORCES BY ROLE
ARTILLERY MANOEUVRE
TOWED 152mm D-20 Reconnaissance
MRL 220mm 9P140 Uragan 1 recce bn
COASTAL DEFENCE Air Manoeuvre
AShM Maritime Brimstone; RGM-84 Harpoon; RK- 1 AB bde
360MC Neptun 4 air aslt bde
1 air aslt regt
Air Forces 37,000 2 air mob bde
4 Regional HQ 1 air mob bde (forming)
204 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SUPPORT APC


1 SP arty bn APC (W) BTR-70; BTR-80
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE PPV Streit Cougar; Streit Spartan; Kozak-2; Varta
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES AUV Novator
MBT T-80BV mod ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
IFV BTR-3E1; BTR-4 Bucephalus MSL • MANPATS NLAW
APC 166 RCL 73mm SPG-9
APC (T) 30 BTR-D ARTILLERY
APC (W) 93+: BTR-80; 10 Dozor-B; 27+ Oncilla; 56+ VAB TOWED 122mm D-30
PPV 43+ Kirpi MOR 120mm some
ABCV 70: 20 BMD-1†; 50 BMD-2 AIRCRAFT
AUV 56+: 56 Bushmaster; IVECO LMV; KrAZ Spartan; TPT • Light 24: 20 An-26 Curl; 2 An-72 Coaler; 2 Tu-
MLS Shield; Novator 134 Crusty
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE HELICOPTERS • TPT 14: Medium 11: 4 H225M; 7
MSL • MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); Mi-8 Hip; Light 3: 2 H125; 1 Mi-2MSB
9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); NLAW AIR DEFENCE
ARTILLERY SAM • Point-defence 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse);
SP 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya Piorun
TOWED • 122mm D-30 GUNS • SP 23mm some ZU-23-2 (tch)
MRL 122mm BM-21 Grad
GUN/MOR • SP • 120mm 30 2S9 NONA-S
Border Guard ε60,000
MOR 120mm 2S12 Sani FORCES BY ROLE
AIR DEFENCE MANOEUVRE
SAM • Point-defence 9K35M Strela-10M; Piorun Other
GUNS • SP 23mm some ZU-23-2 (truck mounted) 1 (mobile) sy bn
19 sy bn
Special Operations Forces ε3,000 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FORCES BY ROLE ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
SPECIAL FORCES APC • PPV Kozak-2
2 SF regt
Maritime Border Guard
1 (volunteer) SF regt
The Maritime Border Guard is an independent
1 SF bn
subdivision of the State Commission for Border
1 spec ops regt
Guards and is not part of the navy
1 spec ops bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Territorial Defence Force ε350,000 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 21
PCT 1 Molnya (Pauk I) with 4 single 406mm TT, 2
FORCES BY ROLE
RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 1 76mm gun
MANOEUVRE
PCC 4 Tarantul (Stenka)
Light
PB 12: 11 Zhuk; 1 Orlan
30 (territorial def) inf bde
PBR 4 Shmel with 1 76mm gun
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AGF 1
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 250,000 AIRCRAFT • TPT Medium An-8 Camp; Light An-24
National Guard ε90,000 Coke; An-26 Curl; An-72 Coaler
Ministry of Internal Affairs; 5 territorial comd HELICOPTERS • ASW: Ka-27 Helix A
FORCES BY ROLE National Police ε100,000
MANOEUVRE Ministry of Internal Affairs
Mechanised
1 mech inf bde DEPLOYMENT
Light
1 mot inf bde(-) SERBIA: NATO • KFOR 40
2 mot inf regt
2 inf bde TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
Other DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL
3 sy bde Russia annexed the Ukrainian region of Crimea in March
1 sy regt 2014, having occupied the territory the previous month. It
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE has been used by Russia as a basing area since the start
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Data
MBT T-64; T-64BV; T-64BM; T-72; T-90M presented here represents the de facto situation and does
IFV BMP-2; BTR-3; BTR-3E1; BTR-4 Bucephalus; BTR-4E not imply international recognition.
Russia and Eurasia 205

FOREIGN FORCES domestic industry and defence orders. The 2018 doctrine calls for
improvements to the domestic defence industry. In recent years,
Russia Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk & Zaporizhzhia,
Uzbekistan’s defence industry has showcased domestically pro-
ε150,000; Crimea: ε25,000; 1 recce bde(-), 2 naval inf bde(-);
duced light-armoured vehicles.
1 air aslt regt; 1 arty bde; 1 NBC bde; 1 AShM bde with 3K60
Bal; 3K55 Bastion; 1 FGA regt with Su-24M/MR; Su-30SM; ACTIVE 48,000 (Army 24,500 Air 7,500 Joint 16,000)
1 FGA regt with Su-27SM/SM3; Su-30M2; 1 atk regt with Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 20,000
Su-24M/Su-25SM; 1 atk sqn(-) with Su-34; 1 atk/tpt hel regt; Conscript liability 12 months
1 ASW hel regt; 1 AD regt with S-300PM; 1 AD regt with
S-400; 1 Fleet HQ located at Sevastopol; 2 radar stations
located at Sevastopol (Dnepr system) and Mukachevo ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
(Dnepr system)
Army 24,500
Uzbekistan UZB 4 Mil Districts; 2 op comd; 1 Tashkent Comd

Russia and Eurasia


FORCES BY ROLE
Uzbekistani Som UZS 2021 2022 2023 SPECIAL FORCES
GDP UZS 735tr 866tr 1 SF bde
USD 69.2bn 79.1bn MANOEUVRE
per capita USD 2,002 2,243 Armoured
Growth % 7.4 5.2 1 tk bde
Mechanised
Inflation % 10.8 11.2
11 MR bde
Def exp UZS n.k n.k
Air Manoeuvre
USD n.k n.k
1 air aslt bde
USS1=UZS 10615.12 10942.97 1 AB bde
Population 31,104,937 Mountain
1 lt mtn inf bde
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus COMBAT SUPPORT
Male 11.6% 3.8% 4.1% 4.8% 22.6% 2.8% 3 arty bde 1 MRL bde
Female 11.1% 3.7% 3.9% 4.8% 23.2% 3.7% EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Capabilities MBT 340: 70 T-72; 100 T-64B/MV; 170 T-62
Uzbekistan introduced a new military doctrine in early 2018, RECCE 19: 13 BRDM-2; 6 BRM-1
which highlighted increased concern over terrorism and the IFV 370: 270 BMP-2; ε100 BTR-82A
potential impact of conflicts including in Afghanistan. It noted a APC 388
requirement for military modernisation. The doctrine also focuses APC (T) 50 BTR-D
on border security and hybrid-warfare concerns. Uzbekistan is a APC (W) 259: 24 BTR-60; 25 BTR-70; 210 BTR-80
member of the SCO but suspended its CSTO membership in 2012.
PPV 79: Cougar 4×4; 24 Ejder Yalcin; 50 Maxxpro+;
Uzbekistan is a member of the Organization of Turkic States, and
the 2022 Summit Communique called for closer defence industrial 5 Typhoon-K 4×4
cooperation and a common security concept. It maintains bilat- ABCV 129: 120 BMD-1; 9 BMD-2
eral defence ties with Moscow. However, in 2022 Uzbekistan sent AUV 11+: 7 Cougar; 4+ M-ATV; some Tigr-M
humanitarian aid to Ukraine and did not recognise the indepen- ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
dence of the Luhansk and Donetsk ‘people’s republics.’ In late 2018
ARV 20 Maxxpro ARV
a defence-cooperation agreement was reported with India. Mili-
tary cooperation is developing with Turkey. Bilateral exercises were ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
held in 2021, and in 2022 the two countries signed an agreement MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger);
on military cooperation. The armed forces are army-dominated 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot)
and conscript-based. Uzbekistan has a limited capacity to deploy GUNS 100mm 36 MT-12/T-12
its forces externally and does not have any international deploy- ARTILLERY 487+
ments. A sizeable air fleet was inherited from the Soviet Union, but
SP 83+: 122mm 18 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 17+: 17 2S3
minimal recapitalisation in the intervening period has substantially
reduced the active inventory. Logistical and maintenance short- Akatsiya; 2S5 Giatsint-S (reported); 203mm 48 2S7 Pion
comings hinder aircraft availability. Uzbekistan is reliant on foreign TOWED 200: 122mm 60 D-30; 152mm 140 2A36 Giatsint-B
suppliers for advanced military equipment and procured equip- GUN/MOR 120mm 54 2S9 NONA-S
ment including military helicopters and armoured personnel car- MRL 108: 122mm 60: 36 BM-21 Grad; 24 9P138; 220mm
riers from Russia in 2019. Meetings took place with India in 2020 to 48 9P140 Uragan
advance defence cooperation (three defence-related MOUs were
signed in 2019) and in 2021 the leaders of Pakistan and Uzbekistan
MOR 120mm 42: 5 2B11 Sani; 19 2S12 Sani; 18 M-120
signed an agreement on defence cooperation. A State Committee AIR DEFENCE • SAM
for the Defence Industry was established in late 2017 to organise Point-defence QW-18 (CH-SA-11)
206 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Air Force 7,500 Light 7: 2 An-26 Curl; 4 C295W; 1 Tu-134 Crusty


FORCES BY ROLE TRG 6 L-39 Albatros
FIGHTER HELICOPTERS
1 sqn with MiG-29/MiG-29UB Fulcrum A/B ATK 41: 29 Mi-24 Hind; 12 Mi-35M Hind
GROUND ATTACK TPT 69: Heavy 9: 8 H225M Caracal; 1 Mi-26 Halo; Medium
1 sqn with Su-25/Su-25BM Frogfoot 52 Mi-8 Hip; Light 8 AS350 Ecureuil
TRANSPORT AIR DEFENCE • SAM 18
1 regt with Il-76 Candid; An-12 Cub; An-26 Curl; C295W; Long-range 4 FD-2000 (CH-SA-9)
Tu-134 Crusty Medium-range 4 S-125-2M Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26)
TRAINING Short-range 10 S-125M1 Neva-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa)
1 sqn with L-39 Albatros AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A
1 regt with Mi-24 Hind; Mi-26 Halo; Mi-35M Hind; Mi-8 Archer); IR/SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo)
Hip ASM Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen)
AIR DEFENCE ARM Kh-25MP (RS-AS-12A Kegler); Kh-28 (RS-AS-9
1 bty with FD-2000 (CH-SA-9) Kyle); Kh-58 (RS-AS-11 Kilter)
1 bty with S-125-2M Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26)
2 bty with S-125M1 Neva-M1 (RA-SA-3 Goa) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary up to 20,000
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 24 combat capable Internal Security Troops up to 19,000
FTR 12 MiG-29/MiG-29UB Fulcrum A/B; (18 more in Ministry of Interior
store); (26 Su-27/Su-27UB Flanker B/C in store)
ATK 12: 12 Su-25/Su-25BM Frogfoot; (15 Su-24 Fencer in store) National Guard 1,000
TPT 11: Heavy 2 Il-76 Candid; Medium 2 An-12 Cub; Ministry of Defence
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208 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Chapter Six

Asia
 China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) held naval and air  Concerns were raised in India about potential depen-
exercises to the north, southwest and east of Taiwan for dence on Russia for defence supplies. Deliveries of S-400
three days in early August 2022, at the time of the visit to systems continued, but only because of US congressional
Taiwan of then-speaker of the US House of Representa- support for ensuring ‘India’s immediate defense needs’
tives, Nancy Pelosi. After this, PLA assets have more fre- by waiving CAATSA sanctions in this specific case.
quently crossed the Taiwan Strait ‘median line’.  Japan’s government completed reviews of its National
 In China, 2022 saw continued deliveries of the Chengdu Security Strategy, National Defense Program Guide-
J-20 combat aircraft. Since at least 2021, the air force lines and Medium-Term Defense Program. Prime Min-
has been taking delivery of J-20s fitted with a do- ister Kishida Fumio set 2027 as a target for the defence
mestic afterburning turbofan, the Shenyang WS-10C, budget to reach 2% of GDP.
replacing the Russian Saturn AL-31F variant.  The new Australian government announced a De-
 China began fielding JL-3 (CH-SS-N-20) ballistic mis- fence Strategic Review to deliver recommendations in
siles on its submarines. According to the Pentagon, early 2023. Meanwhile, discussions continued with the
newer longer-ranged missiles like the JL-3 give ‘the UK and US over the provision of a new fleet of con-
PLAN the ability to target the continental United ventionally armed, nuclear-powered submarines and
States from littoral waters.’ other advanced military capabilities.
 By late October, North Korea had launched some 40  Overall regional defence budget growth was below
ballistic missiles – more than in any previous year. US trend in real terms compared to the previous decade.
and South Korean officials claimed that North Korea This is partially a result of constrained government
was in the final stages of planning its first nuclear test spending, but also related to the effect of inflation on
since 2017. the spending power of defence budgets.

Asia defence spending, 2022 – top 5 Active military personnel – top 10


(25,000 per unit)
United States
Global
China total
USD767bn
2,035,000 20,773,950

India
Total Asian
1,463,700
spending
USD516bn
North
Korea
1,280,000
China
India Pakistan 651,800
44.2% Regional
South Korea 555,000 total
9,177,730
Vietnam 482,000
USD66.6bn
Indonesia 395,500
USD242.4bn
Thailand 360,850
Japan South Korea Australia

Myanmar 356,000

Sri Lanka 255,000


USD48.1bn USD43.0bn USD33.8bn
Asia 209

Regional defence policy and economics 210 ►

Arms procurements and deliveries 226 ►

Armed forces data section 229 ►

Asia: selected tactical combat aircraft, 2022*

China
India
Japan
Myanmar
North Korea
Pakistan Advanced
Singapore Modern
Mixed
South Korea
Ageing
Taiwan Obsolescent
Obsolete
Thailand

Asia
0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500
*’Combat aircraft’ includes fighter, fighter ground-attack and attack aircraft

Asia: selected main battle tank fleets, 2022


China
India
Japan
Mongolia
North Korea
Pakistan
South Korea Modern
Mixed
Taiwan
Ageing
Thailand Obsolescent
Vietnam Obsolete

0 1,000 2,000 3,000 4,000 5,000

China’s heavy airlift and tanker fleets, 2016–22


40
35 Il-76MD/TD Candid Y-20A H-6U Il-78 Midas YY-20A
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
2016 2018 2020 2022
210 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Asia

Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February but India’s defence industry remains largely unable
2022 further complicated the challenges faced by to deliver advanced-weapons systems in significant
some Asia-Pacific defence establishments at a time numbers and on time. Speaking in July 2022, India’s
when the region’s security outlook was already chief of army staff, General Manoj Pande, stressed
deteriorating as a result of growing Chinese threats that India’s dependence on imported arms was ‘a
to Taiwan. Fears that developments in Ukraine might matter of concern’. Along with some other Asian
provide an opportunity for China to invade Taiwan countries, such as Myanmar, Vietnam was similarly
while the United States and other Western powers affected, and it seemed likely that the new obstacles
were distracted proved unrealistic in the short term, to importing Russian arms would reinforce Hanoi’s
but the war highlighted the danger of major inter- drive to widen the range of military equipment
state conflict resulting from the failure of diplomacy and technology it imports from other sources. The
and deterrence. In addition, Russia’s lack of success in ‘Vietnam Defence 2022’ exhibition scheduled for
its initial offensive and the successes of the Western- Hanoi in December 2022 seemed designed to attract a
backed Ukrainian armed forces provided reasons wide range of potential suppliers to Vietnam.
for Asia-Pacific armed forces to reassess their own
capabilities and requirements. Sino-Russian collaboration
Russian military equipment and technology have
Focus on dependence on Russian weapons been important for the modernisation of China’s
Almost immediately, the war in Ukraine posed People’s Liberation Army (PLA): key examples
challenges for Asian countries reliant on military during the last decade include Su-35 combat aircraft
equipment supplied by Russia. The considerable and S-400 air-defence systems, and assistance for
strengthening of US and European Union sanctions China’s development of a ballistic missile early-
against Russia’s defence-industrial sector following warning system. In the past two decades, however,
the invasion quickly affected India’s defence China’s defence industry has produced increasing
procurement. In May, New Delhi reportedly halted volumes of advanced equipment itself as part of
negotiations for additional Ka-31 naval airborne Beijing’s military modernisation ambitions. Indeed,
early-warning helicopters and suspended plans to since the 2014 crisis over Ukraine and the Western
upgrade Su-30MKI combat aircraft with Russian sanctions against Russia following its annexation of
assistance. Deliveries of S-400 systems continued, Crimea, bilateral defence-industrial interdependence
but only because of US congressional support has grown, with China becoming a vital source for
for ensuring ‘India’s immediate defense needs’ components that Russia cannot now obtain from
by waiving CAATSA (Countering American the West and, more importantly, a major partner in
Adversaries Through Sanctions Act) sanctions in this joint projects to develop air-defence systems and
specific case. Although important equipment has also engines for combat aircraft. The ‘no limits’ bilateral
recently come from contracts with French, UK and US relationship declared by the two countries’ leaders in
suppliers, there remain considerable dependencies early February 2022 may exaggerate the depth and
in all domains on Russian suppliers. Absent any potential of contemporary Sino-Russian relations,
significant weakening of sanctions, India will need to and a formal Sino-Russian military alliance or direct
consider alternative sources for some of its equipment Chinese military support for Russia’s war in Ukraine
purchases, as well as for spares and support for many both seem unlikely prospects. Nevertheless, the
of its Soviet- and Russian-origin systems, while bilateral partnership is now closer and includes an
bolstering its co-development and co-production of increasingly strong military dimension that goes
defence systems with foreign partners. India’s aim beyond defence-industrial cooperation. In October
remains to produce more defence materiel itself, and 2021, the Joint Sea–2021 bilateral exercise brought the
the government has redoubled its efforts in this area, two countries’ navies together in the Sea of Japan,
Asia 211

Map 5 China and Russia: selected military cooperation activities, 2019–22

Military cooperation between China and Russia has increased of Japan, with limited instances in the Arabian Sea and Pacific
in recent years. Between 2013 and 2015, exercises took place Ocean. The joint exercises have not entered Japanese territorial
annually, but since then they have gradually increased in number. waters. While the two countries likely use this military cooperation
2022 saw the two countries’ military cooperation increase in as a form of political signalling, such as of their ‘no limits’ friendship
frequency with a number of joint air or naval patrols and joint following Russia’s war in Ukraine, the depth of this bilateral military
exercises. These have included airlift, manoeuvring and live-fire cooperation, including its utility in terms of developing combat
drills, predominantly taking place in and above waters to the west capability and interoperability, remains unclear.

RUSSIA
4 September
3 x FFGHM 1 x CGHM; 1 FFGHM; 1 x AORH

CHINA 8 September 1 x DDGHM 9 September 1 x DDGHM

3 September
3 x FFGHM 1 x CGHM; 1 FFGHM; 1 x AORH

Sea of Japan
NORTH (East Sea)
KOREA

Asia
Pacific
Ocean

SOUTH
KOREA
JAPAN 27 September
East
China 1 x DDGHM;
Sea
3 x FFGHM

27 September
1 x CGHM; 1 x FFGHM; 1 x AORH

26 September
1 x CGHM; 1 x FFGHM; 1 x AORH

Joint Naval Patrol: Joint Aerial Patrol: 24 May 2022


September 2022
2x H-6 bomber (aircraft 1, 2)
and Vessels 2x H-6 bomber (aircraft 3, 4)
28–29 September Naval Vessels (replacing aircraft 1 and 2)
1 x CGHM; 1 FFGHM; 1 x AORH Naval Vessels 2x Tu-95 bomber
1 x DDGHM; 3 x FFGHM
Live Firing Location 1x Il-20 ELINT

2019 2020 2021


TAIWAN
Joint Aerial Patrol 2019 Maritime Cooperation / Joint Aerial Patrol 2020 Zapad/Interaction 2021 Joint Sea 2021
23 July 2019 Joint Sea 2019 22 October 2020 9–13 August 2021 14–23 October 2021
Sea of Japan (East Sea) 1–4 September 2019 Sea of Japan (East Sea) China Tsugaru Strait, Sea of Japan
Joint bomber patrol Yellow Sea Joint bomber patrol Air exercise during (East Sea)
Live-fire exercise Zapad 2021 Naval cruise and maritime and
mine countermeasure exercise

2022
Joint Aerial Patrol 2021 Counter-Piracy Exercise Joint Aerial Patrol 2022 Vostok 2022 Joint Naval Patrol
19 November 2021 21 January 2022 24 May 2022 1–7 September 2022 September 2022 (multiple dates)
Sea of Japan (East Sea) Arabian Sea Sea of Japan (East Sea) Sea of Japan (East Sea) Sea of Japan (East Sea);
Joint bomber patrol Joint cruise, SAR and Joint bomber patrol Maritime exercise Pacific Ocean
air movement exercise Maritime and live-fire exercise
©IISS
212 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

with the participating Chinese flotilla led by a Type- Major PLA naval and air exercises held to the
055 cruiser. In early September 2022, around 2,000 north, southwest and east of Taiwan for three days
Chinese personnel along with air, land and naval in early August 2022 were widely viewed as a
equipment took part in Russia’s Vostok 2022 exercise. measure of Beijing’s strong disapproval of Pelosi’s
In addition, in November 2021 and May 2022 the visit. However, the exercises, which were some of
Chinese and Russian air forces conducted their third the largest organised by the PLA in Taiwan’s vicinity,
and fourth ‘joint strategic patrols’ in the Asia-Pacific would have required months of planning and may
region. Nonetheless, how far these ties advance have been part of Beijing’s overall drive to improve
combat capability remains unclear. China’s military. It is also possible that the annual
August exercises were adapted in light of Pelosi’s
Defending Taiwan visit or that the PLA was executing a pre-planned
These developments occurred against the contingency response, or a blend of the two. Following
background of growing strategic tensions between the exercises, President Tsai Ing-wen identified flights
China on one side and the US and its allies on the by Chinese-operated uninhabited aerial vehicles
other. Chinese pressure on Taiwan increasingly made (UAVs) over the Kinmen and Matsu islands as
the island a focal point of these tensions. In March among Beijing’s ‘grey-zone tactics’. On 1 September,
2022, Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command Taiwan’s armed forces shot down an ‘unidentified
Admiral John Aquilino said that Russia’s actions had civilian drone’ that entered airspace near Shiyu, an
reinforced concerns that China might attack Taiwan islet in the Kinmen group only ten kilometres from
and called for the US to re-examine its policy of China’s coast. Meanwhile, the Biden administration –
‘strategic ambiguity’ towards defending the island. perhaps taking to heart early lessons from the war in
That policy broadly prevailed despite President Joe Ukraine – reinforced its encouragement of Taiwan’s
Biden’s indications during 2021–22 that the US was development of ‘asymmetric’ or ‘porcupine’ defence
willing to defend Taiwan militarily. Meanwhile, PLA capabilities suited to slowing down any Chinese
aircraft have continued to cross the notional ‘median invasion attempt. By September 2022, the US Defense
line’ in the Taiwan Strait. While Taipei claimed these Security Cooperation Agency was listing a number
flights were supposed to intimidate Taiwan and wear of approved sales of defence equipment and support
down its air defences’ effectiveness by provoking services to Taipei since Biden took office, the most
frequent alerts and scrambles, some of them may recent including contractor support for Taiwan’s
have had genuine training purposes or supported PAVE PAWS long-range surveillance radar system
PLA efforts to track US and other submarines. together with additional RGM-84L Harpoon Block
Nonetheless, these flights appear to have increased in II coastal-defence systems and AIM-9X Sidewinder
frequency after US House of Representatives Speaker II air-to-air missiles. However, these sales remain
Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan on 2 August. subject to congressional approval in the US.

Taiwan: lessons from 2022


For Taiwan, 2022 presented an opportunity to learn how Taipei and its armed forces have watched closely
to prepare for and respond to an armed attack, as well both the successes and the failures of Russia’s armed
as measures to deter Beijing in a worsening political forces in Ukraine, as well as Ukraine’s military and civil
and military-security environment across the Taiwan response, for any potential lessons that may be helpful
Strait. In her ‘Double-Ten’ National Day speech, President in a possible Taiwan contingency. The armed forces’
Tsai Ing-wen outlined a number of ambitions: increase continued balancing of asymmetric and conventional
Taiwan’s defence budget each year, ramp up production capabilities reflects the need to respond to both grey-
of precision-guided missiles and naval vessels, work to zone and full-scale invasion threats posed by the PLA.
acquire asymmetric warfare capabilities, make progress While US President Joe Biden has on several occasions
in domestic aircraft and shipbuilding (including the mentioned the United States’ unequivocal military
indigenous submarine programme), establish a defence- support for Taiwan in any armed attack launched by the
mobilisation agency to train reservists and broaden PLA, Taipei and Washington reportedly disagree about
public awareness of Taiwan’s self-defence needs. how much focus should be placed on the development
Asia 213

of asymmetric capabilities; according to specialists, the forces shot down a PLA UAV, likely in an attempt to set a
US would prefer to see Taipei prioritise these. precedent against further provocation.
The PLA’s exercises following Speaker of the House Nevertheless, lessons learned from the war in Ukraine
Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taipei in August 2022 created a ‘new may be more helpful than any gleaned from the post-
normal’ for PLA activity across the strait. This has included Pelosi exercises. For instance, plans have been discussed
regular air and naval incursions across the Taiwan Strait to raise the duration of conscription from four months
‘median line’, which Beijing has said does not exist. to one year. Similarly, Taipei is developing a centralised
The PLA has also begun integrating uninhabited aerial approach to civil-defence preparedness. This has until
vehicles (UAVs) into its air defence identification zone now been a largely bottom-up process and a meagre area
incursions and has leveraged civilian UAV technology of work for few in Taiwanese civil society. Nonetheless,
to conduct surveillance of islands close to the Chinese these efforts remain nascent and, so far, Taiwan lacks the
mainland. On one such occasion, Taiwanese soldiers were same level of investment in civil defence that Ukraine
filmed throwing stones to ward off the UAV, apparently looked to develop following Russia’s 2014 assault and
uncertain of how to respond. Later, Taiwanese armed annexation of Crimea.

Japan and South Korea modernise at pace generation combat-aircraft programme with the
The war in Ukraine as well as Taiwan-related UK; additional F-35A and F-35B Lightning II fighter
developments influenced thinking about defence ground-attack aircraft; Joint Strike Missiles to arm

Asia
policy by the new Japanese government led by the F-35A; AGM-158B JASSM-ER air-to-surface
Kishida Fumio, who became prime minister in missiles; continued modifications to the two Izumo-
October 2021, reinforcing the view that a tougher class helicopter carriers to allow shipborne F-35B
posture was needed to deter ‘grey-zone’ coercion operations; large-scale production of indigenously
as well as larger-scale aggression. In November, the developed Type-12 coastal-defence missiles; and
Cabinet approved a supplementary budget which continued research on hypersonic missiles. In
boosted annual defence spending to JPY6.17 trillion addition, the Japan Self-Defense Forces continued
(USD48.1bn) for 2022. to strengthen their deterrent posture by establishing
In late 2021, Kishida’s administration started additional forces on Kyushu and the southwestern
reviewing the country’s National Security Strategy, island chain: during 2022, these were scheduled to
National Defense Program Guidelines and include surface-to-air- and anti-ship-missile as well
Medium-Term Defense Program. These reviews as electronic-warfare and radar units.
were completed at the end of 2022 and may yield Tokyo expressed concern over the new phase of
substantial increases in defence spending. In his North Korea’s ballistic-missile tests that started in
keynote address to the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue September 2021. These initially included tests of a
in June 2022, Kishida said that no military option, new submarine-launched ballistic missile but by
including ‘counter-strike capabilities’ to deter the end of the year there had also been claims of a
missile attacks, would be ruled out. Tokyo’s annual hypersonic-glide-vehicle test and an apparent land-
Defense of Japan White Paper, published in July attack cruise-missile launch. By late October 2022,
2022, said that Japan’s security environment was North Korea had launched some 40 ballistic missiles
‘growing increasingly severe at an unprecedented – more than in any previous year. While these
pace’, meaning Japan needed to strengthen its were predominantly shorter-range types, they also
defence capabilities ‘dramatically’. The White included – for the first time since 2017 – a series of
Paper emphasised Tokyo’s particular concern over intercontinental ballistic missile-related launches in
China’s efforts to ‘change the status quo by coercion March and May as well as an overflight of Japan by
in the East China Sea and South China Sea’, its a claimed new intermediate-range ballistic missile in
deepening ties ‘with Russia, an aggressor nation’, October. US and South Korean officials repeatedly
and Beijing’s threats to reunify with Taiwan ‘by claimed during 2022 that Kim Jong-un’s regime was
force’. In August the defence ministry requested a in the final stages of planning a seventh nuclear test,
budget for FY2023 that was 1.1% larger than that its first since 2017. Under President Yoon Suk-yeol,
for 2022 and included funding for a joint next- elected in May 2022, South Korea continued to
214 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

combine economic incentives and military deterrence Budgetary constraints slow Southeast Asian
in response to the missile and nuclear challenges capability improvements
from Pyongyang. However, the Yoon administration Southeast Asian states facing Chinese pressure on
was less conciliatory than its predecessor and their South China Sea interests continued efforts
stressed the development of independent national to enhance their naval and air capabilities. In the
military capabilities and strengthened military Philippines, a new administration led by President
cooperation with the US. In July, Yoon publicly Ferdinand Marcos Jr was elected in May 2022. A
emphasised the importance of South Korea’s ‘Kill spokesman for the country’s Department of National
Chain’ system, which would involve pre-emptive Defense emphasised in August that all major military-
strikes against key North Korean targets. The modernisation contracts agreed by the previous
president also announced that a joint-service administration would proceed. These included
Strategic Command would be established by 2024 the purchase of two multi-role missile-armed
to take responsibility for Seoul’s ‘three-axis’ strategic HDC-3100 frigates and six offshore patrol vessels
deterrence and defence, comprising ‘Kill Chain’ from South Korea, BrahMos anti-ship missiles from
and two other systems: Korea Massive Punishment India and additional S-70i helicopters from Poland.
and Retaliation (under which conventionally armed Nevertheless, because of budgetary constraints the
ballistic missiles would be launched in response new administration launched a review of the armed
to an attack by North Korea, potentially targeting forces’ modernisation programme and some projects
its senior leaders as well as nuclear and missile were halted, including mooted plans to acquire
installations and long-range artillery) and Korean Air conventionally-powered submarines.
and Missile Defense. Developing all three systems Although some domestic critics claimed that
will depend in large measure on South Korea’s space efforts to strengthen Indonesia’s navy and air force
and missile capabilities. The lifting of US-imposed were not effective responses to Beijing’s ‘grey-zone’
‘missile guidelines’ in 2021 has allowed Seoul to strategy in the South China Sea (which included a
accelerate its development of ballistic missiles with Chinese survey vessel mapping the seabed inside
two-ton warheads which could, in combination with Jakarta’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ) for seven
enhanced surveillance, provide a powerful precision- weeks during 2021), Jakarta’s defence plans continued
strike capability. In July 2021, Seoul contracted the to be among Southeast Asia’s most expansive. In
US private-sector company SpaceX to launch five February 2022, defence minister Prabowo Subianto
surveillance satellites by 2025. Separately, in June, signed agreements with France covering the purchase
the Korea Aerospace Research Institute achieved its of 42 Rafale combat aircraft and two Scorpène-class
first satellite launch using the domestically produced submarines. These agreements represented significant
KSLV-2 rocket. changes in the country’s defence procurement: an
From 22 August to 1 September South Korean and earlier plan to buy Su-35 aircraft from Russia was
US forces held their largest joint exercise since 2017; apparently abandoned owing to fears over the
it was also the first in five years to involve joint field potential imposition of US sanctions, and it seemed
training, which had been paused due to the previous likely that Jakarta would cancel a project to acquire a
South Korean administration’s policy of seeking second batch of three Type 209/1400 submarines from
dialogue with Pyongyang and restrictions related to South Korea. Also in February, the US government
the coronavirus pandemic. Details of Exercise Ulchi conditionally approved the sale to Indonesia of
Freedom Shield were classified, but one significant up to 36 F-15EX aircraft. However, these major
feature was that for the first time the US Forces Korea procurement plans – combined with other recent
commander shared control with a South Korean contracts, including one for six FREMM and two
senior officer. The US has set such experience for Maestrale-class frigates ordered from Italy, and
South Korean military commanders as one of many another for two A400M transport aircraft – threatened
requirements to be fulfilled before South Korea to overwhelm Indonesia’s defence budget, which in
can assume command responsibility for its armed 2021 required a presidentially approved USD2.06
forces in wartime. During the exercise, President billion special supplement to cover equipment and
Yoon ordered the armed forces to accelerate their defence-industrial costs. By July 2022, it was reported
‘updating’ of operational plans to counter the North that the defence ministry was struggling to find the
Korean threat. funds to honour existing contracts.
Asia 215

Malaysia also experienced Beijing’s ‘grey-zone’ also faced re-equipment challenges. In January, the
tactics, particularly off the coasts of Sabah and Sarawak Cabinet approved in principle a plan to acquire four
states, such as in October 2021 when Chinese vessels F-35As in FY2023, to be followed by a further four of
including a survey ship entered its EEZ. However, the same type. However, in August objections from
there was no perceived acute threat to Malaysia’s Thailand’s House Budget Scrutiny Committee, in
security and continuing budgetary restrictions light of the country’s economic downturn, cut initial
impeded efforts to modernise its military capabilities. proposed procurement to two aircraft. Another
Procurement priorities remained confined to new light potential impediment was that the purchase needed
combat aircraft, long- and medium-range air defence approval from the US government: some analysts
radars, maritime patrol aircraft and medium-altitude thought this might not be granted because of
long-endurance UAVs, but near-term acquisitions Thailand’s close defence relations with China and the
mainly focused on less expensive equipment. In information-security requirements associated with
March 2022, defence minister Hishammuddin the sale of the F-35.
Hussein said that current procurement projects for A brief incursion by one of Myanmar’s combat
the army included armoured personnel carriers aircraft into Thai airspace in June highlighted the
for use by the Malaysian battalion with the United dangers that this neighbour’s internal conflict
Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, 155-millimetre posed for Thailand’s security, despite the generally
self-propelled howitzers, logistic-support bridges and equable relations between the two countries’
light anti-tank weapons. New naval equipment ‘in governments. Since May 2021, airstrikes and artillery
the pipeline’ included a second batch of three Littoral fire in Myanmar’s Kayin and Kayah states have also

Asia
Mission Ships, three AW139 utility helicopters and forced thousands of displaced people to cross the
‘about 13’ fast interceptor craft. Hishammuddin also border into Thailand. Meanwhile, fighting between
announced plans to acquire 24 new helicopters from forces loyal to the State Administration Council
2026 and highlighted the conversion of three CN235 (SAC) junta (including the Pyusawhti militias as well
transport aircraft to maritime patrol configuration as the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s armed forces) and
with funding from the US government’s regional opposition groups comprising the People’s Defence
Maritime Security Initiative. Forces aligned with the pro-democracy National
Thailand is not a claimant in the South China Unity Government and some of the country’s ethnic
Sea but is concerned about the region’s increasingly armed organisations was increasingly widespread
tense maritime security environment and continues across the country. Economic weakness and the
efforts to enhance its naval capabilities. Submarine Tatmadaw’s preoccupation with internal-security
acquisition remains a priority, although this project threats meant that efforts to improve conventional
faces major challenges. Bangkok suspended plans military capabilities were no longer prioritised to
to buy two additional S26T Yuan-class submarines the extent they had been before the February 2021
on order from China (along with other defence- military coup. Until early 2022, the country’s main
equipment contracts) in April 2020 owing to the military-equipment suppliers had been Russia and
financial constraints imposed by the coronavirus Ukraine, and the war in Ukraine and international
pandemic. During March 2022, Thailand’s navy sanctions have raised questions over the durability
confirmed that construction in China of the first boat of these supplier relationships and where else
had stopped following Germany’s refusal – due to Myanmar might look for its defence equipment.
the EU’s arms embargo on Beijing – to supply the Although the Tatmadaw has a long-standing
MTU396 diesel engines needed to power its electric aversion to overly heavy reliance on Beijing, in
generators. It was reported that China had offered December 2021 Myanmar’s navy took delivery of
to transfer two ex-PLA Navy (PLAN) submarines an ex-PLAN Type-035B (Ming) submarine from
to Thailand instead, but naval acquisitions director- China. And reports indicated that Myanmar was
general Rear Admiral Apichai Sompolgrunk said strengthening its military relations with North
in April that, though it was too early to talk of Korea, though it was unclear what the implications
cancelling the contract, only the Yuan-class boat was might be in terms of equipment supplies.
acceptable. In August 2022, it was reported that the Nonetheless, there were reports in September that
China Shipbuilding & Offshore International Co. was Myanmar was to receive Su-30SM combat aircraft
offering replacement engines. Thailand’s air force from Russia, under a 2018 contract.
216 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Australia’s new government and defence policy The economic problems facing the Asia-Pacific
Although Australia had a new Labor government region are broadly similar to those faced elsewhere,
following elections in May 2022, there was though their impact varies. As much of the world
considerable continuity in defence policy. During adjusts to living with COVID-19, sporadic and severe
the election campaign, Labor indicated its support lockdowns have continued in China because of
for the then-government’s defence-spending Beijing’s then zero tolerance approach to outbreaks.
increases, [Labour have since released their own This in turn has had a significant impact on economic
budget in October] in the March 2022 budget; it also growth in Asia’s largest economy, with knock-on
agreed with the country’s major investments in new effects for the rest of the region. Similarly, the impact
frigates and nuclear-powered submarines (SSNs), of the war in Ukraine was initially less severe than
the latter to be provided through the trilateral in other regions, though increases in energy and food
AUKUS arrangement with the UK and US. However, prices within the region served to dampen demand,
these are long-term programmes (the first SSN not both directly and indirectly through their influence
being delivered until the mid-2040s, according to on both domestic and foreign consumers. Inflation
Richard Marles, the new defence minister) and began to rise through the second half of 2022, but it
the new government inherited a major challenge remains low in most Asian economies. In general,
in terms of how to improve Australia’s defence Asia’s commodity exporters find themselves in a
capability to deter fast-emerging threats during stronger position than its importers given these
the current decade. Responding to this challenge, pressures, though the negative effect upon growth is
in August the government announced a Defence expected to be felt throughout the region.
Strategic Review that will examine ‘force structure, Higher energy prices and other key commodities
force posture and preparedness, and investment have also had an immediate impact on government
prioritisation’ and deliver recommendations to the finances in a number of Asian states because of the
government in early 2023. The government is also tendency for the region’s emerging economies to
due to announce by March 2023 the type of SSN provide related subsidies to their populations. For
that Australia will acquire, and there may be a example, Indonesia initially earmarked USD10.2
decision by then on whether an interim non-nuclear billion for energy subsidies in its 2022 budget, but
submarine capability will be needed during by mid-year had been forced to increase this total to
the 2030s, pending the commissioning of SSNs. USD33.8bn. Wider inflationary pressures have had
Meanwhile, in late August, Marles announced that a similar impact in Malaysia, where the Ministry of
Australian submariners would train aboard British Finance announced in June that the overall subsidies
Astute-class SSNs.
Thailand, 1.2%
Indonesia, 1.8%
DEFENCE ECONOMICS Singapore, 2.3%
Other Southeast
Asia, 3.7%
Other Australasia, 0.7%
Macroeconomics Australia, 6.6%
While Asia’s recovery from the coronavirus Other South Asia
pandemic continued through 2022, GDP remained 1.2%
lower than pre-pandemic levels in two-thirds of Pakistan, 1.9%
the region’s economies, with mounting headwinds
India, 12.9% China
calling into doubt future prospects for growth. 47.0%
Real GDP growth had recovered to 6.5% in 2021. Other East Asia
0.0%
However, a new wave of infections and consequent
Taiwan, 3.1%
lockdowns, coupled with the impact of Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, quickly South Korea, 8.3%
saw expectations for 2022 diminished. In October Japan, 9.3%
2021, the IMF was forecasting real GDP growth
©IISS
of 5.7% for the Asia-Pacific in 2022, but this was Note: Analysis excludes Afghanistan, North Korea and Lao PDR.

subsequently revised down to 4.9% in April 2022


and further to 4.0% in October 2022 as a result of ▲ Figure 10 Asia: defence spending by country and
sub-region, 2022
mounting impediments to growth, largely in China.
Asia 217

bill for energy, basic foodstuffs, agriculture and 2.0 1.90


1.82
welfare would reach its highest-ever level in 2022 1.71 1.68 1.72
1.63
at USD17.9bn. Combined with a need to rein in
1.5
budget deficits, which proliferated through the
pandemic, this new and unexpected spending has

% of GDP
placed considerable strain on government budgets 1.0

and left little headroom for expansionary policy in


alternative areas. 0.5

Defence spending
0.0
Against the backdrop of these mounting economic 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
and fiscal challenges, overall defence budget
growth in the region was significantly below trend ▲Note: Analysis excludes Afghanista, North Korea and Lao PDR.
Figure 11 Asia: regional defence spending as % of
in real terms compared to the previous decade. GDP (average)
This is partially a result of constrained government
spending, but also related to the effect of inflation
on the spending power of defence budgets. Where defence sector. Government officials stated that 25%
significant growth did occur, it was generally the of spending earmarked for this purpose in 2022–23
result of the approval of large special budgets for will be opened up to private industry. Most of this
defence, such as in Japan and Taiwan. This suggests amount had traditionally been funnelled through

Asia
that, as in Europe, strategic factors have enabled state-owned agencies like the Defence Research and
defence-spending trends to overcome wider Development Organisation.
budgetary constraints. However, trends are far from In Japan, the re-election of the Liberal Democratic
universal, with Southeast Asian budgets particularly Party in October 2021 also appears to have
likely to come under pressure in the short term reinvigorated efforts to raise defence spending.
as a result of fiscal consolidation and competing Having campaigned on a platform that included the
priorities for strained government resources. pledge to double defence spending as a proportion of
The limited real-terms growth in Asia-Pacific GDP to 2%, the Kishida government is now reportedly
military spending over the course of 2022 hides the working on ways to realise this ambition, or at least
fact that a number of countries announced significant heavily augment current resources for defence. In
increases to their defence budgets earlier in the year, the immediate term, this included the approval of
before inflationary pressures began to mount. In the ‘Defense-Strengthening Acceleration Package’,
February, India announced a 2022–23 defence budget which ostensibly added JPY773.8bn (USD6.0bn) to
of INR5.25 trillion (USD66.6bn), a 4.4% increase over the FY2022 budget in order to accelerate a number
the revised figure for 2021–22. Perhaps more crucially, of projects initially earmarked for inclusion in the
the new budget made progress in rebalancing resources FY2023 budget. In effect, this provided the Japan
towards modernisation, with the capital budget – Ministry of Defense with a 15.6% nominal uplift in
which provides funding for research and development spending for FY2022, a significant development for a
(R&D) and procurement – increasing by 12.7%. As country where annual increases in core spending have
recently as 2013–14, capital spend accounted for 31% of averaged less than 1% over the last decade. Reports
India’s budget. However, rising pay and pension costs, in late 2022 suggest that this practice of raising
combined with lower rates of top-line growth, saw that defence expenditure through the use of supplemental
share drop to 23% by 2018–19. The new budget takes appropriations is likely to be retained over the coming
the share of spending dedicated to capital investment years; it seems likely to be the main method used to
back to 29%, close to previous highs. raise spending towards 2% of GDP, a target that Prime
India’s new budget also continued the recent Minister Kishida Fumio is seeking to reach by 2027.
practice of prioritising domestic programmes and Taiwan’s use of supplemental budgets to bolster
suppliers within its procurement plans, with 68% defence spending was also expanded in 2022 with
of the capital budget earmarked for indigenous the approval of new special appropriation aimed at
manufacturers, up from 58% in 2021–22. The R&D enhancing navy and air force capabilities. Specifically,
budget is also being used to support the local the new budget will provide TWD237bn (USD8.1bn)
218 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023
Increase

Tonga
USD0.01bn

New Zealand
Timor-Leste USD3.35bn
USD0.04bn

Bangladesh
USD4.32bn

Maldives
USD0.10bn
Japan
USD48.08bn
Indonesia
USD9.07bn

Philippines
USD5.50bn Singapore
USD11.92bn

China
USD242.41bn
Papua New Guinea
USD0.10bn

Nepal
USD0.42bn
Malaysia South Korea
USD42.99bn Australia
USD4.15bn
USD33.84bn
Cambodia Vietnam
USD1.00bn εUSD6.04bn Pakistan
Fiji Mongolia
USD0.04bn USD9.77bn
USD0.09bn India Taiwan
USD66.65bn USD16.16bn
Sri Lanka Thailand
USD6.18bn Brunei
USD1.15bn
USD0.44bn
Decrease

Myanmar
Afghanistan North Korea Lao PDR USD1.88bn
n.k n.k n.k

[1] Map illustrating 2022 planned defence-spending levels (in USDbn at market
Real % Change (2021–22)
exchange rates), as well as the annual real percentage change in planned
More than 20% increase Between 0% and 3% decrease defence spending between 2021 and 2022 (at constant 2015 prices and exchange
Between 10% and 20% increase Between 3% and 10% decrease rates). Percentage changes in defence spending can vary considerably from
year to year, as states revise the level of funding allocated to defence. Changes
Between 3% and 10% increase Between 10% and 20% decrease indicated here highlight the short-term trend in planned defence spending
Between 0% and 3% increase More than 20% decrease between 2021 and 2022. Actual spending changes prior to 2021, and projected
spending levels post-2022, are not reflected.
ε Estimate Spending 2% of GDP or above Insufficient data
©IISS

▲ Map 6 Asia: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy)1

between 2022 and 2026 for new ships, shore-based anti- overall defence spending for 2022 represents a 20.5%
ship missiles and air-defence systems that are set to increase in spending over the previous two years. This
be developed and manufactured by the local defence was followed in August by the announcement that
sector. This funding comes on top of the previously the Cabinet had approved a further large increase in
approved TWD247bn (USD8.5bn) special budget for core spending for 2023 which, when combined with
the procurement of 66 F-16V combat aircraft with ongoing special budget appropriations, will see a
a further TWD40bn (USD1.4bn) appropriated for further 19.6% increase next year.
this acquisition in 2022. When taken alongside the In May, Australia elected a Labor government
Ministry of National Defense’s annual core budget, for the first time in almost nine years. Initially
Asia 219

400 12

300 9

USDbn (constant, 2015)

Real-terms growth (%)


0.4% Asia defence-
200 6
spending real growth
2.5%
100 3

0 -1.8%
0

-100 -4.0% -3
-5.2%
-200 -6
South Asia East Asia Southeast Asia Australasia

2021 2022 Real-terms growth

▲ Figure 12 Asia: sub-regional real-terms defence-spending growth, 2021–22 (USDbn, constant 2015)

this created a degree of uncertainty around future to ten) to be made locally by Boeing Australia, it is
funding for defence, following a period under apparent that investment in the local defence sector
the Liberal/National coalition where core defence continues to increase, with local companies moving
spending had risen by 79% since 2013. However, the up the value chain through their development and
new government has been explicit in its support for production of systems and platforms. This move

Asia
maintaining defence spending at levels above 2% aligns with Australia’s Defence Export Strategy,
of GDP. It announced plans for a Defence Strategic released in 2018, which aims to turn the country
Review which will make recommendations to into one of the top ten global exporters of defence
government in early 2023. Meanwhile, the new equipment by 2028.
government backed the enhanced investments in Over the course of 2022, the defence-industrial
the Australian Defence Force outlined in the 2016 relationship between Japan and the UK continued to
White Paper and reaffirmed in the 2020 Strategic strengthen, most notably in relation to cooperation
Update, firmly suggesting that spending will on future combat aircraft development. With both
continue to rise in the coming years in line with countries making progress on their respective projects
those long-term plans. The Labor government’s but acutely aware of the attendant costs, London and
first budget, which was released in October 2022, Tokyo are exploring potential collaboration. After
maintained funding for defence largely in line with announcements on cooperation around engines and
the Strategic Update, while future decisions will sensor technology, both countries launched, with Italy
likely be shaped by the upcoming Defence Strategic in December, the ‘Global Combat Air Programme’.
Review. The budget also announced AUD900 Speaking during a visit to the UK in May, Prime
million (USD638m) and AUD470m (USD333m) in Minister Kishida stated that the work could become
overseas assistance for Pacific Island nations and the cornerstone of a much closer UK–Japan bilateral
Southeast Asia respectively. defence relationship; Japanese and UK companies are
already cooperating in a number of key areas.
Defence industry In August, Vietnam unveiled reforms aimed at
The new Labor government will also continue with developing the local defence sector and increasing
plans for the new trilateral strategic agreement equipment self-sufficiency. The new policies will
between Australia, the United Kingdom and the focus on restructuring the existing defence industrial
United States – referred to as AUKUS – which intends base, encouraging greater cooperation with civil
to provide Australia with a new fleet of conventionally industry and international partners. The most
armed, nuclear-powered submarines and other significant changes are likely to relate to reform and
advanced military capabilities such as hypersonic restructuring within the General Department of
missiles. Coupled with the announcement in May Defence Industry (GDDI), a state-owned network
that Australia would acquire another seven MQ-28A of around 60 manufacturing facilities and research
Ghost Bat uninhabited aerial vehicles (bringing the institutes in Vietnam, in an attempt to expand its
Royal Australian Air Force’s planned total order existing capabilities.
220 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

India continued its import substitution drive, the use of technologies to develop an elite force
against the backdrop of potential shortages of spare that is capable of fighting and winning wars’. In
parts for Russian military equipment in light of the March, Xi stressed the importance of operating the
war in Ukraine. New Delhi announced a new list armed forces in accordance with the law, calling
of 780 ‘strategically important’ components that it for advances in military legislation, stepping up
intends to produce domestically. The list included enforcement of laws and regulations, strengthening
parts for Russian-designed T-90 main battle tanks and troop management and enhancing oversight.
Su-30MKI combat aircraft at a time when concern has
been growing over the ability to source components The 20th Party Congress
from Russia. Reports from India, citing defence In late October, the 20th National Congress of the
officials, suggest that the conflict has added impetus Communist Party of China took stock of the PLA’s
to plans to upgrade the air force’s Su-30MKI fleet achievements since 2017 and set the agenda for the
with an indigenous radar, cockpit avionics and flight- next five years. The PLA is still aiming towards its
control computer in order to reduce dependence upon 2027 and 2035 targets. The 20th Party Congress work
Russia and offset potential challenges in sustaining report included a mention of the 2027 goal, which
the inventory. was officially announced by Xi in 2020; it is important
South Korea arguably had the region’s most as 2027 marks the centenary of the foundation of the
significant industrial success in 2022 with the PLA’s antecedent. It was the first time that a party
framework agreements for the sale to Poland of 1,000 congress work report contained an explicit reference
K2 main battle tanks, 672 K9 self-propelled howitzers to this goal. The report also stated that following
and 48 FA-50 light combat aircraft. The initial contracts reforms the PLA had by 2022 become a ‘much more
for 180 K2 tanks and 212 K9 artillery pieces, finalised modern and capable fighting force’.
in August, were valued at USD6.06bn, while Korea For the next five years, it continued, the PLA
Aerospace Industries (KAI) announced the signed should focus on measures including maintaining
FA-50 deal would be worth a further USD3.31bn. Even political loyalty to the Party, intensifying training
if additional orders do not materialise as expected, the and enhancing combat preparedness, establishing
agreements between Poland and Korea represent by ‘a strong system of strategic deterrence’, speeding
some distance the largest defence export deal secured the development of uninhabited and ‘intelligent’
by an Asian country. Earlier in July, South Korea combat capabilities and promoting the coordinated
had celebrated the first flight of the indigenously development and application of network
developed KF-21 combat aircraft, further advancing information systems. The latter suggests that the
the country’s growing industrial capabilities and goal of ‘informatisation’ has not yet been achieved
expanding its equipment portfolio to multi-role and that ‘intelligentisation’ remains an ambition.
combat aircraft. These deals highlighted the maturity Informatisation is generally held to refer to efforts
of South Korea’s defence industry and the price point to improve technical sophistication (likened by
and perceived quality of its products, but they also the Pentagon to ‘net-centric’ capability) while
raised potential prioritisation challenges (particularly intelligentisation may refer to the idea that military
for the land sector) for a domestic defence sector that systems will be improved by the integration of
must also meet local modernisation requirements. automation, big data and artificial intelligence.
Additionally, the report said that the command
CHINA system for joint operations required improvement,
and that the PLA’s systems and capacity for
In 2022, the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) reconnaissance and early warning, joint strikes,
continued its plan to build a modernised army battlefield support and integrated logistics support
by 2027 and to ‘basically achieve’ defence and also needed to be enhanced. Moreover, further
armed forces modernisation by 2035. Xi Jinping efforts were required in areas such as joint and
started 2022, after his new year’s speech, by force-on-force training, military–civil fusion, and
signing a mobilisation order for military training, hastening the development of modern logistics.
instructing the armed forces to ‘redouble their The text mentioned accelerating progress towards
efforts to better combine training with combat certain objectives, but language like this is common
operations, and strengthen systematic training and in Party documents and therefore does not signal an
Asia 221

ambition to speed up the drive to achieve military Later in the year, China’s military training went
modernisation by 2035. Two notable deductions beyond national exercises in what some analysts
from the work report’s section on the PLA are that called a ‘fourth Taiwan Strait crisis’. Following a visit
informatisation remains a work in progress and by then Speaker of the US House of Representatives
that the PLA has been directed to focus more on Nancy Pelosi to Taiwan, China’s drills, which began
strategic capabilities and deterrence, including in on 3 August, were widely viewed as a measure
the use of emerging and disruptive technologies and of Beijing’s strong disapproval of Pelosi’s visit.
‘new-domain forces’. Components of these drills included anti-submarine
Xi’s speech at the Party Congress signalled warfare, joint-service logistic support, in-flight
little new in terms of China’s approach to Taiwan. refuelling, aircraft-carrier and submarine operations
However, the Party’s constitution was amended to and the firing of a range of ballistic missiles, including
include a line to ‘resolutely oppose and deter Taiwan DF-15B (CH-SS-6 Mod 3) missiles launched to
independence’. This represents a shift from the Taiwan’s north, east and south. The PLAN held
previous revision in 2017 where there was a pledge exercises off the coast of Taiwan’s main ports in
to ‘facilitate national unification’. However, the work six locations, though it did not enter into Taiwan’s
report also shifted tone slightly to be conciliatory territorial seas. The PLA’s army- and navy-aviation
to China’s Taiwan compatriots, and instead made forces conducted numerous large-scale incursions
clear that the option of taking all measures necessary into Taiwan’s air defence identification zone (ADIZ),
to ensure reunification was ‘directed solely at crossing over the politically sensitive Taiwan Strait
interference by outside forces and the few separatists median line. Since August, the latter has become a

Asia
seeking Taiwan independence’. more routine occurrence. Amphibious exercises
The Party Congress also unveiled a new Central were absent from the exercises that followed Pelosi’s
Military Commission (CMC) line-up. Personnel visit, as the PLA likely calibrated its response to
changes mirrored wider changes in the Politburo limit misunderstanding.
standing and central committees that broke with
long-held norms around retirement age and PLA Army
promotional ladders. The new CMC is less diverse, Having completed its organisational transition to
lacking PLA Navy (PLAN) and PLA Air Force a combined-arms battalion- and brigade-based
(PLAAF) representation, and puts the army back at structure, the PLAA now appears to be focused
the centre of PLA decision-making. While Admiral on training and developing the skills necessary to
Miao Hua remains as a member of the CMC, his use these new formations effectively, both as an
background is in the PLA Army (PLAA) prior to individual service and in conjunction with other
transferring to the PLAN as political commissar. Only elements of the PLA.
three members of the former CMC remain. Zhang The army has almost certainly paid close attention
Youxia was promoted to first vice chairman, while to the performance of Russian and Ukrainian ground
He Weidong was promoted to the second-ranking forces during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, in
vice chairman, having previously served on the Joint relation to equipment, organisations and operational
Operations Command Center, as commander of the concepts. This may ultimately lead to some further
Eastern Theatre Command and deputy commander changes in force design, but the perceived lessons
of the Western Theatre Command and commander of the campaign will likely take some time to digest
of the Western Theatre Command Army. While before practical changes occur.
Zhang brings his experience from the Sino-Vietnam As in 2021, PLAA brigades continued to
war in 1979, he has been in command positions participate in established annual exercise series, such
for recent Taiwan- and Doklam-related activities. as Stride. However, these exercises again received less
Li Shangfu will likely become the new minister of coverage in China’s media than they had before 2020.
national defence, despite being sanctioned by the Official reporting contrasts the progress achieved in
US government in 2018 while he was head of the these exercises over the last decade with persistent
Equipment Development Department. The new shortfalls in some areas. It also suggests that at least
chief of the Joint Staff Department, Liu Zhenli, some brigades are participating in the same exercise
fought in the Sino-Vietnam war but has not served series over multiple consecutive years, implying an
in any joint position. iterative, long-term approach to skills transfer.
222 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Although the army played a lower-profile PLA Navy


role than other PLA services in the large-scale In September 2022, the PLAN marked the tenth
exercises following Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan, it has anniversary of the commissioning of its first aircraft
increased both the profile and the frequency of its carrier, Liaoning. A second carrier, a near-copy called
amphibious training. However, most publicised Shandong, followed in 2019. In June 2022, Beijing
exercises still appear to be conducted at the launched its third carrier, Fujian.
brigade level or below, and the scale at which Over the past decade, the PLAN’s development of
the PLAA physically participates in the larger its carrier operations has been steady and incremental,
annual theatre-level exercises remains unclear in perhaps even cautious. The latest carrier represents
open sources. something of a step change. While it is unlikely to
While modern equipment platforms now be fully commissioned before 2025 (the Pentagon
comprise the majority of the army’s armoured- estimated it will commission in 2024 in its 2022 report
vehicle and tube-artillery inventories, it continues on Chinese military capability), it is larger than the
to operate ageing and sometimes obsolescent earlier vessels at an estimated 85,000 tonnes full load
systems in a number of its combat brigades. The displacement and is configured for catapult-assisted
continued presence of such systems would likely but arrested recovery-aircraft operation (possibly
hinder these brigades’ ability to effectively conduct utilising an electromagnetic aircraft launch system),
the kind of mechanised and ‘informationised’ allowing for a larger and more comprehensive
operations envisaged by the PLA. The apparent embarked air group.
acceptance of short-term risk in this area may reflect Flight-testing of the Xian KJ-600 airborne early-
an understanding among the PLAA leadership that warning and control aircraft appears to be well
training personnel across the force to use newly advanced. When embarked, this will provide
issued equipment effectively is an ongoing, and considerably greater mission performance than the
perhaps lengthy, process. available helicopter types. The development of a
Exports of Chinese ground combat systems new low-observable aircraft, apparently based on the
have previously been focused on cheaper, light- to Shenyang J-31 and unofficially dubbed the Shenyang
medium-weight armoured fighting vehicles and J-35, could in future also complement the existing
artillery systems. In recent years, however, there Shenyang J-15 carrier-based fixed-wing combat
have been a number of export successes with more aircraft aboard the new carrier.
advanced heavy armour and sophisticated tactical Deployments of the other two carriers during
missile and air- and missile-defence systems, 2022 also hinted that Beijing is now focusing on
including directed-energy systems. Customers have developing the skills needed for integrated carrier
included armed forces in Asia, the Middle East and group operations. The assumption remains that
Africa, such as those of Bangladesh, Myanmar, further, and possibly even larger, carriers will follow
Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Thailand. by the end of this decade and into the 2030s.
At Airshow China 2022 (commonly known as More broadly, the PLAN made further strides in
the Zhuhai Airshow), NORINCO advertised a full 2022 in fielding new, high-capability surface units
mechanised brigade concept, designated as the that will add to its maturing capacity to deploy a
‘New-Generation Army Brigade Combat Team’ and blue-water naval capability. A further three Type-055
including uninhabited aerial and ground systems in (Renhai) cruisers appear to have joined the fleet since
a number of roles. This included an Urban Combat December 2021, bringing the total in service to seven.
Module – a particular focus of PLAA uninhabited- Three additional Type-052D mod (Luyang III mod)
systems development work. destroyers also entered service.
Ground-combat systems were not the primary The rapid construction and induction into service of
focus of the air show, but a significant number the Type-075 (Yushen) large-deck amphibious ships also
of air-defence systems were displayed, including point to efforts being directed at rectifying shortfalls in
export variants of some of the PLA’s most advanced this area of capability. The second ship commissioned
medium- or long-range surface-to-air missile systems, at the end of 2021 and the third in October 2022.
such as the HQ-9BE, and several new short-range air- Exercises in August 2022 also appeared to provide
and missile-defence systems, including the H-11 and further evidence of China’s plans to incorporate civilian
the FK-3000 SPAAGM. car ferries into its amphibious-lift capacity.
Asia 223

The PLAN also undertook a number of joint design heritage. It is being replaced by the Shenyang
exercises with Russian navy units. However, while WS-20, a more modern and more powerful engine.
these involved significant numbers of vessels, Indeed, the Y-20 transport aircraft, and the YY-20A
attracted considerable attention and were no doubt tanker variant, are now starting to be built fitted
meant to send a diplomatic message, they remained with the WS-20 rather than the Russian powerplant.
relatively limited in scope and operational ambition. The YY-20A will be used to replace the H-6U tanker
Another notable deployment was that of the space- variant of the H-6 Badger and likely also the Ilyushin
and missile-tracking ship Yuan Wang 5 (part of the Il-78 Midas tanker. In August 2022 the PLAAF released
Strategic Support Force) into the Indian Ocean, footage of a YY-20A being used to refuel J-16s.
including a port visit to Hambantota in Sri Lanka. With the emergence in early December of the
International attention has also remained focused Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider bomber in the
on the continuing assertive use by Beijing of its other United States, it remained to be seen whether this
maritime-security agencies, the China Coast Guard might prompt Beijing to show the Xian H-20 bomber
and the maritime militia. Among improvements in now assessed to be in development. Still possibly
the coastguard’s capabilities has been the transfer under wraps is a fighter-bomber design alluded to by
of all Type-056 corvettes from the PLAN, modified the US Defense Intelligence Agency.
by the removal of air-defence and anti-ship missile At Airshow China 2022, a variant of the turbojet-
systems, significantly enhancing the coastguard’s powered Wing Loong-10 uninhabited aerial vehicle
inventory of ocean-deployable units. (UAV) was displayed with the designation WZ-10
and in PLAAF markings. This supports earlier

Asia
PLA Air Force commercial satellite imagery suggesting that
The PLAAF played a notable role in what appeared to the type has now entered PLA service, but in an
be Beijing’s display of displeasure over Pelosi’s visit to intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR)/
Taiwan at the beginning of August 2022. The increase electronic-warfare role rather than the combat ISR
in PLAAF activity near Taiwan also likely provided role advertised for the Wing Loong-10 export variants.
the air force with a valuable opportunity, and an There was also a display featuring the FH-97 ‘loyal
excuse, to package comparatively large formations in wingman’ UAV, depicted operating with J-20 on
an operationally relevant environment. display screens. This suggests that the PLAAF may
While the scope of the air force’s ongoing combat be considering operating these assets in similar roles
aircraft recapitalisation is readily apparent, with to those being considered by advanced Western air
older types being replaced by modern platforms, less forces for such assets.
easily observed is the extent of the progress being
made in the training and skills required for joint and PLA Rocket Force
integrated air operations. This remains a focus of The modernisation and expansion of China’s
PLAAF attention, as does improving and shortening conventional and nuclear missile forces continues at a
the training syllabus for combat aircraft aircrew. steady pace. In 2021, the discovery by non-government
Deliveries of the Chengdu J-20 and J-10C Firebird, analysts of three intercontinental ballistic missile
and Shenyang J-16 combat aircraft, continued during (ICBM) silo fields in northern China was seen to
2022. As of the fourth quarter of 2022, development potentially signify a significant change in China’s
of a two-seat variant of the J-20 is also ongoing with nuclear-force structure and posture. According to
one or two aircraft in flight test. The PLAAF has, the United States’ annual military report on China,
since at least 2021, been taking delivery of J-20s fitted the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force (PLARF)
with a domestic afterburning turbofan, the Shenyang is projected to increase the number of warheads
WS-10C, replacing the Russian Saturn AL-31F variant it possesses from around 400 to 1,500 by 2035 and
used originally. The PLAAF also appears to be increase its number of deployed strategic-range
looking at further upgrades for its Shenyang J-11B launchers by at least 300. If China were to significantly
Flanker L aircraft. expand the size of its ICBM forces but continue its
Engine upgrades are also being introduced in historic policy of nuclear ambiguity, this could have
the PLAAF’s Xian Y-20 heavy transport. The Y-20 significant implications for strategic stability with
was introduced into service using a version of the the United States and possible knock-on effects for
Russian Soloviev D-30KP, which has a late-1960s bilateral Russian–US arms control. Meanwhile,
224 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

the PLARF continues to add additional brigades medium- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles
of conventional missiles to its force structure and (MRBM and IRBM respectively). Although the
modernise its equipment, underlining the importance DF-21C/-D (CH-SS-5 Mod 4/5) MRBM had been the
the PLARF continues to place on these systems for primary instrument for the PLARF’s conventional
regional deterrence and war-fighting purposes. mission, it appears to have been superseded in this
Construction at the Hami, Ordos and Yumen silo role by the DF-26 (CH-SS-18) IRBM since the missile
fields progressed significantly between 2021 and 2022, reached initial operational capability in 2016. It is
and most temporary shelters that have been used to assessed that at least six brigades have been equipped
conceal excavation and construction work have been with the DF-26 (CH-SS-18), with a significant increase
removed, revealing reinforced silo hatches. Although in launchers noted in US government reports between
US government reports have estimated that China’s 2019 and 2020. Although the DF-26 is a dual-capable
ICBM force has increased from 100 to 300 launchers system, meaning it can be equipped with either a
and from 150 to 300 missiles, satellite imagery analysis nuclear or a conventional warhead, most of these
of the silo fields does not appear to display evidence systems are believed to have a conventional mission.
that these silos have been filled. Moreover, additional China has also begun to deploy its new DF-17
construction work will be required to support the (CH-SS-22) medium-range hypersonic boost-
necessary infrastructure for these to become fully glide vehicle and at least two brigades have been
operational. Once ready, however, China is likely identified as being equipped with the DF-17 since
to fill these silos with either the solid-fuel DF-41 the system was unveiled in 2019. It is possible that
(CH-SS-20) or the DF-31A (CH-SS-10 Mod 2), both of the PLARF will continue increasing the number of
which can reach targets on the United States’ eastern brigades operating this system, especially among
seaboard. Although the DF-5A/B variants (CH-SS-4 units that are based in eastern China, considering
Mod 2/3 respectively) are also capable of striking current deployments. At the same time, the number
targets at similar ranges, both systems are liquid- of short-range ballistic-missile launchers possessed
fuelled, and their lengthy fuelling process means that by the PLARF, such as the DF-11A (CH-SS-7
they can be vulnerable to pre-emptive attack. Mod 2), has gradually decreased according to US
Whether the PLARF will fill all of these silos is a government assessments.
matter of debate among analysts. Some specialists Finally, while China’s ballistic missiles are a
have suggested that the gradual evolvement of the focus of attention from analysts and policymakers,
PLARF’s force structure reflects statements from the PLARF also operates several types of ground-
China’s leadership, such as Xi’s directive at the launched cruise missiles (GLCM), including the
Communist Party of China’s 20th Party Conference CJ-100 (CH-SSC-13). However, there is very little
to ‘establish a strong system of strategic deterrence’. open-source information available on the service
The increasingly tense Sino-US security relationship status of the PLARF’s GLCMs and their deployment.
is likely an important reason for China’s apparent
slow drift from its historic restraint in deploying a DEFENCE ECONOMICS
small nuclear force. Although Chinese policymakers
have not provided an official explanation for the Despite the economic challenges posed by ongoing
developments to its nuclear force structure and lockdowns and the country’s zero-tolerance
posture, some Chinese officials have noted that approach to COVID-19, China’s defence-budget
China’s nuclear forces will be influenced by changes growth remained in line with recent trends in 2022.
in the international security environment. Finally, In February, Beijing announced that it would raise
some specialists have suggested that assessments defence spending by 7% for 2022 in nominal terms,
of changes to the PLARF’s force structure should taking military spending to CNY1.45 trillion (USD238
be considered alongside broader changes in billion) from CNY1.36tr (USD224bn). Taking into
other branches of the PLA, given qualitative and account the funding of local militias, the budget
quantitative developments in the PLAAF and PLAN. increased to CNY1.47tr (USD242bn) in 2022. The
In addition to improving its nuclear forces, the new budget represented a marginal acceleration
PLARF continues to expand, improve and modernise in growth from the 6.9% increase approved in 2021
its conventional missile capabilities, evidenced by but remains largely in line with the average 7.3%
the expansion in the number of brigades operating nominal growth seen over the previous five years.
Asia 225

As a result of this sustained and robust growth in made in parallel domains such as aeroengines and
Chinese military spending, the 7% increase for 2022 advanced electronics.
represents a CNY95bn (USD16bn) boost in funding A further transparency problem exists with
for the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), the largest- regard to how even the official defence budget is
ever annual increase in absolute terms. Growth in real spent. Priorities for the 2022 budget were not laid
terms, however, has stalled in the last five years. out, but a communique on China’s 14th Five-Year
As a proportion of overall government spending, Plan issued in October 2020 outlined plans to ‘make
Chinese military expenditure had declined in the early major strides in the modernization of national
2000s, dropping from 9.0% in 2000 down to 5.2% by the defense and the armed forces’ and in ‘building a
time Xi Jinping became president in 2013. Since that time, modernised military by 2027’. Data contained within
this decline has been arrested, suggesting an increased the country’s 2019 defence White Paper also showed
focus on ensuring the PLA receives the resources it spending on military equipment – which includes
requires. Officially, the 2022 budget represents around procurement and support – had increased from
5.4% of overall government spending, slightly below 33.2% of total spending in 2010 to 41.1% by 2017,
the 5.5% spent in 2021. The official 2022 defence budget as the government sought to direct more funding
comes to 1.2% of GDP, a level at which it has hovered towards technological modernisation.
throughout President Xi’s ten years in power, yet still This prioritisation of modernisation has been a
well below the global average of around 2%. hallmark of Xi’s leadership, with the PLA reduced in
There remains, however, significant debate over size by 300,000 personnel between 2015 and 2017 in
the extent to which the official budget represents the order to channel more funding into equipment. News

Asia
entirety of the country’s spending on defence, with that emerged in 2021 of a pay increase of up to 40% for
additional funding thought to be provided from other some military personnel is likely to have precluded
sources. A key example is through the government’s any further growth in the share of spending directed
long-standing commitment to the policy of military– towards equipment given the resultant increase in
civil fusion, which aims to leverage technological personnel expenses. Nevertheless, with the president
advances between the civil and military functions. having outlined plans to largely complete the
Ostensibly, this creates the potential for substantial modernisation of the PLA by 2035 as part of the 19th
levels of research and development spending, not National Congress of the Communist Party of China
specifically counted as part of the defence budget, to in 2017, the focus on technological advancement will
feed into military programmes through investments remain over the coming years.

▼ Figure 13 China: defence budget compared with the rest of Asia (total), 2008–22, USDbn, constant 2015

300 20

250 15
USDbn (constant, 2015)

% change year on year

200
10
150
5
100

0
50

0 -5
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

China defence budget Rest of Asia total


China defence budget (% change yoy) Rest of Asia total (% change yoy)
©IISS
226 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Arms procurements and deliveries – Asia


Significant events in 2022

CHINA ISSUES NEW PROCUREMENT REGULATIONS


MARCH
New procurement regulations, set by the Central Military Commission (CMC), entered into force in March.
The new statute empowers the CMC to regulate, manage and supervise the PLA’s procurement activities
and gives the PLA and CMC greater control over various stages of procurement together with the defence
industrial base. It followed other recent initiatives. In January 2021, revised regulations were published
focusing, among other measures, on management and maintenance as well as research and development,
reportedly also clarifying the military tasks allocated to units. Subsequently, regulations issued in November
2021 focused on improving procurement processes while new procedures on testing military equipment
were issued in February 2022.

INDIA OFFSET PROGRAMMES TROUBLE


APRIL
New Delhi announced that as of the end of 2021, 21 foreign defence contractors had been penalised since
January 2016 for not fulfilling offset obligations on time. The contracts include the 2016 deal for 36 Rafale
fighter ground-attack aircraft, and contracts for Mi-17V-5 Hip multi-role helicopters, Heron UAVs and Harop
loitering munitions. Reforms to offsets were introduced in 2020 that require the original equipment
manufacturer to submit offset plans a year before each contract is signed rather than at the point of
signature. Meanwhile, offset obligations for government-to-government agreements have been lifted.

SOUTH KOREA: DEFENCE EXPORT SUCCESS


AUGUST
South Korea secured defence export contracts worth KRW23.99tr (USD18.88bn) from January–November
2022, with August the most profitable month. Starting in January with the UAE’s purchase of the
Cheongung medium-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile system for KRW4.29tr (USD3.38bn),
export deals were signed in February with Egypt for the K9 Thunder 155mm self-propelled artillery
systems for KRW2tr (USD1.57bn), and in June with the Philippines for six offshore patrol vessels worth
KRW744.9bn (USD586.4m). In August, Poland signed contracts for 212 K9s and 180 K2 Black Panther
main battle tanks worth a combined KRW7.7tr (USD6.06bn). Then, in September and November, Warsaw
signed contracts for 48 FA-50 Fighting Eagle fighter ground-attack aircraft and 218 Chunmoo multiple
rocket launchers worth KRW4.21tr (USD3.31bn) and KRW5.05tr (USD3.97bn) respectively. Almost all of these
contracts include the participation of local defence industry, and South Korea’s willingness to offer this is likely
a key attraction. However, these contracts are leading to prioritisation challenges for South Korean defence industries,
which also have to fulfil local orders.

PHILIPPINES: MODERNISATION CONTINUES


SEPTEMBER
In Manila, the House of Representatives allocated PHP45bn (USD833.5m) to its FY2023 plan for the last
phase of the Philippines’ 15-year-long defence modernisation programme, Horizon Three, covering the
period 2023–28. The new government is continuing pre-existing plans on condition that any unsigned
contracts left from the Horizon Two phase (2018–22) will go through a prioritisation review. However, due
to budget constraints, several important projects including diesel-electric powered submarines will not
now be pursued. During the first (2013–17) and second Horizon phases, equipment was mainly acquired
from Israel, South Korea and the United States. While these suppliers are likely to remain prominent, the 2022
deal with India for the BrahMos anti-ship missile suggests that the Philippines is also looking elsewhere.
Asia 227

Table 12 Philippines: selected aerospace procurement since 2010


Contract Equipment Type Quantity Value (USD Prime Contractor Deliveries Phase* Service
Date millions)
Mar 2013 AW109 Light transport 3 PHP1.33bn AgustaWestland Dec 2013 Horizon 1 Navy
helicopter (USD31.33m)
Feb 2014 AW109E Multi-role 2 Jul 2015
Power helicopter
(MRH)
Nov 2013 AW109E MRH 8 PHP3.44bn AgustaWestland Dec 2014– Horizon 1 Air
Power (USD81.04m) Dec 2015 Force
Jan 2014 C-212 Light transport 2 PHP814m Dirgantara Jun 2018 Horizon 1 Air
Aviocar aircraft (USD18.34m) Indonesia (DI) Force
(NC-212i)
Feb 2014 C295 Light transport 3 PHP5.39bn M Airbus Mar 2015– Horizon 1 Air
aircraft (USD121.41m) Dec 2015 Force
Mar 2014 Bell 412EP MRH 8 USD105.9m Bell (formerly 2015 Horizon 1 Air
Bell Helicopter) Force
Mar 2014 FA-50PH Fighter ground- 12 USD421.64m Korea Nov 2015– Horizon 1 Air
Fighting attack aircraft Aerospace May 2017 Force
Eagle Industries (KAI)
Mar 2016 AW159 Anti-submarine 2 PHP5.36bn Leonardo May 2019 Horizon 1 Navy
Wildcat warfare (USD112.92m) (formerly
helicopter Finmeccanica)
Nov 2017 EMB-314 Training 6 PHP4.97bn Embraer Sep– Horizon 2 Air

Asia
Super Tucano aircraft*** (USD98.56m) Oct 2020 Force
(A-29B)
c. 2018 Hermes 450 Medium 4 PHP8.47bn Elbit Systems 2019–20 Horizon 2 Air
intelligence, (USD160.84m) Force
Hermes 900 surveillance and 9
reconnaissance
uninhabited
air vehicle
Dec 2018 C295M Light transport 1 EUR28.81m M Airbus Sep 2019 Horizon 2 Air
aircraft (USD34.04m) Force
c. 2019 C295M Light transport 3 PHP5.29bn M Airbus Mar 2022– Horizon 2 Air
aircraft (USD102.10m) ongoing Force
c. 2019 Spyder-MR Medium-range 9 PHP6.85bn Rafael Sep 2022– Horizon 2 Air
self-propelled (USD132.19m) Advanced ongoing Force
surface-to-air Defense
missile system Systems
Apr 2019 S-70i Medium 16 USD241.46m PZL Mielec Nov 2020– Horizon 2 Air
Black Hawk transport Dec 2021 Force
helicopter
Jul 2020 T129B Attack 6 PHP13.73bn Turkish Mar 2020– Horizon 2 Air
helicopter (USD276.62m) Aerospace ongoing Force
Industries (TAI)
Feb 2022 S-70i Medium 32 USD624m PZL Mielec 2023–26** Horizon 2 Air
Black Hawk transport Force
helicopter
*Horizon 1 (2013–17); Horizon 2 (2018–22); Horizon 3 (2023–28) – excluding equipment that was second-hand, donated or given in an
assistance or aid programme
**Planned
***Combat capable
M = multinational
228 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Table 13 Pakistan: selected naval procurement since 2000

In 2000, the Pakistan Navy (PN) largely comprised platforms This provided a template for subsequent purchases from
of French and UK origin with a handful of Chinese-designed China, with the first vessels built at a Chinese shipyard
patrol craft. Today, many of the navy’s key vessels have and subsequent platforms at KSEW. This pattern has been
been, or are being, replaced by Chinese-designed ships. reflected in procurements from China by the other armed
Indeed, a 2005 deal for Sword-class frigates – based on the services, coming at a time when Pakistan’s economic and
Chinese navy’s Type-053H3 (Jiangwei II) design – heralded strategic relationship with China has deepened significantly.
the construction of the first new-build principal surface But while China may now be the predominant naval supplier,
combatants for the PN since its establishment in 1947. Pakistan’s shipbuilding sector is benefiting from other ties:
The fourth vessel was built in Pakistan by the state-owned the most recent deal was for Turkish-designed corvettes,
Karachi Shipyards & Engineering Works (KSEW) shipyard. two of which will also be built at KSEW.

Contract Equipment Type Quantity Value (USD Contractor Deliveries Notes


Date millions)
2002 Jurrat Patrol boat with 2 n.k. Karachi Shipyards & 2006 Based on the
surface-to-surface Engineering Works M39 design by
missiles (KSEW); Marsun Thai firm Marsun
c. 2003 M16 Fast Patrol boat 4 n.k. KSEW; 2004
Assault Boat
Marsun
2005 Sword (F-22P) Frigate 4 600 Hudong–Zhonghua 2009–13 Fourth vessel
(Type-053H3 Shipbuilding built in Pakistan.
derivative Contract includes
(Jiangwei II)) six Z-9C hel
2006 MRTP-33 Fast patrol boat 2 n.k. Yonca-Onuk 2007–08
Shipyard
2007 Madadgar Light oiler 2 20 KSEW 2011
2010 Azmat Patrol craft with 2 n.k. China Shipbuilding 2012–14 Second
surface-to-surface Industry vessel built
missiles (PCG) Corporation (CSIC); in Pakistan
KSEW
2010 Alamgir Frigate 1 0 Government surplus 2010
(ex-US Oliver
Hazard Perry)
2013 Azmat PCG 1 n.k. KSEW 2017
2013 Moawin Fleet 1 n.k. Savunma 2018 Built at KSEW
replenishment Teknolojileri ve
oiler Mühendislik (STM)
2014 Azmat PCG 1 n.k. KSEW 2022
2015 Hangor (Yuan) Attack submarine 8 n.k. China State 2022–28 Four built in
Shipbuilding China, four
Corporation (CSSC); in Pakistan
KSEW
2017 Yarmook Corvette 2 n.k. Damen Schelde 2020 Constructed
(Damen Naval Shipbuilding in Romania
OPV 1900) (DSNS)
2017 Tughril Frigate 4 n.k. CSSC 2021–
(Type-054AP Ongoing
(Jiangkai II))
2018 Babur (Ada Corvette 4 1,000 ASFAT 2023–24 Two built in
(MILGEM)) Pakistan, two
in Turkey
2020 Indigenously Patrol boat 1+ n.k. KSEW 2023*
Designed
Gunboat
c. 2021 OPV 2600 Frigate 2 n.k. DSNS n.k.

*planned
Asia 229

Afghanistan AFG ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

New Afghan Afghani AFN 2021 2022 2023 Taliban ε100,000


GDP [a] AFN n.k n.k The Taliban has announced plans to expand their regular
armed forces to 150,000 personnel
USD n.k n.k
FORCES BY ROLE
per capita USD n.k n.k
SPECIAL FORCES
Growth % n.k n.k
3 spec ops bn
Inflation % n.k n.k MANOEUVRE
Def bdgt [b] AFN ε172bn n.k Light
USD n.k n.k 8 inf corps
USD1=AFN n.k n.k EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
[a] IMF economic data unavailable for Afghanistan from 2021 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT T-62M†
[b] Security expenditure. Includes expenditure on Ministry of
Defence, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National APC • PPV Maxxpro
Security Council and the General Directorate of National Security. AUV MSFV
Also includes donor funding. ARTILLERY
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) TOWED 122mm D-30
3.60 MRL 122mm BM-21
n.k. n.k.
MOR 82mm 2B14
1.41 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 2: 1 An-32 Cline; 1 Cessna 208B
2008 2015 2022 Grand Caravan

Asia
HELICOPTERS
Population 38,346,720
ATK 4 Mi-35 Hind
MRH 14: 8 MD-530F; 6 Mi-17 Hip H
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus TPT • Medium 4 UH-60A Black Hawk
Male 20.3% 5.2% 5.3% 4.6% 14.0% 1.3%
Female 19.7% 5.0% 5.1% 4.4% 13.6% 1.5%
Australia AUS
Capabilities Australian Dollar AUD 2021 2022 2023

Over one year after the collapse of the former Afghan National GDP AUD 2.18tr 2.43tr
Security and Defence Forces (ANSDF), it remains difficult to USD 1.64tr 1.72tr
assess the strength and capability of the Afghan Taliban’s armed per capita USD 63,464 66,408
forces and the extent to which they have been able to use the Growth % 4.9 3.8
foreign-supplied equipment seized from former government Inflation % 2.8 6.5
forces. US authorities indicate that the Taliban administration
Def bdgt [a] AUD 45.5bn 47.8bn 51.7bn
is reorganising its MOD structure, and they have also retained
some formation structures used by the ANSDF, particularly in USD 34.2bn 33.8bn
regions outside Kabul. They have been able to employ some USD1=AUD 1.33 1.41
armoured vehicles and a small number of Soviet-era helicop- [a] Includes pensions
ters for troop movements as well as – according to the Taliban Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
– low numbers of Western-supplied helicopters and an An-32 30.8
and Cessna 208. It is likely that, over time, the Taliban’s ability to
maintain in service its Western-derived equipment will reduce, 20.1
because of sanctions and limited supplies of spares. While it 2008 2015 2022
appears that the Taliban have tried to recruit former ANSDF per-
sonnel, including pilots and maintainers, the success of these Population 26,141,369
initiatives is unclear, not least because of continued attacks
against former members of the ANDSF. And the Taliban policy Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
on female education is another disincentive to those who might Male 9.6% 3.1% 3.5% 3.8% 22.1% 7.6%
otherwise return to the country. The government’s priority for
Female 9.0% 2.9% 3.2% 3.6% 22.8% 8.8%
its forces is internal and border security. It has prioritised opera-
tions against the National Resistance Front in the mountain-
ous east of the country, as well as intelligence-led operations
Capabilities
against Islamic State terrorist cells. The lack of international rec- The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is capable, well trained and
ognition and continued financial challenges will likely inhibit well equipped. It also has considerable recent operational experi-
efforts to modernise the security forces. ence. In 2016, the government published Australia’s third defence
White Paper in seven years. This identified China’s growing regional
ACTIVE 100,000 (Taliban 100,000) role, regional military modernisation and inter-state rivalry as
230 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

among the influences shaping defence policy. A ‘Strategic Update’ COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
to the White Paper, published in July 2020, outlined plans to adjust 1 (17th) CSS bde (3 log bn, 3 med bn, 1 MP bn)
Australia’s defence posture in order to develop a more power-
ful and self-reliant military deterrent. The document pointed to Special Operations Command
an increased prospect of war in Australia’s region, claimed that a FORCES BY ROLE
ten-year ‘strategic warning time’ could no longer be assumed, and SPECIAL FORCES
highlighted potential threats from ‘grey-zone activities’. In August
1 (SAS) SF regt
2022, the new Labor government announced a Defence Strategic
Review to examine military posture, structures and investments. 1 (SF Engr) SF regt
This is due to report in early 2023. The country’s primary ally is the 2 cdo regt
US, but it is also forging closer defence ties with India, Japan, South COMBAT SUPPORT
Korea and the UK, while remaining committed to the Five Power 3 sigs sqn (incl 1 reserve sqn)
Defence Arrangements and to its close defence relations with New COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Zealand. A defence agreement was signed with Fiji in 2022, and 1 CSS sqn
there are plans for closer defence cooperation with Papua New
Guinea. The AUKUS partnership, signed in September 2021, will Reserve Organisations 20,100 reservists
see the UK and US assist Australia in developing a conventionally- FORCES BY ROLE
armed, nuclear-powered submarine capability and other defence COMMAND
and security technologies. The plan is to build the nuclear-pow- 1 (2nd) div HQ
ered submarines in Adelaide, though some doubt has been cast
MANOEUVRE
on the timeline for delivering the first Australian-built boat, raising
questions over what interim capability may be required. Austra-
Reconnaissance
lia is also building frigates and patrol ships, based on European 3 (regional force) surv unit (integrated)
designs. Strategic air- and sea-lift platforms give the capability to Light
move and sustain deployments. Combat-air, maritime-patrol and 1 (4th) inf bde (1 recce regt, 2 inf bn, 1 engr regt, 1 spt bn)
armoured-vehicle capabilities are also being boosted, and more 1 (5th) inf bde (1 recce bn, 4 inf bn, 1 engr regt, 2 spt bn)
closely integrating Australia’s armed forces – and their modern 1 (9th) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 2 inf bn, 1 spt bn)
platforms – is a priority. Australia imports most of its significant 1 (11th) inf bde (1 recce regt, 3 inf bn, 1 engr regt,
defence equipment but possesses an increasingly capable defence 1 spt bn)
industry. Its largest naval shipbuilders are ASC and Austal, whose 1 (13th) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 2 inf bn, 1 spt bn)
US subsidiary, Austal USA, builds vessels for the US Navy.
COMBAT SUPPORT
ACTIVE 59,800 (Army 29,400 Navy 15,500 Air 14,900) 1 arty regt
1 sigs regt
RESERVE 29,750 (Army 20,100 Navy 3,950 Air 5,700) COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Integrated units are formed from a mix of reserve and regular per- 1 trg bde
sonnel. All ADF operations are now controlled by Headquarters
Joint Operations Command (HQJOC) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 59 M1A1 Abrams
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE RECCE 25 Boxer CRV (incl variants)
IFV 221 ASLAV-25 (incl 100 variants)
Space APC • APC (T) 416 M113AS4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AUV 1,950: ε950 Bushmaster IMV; 1,000 Hawkei
SATELLITES • COMMUNICATIONS 1 Optus C1 (dual ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
use for civil/mil comms) ARV 45: 15 ASLAV-F; 17 ASLAV-R; 13 M88A2
VLB 5 Biber
Army 29,400 MW 20: 12 Husky; 8 MV-10
FORCES BY ROLE ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
COMMAND MSL • MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin
1 (1st) div HQ (1 sigs regt) RCL • 84mm Carl Gustaf
MANOEUVRE ARTILLERY 264
Mechanised TOWED 155mm 48 M777A2
3 mech inf bde (1 armd cav regt, 1 mech inf bn, 1 lt MOR 81mm 216: 40 L16; 176 M252A1
mech inf bn, 1 arty regt, 1 cbt engr regt, 1 sigs regt, AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence RBS-70
1 CSS bn) AMPHIBIOUS 15 LCM 8 (capacity either 1 MBT or 200 troops)
Amphibious HELICOPTERS
1 (2nd RAR) amph bn ATK 22 Tiger
Aviation MRH 2 AW139 (leased)
1 (16th) avn bde (1 regt (2 ISR hel sqn), 1 regt (3 tpt hel TPT 89: Heavy 14 CH-47F Chinook; Medium 75: 41
sqn), 1 regt (2 spec ops hel sqn, 1 avn sqn)) NH90 TTH (MRH90); 34 S-70A Black Hawk
COMBAT SUPPORT UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
1 (6th) cbt spt bde (1 STA regt (1 STA bty, 2 UAV bty, 1 ISR • Medium 15 RQ-7B Shadow 200
CSS bty), 1 AD/FAC regt (integrated), 1 engr regt (2 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
construction sqn, 1 EOD sqn), 1 EW regt, 1 int bn) ASM AGM-114M Hellfire
Asia 231

Navy 15,500 FORCES BY ROLE


Fleet Comd HQ located at Sydney. Navy HQ located SPECIAL FORCES
at Canberra 2 diving unit
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SUBMARINES 6
Air Force 14,900
SSK 6 Collins with 6 single 533mm TT with UGM-84C FORCES BY ROLE
Harpoon Block 1B AShM/Mk 48 ADCAP mod 7 HWT FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 11 1 sqn with F/A-18F Super Hornet
DESTROYERS • DDGHM 3 Hobart with Aegis Baseline 2 sqn with F-35A Lightning II
8.1 C2, 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 1 sqn with F-35A Lightning II (forming)
6 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with SM-2 Block IIIB SAM/RIM-162A ANTI SUBMARINE WARFARE
ESSM SAM, 2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 mod 9 ASTT with 1 sqn with P-8A Poseidon
MU90 LWT/Mk 54 LWT, 1 MK 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, ELECTRONIC WARFARE
1 127mm gun (capacity 1 MH-60R Seahawk) 1 sqn with EA-18G Growler
FRIGATES • FFGHM 8 Anzac (GER MEKO 200) with ISR
2 quad lnchr with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 1 (FAC) sqn with PC-21
1 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 2 triple 1 sqn with AP-3C Orion
324mm SVTT Mk 32 mod 5 ASTT with MU90 LWT, AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
1 127mm gun (capacity 1 MH-60R Seahawk ASW hel) 1 sqn with E-7A Wedgetail
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 15 TANKER/TRANSPORT
PCO 15: 10 Armidale (Bay mod); 5 Cape (of which 2 leased) 1 sqn with A330 MRTT (KC-30A)
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4 TRANSPORT
MHC 4 Huon 1 VIP sqn with B-737BBJ; Falcon 7X

Asia
AMPHIBIOUS 1 sqn with C-17A Globemaster III
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 3 1 sqn with C-27J Spartan
LHD 2 Canberra (capacity 18 hel; 4 LCM-1E; 110 veh; 1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules
12 M1 Abrams MBT; 1,000 troops) TRAINING
LSD 1 Choules (ex-UK Bay) (capacity 1 med hel; 1 OCU sqn with F-35A Lightning II
24 MBT; 350 troops) 1 sqn with Beech 350 King Air
LANDING CRAFT • LCM 12 LCM-1E 2 sqn with PC-21
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 11 2 (LIFT) sqn with Hawk MK127*
AGHS 2 Leeuwin with 1 hel landing platform EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AGS 2 Paluma AIRCRAFT 136 combat capable
AORH 2 Supply (ESP Cantabria) (capacity 1 MH-60R Seahawk) FGA 80: 24 F/A-18F Super Hornet; 56 F-35A Lightning II
AX 1 Sycamore (capacity 1 med hel) (operated by ASW 12 P-8A Poseidon
private company, Teekay Shipping; multi-role aviation EW 13: 2 AP-3C Orion mod; 11 EA-18G Growler*
training vessel) AEW&C 6 E-7A Wedgetail
AXS 1 Young Endeavour TKR/TPT 7 A330 MRTT (KC-30A)
The following vessels are operated by a private company, TPT 47: Heavy 8 C-17A Globemaster III; Medium 22: 10
DMS Maritime: C-27J Spartan; 12 C-130J-30 Hercules; Light 12 Beech 350
ASR 2: 1 Besant; 1 Stoker King Air; PAX 5: 2 B-737BBJ (VIP); 3 Falcon 7X (VIP)
AXL 1 Seahorse Mercator TRG 82: 33 Hawk Mk127*; 49 PC-21
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
Naval Aviation 1,450 AAM • IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder II; ASRAAM; ARH
FORCES BY ROLE AIM-120B/C-5/C-7 AMRAAM
ANTI SUBMARINE WARFARE ARM AGM-88B HARM; AGM-88E AARGM
1 sqn with NH90 TTH (MRH90) AShM AGM-84A Harpoon
1 sqn with MH-60R Seahawk ALCM • Conventional AGM-158A JASSM
TRAINING BOMBS
1 OCU sqn with MH-60R Seahawk Laser-guided Paveway II
1 sqn with H135 Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-54 Laser JDAM;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Paveway IV
HELICOPTERS INS/GPS-guided AGM-154C JSOW; JDAM; JDAM-ER
ASW 24 MH-60R Seahawk
TPT 21: Medium 6 NH90 TTH (MRH90) (operated on DEPLOYMENT
rotational basis); Light 15 H135 EGYPT: MFO (Operation Mazurka) 27
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
ASM AGM-114M Hellfire IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve (Okra) 110; 1 SF gp;
NATO • NATO Mission Iraq 2
Clearance Diving Branch MALI: UN • MINUSMA 1
232 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MALAYSIA: 120; 1 inf coy (on 3-month rotational tours); ACTIVE 163,050 (Army 132,150 Navy 16,900
1 P-8A Poseidon (on rotation) Air 14,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 63,900
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO (Operation Paladin) 11
PHILIPPINES: Operation Augury 100 (trg team) ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS (Operation Aslan) 15
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: Operation Accordion 400: 1 tpt
Army 132,150
det with 2 C-130J-30 Hercules FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND
10 inf div HQ
FOREIGN FORCES
SPECIAL FORCES
Singapore 230: 1 trg sqn at Pearce with PC-21 trg ac; 1 trg 1 cdo bde (2 cdo bn)
sqn at Oakey with 12 AS332 Super Puma; AS532 Cougar MANOEUVRE
United States US Pacific Command: 1,700; 1 SEWS at Pine Armoured
Gap; 1 comms facility at NW Cape; 1 SIGINT stn at Pine 1 armd bde
Gap • US Strategic Command: 1 detection and tracking 3 indep armd regt
radar at Naval Communication Station Harold E. Holt Light
25 inf bde
Bangladesh BGD 2 (composite) bde
COMBAT SUPPORT
Bangladeshi Taka BDT 2021 2022 2023 10 arty bde
GDP BDT 35.3tr 39.8tr 1 engr bde
1 sigs bde
USD 416bn 461bn
AVIATION
per capita USD 2,498 2,734 1 avn regt (1 avn sqn; 1 hel sqn)
Growth % 6.9 7.2 AIR DEFENCE
Inflation % 5.6 6.2 1 AD bde
Def bdgt BDT 344bn 373bn 400bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD 4.06bn 4.32bn ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 276: 174 Type-59/-59G(BD); 58 Type-69/-69G;
USD1=BDT 84.81 86.30
44 Type-90-II (MBT-2000)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
LT TK 8+: 8 Type-62; some VT-5
3.44
RECCE 8+ BOV M11
APC 545
1.23
APC (T) 134 MT-LB
2008 2015 2022
APC (W) 330 BTR-80
Population 165,650,475 PPV 81+ Maxxpro
AUV 138: 36 Cobra; 102 Cobra II
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Male 13.1% 4.4% 4.5% 4.2% 19.4% 3.4% AEV MT-LB
ARV 3+: T-54/T-55; Type-84; 3 Type-654
Female 12.6% 4.3% 4.5% 4.4% 21.2% 3.9%
VLB MTU
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Capabilities MSL • MANPATS 9K115-2 Metis M1 (RS-AT-13)
Bangladesh has limited military capability, which is optimised for RCL 106mm 238 M40A1
border and domestic security, including domestic disaster relief. ARTILLERY 907+
A defence-modernisation plan is under way, called Forces 2030, SP 155mm 18 NORA B-52
although acquisitions have been limited. Bangladesh has relied
TOWED 363+: 105mm 170 Model 56 pack howitzer;
on Chinese and Russian aid and credit to overcome its limited pro-
curement funding. It has increased defence collaboration with 122mm 131: 57 Type-54/54-1 (M-30); 20 Type-83;
India. Increased tensions on its border with Myanmar may result 54 Type-96 (D-30), 130mm 62 Type-59-1 (M-46)
in enhancements to border security. The country has a long record MRL 54: 122mm 36+ WS-22; 302mm 18 T-300
of UN peacekeeping deployments. A naval-recapitalisation and MOR 472: 81mm 11 M29A1; 82mm 366 Type-53/type-
-expansion programme, including local manufacture of patrol boats, 87/M-31 (M-1937); 120mm 95 AM-50/UBM 52
is underway to better protect the country’s large EEZ. There are plans AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 3: 1 LCT; 2 LCVP
to recapitalise the combat air fleet, and there has also been recent AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 7: 1 C295; 5 Cessna 152; 1 PA-
investment in the fixed-wing training inventory. Airlift capability
31T Cheyenne
has improved with the addition of C295Ws and ex-UK C-130Js. Sub-
stantial efforts have also been made to strengthen the shipbuilding HELICOPTERS
industry and work has begun on a new submarine-support facility. MRH 2 AS365N3 Dauphin
The armed forces reportedly retain extensive commercial interests, TPT 7: Medium 3 Mi-171Sh Light 4: 2 Bell 206L-4 Long
including in real estate, banks and other businesses. Ranger IV; 2 Bell 407GXi
Asia 233

AIR DEFENCE LCU 4 (of which 2†)


SAM LCT 2
Short-range FM-90 (CH-SA-4) LCM 5 Darshak (Yuchin)
Point-defence FN-16 (CH-SA-14); QW-2 (CH-SA-8) LCVP 3†
GUNS • TOWED 174: 35mm 8 GDF-009 (with Skyguard-3); LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 11
37mm 132 Type-65/74; 57mm 34 Type-59 (S-60) AG 1
AGHS 2: 1 Agradoot; 1 Anushandhan
Navy 16,900 AGS 2 Darshak
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AOR 2 (coastal)
SUBMARINES 2 AOT 1 Khan Jahangir Ali
SSK 2 Nabajatra (ex-PRC Type-035G (Ming)) with 8 AR 1†
single 533mm TT ATF 1†
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 6 AX 1 Shaheed Ruhul Amin
FFGHM 3:
1 Bangabandhu (ROK modified Ulsan) with 2 twin lnchr
Naval Aviation
with Otomat Mk2 AShM, 1 octuple FM-90N (CH- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SA-N-4) SAM, 2 triple ILAS-3 (B-515) 324mm TT with AIRCRAFT • MP 4 Do-228NG
A244/S LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 AW109E hel) HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 2 AW109E Power
2 Umar Farooq (ex-PRC Type-053H3 (Jiangwei II)) with
2 quad lnchr with YJ-83 AShM, 1 octuple GMLS with
Special Warfare and Diving Command 300
HHQ-7 (CH-SA-N-4) SAM, 2 FQF 3200 A/S mor,
1 twin 100mm gun (capacity 1 hel)
Air Force 14,000
FFG 3: FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER

Asia
2 Abu Bakr (ex-PRC Type-053H2 (Jianghu III)) with 2
twin lnchr with C-802A AShM, 2 RBU 1200 Uragan 1 sqn with MiG-29/MiG-29UB Fulcrum
A/S mor, 2 twin 100mm gun FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 Osman (ex-PRC Type-053H1 (Jianghu I)) with 2 quad 1 sqn with F-7MB/FT-7B Airguard
lnchr with C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 2 RBU 1200 1 sqn with F-7BG/FT-7BG Airguard
Uragan A/S mor, 2 twin 100mm gun 1 sqn with F-7BGI/FT-7BGI Airguard
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 46 GROUND ATTACK
CORVETTES 6 1 sqn with Yak-130 Mitten*
FSGM 4 Shadhinota (PRC C13B) with 2 twin lnchr with TRANSPORT
C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 1 octuple lnchr with FL- 1 sqn with An-32 Cline
3000N (HHQ-10) (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 1 76mm gun, 1 sqn with C-130B/J Hercules
1 hel landing platform 1 sqn with L-410UVP
FSG 2 Bijoy (ex-UK Castle) (of which 1 damaged in TRAINING
2020 Beirut port explosion) with 2 twin lnchr with 1 sqn with K-8W Karakorum*; L-39ZA Albatros*
C-704 AShM, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform 1 sqn with PT-6
PSOH 2 Somudra Joy (ex-US Hero) with 1 76mm gun, hel TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
landing platform 1 sqn with AW139; Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-17-1V Hip H; Mi-171Sh
PCFG 4 Durdarsha (ex-PRC Huangfeng) with 4 single 1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-17-1V Hip H; Mi-171Sh
lnchr with HY-2 (CH-SS-N-2 Safflower) AShM 1 sqn with Bell 212
PCG 2 Durjoy with 2 twin lnchr with C-704 AShM, 1 trg sqn with Bell 206L Long Ranger; AW119 Koala
1 76MM gun EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PCO 8: 1 Madhumati (Sea Dragon) with 1 57mm gun; AIRCRAFT 88 combat capable
5 Kapatakhaya (ex-UK Island); 2 Durjoy with 2 triple FTR 53: 9 F-7MB Airguard; 11 F-7BG Airguard; 12 F-7BGI
324mm ASTT, 1 76mm gun Airguard; 5 FT-7B Airguard; 4 FT-7BG Airguard; 4 FT-7BGI
PCC 8: 2 Meghna with 1 57mm gun (fishery protection); Airguard; 6 MiG-29 Fulcrum; 2 MiG-29UB Fulcrum B
1 Nirbhoy (ex-PRC Hainan) with 4 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S TPT 16: Medium 8: 4 C-130B Hercules; 4 C-130J Hercules;
mor; 2 twin 57mm gun; 5 Padma Light 8: 3 An-32 Cline†; 2 C295W; 3 L-410UVP
PBFG 5 Durbar (PRC Hegu) with 2 single lnchr with SY-1 TRG 81: 4 DA40NG; 12 G 120TP; 15 K-8W Karakorum*; 7
(CH-SS-N-1 Scrubbrush) AShM L-39ZA Albatros*; 30+ PT-6; 13 Yak-130 Mitten*
PBF 4 Titas (ROK Sea Dolphin) HELICOPTERS
PB 7: 1 Barkat (ex-PRC Shanghai III); 2 Karnaphuli; 1 Salam MRH 16: 2 AW139 (SAR); 12 Mi-17 Hip H; 2 Mi-17-1V
(ex-PRC Huangfen); 3 Shaheed Daulat (PRC Shanghai II) Hip H (VIP)
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 5 TPT 19: Medium 11 Mi-171Sh; Light 8: 2 Bell 206L Long
MSO 5: 1 Sagar; 4 Shapla (ex-UK River) Ranger; 4 Bell 212; 2 AW119 Koala
AMPHIBIOUS AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
LANDING SHIPS • LSL 1 AAM • IR R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); PL-5; PL-7; SARH
LANDING CRAFT 14 R-27R (RS-AA-10A Alamo)
234 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 63,900


Brunei BRN
Ansars 20,000+
Security Guards Brunei Dollar BND 2021 2022 2023
GDP BND 18.8bn 25.4bn
Rapid Action Battalions 5,000 USD 14.0bn 18.5bn
Ministry of Home Affairs
per capita USD 32,573 42,939
FORCES BY ROLE
Growth % -1.6 1.2
MANOEUVRE
Other Inflation % 1.7 2.5
14 paramilitary bn Def bdgt BND 610m 598m
USD 454m 435m
Border Guard Bangladesh 38,000
USD1=BND 1.34 1.37
FORCES BY ROLE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
MANOEUVRE
491
Amphibious
1 rvn coy
290
Other
2008 2015 2022
54 paramilitary bn
Population 478,054
Coast Guard 900
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 23
Male 11.3% 3.5% 4.1% 4.6% 22.0% 3.3%
PSO 4 Syed Nazrul (ex-ITA Minerva) with 1 hel
landing platform Female 10.7% 3.5% 4.2% 4.9% 24.5% 3.4%
PCC 5 Sobuj Bangla (Padma mod)
PB 9: 1 Ruposhi Bangla; 4 Shaheed Daulat; 2 Shetgang; Capabilities
2 Sonadia The Royal Brunei Armed Forces are professional and well trained.
PBR 5 Pabna In May 2021, the government published Brunei’s fourth defence
White Paper in 17 years, within the context of the Vision Brunei
DEPLOYMENT 2035 framework. C4ISR capabilities are being improved to offset
the forces’ relatively small size, and the White Paper advocates pro-
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 1,382; 1 curements to strengthen airspace control and harden C4 systems.
cdo coy; 1 inf bn; 1 med coy; 1 hel coy Under a long-standing bilateral arrangement, which currently
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • extends to 2025, Brunei continues to host a British military pres-
MONUSCO 1,637; 1 inf bn; 1 engr coy; 1 avn sqn; 1 hel coy ence including a Gurkha infantry battalion, a helicopter-flight
and a jungle-warfare school. Brunei has a close defence relation-
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 118; 1 FSGM ship with Singapore and hosts a permanent Singapore Armed
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 1,297; 1 mech inf bn; 1 engr coy; Forces training facility. There are regular bilateral exercises with
1 sigs coy Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries. The armed forces
also take part in multinational exercises organised by the ADMM-
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1,628; 1 inf bn; 2 rvn coy;
Plus. Brunei has limited capacity to deploy forces abroad without
2 engr coy
assistance, but has nevertheless maintained a small deployment
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 508; 1 inf bn to UNIFIL in Lebanon since 2008. Brunei has no domestic defence
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 27; 1 fd hospital industry and imports all its military equipment. In 2010, the Centre
of Science and Technology Research and Development was estab-
lished to conduct defence-technology research and provide
engineering and support services to the armed forces.

ACTIVE 7,200 (Army 4,400 Navy 1,200 Air 1,100


Special Forces 500) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 400–500
RESERVE 700 (Army 700)

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Army 4,400
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Light
3 inf bn
Asia 235

COMBAT SUPPORT FORCES BY ROLE


1 cbt spt bn (1 armd recce sqn, 1 engr sqn) MANOEUVRE
Light
Reserves 700 2 inf bn(-)
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Light
DEPLOYMENT
1 inf bn LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 30
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES FOREIGN FORCES
LT TK 20 FV101 Scorpion (incl FV105 Sultan CP)
Singapore 1 trg camp with infantry units on rotation; 1 trg
APC • APC (W) 45 VAB
school; 1 hel det with AS332 Super Puma
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
ARV 2 Samson United Kingdom 2,000; 1 (Gurkha) inf bn; 1 jungle trg
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 24 centre; 1 hel sqn with 3 Bell 212

Navy 1,200 Cambodia CAM


FORCES BY ROLE
Cambodian Riel KHR 2021 2022 2023
SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF sqn GDP KHR 109tr 119tr
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE USD 26.3bn 28.3bn
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 9 per capita USD 1,662 1,771
CORVETTES • FSG 4 Darussalam with 2 twin lnchr with Growth % 3.0 5.1

Asia
MM40 Exocet Block 2 AShM, 1 57mm gun, 1 hel landing
Inflation % 2.9 5.2
platform
PCC 4 Ijtihad Def bdgt [a] KHR 4.25tr 4.21tr
PBF 1 Mustaed USD 1.02bn 1.00bn
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCM 4: 2 Teraban; USD1=KHR 4154.25 4199.86
2 Cheverton Loadmaster [a] Defence and security budget
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
Air Force 1,100 944
FORCES BY ROLE
MARITIME PATROL 260
1 sqn with CN235M 2008 2015 2022
TRAINING
Population 16,713,015
1 sqn with Bell 206B Jet Ranger II
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
1 sqn with Bell 214 (SAR)
1 sqn with S-70i Black Hawk Male 15.2% 4.3% 3.8% 4.1% 19.3% 1.8%
AIR DEFENCE Female 14.8% 4.4% 4.0% 4.4% 20.8% 3.2%
1 sqn with Mistral
1 sqn with Rapier Capabilities
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Despite their name, which reflects Cambodia’s formal status as
AIRCRAFT a constitutional monarchy, the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces
TPT • Light 1 CN235M (RCAF) are essentially the modern manifestation of the armed
TRG 4 PC-7 forces of the former People’s Republic of Kampuchea, and were
HELICOPTERS established in 1979 following Vietnam’s invasion. Cambodia faces
no direct external military threats, besides border clashes with Thai-
TPT 15: Medium 13: 1 Bell 214 (SAR); 12 S-70i Black
land which last occurred in 2011. Relations have developed since
Hawk; Light 2 Bell 206B Jet Ranger II
then and a seventh meeting on border issues took place in Septem-
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence Mistral; Rapier ber 2022, the same month as reports that both sides had resumed
talks on overlapping maritime border claims. There were reports
Special Forces Regiment ε500 in November 2022 of an agreement on demining activities on the
FORCES BY ROLE border. Internally, security concerns include civil unrest and transna-
SPECIAL FORCES tional threats that can generate instability, such as drug trafficking.
Skirmishes on the border with Thailand provided little indication of
1 SF regt
capacity for high-intensity combat. However, Cambodia has contrib-
uted personnel to UN peacekeeping missions, including UNMISS
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 400–500 in South Sudan. Cambodia’s most important international defence
links are with China’s and Vietnam’s armed forces. While tradition-
Gurkha Reserve Unit 400–500 ally reliant on Russia for defence equipment, China has emerged
236 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

as a key supplier in recent years. Training ties have also developed (BM-13); 140mm 20 BM-14-16 (BM-14); 300mm 6 PHL-03
with China and exercises have grown in scale. Cambodia lacks sig- MOR 82mm M-37; 120mm M-43; 160mm M-160
nificant resources for personnel training, which is partly financed by AIR DEFENCE
Chinese military assistance. In response to deepening Chinese mili- SAM • Point-defence FN-6 (CH-SA-10); FN-16 (CH-
tary influence in Cambodia, the US imposed an arms embargo on
SA-14) (reported)
Cambodia in December 2021. Funds for equipment purchases are
GUNS • TOWED 14.5mm ZPU-1/ZPU-2/ZPU-4; 37mm
limited, although the 2022 National Defence White Paper stated that
modernisation of the RCAF is the top priority. There is no domestic M-1939; 57mm S-60
defence industry, with Cambodia possessing no ability to design
and manufacture modern equipment for its armed forces. Navy ε2,800 (incl 1,500 Naval Infantry)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ACTIVE 124,300 (Army 75,000 Navy 2,800 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 13
Air 1,500 Provincial Forces 45,000) Gendarmerie PBF 4 Project 205P (Stenka)
& Paramilitary 67,000 PB 7: 3 (PRC 20m); 4 (PRC 46m)
Conscript liability 18 months service authorised but not imple- PBR 2 Kaoh Chhlam
mented since 1993 AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 1
LCU 1 Type-067 (Yunnan)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AFDL 1

Naval Infantry 1,500


Army ε75,000 FORCES BY ROLE
6 Military Regions (incl 1 special zone for capital) MANOEUVRE
FORCES BY ROLE Light
SPECIAL FORCES 1 (31st) nav inf bde
1 (Spec Ops Comd) AB/SF Bde COMBAT SUPPORT
MANOEUVRE 1 arty bn
Light
2 (2nd & 3rd Intervention) inf div (3 inf bde) Air Force 1,500
5 (Intervention) indep inf bde FORCES BY ROLE
8 indep inf bde ISR/TRAINING
Other 1 sqn with P-92 Echo
1 (70th) sy bde (4 sy bn) TRANSPORT
17 (border) sy bn 1 VIP sqn (reporting to Council of Ministers) with
COMBAT SUPPORT An-24RV Coke; AS350 Ecureuil; AS355F2 Ecureuil II
2 arty bn 1 sqn with BN-2 Islander; Y-12 (II)
4 fd engr regt TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT 1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-8 Hip; Z-9
1 (construction) engr regt EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 tpt bde AIRCRAFT
AIR DEFENCE TPT • Light 9: 2 MA60; 5 P-92 Echo (pilot trg/recce);
1 AD bn 2 Y-12 (II) (2 An-24RV Coke; 1 BN-2 Islander in store)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE TRG (5 L-39C Albatros* in store)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES HELICOPTERS
MBT 200+: 50 Type-59; 150+ T-54/T-55 MRH 14: 3 Mi-17 Hip H; 11 Z-9
LT TK 20+: Type-62; 20 Type-63 TPT 4: Heavy (2 Mi-26 Halo in store); Light 4: 2 AS350
RECCE 20+ BRDM-2 Ecureuil; 2 AS355F2 Ecureuil II
IFV 70 BMP-1
APC 230+
Provincial Forces 45,000+
APC (T) M113 Reports of at least 1 inf regt per province, with varying
APC (W) 230: 200 BTR-60/BTR-152; 30 OT-64 numbers of inf bn (with lt wpn)
AUV 27: 12 Dongfeng Mengshi; 15 Tiger 4×4 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 67,000
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
ARV T-54/T-55 Police 67,000 (including gendarmerie)
MW Bozena; RA-140 DS
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE DEPLOYMENT
RCL 82mm B-10; 107mm B-11 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 225;
ARTILLERY 486+ 1 engr coy
SP 155mm 12 SH-1
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 180; 1 EOD coy
TOWED 400+: 76mm ZIS-3 (M-1942)/122mm D-30/
122mm M-30 (M-1938)/130mm Type-59-I MALI: UN • MINUSMA 289: 2 engr coy; 1 EOD coy
MRL 74+: 107mm Type-63; 122mm 48+: 8 BM-21; ε20 SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 84; 1 MP coy
PHL-81; some PHL-90B; 20 RM-70; 132mm BM-13-16 SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 1
Asia 237

modernisation efforts continue. China has an extensive defence-


China, People’s Republic of PRC industrial base, capable of producing advanced equipment across
all domains, although questions persist over quality and reliability.
Chinese Yuan Renminbi
2021 2022 2023
CNY ACTIVE 2,035,000 (Ground Forces 965,000
GDP CNY 114tr 123tr Navy 260,000 Air Force 395,000 Strategic Missile
USD 17.7tr 20.3tr Forces 120,000 Strategic Support Force 145,000
per capita USD 12,562 14,340 Other 150,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 500,000
Growth % 8.1 3.2 Conscript liability Selective conscription; all services 24 months
Inflation % 0.9 2.2 RESERVE ε510,000
Def exp CNY ε1.84tr ε1.95tr
USD ε285bn ε319bn ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Def bdgt [a] CNY 1.38tr 1.47tr
USD 214bn 242bn Strategic Missile Forces 120,000+
USD1=CNY 6.45 6.08
[a] Central Expenditure budget including local militia funding People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) The People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force organises
196 and commands its own troops to launch nuclear counter-
attacks with strategic missiles and to conduct operations
82.4
with conventional missiles. Organised as launch brigades
2008 2015 2022 subordinate to 6 army-level missile bases.
FORCES BY ROLE
Population 1,418,451,639 SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE

Asia
1 ICBM bde with DF-4
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 3 ICBM bde with DF-5A/B
Male 8.9% 2.9% 3.0% 3.6% 26.3% 6.3% 1 ICBM bde with DF-31
Female 7.8% 2.4% 2.6% 3.3% 25.6% 7.3% 1 ICBM bde with DF-31A
5 ICBM bde with DF-31A(G)
Capabilities 2 ICBM bde with DF-41
China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) is the world’s largest armed
6 IRBM bde with DF-26
force, with an increasingly advanced equipment inventory. Its 3 MRBM bde with DF-17 with HGV
operational effectiveness, however, remains hampered by training 2 MRBM bde with DF-21A/E
and doctrine issues. China’s 2019 defence White Paper did not sig- 1 MRBM bde with DF-21C/D
nificantly alter the strategic direction laid out in the 2015 edition 2 SRBM bde with DF-11A/DF-15B
and was focused more on updating the progress of PLA moderni- 2 SRBM bde with DF-16
sation efforts. In 2021, amendments to the National Defense Law 3 GLCM bde with CJ-10/CJ-10A/CJ-100
were enacted, which handed responsibility for defence mobilisa- 8 SSM bde (forming)
tion fully to the Central Military Commission and removed the
role of the State Council. A major restructuring process is now EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
mostly complete and the Strategic Support Force continues to SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
develop China’s cyber, space and information-dominance capa- ICBM • Nuclear 140: ε10 DF-4 (CH-SS-3); ε20
bilities. China does not maintain any formal alliances, but it does DF-5A/B (CH-SS-4 Mod 2/3); ε8 DF-31 (CH-SS-10 Mod
have a number of key defence relationships with regional states 1); ε24 DF-31A (CH-SS-10 Mod 2); ε54 DF-31A(G)
and through its membership of the SCO and has also worked to (CH-SS-10 Mod 3); ε24 DF-41 (CH-SS-20)
develop defence ties with several African and Middle Eastern
IRBM • Dual-capable 110+ DF-26 (CH-SS-18)
states. In February 2022, China and Russia announced a friend-
MRBM 94: Nuclear ε40 DF-21A/E (CH-SS-5 Mod 2/6);
ship with ‘no limits’, though China has been reluctant to assist
Russia militarily in its war on Ukraine. Improving readiness for Conventional 54: ε24 DF-17 with HGV (CH-SS-22);
combat operations is a key objective of the current reforms; the ε30 DF-21D (CH-SS-5 Mod 5 – ASBM)
PLA currently lacks any significant recent combat experience and SRBM • Conventional 225: ε108 DF-11A (CH-SS-7
its training has traditionally suffered from over-scripted and unre- Mod 2); ε81 DF-15B (CH-SS-6 Mod 3); ε36 DF-16
alistic exercises. Though these weaknesses are acknowledged, it is (CH-SS-11 Mod 1/2)
unclear how effective the newly established structures will be at GLCM • Conventional 108: ε54 CJ-10/CJ-10A
generating and controlling high-intensity combined-arms capa- (CH-SSC-9 mod 1/2); ε54 CJ-100 (CH-SSC-13 Splinter)
bilities. In 2021, the PLA’s conscription pattern changed from once
to twice a year, with the aim of improving force readiness. Recruit- Navy
ment maintains a particular focus on college graduates and those
skilled in science and engineering. The requirement for out-of-area
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
operations is relatively new for the PLA; the navy is the only service SUBMARINES • STRATEGIC 6
to have experience in extended deployments, assisted by its SSBN 6 Type-094 (Jin) with up to 12 JL-2 (CH-SS-N-14)/
support base in Djibouti. Major platform inventories in all the ser- JL-3 (CH-SS-N-20) strategic SLBMs, 6 single 533mm TT
vices comprise a mix of modern, older and obsolescent designs as with Yu-6 HWT
238 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Defensive COMBAT SUPPORT


15 arty bde
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
9 engr/NBC bde
RADAR • STRATEGIC: 4+ large phased array radars;
5 engr bde
some detection and tracking radars
5 NBC bde
1 engr regt
Space
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 13 spt bde
SATELLITES 207 COASTAL DEFENCE
COMMUNICATIONS 11: 2 Shen Tong-1; 4 Shen Tong-2; 19 coastal arty/AShM bde
2 Feng Huo-1; 3 Feng Huo-2 AVIATION
POSITIONING, NAVIGATION & TIMING 45: 3 Beidou- 1 mixed avn bde
2(M); 5 Beidou-2(G); 7 Beidou-2(IGSO); 24 Beidou-3(M); HELICOPTER
3 Beidou-3(G); 3 Beidou-3(ISGO) 12 hel bde
METEOROLOGY/OCEANOGRAPHY 8: 2 Yunhai-1; TRAINING
6 Yunhai-2 4 hel trg bde
ISR 55: 2 Jianbing-5; 4 Jianbing-6; 4 Jianbing-7; 5 Jianbing-9; AIR DEFENCE
3 Jianbing-10; 3 Jianbing-11/-12; 3 Jianbing-16; 4 LKW; 15 AD bde
4 Tianhui-2; 3 Yaogan-29; 2 Yaogan-34; 15 Yaogan-35;
3 Yaogan-36 Reserves
ELINT/SIGINT 81: 30 Chuangxin-5 (Yaogan-30); The People’s Liberation Army Reserve Force is being
15 Jianbing-8; 3 Qianshao-3; 10 Shijian-6 (5 pairs – reported restructured, and the army component reduced. As a result
ELINT/SIGINT role); 7 Shijian-11 (reported ELINT/ some of the units below may have been re-roled or disbanded
SIGINT role); 12 Yaogan-31; 4 Yaogan-32 FORCES BY ROLE
EARLY WARNING 5: 5 Huoyan-1 MANOEUVRE
RENDEZVOUS & PROXIMITY OPERATIONS 2: Armoured
1 Shijian-17; 1 Shijian-21 2 armd regt
REUSABLE SPACECRAFT 1 CSSHQ Light
COUNTERSPACE • MSL SC-19 (reported) 18 inf div
4 inf bde
Army ε965,000 3 indep inf regt
FORCES BY ROLE COMBAT SUPPORT
COMMAND 3 arty div
13 (Group) army HQ 7 arty bde
SPECIAL FORCES 15 engr regt
15 spec ops bde 1 ptn br bde
MANOEUVRE 3 ptn br regt
Armoured 10 chem regt
33 (cbd arms) armd bde 10 sigs regt
Mechanised COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
2 (high alt) mech inf div (3 (cbd arms) mech regt, 1 arty 9 log bde
regt, 1 AD regt) 1 log regt
17 (cbd arms) mech inf bde AIR DEFENCE
2 indep mech inf regt 17 AD div
Light 8 AD bde
2 (high alt) inf div (3 (cbd arms) inf regt, 1 arty regt, 8 AD regt
1 AD regt) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
25 (cbd arms) inf bde ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Air Manoeuvre MBT 4,800: 600 ZTZ-59/-59-II/-59D; 200 ZTZ-79; 300
2 air aslt bde ZTZ-88A/B; 1,000 ZTZ-96; 1,500 ZTZ-96A; 600 ZTZ-99;
Amphibious 600 ZTZ-99A
6 amph aslt bde LT TK 1,250: 750 ZTD-05; 500 ZTQ-15
Other ASLT 1,200 ZTL-11
1 (OPFOR) armd bde IFV 7,700: 400 ZBD-04; 1,900 ZBD-04A; 3,000 ZBL-08; 600
1 mech gd div (1 armd regt, 2 mech inf regt, 1 arty regt, ZBD-86; 650 ZBD-86A; 550 ZSL-92; 600 ZSL-92B
1 AD regt) APC 3,900
1 sy gd div (4 sy regt) APC (T) 2,250: 500 ZSD-63; 1,750 ZSD-89/-89A
16 (border) sy bde APC (W) 1,650: 700 ZSL-92A; 900 ZSL-10; 50 ZSL-93
15 (border) sy regt AAV 750 ZBD-05
1 (border) sy gp AUV Dongfeng Mengshi; Tiger 4×4
Asia 239

ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES AIR DEFENCE


ARV Type-73; Type-84; Type-85; Type-97; Type-654 SAM 754+
VLB MTU; TMM; GQL-110A (Type-84A); GQL-111 Medium-range 250 HQ-16A/B (CH-SA-16)
(HZQL75); GQL-321 (HZQL22); GQL-410; High Altitude Short-range 504: 24 9K331 Tor-M1 (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet);
VLB; HZQL-18; ZGQ-84 30 HQ-6D (CH-SA-6); 200 HQ-7A/B (CH-SA-4); 200
MW Type-74; Type-79; Type-81-II; Type-84 HQ-17 (CH-SA-15); 50 HQ-17A (CH-SA-15)
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Point-defence HN-5A/B (CH-SA-3); FN-6 (CH-SA-10);
MSL QW-1 (CH-SA-7); QW-2 (CH-SA-8)
SP 1,125: 450 HJ-8 (veh mounted); 200 HJ-10; 25 HJ- SPAAGM 25mm 270 PGZ-04A
10A; 450 ZSL-02B GUNS 7,126+
MANPATS HJ-73D; HJ-8A/C/E; HJ-11; HJ-12 SP 126: 30mm some PGL-19; 35mm 120 PGZ-07; 37mm
RCL 3,966: 75mm PF-56; 82mm PF-65 (B-10); PF-78; 6 PGZ-88
105mm PF-75; 120mm PF-98 TOWED 7,000+: 25mm PG-87; 35mm PG-99 (GDF-
GUNS 1,788 002); 37mm PG-55 (M-1939)/PG-65/PG-74; 57mm PG-
SP 480: 100mm 250 PTL-02; 120mm 230 PTZ-89 59 (S-60); 100mm PG-59 (KS-19)
TOWED • 100mm 1,308 PT-73 (T-12)/PT-86 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
ARTILLERY 9,550+ AAM • IR TY-90
SP 3,180: 122mm 2,110: 300 PLZ-89; 550 PLZ-07A; 150 ASM AKD-8; AKD-9; AKD-10
PLZ-07B; 300 PCL-09; 600 PLL-09; 60 PCL-161; 120 PCL-
171; 30 PCL-181 152mm 150 PLZ-83A/B; 155mm 920: 320 Navy ε260,000
PLZ-05; 600 PCL-181; (600 in store: 122mm 400 PLZ-89; The PLA Navy is organised into five service arms:
152mm 200 PLZ-83A) submarine, surface, naval aviation, coastal defence and
TOWED 900: 122mm 300 PL-96 (D-30); 130mm 100 PL- marine corps, as well as other specialised units. There are
59 (M-46)/PL-59-I; 152mm 500 PL-66 (D-20); (4,700 in

Asia
three fleets, one each in the Eastern, Southern and Northern
store: 122mm 3,000 PL-54-1 (M-1938)/PL-83/PL-60 (D- theatre commands
74)/PL-96 (D-30); 152mm 1,700 PL-54 (D-1)/PL-66 (D-20))
GUN/MOR 120mm 1,250: 450 PLL-05; 800 PPZ-10 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MRL 1,320+ 107mm PH-63; 122mm 1,095: 200 PHL-81/ SUBMARINES 59
PHL-90; 350 PHL-11; 375 PHZ-89; 120 PHZ-11; 30 PHL- STRATEGIC • SSBN 6 Type-094 (Jin) with up to 12
20; 10+ PHL-21; 10 PHL-161; 300mm 175 PHL-03; 370mm JL-2 (CH-SS-N-14)/JL-3 (CH-SS-N-20) strategic SLBMs,
50+ PHL-19; (1,000 in store: 122mm 1,000 PHL-81) 6 single 533mm TT with Yu-6 HWT
MOR 2,800: 82mm PP-53 (M-37)/PP-67/PP-82/PP-87; SP TACTICAL 53
82mm PCP-001; 100mm PP-89 SSN 6:
COASTAL DEFENCE 2 Type-093 (Shang I) with 6 single 533mm TT with
AShM HY-1 (CH-SSC-2 Silkworm); HY-2 (CH-SSC-3 YJ-82 (CH-SS-N-7) AShM or YJ-18 (CH-SS-N-13)
Seersucker); HY-4 (CH-SSC-7 Sadsack); YJ-62 AShM/Yu-3 HWT/Yu-6 HWT
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 25 4 Type-093A (Shang II) with 6 single 533mm TT with
PB 25: 9 Huzong; 16 Shenyang YJ-82 (CH-SS-N-7) AShM or YJ-18 (CH-SS-N-13)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCM 255: 3+ Yugong; AShM/Yu-3 HWT/Yu-6 HWT
50+ Yunnan II; 100+ Yupen; 2+ Yutu; approx. 100 Yuwei (3 Type-091 (Han) in reserve with 6 single 533mm TT
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 22 with YJ-82 (CH-SS-N-7) AShM/Yu-3 HWT)
AK 6+ Leizhuang SSK 46:
AKR 1 Yunsong (capacity 1 MBT; 1 med hel) 2 Project 636 (Improved Kilo) with 6 single 533mm
ARC 1 TT with TEST-71ME HWT/53-65KE HWT
AOT 11: 1 Fuzhong; 8 Fubing; 2 Fulei 8 Project 636M (Improved Kilo) with 6 single 533mm
ATF 2 Huntao TT with TEST-71ME HWT/53-65KE HWT/3M54E
AX 1 Haixun III Klub-S (RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler) AShM
AIRCRAFT • TPT 6: Medium 4: 2 Y-8; 2 Y-9; Light 2 Y-7 4 Type-035B (Ming) with 8 single 533mm TT with
HELICOPTERS Yu-3 HWT/Yu-4 HWT
ATK 320+: 200 WZ-10; 120+ WZ-19 12 Type-039(G) (Song) with 6 single 533mm TT with
MRH 208: 22 Mi-17 Hip H; 3 Mi-17-1V Hip H; 38 YJ-82 (CH-SS-N-7) AShM or YJ-18 (CH-SS-N-13)
Mi-17V-5 Hip H; 25 Mi-17V-7 Hip H; ε120 Z-9WZ AShM/Yu-3 HWT/Yu-6 HWT
TPT 452: Heavy 125: 9 Z-8A; 96 Z-8B; ε20 Z-8L; Medium 4 Type-039A (Yuan) (fitted with AIP) with 6 533mm
259: 140 Mi-171; 19 S-70C2 (S-70C) Black Hawk; ε100 Z-20; TT with YJ-82 (CH-SS-N-7) AShM or YJ-18
Light 68: 15 H120 Colibri; 53 Z-11 (CH-SS-N-13) AShM/Yu-3 HWT/Yu-6 HWT
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 16+ Type-039B (Yuan) (fitted with AIP) with 6
CISR • Heavy 5+ CH-4B 533mm TT with YJ-82 (CH-SS-N-7) AShM or YJ-18
ISR • Heavy BZK-005; BZK-009 (reported); Medium (CH-SS-N-13) AShM/Yu-3 HWT/Yu-6 HWT
BZK-006 (incl variants); BZK-007; BZK-008 (10 Type-035(G) (Ming) in reserve with 8 single
LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS 533mm TT with Yu-3 HWT/Yu-4 HWT)
Harpy SSB 1 Type-032 (Qing) (SLBM trials)
240 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 92 HHQ-10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 triple 324mm


AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • CV 2: ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 1 H/PJ-11 CIWS, 1 130mm
1 Type-001 (Kuznetsov) with 3 18-cell GMLS with gun (capacity 2 Ka-28 Helix A hel)
HHQ-10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 12 Type-052D mod (Luyang III mod) with 8 octuple
A/S mor, 3 H/PJ-11 CIWS (capacity 18–24 J-15 ac; 17
VLS with YJ-18A (CH-SS-N-13) AShM/HHQ-9B
Ka-28/Ka-31/Z-8S/Z-8JH/Z-8AEW hel)
(CH-SA-N-21) SAM/Yu-8 A/S msl, 1 24-cell GMLS
1 Type-002 (Kuznetsov mod) with 3 18-cell GMLS with
HHQ-10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 with HHQ-10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 triple 324mm
A/S mor, 3 H/PJ-11 CIWS (capacity 32 J-15 ac; 12 Ka- ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 1 H/PJ-11 CIWS, 1 130mm
28/Ka-31/Z-8S/Z-8JH/Z-8AEW hel) gun (capacity 2 Z-9/Z-20 hel)
CRUISERS • CGHM 7 Type-055 (Renhai) with 14 8-cell DDGM 2 Type-051C (Luzhou) with 2 quad lnchr with
VLS (8 fore, 6 aft) with YJ-18A (CH-SS-N-13) AShM/ YJ-83 AShM; 6 6-cell B-204 VLS with S-300FM Rif-M
HHQ-9B (CH-SA-N-21) SAM/Yu-8 A/S msl, 1 24-cell (RS-SA-N-20 Gargoyle) SAM, 2 H/PJ-12 CIWS, 1 100mm
GMLS with HHQ-10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 triple gun, 1 hel landing platform
324mm ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 1 H/PJ-11 CIWS, 1 130mm
FRIGATES • FFGHM 41
gun (capacity 2 med hel)
2 Type-053H3 (Jiangwei II) with 2 quad lnchr with YJ-
DESTROYERS 42
DDGHM 40: 83 AShM, 1 octuple lnchr with HHQ-7 (CH-SA-N-4)
2 Hangzhou (Project 956EM (Sovremenny II)) with 2 SAM, 2 RBU 1200 A/S mor, 1 twin 100mm gun
quad lnchr with 3M80MVE Moskit-E (RS-SS-N- (capacity 1 Z-9C hel)
22B Sunburn) AShM, 2 single 3S90E lnchr with 6 Type-053H3 (Jiangwei II Upgrade) with 2 quad
9M38E M-22E Shtil (RS-SA-N-7 Gadfly) SAM, 2 lnchr with YJ-83 AShM, 1 8-cell GMLS with HHQ-
twin 533mm DTA-53-956 ASTT with SET-65KE 10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 RBU 1200 A/S mor,
HWT/53-65KE HWT, 2 RBU 1000 Smerch 3 A/S 1 twin 100mm gun (capacity 1 Z-9C hel)
mor, 2 Kashtan (RS-CADS-N-1) CIWS, 1 twin
2 Type-054 (Jiangkai) with 2 quad lnchr with
130mm gun (capacity 1 Z-9C/Ka-28 Helix A hel)
YJ-83 AShM, 1 24-cell GMLS with HHQ-10
2 Hangzhou (Project 956E (Sovremenny III)) with 2
quad lnchr with YJ-12A AShM, 4 8-cell H/AJK- (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with
16 VLS with HHQ-16 (CH-SA-N-16) SAM/Yu-8 Yu-7 LWT, 2 RBU 1200 A/S mor, 4 AK630 CIWS,
A/S msl, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 1 100mm gun (capacity 1 Ka-28 Helix A/Z-9C hel)
4 AK630M CIWS, 2 twin 130mm gun (capacity 1 31 Type-054A (Jiangkai II) with 2 quad lnchr with YJ-
Z-9C/Ka-28 Helix A hel) 83 AShM, 4 8-cell VLS with Yu-8 A/S msl/HHQ-16
1 Type-051B (Luhai) with 4 quad lnchr with YJ- (CH-SA-N-16) SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with
12A AShM, 4 8-cell H/AJK-16 VLS with HHQ-16 Yu-7 LWT, 2 FQF 3200 A/S mor, 2 H/PJ-11/12 CIWS,
(CH-SA-N-16) SAM/Yu-8 A/S msl, 2 triple 324mm
1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Ka-28 Helix A/Z-9C hel)
ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 2 H/PJ-11 CIWS, 1 twin
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 142+
100mm gun (capacity 2 Z-9C/Ka-28 Helix A hel)
2 Type-052 (Luhu) with 4 quad lnchr with YJ-83 CORVETTES • FSGM 50 Type-056A (Jiangdao) with
AShM, 1 octuple lnchr with HHQ-7 (CH-SA-N-4) 2 twin lnchr with YJ-83 AShM, 1 8-cell GMLS with
SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 2 FQF HHQ-10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT
2500 A/S mor, 2 H/PJ-12 CIWS, 1 twin 100mm gun with Yu-7 LWT, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform
(capacity 2 Z-9C hel) PCFG ε60 Type-022 (Houbei) with 2 quad lnchr with
2 Type-052B (Luyang I) (in refit) with 4 quad lnchr YJ-83 AShM, 1 H/PJ-13 CIWS
with YJ-83 AShM, 2 single 3S90E lnchr with PCG 22: 4 Type-037-II (Houjian) with 2 triple lnchr with
9M317E Shtil-1 (RS-SA-N-7B) SAM, 2 triple
YJ-8 (CH-SS-N-4) AShM; 18 Type-037-IG (Houxin) with 2
324mm ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 2 H/PJ-12 CIWS,
twin lnchr with YJ-8 (CH-SS-N-4) AShM
1 100mm gun (capacity 1 Ka-28 Helix A hel)
6 Type-052C (Luyang II) (of which 1 in refit) with 2 PCC some Type-037-IS (Haiqing) with 2 FQF-3200 A/S mor
quad lnchr with YJ-62 AShM, 8 8-cell VLS with PB up to 10 Type-062-1 (Shanghai III)
HHQ-9 (CH-SA-N-9) SAM (CH-SA-N-9), 2 triple MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 57:
324mm ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 2 H/PJ-12 CIWS, MCO 20: 4 Type-081 (Wochi); 9+ Type-081A (Wochi
1 100mm gun (capacity 2 Ka-28 Helix A hel) mod); 7+ Type-082II (Wozang)
10 Type-052D (Luyang III) with 8 8-cell VLS with YJ- MSC 16: 4 Type-082 (Wosao I); 12 Type-082-II (Wosao II)
18A (CH-SS-N-13) AShM/HHQ-9B (CH-SA-N-21) MSD 21 Type-529 (Wonang) (operated by Wozang MCO)
SAM/Yu-8 A/S msl, 1 24-cell GMLS with HHQ-
AMPHIBIOUS
10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 11:
with Yu-7 LWT, 1 H/PJ-12 CIWS, 1 130mm gun
(capacity 2 Ka-28 Helix A hel) LHD 3 Type-075 (Yushen) with 2 24-cell GMLS
3 Type-052D (Luyang III) with 8 octuple VLS with with HHQ-10 (CH-SA-N-17) SAM, 2 H/PJ-11 CIWS
YJ-18A (CH-SS-N-13) AShM/HHQ-9B (CH- (capacity 3 Yuyi LCAC; 800 troops; at least 60 AFVs;
SA-N-21) SAM/Yu-8 A/S msl, 1 24-cell GMLS with 28 hel)
Asia 241

LPD 8 Type-071 (Yuzhao) with 4 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm ESD 1 Donghaidao


gun (capacity 4 Yuyi LCAC plus supporting vehicles; COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 72 YJ-12/YJ-62 (3 regt)
800 troops; 60 armoured vehs; 4 hel)
LANDING SHIPS 49 Naval Aviation 26,000
LST 28: FORCES BY ROLE
4 Type-072-IIG (Yukan) (capacity 2 LCVP; 10 tk; Naval aviation fighter/ground-attack units adopted
200 troops) brigade structure in 2017
9 Type-072-II/III (Yuting I) (capacity 10 tk; BOMBER
250 troops; 2 hel) 2 regt with H-6DU/G/J
9 Type-072A (Yuting II) (capacity 4 LCVP; 10 tk; FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
250 troops) 1 bde with J-10A/S Firebird; Su-30MK2 Flanker G
6 Type-072B (Yuting II) (capacity 4 LCVP; 10 tk; 1 bde with J-11B/BS Flanker L
250 troops) 1 bde with J-11B/BS Flanker L; JH-7A Flounder
LSM 21: 1 bde with J-8F Finback; JH-7A Flounder
1 Type-073-II (Yudeng) with 1 twin 57mm gun 2 regt with J-15 Flanker
(capacity 5 tk or 500 troops) GROUND ATTACK
10 Type-073A (Yunshu) (capacity 6 tk) 1 bde with JH-7 Flounder
7 Type-074 (Yuhai) (capacity 2 tk; 250 troops) ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
3 Type-074 (mod) 2 regt with KQ-200
LANDING CRAFT 60 ELINT/ISR/ASW
1 regt with Y-8JB/X; Y-9JZ; KQ-200
LCU 11 Type-074A (Yubei) (capacity 10 tanks or 150
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
troops)
3 regt with Y-8J; KJ-200; KJ-500
LCM ε30 Type-067A (Yunnan)
TRANSPORT

Asia
LCAC 19: 15+ Type-726 (Yuyi); 4 Zubr
1 regt with Y-7H; Y-8C; CRJ-200/700
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 153
TRAINING
ABU 1 Type-744A
1 regt with CJ-6A
AFS 2: 1 Type-904 (Dayun); 1 Type-904A (Danyao I)
1 regt with HY-7
AFSH 2 Type-904B (Danyao II)
2 regt with JL-8
AG 7: 6 Kanhai; 1 Kanwu
1 regt with JL-9G
AGB 2 Type-272 (Yanrao) with 1 hel landing platform 1 regt with JL-9
AGE 7: 2 Type-909 (Dahua) with 1 hel landing platform 1 regt with JL-10
(weapons test platform); 1 Kantan; 3 Type-636 (Shupang); 1 regt with Z-9C
1 Yuting I (naval rail gun test ship) HELICOPTER
AGI 19: 1 Dadie; 1 Type-815 (Dongdiao) with 1 hel landing 1 regt with Ka-27PS; Ka-28; Ka-31
platform; 9 Type-815A (Dongdiao) with 1 hel landing 1 regt with AS365N; Z-9C/D; Z-8J/JH
platform; 8 FT-14 1 regt with Y-7G; Z-8; Z-8J; Z-8S; Z-9C/D
AGOR 2 Dahua AIR DEFENCE
AGOS 4 Dongjian 2 SAM bde with HQ-9; HQ-9B: HQ-6A
AGS 8 Type-636A (Shupang) with 1 hel landing platform
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AH 8: 5 Ankang; 1 Type-920 (Anwei); 2 Anshen AIRCRAFT 456 combat capable
AOEH 2 Type-901 (Fuyu) with 2 H/PJ-13 CIWS BBR 45: 27 H-6G/G mod; 18 H-6J
AORH 10: 2 Type-903 (Fuchi); 7 Type-903A (Fuchi II); FTR 24 J-8F Finback
1 Fusu FGA 179: 16 J-10A Firebird; 7 J-10S Firebird; 72 J-11B/
AOT 22: 4 Fubai; 16 Type-632 (Fujian); 2 Fuxiao BS Flanker L; ε60 J-15 Flanker; 24 Su-30MK2 Flanker G
AP 4: 2 Daguan; 2 Darong ATK 120: 48 JH-7; 72 JH-7A Flounder
ARC 2 Youlan ASW 20+ KQ-200
ARS 18: 1 Dadao; 1 Dadong; 1 Type-922III (Dalang II); ELINT 13: 4 Y-8JB High New 2; 3 Y-8X; 6 Y-9JZ
3 Type-922IIIA (Dalang III); 3 Dasan; 4 Datuo; 2 Dazhou; AEW&C 24: 6 KJ-200 Moth; 14+ KJ-500; 4 Y-8J Mask
3 Hai Jiu 101 with 1 hel landing platform TKR 5 H-6DU
ASR 6: 3 Type-926 (Dalao); 3 Type-925 (Dajiang) (capacity TPT 38: Medium 6 Y-8C; Light 28: 20 Y-5; 2 Y-7G;
2 Z-8) 6 Y-7H; PAX 4: 2 CRJ-200; 2 CRJ-700
ATF 14: ε11 Hujiu; 3 Tuqiang TRG 118: 38 CJ-6; 12 HY-7; 16 JL-8*; 28 JL-9*; 12 JL-9G*;
AWT 8: 4 Fujian; 3 Fushi; 1 Jinyou 12 JL-10*
AX 4: HELICOPTERS
1 Type-0891A (Dashi) with 2 hel landing platforms ASW 33: 14 Ka-28 Helix A; 14 Z-9C; 5 Z-18F
1 Daxin with 2 FQF 1200 A/S mor, 1 57mm gun, 1 hel AEW 12: 9 Ka-31; 3 Z-18 AEW
landing platform MRH 18: 7 AS365N; 11 Z-9D
1 Type-927 (Qi Ji Guang) with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel SAR 11: 3 Ka-27PS; 4 Z-8JH; 2 Z-8S; 2 Z-9S
landing platform TPT 42: Heavy 34: 8 SA321 Super Frelon; 9 Z-8; 13 Z-8J;
1 Yudao 4 Z-18; Medium 8 Mi-8 Hip
242 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 2 bde with J-11A/Su-27UBK Flanker


ISR Heavy BZK-005; Medium BZK-007 3 bde with J-11A/J-11B/Su-27UBK Flanker
AIR DEFENCE • SAM 2 bde with J-11B/BS Flanker L
Long-range 32: 16 HQ-9 (CH-SA-9); 16 HQ-9B (CH-SA-21) FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
Short-range HQ-6A (CH-SA-6) 5 bde with J-10A/S Firebird
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES 1 bde with J-10B/S Firebird
AAM • IR PL-5; PL-8; PL-9; R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); 6 bde with J-10C/S Firebird
IR/SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo); SARH PL-11; ARH 1 bde with Su-35 Flanker M; Su-30MKK Flanker G
6 bde with J-16 Flanker
R-77 (RS-AA-12A Adder); PL-12 (CH-AA-7A Adze)
2 bde with Su-30MKK Flanker G
ASM KD-88
5 bde with J-20A
AShM Kh-31A (RS-AS-17B Krypton); YJ-12; YJ-61;
GROUND ATTACK
YJ-8K; YJ-83K; YJ-9
5 bde with JH-7A Flounder
ARM Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton); YJ-91 ELECTRONIC WARFARE
BOMBS 4 regt with Y-8CB/DZ/G/XZ; Y-9G/XZ
Laser-guided: LS-500J ISR
TV-guided: KAB-500KR; KAB-1500KR 1 regt with JZ-8F Finback*
1 bde with JZ-8F Finback*
Marines ε35,000 AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
FORCES BY ROLE 1 regt with KJ-500
SPECIAL FORCES 1 regt with KJ-200 Moth; KJ-2000; Y-8T
1 spec ops bde SEARCH & RESCUE
MANOEUVRE 4 bde with Y-5; Mi-171E; Z-8
Mechanised 1 regt with Y-5; Mi-171E; Z-8
3 mne bde TANKER
Amphibious 1 bde with H-6U
3 mne bde TRANSPORT
HELICOPTER 1 (VIP) regt with A319; B-737; CRJ-200/700
1 bde (forming) with Z-8C 1 (VIP) regt with Tu-154M; Tu-154M/D
1 regt with Il-76MD/TD Candid
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 regt with Il-76MD Candid; Il-78 Midas
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 1 regt with Y-7
LT TK 80+: ε80 ZTD-05; some ZTQ-15 2 regt with Y-9
ASLT ε50 ZTL-11 2 regt with Y-20/YY-20A
IFV ε150 ZBL-08 TRAINING
AAV ε240 ZBD-05 5 bde with CJ-6/6A/6B; Y-5
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE 3 bde with J-7; JJ-7A
MSL • MANPATS HJ-73; HJ-8 14 bde with JJ-7A; JL-8; JL-9; JL-10; J-10A/S
RCL 120mm Type-98 1 trg bde with Y-7; Y-8C
ARTILLERY 40+ TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
SP 122mm 40+: 20+ PLZ-07; 20+ PLZ-89 1 (VIP) regt with AS332 Super Puma; H225
MRL 107mm PH-63 ISR UAV
MOR 82mmε 2 bde with GJ-1; GJ-2
HELICOPTERS 1 regt with WZ-7
TPT • Heavy 5 Z-8C AIR DEFENCE
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence HN-5 (CH-SA-3); 1 SAM div (3 SAM regt)
FN-6 (CH-SA-10); QW-2 (CH-SA-8) 24 SAM bde
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Air Force 395,000 AIRCRAFT 2,566 combat capable
BBR 176: ε12 H-6A (trg role); ε60 H-6H/M; ε100 H-6K; 4+ H-6N
FORCES BY ROLE
FTR 446: 50 J-7 Fishcan; 119 J-7E Fishcan; 120 J-7G Fishcan;
BOMBER
30 J-8F/H Finback; 95 J-11; 32 Su-27UBK Flanker
1 regt with H-6M FGA 1,182+: 220 J-10A Firebird; 55 J-10B Firebird; 220
2 regt with H-6H J-10C Firebird; 70 J-10S Firebird; 130 J-11B/BS Flanker L;
4 regt with H-6K 250 J-16 Flanker; 140+ J-20A; 73 Su-30MKK Flanker G; 24
1 bde with H-6N (forming) Su-35 Flanker M
FIGHTER ATK 120 JH-7A Flounder
1 bde with J-7 Fishcan EW 31: ε12 J-16D Flanker*; 4 Y-8CB High New 1; 2 Y-8DZ;
5 bde with J-7E Fishcan 6 Y-8G High New 3; 2 Y-8XZ High New 7; 3 Y-9G; 2 Y-9XZ
5 bde with J-7G Fishcan ELINT 4 Tu-154M/D Careless
1 bde with J-8F/H Finback ISR 48: 24 JZ-8 Finback*; 24 JZ-8F Finback*
Asia 243

AEW&C 28: 4 KJ-200 Moth; 20 KJ-500; 4 KJ-2000 HELICOPTER


C2 5: 2 B-737; 3 Y-8T High New 4 1 regt with WZ-10K; Z-8KA; Z-9WZ
TKR 13: 10 H-6U; 3 Il-78 Midas EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
TKR/TPT 8 YY-20A ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
TPT 271: Heavy 70: 20 Il-76MD/TD Candid; 50 Y-20; ABCV 180 ZBD-03
Medium 60: 30 Y-8C; 30 Y-9; Light 111: 70 Y-5; 41 Y-7/Y- APC • APC (T) 4 ZZZ-03 (CP)
7H; PAX 30: 3 A319; 9 B-737 (VIP); 5 CRJ-200; 5 CRJ-700; AUV CS/VN3 mod
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
8 Tu-154M Careless
SP some HJ-9
TRG 1,012+: 400 CJ-6/-6A/-6B; 12+ HY-7; 50 JJ-7*; 150 JJ-
ARTILLERY 162+
7A*; 350 JL-8*; 30 JL-9*; 50+ JL-10* TOWED 122mm ε54 PL-96 (D-30)
HELICOPTERS MRL 107mm ε54 PH-63
MRH 22: 20 Z-9; 2 Mi-17V-5 Hip H MOR 54+: 82mm some; 100mm 54
TPT 31+: Heavy 18+ Z-8; Medium 13+: 6+ AS332 Super AIRCRAFT • TPT 40: Medium 6 Y-8; Light 34: 20 Y-5;
Puma (VIP); 3 H225 (VIP); 4+ Mi-171 2 Y-7; 12 Y-12D
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES HELICOPTERS
CISR • Heavy 12+ GJ-1; some GJ-2; GJ-11 (in test) ATK 8 WZ-10K
ISR • Heavy 14+: 12+ WZ-7; 2+ WZ-8; some WZ-10 (EW/ISR) CSAR 8 Z-8KA
AIR DEFENCE MRH 12 Z-9WZ
TPT • Medium Z-20K
SAM 862+
AIR DEFENCE
Long-range 638+: 180 HQ-9 (CH-SA-9); 80 HQ-9B
SAM • Point-defence QW-1 (CH-SA-7)
(CH-SA-21); 130+ HQ-22; 32 S-300PMU (RS-SA-10 GUNS • TOWED 25mm 54 PG-87
Grumble); 64 S-300PMU1 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle); 120

Asia
S-300PMU2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle); 32 S-400 (RS-SA- Strategic Support Force ε175,000
21B Growler) The Strategic Support Force reports to the Central Military
Medium-range 150 HQ-12 (CH-SA-12) Commission and is responsible for the PLA’s space and
Short-range 74+: 50+ HQ-6A (CH-SA-6); 24 HQ-6D cyber capabilities
(CH-SA-6) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
GUNS • TOWED • 57mm PG-59 (S-60) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AGM 4 Type-718 (Yuan
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES Wang) (space and missile tracking)
AAM • IR PL-5B/C; PL-8; R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); IIR
PL-10 (CH-AA-9); IR/SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo); Theatre Commands
SARH PL-11; ARH PL-12 (CH-AA-7A Adze); PL-12A
(CH-AA-7B Adze); PL-15 (CH-AA-10); R-77 (RS-AA-12A
Eastern Theatre Command
Adder); R-77-1 (RVV-SD) (RS-AA-12B Adder) Eastern Theatre Ground Forces
ASM AKD-9; AKD-10; KD-88; Kh-29 (RS-AS-14 Kedge); 71st Group Army
Kh-31A (RS-AS-17B Krypton); Kh-59M (RS-AS-18 Kazoo) (1 spec ops bde, 4 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde, 1 inf bde,
AShM YJ-12 1 arty bde, 1 engr/NBC bde bde, 1 spt bde, 1 hel bde,
ARM Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton); YJ-91 (Domestically 1 AD bde)
produced Kh-31P variant) 72nd Group Army
ALCM • Conventional CJ-20; YJ(KD)-63 (1 spec ops bde, 1 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde, 2 inf bde,
2 amph bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr bde, 1 NBC bde, 1 spt
BOMBS
bde, 1 hel bde, 1 AD bde)
Laser-guided: LS-500J; LT-2
73rd Group Army
TV-guided: KAB-500KR; KAB-1500KR (1 spec ops bde, 1 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde, 2 inf bde,
2 amph bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr/NBC bde, 1 spt bde,
Airborne Corps 1 hel bde, 1 AD bde)
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES Eastern Theatre Navy
1 spec ops bde Coastal defence from south of Lianyungang to
MANOEUVRE Dongshan (approx. 35°10´N to 23°30´N), and to
Air Manoeuvre seaward; HQ at Ningbo; support bases at Fujian,
5 AB bde Zhoushan, Ningbo
16 SSK; 16 DDGHM; 18 FFGHM; 19 FSGM; ε30
1 air aslt bde
PCFG/PCG; ε22 MCMV; 3 LPD; ε22 LST/M
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 spt bde Eastern Theatre Navy Aviation
TRANSPORT 1st Naval Aviation Division
1 bde with Y-5; Y-7; Y-8; Y-12 (1 AEW&C regt with KJ-500: 1 ASW regt with KQ-200)
244 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Other Forces (2 bbr regt with H-6K)


(1 bbr regt with H-6DU/G/J; 1 FGA bde with JH-7; 20th Special Mission Division
1 FGA bde with Su-30MK2; J-10A; 1 hel regt with Ka- (3 EW regt with Y-8CB/DZ/G/XZ; Y-9G/XZ)
27PS; Ka-28; Ka-31) Kunming Base
(1 FGA bde with J-10A; 1 FGA bde with J-10C; 1 trg
Eastern Theatre Air Force bde with JJ-7A; 1 SAM bde)
10th Bomber Division Nanning Base
(1 bbr regt with H-6H; 1 bbr regt with H-6K; 1 bbr (1 ftr bde with J-11A; 1 FGA bde with J-10A; 1 FGA
regt with H-6M) bde with J-16; 1 FGA bde with J-20A; 1 FGA bde with
26th Special Mission Division Su-35; 1 FGA bde with Su-30MKK; 1 atk bde with JH-
(1 AEW&C regt with KJ-500; 1 AEW&C regt with KJ- 7A; 3 SAM bde)
200/KJ-2000/Y-8T) Other Forces
Fuzhou Base (1 tkr bde with H-6U; 1 SAR bde; 1 UAV bde)
(1 ftr bde with J-7E; 1 FGA bde with J-10C; 1 ftr bde
with J-11A/B; 1 FGA bde with J-16; 1 FGA bde with Other Forces
Su-30MKK; 2 SAM bde) Marines
Shanghai Base (1 spec ops bde; 2 mne bde)
(1 ftr bde with J-11B; 1 FGA bde with J-10A; 2 FGA
bde with J-16; 1 FGA bde with J-20A; 1 atk bde with Western Theatre Command
JH-7A; 1 trg bde with J-10/JL-10; 2 SAM bde)
Other Forces Western Theatre Ground Forces
(1 ISR bde with JZ-8F; 1 SAR bde; 1 Flight Instructor 76th Group Army
Training Base with CJ-6; JL-8; JL-9; JL-10) (1 spec ops bde, 4 armd bde, 2 inf bde, 1 arty bde,
1 engr/NBC bde, 1 spt bde, 1 hel bde, 1 AD bde)
Other Forces 77th Group Army
Marines (1 spec ops bde, 2 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde; 3 inf bde,
(2 mne bde) 1 arty bde, 1 engr bde, 1 NBC bde, 1 spt bde, 1 hel
bde, 1 AD bde)
Southern Theatre Command Xinjiang Military District
(1 spec ops bde, 3 (high alt) mech div, 1 (high alt) inf
Southern Theatre Ground Forces div, 2 mech inf regt, 1 arty bde, 1 AD bde, 1 engr regt,
74th Group Army 1 hel bde)
(1 spec ops bde, 1 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde, 2 inf bde, Xizang Military District
2 amph bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr bde, 1 NBC bde, 1 spt (1 spec ops bde; 1 mech inf bde; 2 inf bde; 1 arty bde,
bde, 1 hel bde, 1 AD bde) 1 AD bde, 1 engr/NBC bde, 1 hel bde)
75th Group Army
(1 spec ops bde, 2 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde, 3 inf bde, Western Theatre Air Force
1 air aslt bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr/NBC bde, 1 spt bde, 4th Transport Division
1 AD bde) (2 tpt regt with Y-9; 1 tpt regt with Y-20A)
Other Forces Lanzhou Base
(1 (composite) inf bde (Hong Kong); 1 hel sqn (Hong (1 ftr bde with J-11A/B; 1 ftr bde with J-7E; 1 FGA bde
Kong), 1 AD bn (Hong Kong)) with J-10C; 1 FGA bde with J-16; 1 SAM bde)
Urumqi Base
Southern Theatre Navy (1 ftr bde with J-8F/H; 1 FGA bde with J-20A; 1 atk
Coastal defence from Dongshan (approx. 23°30´N) to bde with JH-7A; 2 SAM bde)
VNM border, and to seaward (including Paracel and Lhasa Base
Spratly islands); HQ at Zhanjiang; support bases at (1 SAM bde)
Yulin, Guangzhou Xi’an Flying Academy
6 SSBN; 2 SSN; 15 SSK; 1 CV; 3 CGHM; 14 (1 trg bde with JJ-7A; 1 trg bde with JL-9A; 2 trg bde
DDGHM; 12 FFGHM; 21 FSGM; ε30 PCFG/PCG; with JL-8; 1 trg bde with Y-7; Y-8)
ε16 MCMV; 2 LHD; 5 LPD; ε21 LST/M Other Forces
(1 SAR regt)
Southern Theatre Navy Aviation
3rd Naval Aviation Division Northern Theatre Command
(1 ASW regt with KQ-200; 1 AEW&C regt with KJ-500)
Other Forces Northern Theatre Ground Forces
(1 bbr regt with H-6DU/G/J; 1 FGA regt with J-15; 1 FGA 78th Group Army
bde with J-11B; 1 FGA bde with J-11B; JH-7A; 1 tpt/hel (1 spec ops bde, 4 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde, 1 inf
regt with Y-7G; Z-8; Z-8J; Z-8S; Z-9C/D; 1 SAM bde) bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr/NBC bde, 1 spt bde, 1 hel bde,
1 AD bde)
Southern Theatre Air Force 79th Group Army
8th Bomber Division (1 spec ops bde, 4 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde, 1 inf bde,
Asia 245

1 arty bde, 1 engr bde, 1 NBC bde, 1 spt bde, 1 hel Central Theatre Air Force
bde, 1 AD bde) 13th Transport Division
80th Group Army (1 tpt regt with Y-20A; 1 tpt regt with Il-76MD/TD;
(1 spec ops bde, 1 armd bde; 2 mech inf bde, 3 inf bde, 1 tpt regt with Il-76MD; Il-78)
1 arty bde, 1 engr/NBC bde, 1 spt bde, 1 hel bde, 1 AD bde) 34th VIP Transport Division
(1 tpt regt with A319; B-737; CRJ200/700; 1 tpt regt
Northern Theatre Navy with Tu-154M; Tu-154M/D; 1 tpt regt with Y-7; 1 hel
Coastal defence from the DPRK border (Yalu River) to regt with AS332; H225)
south of Lianyungang (approx 35°10´N), and to seaward; 36th Bomber Division
HQ at Qingdao; support bases at Lushun, Qingdao. (1 bbr regt with H-6K; 1 bbr regt with H-6H)
4 SSN; 15 SSK; 1 CV; 4 CGHM; 10 DDGHM; Datong Base
2 DDGM; 11 FFGHM; 10 FSGM; ε18 PCFG/PCG; ε18 (3 ftr bde with J-7E/G; 1 ftr bde with J-11A/B; 2 FGA
MCMV; ε7 LST/M bde with J-10A; 1 FGA bde with J-10C; 1 SAM div;
4 SAM bde)
Northern Theatre Navy Aviation Wuhan Base
2nd Naval Air Division (2 ftr bde with J-7E/G; 1 ftr bde with J-11A; 1 FGA bde
(1 EW/ISR/ASW regt with KQ-200; Y-8JB/X; Y-9JZ; with J-20A; 1 trg bde with J-7/JJ-7A; 3 SAM bde)
1 AEW&C regt with Y-8J; KJ-200; KJ-500) Shijiazhuang Flying Academy
Other Forces (3 trg bde with JL-8; 1 trg bde with JL-8; JL-10)
(1 FGA regt with J-15; 1 FGA bde with JH-7A; J-8F; Airborne Corps
1 hel regt with AS365N; Z-8J/JH; Z-9C/D1 tpt regt with (5 AB bde; 1 air aslt bde; 1 tpt bde; 1 hel regt)
Y-7H/Y-8C/CRJ-200/CRJ-700; 1 trg regt with CJ-6A; Other Forces
2 trg regt with JL-8; 1 trg regt with HY-7; 1 trg regt with (1 bbr bde with H-6N; 1 SAR bde)
JL-9G; 1 trg regt with JL-9; 1 trg regt with JL-10)

Asia
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 500,000+ active
Northern Theatre Air Force
16th Special Mission Division People’s Armed Police ε500,000
(1 EW regt with Y-8CB/G; 1 ISR regt with JZ-8F; 1 UAV In 2018 the People’s Armed Police (PAP) divested its
regt with WZ-7) border-defence, firefighting, gold, forest, hydropower
Dalian Base and security-guard units. In addition to the forces listed
(1 ftr bde with J-7; 2 ftr bde with J-7E; 1 ftr bde with below, PAP also has 32 regional commands, each with
J-11B; 1 FGA bde with J-10C; 1 FGA bde with J-10B; one or more mobile units
1 FGA bde with J-16; 1 FGA bde with J-20A; 1 atk bde FORCES BY ROLE
with JH-7A; 3 SAM bde) MANOEUVRE
Jinan Base Other
(1 ftr bde with J-7G; 1 FGA bde with J-10C; 1 atk bde
1 (1st Mobile) paramilitary corps (3 SF regt; 9 (mobile)
with JH-7A; 2 SAM bde)
paramilitary units; 1 engr/CBRN unit; 1 hel unit)
Harbin Flying Academy
1 (2nd Mobile) paramilitary corps (2 SF unit; 9 (mobile)
(1 trg bde with CJ-6; Y-5; 1 trg bde with H-6; HY-7; 2 trg
paramilitary units; 1 engr/CBRN unit; 1 hel unit)
bde with JL-8; 1 trg bde with JL-9)
Other Forces China Coast Guard (CCG)
(1 SAR bde)
In 2018 the CCG was moved from the authority of the
Other Forces State Oceanic Administration to that of the People’s
Marines Armed Police. The CCG is currently reorganising
(2 mne bde; 1 hel bde) its pennant-number system, making it problematic
to assess the number of vessels that entered service
Central Theatre Command since 2019.
Central Theatre Ground Forces EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
81st Group Army PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 546
(1 spec ops bde, 2 armd bde, 1 (OPFOR) armd bde, PSOH 42:
2 mech inf bde, 1 inf bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr/NBC bde, 2 Zhaotou with 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 med hel)
1 spt bde, 1 avn bde, 1 AD bde) 3 Type-053H2G (Jiangwei I) (capacity 1 med hel)
82nd Group Army (ex-PLAN)
(1 spec ops bde, 4 armd bde, 1 mech bde, 2 inf bde, 7 Type-054 mod (Zhaoduan) with 1 76mm gun
1 arty bde, 1 engr bde, 1 NBC bde, 1 spt bde, 1 hel (capacity 1 med hel)
bde, 1 AD bde) 4 Shuoshi II (capacity 1 med hel)
83rd Group Army 2 Shucha I (capacity 1 med hel)
(1 spec ops bde, 2 armd bde, 4 mech inf bde, 1 air aslt 10 Shucha II (capacity 1 med hel)
bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr/NBC bde, 1 spt bde, 1 AD bde) 12 Zhaoyu (capacity 1 med hel)
Other Forces 1 Zhaochang (capacity 1 med hel)
(2 (Beijing) gd div) 1 Zhongyang (capacity 1 med hel)
246 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

PSO 49: SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1,054; 1 inf bn; 1 engr coy;
9 Type-718B (Zhaojun) with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel 1 fd hospital
landing platform
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 87; 1 hel flt with 2 Mi-171
1 Type-922 (Dalang I) (ex-PLAN)
1 Type-625C (Hai Yang) (ex-PLAN) TAJIKISTAN: ε300 (trg)
1 Type-053H (Jianghu I) (ex-PLAN) WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 11
1 Type-636A (Kanjie) with 1 hel landing platform
(ex-PLAN)
6 Shusheng with 1 hel landing platform Fiji FJI
3 Shuwu
3 Tuzhong (ex-PLAN) Fijian Dollar FJD 2021 2022 2023
4 Type-056 mod (Zhaogao) with 1 hel landing GDP FJD 8.90bn 10.5bn
platform USD 4.30bn 4.86bn
1 Type-918 (Wolei) (ex-PLAN) per capita USD 4,749 5,341
1 Xiang Yang Hong 9 (ex-PLAN)
Growth % -5.1 12.5
4 Zhaolai with 1 hel landing platform
14 Zhaotim Inflation % 0.2 4.7
PCOH 22 Type-056 (Jiangdao) (ex-PLAN) with 1 Def bdgt FJD 95m 94m 109m
76mm gun USD 45.8m 43.6m
PCO 29: 1 Shuke I; 4 Shuke II; 14 Shuke III; 3 Shuyou; USD1=FJD 2.07 2.16
4 Zhaodai; 3 Zhaoming Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
PCC 104: 25+ Type-618B-II; 45 Hailin I/II; 1 Shuzao 74
II; 14 Shuzao III; 10 Zhongeng; 2 Zhongmel; 7 Zhongsui
PB/PBF 300+ 42
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING SHIPS 2 2008 2015 2022
LST 2 Type-072-II (Yuting I) (ex-PLAN; used as
hospital vessels and island supply) Population 943,737
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 27
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
AG 6: 5+ Kaobo; 1 Shutu
AGB 1 Type-210 (Yanbing) (ex-PLAN) Male 13.1% 4.1% 3.7% 3.9% 22.1% 3.8%
AGOR 9: 4 Haijian; 3 Shuguang 04 (ex-PLAN); Female 12.6% 4.0% 3.5% 3.8% 21.0% 4.4%
w2 Xiang Yang Hong 9
ATF 11 Capabilities
AIRCRAFT
The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) are an infantry-
MP 1+ MA60H
dominated defence force with a small naval element. The RFMF
TPT • Light Y-12 (MP role)
has intervened heavily in Fiji’s domestic politics and after a third
HELICOPTERS
coup in 2006, democracy was effectively suspended until 2014.
TPT • Light Z-9
Guidelines issued in 2018 emphasised the need to confront
Maritime Militia non-traditional threats such as climate change, terrorism and
Composed of full- and part-time personnel. Reports to transnational crime. The RFMF is developing a deployable-force
PLA command and trains to assist PLAN and CCG in a headquarters, funded by Australia, which will also administer and
variety of military roles. These include ISR, maritime law train personnel for peacekeeping and HA/DR roles. Engagement in
enforcement, island supply, troop transport and sup- international peacekeeping operations is an important source of
porting sovereignty claims. The Maritime Militia oper- revenue for the government. Fiji’s principal defence relationships
ates a variety of civilian vessels including fishing boats are with Australia and New Zealand, with which the RFMF
and oil tankers. regularly conducts training and maritime patrols. A status of forces
agreement was signed with Australia in October 2022. Defence
relations with China, South Korea and the US are growing, with
DEPLOYMENT all three countries providing training or donating equipment. The
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • RFMF is attempting to improve the quality of senior NCOs and to
MONUSCO 233; 1 engr coy; 1 fd hospital raise standards across the rest of the force. Fiji has no significant
defence industry and is only able to carry out basic equipment
DJIBOUTI: 240; 1 mne coy(-); 1 med unit; 2 ZTL-11; 8 ZBL-
maintenance domestically. Significant upgrade and maintenance
08; 1 LPD; 1 ESD
work is usually conducted in Australia.
GULF OF ADEN: 1 DDGHM; 1 FFGHM; 1 AORH
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 419; 2 engr coy; 1 med coy ACTIVE 4,040 (Army 3,700 Navy 340)
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 430; 1 engr coy; 1 fd hospital RESERVE ε6,000
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 5 (to age 45)
Asia 247

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE India IND


Army 3,700 (incl 300 recalled reserves) Indian Rupee INR 2021 2022 2023
FORCES BY ROLE GDP INR 237tr 273tr
SPECIAL FORCES USD 3.18tr 3.47tr
1 spec ops coy
per capita USD 2,280 2,466
MANOEUVRE
Growth % 8.7 6.8
Light
3 inf bn Inflation % 5.5 6.9
COMBAT SUPPORT Def bdgt [a] INR 5.03tr 5.25tr
1 arty bty USD 67.5bn 66.6bn
1 engr bn
USD1=INR 74.50 78.80
COMBAT SUPPORT
[a] Includes defence civil estimates, which include military
1 log bn
pensions
Reserves 6,000 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
61.4
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
27.8
Light
2008 2015 2022
5 inf bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Population 1,389,637,446
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AUV 10 Bushmaster IMV Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus

Asia
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 12 Male 13.2% 4.6% 4.7% 4.6% 21.3% 3.2%
Female 11.9% 4.2% 4.2% 4.1% 20.5% 3.7%
Navy 340
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Capabilities
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4:
India continues to modernise its armed forces, though progress in
PCO 1 Guardian (AUS Bay mod)
some areas remains slow. The armed forces are orientated against
PB 3: 1 Kula (AUS Pacific); 2 Levuka
both Pakistan and China. India is looking to improve military infra-
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 2 structure on its northern border. Mutual reaffirmation of the 2003
AGHS 2: 1 Kacau; 1 Volasiga ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan reduced conflict
across the Line of Control in the disputed region of Kashmir. There
DEPLOYMENT is growing focus on Indian Ocean security. Indian forces participate
in numerous bilateral and multilateral exercises, and the country
EGYPT: MFO 170; elm 1 inf bn is one of the main troop contributors to UN peacekeeping opera-
IRAQ: UN • UNAMI 174; 2 sy unit tions. In April 2022, it was announced after the annual US-India
2+2 talks that India would join the Combined Maritime Forces
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1
multinational maritime partnership as an associate member. Large
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 2 numbers of paramilitary forces remain employed in the internal-
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 3 security role. A Joint Armed Forces Doctrine was issued in 2017.
It set out doctrine for Indian nuclear command and control, and
SYRIA/ISRAEL: UN • UNDOF 150; 1 inf coy envisaged an ‘emerging triad’ of space, cyber and special-opera-
tions capabilities complementing conventional land, sea and air
capabilities. India continues to develop its nuclear capabilities.
Army doctrine issued in late 2018 identified requirements includ-
ing for ‘integrated battle groups’ and improved cyber, information-
warfare and electronic-warfare capabilities. In 2020 the first Chief
of Defence Staff was appointed. India operates significant quanti-
ties of equipment of Soviet as well as Russian origin and there is
cooperation with Russia on missile developments. In 2022 con-
cerns were raised over dependence on Russia for some weapons
and spare parts, after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Recent
imports of foreign equipment have primarily been from the US
and France. However, the overall capability of India’s large conven-
tional forces is limited by inadequate logistics, maintenance and
shortages of ammunition, spare parts and maintenance personnel.
Though modernisation continues, many equipment projects have
seen delays and cost overruns, particularly indigenous systems.
The government’s ‘Make in India’ policy aims to strengthen the
defence-industrial base.
248 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ACTIVE 1,463,700 (Army 1,237,000 Navy 73,850 Mechanised


Air 139,850 Coast Guard 13,000) Gendarmerie & 6 (RAPID) mech inf div (1 armd bde, 2 mech inf bde,
1 arty bde)
Paramilitary 1,608,150
2 indep mech bde
RESERVE 1,155,000 (Army 960,000 Navy 55,000 Air Light
140,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 941,000 15 inf div (2–5 inf bde, 1 arty bde)
Army first-line reserves (300,000) within 5 years of full-time service, 1 inf div (forming)
further 500,000 have commitment to age 50 7 indep inf bde
12 mtn div (3-4 mtn inf bde, 1 arty bde)
2 indep mtn bde
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Air Manoeuvre
1 para bde
Strategic Forces Command SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
Strategic Forces Command (SFC) is a tri-service command 1 IRBM bde with Agni II/III
established in 2003. The commander-in-chief of SFC, a 1 SRBM bde with Agni I
senior three-star military officer, manages and adminis- 2 SRBM bde with SS-250 Prithvi II
ters all strategic forces through army, navy and air-force 3 GLCM regt with PJ-10 Brahmos
chains of command COMBAT SUPPORT
FORCES BY ROLE 3 arty div (2 arty bde, 1 MRL bde)
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE 2 indep arty bde
1 SRBM bde with Agni I 4 engr bde
1 IRBM bde with Agni II/III ATTACK HELICOPTER
2 SRBM bde with SS-250 Prithvi II 1 atk hel sqn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE HELICOPTER
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 54 25 hel sqn
ICBM • Nuclear Agni V (in test) AIR DEFENCE
8 AD bde
IRBM • Nuclear ε4 Agni III; Agni IV (entering service)
MRBM • Nuclear ε8 Agni II Reserve Organisations
SRBM • Nuclear 54: ε12 Agni I; ε42 SS-250 Prithvi II;
some SS-350 Dhanush (naval testbed) Reserves 300,000 reservists (first-line reserve
SUBMARINES • STRATEGIC • SSBN 1 Arihant with 4 within 5 years full-time service); 500,000 reservists
1-cell VLS with K-15 Sagarika SLBM, 6 533mm TT (commitment until age 50) (total 800,000)
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ALCM • Nuclear Nirbhay
(likely nuclear capable; in development) Territorial Army 160,000 reservists (only 40,000
Some Indian Air Force assets (such as Mirage 2000H or Su- regular establishment)
30MKI) may be tasked with a strategic role FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Space Light
42 inf bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
COMBAT SUPPORT
SATELLITES 25
6 (Railway) engr regt
NAVIGATION, POSITIONING, TIMING: 7 IRNSS
2 engr regt
COMMUNICATIONS: 2 GSAT-7/-7A
1 sigs regt
ISR 15: 9 Cartosat; 6 RISAT
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
ELINT/SIGINT 1 EMISAT
6 ecological bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Army 1,237,000
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
6 Regional Comd HQ (Northern, Western, Central, South-
MBT 3,740: 122 Arjun; 2,418 T-72M1; ε1,200 T-90S (ε1,100
ern, Eastern, Southwestern), 1 Training Comd (ARTRAC)
various models in store)
FORCES BY ROLE RECCE Ferret (used for internal-security duties along
COMMAND with some indigenously built armd cars)
4 (strike) corps HQ IFV 3,100: 700 BMP-1; 2,400 BMP-2 Sarath (incl some
10 (holding) corps HQ BMP-2K CP)
SPECIAL FORCES APC 369+
8 SF bn APC (W) 163: 157+ OT-64; 6 TASL IPMV
MANOEUVRE PPV 206+: 165 Casspir; 27 Kalyani M4; some TASL
Armoured QRFV; 14+ Yukthirath MPV
2 armd div (3 armd bde, 1 arty bde (2 arty regt)) ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
1 armd div (3 armd bde, 1 SP arty bde (2 SP arty regt)) AEV BMP-2; FV180
8 indep armd bde ARV 730+: T-54/T-55; 156 VT-72B; 222 WZT-2; 352 WZT-3
Asia 249

VLB AM-50; BLG-60; BLG T-72; Kartik; MTU-20; AShM variant unclear) AShM/53-65KE HWT/
MT-55; Sarvatra TEST-71ME HWT/SET-65E HWT
MW 24 910 MCV-2 4 Kalvari (FRA Scorpène) with 6 533mm TT with
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE SM39 Exocet Block 2 AShM
MSL PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 28
SP 110 9P148 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel) AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • CV 2
MANPATS 9K113 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); Milan 2 1 Vikramaditya (ex-FSU Kiev mod) with 3 8-cell VLS
RCL 3,000+: 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm 3,000+ M40A1 (10 with Barak-1 SAM, 4 AK630M CIWS (capacity 12
per inf bn) MiG-29K/KUB Fulcrum FGA ac; 6 Ka-28 Helix A
ARTILLERY 9,743+ ASW hel/Ka-31 Helix B AEW hel)
SP 155mm 100 K9 Vajra-T 1 Vikrant with 3 AK630M CIWS (to be fitted with Barak
TOWED 3,095+: 105mm 1,350+: 600+ IFG Mk1/Mk2/ 8 SAM) (capacity 30 aircraft including MiG-29K/KUB
Mk3; up to 700 LFG; 50 M-56; 122mm 520 D-30; 130mm Fulcrum, Ka-31 Helix B, MH-60R Seahawk, Dhruv)
ε600 M-46 (500 in store) 155mm 625: ε300 FH-77B; ε200 DESTROYERS 10
M-46 (mod); 125 M777A2 DDGHM 7:
MRL 228: 122mm ε150 BM-21/LRAR 214mm 36 Pinaka; 2 Delhi (Project 15) with 4 quad lnchr with 3M24E
300mm 42 9A52 Smerch Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 2 single
MOR 6,320+: 81mm 5,000+ E1; 120mm ε1,500 AM-50/E1; 3S90E lnchr with 9M38E M-22E Shtil (RS-SA-N-7
SP 120mm E1 Gadfly) SAM, 4 8-cell VLS with Barak-1 SAM,
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 5 single 533mm ASTT with SET-65E HWT/
IRBM • Nuclear some Agni-III (entering service) Varunastra HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor;
MRBM • Nuclear ε12 Agni-II 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 100mm gun (capacity either 2
SRBM • Nuclear 42: ε12 Agni-I; ε30 250 Prithvi II Dhruv hel/Sea King Mk42A ASW hel)
GLCM • Conventional 15 PJ-10 Brahmos 1 Delhi (Project 15) with 4 quad lnchr with 3M24E

Asia
HELICOPTERS Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 2 single
ATK 5 LCH Prachand 3S90E lnchr with 9M38E M-22E Shtil (RS-SA-N-7
MRH 342: 79 Dhruv; 12 Lancer; 74 Rudra; 117 SA315B Gadfly) SAM, 5 single 533mm ASTT with SET-65E
Lama (Cheetah); 60 SA316B Alouette III (Chetak) HWT/Varunastra HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES mor; 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 100mm gun (capacity either
ISR • Medium 25: 13 Nishant; 12 Searcher Mk I/II 2 Dhruv hel/Sea King Mk42A ASW hel)
AIR DEFENCE 3 Kolkata (Project 15A) with 2 8-cell UVLM VLS with
SAM 748+ Brahmos AShM, 4 8-cell VLS with Barak-8 SAM;
Medium-range ε48 Akash 2 twin 533mm TT with SET-65E HWT/Varunastra
Short-range 180 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful) HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 4 AK630M
Point-defence 500+: 50+ 9K33AKM Osa-AKM CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 Dhruv/Sea King
(RS-SA-8 Gecko); 200 9K31 Strela-1 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin); Mk42B hel)
250 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K310 Igla-1 1 Visakhapatnam (Project 15B) with 2 8-cell UVLM
(RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse) VLS with Brahmos AShM, 4 8-cell VLS with Barak-8
SPAAGM 30mm up to 80 2K22 Tunguska (RS-SA-19 Grison) SAM; 2 twin 533mm TT with Varunastra HWT,
2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 4 AK630M CIWS,
GUNS 2,315+
1 76mm gun (capacity 2 Dhruv/Sea King Mk42B hel)
SP 23mm 75 ZSU-23-4; ZU-23-2 (truck-mounted);
DDGM 3:
TOWED 2,240+: 20mm Oerlikon (reported); 23mm 320
1 Rajput (FSU Kashin) with 2 twin lnchr with P-27
ZU-23-2; 40mm 1,920 L40/70
Termit-R (RS-SS-N-2D Styx) AShM, 2 twin ZIF-101
lnchr with 4K91 M-1 Volnya (RS-SA-N-1 Goa) SAM,
Navy 73,850 (incl 7,000 Naval Avn and 1,200 5 single 533mm PTA-51-61ME ASTT with SET-65E
Marines) HWT/Varunastra HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S
Fleet HQ New Delhi. Commands located at Mumbai, mor, 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity Ka-
Vishakhapatnam, Kochi and Port Blair 28 Helix A hel)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 2 Rajput (FSU Kashin) with 1 8-cell UVLM VLS with
SUBMARINES 16 Brahmos AShM, 2 twin lnchr with P-27 Termit-R
STRATEGIC • SSBN 1 Arihant with 4 1-cell VLS with (RS-SS-N-2D Styx) AShM, 2 8-cell VLS with
K-15 Sagarika SLBM, 6 533mm TT Barak-1 SAM, 1 twin ZIF-101 lnchr with 4K91 M-1
TACTICAL 15 Volnya (RS-SA-N-1 Goa) SAM, 5 single 533mm
SSK 15: ASTT with SET-65E HWT/Varunastra HWT, 2 RBU
3 Shishumar (GER T-209/1500) with 8 single 533mm 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 4 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm
TT with SUT mod 1 HWT gun (capacity 1 Ka-28 Helix A hel)
1 Shishumar (GER T-209/1500) with 8 single 533mm TT FRIGATES 16
with UGM-84L Harpoon II AShM/SUT mod 1 HWT FFGHM 12:
7 Sindhughosh (FSU Kilo) with 6 single 533mm TT 3 Brahmaputra (Project 16A) with 4 quad lnchr with
with 3M54E1/E Klub-S (RS-SS-N-27A/B) (Klub-S 3M24E Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM,
250 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

3 8-cell VLS with Barak-1 SAM, 2 triple ILAS-3 14 Immediate Support Vessel (Craftway); 15 Plascoa 1300
(B-515) 324mm ASTT with A244 LWT, 4 AK630M (SPB); 5 Super Dvora; 77 Solas Marine Interceptor
CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 SA316B Alouette III AMPHIBIOUS
(Chetak)/Sea King Mk42 ASW hel) PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS • LPD 1 Jalashwa
3 Shivalik (Project 17) with 1 8-cell 3S14E VLS with (ex-US Austin) with 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS (capacity up
3M54TE Klub-N (RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler) AShM/ to 6 med spt hel; either 9 LCM or 4 LCM and 2 LCAC;
Brahmos AShM, 4 8-cell VLS with Barak-1 SAM, 4 LCVP; 930 troops)
1 single 3S90E lnchr with 9M317E Shtil-1 (RS-SA- LANDING SHIPS 8
N-7B) SAM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT, LSM 3 Kumbhir (FSU Polnochny C) (capacity 5 MBT or
2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 AK630M CIWS, 5 APC; 160 troops)
1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Sea King Mk42B ASW hel) LST 5: 2 Magar (capacity 15 MBT or 8 APC or 10
3 Talwar I with 1 8-cell 3S14E VLS with 3M54TE trucks; 500 troops); 3 Magar mod (capacity 11 MBT or
Klub-N (RS-SS-N-27B Sizzler) AShM, 1 single 3S90E 8 APC or 10 trucks; 500 troops)
lnchr with 9M317E Shtil-1 (RS-SA-N-7B) SAM, LANDING CRAFT 12
2 twin 533mm DTA-53-11356 ASTT with SET-65E LCT 8 LCU Mk-IV (capacity 1 Arjun MBT/2 T-90
HWT/Varunastra HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S MBT/4 IFV/160 troops)
mor, 2 Kashtan (RS-CADS-N-1) CIWS, 1 100mm LCM 4 LCM 8 (for use in Jalashwa)
gun (capacity 1 Dhruv/Ka-28 Helix A ASW hel) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 41
3 Talwar II with 1 8-cell UVLM VLS with Brahmos AFD 2: 1 FDN-1; 1 FDN-2
AShM, 1 single 3S90E lnchr with 9M317E Shtil-1 AGOR 1 Sagardhwani with 1 hel landing platform
(RS-SA-N-7B) SAM, 2 twin 533mm DTA-53-11356 AGHS 7: 1 Makar; 6 Sandhayak
ASTT with SET-65E HWT/Varunastra HWT, 2 RBU AGM 1 Dhruv
6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 100mm AO 4 GSL 1,000T Fuel Barge
gun (capacity 1 Dhruv/Ka-28 Helix A ASW hel) AOL 10: 1 Ambika; 2 Poshak; 7 Purak
FFH 4 Kamorta (Project 28) with 2 twin 533mm ITTL
AOR 1 Jyoti with 1 hel landing platform
ASTT with Varunastra HWT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S
AORH 3: 1 Aditya (based on Deepak (1967) Bremer
mor, 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Dhruv/
Vulkan design); 2 Deepak with 4 AK630 CIWS
Ka-28 Helix A ASW hel)
AP 3 Nicobar with 1 hel landing platform
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 164
ASR 1
CORVETTES • FSGM 7:
ATF 1
3 Khukri (Project 25) with 2 twin lnchr with P-27
AWT 3 Ambuda
Termit-R (RS-SS-N-2D Styx) AShM, 2 twin
AX 1 Tir
lnchr (manual aiming) with 9K32M Strela-2M
AXS 4: 2 Mhadei; 2 Tarangini
(RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm
gun, 1 hel landing platform (for Dhruv/SA316 Naval Aviation 7,000
Alouette III (Chetak))
FORCES BY ROLE
4 Kora (Project 25A) with 4 quad lnchr with 3M24E
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 1 quad
lnchr (manual aiming) with 9K32M Strela-2M 2 sqn with MiG-29K/KUB Fulcrum
(RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
gun, 1 hel landing platform (for Dhruv/SA316 1 sqn with Ka-28 Helix A
Alouette III (Chetak)) 1 sqn with Sea King Mk42B
PSOH 10: 4 Saryu with 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm gun MARITIME PATROL
(capacity 1 Dhruv); 6 Sukanya with 4 RBU 2500 A/S mor 4 sqn with BN-2 Islander; Do-228-101
(capacity 1 SA316 Alouette III (Chetak)) 1 sqn with Do-228
PCFGM 7: 1 sqn with Il-38SD May
5 Veer (FSU Tarantul) with 4 single lnchr with P-27 2 sqn with P-8I Neptune
Termit-R (RS-SS-N-2D Styx) AShM, 2 quad lnchr AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
(manual aiming) with 9K32M Strela-2M (RS-SA-N-5 1 sqn with Ka-31 Helix B
Grail), 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm gun SEARCH & RESCUE
2 Prabal (mod Veer) each with 4 quad lnchr with 3M24E 1 sqn with SA316B Alouette III (Chetak); Sea King
Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 1 quad lnchr Mk42C
(manual aiming) with 9K32M Strela-2M (RS-SA-N-5 4 sqn with Dhruv MkI/MkIII
Grail) SAM, 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm gun TRANSPORT
PCMT 1 Abhay (FSU Pauk II) with 1 quad lnchr (manual 1 sqn with Do-228-101; HS-748M (HAL-748M)
aiming) with 9K32M Strela-2M (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM, TRAINING
2 twin 533mm DTA-53 ASTT with SET-65E, 2 RBU 1200 1 sqn with Do-228
Uragan A/S mor, 1 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm gun 1 sqn with HJT-16 Kiran MkI/II, Hawk Mk132*
PCC 15: 4 Bangaram; 10 Car Nicobar; 1 Trinkat (SDB Mk5) 1 hel sqn with Sea King Mk42B
PCF 4 Tarmugli (Car Nicobar mod) TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
PBF 120: 9 Immediate Support Vessel (Rodman 78); 1 sqn with UH-3H Sea King
Asia 251

ISR UAV ISR


3 sqn with Heron; Searcher MkII 1 unit with Gulfstream IV SRA-4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
AIRCRAFT 74 combat capable 1 sqn with Il-76TD Phalcon
FTR 42 MiG-29K/KUB Fulcrum TANKER
ASW 15: 3 Il-38SD May; 12 P-8I Neptune 1 sqn with Il-78 Midas
MP 12+ Do-228-101 TRANSPORT
TPT 37: 1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules
Light 27: 17 BN-2 Islander; 10 Do-228 1 sqn with C-17A Globemaster III
PAX 10 HS-748M (HAL-748M) 5 sqn with An-32/An-32RE Cline
TRG 29: 6 HJT-16 Kiran MkI; 6 HJT-16 Kiran MkII; 1 (comms) sqn with B-737; B-737BBJ; EMB-135BJ
17 Hawk Mk132* 4 sqn with Do-228; HS-748
HELICOPTERS 1 sqn with Il-76MD Candid
ASW 36: 12 Ka-28 Helix A; 6 MH-60R Seahawk; 18 Sea 1 flt with HS-748
King Mk42B TRAINING
MRH 73: 10 Dhruv MkI; 16 Dhruv MkIII; 24 SA316B 1 OCU sqn with Su-30MKI Flanker
Alouette III (Chetak); 23 SA319 Alouette III ATTACK HELICOPTER
AEW 11 Ka-31 Helix B 1 sqn with AH-64E Apache Guardian
TPT • Medium 11: 5 Sea King Mk42C; up to 6 UH-3H 1 sqn with LCH Prachand
Sea King 2 sqn with Mi-25 Hind; Mi-35 Hind
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
ISR 10: Heavy 4 Heron; Medium 6 Searcher Mk II 5 sqn with Dhruv
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES 7 sqn with Mi-17/Mi-17-1V Hip H
12 sqn with Mi-17V-5 Hip H

Asia
AAM • IR R-550 Magic/Magic 2; R-73 (RS-AA-11A
Archer); IR/SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo); ARH: R-77 2 sqn with SA316B Alouette III (Chetak)
(RS-AA-12A Adder) 1 flt with Mi-26 Halo
AShM AGM-84 Harpoon (on P-8I ac); Kh-35 (RS-AS-20 2 flt with SA315B Lama (Cheetah)
Kayak) 2 flt with SA316B Alouette III (Chetak)
BOMBS • TV-guided KAB-500KR/OD ISR UAV
5 sqn with Heron; Searcher MkII
Marines ε1,200 (Additional 1,000 for SPB SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
duties) 2 GLCM sqn with PJ-10 Brahmos
After the Mumbai attacks, the Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB), AIR DEFENCE
with 80 PBF, was established to protect critical maritime 6 sqn with 9K33M3 Osa-AKM (RS-SA-8B Gecko)
infrastructure 8 sqn with Akash
FORCES BY ROLE 2 sqn with Barak-8 MR-SAM
SPECIAL FORCES 25 sqn with S-125M Pechora-M (RS-SA-3B Goa)
1 (marine) cdo force 2 sqn with S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler)
MANOEUVRE 10 flt with 9K38 Igla-1 (RS-SA-18 Grouse)
Amphibious EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 amph bde AIRCRAFT 800 combat capable
FTR 61: 54 MiG-29 Fulcrum (incl 12+ MiG-29UPG);
Air Force 139,850 7 MiG-29UB Fulcrum B
5 regional air comds: Western (New Delhi), Southwestern FGA 523: 109 MiG-21 Bison; 37 MiG-21U/UM Mongol;
(Gandhinagar), Eastern (Shillong), Central (Allahabad), 38 Mirage 2000E/I (2000H); 10 Mirage 2000ED/IT (2000TH);
Southern (Trivandrum). 2 support comds: Maintenance 8 Rafale DH; 28 Rafale EH; 263 Su-30MKI Flanker H; 30 Tejas
(Nagpur) and Training (Bangalore) ATK 115: 28 Jaguar IB; 79 Jaguar IS; 8 Jaguar IM
FORCES BY ROLE ISR 3 Gulfstream IV SRA-4
FIGHTER AEW&C 5: 2 EMB-145AEW Netra (1 more in test);
3 sqn with MiG-29 Fulcrum; MiG-29UB Fulcrum 3 Il-76TD Phalcon
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK TKR 6 Il-78 Midas
4 sqn with Jaguar IB/IS TPT 243: Heavy 28: 11 C-17A Globemaster III; 17 Il-76MD
6 sqn with MiG-21 Bison Candid; Medium 10 C-130J-30 Hercules; Light 141: 47 An-
3 sqn with Mirage 2000E/ED/I/IT (2000H/TH – 32; 55 An-32RE Cline; 35 Do-228; 4 EMB-135BJ; PAX 64:
secondary ECM role) 1 B-707; 4 B-737; 3 B-737BBJ; 56 HS-748
2 sqn with Rafale DH/EH TRG 308: 101 Hawk Mk132*; 90 HJT-16 Kiran MkI/IA;
11 sqn with Su-30MKI Flanker 42 HJT-16 Kiran MkII; 75 PC-7 Turbo Trainer MkII
2 sqn with Tejas HELICOPTERS
ANTI SURFACE WARFARE ATK 43: 22 AH-64E Apache Guardian; 4 LCH Prachand;
1 sqn with Jaguar IM 17 Mi-25/Mi-35 Hind
252 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MRH 402: 60 Dhruv; 35 Mi-17 Hip H; 45 Mi-17-1V Hip FORCES BY ROLE


H; 148 Mi-17V-5 Hip H; 59 SA315B Lama (Cheetah); MANOEUVRE
39 SA316B Alouette III (Chetak); 16 Rudra Other
TPT • Heavy 16: 15 CH-47F Chinook; 1 Mi-26 Halo 65 paramilitary bn
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
ISR • Heavy 9 Heron; Medium some Searcher MkII Assam Rifles 65,150
LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS Ministry of Home Affairs. Security within northeastern
Harop states, mainly army-officered; better trained than BSF
AIR DEFENCE • SAM FORCES BY ROLE
Long-range 16 S-400 (RS-SA-21 Growler) Equipped to roughly same standard as an army inf bn
Medium-range 72: ε64 Akash; 8 Barak-8 (MRSAM) COMMAND
Short-range S-125M Pechora-M (RS-SA-3B Goa); Spyder-SR 7 HQ
Point-defence 9K33M3 Osa-AKM (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 9K38 MANOEUVRE
Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse) Other
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES 46 paramilitary bn
AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Archer) R-550 Magic; IIR Mica IR; IR/SARH R-27 (RS- ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 252
AA-10 Alamo); SARH Super 530D ARH R-77 (RS-AA-
12A Adder); Mica RF
Border Security Force 263,900
AShM AGM-84 Harpoon; AM39 Exocet; Kh-31A (RS-AS- Ministry of Home Affairs
17B Krypton) FORCES BY ROLE
ASM AASM; AGM-114L/R Hellfire; Kh-29 (RS-AS-14 MANOEUVRE
Kedge); Kh-59 (RS-AS-13 Kingbolt); Kh-59M (RS-AS-18 Other
Kazoo); AS-30; Popeye II (Crystal Maze) 192 paramilitary bn
ARM Kh-25MP (RS-AS-12A Kegler); Kh-31P (RS-AS- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
17A Krypton) Small arms, lt arty, some anti-tank weapons
ALCM ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 942+
Conventional SCALP-EG AIRCRAFT • TPT some (air spt)
Nuclear Nirbhay (likely nuclear capable; in development) HELICOPTERS • MRH 2 Mi-17V-5 Hip
BOMBS
INS/SAT guided Spice
Central Industrial Security Force 144,400
Laser-guided Griffin; KAB-500L; Paveway II
(lightly armed security guards)
Ministry of Home Affairs. Guards public-sector locations
TV-guided KAB-500KR
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS Central Reserve Police Force 324,800
GLCM • Conventional PJ-10 Brahmos
Ministry of Home Affairs. Internal-security duties, only
lightly armed, deployable throughout the country
Coast Guard 13,000
FORCES BY ROLE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MANOEUVRE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 140 Other
PSOH 27: 2 Sankalp (capacity 1 Chetak/Dhruv hel); 215 paramilitary bn
4 Samar with 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Chetak/Dhruv hel); 15 (rapid action force) paramilitary bn
11 Samarth; 7 Vikram (capacity 1 Dhruv hel); 3 Vishwast 10 (CoBRA) paramilitary bn
(capacity 1 Dhruv hel) 6 (Mahila) paramilitary bn (female)
PSO 3 Samudra Prahari with 1 hel landing platform 2 sy gp
PCC 44: 20 Aadesh; 8 Rajshree (Flight I); 4 Rajshree (Flight COMBAT SUPPORT
II) 5 Rani Abbakka; 7 Sarojini Naidu 5 sigs bn
PBF 66: 6 C-154; 2 C-141; 11 C-143; 47 C-401
AMPHIBIOUS • UCAC 17: 5 H-181 (Griffon 8000TD); Defence Security Corps 31,000
12 H-187 (Griffon 8000TD) Provides security at Defence Ministry sites
AIRCRAFT • MP 23 Do-228-101
HELICOPTERS • MRH 37: 4 Dhruv MkI; 16 Dhruv MkIII; Indo-Tibetan Border Police 89,450
17 SA316B Alouette III (Chetak) Ministry of Home Affairs. Tibetan border security SF/
guerrilla-warfare and high-altitude-warfare specialists
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 1,608,150 FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Rashtriya Rifles 65,000 Other
Ministry of Defence. 15 sector HQ 56 paramilitary bn
Asia 253

National Security Guards 12,000 FOREIGN FORCES


Anti-terrorism contingency deployment force, compris-
Total numbers for UNMOGIP mission in India and Pakistan
ing elements of the armed forces, CRPF and Border
Argentina 3
Security Force
Croatia 8
Railway Protection Forces 70,000 Italy 2
Korea, Republic of 7
Sashastra Seema Bal 79,450 Mexico 1
Guards the borders with Nepal and Bhutan Philippines 5
FORCES BY ROLE Romania 2
MANOEUVRE Sweden 4
Other Switzerland 3
73 paramilitary bn Thailand 6
Uruguay 3
Special Frontier Force 10,000
Mainly ethnic Tibetans
Indonesia IDN
Special Protection Group 3,000
Indonesian Rupiah IDR 2021 2022 2023
Protection of ministers and senior officials
GDP IDR 16971tr 18988tr
State Armed Police 450,000 USD 1.19tr 1.29tr
For duty primarily in home state only, but can be moved per capita USD 4,361 4,691
to other states. Some bn with GPMG and army-standard

Asia
Growth % 3.7 5.3
infantry weapons and equipment
Inflation % 1.6 4.6
FORCES BY ROLE Def bdgt IDR 120tr 133tr 132tr
MANOEUVRE
USD 8.41bn 9.06bn
Other
FMA (US) USD 14m 14m 14m
144 (India Reserve Police) paramilitary bn
USD1=IDR 14293.37 14725.86
Reserve Organisations Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
8.23
Civil Defence 500,000 reservists
Operate in 225 categorised towns in 32 states. Some units 3.30
for NBC defence 2008 2015 2022

Home Guard 441,000 reservists (547,000 Population 277,329,163


authorised str)
In all states except Arunachal Pradesh and Kerala; men Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
on reserve lists, no trg. Not armed in peacetime. Used Male 12.6% 4.3% 4.1% 3.9% 21.7% 3.4%
for civil defence, rescue and firefighting provision in Female 12.0% 4.1% 3.9% 3.7% 22.2% 4.0%
wartime; 6 bn (created to protect tea plantations in Assam)
Capabilities
DEPLOYMENT The Tentara Nasional Indonesia (Indonesian National Armed
Forces) are the largest armed forces in Southeast Asia. They have
CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 1 traditionally been concerned primarily with internal security and
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • counter-insurgency. The army remains the dominant service and is
deployed operationally for counter-insurgency tasks in West Papua
MONUSCO 1,891; 2 inf bn; 1 med coy
and in a counter-terrorist role in central Sulawesi. A modernisation
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 895; 1 inf bn; 1 med coy plan, adopted in 2010, called for establishing a ‘Minimum Essen-
tial Force’ including strengthened naval and air forces by 2024.
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 2
The 2015 defence White Paper outlined Indonesia’s ‘Global Mari-
SOMALIA: UN • UNSOM 1 time Fulcrum’ policy and advocated building up maritime, satel-
lite and UAV capabilities. Some of these objectives were reflected
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2,396; 2 inf bn; 1 engr coy; in the 2020–24 State Defence Policy document. In 2018, Indonesia
1 sigs coy; 1 fd hospital expanded its forces in the country’s east and established a third
naval fleet command and a third air-force regional command in
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 325; 1 mech inf bn(-)
that region. A new army reserve division and a third marine corps
SYRIA/ISRAEL: UN • UNDOF 198; 1 inf pl, 1 MP pl, group were also established in the east. Indonesia has no formal
1 log coy(-) defence alliances but there are a number of defence-cooperation
agreements with regional and extra-regional partners. China
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 3 has supplied some military equipment, including armed UAVs.
254 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

The armed forces have contributed to UN and other international Special Forces Command (KOPASSUS)
peacekeeping operations and exercise regularly with Australian
FORCES BY ROLE
and US armed forces as well as those of other Southeast Asian
states. The TNI’s inventory comprises equipment from diverse SPECIAL FORCES
international sources, and the country uses technology-transfer 3 SF gp (total: 2 cdo/para unit, 1 CT unit, 1 int unit)
agreements to develop its national defence industry which has sig-
nificant capabilities in specific areas, including naval construction Strategic Reserve Command (KOSTRAD)
and the manufacture of transport aircraft and helicopters. Indone- FORCES BY ROLE
sia consolidated its five leading defence firms into the state-owned COMMAND
Defend ID in 2022 as part of plans to achieve more than 40% locali- 3 div HQ
sation in defence production. MANOEUVRE
Armoured
ACTIVE 395,500 (Army 300,400 Navy 65,000 Air
2 tk bn
30,100) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 280,000
Mechanised
Conscription liability 24 months selective conscription authorised
1 mech inf bde (3 mech inf bn)
(not required by law)
Light
RESERVE 400,000 2 inf bde (3 cdo bn)
Army cadre units; numerical str n.k., obligation to age 45 for officers 1 inf bde (2 inf bn)
Air Manoeuvre
3 AB bde (3 AB bn)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE COMBAT SUPPORT
2 arty regt (1 SP arty bn; 1 MRL bn; 1 fd arty bn)
Army ε300,400 1 fd arty bn
2 cbt engr bn
Mil Area Commands (KODAM) AIR DEFENCE
15 comd (I, II, III, IV, V, VI, IX, XII, XIII, XIV, XVI, XVII, 3 AD bn
XVIII, Jaya & Iskandar Muda)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FORCES BY ROLE ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MANOEUVRE MBT 103: 42 Leopard 2A4; 61 Leopard 2RI
Mechanised LT TK 350: 275 AMX-13 (partially upgraded); 15 PT-76;
3 armd cav bn 60 FV101 Scorpion-90
8 cav bn ASLT 7 Babak
1 mech inf bde (1 cav bn, 3 mech inf bn) RECCE 142: 55 Ferret (13 upgraded); 69 Saladin (16
1 mech inf bde (3 mech inf bn) upgraded); 18 VBL
3 indep mech inf bn IFV 64: 22 Black Fox; 42 Marder 1A3
Light APC 860+
1 inf bde (3 cdo bn) APC (T) 267: 75 AMX-VCI; 34 BTR-50PK; 15 FV4333
1 inf bde (2 cdo bn, 1 inf bn) Stormer; 143 M113A1-B
1 inf bde (1 cdo bn, 2 inf bn) APC (W) 593+: 376 Anoa; some Barracuda; 40 BTR-40;
2 inf bde (3 inf bn) 45 FV603 Saracen (14 upgraded); 100 LAV-150
3 inf bde (1 cdo bn, 1 inf bn) Commando; 32 VAB-VTT
3 inf bde (2 inf bn) PPV some Casspir
24 indep inf bn AUV 39: 14 APR-1; 3 Bushmaster; 22 Commando Ranger;
20 indep cdo bn Komodo 4×4
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
COMBAT SUPPORT
AEV 4: 3 PiPz-2RI Dachs; 1 M113A1-B-GN
1 SP arty bn
ARV 15+: 2 AMX-13; 6 AMX-VCI; 3 BREM-2; 4 BPz-3
11 fd arty bn
Buffel; Stormer; T-54/T-55
11 cbt engr bn
VLB 19: 10 AMX-13; 3 BPR Biber-1; 4 M3; 2 Stormer
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
4 construction bn MSL • MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; SS.11; Milan; 9K11
AVIATION Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger)
1 composite avn sqn RCL 90mm M67; 106mm M40A1
HELICOPTER RL 89mm LRAC
1 hel sqn with Bo-105; Bell 205A; Bell 412; Bell 412EPI ARTILLERY 1,243+
Twin Huey; AH-64E Apache Guardian SP 92: 105mm 20 AMX Mk61; 155mm 72: 54 CAESAR;
1 hel sqn Mi-35P Hind; Mi-17V-5 Hip H 18 M109A4
AIR DEFENCE TOWED 133+: 105mm 110+: some KH-178; 60 M101;
1 AD regt (2 ADA bn, 1 SAM unit) 50 M-56; 155mm 23: 5 FH-88; 18 KH-179
9 ADA bn MRL 127mm 63 ASTROS II Mk6
3 SAM unit MOR 955: 81mm 800; 120mm 155: 75 Brandt; 80 UBM 52
Asia 255

AMPHIBIOUS 2 triple 324mm ASTT, 1 76mm gun (capacity: 1 Bo-


LANDING SHIPS • LST 2 ADRI LI with 1 hel landing 105 hel)
platform (capacity 8 MBT; 500 troops) 4 Diponegoro (SIGMA 9113) with 2 twin lnchr with
LANDING CRAFT • LCU 17: 1 ADRI XXXII; 4 ADRI MM40 Exocet Block 2 AShM, 2 quad Tetral lnchr
XXXIII; 1 ADRI XXXIX; 1 ADRI XL; 3 ADRI XLI; 2 with Mistral SAM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS-3 (B-
ADRI XLIV; 2 ADRI XLVI; 2 ADRI XLVIII; 1 ADRI L 515) ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 9: 1 BN-2A Islander; 6 C-212 landing platform
Aviocar (NC-212); 2 Turbo Commander 680 FSGH 1 Nala with 2 twin lnchr with MM38 Exocet
HELICOPTERS AShM, 1 twin Bofors ASW Rocket Launcher System
ATK 14: 8 AH-64E Apache Guardian; 6 Mi-35P Hind 375mm A/S mor, 1 120mm gun (capacity 1 lt hel)
MRH 51: 12 H125M Fennec; 17 Bell 412 Twin Huey (NB- FS 16:
412); 6 Bell 412EPI Twin Huey; 16 Mi-17V-5 Hip H 2 Fatahillah with 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32
TPT • Light 29: 7 Bell 205A; 20 Bo-105 (NBo-105); 2 H120 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 twin 375mm A/S mor,
Colibri 1 120mm gun
TRG up to 19 Hughes 300C
14 Kapitan Pattimura (GDR Parchim I) with 4 single
AIR DEFENCE
400mm ASTT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor,
SAM • Point-defence 95+: 2 Kobra (with 125 GROM-2
1 twin 57mm gun
msl); Starstreak; TD-2000B (Giant Bow II); 51 Rapier; 42
PCFG 3 Mandau with 4 single lnchr with MM38 Exocet
RBS-70; QW-3
AShM, 1 57mm gun
GUNS • TOWED 411: 20mm 121 Rh 202; 23mm Giant
PCG 4:
Bow; 40mm 90 L/70; 57mm 200 S-60
2 Sampari (KCR-60M) with 2 twin lnchr for C-705
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AShM
ASM AGM-114 Hellfire
2 Todak with 2 single lnchr with C-802 (CH-SS-N-6),
Navy ε65,000 (including Marines and Aviation)

Asia
1 57mm gun
Three fleets: East (Sorong), Central (Surabaya) and West PCT 2 Andau with 2 single 533mm TT with SUT,
(Jakarta). Two Forward Operating Bases at Kupang (West 1 57mm gun
Timor) and Tahuna (North Sulawesi) PCC 14: 4 Kakap with 1 hel landing platform; 2 Pandrong;
4 Pari; 2 Sampari (KCR-60M) with 1 NG-18 CIWS; 2 Todak
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SUBMARINES • SSK 4: with 1 57mm gun
1 Cakra (Type-209/1300) with 8 single 533mm TT with PBG 8: 2 Clurit with 2 single lnchr with C-705 AShM,
SUT HWT 1 AK630 CIWS; 6 Clurit with 2 single lnchr with C-705
3 Nagapasa (Type-209/1400) with 8 single 533mm TT with AShM
Black Shark HWT PBF 4 Combat Boat AL D-18
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 7 PB 79: 2 Badau (ex-BRN Waspada); 9 Boa; 1 Cucut (ex-SGP
FRIGATES 7: Jupiter); 1 Klewang; 4 Kobra; 1 Krait; 8 Sibarau; up to 32
FFGHM 5: Sinabang (KAL 28); 4 Tarihu; 13 Tatihu (PC-40); 4 Viper
1 Ahmad Yani (ex-NLD Van Speijk) with 2 twin-cell VLS MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 8
with 3M55E Yakhont (RS-SS-N-26 Strobile) AShM; MCO 2 Pulau Rengat
2 twin Simbad lnchr (manual) with Mistral SAM, MSC 6 Pulau Rote (ex-GDR Wolgast)
2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, AMPHIBIOUS
1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Bo-105 (NBo-105) hel) PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS • LPD 6:
2 Ahmad Yani (ex-NLD Van Speijk) with 2 twin lnchr 1 Dr Soeharso (ex-Tanjung Dalpele) (capacity 2 LCU/
with C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 2 twin Simbad LCVP; 13 tanks; 500 troops; 2 AS332L Super Puma)
lnchr (manual) with Mistral SAM, 2 triple 324mm (used in AH role)
SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 76mm 4 Makassar (capacity 2 LCU or 4 LCVP; 13 tanks;
gun (capacity 1 Bo-105 (NBo-105) hel) 500 troops; 2 AS332L Super Puma)
2 R.E. Martadinata (SIGMA 10514) with 2 quad lnchr 1 Semarang (IDN Makassar mod) (capacity 2 LCM;
with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 2 6-cell CLA 3 hels; 28 vehs; 650 troops) (used in AH role)
VLS with VL MICA SAM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS- LANDING SHIPS • LST 25
3 (B-515) ASTT with A244/S LWT, 1 Millennium 1 Teluk Amboina (capacity 16 tanks; 800 troops)
CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel) 4 Teluk Bintuni (capacity 10 MBT)
FFHM 2 Ahmad Yani (ex-NLD Van Speijk) with 2 twin 2 Teluk Cirebon (ex-GDR Frosch II)
Simbad lnchr (manual) with Mistral SAM, 2 triple 9 Teluk Gilimanuk (ex-GDR Frosch)
324mm ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 5 Teluk Lada with 1 hel landing platform (capacity 4
1 Bo-105 (NBo-105) hel) LCVP; 470 troops; 15 APC; 10 MBT)
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 138 4 Teluk Semangka (capacity 17 tanks; 200 troops)
CORVETTES 24 LANDING CRAFT 54
FSGM 7: LCM 20
3 Bung Tomo with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet LCU 4
Block 2 AShM, 1 18-cell VLS with Sea Wolf SAM, LCVP 30
256 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 19 Air Force 30,100


AGF 1 Multatuli with 1 hel landing platform 3 operational comd (East, Central and West) plus trg comd
AGOR 2 Rigel (OSV 190) FORCES BY ROLE
AGOS 1 Leuser FIGHTER
AGHS 1 Dewa Kembar (ex-UK Hecla) 1 sqn with F-16A/B/C/D Fighting Falcon
AGS 1 Pulau Rote (ex-GDR Wolgast) FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
AH 1 Dr Sudirohusodo (Semarang mod) (capacity 3 med hel) 1 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
AKSL 1 1 sqn with Su-27SK Flanker; Su-30MK Flanker
AORLH (1 Arun (ex-UK Rover) damaged at sea 2018, 1 sqn with Su-27SKM Flanker; Su-30MK2 Flanker
non-operational and in repair) 2 sqn with Hawk Mk109*/Mk209*
AOR 2: 1 Bontang with 1 hel landing platform; 1 Tarakan 1 sqn with T-50i Golden Eagle*
with 1 hel landing platform GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with EMB-314 (A-29) Super Tucano*
AOT 1 Sorong
MARITIME PATROL
AP 2: 1 Tanjung Kambani (troop transport) with 1 hel
1 sqn with B-737-200
landing platform; 1 Karang Pilang (troop transport) 1 sqn with CN235M-220 MPA; CN235M-110
ATF 1 Soputan TANKER/TRANSPORT
AX 2 Kadet 1 sqn with C-130B/KC-130B Hercules
AXS 3: 1 Arung Samudera; 1 Bima Suci; 1 Dewaruci TRANSPORT
1 VIP sqn with B-737-200; C-130H/H-30 Hercules; L-100-
Naval Aviation ε1,000 30; F-27-400M Troopship; F-28-1000/3000
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 sqn with C-130H/H-30 Hercules; L-100-30
AIRCRAFT 1 sqn with C-130H Hercules
MP 29: 3 C212-200; 6 CN235-220 (MPA); 14 N-22B 1 sqn with C-212 Aviocar (NC-212/NC-212i)
Searchmaster B; 6 N-22SL Searchmaster L 1 sqn with C295M
TPT • Light 32: 1 Beech 350i King Air (VIP transport); TRAINING
1 sqn with G 120TP
7 Beech G36 Bonanza; 2 Beech G38 Baron; 17 C-212-200
1 sqn with KT-1B
Aviocar; 3 TB-9 Tampico; 2 TB-10
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
HELICOPTERS 2 sqn with H225M; AS332L Super Puma (NAS332L);
ASW 11 AS565MBe Panther NAS332 C1+ Super Puma; SA330J/L Puma (NAS330J/L)
MRH 4 Bell 412 (NB-412) Twin Huey 1 VIP sqn with AS332L Super Puma (NAS332L);
CSAR 4 H225M Caracal SA330SM Puma (NAS300SM)
TPT 15: Medium 3 AS332L Super Puma (NAS322L); 1 sqn with H120 Colibri
Light 12: 3 H120 Colibri; 9 Bo-105 (NBo-105) ISR UAV
1 sqn with Aerostar
Marines ε20,000 AIR DEFENCE
FORCES BY ROLE 1 SAM unit with NASAMS II
SPECIAL FORCES EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 SF bn Only 45% of ac op
MANOEUVRE AIRCRAFT 107 combat capable
Amphibious FTR 9: 7 F-16A Fighting Falcon; 2 F-16B Fighting Falcon
(8 F-5E Tiger II; 4 F-5F Tiger II non-operational)
2 mne gp (1 cav regt, 3 mne bn, 1 arty regt, 1 cbt spt
FGA 40: 19 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 5 F-16D Fighting Falcon;
regt, 1 CSS regt)
2 Su-27SK Flanker; 3 Su-27SKM Flanker; 2 Su-30MK
1 mne gp (forming) Flanker F; 9 Su-30MK2 Flanker G
1 mne bde (3 mne bn) MP 8: 3 B-737-200; 2 CN235M-220 MPA
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ISR 1 C295M
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES TKR/TPT 1 KC-130B Hercules
LT TK 65: 10 AMX-10 PAC 90; 55 PT-76† TPT 53: Medium 18: 3 C-130B Hercules; 7 C-130H
RECCE 21 BRDM-2 Hercules; 6 C-130H-30 Hercules; 2 L-100-30; Light 26: 9
IFV 114: 24 AMX-10P; 22 BMP-2; 54 BMP-3F; 2 BTR-4; C295; 9 C-212 Aviocar (NC-212); 3 C-212 Aviocar (NC-
12 BTR-80A 212i); 5 CN235M-110; PAX 9: 1 B-737-200; 3 B-737-400; 1
B-737-500; 1 B-737-800BBJ; 1 F-28-1000; 2 F-28-3000
APC 103: APC (T) 100 BTR-50P; APC (W) 3 BTR-4M
TRG 104: 15 EMB-314 (A-29) Super Tucano*; 30 G 120TP;
AAV 15: 10 LVTP-7A1; 5 M113 Arisgator
7 Hawk Mk109*; 22 Hawk Mk209*; 16 KT-1B; 14 T-50i
ARTILLERY 71+ Golden Eagle*
TOWED 50: 105mm 22 LG1 MK II; 122mm 28 M-38 HELICOPTERS
MRL 122mm 21: 4 PHL-90B; 9 RM-70; 8 RM-70 Vampir TPT 37: Heavy 6 H225M (CSAR); Medium 19: 9 AS332
MOR 81mm some Super Puma (NAS332L) (VIP/CSAR); 1 NAS332 C1+ Super
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • 40mm 5 L/60/L/70; 57mm S-60 Puma; 1 SA330SM Puma (NAS330SM) (VIP); 4 SA330J
Asia 257

Puma (NAS330J); 4 SA330L Puma (NAS330L); Light 12


H120 Colibri DEPLOYMENT
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 241;
CISR • Heavy CH-4B (in test) 1 engr coy
ISR • Medium Aerostar
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
MONUSCO 1,037; 1 inf bn; 1 engr coy
AAM • IR AIM-9P Sidewinder; R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer);
IR/SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo) LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1,106; 1 mech inf bn; 1 MP coy;
ARH R-77 (RS-AA-12A Adder) 1 FSGM
ASM AGM-65G Maverick; AR-2; Kh-59M (RS-AS-18 MALI: UN • MINUSMA 10
Kazoo); Kh-59T (RS-AS-14B Kedge)
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 3
ARM Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton)
AIR DEFENCE SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 4
SAM • Medium-range NASAMS II WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 3

Special Forces (Paskhasau)


FORCES BY ROLE
Japan JPN
SPECIAL FORCES Japanese Yen JPY 2021 2022 2023
3 (PASKHASAU) SF wg (total: 6 spec ops sqn)
GDP JPY 541tr 552tr
4 indep SF coy
USD 4.93tr 4.30tr
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
per capita USD 39,301 34,358
AIR DEFENCE
SAM • Point-defence Chiron; QW-3 Growth % 1.7 1.7
GUNS • TOWED 35mm 6 Oerlikon Skyshield Inflation % -0.2 2.0

Asia
Def bdgt JPY 5.73tr 6.17tr
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 280,000+ USD 52.2bn 48.1bn
Police ε280,000 (including 14,000 police USD1=JPY 109.75 128.42
‘mobile bde’ (BRIMOB) org in 56 coy, incl CT Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
unit (Gegana)) 50.4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 38.5
APC (W) 34 Tactica 2008 2015 2022
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 6: 2 Beech 18; 2 C-212 Aviocar Population 124,214,766
(NC-212); 1 C295; 1 Turbo Commander 680
HELICOPTERS Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MRH 1 Bell 412EP
Male 6.4% 2.3% 2.5% 2.6% 21.9% 12.8%
TPT • Light 22: 3 Bell 206 Jet Ranger; 19 Bo-105 (NBo-105)
Female 6.0% 2.2% 2.3% 2.4% 22.3% 16.3%
KPLP (Coast and Seaward Defence
Command) Capabilities
Responsible to Military Sea Communications Agency Japan’s concerns over its regional security environment have
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE heightened, as evidenced in its 2022 Defence White Paper. These
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 37 principally relate to security challenges posed by a more assertive
PCO 7: 1 Arda Dedali; 3 Chundamani; 1 Kalimasada; China and continued concern over North Korea. As a result, there
2 Trisula have been defence-budget increases and defence-policy and leg-
islative reforms designed to enable Japan to play a more active
PB 30: 4 Golok (SAR); 5 Kujang; 6 Rantos; 15 (various)
international security role and strengthen the Japan Self-Defense
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • ABU 1 Jadayat Forces (JSDF). Due to their defensive mandate, JSDF deployments
are mostly for peacekeeping purposes. While the JSDF’s offensive
Bakamla (Maritime Security Agency) capacity remains weak, the navy has strengths in anti-submarine
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE warfare and air defence. An Amphibious Rapid Deployment
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 10 Brigade has also been established, tasked mainly with the defence
PSO 4: 3 Pulau Nipah with 1 hel landing platform; of remote islands. The Izumo helicopter carrier has completed the
1 Tanjung Datu with 1 hel landing platform first stage of modifications to embark and operate fixed-wing air-
PB 6 Bintang Laut (KCR-40 mod) craft. Final conversion work will take place at the end of FY 2024. JS
Kaga began the first stage of its conversion in March 2022, with the
second stage due in FY 2026. Japan is developing capabilities in
Reserve Organisations space, cyberspace and the electromagnetic spectrum to develop
a ‘multi-domain defence force’, based on the 2018 National
Kamra People’s Security ε40,000 Defense Program Guidelines and the 2019–23 Mid-Term Defense
Report for 3 weeks’ basic training each year; part-time Program. In 2020, a Space Operations Squadron was set up, with
police auxiliary the aim of enhancing space situational-awareness capabilities.
258 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

The Cyber Defense Group is to expand. Enhancing ballistic missile 1 (6th) inf div (1 recce sqn, 1 mech inf regt; 3 inf regt,
defence remains a key priority. In December 2020, the cabinet 1 hel sqn, 1 SAM bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 NBC
announced that two vessels equipped with Aegis ballistic missile bn, 1 log regt)
defence systems would be developed as alternatives to the can- 1 (9th) inf div (1 armd recce sqn, 1 tk bn, 3 inf regt, 1
celled land-based Aegis Ashore. The Ministry of Defense requested
hel sqn, 1 SAM bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 NBC bn,
a budget for the development of the vessels for FY2023. Japan’s
1 log regt)
alliance with the US remains the cornerstone of its defence policy,
reflected by continued US basing, the widespread use of US equip-
1 (5th) inf bde (1 armd recce sqn, 1 tk bn, 3 inf regt, 1 hel
ment across all three services and regular training with US forces. sqn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 SAM coy, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 sigs coy,
Meanwhile, meetings with Germany, India, Indonesia and the UK 1 NBC coy, 1 log bn)
have indicated efforts to expand security relations. In November 1 (11th) inf bde (1 armd recce sqn, 1 tk sqn, 3 inf regt,
2020, Australia and Japan agreed in principle on a Reciprocal 1 hel sqn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 SAM coy, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 sigs
Access Agreement, while India and Japan inked an Acquisition coy, 1 NBC coy, 1 log bn)
and Cross-Servicing Agreement in September 2020. Negotiations Light
for a Reciprocal Access Agreement with the UK continued in 2022, 1 (1st) inf div (1 armd recce bn, 3 inf regt, 1 hel sqn, 1 fd
as did discussions on closer cooperation on future combat aircraft arty bn, 1 SAM bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 NBC bn,
development. Japan has an advanced defence-industrial base.
1 log regt)
Defence exports have mainly consisted of components, though
1 (3rd) inf div (1 recce sqn, 1 tk bn, 3 inf regt, 1 hel sqn,
there are ambitions to secure more significant export deals.
Japan’s ongoing military-procurement drive is focused on power 1 fd arty bn, 1 SAM bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 NBC
projection, mobility and ISR. Budget documents also note research bn, 1 log regt)
on a hypersonic glide body, new anti-ship missiles and research on 1 (10th) inf div (1 recce sqn, 1 tk bn, 3 inf regt, 1 hel sqn,
advanced radar technology. 1 fd arty regt, 1 SAM bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 NBC
bn, 1 log regt)
ACTIVE 247,150 (Ground Self-Defense Force 1 (8th) inf div (1 recce sqn, 3 inf regt, 1 hel sqn, 1 SAM bn,
150,700 Maritime Self-Defense Force 45,300 Air 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 NBC bn, 1 log regt)
Self-Defense Force 46,950 Central Staff 4,200) 1 (13th) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 1 tk coy, 3 inf regt, 1 hel sqn,
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 14,550 1 fd arty bn, 1 SAM coy, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 NBC coy,
1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
RESERVE 55,900 (General Reserve Army (GSDF) 1 (14th) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 2 inf regt, 1 hel sqn, 1 SAM
46,000 Ready Reserve Army (GSDF) 8,000 Navy 1,100 coy, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 NBC coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
Air 800) 1 (15th) inf bde (1 recce sqn, 1 inf regt, 1 avn sqn, 1 AD
regt, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 NBC coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Air Manoeuvre
1 (1st) AB bde (3 AB bn, 1 fd arty bn, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 sigs
Space coy, 1 log bn)
1 (12th) air mob inf bde (1 recce sqn, 3 inf regt, 1 avn sqn,
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 fd arty bn, 1 SAM coy, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 NBC coy,
SATELLITES 11
1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
COMMUNICATIONS 2: 1 Kirameki-1; 1 Kirameki-2
Amphibious
ISR 9 IGS
1 amph bde (1 recce coy, 2 amph regt, 1 amph aslt bn,
1 log bn)
Ground Self-Defense Force 150,700 COMBAT SUPPORT
FORCES BY ROLE 1 (1st) arty bde (1 SP arty regt (2 SP arty bn, 1 MRL bn);
COMMAND 1 SP arty regt (1 SP arty bn, 1 MRL bn); 3 AShM regt)
5 army HQ (regional comd) 1 (Northwestern Army) arty bde (1 fd arty regt (4 fd arty
SPECIAL FORCES bn); 1 AShM regt)
1 spec ops unit (bn) 1 (Western Army) arty bde (1 fd arty regt (4 fd arty bn);
MANOEUVRE 1 MRL bn; 1 AShM regt)
Armoured 1 (Central Army) fd arty bn
1 (7th) armd div (1 armd recce sqn, 3 tk regt, 1 armd inf 4 engr bde
regt, 1 hel sqn, 1 SP arty regt, 1 AD regt, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 engr unit
1 sigs bn, 1 NBC bn, 1 log regt) 1 EW bn
1 indep tk bn 5 int bn
Mechanised 1 MP bde
1 (2nd) inf div (1 armd recce sqn, 1 tk regt, 1 mech inf 1 sigs bde
regt, 2 inf regt, 1 hel sqn, 1 SP arty regt, 1 AT coy, 1 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
ADA bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 NBC bn, 1 log regt) 5 log unit (bde)
1 (4th) inf div (1 armd recce bn, 3 inf regt, 1 inf coy, 1 hel 5 trg bde
sqn, 1 AT coy, 1 SAM bn, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 NBC HELICOPTER
bn, 1 log regt) 2 sqn with MV-22B Osprey (forming)
Asia 259

HELICOPTER EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


1 hel bde (5 tpt hel sqn; 1 VIP tpt hel bn) SUBMARINES • SSK 24:
5 hel gp (1 atk hel bn, 1 hel bn) 11 Oyashio (of which 2 in trg role) with 6 single
AIR DEFENCE 533mm TT with UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/
2 SAM bde (2 SAM gp) Type-89 HWT
2 SAM gp 12 Soryu (of which 9 fitted with AIP and 2 fitted with
lithium-ion fuel battery) with 6 single 533mm TT with
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/Type-89 HWT
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 1 Taigei with (fitted with lithium-ion fuel battery) with
MBT 555: 105 Type-10; 130 Type-74; 320 Type-90 6 single 533mm TT with UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B
ASLT 141 Type-16 MCV AShM/Type-89 HWT/Type-18 HWT
RECCE 111 Type-87 PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 50
IFV 68 Type-89 AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • CVH 4:
APC 804 2 Hyuga with 2 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with ASROC/RIM-
APC (T) 226 Type-73 162B ESSM SAM, 2 triple 324mm HOS-303 ASTT
APC (W) 578: 197 Type-82 (CP); 381 Type-96 with Mk 46/Type-97 LWT, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block
AAV 52 AAV-7 1B CIWS (normal ac capacity 3 SH-60 Seahawk ASW
AUV 8 Bushmaster hel; plus additional ac embarkation up to 7 SH-60
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES Seahawk or 7 MCH-101)
ARV 63: 5 Type-11; 28 Type-78; 30 Type-90 2 Izumo (being converted to CVS) with 2 11-cell Mk 15
SeaRAM lnchr with RIM-116 SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx
VLB 22 Type-91
Block 1B CIWS (normal ac capacity 7 SH-60 Seahawk
NBC VEHICLES 55: 34 Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle;
ASW hel; plus additional ac embarkation up to 5 SH-
21 NBC Reconnaissance Vehicle
60 Seahawk/MCH-101 hel)

Asia
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE CRUISERS • CGHM 4:
MSL 2 Atago with Aegis Baseline 9 C2, 2 quad lnchr with
SP 37 Type-96 MPMS SSM-1B (Type-90) AShM, 12 8-cell Mk 41 VLS (8
MANPATS Type-79 Jyu-MAT; Type-87 Chu-MAT; fore, 4 aft) with SM-2 Block IIIA/B SAM/SM-3 Block
Type-01 LMAT IA/IB SAM/ASROC A/S msl, 2 triple 324mm HOS-
RCL • 84mm Carl Gustaf 302 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block
ARTILLERY 1,593 1B CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 SH-60 Seahawk
SP 167: 155mm 136 Type-99; 203mm 31 M110A2 ASW hel)
TOWED 155mm 229 FH-70 2 Maya (Atago mod) with Aegis Baseline 9 C2, w quad
MRL 227mm 54 M270 MLRS lnchr with SSM-1B (Type-90) AShM/SSM-2 (Type-
MOR 1,143: 81mm 656 L16 120mm 463 RT-61; SP 120mm 17) AShM, 12 8-cell Mk 41 VLS (8 fore, 4 aft) with
24 Type-96 SM-2 Block IIIA/B SAM/SM-3 Block IA/IB SAM/
Type-07 A/S msl, 2 triple 324mm HOS-303 ASTT
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 92: 30 Type-12; 62 Type-88
with Mk 46 LWT, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS,
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 8 Beech 350 King Air (LR-2)
1 127mm gun (capacity 1 SH-60 Seahawk ASW hel)
TILTROTOR • TPT 7+ MV-22B Osprey
DESTROYERS 34
HELICOPTERS DDGHM 28:
ATK 99: 50 AH-1S Cobra; 12 AH-64D Apache; 37 OH-1 8 Asagiri with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon
TPT 249: Heavy 53: 18 CH-47D Chinook (CH-47J); 35 Block 1B AShM, 1 octuple Mk 29 lnchr with RIM-
CH-47JA Chinook; Medium 43: 3 H225 Super Puma MkII+ 7M Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 triple 324mm HOS-302
(VIP); 40 UH-60L Black Hawk (UH-60JA); Light 153: 123 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 octuple Mk 112 lnchr
Bell 205 (UH-1J); 30 Enstrom 480B (TH-480B) with ASROC, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm gun
AIR DEFENCE (capacity 1 SH-60 Seahawk ASW hel)
SAM 311+ 4 Akizuki with 2 quad lnchr with SSM-1B (Type-90)
Medium-range 130: 48 Type-03 Chu-SAM; 4 Type-03 AShM, 4 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with ASROC/RIM-162B
Chu-SAM Kai; 78 MIM-23B I-Hawk ESSM SAM, 2 triple 324mm HOS-303 ASTT with
Short-range ε44 Type-11 Tan-SAM Type-97 LWT, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS,
1 127mm gun (capacity 1 SH-60 Seahawk ASW hel)
Point-defence 137+: 46 Type-81 Tan-SAM; 91 Type-93
2 Asahi (Akizuki mod) with 2 quad lnchr with SSM-
Kin-SAM; Type-91 Kei-SAM
1B (Type-90) AShM, 4 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with
GUNS • SP 35mm 52 Type-87
RIM-162B ESSM SAM/Type-07 A/S msl, 2 triple
324mm HOS-303 ASTT with Type-12 LWT, 2 Mk
Maritime Self-Defense Force 45,300 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity
Surface units organised into 4 Escort Flotillas with a mix 1 SH-60 Seahawk ASW hel)
of 8 warships each. Bases at Yokosuka, Kure, Sasebo, 9 Murasame with 2 quad lnchr with SSM-1B (Type-
Maizuru, Ominato. SSK organised into two flotillas with 90) AShM, 1 16-cell Mk 48 mod 0 VLS with RIM-
bases at Kure and Yokosuka 162C ESSM SAM, 2 triple 324mm HOS-302 ASTT
260 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

with Mk 46 LWT, 2 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with ASROC, ATF 5 Hiuchi


2 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 2 76mm gun (capacity 1 AX 3:
SH-60 Seahawk ASW hel) 1 Kashima with 2 triple 324mm HOS-301 ASTT, 1 76mm
5 Takanami (improved Murasame) with 2 quad lnchr gun, 1 hel landing platform
with SSM-1B (Type-90) AShM, 4 8-cell Mk 41 VLS 1 Kurobe with 1 76mm gun (trg spt ship)
with RIM-162B ESSM SAM/ASROC A/S msl, 2 1 Tenryu (trg spt ship); with 1 76mm gun (capacity:
triple 324mm HOS-302 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 med hel)
2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 127mm gun
(capacity 1 SH-60 Seahawk ASW hel) Naval Aviation ε9,800
DDGM 6: 7 Air Groups
2 Hatakaze (trg role) with 2 quad lnchr with RGM- FORCES BY ROLE
84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 1 Mk 13 GMLS with ANTI SUBMARINE/SURFACE WARFARE
SM-1MR Block VI SAM, 2 triple 324mm HOS-301 5 sqn with SH-60B (SH-60J)/SH-60K Seahawk
ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 octuple Mk 112 lnchr MARITIME PATROL
with ASROC, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 2 127mm 2 sqn with P-1
gun, 1 hel landing platform 2 sqn with P-3C Orion
4 Kongou with Aegis Baseline 5 C2, 2 quad lnchr with ELECTRONIC WARFARE
RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 12 8-cell Mk 41 1 sqn with EP-3 Orion
VLS (of which 2 only 5-cell and fitted with reload MINE COUNTERMEASURES
crane) with SM-2 Block IIIA/B SAM/SM-3 Block IA 1 sqn with MCH-101
SAM/ASROC A/S msl, 2 triple 324mm HOS-302 SEARCH & RESCUE
ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B 1 sqn with Shin Meiwa US-2
CIWS, 1 127mm gun 2 sqn with UH-60J Black Hawk
FRIGATES 8 TRANSPORT
FFGHM 2 Mogami with 2 quad lnchr with SSM-2 1 sqn with AW101 Merlin (CH-101); Beech 90 King Air
(Type-17) AShM, 1 11-cell Mk 15 SeaRAM GMLS (LC-90); KC-130R Hercules
with RIM-116 RAM SAM, 2 triple 324mm HOS-303 TRAINING
ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 1 sqn with Beech 90 King Air (TC-90)
SH-60 Seahawk hel) (to be fitted with Mk 41 VLS) 1 sqn with P-3C Orion
FFG 6 Abukuma with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C 1 sqn with T-5J
Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2 triple 324mm HOS-301 1 hel sqn with H135 (TH-135); SH-60K Seahawk
ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 octuple Mk 112 lnchr with
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ASROC A/S msl, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm gun
AIRCRAFT 77 combat capable
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 6
ASW 77: 33 P-1; 44 P-3C Orion
PBFG 6 Hayabusa with 4 SSM-1B (Type-90) AShM,
ELINT 5 EP-3C Orion
1 76mm gun
SAR 6 Shin Meiwa US-2
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 22
TPT 24: Medium 6 C-130R Hercules; Light 18: 5 Beech
MCCS 2:
90 King Air (LC-90); 13 Beech 90 King Air (TC-90) (trg)
1 Uraga with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform (for
TRG 30 T-5J
MCH-101 hel)
HELICOPTERS
1 Uraga with 1 hel landing platform (for MCH-101)
MSC 17: 3 Hirashima; 11 Sugashima; 3 Enoshima ASW 87: 12 SH-60B Seahawk (SH-60J); 75 SH-60K
MSO 3 Awaji Seahawk
AMPHIBIOUS MCM 10 MCH-101
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LHD 3 Osumi SAR 6 UH-60J Black Hawk
with 2 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS (capacity for 2 CH-47 hel) TPT 18: Medium 3 AW101 Merlin (CH-101); Light 15
(capacity 10 Type-90 MBT; 2 LCAC(L) ACV; 330 troops) H135 (TH-135) (trg)
LANDING CRAFT 8 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
LCM 2 LCU-2001 AShM ASM-1C (Type-90)
LCAC 6 LCAC(L) (capacity either 1 MBT or 60 troops)
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 24 Air Self-Defense Force 46,950
AGBH 1 Shirase (capacity 2 AW101 Merlin hel) 7 cbt wg
AGEH 1 Asuka (wpn trials) with 1 8-cell Mk 41 VLS FORCES BY ROLE
(capacity 1 SH-60 Seahawk hel) FIGHTER
AGOS 3 Hibiki with 1 hel landing platform 7 sqn with F-15J Eagle
AGS 3: 1 Futami; 1 Nichinan; 1 Shonan 3 sqn with Mitsubishi F-2
AOE 5: 2 Mashu (capacity 1 med hel); 3 Towada with 1 hel 2 sqn with F-35A Lightning II
landing platform ELECTRONIC WARFARE
ARC 1 Muroto 1 sqn with Kawasaki EC-1; YS-11EA
ASR 2: 1 Chihaya with 1 hel landing platform; 1 Chiyoda ELINT
with 1 hel landing platform 1 sqn with RC-2; YS-11EB
Asia 261

AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 14,550


2 sqn with E-2C/D Hawkeye
1 sqn with E-767 Coast Guard 14,550
SEARCH & RESCUE Ministry of Land, Transport, Infrastructure and Tourism
1 wg with U-125A Peace Krypton; UH-60J Black Hawk (no cbt role)
TANKER EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with KC-46A Pegasus (forming) PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 378
1 sqn with KC-767J PSOH 19: 2 Mizuho (capacity 2 hels); 1 Mizuho II
TRANSPORT (capacity 2 hels); 5 Shikishima (capacity 2 hels); 1 Shunko
1 (VIP) sqn with B-777-300ER (capacity 2 hels); 1 Soya (capacity 1 hel) (icebreaking
1 sqn with C-1; C-2; Gulfstream IV (U-4) capability); 9 Tsugaru (Soya mod) (capacity 1 hel)
1 sqn with C-2 PSO 48: 9 Hateruma with 1 hel landing platform; 3
1 sqn with C-130H Hercules; KC-130H Hercules Hida with 1 hel landing platform; 6 Iwami; 1 Izu with 1
Some (liaison) sqn with Gulfstream IV (U-4); T-4* hel landing platform; 1 Kojima (trg) with 1 hel landing
TRAINING platform; 1 Miura with 1 hel landing platform (trg role);
1 (aggressor) sqn with F-15J Eagle 2 Miyako with 1 hel landing platform; 5 Ojika with 1 hel
TEST landing platform; 20 Taketomi with 1 hel landing platform
1 wg with F-15J Eagle; T-4* PCO 13: 3 Aso; 9 Katori; 1 Teshio
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER PCC 24: 4 Amami; 20 Tokara
4 flt with CH-47JA Chinook PBF 49: 24 Hayagumo; 2 Mihashi; 15 Raizan; 2 Takatsuki;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 6 Tsuruugi
AIRCRAFT 519 combat capable PB 55: 4 Asogiri; 4 Hamagumo; 11 Hayanami; 15 Katonami;
FTR 200: 156 F-15J Eagle; 44 F-15DJ Eagle 1 Matsunami; 10 Shimoji; 10 Yodo
PBI 170: 2 Hakubai; 1 Hayagiku; 167 Himegiku

Asia
FGA 122: 64 F-2A; 27 F-2B; 31 F-35A Lightning II
EW 3: 1 Kawasaki EC-1; 2 YS-11EA LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 18
SIGINT 4: 1 RC-2; 3 YS-11EB ABU 1 Teshio
AEW&C 20: 10 E-2C Hawkeye; 6 E-2D Hawkeye; 4 E-767 AGS 14: 6 Hamashio; 1 Jinbei; 2 Meiyo; 2 Peiyo; 1 Shoyo;
SAR 26 U-125A Peace Krypton 1 Takuyo; 1 Tenyo
TKR/TPT 8: 2 KC-46A Pegasus; 2 KC-130H Hercules; AX 3
4 KC-767J AIRCRAFT
TPT 54: Medium 34: 13 C-130H Hercules; 7 C-1; 14 C-2; PAX MP 5 Falcon 2000MSA
20: 2 B-777-300ER (VIP); 13 Beech T-400; 5 Gulfstream IV (U-4) SAR 4 Saab 340B
TRG 246: 197 T-4*; 49 T-7 TPT 27: Light 25: 5 Cessna 172; 10 Beech 350 King Air
HELICOPTERS (LR-2); 10 DHC Dash-7 (Bombardier 300) (MP); PAX 2
SAR 37 UH-60J Black Hawk Gulfstream V (MP)
TPT • Heavy 15 CH-47JA Chinook HELICOPTERS
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 1 MRH 4 Bell 412 Twin Huey
ISR • Heavy 1 RQ-4B Global Hawk SAR 12 S-76D
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES TPT 39: Medium 13: 2 AS332 Super Puma; 11 H225
AAM • IR AAM-3 (Type-90); IIR AAM-5 (Type-04); Super Puma; Light 26: 19 AW139; 4 Bell 505 Jet Ranger
SARH AIM-7 Sparrow; ARH AAM-4 (Type-99); AIM- X; 3 S-76C
120C5/C7 AMRAAM (limited numbers) UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 1
AShM ASM-1 (Type-80); ASM-2 (Type-93) CISR • Heavy 1 MQ-9B SeaGuardian (unarmed)
BOMBS
Laser & INS/SAT-guided GBU-54 Laser JDAM DEPLOYMENT
INS/SAT-guided GBU-38 JDAM
ARABIAN SEA & GULF OF ADEN: Combined Maritime
Air Defence Forces • CTF-151: 160; 1 DDGHM
Ac control and warning. 4 wg; 28 radar sites DJIBOUTI: 180; 2 P-3C Orion
FORCES BY ROLE SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 4
AIR DEFENCE
6 SAM gp (total: 24 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3)
1 AD gp with Type-81 Tan-SAM; M167 Vulcan FOREIGN FORCES
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE United States
AIR DEFENCE US Pacific Command: 55,600
SAM 146+ Army 2,600; 1 corps HQ (fwd); 1 SF gp; 1 avn bn; 1 SAM
Long-range 120 M902 Patriot PAC-3 bn with M903 Patriot PAC MSE
Short-range ε26 Air Base Defense SAM Navy 20,000; 1 CVN; 3 CGHM; 4 DDGHM; 4 DDGM; 1
Point-defence Type-81 Tan-SAM LCC; 4 MCO; 1 LHA; 2 LPD; 2 LSD; 3 FGA sqn with 10
GUNS • TOWED 20mm M167 Vulcan F/A-18E Super Hornet; 1 FGA sqn with 10 F/A-18F Super
262 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Hornet; 2 ASW sqn with 5 P-8A Poseidon; 1 ELINT flt was a reported incursion by a North Korean merchant vessel across
with 2 EP-3E Aries II; 2 EW sqn with 5 EA-18G Growler; 1 the Northern Limit Line, and in November a North Korean missile
AEW&C sqn with 5 E-2D Hawkeye; 2 ASW hel sqn with crossed the NLL. North Korea remains diplomatically isolated.
12 MH-60R Seahawk; 1 tpt hel sqn with MH-60S Knight While foreign defence cooperation is restricted by international
Hawk; 1 base at Sasebo; 1 base at Yokosuka pressure and sanctions, Pyongyang has nonetheless often found
ways to develop military ties. Official conscription for both men
USAF: 13,000; 1 HQ (5th Air Force) at Okinawa–Kadena
and women is often extended, sometimes indefinitely. Training
AB; 1 ftr wg at Misawa AB (2 ftr sqn with 22 F-16C/D is focused on fighting a short, intensive war on the peninsula,
Fighting Falcon); 1 ftr wg at Okinawa–Kadena AB (2 ftr but the armed forces’ overall effectiveness in a modern conflict
sqn with 27 F-15C/D Eagle; 1 tkr sqn with 15 KC-135R against technologically superior opposition is unclear. Internal
Stratotanker; 1 AEW sqn with 2 E-3B Sentry; 1 CSAR sqn exercises are conducted regularly, but those publicised are staged
with 10 HH-60G Pave Hawk); 1 tpt wg at Yokota AB with and are not necessarily representative of wider operational capa-
10 C-130J-30 Hercules; 3 Beech 1900C (C-12J); 1 spec ops bility. In May 2022 North Korea announced it had mobilised the
gp at Okinawa–Kadena AB with (1 sqn with 5 MC-130J armed forces to supply medicines, in response to the country’s first
Commando II; 1 sqn with 5 CV-22B Osprey); 1 ISR sqn with acknowledged outbreak of COVID-19. North Korea’s conventional
RC-135 Rivet Joint; 1 ISR UAV flt with 5 RQ-4A Global Hawk forces remain reliant on increasingly obsolete equipment, with
USMC 20,000; 1 mne div; 1 mne regt HQ; 1 arty regt HQ; 1 older Soviet-era and Chinese-origin equipment supplemented by
a growing number of indigenous designs and upgrades, though
recce bn; 1 mne bn; 1 amph aslt bn; 1 arty bn; 1 FGA sqn at
the precise capability of these remains unclear. The overall effec-
Iwakuni with 12 F/A-18A++/C+ Hornet; 2 FGA sqn at Iwakuni
tiveness and serviceability of some equipment remains in doubt
with 12 F-35B Lightning II; 1 tkr sqn at Iwakuni with 15 KC- but there is local maintenance, repair and overhaul capacity. Local
130J Hercules; 2 tpt sqn at Futenma with 12 MV-22B Osprey defence-industrial capacity includes the manufacture of light
US Strategic Command: 1 AN/TPY-2 X-band radar at arms, armoured vehicles, artillery and missile systems. North Korea
Shariki; 1 AN/TPY-2 X-band radar at Kyogamisaki has exported weaponry in the past. In September 2022 Pyongyang
denied any plans to supply Russia with ammunition, following US
reporting that this had been requested. It is unclear whether the
country would have had the capability to indigenously develop
Korea, Democratic People’s some of the technical advances it has demonstrated, including in
Republic of DPRK rocket propulsion.

North Korean Won KPW 2021 2022 2023


ACTIVE 1,280,000 (Army 1,100,000 Navy 60,000
Air 110,000 Strategic Forces 10,000) Gendarmerie &
GDP USD
Paramilitary 189,000
per capita USD Conscript liability Army 5–12 years, Navy 5–10 years, Air Force 3–4
Def exp KPW years, followed by compulsory part-time service to age 40. There-
USD after service in the Worker/Peasant Red Guard to age 60
USD1=KPW RESERVE ε600,000 (Armed Forces ε600,000),
Definitive economic data not available Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 5,700,000
Reservists are assigned to units (see also Paramilitary)
Population 25,955,138

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Male 10.4% 3.5% 3.7% 3.9% 23.6% 3.6%
Female 9.9% 3.4% 3.6% 3.9% 24.0% 6.6% Strategic Forces ε10,000
North Korea describes its ballistic missile force as nuclear
Capabilities capable, although there is no conclusive evidence to verify the
successful integration of a warhead with any of these systems
Tensions on the Korean Peninsula rose in 2022, after diplomacy
since 2018 had reduced overall tensions. North Korea’s observed
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE (ε)
actions remain inconsistent with de-nuclearisation. 2022 saw SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
Pyongyang conduct more ballistic missile tests than any other year ICBM 10+: 6+ Hwasong-14/-15/-15 mod 1 (all in test); 4+
on record. These included a resumption in flight tests of ICBM cat- Hwasong-17 mod 1 (in test); (Earlier Hwasong-13/-13 mod
egorised systems and a separate IRBM overflight of Japan; these designs untested and presumed cancelled)
had not occurred since 2017. There remains scrutiny of North IRBM 10+ Hwasong-10 (Musudan) (status uncertain)/
Korea’s nuclear facilities, with increased concerns that the country Hwasong-12/-12 mod 1 (in test)
may renew nuclear testing. Aware of the qualitative inferiority of its MRBM 17+: ε10 Nodong mod 1/mod 2 (ε90+ msl); some
conventional forces, North Korea continues to invest in asymmet- Scud-ER; 7+ Pukgusong-2 (in test)
ric capabilities, particularly the development of nuclear weapons
SBRM 69+: 30+ Hwasong-5/-6 (RS-SS-1C/D Scud-
and ballistic missile delivery systems. Pyongyang’s ambitions to
B/C) (ε200+ msl); 1+ Hwasong-8/-8 mod 1 (in test); 9+
further diversify its shorter-range delivery systems continue. These
include quasi-ballistic missiles, claimed hypersonic glide vehi- Hwasong-11 mod (in test); 6+ Scud (mod) (in test); 17+
cles and apparent land-attack cruise missiles. North Korea is also KN-23 (road & rail mobile variants); 6+ KN-23 mod 1 (in
exploring new, potentially less vulnerable basing options, such as test); some KN-23 mod 2 (in test)
a rail-based system and additional SLBM designs. In October there GLCM some M-2021 (in test); some M-2021-2 (in test)
Asia 263

Army ε1,100,000 MANPATS 2K15 Shmel (RS-AT-1 Snapper); 9K111 Fagot


FORCES BY ROLE (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel)
COMMAND RCL 82mm 1,700 B-10
10 inf corps HQ ARTILLERY 21,600+
1 (Capital Defence) corps HQ SP/TOWED 8,600:
MANOEUVRE SP 122mm M-1977; M-1981; M-1985; M-1991; 130mm
Armoured M-1975; M-1981; M-1991; 152mm M-1974; M-1977;
1 armd div M-2018; 170mm M-1978; M-1989
15 armd bde TOWED 122mm D-30; D-74; M-1931/37; 130mm M-46;
Mechanised 152mm M-1937; M-1938; M-1943
6 mech div GUN/MOR 120mm (reported)
Light MRL 5,500: 107mm Type-63; VTT-323 107mm; 122mm
27 inf div BM-11; M-1977 (BM-21); M-1985; M-1992; M-1993; VTT-
14 inf bde 323 122mm; 200mm BMD-20; 240mm BM-24; M-1985;
COMBAT SUPPORT M-1989; M-1991; 300mm some M-2015 (KN-SS-X-09) (in
1 arty div test); 600mm some M-2019 (in test)
21 arty bde MOR 7,500: 82mm M-37; 120mm M-43; 160mm M-43
9 MRL bde SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
5–8 engr river crossing/amphibious regt SBRM 24+: 24 FROG-3/5/7; some Toksa (RS-SS-21B Scarab
1 engr river crossing bde mod); some M-2022 (in test)
AIR DEFENCE
Special Purpose Forces Command 88,000 SAM
FORCES BY ROLE Point-defence 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K310
Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡

Asia
SPECIAL FORCES
8 (Reconnaissance General Bureau) SF bn GUNS 11,000+
MANOEUVRE SP 14.5mm M-1984; 23mm M-1992; 37mm M-1992;
Reconnaissance 57mm M-1985
17 recce bn TOWED 11,000: 14.5mm ZPU-1/ZPU-2/ZPU-4; 23mm
Light ZU-23; 37mm M-1939; 57mm S-60; 85mm M-1939 KS-
9 lt inf bde 12; 100mm KS-19
6 sniper bde
Air Manoeuvre Navy ε60,000
3 AB bde EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 AB bn SUBMARINES 71
2 sniper bde SSB 1 8.24 Yongung (Gorae (Sinpo-B)) (SLBM trials) with 1
Amphibious Pukguksong-1 SLBM (status unclear)/KN-23 Mod 2 SLBM
2 sniper bde (in test)
SSK ε20 Type-033 (Romeo) with 8 single 533mm TT with
Reserves 600,000 SAET-60 HWT
FORCES BY ROLE SSC ε40 (some Sang-O some with 2 single 533mm TT
MANOEUVRE with 53–65E HWT; some Sang-O II with 4 single 533mm
Light TT with 53–65E HWT)
40 inf div SSW ε10† (some Yugo some with 2 single 406mm TT;
18 inf bde some Yeono some with 2 single 533mm TT)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE (ε) PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 2
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES FRIGATES • FFG 2:
The Korean People’s Army displayed a number of new 1 Najin with 2 single lnchr with P-20 (RS-SS-N-2A Styx)
armoured-vehicle designs at a parade in 2020, but it is AShM, 2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 2 100mm gun,
unclear if any of them have entered operational service 2 twin 57mm gun
MBT 3,500+ T-34/T-54/T-55/T-62/Type-59/Chonma/ 1 Najin with 2 twin lnchr with Kumsong-3
Pokpoong/Songun (KN-SS-N-2 Stormpetrel) AShM, 2 RBU 1200
LT TK 560+: 560 PT-76; M-1985 Uragan A/S mor, 2 100mm gun, 2 twin 57mm gun
IFV 32 BTR-80A (operational status unclear)
APC 2,500+ PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 372+
APC (T) BTR-50; Type-531 (Type-63); VTT-323 CORVETTES • FS 5: 4 Sariwon with 2 twin 57mm gun;
APC (W) 2,500 BTR-40/BTR-60/M-1992/1/BTR-152/ 1 Tral with 1 85mm gun (Two Tuman- and two Amnok-
M-2010 (6×6)/M-2010 (8×8) class corvettes constructed since early 2010s; operational
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE status unknown)
MSL PCG 10 Soju (FSU Project 205 mod (Osa)) with 4 single
SP 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); M-2010 ATGM lnchr with P-20 (RS-SS-N-2A Styx) AShM
264 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

PCC 18: 4 regt with J-6; MiG-19 Farmer


6 Type-037 (Hainan) with 4 RBU 1200 A/S mor, 2 twin 5 regt with J-7; MiG-21F-13/PFM Fishbed
57mm gun 1 regt with MiG-21bis Fishbed
7 Taechong I with 2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 1 85mm 1 regt with MiG-23ML/P Flogger
gun, 1 twin 57mm gun 1 regt with MiG-29A/S/UB Fulcrum
5 Taechong II with 2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 1 GROUND ATTACK
100mm gun, 1 twin 57mm gun 1 regt with Su-25K/UBK Frogfoot
PBFG 31+: TRANSPORT
4 Huangfeng (Type-021) with 4 single lnchr with P-15 Some regt with An-2 Colt/Y-5 (to infiltrate 2 air-force
Termit (RS-SS-N-2 Styx) AShM, 2 twin AK230 CIWS sniper brigades deep into ROK rear areas); Il-62M Classic
6 Komar with 2 single lnchr with P-20 (RS-SS-N-2A TRAINING
Styx) AShM
Some regt with CJ-6; FT-2; MiG-21U/UM
8 Project 205 (Osa I) with 4 single lnchr with P-20
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
(RS-SS-N-2A Styx) AShM, 2 twin AK230 CIWS
Some regt with Hughes 500D/E; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H;
6 Sohung (Komar mod) with 2 single lnchr with P-20
Mil-26 Halo; PZL Mi-2 Hoplite; Mi-4 Hound; Z-5
(RS-SS-N-2A Styx) AShM
1+ Nongo with 2 single lnchr with P-15 Termit (RS-SS-N-2 AIR DEFENCE
Styx) AShM (operational status unknown) 19 bde with S-125M1 Pechora-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa); S-75
6+ Nongo with 2 twin lnchr with Kumsong-3 (KN-SS-N-2 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline); S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5
Stormpetrel) AShM (operational status unknown) Gammon); 9K36 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K310 Igla-1
PBF 222: approx. 50 Chong-Jin with 1 85mm gun; 142 Ku (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
Song/Sin Hung/Sin Hung (mod); approx. 30 Sinpo EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PB 86: approx. 50 Chaho; 6 Chong-Ju with 2 RBU 1200 AIRCRAFT 545 combat capable
Uragan A/S mor, 1 85mm gun; 12 Type-062 (Shanghai II); 18 BBR 80 Il-28 Beagle/H-5‡ (includes some Il-28 for ISR)
SO-1 with 4 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 2 twin 57mm gun FTR 401+: MiG-15 Fagot‡; 107 MiG-17 Fresco/J-5‡; 100
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 20 MiG-19 Farmer/J-6 (incl JJ-6 trg ac); 120 MiG-21F-13
MSC 20: 15 Yukto I; 5 Yukto II Fishbed/J-7; MiG-21PFM Fishbed; 46 MiG-23ML Flogger;
AMPHIBIOUS
10 MiG-23P Flogger; 18+ MiG-29A/S/UB Fulcrum
LANDING SHIPS • LSM 10 Hantae (capacity 3 tanks;
FGA 30 MiG-21bis Fishbed (18 Su-7 Fitter in store)
350 troops)
ATK 34 Su-25K/UBK Frogfoot
LANDING CRAFT 255
LCM 25 TPT 205: Heavy 3 Il-76 (operated by state airline); Light
LCPL approx. 95 Nampo (capacity 35 troops) ε200 An-2 Colt/Y-5; PAX 2 Il-62M Classic (VIP)
UCAC 135 Kongbang (capacity 50 troops) TRG 215+: 180 CJ-6; 35 FT-2; some MiG-21U/UM
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 23: HELICOPTERS
AGI 14 (converted fishing vessels) MRH 80 Hughes 500D/E (some armed)
AS 8 (converted cargo ships) TPT 206: Heavy 4 Mi-26 Halo; Medium 63: 15 Mi-8
ASR 1 Kowan Hip/Mi-17 Hip H; 48 Mi-4 Hound/Z-5; Light 139 PZL
Mi-2 Hoplite
Coastal Defence UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
FORCES BY ROLE ISR • Medium some (unidentified indigenous type);
COASTAL DEFENCE Light Pchela-1 (Shmel) (reported)
2 AShM regt with HY-1/Kumsong-3 (6 sites, some AIR DEFENCE • SAM 209+
mobile launchers) Long-range 10 S-200 Angara† (RS-SA-5 Gammon)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Medium-range 179+: some Pongae-5 (KN-SA-X-01) (sta-
COASTAL DEFENCE tus unknown); 179+ S-75 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline)
ARTY 130mm M-1992; SM-4-1 Short-range ε20 S-125M1 Pechora-M1† (RS-SA-3 Goa)
AShM HY-1; Kumsong-3 Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; 9K36
ARTILLERY • TOWED 122mm M-1931/37; 152mm Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
M-1937 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 Atoll)‡; R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid);
Air Force 110,000 R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); PL-5; PL-7; SARH R-23/24
4 air divs. 1st, 2nd and 3rd Air Divs (cbt) responsible for N, (RS-AA-7 Apex); R-27R/ER (RS-AA-10 A/C Alamo)
E and S air-defence sectors respectively; 8th Air Div (trg) ASM Kh-23 (RS-AS-7 Kerry)‡; Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen);
responsible for NE sector. The AF controls the national airline Kh-29L (RS-AS-14A Kedge)
FORCES BY ROLE
BOMBER Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 189,000 active
3 lt regt with H-5; Il-28 Beagle
FIGHTER Security Troops 189,000 (incl border guards,
1 regt with MiG-15 Fagot public-safety personnel)
6 regt with J-5; MiG-17 Fresco Ministry of Public Security
Asia 265

Worker/Peasant Red Guard ε5,700,000 though industry will have to carefully balance new export con-
reservists tracts against existing local orders, particularly in land systems.
Org on a province/town/village basis; comd structure is ACTIVE 555,000 (Army 420,000 Navy 70,000 Air
bde–bn–coy–pl; small arms with some mor and AD guns
65,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 13,500
(but many units unarmed)
Conscript liability Army and Marines 18 months, Navy 20 months,
Air Force 21 months
Korea, Republic of ROK RESERVE 3,100,000
Reserve obligation of three days per year. First Combat Forces
South Korean Won KRW 2021 2022 2023
(Mobilisation Reserve Forces) or Regional Combat Forces (Home-
GDP KRW 2072tr 2203tr land Defence Forces) to age 33
USD 1.81tr 1.73tr
Reserve Paramilitary 3,000,000
per capita USD 35,004 33,592
Being reorganised
Growth % 4.1 2.6
Inflation % 2.5 5.5
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Def bdgt KRW 52.9tr 54.6tr 57.1tr
USD 46.3bn 43.0bn
Space
USD1=KRW 1143.95 1270.29
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
43.3
SATELLITES • COMMUNICATIONS 2 Anasis

27.0
Army 420,000

Asia
2008 2015 2022 FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND
Population 51,844,834
8 corps HQ
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 (Capital Defence) comd HQ
SPECIAL FORCES
Male 6.0% 2.3% 3.1% 3.8% 27.3% 7.7%
1 (Special Warfare) SF comd (1 SF gp; 6 spec ops bde)
Female 5.7% 2.1% 2.8% 3.3% 26.1% 9.9%
6 cdo regt
2 indep cdo bn
Capabilities MANOEUVRE
South Korea’s forces are some of the best equipped and trained Armoured
in the region. Defence policy remains focused on North Korea,
7 armd bde
and Seoul continues to prioritise developing new capabilities to
respond to the nuclear and conventional threat from the DPRK. 1 (Capital) armd inf div (1 armd cav bn, 2 armd bde,
The new administration is replacing the 2018 Defense Reform 1 armd inf bde, 1 SP arty bde, 1 engr bn)
2.0 project with the Defense Innovation 4.0 programme. As well 1 (8th) armd inf div (1 armd cav bn, 1 armd bde, 2 armd
as redesigning overall defence policy to focus on advanced tech- inf bde, 1 SP arty bde, 1 engr bn)
nology and cyber security, South Korea has again adopted the
1 (11th) armd inf div (1 armd cav bn, 3 armd inf bde,
three-axis defence strategy comprising ‘Kill Chain’, ‘Korea Air and
Missile Defense’ and ‘Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation’ 1 SP arty bde, 1 engr bn)
components which were abandoned in 2019. The 2020 defence 2 tk bn
White Paper, released in February 2021, detailed plans to tackle Light
North Korea’s missile threats through a ‘four-Ds strategy’ of detect, 15 inf div (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn, 3 inf bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr bn)
disrupt, destroy and defend. The next edition of the White Paper
2 indep inf bde
is expected to be released in early 2023. The long-established
alliance with the US is a central element of defence strategy. The Air Manoeuvre
planned transfer of wartime operational control of forces to Seoul 1 air mob div (2 cdo bde)
is now ‘conditions based’ with no firm date set. A large number of 1 air aslt bde
US military personnel and equipment remain stationed in South Other
Korea, along with THAAD missile-defence systems. In 2022, South 5 sy regt
Korea and the US resumed large-scale joint military exercises
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
that had been scaled back in recent years. A space operations
centre was inaugurated in 2021. South Korea has demonstrated 3 SSM bn
the capacity to support small international deployments, includ- COMBAT SUPPORT
ing contributions to UN missions and counter-piracy operations 6 arty bde
in the Arabian Sea. The equipment inventory increasingly com- 1 MRL bde (3 MRL bn; 1 SSM bn)
prises modern systems. South Korea has developed a substantial
6 engr bde
domestic defence industry which supply a large proportion of
equipment requirements, although some equipment – notably 5 engr gp
the F-35 combat aircraft – is still procured from the US. Local 1 CBRN defence bde
defence companies are finding growing export success globally, 8 sigs bde
266 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT K30 Biho; some K-808 SPAAG


4 log spt comd TOWED 160: 20mm 60 M167 Vulcan; 35mm 20 GDF-
HELICOPTER 003; 40mm 80 L/60/L/70; M1
1 (army avn) comd AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AIR DEFENCE ASM AGM-114R1 Hellfire
1 ADA bde
5 ADA bn Navy 70,000 (incl marines)
Three separate fleet elements: 1st Fleet Donghae (East Sea/
Reserves Sea of Japan); 2nd Fleet Pyeongtaek (West Sea/Yellow Sea);
FORCES BY ROLE 3rd Fleet Busan (South Sea/Korea Strait); independent
COMMAND submarine command; three additional flotillas (incl SF,
1 army HQ mine-warfare, amphibious and spt elements) and 1 Naval
MANOEUVRE Air Wing (3 gp plus spt gp)
Light
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
24 inf div
SUBMARINES 19
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE SSB 1 Chang Bogo III (Batch I (GER Type-214 mod; KSS-
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES III)) (fitted with AIP) with 6 SLBM (likely based on
MBT 2,149: 1,000 K1/K1E1; 484 K1A1/K1A2; ε225 K2; Hyeonmu-IIB), 8 single 533mm TT with K731 White Shark
ε400 M48A5; 40 T-80U
SSK 18:
IFV 540: ε500 K21; 40 BMP-3
6 Chang Bogo I (GER Type-209/1200; KSS-1) with 8 single
APC 2,566
533mm TT with SUT HWT/K731 White Shark HWT
APC (T) 2,260: 1,700 KIFV; 420 M113; 140 M577 (CP)
3 Chang Bogo I (GER Type-209/1200; KSS-1) with 8
APC (W) 296; 20 BTR-80; 276 K806/K808
single 533mm TT with UGM-84 Harpoon AShM/SUT
PPV 10 MaxxPro
HWT/K731 White Shark HWT
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
9 Chang Bogo II (GER Type-214; KSS-2) (fitted with AIP)
AEV 207 M9; K600
with 8 single 533mm TT with Hae Sung III LACM/
ARV 238+: 200 K1; K21 ARV; K288A1; M47; 38 M88A1
Hae Sung I AShM/SUT HWT/K731 White Shark HWT
VLB 56 K1
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 26
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
CRUISERS • CGHM 3 Sejong (KDD-III) with Aegis
MSL
Baseline 7 C2, 6 8-cell K-VLS with Hae Sung II LACM/
SP Hyeongung
Red Shark A/S msl, 4 quad lnchr with Hae Sung I AShM,
MANPATS 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn); Hyeongung;
TOW-2A 10 8-cell Mk 41 VLS (6 fore, 4 aft) with SM-2 Block IIIA/B
RCL 75mm; 90mm M67; 106mm M40A2 SAM, 1 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116 RAM SAM,
GUNS 58 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with K745 Blue Shark
SP 90mm 50 M36 LWT, 1 Goalkeeper CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 2 Lynx
TOWED 76mm 8 M18 Hellcat (AT gun) Mk99/AW159 Wildcat hels)
ARTILLERY 12,128+ DESTROYERS • DDGHM 6 Chungmugong Yi Sun-Sin
SP 2,330: 105mm ε50 K105A1; 155mm 2,280: ε1,240 K9/ (KDD-II) with 2 8-cell K-VLS with Hae Sung II LACM/
K9A1 Thunder; 1,040 M109A2 (K55/K55A1) Red Shark A/S msl, 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84 Harpoon
TOWED 3,500+: 105mm 1,700 M101/KH-178; 155mm AShM/Hae Sung I AShM, 4 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with SM-2
1,800+ KH-179/M114 Block IIIA/B SAM, 1 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116
MRL 298: 130mm ε40 K136 Kooryong; 227mm 58: 48 M270 RAM SAM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk
MLRS; 10 M270A1 MLRS; 239mm ε200 K239 Cheonmu 46 LWT, 1 Goalkeeper CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1
MOR 6,000: 81mm KM29 (M29); 107mm M30; 120mm Lynx Mk99/AW159 Wildcat hel)
Hanwha 120mm mortar FRIGATES 17
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS FFGHM 13:
SRBM • Conventional 30+: 30 Hyonmu IIA/IIB; MGM- 4 Daegu (Incheon Batch II)† (limited serviceability
140A/B ATACMS (launched from M270/M270A1 MLRS) due to faulty propulsion system) with 2 8-cell
GLCM • Conventional Hyonmu III K-VLS with Hae Sung II LACM/TSLM LACM/
HELICOPTERS Haegung (K-SAAM) SAM/Red Shark A/S msl, 2
ATK 96: 60 AH-1F/J Cobra; 36 AH-64E Apache quad lnchr with TSLM LACM/Hae Sung I AShM, 2
MRH 175: 130 Hughes 500D; 45 MD-500 triple 324mm KMk. 32 ASTT with K745 Blue Shark
TPT 236+: Heavy 37: 31 CH-47D Chinook; 6 MH-47E LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 127mm
Chinook; Medium 287: ε200 KUH-1 Surion; 87 UH-60P gun (capacity 1 Lynx Mk99/AW159 Wildcat hel)
Black Hawk; Light 12 Bo-105 3 Gwanggaeto Daewang (KDD-I) with 2 quad lnchr
AIR DEFENCE with RGM-84 Harpoon AShM, 2 8-cell Mk 48 mod
SAM • Point-defence Chiron; Chun Ma (Pegasus); FIM- 2 VLS with RIM-7P Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 triple
92 Stinger; Javelin; Mistral; 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) 324mm KMk. 32 ASTT with K745 Blue Shark LWT,
GUNS 477+ 2 Goalkeeper CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 Lynx
SP 317: 20mm ε150 KIFV Vulcan SPAAG; 30mm 167 Mk99/AW159 Wildcat hel)
Asia 267

6 Incheon with 2 quad lnchr with TSLM LACM/Hae with K745 Blue Shark LWT, 1 76mm gun (fitted for but not
Sung I AShM, 1 21-cell Mk 49 lnchr with RIM-116 with K-VLS) (capacity 2 med hels; 300 students); 2 MTB
RAM SAM, 2 triple 324mm KMk. 32 ASTT with
K745 Blue Shark LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B Naval Aviation
CIWS, 1 127 mm gun (capacity 1 Lynx Mk99/ EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AW159 Wildcat hel) AIRCRAFT 16 combat capable
FFG 4 Ulsan with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84 Harpoon ASW 16: 8 P-3C Orion; 8 P-3CK Orion
AShM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 TPT • Light 5 Cessna F406 Caravan II
LWT, 2 76mm gun HELICOPTERS
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS ε64 ASW 31: 11 Lynx Mk99; 12 Lynx Mk99A; 8 AW159 Wildcat
CORVETTES • FSG 7: TPT 15: Medium 8 UH-60P Black Hawk Light 7 Bell 205
1 Po Hang (Flight IV) with 2 twin lnchr with RGM-84 (UH-1H Iroquois)
Harpoon AShM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with Mk 46
LWT, 2 76mm gun Marines 29,000
6 Po Hang (Flight V/VI) with 2 twin lnchr with Hae
FORCES BY ROLE
Sung I AShM, 2 triple 324mm KMk. 32 ASTT with
SPECIAL FORCES
K745 Blue Shark LWT, 2 76mm gun
1 SF regt
PCFG 22: 18 Gumdoksuri with 2 twin lnchr with Hae Sung
MANOEUVRE
I AShM, 1 76mm gun; 4 Chamsuri II with 1 12-cell 130mm
Amphibious
MRL, 1 76mm gun
2 mne div (1 recce bn, 1 tk bn, 3 mne bde, 1 amph bn,
PBF ε35 Sea Dolphin
MINE WARFARE 12 1 arty bde, 1 engr bn)
MINE COUNTERMEASURES 10 1 mne bde (1 recce coy, 4 mne bn, 1 SP arty bn)
MHO 6 Kan Kyeong 1 mne bde (3 mne bn, 1 fd arty bn)

Asia
MSO 4 Yang Yang 1 mne BG (1 mne bn, 1 SP arty bn)
MINELAYERS • ML 2: EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 Nampo (MLS-II) with 1 4-cell K-VLS VLS with ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Haegung (K-SAAM) SAM, 2 triple KMk. 32 triple MBT 100: 50 K1E1/A2; 50 M48A3
324mm ASTT with K745 Blue Shark LWT, 1 76mm AAV 166 AAV-7A1
gun (capacity 1 med hel) APC • APC(W) K808
1 Won San with 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTUCTURE • MSL
Mk 46 LWT/K745 Blue Shark LWT, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel SP Spike NLOS
landing platform MANPATS Hyeongung
AMPHIBIOUS ARTILLERY 238
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 6 SP • 155mm 80: ε40 K9 Thunder; ε20 K9A1 Thunder;
LHD 2: ε20 M109A2 (K55/K55A1)
1 Dokdo with 1 Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116 RAM TOWED 140: 105mm ε20 M101; 155mm ε120 KH-179
SAM, 2 Goalkeeper CIWS (capacity 2 LCAC; 10 MRL • 239mm 18 K239 Cheonmu
tanks; 700 troops; 10 UH-60 hel) MOR 81mm KM29 (M29)
1 Marado (Dokdo mod) with 1 4-cell K-VLS with COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM RGM-84A Harpoon
K-SAAM SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS (truck mounted)
(capacity 2 LCAC; 6 MBT, 7 AAV-7A1, 720 troops; HELICOPTERS • TPT • Medium 15+ MUH-1 Surion
7-12 hels)
AIR DEFENCE
LPD 4 Cheonwangbong (LST-II) (capacity 3 LCM; 2
GUNS • Towed • 20mm M167 Vulcan (direct fire role)
MBT; 8 AFV; 300 troops; 2 med hel)
LANDING SHIPS • LST 4 Go Jun Bong with 1 hel Naval Special Warfare Flotilla
landing platform (capacity 20 tanks; 300 troops)
LANDING CRAFT 25 Air Force 65,000
LCU 7+ Mulgae I
4 Comd (Ops, Southern Combat, Logs, Trg)
LCT 3 Mulgae II
LCM 10 LCM-8 FORCES BY ROLE
LCAC 5: 3 Tsaplya (capacity 1 MBT; 130 troops); 2 LSF- FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
II (capacity 150 troops or 1 MBT & 24 troops) 1 sqn with F-4E Phantom II
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 11 5 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II
AG 1 Sunjin (trials spt) 3 sqn with F-15K Eagle
AOEH 1 Soyangham (AOE-II) with 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 8 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (KF-16C/D)
1B CIWS (capacity 1 med hel) 2 sqn with F-35A Lightning II
AORH 3 Chun Jee 3 sqn with FA-50 Fighting Eagle
ARS 1 Cheong Hae Jin ISR
ATS 2 Tongyeong 1 wg with KO-1
AX 3: 1 Hansando with 2 triple 324mm KMk. 32 ASTT 1 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (KF-16C/D)
268 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

SIGINT AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES


1 sqn with Hawker 800RA/XP AAM • IR AIM-9 Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL II; SARH AIM-7 Sparrow; ARH AIM-120B/C-5/7
1 sqn with B-737 AEW AMRAAM
SEARCH & RESCUE ASM AGM-65A Maverick; AGM-130
2 sqn with AS332L Super Puma; Bell 412EP; HH-47D AShM AGM-84L Harpoon Block II; AGM-142 Popeye
Chinook; HH-60P Black Hawk; Ka-32 Helix C ARM AGM-88 HARM
TANKER ALCM AGM-84H SLAM-ER; KEPD-350 Taurus
1 sqn with A330 MRTT BOMBS
TRANSPORT Inertial/satellite-guided GBU-31/2/8 JDAM; GBU-39
1 VIP sqn with B-737-300; B-747-8; CN235-220; S-92A SDB; KGGB; Spice 2000
Superhawk; VH-60P Black Hawk (VIP) Laser-guided GBU-28; Paveway II
3 sqn (incl 1 spec ops) with C-130H/H-30/J-30 Hercules
2 sqn with CN235M-100/220 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 13,500 active
TRAINING
1 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II Civilian Defence Corps 3,000,000 reservists
1 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (to age 50)
4 sqn with KT-1 Coast Guard 13,500
1 sqn with KT-100
Part of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
3 sqn with T-50/TA-50 Golden Eagle*
Five regional headquarters with 19 coastguard stations
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
and one guard unit
1 sqn with UH-60P Black Hawk (Spec Ops)
ISR UAV EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with RQ-4B Global Hawk (forming) PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 111
PSOH 16: 1 Lee Cheong-ho with 1 76mm gun; 1
SPECIAL FORCES
Sambongho; 14 Tae Pung Yang with 1 med hel
1 SF sqn
PSO 21: 3 Han Kang with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing
AIR DEFENCE
platform; 5 Han Kang II with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing
3 AD bde (total: 6 SAM bn with Chunggung; 2 SAM bn
pllatform; 12 Jaemin with 1 hel landing platform; 1
with M902 Patriot PAC-3 CRI)
Sumjinkang
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE PCO 23 Tae Geuk
AIRCRAFT 602 combat capable PCC 21: 4 Hae Uri; 15 Hae Uri II; 2 Hae Uri III
FTR 173: 141 F-5E Tiger II; 32 F-5F Tiger II PB 30: 26 Haenuri; ε4 (various)
FGA 349: 29 F-4E Phantom II; 59 F-15K Eagle; 117 F-16C AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 8
Fighting Falcon (KF-16C); 44 F-16D Fighting Falcon (KF- UCAC 8: 1 BHT-150; 4 Griffon 470TD; 3 Griffon 8000TD
16D); 40 F-35A Lightning II; 60 FA-50 Fighting Eagle AIRCRAFT
AEW&C 4 B-737 AEW MP 5: 1 C-212-400 MP; 4 CN235-110 MPA
ISR 24: 4 Hawker 800RA; 20 KO-1 TPT • PAX 1 CL-604
SIGINT 6: 4 Hawker 800SIG; 2 Falcon 2000 HELICOPTERS
(COMINT/SIGINT) MRH 7: 5 AS565MB Panther; 1 AW139; 1 Bell 412SP
TKR/TPT 4 A330 MRTT SAR 3 S-92
TPT 38: Medium 16: 8 C-130H Hercules; 4 C-130H-30 TPT • Medium 10: 8 Ka-32 Helix C; 2 KUH-1 Surion
Hercules; 4 C-130J-30 Hercules; Light 20: 12 CN235M-100;
8 CN235M-220 (incl 2 VIP); PAX 2: 1 B-737-300; 1 B-747-
DEPLOYMENT
8 (leased)
TRG 183: 83 KT-1; 49 T-50 Golden Eagle*; 9 T-50B Black ARABIAN SEA & GULF OF ADEN: Combined Maritime
Eagle* (aerobatics); 22 TA-50 Golden Eagle*; ε20 KT-100 Forces • CTF-151: 200; 1 DDGHM
HELICOPTERS INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 7
SAR 16: 5 HH-47D Chinook; 11 HH-60P Black Hawk
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 254; 1 mech inf BG HQ; 1 mech
MRH 3 Bell 412EP
inf coy; 1 inf coy; 1 log coy
TPT • Medium 30: 2 AS332L Super Puma; 8 Ka-32 Helix
C; 3 S-92A Super Hawk; 7 UH-60P Black Hawk; 10 VH- SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 277; 1 engr coy
60P Black Hawk (VIP) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES: 170 (trg activities at UAE Spec
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR 7+: Heavy 4 Ops School)
RQ-4B Global Hawk; Medium 3+: some Night Intruder; WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 4
3 Searcher
LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS
Harpy
FOREIGN FORCES
AIR DEFENCE • SAM 120 Sweden NNSC: 5
Long-range 48 M902 Patriot PAC-3 CRI Switzerland NNSC: 5
Medium-range 72 Chunggung (KM-SAM) United States US Pacific Command: 30,400
Asia 269

Army 21,500; 1 HQ (8th Army) at Pyeongtaek; 1 div HQ


ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
at Pyeongtaek; 1 armd bde with M1A2 SEPv2 Abrams;
M2A3/M3A3 Bradley; M109A6; 1 (cbt avn) hel bde with
AH-64D/E Apache; CH-47F Chinook; UH-60L/M Black
Space
Hawk; 1 MRL bde with M270A1 MLRS; 1 AD bde with EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SATELLITES • ISR 1 LaoSat-1
M902 Patriot PAC-3/FIM-92A Avenger; 1 SAM bty with
THAAD; 1 (APS) armd bde eqpt set
Army 25,600
Navy 350
FORCES BY ROLE
USAF 8,350; 1 HQ (7th Air Force) at Osan AB; 1 ftr wg at 4 mil regions
Kunsan AB (2 ftr sqn with 20 F-16C/D Fighting Falcon); MANOEUVRE
1 ftr wg at Osan AB (1 ftr sqn with 20 F-16C/D Fighting Armoured
Falcon, 1 atk sqn with 24 A-10C Thunderbolt II); 1 ISR sqn 1 armd bn
at Osan AB with U-2S Light
USMC 200 5 inf div
7 indep inf regt
65 indep inf coy
Laos LAO COMBAT SUPPORT
5 arty bn
New Lao Kip LAK 2021 2022 2023 1 engr regt
GDP LAK 181tr 213tr 2 (construction) engr regt
USD 18.5bn 16.3bn AIR DEFENCE
9 ADA bn
per capita USD 2,513 2,172
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE

Asia
Growth % 2.1 2.2
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Inflation % 3.8 15.0 MBT 25: 15 T-54/T-55; 10 T-72B1
Def bdgt LAK n.k. n.k. LT TK 10 PT-76
USD n.k. n.k. RECCE BRDM-2M
USD1=LAK 9753.18 13082.84 IFV 10+ BMP-1
APC • APC (W) 50: 30 BTR-40/BTR-60; 20 BTR-152
Population 7,749,595 AUV Dongfeng Mengshi 4×4; ZYZ-8002 (CS/VN3)
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus ARV T-54/T-55
Male 15.8% 4.9% 5.0% 4.5% 17.7% 2.1% VLB MTU
Female 15.3% 4.8% 5.0% 4.5% 18.0% 2.4% ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • RCL 57mm
M18/A1; 75mm M20; 106mm M40; 107mm B-11
ARTILLERY 62+
Capabilities TOWED 62: 105mm 20 M101; 122mm 20 D-30/M-30
The Lao People’s Armed Forces (LPAF) are closely linked to the M-1938; 130mm 10 M-46; 155mm 12 M114
ruling Communist Party and their primary role is internal security. MOR 81mm; 82mm; 107mm M-1938/M2A1; 120mm M-43
Their main operational experience dates from the Second Indo- AIR DEFENCE
China War and the 1988 border war with Thailand. Defence spend- SAM
ing and military procurement have been constrained for the last Short-range 6+: 6 S-125M Pechora-M† (RS-SA-3 Goa);
two decades. There are military-to-military contacts including with some Yitian (CH-SA-13)
the Cambodian, Chinese and Vietnamese armed forces, and there Point-defence 9K32M Strela-2M (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡;
is defence cooperation with Russia. Training support has been 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-
provided by Russia and Vietnam. The LPAF have participated in SA-16 Gimlet)
exercises, including those organised by the ADMM-Plus, with other GUNS
regional countries and international partners. However, they have SP 23mm ZSU-23-4
made no international deployments and have little capacity for TOWED 14.5mm ZPU-1/ZPU-4; 23mm ZU-23; 37mm
sustained operations. Laos still operates Soviet-era military equip- M-1939; 57mm S-60
ment and relies on Russian supplies, as illustrated by ongoing
deliveries of training aircraft, armoured reconnaissance vehicles Army Marine Section ε600
and main battle tanks. The country lacks a traditional defence- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
industrial base and maintenance capacity is limited, reflected in a PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PBR some
support contract with a Russian firm for helicopter maintenance in AMPHIBIOUS • LCM some
2016.
Air Force 3,500
ACTIVE 29,100 (Army 25,600 Air 3,500) FORCES BY ROLE
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 100,000 TRANSPORT
Conscript liability 18 months minimum 1 regt with MA60; MA600; Mi-17 Hip H
270 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ageing and there are important capability gaps, particularly in air
AIRCRAFT 4 combat capable defence and maritime surveillance. There are plans to acquire new
TPT • Light 5: 1 An-74TK Coaler; 2 MA60; 2 MA600 light combat aircraft, maritime patrol aircraft and MALE UAVs. An
TRG 4 Yak-130 Mitten* air force squadron was established in 2021 to operate UAVs. Funds
HELICOPTERS have been earmarked for an F/A-18D sustainment and upgrade
programme. Malaysia hosts Australian forces and the headquarters
MRH 15: 6 Mi-17 Hip H; 5 Mi-17V-5 Hip; 4 Z-9A
of the FPDA Integrated Area Defence System at RMAF Butterworth;
TPT 4: Medium 1 Ka-32T Helix C; Light 3 SA360 Dauphin
Butterworth is set to be modernised in 2023-25. Malaysia’s defence
industry focuses mainly on providing maintenance, repair and
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary overhaul services, and on naval shipbuilding and land vehicle pro-
duction via offset agreements with European companies.
Militia Self-Defence Forces 100,000+
Village ‘home guard’ or local defence ACTIVE 113,000 (Army 80,000 Navy 18,000
Air 15,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 22,500
Malaysia MYS RESERVE 51,600 (Army 50,000, Navy 1,000
Malaysian Ringgit MYR 2021 2022 2023 Air Force 600) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 244,700
GDP MYR 1.55tr 1.69tr
USD 373bn 434bn
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
per capita USD 11,408 13,108
Army 80,000
Growth % 3.1 5.4
2 mil region
Inflation % 2.5 3.2
FORCES BY ROLE
Def bdgt MYR 15.9bn 16.1bn
COMMAND
USD 3.83bn 4.15bn 5 div HQ
USD1=MYR 4.14 3.89 SPECIAL FORCES
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 1 SF bde (3 SF bn)
4.55 MANOEUVRE
Armoured
3.08 1 tk regt
2008 2015 2022 Mechanised
4 armd regt
Population 33,871,431
1 mech inf bde (4 mech bn, 1 cbt engr sqn)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Light
1 inf bde (6 inf bn, 1 arty regt)
Male 11.7% 4.0% 4.5% 4.7% 22.6% 3.8%
4 inf bde (3 inf bn, 1 arty regt)
Female 11.0% 3.8% 4.2% 4.4% 21.3% 4.0%
2 inf bde (3 inf bn)
1 inf bde (2 inf bn, 1 arty regt)
Capabilities 1 inf bde (2 inf bn)
Modernisation programmes over the past 30 years have provided 1 inf bde (forming)
the Malaysian armed forces with a limited capacity for external Air Manoeuvre
defence. However, the army has continued to be the dominant
1 (Rapid Deployment Force) AB bde (1 lt tk sqn, 4 AB bn,
service, reflecting a longstanding but now outdated focus on
counter-insurgency. In December 2019, the then-government 1 lt arty regt, 1 engr sqn)
tabled the country’s first defence White Paper; this was reaffirmed Other
by the new government that took office in August 2021. The White 2 (border) sy bde (5 bn)
Paper identified the ‘three pillars’ of Malaysia’s defence strategy as COMBAT SUPPORT
‘concentric deterrence’ (the armed forces’ protection of national 9 arty regt
interests in ‘core’, ‘extended’ and ‘forward’ zones); ‘comprehensive 1 STA regt
defence’ (involving whole-of-government and whole-of-society
1 MRL regt
support for the national-defence effort); and ‘credible partner-
ships’ (involving engagement in regional and wider international
1 cbt engr sqn
defence cooperation). While the paper identified new defence 3 fd engr regt (total: 7 cbt engr sqn, 3 engr spt sqn)
challenges, including tensions in the South China Sea and cyber 1 construction regt
threats, it provided no detailed insights into future resource alloca- 1 int unit
tion or capability development. However, it is likely that budget- 4 MP regt
ary constraints will continue to limit defence resources. Malaysian 1 sigs regt
forces regularly participate in ADMM–Plus, Five Power Defence
HELICOPTER
Arrangements and other exercises with regional and international
partners, including the US. Malaysia has invested in synthetic
1 hel sqn
military-training aids. In 2017, Malaysia began trilateral joint mari- 1 tpt sqn with S-61A-4 Nuri (forming)
time patrols and joint Sulu-Sulawesi Seas air patrols with Indone- AIR DEFENCE
sia and the Philippines. Much of Malaysia’s military equipment is 3 ADA regt
Asia 271

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE COMBAT SUPPORT


ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 4 med coy
MBT 48 PT-91M Twardy 5 tpt coy
LT TK 21 Scorpion-90
RECCE 98: 74 SIBMAS (some†); 24 AV8 Gempita Navy 18,000
IFV 212: 31 ACV300 Adnan (25mm Bushmaster); 3 Regional Commands: MAWILLA 1 (Kuantan), MAWIL-
13 ACV300 Adnan AGL; 46 AV8 Gempita IFV25; 122 AV8 LA 2 (Sabah) and MAWILLA 3 (Langkawi). A fourth is be-
Gempita IFV30 (incl 54 with Ingwe ATGM) ing formed (Bintulu)
APC 629
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
APC (T) 265: 149 ACV300 Adnan (incl 69 variants);
SUBMARINES 2
13 FV4333 Stormer (upgraded); 63 K200A; 40 K200A1
SSK 2 Tunku Abdul Rahman (FRA Scorpène) with 6 single
APC (W) 335: 35 AV8 Gempita APC (incl 13 CP; 3 sigs; 9
amb); 300 Condor (incl variants) 533mm TT with SM39 Exocet AShM/Black Shark HWT
PPV 29: 9 IAG Guardian; 20 Lipanbara PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 2
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES FFGHM 2 Lekiu with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet
AEV 3 MID-M Block 2 AShM, 1 16-cell VLS with Sea Wolf SAM, 2 triple
ARV 65+: Condor; 15 ACV300; 4 K288A1; 22 SIBMAS; 6 324mm ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT with A244/S LWT, 1 57mm
WZT-4; 18 AV8 Gempita ARV gun (capacity 1 Super Lynx 300 hel)
VLB 5+: Leguan; 5 PMCz-90 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 55
NBC VEHICLES 4+: 4 AV8 Gempita; K216A1 CORVETTES 8
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL FSG 2 Kasturi with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet
SP 8 ACV300 Baktar Shikan Block 2 AShM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT
MANPATS 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn); 9K115-2 with A244/S LWT, 1 57mm gun, 1 hel landing platform
Metis-M1 (RS-AT-13); Eryx; Baktar Shihan (HJ-8); SS.11 FSH 6 Kedah (GER MEKO 100) with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel

Asia
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf landing platform (fitted for but not with MM40 Exocet
ARTILLERY 438 AShM & RAM SAM)
TOWED 140: 105mm 118: 18 LG1 MkIII; 100 Model 56 PCFM 4 Laksamana with 1 Albatros quad lnchr with
pack howitzer; 155mm 22 G-5 Aspide SAM, 1 76mm gun
MRL 36 ASTROS II (equipped with 127mm SS-30) PCF 4 Perdana (FRA Combattante II) with 1 57mm gun
MOR 262: 81mm 232; SP 81mm 14: 4 K281A1; 10 PCC 4 Keris (Littoral Mission Ship)
ACV300-S; SP 120mm 16: 8 ACV-S; 8 AV8 Gempita PBF 23: 6 Gading Marine FIC; 17 Tempur (SWE CB90)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT PB 12: 4 Handalan (SWE Spica-M) with 1 57mm gun; 6
LCA 165 Damen Assault Craft 540 (capacity 10 troops) Jerong (Lurssen 45) with 1 57mm gun; 2 Sri Perlis
HELICOPTERS MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4
MRH 6 MD-530G MCO 4 Mahamiru (ITA Lerici)
TPT 12: Medium 2 S-61A-4 Nuri; Light 10 AW109 LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 14
AIR DEFENCE AFS 2: 1 Mahawangsa with 2 57mm guns, 1 hel landing
SAM • Point-defence 15+: 15 Jernas (Rapier 2000); Anza-II; platform; 1 Sri Indera Sakti with 1 57mm gun, 1 hel
HY-6 (FN-6) (CH-SA-10); 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); Starstreak landing platform
GUNS 52+ AG 3: 2 Bunga Mas Lima with 1 hel landing platform; 1
SP 20mm K263 Tun Azizan
TOWED 52: 35mm 16 GDF-005; 40mm 36 L40/70 AGS 2: 1 Dayang Sari; 1 Perantau
AP 2 Sri Gaya
Reserves ASR 1 Mega Bakti
Territorial Army ATF 1
Some paramilitary forces to be incorporated into a re- AX 2 Gagah Samudera with 1 hel landing platform
organised territorial organisation AXS 1 Tunas Samudera
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Naval Aviation 160
Mechanised FORCES BY ROLE
4 armd sqn ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
Light 1 sqn with Super Lynx 300
16 inf regt (3 inf bn) TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Other 1 sqn with AS555 Fennec
5 (highway) sy bn 1 sqn with AW139
COMBAT SUPPORT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
5 arty bty HELICOPTERS
2 fd engr regt ASW 6 Super Lynx 300
1 int unit MRH 8: 6 AS555 Fennec; 2 AW139
3 sigs sqn AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AShM Sea Skua
272 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Special Forces (RS-AA-10 Alamo); SARH AIM-7 Sparrow; ARH AIM-


120C AMRAAM; R-77 (RS-AA-12A Adder)
FORCES BY ROLE
ASM AGM-65 Maverick; Kh-29T (RS-AS-14B Kedge); Kh-
SPECIAL FORCES
29L (RS-AS-14A Kedge); Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton);
1 (mne cdo) SF unit
Kh-59M (RS-AS-18 Kazoo)
ARM Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton);
Air Force 15,000
AShM AGM-84D Harpoon; Kh-31A (RS-AS-17B Krypton)
1 air op HQ, 2 air div, 1 trg and log comd, 1 Intergrated
BOMBS
Area Def Systems HQ
Electro-optical guided KAB-500KR; KAB-500OD
FORCES BY ROLE Laser-guided Paveway II
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with F/A-18D Hornet Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε22,500
1 sqn with Su-30MKM Flanker
2 sqn with Hawk Mk108*/Mk208* Police–General Ops Force 18,000
MARITIME PATROL FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with Beech 200T COMMAND
TANKER/TRANSPORT 5 bde HQ
2 sqn with KC-130H Hercules; C-130H Hercules; SPECIAL FORCES
C-130H-30 Hercules 1 spec ops bn
TRANSPORT MANOEUVRE
1 sqn with A400M Atlas Other
1 (VIP) sqn with A319CT; AW109; BD700 Global Express; 19 paramilitary bn
F-28 Fellowship; Falcon 900 2 (Aboriginal) paramilitary bn
1 sqn with CN235M-220 4 indep paramilitary coy
TRAINING EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 unit with PC-7 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER APC • APC (W) AT105 Saxon
4 (tpt/SAR) sqn with H225M Super Cougar; S-70A AUV ε30 SB-301
Black Hawk
1 sqn with AW139 Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLE (MMEA) ε4,500
1 sqn (forming) Controls 5 Maritime Regions (Northern Peninsula;
AIR DEFENCE Southern Peninsula; Eastern Peninsula; Sarawak;
1 sqn with Starburst Sabah), subdivided into a further 18 Maritime Districts.
SPECIAL FORCES Supported by one provisional MMEA Air Unit
1 (Air Force Commando) unit (airfield defence/SAR) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 137
AIRCRAFT 42 combat capable PSO 4: 1 Arau (ex-JPN Nojima) with 1 hel landing
FTR (8 MiG-29 Fulcrum (MiG-29N); 2 MiG-29UB Fulcrum platform; 2 Langkawi with 1 57mm gun, 1 hel landing
B (MIG-29NUB) in store) platform; 1 Pekan (ex-JPN Ojika) with 1 hel landing
FGA 26: 8 F/A-18D Hornet (some serviceability in doubt); platform
18 Su-30MKM (some serviceability in doubt) PCC 5 Bagan Datuk
MP 1 CN235 MPA PBF 56: 16 Penggalang 16; 18 Penggalang 17 (TUR MRTP
ISR 3 Beech 200T 16); 2 Penggalang 18; 6 Penyelamat 20; 14 Tugau
TKR/TPT 4 KC-130H Hercules PB 72: 15 Gagah; 4 Malawali; 2 Nusa; 3 Nusa 28;
TPT 24: Heavy 4 A400M Atlas; Medium 10: 2 C-130H 1 Peninjau; 7 Ramunia; 2 Rhu; 4 Semilang; 9 Sipadan
Hercules; 8 C-130H-30 Hercules; Light 6 CN235M-220 Steel; 8 Icarus 1650; 10 Pengawal; 4 Penyelamat; 2 Perwira;
(incl 1 VIP and 2 being reconfigured); PAX 4: 1 A319CT 1 Sugut
(VIP); 1 BD700 Global Express; 1 F-28 Fellowship; 1 LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AX 1 Marlin
Falcon 900 AIRCRAFT • MP 2 Bombardier 415MP
TRG 70: 4 Hawk Mk108*; 12 Hawk Mk208*; 7 MB-339C; 30 HELICOPTERS
PC-7; 17 PC-7 Mk II Turbo Trainer SAR 3 AW139
HELICOPTERS MRH 3 AS365 Dauphin
MRH 2 AW139 (leased)
TPT 15: Heavy 12 H225M Super Cougar; Medium 2 S-70A Area Security Units 3,500 reservists
Black Hawk; Light 1 AW109 (Auxiliary General Ops Force)
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence Starstreak FORCES BY ROLE
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES MANOEUVRE
AAM • IR AIM-9 Sidewinder; R-73 (RS-AA-11A Other
Archer); IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder II; IR/SARH R-27 89 paramilitary unit
Asia 273

Border Scouts 1,200 reservists ACTIVE 4,000 (Maldives National Defence Force 4,000)
in Sabah, Sarawak
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
People’s Volunteer Corps 240,000 reservists
(some 17,500 armed) Maldives National Defence Force 4,000
RELA
Special Forces
FORCES BY ROLE
DEPLOYMENT SPECIAL FORCES
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • 1 SF sqn
MONUSCO 6
Marine Corps
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 830; 1 mech inf bn(-); 1 sigs coy; FORCES BY ROLE
1 log coy; 1 maint coy; 1 tpt coy SPECIAL FORCES
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 1 1 spec ops unit
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 9 MANOEUVRE
Mechanised
1 mech sqn
FOREIGN FORCES Amphibious
Australia 130; 1 inf coy (on 3-month rotational tours); 7 mne coy
1 P-8A Poseidon (rotational) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Maldives MDV IFV 2 BMP-2
AUV 2 Cobra

Asia
Maldivian Rufiyaa MVR 2021 2022 2023
GDP MVR 80.2bn 90.9bn
Coast Guard
FORCES BY ROLE
USD 5.20bn 5.90bn
SPECIAL FORCES
per capita USD 13,539 15,097
1 spec ops unit
Growth % 37.0 8.7
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Inflation % 0.2 4.3 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12
Def bdgt MVR 1.42bn 1.55bn 1.49bn PCC 3: 1 Ghazee; 1 Shaheed Ali; 1 Trinkat (Bangaram
USD 92.4m 100m SDB Mk5)
PBF 7: 5 SM50 Interceptor; 2 Super Dvora Mk III
USD1=MVR 15.41 15.41
PB 2: 1 Dhaharaat; 1 Kaamiyab
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 4:
91
LCU 1 L301
LCP 3
53
AIRCRAFT
2008 2015 2022
MP 1 Do-228
Population 390,164 HELICOPTERS
MRH 2 Dhruv
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 11.3% 3.8% 4.8% 5.8% 23.9% 2.4%
Female 10.8% 3.3% 3.8% 4.7% 22.3% 3.0%

Capabilities
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) is tasked with defence,
security and civil emergency response over the wide-ranging and
mostly oceanic territory of the archipelagic nation. It is therefore a
maritime-centric organisation, with a littoral Coast Guard, includ-
ing a small aviation wing, and a Marine Corps. There is focus on
ISR, maritime security and counter-terrorist training and capability
development needs. India is the MNDF’s key defence partner, having
supplied most of the force’s major military platforms, and regularly
donates surplus military equipment and offers training to MNDF
personnel. In 2020 Malé signed a defence agreement with the
United States and in 2021 the MNDF started capacity building work
with the US Army. Training facilities are being developed, including
a basic training school in 2020 and work is proceeding on the devel-
opment of the Composite Training Centre on Maafilaafushi Island.
274 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SUPPORT
Mongolia MNG 1 arty regt

Mongolian Tugrik MNT 2021 2022 2023 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
GDP MNT 43.6tr 50.2tr
MBT 420: 370 T-54/T-55; 50 T-72A
USD 15.3bn 15.7bn
RECCE 120 BRDM-2
per capita USD 4,483 4,542 IFV 310 BMP-1
Growth % 1.6 2.5 APC • APC (W) 210: 150 BTR-60; 40 BTR-70M; 20 BTR-80
Inflation % 7.1 14.8 ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Def bdgt MNT 284bn 287bn 311bn ARV T-54/T-55
USD 99.5m 89.8m ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
FMA (US) USD 3m 3m 3m GUNS • TOWED 200: 85mm D-44/D-48; 100mm
USD1=MNT 2849.37 3191.33 M-1944/MT-12
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
ARTILLERY 570
110 TOWED ε300: 122mm D-30/M-30 (M-1938); 130mm
M-46; 152mm ML-20 (M-1937)
55 MRL 122mm 130 BM-21
2008 2015 2022 MOR 140: 120mm; 160mm; 82mm
AIR DEFENCE
Population 3,227,863
SAM Medium-range 2+ S-125-2M Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26)
GUNS • TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 13.5% 3.7% 3.7% 3.8% 21.9% 2.1%
Air Force 800
Female 13.0% 3.5% 3.6% 3.9% 24.1% 3.2%
FORCES BY ROLE
Capabilities FIGHTER
1 sqn with MiG-29UB Fulcrum B
Mongolia’s latest defence-policy document, from 2015, stresses
TRANSPORT
the importance of peacekeeping and anti-terrorist capabilities.
The country has no formal military alliances, but pursues defence 1 sqn with An-24 Coke; An-26 Curl
ties and bilateral training with regional states and others includ- ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
ing India, Turkey and the US. Mongolia hosts the annual Khaan 1 sqn with Mi-8 Hip; Mi-171
Quest multinational peacekeeping-training exercise. The country’s AIR DEFENCE
main exercise partners are India and Russia, with each country 2 regt with S-60/ZPU-4/ZU-23
running regular bilateral exercises. In 2022, Mongolia and Russia
held the counter-terrorism-focused exercise Selenga. In 2021, EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
NATO completed a multi-year project that involved establishing AIRCRAFT 6 combat capable
a Cyber Security Centre and Cyber Incident Response Capability. FTR 6 MiG-29UB Fulcrum B
Mongolia’s most significant deployment is to the UN peacekeep- TPT • Light 3: 2 An-24 Coke; 1 An-26 Curl
ing mission in South Sudan. The inventory generally comprises
HELICOPTERS
Soviet-era equipment, supplemented by deliveries of second-
hand Russian weapons. Barring maintenance facilities, there is no TPT • Medium 12: 10 Mi-8 Hip; 2 Mi-171
significant defence-industrial base. AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
IR R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer)
ACTIVE 9,700 (Army 8,900 Air 800) Gendarmerie &
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 150: 14.5mm ZPU-4;
Paramilitary 7,500
23mm ZU-23; 57mm S-60
Conscript liability 12 months for males aged 18–25

RESERVE 137,000 (Army 137,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 7,500 active

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Border Guard 1,300; 4,700 conscript (total


6,000)
Army 5,600; 3,300 conscript (total 8,900)
Internal Security Troops 400; 800 conscript
FORCES BY ROLE
(total 1,200)
MANOEUVRE
Mechanised FORCES BY ROLE
1 MR bde MANOEUVRE
Light Other
1 (rapid deployment) lt inf bn (2nd bn to form) 4 gd unit
Air Manoeuvre
1 AB bn Construction Troops 300
Asia 275

warfare capabilities, though these efforts have been called into


DEPLOYMENT question by the renewed focus on internal security and counter-
insurgency. While defence-industrial capacity is limited, naval
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
shipbuilding capability has grown, notably through the Naval Dock-
MONUSCO 2
yard in Thanlyin, with satellite imagery revealing in December 2020
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 868; 1 inf bn the construction of a new guided-missile frigate. The Aircraft Pro-
duction and Maintenance Base in Meiktila has also engaged in final
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 4
assembly and Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) services on
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 3 trainer/light attack aircraft and combat helicopters since 2010.

ACTIVE 356,000 (Army 325,000 Navy 16,000


Myanmar MMR Air 15,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 107,000
Conscript liability 24–36 months
Myanmar Kyat MMK 2021 2022 2023
GDP MMK 98.7tr 118tr
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
USD 65.2bn 59.5bn
per capita USD 1,217 1,105
Army ε325,000
Growth % -17.9 2.0 14 military regions, 7 regional op comd. Following the
Inflation % 3.6 16.2 2021 coup, and reports of desertions, combat losses and
Def bdgt MMK 5.16tr 3.70tr recruitment problems, personnel figures should be treated
USD 3.41bn 1.88bn with caution
USD1=MMK 1514.03 1974.80 FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
3.55
20 div HQ (military op comd)

Asia
10 inf div HQ
n.k. 34+ bde HQ (tactical op comd)
1.90
MANOEUVRE
2008 2015 2022
Armoured
Population 57,526,449 10 armd bn
Light
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 100 inf bn (coy)
Male 12.9% 4.2% 4.2% 4.1% 21.0% 2.9% 337 inf bn (coy) (regional comd)
COMBAT SUPPORT
Female 12.3% 4.1% 4.1% 4.2% 22.2% 3.7%
7 arty bn
37 indep arty coy
Capabilities 6 cbt engr bn
Since the country’s independence struggle in the 1940s, Myanmar’s 54 fd engr bn
large, army-dominated Tatmadaw (armed forces) has been inti- 40 int coy
mately involved in domestic politics as well as internal security. Even 45 sigs bn
though the National League for Democracy (NLD) won the Novem-
AIR DEFENCE
ber 2015 election, the armed forces remained politically powerful. A
defence White Paper published in 2016 gave a ‘statebuilding’ role to
7 AD bn
the Tatmadaw, further legitimising intervention in politics. Despite EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
the NLD winning an increased majority in the November 2020 elec- ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
tion, the Tatmadaw declared the result illegitimate and seized power MBT 195+: 10 T-55; 50 T-72S; 25+ Type-59D; 100 Type-69-
on 1 February 2021, declaring a year-long state of emergency which II; 10+ Type-90-II (MBT-2000)
was extended to 31 July 2022 and then again to February 2023. LT TK 105 Type-63 (ε60 serviceable)
The 2016 White Paper prioritised ending conflicts with domestic
ASLT 24 PTL-02 mod
armed groups. However, widespread civil unrest and an escalation
in clashes with ethnic-minority armed groups and People’s Defence
RECCE 95+: ε50 AML-90; 33 BRDM-2MS (incl CP);
Force (PDF) groups since the coup has sharpened the Tatmadaw’s 12+ EE-9 Cascavel; MAV-1
focus on internal security and counter-insurgency. In response, IFV 36+: 10+ BTR-3U; 26+ MT-LBMSh
the Tatmadaw launched a multipronged counter-insurgency cam- APC 345+
paign across 2021 and 2022. The Tatmadaw’s actions have also APC (T) 305: 250 ZSD-85; 55 ZSD-90
focused attention on force health, including morale and general APC (W) 30+ ZSL-92
cohesion. The Tatmadaw has been accused of widespread human- PPV 10+: BAAC-87; Gaia Thunder; 10 MPV
rights abuses against non-combatants during counter-insurgency AUV MAV-2; MAV-3
operations. These concerns intensified after the widely condemned
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
actions aimed at the Rohingya ethnic minority in 2017. China and
ARV Type-72
Russia are key partners in defence cooperation. In September 2022,
Japan said it would stop from 2023 a training programme that has VLB MT-55A
since 2015 seen small numbers of Myanmar military personnel ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
attend defence educational institutions in Japan. Since the 1990s, RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm M40A1
the armed forces have attempted to develop limited conventional GUNS • TOWED 60: 57mm 6-pdr; 76mm 17-pdr
276 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ARTILLERY 440+ PBG 4 Myanmar with 2 single lnchr with C-801


SP 155mm 42: 30 NORA B-52; 12 SH-1 (CH-SS-N-4) AShM
TOWED 282+: 105mm 150: 54 M-56; 96 M101; 122mm 100 PBF 7: 1 Type-201; 6 Super Dvora Mk III
D-30; 130mm 16 M-46; 140mm; 155mm 16 Soltam M-845P PB 32: 3 PB-90; 6 PGM 401; 6 PGM 412; 14 Myanmar; 3 Swift
MRL 36+: 107mm 30 Type-63; 122mm BM-21 Grad PBR 14: 4 Sagu; 9 Y-301†; 1 Y-301 (Imp)
(reported); Type-81; 240mm 6+ M-1985 mod AMPHIBIOUS
MOR 80+: 82mm Type-53 (M-37); 120mm 80+: 80 Soltam; PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS VESSELS • LPD 1:
Type-53 (M-1943) 1 Moattama (ROK Makassar) (capacity 2 LCVP; 2 hels;
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 13 tanks; 500 troops)
SRBM • Conventional some Hwasong-6 (reported) LANDING CRAFT 21: LCU 5; LCM 16
AIR DEFENCE LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 12
SAM 4+ ABU 1
Medium-range 12+: 12+ KS-1A (CH-SA-12); S-125- AGHS 2: 1 Innya; 1 (near shore)
2M Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26); 2K12 Kvadrat-M AGS 1
(RS-SA-6 Gainful) AH 1 Thanlwin
Point-defence HN-5 (CH-SA-3) (reported); 9K310 Igla- AK 1
1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) AKSL 5
SPAAGM 30mm Some 2K22 Tunguska (RS-SA-19 Grison) AP 1 Chindwin
GUNS 46
Naval Infantry 800
SP 57mm 12 Type-80
FORCES BY ROLE
TOWED 34: 37mm 24 Type-74; 40mm 10 M1
MANOEUVRE
Light
Navy ε16,000 1 inf bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SUBMARINES • SSK 2 Air Force ε15,000
1 Min Kyaw Htin (ex-PRC Type-035B (Ming)) with 8
FORCES BY ROLE
single 533mm TT
FIGHTER
1 Min Ye Thein Kha Thu (ex-IND Sindhughosh (Project
4 sqn with F-7 Airguard; FT-7; JF-17 Thunder; MiG-29
877EKM (Kilo))) with 6 single 533mm TT
Fulcrum; MiG-29SE/SM Fulcrum; MiG-29UB Fulcrum
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 5
GROUND ATTACK
FFGHM 2 Kyansitthar with 2 twin lnchr with C-802 (CH- 2 sqn with A-5C Fantan
SS-N-6) AShM, 1 sextuple lnchr with MANPAD SAM, 2 TRANSPORT
RDC-32 A/S mor, 3 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 sqn with F-27 Friendship; FH-227; PC-6AB Turbo Porter
1 med hel) TRAINING
FFGM 1 Aung Zeya with 2 quad lnchr with DPRK AShM 2 sqn with G-4 Super Galeb*; PC-7 Turbo Trainer*; PC-9*
(possibly 3M24 derivative), 1 sextuple GMLS with 1 (trg/liaison) sqn with Cessna 550 Citation II; Cessna
MANPAD SAM; 4 AK630 CIWS, 2 RDC-32 A/S mor, 1 180 Skywagon; K-8 Karakorum*
76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
FFG 2 Mahar Bandoola (ex-PRC Type-053H1 (Jianghu I)) 4 sqn with Bell 205; Bell 206 Jet Ranger; Mi-17 Hip H;
with 2 quad lnchr with C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 2 Mi-35P Hind; PZL Mi-2 Hoplite; PZL W-3 Sokol; SA316
RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 2 twin 100mm gun Alouette III
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 81 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
CORVETTES 3 AIRCRAFT 166 combat capable
FSGHM 1 Tabinshwethi (Anawrahta mod) with 2 twin FTR 63: 21 F-7 Airguard; 10 FT-7; 11 MiG-29 Fulcrum;
lnchr with C-802 (CH-SS-N-6), 1 sectuple lnchr with 6 MiG-29SE Fulcrum; 10 MiG-29SM Fulcrum; 5 MiG-
unknown MANPADs, 2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 1 29UB Fulcrum
76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel) FGA 6: 4 JF-17 Thunder (FC-1 Block 2); 2 JF-17B Thunder
FSG 2 Anawrahta with 2 twin lnchr with C-802 (FC-1 Block 2)
(CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 2 RDC-32 A/S mor, 1 76mm gun, 1 ATK 21 A-5C Fantan
hel landing platform MP 2 ATR-42
PSOH 2 Inlay with 1 twin 57mm gun TPT 26: Medium 5: 4 Y-8D; 1 Y-8F-200W Light 20: 1
PCG 8: 6 Type-037-IG (Houxin) with 2 twin lnchr with ATR-42; 6 Beech 1900D; 4 Cessna 180 Skywagon; 1 Cessna
C-801 (CH-SS-N-4) AShM; 2 FAC(M) mod with 2 twin 550 Citation II; 3 F-27 Friendship; 5 PC-6A/B Turbo Porter
lnchr with C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 1 AK630 CIWS PAX 1+ FH-227
PCT 2 Yan Nyein Aung (Project PGG 063) with 2 FQF 1200 TRG 96: 11 G-4 Super Galeb*; 20 Grob G120; 24+ K-8
A/S mor, 2 triple 324mm TLS with Shyena LWT Karakorum*; 12 PC-7 Turbo Trainer*; 9 PC-9*; 20 Yak-130
PCO 2 Indaw Mitten*
PCC 7 Type-037 (Hainan) with 4 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S HELICOPTERS
mor, 2 twin 57mm gun ATK 12 Mi-35P Hind
Asia 277

MRH 23: 3 AS365; 11 Mi-17 Hip H; 9 SA316 Alouette III ACTIVE 96,600 (Army 96,600) Gendarmerie &
TPT 49: Medium 10 PZL W-3 Sokol; Light 39: 12 Bell 205; Paramilitary 15,000
6 Bell 206 Jet Ranger; 4 H120 Colibri; 17 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
CISR • Heavy 4 CH-3
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR PL-5; R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); PL-5E- Army 96,600
II; IR/SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo); ARH PL-12 FORCES BY ROLE
(CH-AA-7A Adze) COMMAND
AShM C-802A 2 inf div HQ
1 (valley) comd
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 107,000 SPECIAL FORCES
1 bde (1 SF bn, 1 AB bn, 1 cdo bn, 1 ranger bn, 1 mech
People’s Police Force 72,000 inf bn)
MANOEUVRE
People’s Militia 35,000 Light
18 inf bde (total: 62 inf bn; 32 indep inf coy)
COMBAT SUPPORT
Nepal NPL 1 arty bde
4 arty regt
Nepalese Rupee NPR 2021 2022 2023
5 engr bn
GDP NPR 4.28tr 4.74tr 1 sigs bde
USD 35.8bn 39.0bn AIR DEFENCE
2 AD regt

Asia
per capita USD 1,209 1,293
Growth % 4.2 4.2 4 indep AD coy
Inflation % 3.6 6.3 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Def bdgt NPR 49.2bn 51.0bn 55.0bn
RECCE 40 Ferret
USD 413m 421m APC 253
USD1=NPR 119.32 121.38 APC (W) 13: 8 OT-64C; 5 WZ-551
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) PPV 240: 90 Casspir; 150 MPV
387 AUV Dongfeng Mengshi; CS/VN3C mod 2
ARTILLERY 92+
205 TOWED 105mm 22: 8 L118 Light Gun; 14 pack howitzer
2008 2015 2022 (6 non-operational)
MOR 70+: 81mm; 120mm 70 M-43 (est 12 op)
Population 30,666,598
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 32+: 14.5mm 30 Type-
56 (ZPU-4); 37mm (PRC); 40mm 2 L/60
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 13.8% 5.0% 5.1% 5.0% 17.1% 2.9% Air Wing 320
Female 13.1% 4.7% 5.1% 5.1% 20.1% 3.0% EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 7: 1 BN-2T Islander;
Capabilities 1 CN235M-220; 3 M-28 Skytruck; 2 PA-28 Cherokee (trg)
HELICOPTERS
The principal role of Nepal’s armed forces is maintaining territo-
MRH 14: 1 A139; 1 Bell 407GXP (VIP); 2 Dhruv;
rial integrity, but they have also traditionally focused on internal
security and humanitarian relief. Nepal has a history of deploying 2 Lancer; 3 Mi-17-1V Hip H; 2 Mi-17V-5 Hip; 1 SA315B
contingents to UN peacekeeping operations. Training support Lama (Cheetah); 2 SA316B Alouette III
is provided by several countries, including China, India and the TPT 3: Medium 1 SA330J Puma; Light 2 AS350B2 Ecureuil
US. Following a 2006 peace accord with the Maoist People’s
Liberation Army, Maoist personnel underwent a process of demo- Paramilitary 15,000
bilisation or integration into the armed forces. Gurkhas continue to
be recruited by the British and Indian armed forces and the Singa- Armed Police Force 15,000
porean police. The small air wing provides a limited transport and Ministry of Home Affairs
support capacity but mobility remains a challenge, in part because
of topography. Nepal’s logistic capability appears to be sufficient
for internal-security operations; however, its contingents on UN DEPLOYMENT
peacekeeping operations appear to largely depend on contracted CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 835; 1 inf
logistic support. Modernisation plans include a very limited
bn; 1 MP pl
increase in the size of its air force. Barring maintenance capacities
there is no defence-industrial base, and Nepal is dependent on DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
foreign suppliers for modern equipment. MONUSCO 1,154; 1 inf bn; 1 engr coy
278 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

IRAQ: UN • UNAMI 77; 1 sy unit Defence Capability Plan outlined plans to acquire a sealift vessel
and C-130J Hercules transport aircraft before 2030, as well as to
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 872; 1 mech inf bn expand the army to 6,000 personnel by 2035. The year before,
LIBYA: UN • UNISMIL 234; 2 sy coy the decision was taken to purchase four P-8 Poseidon maritime
patrol aircraft. Replacement of the ANZAC frigates, both of which
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 177; 1 EOD coy are being upgraded, has now been postponed until the 2030s.
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 3 New Zealand has a small defence industry consisting of numerous
private companies and subsidiaries of larger North American and
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1,749; 2 inf bn European companies. These companies are able to provide some
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 89; 1 log coy maintenance, repair and overhaul capability but significant work is
contracted overseas.
SYRIA/ISRAEL: UN • UNDOF 412; 1 mech inf coy; 1 inf
coy; 1 log coy(-) ACTIVE 9,200 (Army 4,500 Navy 2,200 Air 2,500)
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 5 RESERVE 3,010 (Army 2,050 Navy 610 Air Force 350)

FOREIGN FORCES ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


United Kingdom 60 (Gurkha trg org)
Army 4,500
New Zealand NZL FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
New Zealand Dollar NZD 2021 2022 2023 1 SF regt
GDP NZD 349bn 375bn MANOEUVRE
USD 247bn 243bn Light
1 inf bde (1 armd recce regt, 2 lt inf bn, 1 arty regt (2 arty
per capita USD 48,317 47,278
bty), 1 engr regt(-), 1 MP coy, 1 sigs regt, 2 log bn)
Growth % 5.6 2.3
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Inflation % 3.9 6.3 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Def bdgt NZD 4.62bn 5.19bn 6.08bn IFV 74 NZLAV-25
USD 3.27bn 3.35bn AUV 5+ Bushmaster
USD1=NZD 1.41 1.55 ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) AEV 7 NZLAV
3.09 ARV 3 LAV-R
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
1.96 MSL • MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin
2008 2015 2022 ARTILLERY 56
TOWED 105mm 24 L118 Light Gun
Population 5,053,004 MOR 81mm 32

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Reserves


Male 10.0% 3.2% 3.3% 3.6% 22.4% 7.6% Territorial Force 1,850 reservists
Female 9.4% 3.1% 3.1% 3.4% 22.3% 8.6% Responsible for providing trained individuals for
augmenting deployed forces
Capabilities FORCES BY ROLE
New Zealand has a strong military tradition. The New Zealand COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Defence Force (NZDF) is well trained and has substantial 3 (Territorial Force Regional) trg regt
operational experience. The June 2016 defence White Paper
forecasted a range of challenges likely to affect the country’s
security in the period to 2040, including rising tension in the
Navy 2,200
South and East China seas. In December 2021 the defence ministry Fleet based in Auckland. Fleet HQ at Wellington
released the Defence Assessment 2021, discussing challenges EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
to New Zealand’s strategic defence interests, including strategic PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 2
competition and climate change. This proposed a defence FFHM 2 Anzac (GER MEKO 200) with 1 20-cell VLS
policy review, which was formally announced in July 2022.
with Sea Ceptor SAM, 2 triple SVTT Mk 32 324mm
A policy and strategy statement is due in March 2023, with a
‘future force design principles’ statement following in June. The ASTT with Mk 46 mod 5 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block
terms of reference for the review noted that the ‘impetus for a 1B CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 SH-2G(I) Super
comprehensive review’ had sharpened since the assessment was Seasprite ASW hel)
released, making reference to Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4
A Defence Capability Plan will accompany the policy review. New PSOH 2 Otago (capacity 1 SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite ASW
Zealand’s closest defence partner is Australia and the country hel) (ice-strengthened hull)
has revived defence relations with the United States. The 2019 PCC 2 Lake
Asia 279

AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 2


LCM 2 (operated off HMNZS Canterbury) Pakistan PAK
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • 3
AGHS 1 Manawanui with 1 hel landing platform Pakistani Rupee PKR 2021 2022 2023
AKRH 1 Canterbury (capacity 4 NH90 tpt hel; 1 SH-2G(I) GDP PKR 55.8tr 66.9tr
Super Seasprite ASW hel; 2 LCM; 16 NZLAV; 20 trucks; USD 348bn 376bn
250 troops)
per capita USD 1,462 1,658
AORH 1 Aotearoa (capacity 1 NH90/SH-2G(I) hel)
Growth % 5.7 6.0
Air Force 2,500 Inflation % 8.9 12.1
FORCES BY ROLE Def bdgt [a] PKR 1.65tr 1.74tr 1.97tr
MARITIME PATROL USD 10.3bn 9.8bn
1 sqn with P-3K2 Orion USD1=PKR 160.23 177.83
TRANSPORT [a] Includes defence allocations to the Public Sector
1 sqn with B-757-200 (upgraded); C-130H Hercules Development Programme (PSDP), including funding to the
(upgraded) Defence Division and the Defence Production Division
ANTI-SUBMARINE/SURFACE WARFARE Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
1 (RNZAF/RNZN) sqn with SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite 11.7
TRAINING
1 sqn with T-6C Texan II 5.96
1 sqn with Beech 350 King Air (leased) 2008 2015 2022
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with AW109LUH; NH90 Population 242,923,845

Asia
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 3 combat capable Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
ASW 3 P-3K2 Orion Male 18.0% 5.2% 4.7% 4.2% 16.7% 2.2%
TPT 11: Medium 5 C-130H Hercules (upgraded); Light 4 Female 17.2% 5.0% 4.4% 4.0% 16.0% 2.5%
Beech 350 King Air (leased); PAX 2 B-757-200 (upgraded)
TRG 11 T-6C Texan II Capabilities
HELICOPTERS
The armed forces have considerable domestic political influ-
ASW 8 SH-2G(I) Super Seasprite
ence and are the dominant voice on defence and security policy.
TPT 13: Medium 8 NH90; Light 5 AW109LUH
Pakistan’s nuclear and conventional forces have traditionally been
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AShM AGM-119 Penguin oriented and structured against a prospective threat from India.
Mk2 mod7 Since 2008, counter-insurgency and counter-terrorism have been
the forces’ main effort. Although an army-led counter-terrorism
DEPLOYMENT operation has improved domestic security, terrorist attacks
continue. Some analysts believe that the Pakistan government con-
EGYPT: MFO 26; 1 trg unit; 1 tpt unit sidered the Taliban victory in Afghanistan a policy success. Mutual
reaffirmation of the 2003 ceasefire agreement between India and
IRAQ: Operation Inherent Resolve 9
Pakistan has reduced conflict across the Line of Control in the
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 8 disputed region of Jammu and Kashmir. The armed forces have a
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 3 major role in disaster relief. China is Pakistan’s main defence partner,
with all three services employing a large amount of Chinese equip-
ment. Military cooperation with the US is limited by sanctions
aiming to improve cooperation on counter-terrorism. Recruitment
is good, retention is high and the forces have experienced training
establishments. The army and air force have considerable opera-
tional experience from a decade of counter-insurgency operations
in Pakistan’s tribal areas. Funds have been directed towards improv-
ing security on the border with Afghanistan. Major investment in
military nuclear programmes continues, including the testing of
a nuclear-capable sea-launched cruise missile. The navy plans to
increase surface combatants, patrol vessels, submarines (in collabo-
ration with China), maritime-patrol aircraft and UAVs. This is to both
improve combat capability and the protection of sea-based nuclear
weapons. The air force is modernising its inventory while improv-
ing its precision-strike and ISR capabilities. The indigenous defence
industry has well-developed maintenance facilities for combat
aircraft and exports platforms, weapons and ammunition; there is
considerable defence-industrial collaboration with China.

ACTIVE 651,800 (Army 560,000 Navy 21,800


Air 70,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 291,000
280 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AIR DEFENCE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 AD comd (3 AD gp (total: 8 AD bn))
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Strategic Forces ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Operational control rests with the National Command MBT 2,537: 300 Al-Khalid (MBT 2000); ε110 Al-Khalid I;
Authority. The Strategic Plans Directorate (SPD) manages 315 T-80UD; ε500 Al-Zarrar; 400 Type-69; 268 Type-85-
and commands all of Pakistan’s military nuclear capability. IIAP; 44 VT-4; ε600 ZTZ-59
The SPD also commands a reportedly 25,000-strong APC 3,545
military security force responsible for guarding the APC (T) 3,200: 2,300 M113A1/A2/P; ε200 Talha;
country’s nuclear infrastructure 600 VCC-1/VCC-2; ε100 ZSD-63
APC (W) 120 BTR-70/BTR-80
Army Strategic Forces Command 12,000–
PPV 225 Maxxpro
15,000
AUV 10 Dingo 2
Commands all land-based strategic nuclear forces
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ARV 262+: 175 Type-70/Type-84 (W653/W653A);
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 60+ Al-Hadeed; 52 M88A1; 35 Maxxpro ARV; T-54/T-55
MRBM • Nuclear 30+: ε30 Ghauri/Ghauri II (Hatf-V)/ VLB M47M; M48/60
Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI); Shaheen-III (in test) MW Aardvark Mk II
SRBM • Nuclear 30+: ε30 Ghaznavi (Hatf-III – PRC ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
M-11)/Shaheen-I (Hatf-IV); some Abdali (Hatf-II); some MSL
Nasr (Hatf-IX)
SP M901 TOW; ε30 Maaz (HJ-8 on Talha chassis)
GLCM • Nuclear Babur-I/IA (Hatf-VII); Ra’ad (Hatf-
MANPATS HJ-8; TOW
VIII – in test)
RCL 75mm Type-52; 106mm M40A1 RL 89mm M20
Air Force GUNS 85mm 200 Type-56 (D-44)
ARTILLERY 4,619+
1–2 sqn of F-16A/B or Mirage 5 may be assigned a
SP 552: 155mm 492: 200 M109A2; ε115 M109A5;
nuclear-strike role
123 M109L; ε54 SH-15; 203mm 60 M110/M110A2
Army 560,000 TOWED 1,629: 105mm 329: 216 M101; 113 M-56;
FORCES BY ROLE 122mm 570: 80 D-30 (PRC); 490 Type-54 (M-1938);
COMMAND 130mm 410 Type-59-I; 155mm 292: 144 M114; 148
9 corps HQ M198; 203mm 28 M115
1 (Northern) comd MRL 88+: 107mm Type-81; 122mm 52+: 52 Azar (Type-
SPECIAL FORCES 83); some KRL-122; 300mm 36 A100
2 SF gp (total: 4 SF bn) MOR 2,350+: 81mm; 120mm AM-50
MANOEUVRE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
Armoured MRBM • Nuclear 30+: ε30 Ghauri/Ghauri II (Hatf-V)/
2 armd div Shaheen-II (Hatf-VI); some Shaheen-III (in test)
7 indep armd bde SRBM 135+: Nuclear 30+: ε30 Ghaznavi (Hatf-III – PRC
Mechanised M-11)/Shaheen-I (Hatf-IV); some Abdali (Hatf-II); some
2 mech inf div Nasr (Hatf-IX); Conventional 105 Hatf-I
1 indep mech bde GLCM • Nuclear some Babur-I/IA (Hatf-VII)
Light AIRCRAFT
18 inf div TPT • Light 13: 1 Beech 350 King Air; 3 Cessna 208B;
5 indep inf bde 1 Cessna 421; 1 Cessna 550 Citation; 1 Cessna 560 Citation;
4 (Northern Command) inf bde 2 Turbo Commander 690; 4 Y-12(II)
Other TRG 87 MFI-17B Mushshak
2 sy div HELICOPTERS
COMBAT SUPPORT ATK 42: 38 AH-1F/S Cobra with TOW; 4 Mi-35M Hind;
1 arty div (1 Mi-24 Hind in store)
14 arty bde MRH 115+: 10 H125M Fennec; 7 AW139; 26 Bell 412EP
7 engr bde Twin Huey; 38+ Mi-17 Hip H; 2 Mi-171E Hip; 12 SA315B
AVIATION Lama; 20 SA319 Alouette III
1 VIP avn sqn TPT 76: Medium 36: 31 SA330 Puma; 4 Mi-171; 1 Mi-
4 avn sqn 172; Light 40: 17 H125 Ecureuil (SAR); 5 Bell 205 (UH-
HELICOPTER 1H Iroquois); 5 Bell 205A-1 (AB-205A-1); 13 Bell 206B
3 atk hel sqn Jet Ranger II
2 ISR hel sqn TRG 10 Hughes 300C
2 SAR hel sqn UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
2 tpt hel sqn CISR • Heavy 5 CH-4
1 spec ops hel sqn ISR • Light Bravo; Jasoos; Vector
Asia 281

AIR DEFENCE LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 9


SAM 27+ AGS 2: 1 Behr Masa; 1 Behr Paima
Long-range some FK-3 (HQ-22) AOL 2 Madadgar
Medium-range 27 LY-80 (CH-SA-16) AORH 2: 1 Fuqing with 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS (capacity
Short-range FM-90 (CH-SA-4) 1 SA319 Alouette III hel); 1 Moawin (Fleet Tanker) with 2
Point-defence M113 with RBS-70; Anza-II; FN-6 (CH- Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 hel landing platform
SA-10); Mistral; QW-18 (CH-SA-11); RBS-70 AOT 2 Gwadar
GUNS • TOWED 1,933: 14.5mm 981; 35mm 248 GDF- AXS 1
002/GDF-005 (with 134 Skyguard radar units); 37mm 310
Type-55 (M-1939)/Type-65; 40mm 50 L/60; 57mm 144 Marines ε3,200
Type-59 (S-60); 85mm 200 Type-72 (M-1939) KS-12 FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
Navy 21,800 (incl ε3,200 Marines) 1 cdo gp
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MANOEUVRE
SUBMARINES 8 Amphibious
SSK 5: 3 mne bn
2 Hashmat (FRA Agosta 70) with 4 single 533mm ASTT AIR DEFENCE
with UGM-84 Harpoon AShM/F-17P HWT 1 AD bn
3 Khalid (FRA Agosta 90B) (of which 2 fitted with AIP)
Naval Aviation
with 4 single 533mm ASTT with SM39 Exocet AShM/
SeaHake mod 4 (DM2A4) HWT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SSW 3 MG110 (SF delivery) each with 2 single 533mm AIRCRAFT 9 combat capable
TT with F-17P HWT ASW 9: 7 P-3B/C Orion; 2 ATR-72-500
MP 7: 6 F-27-200 MPA; 1 Lineage 1000

Asia
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 8
TPT 3: Light 2 ATR-72-500; PAX 1 Hawker 850XP
FFGHM 6:
HELICOPTERS
4 Sword (F-22P) with 2 quad lnchr with C-802A AShM,
ASW 11: 4 Sea King Mk45; 7 Z-9C Haitun
1 octuple lnchr with FM-90N (CH-SA-N-4) SAM,
MRH 6 SA319B Alouette III
2 triple 324mm ASTT with ET-52C (A244/S) LWT,
SAR 1 Sea King (ex-HAR3A)
2 RDC-32 A/S mor, 1 Type 730B (H/PJ-12) CIWS,
TPT • Medium 5: 1 Commando Mk2A; 3 Commando
1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Z-9C Haitun hel)
Mk3; 1 Sea King (ex-HC4)
2 Tughril (Type-054AP (Jiangkai II)) with 2 twin lnchr
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AShM AM39 Exocet
with CM-302 (YJ-12A) AShM, 4 8-cell H/AJK-16
VLS with LY-80N (HHQ-16 (CH-SA-N-16)) SAM, 2 Coastal Defence
triple 324mm ASTT with Yu-7 LWT, 2 H/PJ-11 CIWS,
FORCES BY ROLE
1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Z-9C Haitun ASW hel)
COASTAL Defence
FFGH 1 Alamgir (ex-US Oliver Hazard Perry) with 2 quad
1 AShM regt with Zarb (YJ-62)
lnchr with RGM-84 Harpoon AShM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT
with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm gun EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FFHM 1 Tariq (ex-UK Amazon) with 1 sextuple lnchr COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM Zarb (YJ-62)
with LY-60N SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with Mk 46
LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 114mm gun Air Force 70,000
(capacity 1 hel) 3 regional comds: Northern (Peshawar), Central (Sargodha),
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 20 Southern (Masroor). The Composite Air Tpt Wg, Combat
CORVETTES • FSH 2 Yarmook (Damen OPV 1900) Cadres School and PAF Academy are Direct Reporting Units
(fitted for but not with 2 quad lnchr for AShM) with 1 FORCES BY ROLE
Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS (capacity 1 hel) FIGHTER
PCG 4: 2 Azmat (FAC(M)) with 2 quad lnchr with C-802A 3 sqn with F-7PG/FT-7PG Airguard
AShM, 1 AK630 CIWS; 2 Azmat (FAC(M)) with 2 triple 1 sqn with F-16A/B MLU Fighting Falcon
lnchr with C-602 AShM, 1 AK630 CIWS 1 sqn with F-16A/B ADF Fighting Falcon
PBG 4: 2 Jalalat with 2 twin lnchr with C-802 (CH- 1 sqn with Mirage IIID/E (IIIOD/EP)
SS-N-6) AShM; 2 Jurrat with 2 twin lnchr with C-802 FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
(CH-SS-N-6) AShM 1 sqn with JF-17 Thunder (FC-1 Block 1)
PBF 4: 2 Kaan 15; 2 Zarrar (33) 3 sqn with JF-17 Thunder (FC-1 Block 2)
PB 6: 1 Larkana; 1 Rajshahi†; 4 M16 Fast Assault Boat 1 sqn with JF-17B Thunder (FC-1 Block 2)
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 3 1 sqn with F-16C/D Block 52 Fighting Falcon
MCC 3 Munsif (FRA Eridan) 3 sqn with Mirage 5 (5PA)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 8 ANTI-SURFACE WARFARE
LCM 2 1 sqn with Mirage 5PA2/5PA3 with AM-39 Exocet AShM
LCAC 2 Griffon 8100TD ELECTRONIC WARFARE/ELINT
UCAC 4 Griffon 2000TD 1 sqn with Falcon 20F
282 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES


1 sqn with Saab 2000; Saab 2000 Erieye AAM • IR AIM-9L/P Sidewinder; U-Darter; PL-5; PL-5E-
1 sqn with ZDK-03 II; IIR PL-10 (CH-AA-9); SARH Super 530; ARH PL-12
SEARCH & RESCUE (CH-AA-7A Adze); PL-15 (CH-AA-10); AIM-120C AMRAAM
1 sqn with Mi-171Sh; AW139 (SAR/liaison) ASM AGM-65 Maverick; Raptor II
5 sqn with SA316 Alouette III AShM AM39 Exocet; C-802
2 sqn with AW139 ARM MAR-1
TANKER ALCM • Nuclear Ra’ad
1 sqn with Il-78 Midas BOMBS
TRANSPORT INS/SAT-guided FT-6 (REK)
1 sqn with C-130E/H Hercules; L-100-20 Laser-guided Paveway II
1 sqn with CN235M-220
1 VIP sqn with B-707; Cessna 560XL Citation Excel; Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 291,000 active
CN235M-220; F-27-200 Friendship; Falcon 20E;
Gulfstream IVSP Airport Security Force 9,000
1 (comms) sqn with EMB-500 Phenom 100; Y-12 (II) Government Aviation Division
TRAINING
1 OCU sqn with F-7P/FT-7P Skybolt Pakistan Coast Guards
1 OCU sqn with Mirage III/Mirage 5 Ministry of Interior
1 OCU sqn with F-16A/B MLU Fighting Falcon EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 sqn with K-8 Karakorum* PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5:
2 sqn with MFI-17
PBF 4
2 sqn with T-37C Tweet
PB 1
AIR DEFENCE
1 bty with HQ-2 (CH-SA-1); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) Frontier Corps 70,000
6 bty with Crotale Ministry of Interior
10 bty with SPADA 2000
FORCES BY ROLE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MANOEUVRE
AIRCRAFT 431 combat capable
Reconnaissance
FTR 151: 46 F-7PG Airguard; 20 F-7P Skybolt; 23 F-16A
1 armd recce sqn
MLU Fighting Falcon; 21 F-16B MLU Fighting Falcon;
Other
9 F-16A ADF Fighting Falcon; 4 F-16B ADF Fighting Falcon;
11 paramilitary regt (total: 40 paramilitary bn)
21 FT-7; 5 FT-7PG; 2 Mirage IIIB
FGA 229: 12 F-16C Block 52 Fighting Falcon; 6 F-16D EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Block 52 Fighting Falcon; 12+ J-10CE; 49 JF-17 Thunder ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
(FC-1 Block 1); 61 JF-17 Thunder (FC-1 Block 2); 15 JF- APC (W) 45 UR-416
17B Thunder; 7 Mirage IIID (Mirage IIIOD); 30 Mirage
IIIE (IIIEP); 25 Mirage 5 (5PA)/5PA2; 2 Mirage 5D
Maritime Security Agency ε2,000
(5DPA)/5DPA2; 10 Mirage 5PA3 (ASuW) FORCES BY ROLE
ISR 10 Mirage IIIR* (Mirage IIIRP) MARITIME PATROL
ELINT 2 Falcon 20F 1 sqn with BN-2T Defender
AEW&C 10: 6 Saab 2000 Erieye; 4 ZDK-03 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
TKR 4 Il-78 Midas PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 20
TPT 35: Medium 16: 10 C-130E Hercules; 5 C-130H PSO 2 Kashmir
Hercules; 1 L-100-20; Light 14: 2 Cessna 208B; 1 Cessna PCC 10: 4 Barkat; 4 Hingol; 2 Sabqat (ex-US Island)
560XL Citation Excel; 4 CN235M-220; 4 EMB-500 Phenom PBF 5 Response Boat-Medium (RB-M) (ex-US)
100; 1 F-27-200 Friendship; 2 Y-12 (II); PAX 5: 1 B-707; PB 3 Guns
1 Falcon 20E; 2 Gulfstream IVSP; 1 Saab 2000 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 3 BN-2T Defender
TRG 140: 38 K-8 Karakorum*; 79 MFI-17B Mushshak;
23 T-37C Tweet National Guard 185,000
HELICOPTERS Incl Janbaz Force; Mujahid Force; National Cadet Corps;
MRH 29: 15 SA316 Alouette III; 14 AW139 Women Guards
TPT • Medium 4 Mi-171Sh
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES Pakistan Rangers 25,000
CISR • Heavy CH-3 (Burraq); CH-4 (reported) Ministry of Interior
ISR • Medium Falco
AIR DEFENCE • SAM 190+
DEPLOYMENT
Medium-range 6 HQ-2 (CH-SA-1)
Short-range 184: 144 Crotale; ε40 SPADA 2000 ARABIAN SEA & GULF OF ADEN: Combined Maritime
Point-defence 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) Forces • CTF-151: 1 FFGHM
Asia 283

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 1,310; government made efforts in the next decade to revive defence
1 inf bn; 2 engr coy; 1 hel sqn capability. A 2013 defence White Paper identified core roles includ-
ing defending the state and civil-emergency assistance, but noted
CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 3
that ‘defence capabilities have deteriorated to the extent that
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • we have alarming gaps in our land, air and maritime borders’.
MONUSCO 1,974; 2 inf bn; 1 hel sqn with SA330 Puma The White Paper called for strengthening defence capability on
an ambitious scale, with long-term plans calling for a ‘division-
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 221; 1 hel flt with 3 Mi-17; 1 fd
sized force’ of 10,000 personnel by 2030. The PNGDF continues
hospital to receive substantial external military assistance from Australia
SOMALIA: UN • UNSOS 1 and also from China, which has donated equipment. In late 2018,
plans to build a joint US–Australia–Papua New Guinea naval base
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 286; 1 engr coy
at Lombrum were announced. In 2022 there were discussions on
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 583; 1 inf bn closer defence cooperation with Australia. The PNGDF is not able
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 13 to deploy outside the country without outside assistance and there
have only been small PNGDF deployments to UN peacekeeping
missions. The PNGDF will receive four of the Guardian-class patrol
FOREIGN FORCES boats that Australia is donating to small Pacific island nations.
Figures represent total numbers for UNMOGIP mission in These will replace the four Pacific-class boats Australia donated in
India and Pakistan the 1980s. Papua New Guinea has no significant defence industry,
though there is some local maintenance capacity.
Argentina 3
Croatia 8 ACTIVE 4,000 (Army 3,700 Maritime Element 200
Italy 2 Air 100)
Korea, Republic of 7
Mexico 1 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Asia
Philippines 5
Romania 2 Army ε3,700
Sweden 4 FORCES BY ROLE
Switzerland 3 SPECIAL FORCES
Thailand 6 1 spec ops unit
Uruguay 3 MANOEUVRE
Light
Papua New Guinea PNG 2 inf bn
COMBAT SUPPORT
Papua New Guinea Kina
2021 2022 2023
1 engr bn
PGK 1 EOD unit
GDP PGK 94.6bn 109bn 1 sigs sqn
USD 27.3bn 31.4bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
per capita USD 3,050 3,427 ARTILLERY • MOR 3+: 81mm Some; 120mm 3
Growth % 1.2 3.8
Inflation % 4.5 6.6 Maritime Element ε200
Def bdgt PGK 305m 344m 333m HQ located at Port Moresby
USD 88.2m 99.4m EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PCO 3
USD1=PGK 3.46 3.46
Guardian (AUS Bay mod)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 2
94
LCT 1 Salamaua (ex-AUS Balikpapan)
LCM 1 Cape Gloucester
42
2008 2015 2022
Air Force ε100
Population 9,593,498 FORCES BY ROLE
TRANSPORT
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 sqn with CN235M-100; IAI-201 Arava
Male 19.2% 5.0% 4.5% 4.1% 16.1% 1.9% TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Female 18.4% 4.8% 4.4% 3.9% 15.9% 1.9% 1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)†
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Capabilities AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 3: 1 CN235M-100 (1 more in
Since independence in 1975, the Papua New Guinea Defence Force store); 2 IAI-201 Arava
(PNGDF) has suffered from underfunding and lack of capacity to HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 3: 2 Bell 412 (leased); 1 Bell
perform its core roles. After personnel reductions in the 2000s, the 212 (leased) (2 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois) non-operational)
284 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Philippines PHL ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Philippine Peso PHP 2021 2022 2023 Army 103,200
GDP PHP 19.4tr 21.7tr 5 Area Unified Comd (joint service), 1 National Capital
USD 394bn 402bn Region Comd
per capita USD 3,576 3,597 FORCES BY ROLE
Growth % 5.7 6.5 SPECIAL FORCES
Inflation % 3.9 5.3
1 spec ops comd (1 ranger regt, 1 SF regt, 1 CT regt)
MANOEUVRE
Def bdgt [a] PHP 279bn 295bn 333bn
Mechanised
USD 5.66bn 5.46bn 1 armd div (2 mech bde (total: 3 lt armd bn, 7 armd cav
FMA (US) USD 40m 40m 40m coy, 4 mech inf bn), 1 cbt engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 avn regt)
USD1=PHP 49.25 53.99 Light
[a] Excludes military pensions 1 div (4 inf bde, 1 fd arty bn, 1 int bn, 1 sigs bn)
7 div (3 inf bde, 1 fd arty bn, 1 int bn, 1 sigs bn)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
3 div (3 inf bde, 1 int bn, 1 sigs bn)
5.53
Other
1 (Presidential) gd gp
2.46
2008 2015 2022 COMBAT SUPPORT
1 SP arty bn
Population 114,597,229 2 MRL bty (forming)
5 engr bde
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
Male 15.7% 5.0% 4.6% 4.2% 18.4% 2.1% 1 SSM bty (forming)
AIR DEFENCE
Female 15.1% 4.8% 4.5% 4.1% 18.3% 3.2%
1 AD bty
Capabilities EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Despite modest increases in defence funding, mainly in response LT TK 7 FV101 Scorpion
to the growing challenge posed by China to Philippine interests in
IFV 54: 2 YPR-765; 34 M113A1 FSV; 18 M113A2 FSV
the South China Sea, the capabilities and procurement plans of
the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), which have traditionally
APC 387
focused on maintaining internal security, remain limited. The National APC (T) 168: 6 ACV300; 42 M113A1; 120 M113A2
Defense Strategy 2018–22 identified policy priorities including (some with Dragon RWS)
ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity, and internal stability. In APC (W) 219: 73 LAV-150 Commando; 146 Simba
2019, the Philippine Space Agency was set up, and an MoU on closer PPV 2+ CS/VP-3
collaboration with the defence department was agreed in 2022. The ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Philippines remains an ally of the US, which provides support for ARV ACV-300; Samson; M578; 4 M113 ARV
the AFP’s external security role and its counter-terrorist operations. VLB 2+: some GQL-111; 2 Merkava MkIV AVLB
Bilateral defence relations improved in 2021 after then-president
ANTI-TANK-ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • RCL 75mm
Duterte agreed to maintain the bilateral Visiting Forces Agreement.
The AFP continues to host the long-running Balikatan exercise series
M20; 90mm M67; 106mm M40A1
with US forces, and to participate in ADMM-Plus exercises. In 2017 it ARTILLERY 272+
began trilateral joint maritime patrols in the Sulu Sea with Indonesia SP 155mm 12 ATMOS 2000
and Malaysia to counter regional terrorist activity. The armed forces TOWED 220: 105mm 204 M101/M102/Model 56 pack
continue to be deployed on internal-security duties in the south, howitzer; 155mm 16: 10 M114/M-68; 6 Soltam M-71
where Manila faces continuing challenges from insurgent groups. MOR 40+: 81mm M29; 107mm 40 M30; 120mm some Cardom
The second phase (2018–22) of the ‘second horizon’ AFP modernisa- AIRCRAFT
tion programme was approved in 2018, and projects still outstanding TPT • Light 4: 1 Beech 80 Queen Air; 1 Cessna 170; 1
are set to transition to a third and final phase (2023–28). The new
Cessna 172; 1 Cessna P206A
government has reviewed projects slated for the third phase and
amid budget concerns some, such as the plan to acquire conven- HELICOPTERS
tionally-powered submarines, are reportedly no longer a priority. TPT • Light 2 R-44 Raven II
The Philippine Aerospace Development Corporation, owned by the UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Medium
defence department since 2019, has assembled a variety of small Blue Horizon
helicopters and aircraft for the AFP, and also provides maintenance,
repair and overhaul services for military aircraft. Navy 24,500
ACTIVE 145,300 (Army 103,200 Navy 24,500 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Air 17,600) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 12,300 PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 2
FFGHM 2 Jose Rizal (HDF-3000) with 2 quad lnchr with
RESERVE 131,000 (Army 100,000 Navy 15,000 Air Hae Sung I AShM, 2 twin Simbad-RC lnchr with Mistral
16,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 50,000 (to age 49) SAM, 2 triple 324mm SEA TLS ASTT with K745 Blue
Asia 285

Shark LWT, 1 76mm gun (fitted for but not with 1 8-cell AAV 67: 8 AAV-7A1; 4 LVTH-6†; 55 LVTP-7
VLS) (capacity 1 AW159 Wildcat) ARTILLERY 37+
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 53 TOWED 37: 105mm 31: 23 M101; 8 M-26; 155mm 6
CORVETTES • FS 1 Conrado Yap (ex-ROK Po Hang (Flight Soltam M-71
III)) with 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT, 2 76mm gun MOR 107mm M30
PSOH 3 Del Pilar (ex-US Hamilton) with 1 76mm gun
(capacity 1 Bo 105) Naval Special Operations Group
PCF 1 General Mariano Alvares (ex-US Cyclone) FORCES BY ROLE
PCO 4: 3 Emilio Jacinto (ex-UK Peacock) with 1 76mm gun; SPECIAL FORCES
1 Miguel Malvar (ex-US) with 1 76mm gun 1 SEAL unit
PBFG 6 MPAC Mk3 with 1 Typhoon MLS-ER quad lnchr 1 diving unit
with Spike-ER SSM 10 naval spec ops unit
PBF 6 MPAC Mk1/2 1 special boat unit
PB 26: 22 Jose Andrada; 2 Kagitingan; 2 Point (ex-US) COMBAT SUPPORT
PBR 6 Silver Ships 1 EOD unit
AMPHIBIOUS
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LPD 2: Air Force 17,600
2 Tarlac (IDN Makassar) (capacity 2 LCVP; 3 hels; FORCES BY ROLE
13 tanks; 500 troops) FIGHTER
LANDING SHIPS • LST 4: 1 sqn with FA-50PH Fighting Eagle*
2 Bacolod City (US Besson) with 1 hel landing platform GROUND ATTACK
(capacity 32 tanks; 150 troops) 1 sqn with EMB-314 Super Tucano*
2 LST-1/542 (ex-US) (capacity 16 tanks; 200 troops) 1 sqn with OV-10A/C Bronco*; SF-260F/TP*
(1 other permanently grounded as marine outpost)

Asia
ISR
LANDING CRAFT 15 1 sqn with Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; Turbo Commander
LCM 2: 1 Manobo; 1 Tagbanua (capacity 100 tons; 690A
200 troops) SEARCH & RESCUE
LCT 5 Ivatan (ex-AUS Balikpapan) 4 (SAR/Comms) sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1M Iroquois);
LCU 4: 3 LCU Mk 6 (ex-US); 1 Mamanwa (ex-RoK Mulgae I) AUH-76; W-3A Sokol
LCVP 4 TRANSPORT
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 4 1 sqn with C-130B/H/T Hercules
AGOR 1 Gregorio Velasquez (ex-US Melville) 1 sqn with C295/W; F-27-200 MPA; F-27-500 Friendship
AOL 1 1 sqn with N-22B Nomad; N-22SL Searchmaster; C-212
AP 1 Ang Pangulo Aviocar (NC-212i)
AWT 1 Lake Buluan 1 VIP sqn with C295M; F-28 Fellowship; Gulfstream G280
TRAINING
Naval Aviation 1 sqn with SF-260FH
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 sqn with T-41B/D/K Mescalero
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 14: 5 Beech 90 King Air (TC- 1 sqn with S-211*
90); 3 BN-2A Defender; 4 Cessna 172; 2 Cessna 177 Cardinal 1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
HELICOPTERS ATTACK HELICOPTER
ASW 2 AW159 Wildcat 1 sqn with AH-1S Cobra; MD-520MG
TPT 13: Medium 4 Mi-171Sh; Light 9: 3 AW109; 1 sqn with AW109E
2 AW109E; 4 Bo-105 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
2 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
Marines 8,300 1 sqn with S-70i Black Hawk
FORCES BY ROLE 1 (VIP) sqn with Bell 412EP Twin Huey; S-70A Black Hawk
SPECIAL FORCES (S-70A-5)
1 (force recon) spec ops bn ISR UAV
MANOEUVRE 1 sqn with Hermes 450/900
Amphibious AIR DEFENCE
4 mne bde (total: 12 mne bn) 2 bty with Spyder-MR
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 CSS bde (6 CSS bn) AIRCRAFT 49 combat capable
COASTAL DEFENCE FGA 12 FA-50PH Fighting Eagle
1 coastal def bde (1 AShM bn (forming); 1 SAM bn MP 3: 1 C-130T MP mod; 1 F-27-200 MPA; 1 N-22SL
(forming)) Searchmaster
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ISR 11: 2 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; 9 OV-10A/C Bronco*
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES TPT 17: Medium 4: 1 C-130B Hercules; 2 C-130H Hercules;
APC • APC (W) 42: 19 LAV-150 Commando; 23 LAV-300 1 C-130T Hercules Light 11: 3 C295; 1 C295M; 2 C295W;
286 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

1 F-27-500 Friendship; 1 N-22B Nomad; 1 Turbo Commander


690A; 2 C-212 Aviocar (NC-212i); PAX 2: 1 F-28 Fellowship Singapore SGP
(VIP); 1 Gulfstream G280
Singapore Dollar SGD 2021 2022 2023
TRG 45: 6 EMB-314 Super Tucano*; 12 S-211*; 7 SF-260FH;
10 SF-260TP*; 10 T-41B/D/K Mescalero GDP SGD 533bn 582bn
HELICOPTERS USD 397bn 424bn
ATK 4: 2 AH-1S Cobra; T129B per capita USD 72,795 79,426
MRH 39: 8 W-3A Sokol; 2 AUH-76; 8 AW109E; 8 Bell Growth % 7.6 3.0
412EP Twin Huey; 2 Bell 412HP Twin Huey; 11 MD-520MG
Inflation % 2.3 5.5
TPT 35: Medium 16: 1 S-70A Black Hawk (S-70A-5);
Def bdgt SGD 15.4bn 16.4bn
15 S-70i Black Hawk; Light 19 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
(25 more non-operational) USD 11.4bn 11.9bn
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES USD1=SGD 1.34 1.37
ISR • Medium 5: 2 Blue Horizon II; 1 Hermes 450; Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
2 Hermes 900 10.6
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder 8.51
ASM AGM-65D Maverick; AGM-65G2 Maverick 2008 2015 2022
BOMBS Population 5,921,231
INS/GPS-guided: GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway II
AIR DEFENCE • SAM Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Medium-range 6 Spyder-MR Male 7.8% 3.1% 3.8% 4.3% 24.9% 6.1%
Female 7.3% 2.8% 3.5% 3.8% 25.7% 7.0%
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 12,300
Coast Guard 12,300 Capabilities
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) are the best equipped in South-
Rodman 38 and Rodman 101 owned by Bureau of east Asia. They are organised essentially along Israeli lines, with the
air force and navy staffed mainly by professional personnel while,
Fisheries and Aquatic Resources
apart from a small core of regulars, the much larger army is based
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 72 on conscripts and reservists. Although there are no publicly avail-
PSOH 1 Gabriela Silang (OCEA OPV 270) able defence-policy documents, it is widely presumed that the
PCO 4 San Juan with 1 hel landing platform SAF’s primary role is to deter attacks on the city state or interference
PB 56: 4 Boracay (FPB 72 Mk II); 4 Ilocos Norte; 10 Parola with its vital interests – particularly its sea lines of communication
(MRRV); 10 PCF 46; 12 PCF 50 (US Swift Mk1/2); 2 PCF – by potential regional adversaries. There is an additional focus on
65 (US Swift Mk3); 4 Rodman 38; 10 Rodman 101 counter-terrorist operations. With an ageing population and declin-
ing conscript cohort, there is a significant personnel challenge, which
PBR 11
the defence ministry is addressing by lean staffing and increased
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • ABU 1 Corregidor use of technology. There is routine overseas training, and plans have
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 3: 2 BN-2 Islander; 1 Cessna been announced to further improve domestic training areas. The SAF
208B Grand Caravan EX also engages extensively in bilateral and multilateral exercises with
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 4: 2 Bo-105; 2 H145 regional and international partners. Singaporean forces have gradu-
ally become more involved – albeit on a small-scale – in multinational
Citizen Armed Force Geographical Units operations. While deployments have provided some operational
50,000 reservists experience, and training standards and operational readiness are
high, the army’s reliance on conscripts and reservists limits its capac-
FORCES BY ROLE
ity for sustained operations abroad. Equipment modernisation
MANOEUVRE continues, which will be further enhanced by the ‘SAF 2040’ vision,
Other 56 militia bn (part-time units which can be launched in March 2022. This outlines procurement and upgrade
called up for extended periods) priorities across all domains, including the establishment of a fourth
service branch – the Digital and Intelligence Service, which was
DEPLOYMENT established in October 2022. Plans to acquire capabilities including
F-35 combat aircraft, multi-role combat vessels, uninhabited surface
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 3 vessels and uninhabited aerial vehicles, offshore patrol vessels, mari-
time patrol aircraft and land equipment are intended to maintain
INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 5
Singapore’s military edge over other Southeast Asian countries. There
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2 is a small but sophisticated defence industry. ST Engineering manu-
factures armoured vehicles, artillery and naval vessels for the SAF.
FOREIGN FORCES ACTIVE 51,000 (Army 40,000 Navy 4,000 Air
Australia Operation Augury 100 6,000 Digitial & Intelligence 1,000) Gendarmerie &
United States US Pacific Command: Operation Pacific Eagle Paramilitary 7,400
– Philippines 200 Conscription liability 22–24 months
Asia 287

RESERVE 252,500 (Army 240,000 Navy 5,000 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


Air 7,500) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Annual trg to age 40 for army other ranks, 50 for officers MBT 96+ Leopard 2SG
LT TK ε50 AMX-13 SM1 (22 AMX-10 PAC 90; ε300 AMX-
13 SM1 in store)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE IFV 600+: 250 Bionix IFV-25; 250 Bionix IFV-40/50; ε50
Hunter AFV; 50+ M113A2 Ultra; (22 AMX-10P)
Army 40,000 (including 26,000 conscripts) APC 1,375+
FORCES BY ROLE APC (T) 1,100+: 700+ M113A1/A2; 400+ ATTC Bronco
COMMAND APC (W) 135 Terrex ICV; (250 LAV-150/V-200
3 (combined arms) div HQ Commando; 30 V-100 Commando in store)
1 (rapid reaction) div HQ PPV 140: 74 Belrex; 15 MaxxPro Dash; 51 Peacekeeper
4 armd bde HQ ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
9 inf bde HQ AEV 94: 18 CET; 54 FV180; 14 Kodiak; 8 M728
1 air mob bde HQ
ARV Bionix; Büffel; LAV-150; LAV-300
1 amph bde HQ
VLB 72+: Bionix; LAB 30; Leguan; M2; 60 M3; 12 M60
SPECIAL FORCES
MW 910-MCV-2; Trailblazer
1 cdo bn
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MANOEUVRE
MSL • MANPATS Milan; Spike-SR; Spike-MR
Reconnaissance
3 lt armd/recce bn RCL 90+: 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm 90 M40A1
Armoured ARTILLERY 798+
1 armd bn SP 155mm 54 SSPH-1 Primus
Mechanised TOWED 88: 105mm (37 LG1 in store); 155mm 88: 18
FH-2000; ε18 Pegasus; 52 FH-88

Asia
6 mech inf bn
Light MRL 227mm 18 M142 HIMARS
2 (gds) inf bn MOR 638+
Other SP 90+: 81mm; 120mm 90: 40 on Bronco; 50 on M113
2 sy bn TOWED 548: 81mm 500 120mm 36 M-65; 160mm 12
COMBAT SUPPORT M-58 Tampella
2 arty bn
1 STA bn Navy 4,000 (incl 1,000 conscripts)
2 engr bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 EOD bn SUBMARINES • SSK 4:
1 ptn br bn 2 Archer (ex-SWE Västergötland) (fitted with AIP) with 3
1 int bn single 400mm TT with Torped 431, 6 single 533mm TT
2 ISR bn
with Black Shark HWT
1 CBRN bn
2 Challenger (ex-SWE Sjoormen) with 2 single 400mm TT
3 sigs bn
with Torped 431, 4 single 533mm TT with Torped 613
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 6
3 med bn
FFGHM 6 Formidable with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84
2 tpt bn
Harpoon AShM, 4 8-cell Sylver A43 VLS with Aster 15
3 spt bn
SAM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT with A244/S
Reserves LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 S-70B Sea Hawk hel)
Activated units form part of divisions and brigades listed PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 26
above; 1 op reserve div with additional armd & inf bde; CORVETTES • FSM 8 Independence (Littoral Mission
People’s Defence Force Comd (homeland defence) with Vessel) with 1 12-cell CLA VLS with VL MICA,
12 inf bn 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform
FORCES BY ROLE PCGM 6 Victory with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C
SPECIAL FORCES Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2 8-cell VLS with Barak-1
1 cdo bn SAM, 1 76mm gun
MANOEUVRE PCO 4 Sentinel (Fearless mod) with 1 76mm gun
Reconnaissance PBF 8: 2 SMC Type 1; 6 SMC Type 2
6 lt armd/recce bn MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 4
Mechanised MCC 4 Bedok
6 mech inf bn AMPHIBIOUS
Light PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LPD 4 Endurance
ε56 inf bn with 2 twin Simbad lnchr with Mistral SAM, 1 76mm gun
COMBAT SUPPORT (capacity 2 hel; 4 LCVP; 18 MBT; 350 troops)
ε12 arty bn LANDING CRAFT • LCVP 23: ε17 FCEP; 6 FCU
ε8 engr bn LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 5
288 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ASR 1 Swift Rescue 52+ Fighting Falcon (incl reserves)


ATF 2 MP 5 F-50 Maritime Enforcer*
AX 2: 1 Avatar; 1 Stet Polaris AEW&C 4 G550-AEW
TKR/TPT 11: 6 A330 MRTT; 4 KC-130B Hercules; 1 KC-
Naval Diving Unit 130H Hercules
FORCES BY ROLE TPT 9: Medium 5 C-130H Hercules (2 ELINT); PAX 4 F-50
SPECIAL FORCES TRG 31: 12 M-346 Master; 19 PC-21
1 SF gp HELICOPTERS
1 (diving) SF gp ATK 19 AH-64D Apache
COMBAT SUPPORT ASW 8 S-70B Seahawk
1 EOD gp TPT 56: Heavy 21: 6 CH-47D Chinook; 10 CH-47SD Super
D Chinook; 2+ CH-47F Chinook; 3+ H225M; Medium 30:
Air Force 6,000 (incl 3,000 conscripts) 18 AS332M Super Puma (incl 5 SAR); 12 AS532UL Cougar;
5 comds Light 5 H120 Colibri (leased)
FORCES BY ROLE UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK ISR 17+: Heavy 8+ Heron 1; Medium 9+ Hermes 450;
2 sqn with F-15SG Eagle Light some Orbiter-4
2 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (some used for ISR AIR DEFENCE
with pods) SAM 4+
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE Long-range 4+ SAMP/T
1 sqn with S-70B Seahawk Short-range Spyder-SR
MARITIME PATROL/TRANSPORT Point-defence 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); Mechanised
1 sqn with F-50 Igla; Mistral; RBS-70
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL GUNS 34
1 sqn with G550-AEW SP 20mm GAI-C01
TANKER TOWED 34+: 20mm GAI-C01; 35mm 34 GDF (with 25
1 sqn with A330 MRTT Super-Fledermaus fire-control radar)
TANKER/TRANSPORT AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
1 sqn with KC-130B/H Hercules; C-130H Hercules AAM • IR AIM-9P/S Sidewinder; Python 4 (reported);
TRAINING IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder II; SARH AIM-7P Sparrow; ARH
1 (aggressor) sqn with F-15SG Eagle; F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (AIM-120C5/7 AMRAAM in store in US)
1 (FRA-based) sqn with M-346 Master ASM: AGM-65B/G Maverick; AGM-114K/L Hellfire;
4 (US-based) units with AH-64D Apache; CH-47D AGM-154A/C JSOW
Chinook; F-15SG: F-16C/D AShM AGM-84 Harpoon; AM39 Exocet
1 (AUS-based) sqn with PC-21 BOMBS
1 hel sqn with H120 Colibri Laser-guided GBU-10/12 Paveway II
ATTACK HELICOPTER Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-49 Enhanced Paveway
1 sqn with AH-64D Apache II; GBU-54 Laser JDAM
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER INS/GPS guided GBU-31 JDAM
1 sqn with CH-47SD Super D Chinook
2 sqn with AS332M Super Puma; AS532UL Cougar Digital & Intelligence Service 1,000
ISR UAV Formed 2022 as fourth service of the Singapore Armed Forces,
1 sqn with Hermes 450 consolidating existing intelligence and cyber capabilities
2 sqn with Heron 1
AIR DEFENCE Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 7,400 active
1 AD bn with Mistral (opcon Army)
3 AD bn with RBS-70; 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); Civil Defence Force 5,600 (incl conscripts);
Mechanised Igla (opcon Army) 500 auxiliaries (total 6,100)
1 ADA sqn with Oerlikon
1 AD sqn with SAMP/T Singapore Gurkha Contingent 1,800
1 AD sqn with Spyder-SR Under the Police
1 radar sqn with radar (mobile) FORCES BY ROLE
1 radar sqn with LORADS MANOEUVRE
MANOEUVRE Other
Other 6 paramilitary coy
4 (field def) sy sqn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 105 combat capable
DEPLOYMENT
FGA 100: 40 F-15SG Eagle; 20 F-16C Block 52 Fighting AUSTRALIA: 2 trg schools – 1 with 12 AS332M1 Super Puma/
Falcon; 20 F-16D Block 52 Fighting Falcon; 20 F-16D Block AS532UL Cougar (flying trg) located at Oakey; 1 with PC-
Asia 289

21 (flying trg) located at Pearce. Army: prepositioned AFVs ACTIVE 255,000 (Army 177,000 Navy 50,000
and heavy equipment at Shoalwater Bay training area Air 28,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 62,200
BRUNEI: 1 trg camp with inf units on rotation; 1 hel det
with AS332M1 Super Puma
RESERVE 5,500 (Army 1,100 Navy 2,400
Air Force 2,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 30,400
FRANCE: 200: 1 trg sqn with 12 M-346 Master
TAIWAN: 3 trg camp (incl inf and arty)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
THAILAND: 1 trg camp (arty, cbt engr)
UNITED STATES: Trg units with F-16C/D; 12 F-15SG; AH- Army 113,000; 64,00 active reservists (recalled)
64D Apache; 6+ CH-47D Chinook (total 177,000)
Regt are bn sized
FOREIGN FORCES FORCES BY ROLE
United States US Indo-Pacific Command: 200; 1 naval spt COMMAND
facility at Changi naval base; 1 USAF log spt sqn at Paya 7 region HQ
Lebar air base 21 div HQ
SPECIAL FORCES
Sri Lanka LKA 1 indep SF bde
MANOEUVRE
Sri Lankan Rupee LKR 2021 2022 2023 Reconnaissance
GDP LKR 17.7tr 23.8tr 3 armd recce regt
Armoured
USD 89.0bn 73.7bn
1 armd bde(-)

Asia
per capita USD 4,016 3,293
Mechanised
Growth % 3.3 -8.7 1 mech inf bde
Inflation % 6.0 48.2 Light
Def bdgt LKR 308bn 373bn 60 inf bde
USD 1.55bn 1.15bn 1 cdo bde
USD1=LKR 198.76 323.34 Air Manoeuvre
1 air mob bde
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
2.04 COMBAT SUPPORT
7 arty regt
1.38 1 MRL regt
2008 2015 2022 8 engr regt
6 sigs regt
Population 23,187,516
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MBT 62 T-55A/T-55AM2
Male 11.4% 4.0% 3.6% 3.5% 21.6% 4.8%
RECCE 15 Saladin
Female 11.0% 3.8% 3.4% 3.4% 23.0% 6.6% IFV 62+: 13 BMP-1; 49 BMP-2; WZ-551 20mm
APC 211+
Capabilities APC (T) 30+: some Type-63; 30 Type-85; some Type-89
Since the defeat of the Tamil Tigers, the armed forces have reori- APC (W) 181: 25 BTR-80/BTR-80A; 31 Buffel; 20 WZ-
ented to a peacetime internal-security role. Support has been 551; 105 Unicorn
provided by China, in an indication of a growing military-to-military ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
relationship. The US has eased its long-standing military trade ARV 16 VT-55
restrictions and Japan has stated an intention to increase mari-
VLB 2 MT-55
time cooperation. Sri Lanka has little capacity for force projection
beyond its national territory but has sent small numbers of troops ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
on UN missions. The navy’s littoral capability, based on fast-attack MANPATS HJ-8
and patrol boats, has been strengthened with the acquisition of RCL 40: 105mm ε10 M-65; 106mm ε30 M40
offshore-patrol vessels, while the US has gifted a former US coast- GUNS 85mm 8 Type-56 (D-44)
guard cutter and China has gifted a frigate. The army is reducing in ARTILLERY 908
size and there appears to have been little spending on new equip- TOWED 96: 122mm 20; 130mm 30 Type-59-I; 152mm 46
ment since the end of the civil war. Sri Lanka is looking to begin
Type-66 (D-20)
a series of procurements to fill key capability gaps but ambitions
MRL 122mm 28: 6 KRL-122; 22 RM-70
are limited by budget constraints. The effect of the 2022 political
and economic crisis on Sri Lanka’s defence policy and procurement MOR 784: 81mm 520; 82mm 209; 120mm 55 M-43
is unclear. Beyond maintenance facilities and limited fabrication, UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
such as at Sri Lanka’s shipyards, there is no defence-industrial base. ISR • Medium 1 Seeker
290 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Navy ε37,000; ε13,000 active reserves (total 50,000) ISR UAV


Seven naval areas 1 sqn with Blue Horizon II
1 sqn with Searcher MkII
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MANOEUVRE
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 1
Other
FFH 1 Parakramabahu (ex-PRC Type-053H2G (Jiangwei I))
1 (SLAF) sy regt
with 1 twin 100mm gun (capacity 1 med hel)
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 121 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PSOH 5: 2 Gajabahu (ex-US Hamilton) with 1 76mm AIRCRAFT 13 combat capable
gun (capacity 1 med hel); 1 Sayura (ex-IND Sukanya); FTR 5: 3 F-7GS; 2 FT-7 (3 F-7BS; 1 F-7GS non-operational)
2 Sayurala (IND Samarth) FGA 1 Kfir C-2 (2 Kfir C-2; 1 Kfir C-7; 2 Kfir TC-2; 6 MiG-
PCO 2: 1 Samudura (ex-US Reliance); 1 Sagara (IND 27M Flogger J; 1 MiG-23UB Flogger C non-operational)
Vikram) with 1 hel landing platform MP 1 Do-228-101
PCC 3: 1 Jayasagara; 2 Nandimithra (ISR Sa’ar 4) with 1 TPT 20: Medium 2 C-130K Hercules; Light 18: 3 An-32B
76mm gun Cline; 6 Cessna 150L; 1 Cessna 421C Golden Eagle; 6 Y-12
PBF 74: 26 Colombo; 6 Shaldag; 4 Super Dvora Mk II; (II); 2 Y-12 (IV)
6 Super Dvora Mk III; 5 Trinity Marine; 27 Wave Rider TRG 13: 7 K-8 Karakorum*; 6 PT-6
PB 11: 2 Mihikatha (ex-AUS Bay); 2 Prathapa (PRC mod HELICOPTERS
Haizhui); 3 Ranajaya (PRC Haizhui); 1 Ranarisi (PRC mod ATK 11: 6 Mi-24P Hind; 3 Mi-24V Hind E; 2 Mi-35V Hind
Shanghai II); 3 Weeraya (PRC Shanghai II) MRH 18: 6 Bell 412 Twin Huey (VIP); 2 Bell 412EP (VIP);
PBR 26 10 Mi-17 Hip H
AMPHIBIOUS TPT 16: Medium 4 Mi-171Sh; Light 12: 2 Bell 206A Jet
LANDING SHIPS • LSM 1 Shakthi (PRC Yuhai) Ranger; 2 Bell 206B Jet Ranger; 8 Bell 212
(capacity 2 tanks; 250 troops) UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
LANDING CRAFT 5 ISR • Medium 2+: some Blue Horizon II; 2 Searcher MkII
LCM 2 AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 27: 40mm 24 L/40;
LCU 2 Yunnan 94mm 3 (3.7in)
UCAC 1 M 10 (capacity 56 troops) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 3: 2 AP; 1 AX AAM • IR PL-5E

Marines ε500 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε62,200


FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE Home Guard 13,000
Amphibious
1 mne bn
National Guard ε15,000

Special Boat Service ε100 Police Force 30,200; 1,000 (women) (total
31,200) 30,400 reservists
Reserve Organisations Ministry of Defence Special Task Force 3,000
Sri Lanka Volunteer Naval Force (SLVNF) 13,000 Anti-guerrilla unit
active reservists
Coast Guard n/k
Air Force 28,000 (incl SLAF Regt) Ministry of Defence
FORCES BY ROLE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FIGHTER PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 28
1 sqn with F-7BS/G; FT-7 PCO 1 Suraksha (ex-IND Vikram) with 1 hel landing
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK platform
1 sqn with Kfir C-2 PBF 22: 2 Dvora; 4 Super Dvora Mk I; 3 Killer (ROK);
1 sqn with K-8 Karakorum* 10 (Inshore Patrol Craft); 3 (Fast Patrol Craft)
TRANSPORT PB 4: 2 Simonneau Type-508; 2 Samudra Raksha
1 sqn with An-32B Cline; C-130K Hercules; Cessna 421C PBR 1
Golden Eagle
1 sqn with Beech B200 King Air; Y-12 (II) DEPLOYMENT
TRAINING
1 wg with PT-6, Cessna 150L CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 112;
ATTACK HELICOPTER 1 hel sqn
1 sqn with Mi-24V Hind E; Mi-35P Hind LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 126; 1 inf coy
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER MALI: UN • MINUSMA 243; 1 sy coy
1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-171Sh
1 sqn with Bell 206A/B (incl basic trg), Bell 212 SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 66; 1 fd hospital
1 (VIP) sqn with Bell 212; Bell 412 Twin Huey WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 2
Asia 291

Taiwan (Republic of China) ROC ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


New Taiwan Dollar TWD 2021 2022 2023 Space
GDP TWD 21.7tr 24.2tr EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD 775bn 829bn SATELLITES • ISR 1 Formosat-5
per capita USD 33,143 35,513
Army 94,000 (incl ε5,000 MP)
Growth % 6.6 3.3
FORCES BY ROLE
Inflation % 2.0 3.1
COMMAND
Def bdgt TWD 453bn 472bn 586bn 3 corps HQ
USD 16.2bn 16.2bn 5 defence comd HQ
USD1=TWD 28.02 29.18 SPECIAL FORCES/HELICOPTER
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 1 SF/hel comd (5 spec ops bn, 2 hel bde)
13.7 MANOEUVRE
Armoured
9.8 4 armd bde
2008 2015 2022 Mechanised
3 mech inf bde
Population 23,580,712 COMBAT SUPPORT
3 arty gp
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 3 engr gp
Male 6.3% 2.4% 3.1% 3.5% 26.2% 7.8% 3 CBRN gp

Asia
Female 6.0% 2.2% 2.9% 3.4% 26.7% 9.5% 3 sigs gp
COASTAL DEFENCE
Capabilities 1 AShM bn

Taiwan’s security policy is dominated by its relationship with Reserves


China and its attempts to sustain a credible military capability. FORCES BY ROLE
Taiwan’s current focus is on air defence and deterrence in coastal
MANOEUVRE
areas, on both sides of the island. The 2021 Quadrennial Defense
Light
Review for the first time mentioned the need to counter the PLA’s
27 inf bde
‘grey zone’ threat. The armed forces exercise regularly. Demo-
graphic pressure has influenced plans for force reductions and a EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
shift towards an all-volunteer force, which the 2021 Quadrennial ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Defense Review credited for helping the armed forces reach its MBT 650: 200 M60A3; 450 CM-11 Brave Tiger (M48H);
staffing goals. Nonetheless, issues with recruitment and retention (100 CM-12 in store)
have reportedly created personnel challenges for combat units, LT TK ε100 M41A3/D
and an extension of the current four-month military conscrip- IFV 173 CM-34 Yunpao
tion requirement is under consideration, with a decision due by APC 1,543
the end of 2022. Taiwan’s main security partnership is with the APC (T) 875: 225 CM-21A1; 650 M113A1/A2
US. The Taiwan Relations Act from 1979 states that ‘the United APC (W) 668: 368 CM-32 Yunpao; 300 LAV-150 Commando
States shall provide Taiwan with arms of a defensive character’. ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
In 2019, the United States approved the transfer of new F-16C/D AEV 18 M9
Block 70 combat aircraft to Taiwan. Nevertheless, Taipei main-
ARV CM-27A1; 37 M88A1
tains an interest in the F-35. In 2022, Taiwan’s purchase of MQ-9B
VLB 22 M3; M48A5
UAVs was confirmed. Taiwan has allocated funding for the acqui-
NBC VEHICLES 48+: BIDS; 48 K216A1; KM453
sition of HIMARS, ATACMS, SRBMs and precision-guided rockets
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
in its defence budget. Taiwan’s own defence-industrial base has
strengths in aerospace, shipbuilding and missiles. The government MSL
launched a new defence-industrial policy in 2019, aimed at further SP M113A1 with TOW; M1045A2 HMMWV with TOW
strengthening independent defence-manufacturing capacities. MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; TOW
RCL 500+: 90mm M67; 106mm 500+: 500 M40A1; Type-51
ACTIVE 169,000 (Army 94,000 Navy 40,000 Air ARTILLERY 2,093
35,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 11,800 SP 488: 105mm 100 M108; 155mm 318: 225 M109A2/A5;
Conscript liability (19–40 years) 12 months for those 48 M44T; 45 T-69; 203mm 70 M110
born before 1993; four months for those born after 1994 TOWED 1,060+: 105mm 650 T-64 (M101); 155mm 340+:
(alternative service available) 90 M59; 250 T-65 (M114); M44; XT-69; 203mm 70 M115
MRL 223: 117mm 120 Kung Feng VI; 126mm 103: 60 Kung
RESERVE 1,657,000 (Army 1,500,000 Navy 67,000 Feng III/Kung Feng IV; 43 RT 2000 Thunder
Air Force 90,000) MOR 322+
Some obligation to age 30 SP 162+: 81mm 72+: M29; 72 M125; 107mm 90 M106A2
292 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

TOWED 81mm 160 M29; T-75; 107mm M30; 120mm FFGH 1 Chin Yang (ex-US Knox) with 1 octuple Mk 112
K5; XT-86 lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2 twin
COASTAL DEFENCE 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15
ARTY 54: 127mm ε50 US Mk32 (reported); 240mm 4 M1 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 MD-
AShM Ching Feng 500 hel)
HELICOPTERS PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 44
ATK 96: 67 AH-1W Cobra; 29 AH-64E Apache CORVETTES • FSGM 1 Ta Jiang (Tuo Jiang mod) with 4
MRH 38 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior twin lnchr with Hsiung Feng II AShM, 2 twin lnchr with
TPT 38: Heavy 8 CH-47SD Super D Chinook; Medium 30 Hsiung Feng III AShM, 2 octuple lnchr with Tien Chien 2N
UH-60M Black Hawk (Sea Sword II) SAM, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm gun,
TRG 29 TH-67 Creek
1 hel landing platform
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
PCFG 1 Tuo Jiang (Hsun Hai) with 4 twin lnchr with
ISR • Light Mastiff III
Hsiung Feng II AShM, 4 twin lnchr with Hisung Feng
AIR DEFENCE
III AShM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT, 1 Mk 15
SAM • Point-defence 76+: 74 M1097 Avenger; 2 M48
Phalanx Block 1B CIWS; 1 76mm gun
Chaparral; FIM-92 Stinger
PCG 10:
GUNS
SP 40mm M42 4 Jin Chiang with 2 twin lnchr with Hsiung Feng II
TOWED 40mm L/70 AShM, 1 76mm gun
6 Jin Chiang with 1 twin lnchr with Hsiung Feng III
Navy 40,000 AShM, 1 76mm gun
PCC 1 Jin Chiang (test platform)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PBG 31 Kwang Hua with 2 twin lnchr with Hsiung Feng
SUBMARINES • SSK 4:
2 Hai Lung with 6 single 533mm TT with UGM-84L II AShM
Harpoon Block II AShM/SUT HWT MINE WARFARE 9
2 Hai Shih† (ex-US Guppy II (used in trg role)) with 10 MINE COUNTERMEASURES 7
single 533mm TT (6 fwd, 4 aft) with SUT HWT MHC 6: 4 Yung Feng; 2 Yung Jin (ex-US Osprey)
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 26 MSO 1 Yung Yang (ex-US Aggressive)
DESTROYERS • DDGHM 4 Keelung (ex-US Kidd) with MINELAYERS • ML 2 FMLB
2 quad lnchr with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 2 COMMAND SHIPS • LCC 1 Kao Hsiung
twin Mk 26 GMLS with SM-2 Block IIIA SAM, 2 triple AMPHIBIOUS
324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 2 Mk 15 PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 2
Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 2 127mm gun (capacity 1 S-70 LPD 1 Yu Shan with 4 octuple lnchr with Tien Chien 2N
ASW hel) (Sea Sword II) SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm
FRIGATES 22 gun (capacity 2 med hel; 4 LCM; 9 AAV-7A1; approx
FFGHM 21: 500 troops)
8 Cheng Kung (US Oliver Hazard Perry mod) with 2 LSD 1 Shiu Hai (ex-US Anchorage) with 2 Mk 15 Phalanx
quad lnchr with Hsiung Feng II/III AShM, 1 Mk CIWS, 1 hel landing platform (capacity either 2 LCU
13 GMLS with SM-1MR Block VI SAM, 2 triple or 18 LCM; 360 troops)
324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk LANDING SHIPS
15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity LST 6:
2 S-70C ASW hel) 4 Chung Hai (ex-US LST-524) (capacity 16 tanks; 200
2 Meng Chuan (ex-US Oliver Hazard Perry) with 1
troops)
Mk13 GMLS with RGM-84 Harpoon AShM/SM-
2 Chung Ho (ex-US Newport) with 1 Mk 15 Phalanx
1MR Block VI SAM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32
CIWS, 1 hel landing platform (capacity 3 LCVP, 23
ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B
AFVs, 400 troops)
CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 S-70C ASW hel)
LANDING CRAFT 44
5 Chin Yang (ex-US Knox) with 1 octuple Mk 16 lnchr
LCM ε32 (various)
with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/ASROC
A/S msl, 2 triple lnchr with SM-1MR Block VI LCU 12 LCU 1610 (capacity 2 M60A3 or 400 troops)
SAM, 2 twin lnchr with SM-1MR Block VI SAM, (minelaying capability)
2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 9
LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 127mm AGOR 1 Ta Kuan
gun (capacity 1 MD-500 hel) AOEH 1 Panshih with 1 quad lnchr with Sea Chaparral
6 Kang Ding with 2 quad lnchr with Hsiung Feng SAM, 2 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS (capacity 3 med hel)
II AShM, 1 quad lnchr with Sea Chaparral SAM, AOE 1 Wu Yi with 1 quad lnchr with Sea Chaparral SAM,
2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 1 hel landing platform
LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1 76mm gun ARS 2: 1 Da Hu (ex-US Diver); 1 Da Juen (ex-US Bolster)
(capacity 1 S-70C ASW hel) ATF 4 Ta Tung (ex-US Cherokee)
Asia 293

Marines 10,000 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


AIRCRAFT 471 combat capable
FORCES BY ROLE
FTR 215: 84 F-5E/F Tiger II (some in store); 77 F-16A/B
MANOEUVRE
Fighting Falcon; 9 Mirage 2000-5D (2000-5DI); 45 Mirage
Amphibious
2000-5E (2000-5EI)
2 mne bde
FGA 190: 127 F-CK-1C/D Ching Kuo; 63 F-16V(A/B)
Other
Fighting Falcon
1 (airfield def) sy gp
ASW 12 P-3C Orion
COMBAT SUPPORT
EW 1 C-130HE Tien Gian
Some cbt spt unit
ISR 7 RF-5E Tigereye
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AEW&C 6 E-2T Hawkeye
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES TPT 33: Medium 19 C-130H Hercules; Light 10 Beech
MBT 100 M60A3 TTS 1900; PAX 4: 1 B-737-800; 3 F-50
AAV 202: 52 AAV-7A1; 150 LVTP-5A1 TRG 96: 54 AT-3A/B Tzu-Chung*; 42 T-34C Turbo Mentor
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES HELICOPTERS
ARV 2 AAVR-7 TPT • Medium 17: 3 H225; 14 UH-60M Black Hawk
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
SP ε25 CM-25 AAM • IR AIM-9J/P Sidewinder; R-550 Magic 2; Shafrir;
RCL 106mm Sky Sword I; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder II; Mica IR; ARH
ARTILLERY • TOWED 105mm; 155mm Mica RF; ARH AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM; Sky Sword II
Naval Aviation ASM AGM-65A Maverick
AShM AGM-84 Harpoon
FORCES BY ROLE
ARM Sky Sword IIA
ANTI SUBMARINE WARFARE
ALCM • Conventional Wan Chien
2 sqn with S-70C Seahawk (S-70C Defender)

Asia
BOMBS • Laser-guided GBU-12 Paveway II
1 sqn with MD-500 Defender
ISR UAV Air Defence and Missile Command
1 bn with Chung Shyang II FORCES BY ROLE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
HELICOPTERS 1 GLCM bde (2 GLCM bn with Hsiung Feng IIE)
ASW 19 S-70C Seahawk (S-70C Defender) AIR DEFENCE
MRH 10 MD-500 Defender 1 (792) SAM bde (1 SAM bn with Tien Kung III; 2 ADA bn)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Medium 2 (793 & 794) SAM bde (1 SAM bn with Tien Kung II;
ε28 Chung Shyang II 1 SAM bn with M902 Patriot PAC-3; 1 SAM bn with
MIM-23 Hawk)
Air Force 35,000 1 (795) SAM bde (1 SAM bn with M902 Patriot PAC-3;
FORCES BY ROLE 2 ADA bn)
FIGHTER EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
3 sqn with Mirage 2000-5E/D (2000-5EI/DI) SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK GLCM • Conventional ε12 Hsiung Feng IIE
3 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II AIR DEFENCE
3 sqn with F-16A/B Fighting Falcon SAM 202+
3 sqn with F-16V(A/B) Fighting Falcon Long-range 122+: 72+ M902 Patriot PAC-3; ε50 Tien
5 sqn with F-CK-1A/B/C/D Ching Kuo Kung II
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE Medium-range 50 MIM-23 Hawk
1 sqn with P-3C Orion Short-range 30 RIM-7M Sparrow with Skyguard
ELECTRONIC WARFARE Point-defence Antelope
1 sqn with C-130HE Tien Gian GUNS • 20mm some T-82; 35mm 20+ GDF-006
ISR with Skyguard
1 sqn with RF-5E Tigereye MISSILE DEFENCE Tien Kung III
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 11,800
1 sqn with E-2T Hawkeye
SEARCH & RESCUE Coast Guard 11,800
1 sqn with H225; UH-60M Black Hawk EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
TRANSPORT PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 168
2 sqn with C-130H Hercules PSOH 5: 1 Chiayi; 2 Tainan; 2 Yilan
1 (VIP) sqn with B-727-100; B-737-800; Beech 1900; F-50; PSO 6: 4 Miaoli with 1 hel landing platform; 2 Ho Hsing
S-70C Black Hawk PCF 3 Anping (Tuo Jiang mod)
TRAINING PCO 14: 2 Kinmen; 2 Mou Hsing; 1 Shun Hu 1; 3 Shun Hu
1 sqn with AT-3A/B Tzu-Chung* 7; 4 Taichung; 2 Taipei
1 sqn with Beech 1900 PBF ε58 (various)
1 (basic) sqn with T-34C Turbo Mentor PB 82: 1 Shun Hu 6; ε81 (various)
294 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

is making efforts to reform defence procurement and offsets by


FOREIGN FORCES expanding the role of its Defence Technology Institute.
Singapore 3 trg camp (incl inf and arty)
ACTIVE 360,850 (Army 245,000 Navy 69,850 Air
46,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 93,700
Thailand THA Conscription liability 24 months

Thai Baht THB 2021 2022 2023


RESERVE 200,000 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary
45,000
GDP THB 16.2tr 17.3tr
USD 506bn 535bn
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
per capita USD 7,232 7,631
Growth % 1.5 2.8
Army 130,000; ε115,000 conscript (total
Inflation % 1.2 6.3 245,000)
Def bdgt THB 215bn 200bn 195bn Cav, lt armd, recce and tk sqn are bn sized
USD 6.71bn 6.17bn FORCES BY ROLE
FMA (US) USD 7m 10m 10m COMMAND
USD1=THB 31.98 32.40 4 (regional) army HQ
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 3 corps HQ
6.19 SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF div
4.76 1 SF regt
2008 2015 2022 MANOEUVRE
Armoured
Population 69,648,117 1 (3rd) mech cav div (2 tk regt (2 tk sqn); 1 sigs bn; 1
maint bn; 1 hel sqn)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Mechanised
Male 8.3% 3.0% 3.2% 3.6% 24.6% 6.2% 1 (1st) mech cav div (1 armd recce sqn; 2 mech cav regt
Female 7.9% 2.9% 3.1% 3.5% 26.2% 7.7% (3 mech cav sqn); 1 indep mech cav sqn; 1 sigs bn; 1
maint bn; 1 hel sqn)
Capabilities 1 (2nd) mech cav div (1 armd recce sqn; 2 (1st & 5th) mech
cav regt (1 tk sqn, 2 mech cav sqn); 1 (4th) mech cav regt
Thailand has large, well-funded armed forces and its air force is
(3 mech cav sqn); 1 sigs bn; 1 maint bn; 1 hel sqn)
one of the best equipped and trained in Southeast Asia. Facing
an increasingly unstable regional-security environment, the Royal
1 (2nd) mech inf div (1 armd recce sqn; 1 tk bn; 3 mech
Thai Armed Forces are moving towards a greater emphasis on inf regt (3 mech inf bn); 1 arty regt (4 arty bn); 1 engr
deterring external threats, while continuing their longstanding bn; 1 sigs bn)
internal-security role, particularly in the country’s far south, where 1 (11th) mech inf div (2 mech inf regt (3 mech inf bn); 1
a Malay-nationalist insurgency continues. The Vision 2026 defence- engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
modernisation plan, approved by the defence council in October Light
2017, outlined the armed forces’ planned capability improvements 1 (1st) inf div (1 lt armd sqn; 1 ranger regt (3 ranger bn);
for the following decade. Thailand is classed as a major non-NATO 1 arty regt (4 arty bn); 1 engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
ally by the US, but it has also developed closer defence ties with 1 (3rd) inf div (3 inf regt (3 inf bn); 1 arty regt (3 arty
China since 2014. The armed forces regularly take part in interna- bn); 1 engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
tional military exercises, notably the multinational annual Cobra
1 (4th) inf div (1 lt armd sqn; 2 inf regt (3 inf bn); 1 arty
Gold series with the US and some of its allies and security part-
regt (3 arty bn); 1 engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
ners. Personnel continue to be deployed to the UNMISS mission
in South Sudan. The military-modernisation effort includes devel- 1 (5th) inf div (1 lt armd sqn; 3 inf regt (3 inf bn); 1 arty
opment of a submarine capability, as well as the strengthening regt (4 arty bn); 1 engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
of anti-submarine-warfare capability and procurement of new 1 (6th) inf div (2 inf regt (3 inf bn); 1 arty regt (4 arty bn);
surface ships. The armoured-vehicle fleet has been recapitalised 1 engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
with deliveries from China and Ukraine. Saab 340 AEW&C aircraft, 1 (7th) inf div (2 inf regt (3 inf bn); 1 arty regt (2 arty bn);
Gripen combat aircraft and a new command-and-control system 1 engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
have improved air capability. In January 2020, the Royal Thai Air 1 (9th) inf div (1 mech cav sqn; 3 inf regt (3 inf bn); 1
Force (RTAF) issued a White Paper which detailed further acqui- arty regt (3 arty bn); 1 engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
sition and upgrade requirements through the 2020s, including 1 (15th) inf div (1 mech cav sqn; 3 inf regt (3 inf bn); 1
fighters, tactical-transport and VIP aircraft. The RTAF launched a
engr bn; 1 sigs bn)
space-operations centre in August 2019, a priority identified in
COMBAT SUPPORT
the National Strategy 2018–37 development programme. Under
its Defence Industry Masterplan, the government indicates that 1 arty div (1 arty regt (1 SP arty bn; 2 fd arty bn); 1 arty
expanding Thailand’s presently limited defence sector could be regt (1 MRL bn; 2 fd arty bn))
an important way to develop military capability and improve self- 1 engr div
reliance. The latter is of increasing importance in light of the COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
defence budget cuts since 2020. More broadly, the government 4 economic development div
Asia 295

HELICOPTER TOWED 138: 20mm 24 M167 Vulcan; 35mm 8 GDF-


Some hel flt 007 with Skyguard 3; 37mm 52 Type-74; 40mm 48 L/70;
ISR UAV 57mm ε6 Type-59 (S-60) (18+ more non-operational)
1 UAV bn with Hermes 450; Searcher II
AIR DEFENCE Navy 44,000 (incl Naval Aviation, Marines,
1 ADA div (6 bn) Coastal Defence); 25,850 conscript (total 69,850)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 8
MBT 394: 53 M60A1; 125 M60A3; 105 M48A5; 49 T-84 AIRCRAFT CARRIERS • CVH 1 Chakri Naruebet with
Oplot; 62 VT-4; (50 Type-69 in store) 3 sextuple Sadral lnchr with Mistral SAM (capacity 6
LT TK 194: 24 M41; 104 Scorpion (50 in store); 66 Stingray S-70B Seahawk ASW hel)
RECCE 42: 10 M1127 Stryker RV; 32 S52 Shorland FRIGATES 7
IFV 220: 168 BTR-3E1; 52 VN-1 (incl variants) FFGHM 3:
APC 1,199 2 Naresuan with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84 Harpoon
APC (T) 880: Bronco; 430 M113A1/A3; 450 Type-85 AShM, 1 8 cell Mk 41 VLS with RIM-162B ESSM
APC (W) 219: 9 BTR-3K (CP); 6 BTR-3C (amb); 18 SAM, 2 triple SVTT Mk 32 324mm TT with Mk 46
Condor; 142 LAV-150 Commando; 44 M1126 Stryker ICV LWT, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 Super Lynx 300 hel)
PPV 100 REVA 1 Bhumibol Adulyadej (DW3000F) with 2 quad lnchr
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 1 8-cell Mk
ARV 69+: 2 BREM-84 Atlet; 13 BTR-3BR; 22 M88A1; 6 41 VLS with RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 2 triple 324mm
M88A2; 10 M113; 5 Type-653; 11 VS-27; WZT-4 SEA TLS ASTT with Mk 54 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx
VLB Type-84
Block 1B CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel)
MW Bozena; Giant Viper
FFG 4:
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE

Asia
2 Chao Phraya (trg role) with 4 twin lnchr with
MSL
C-802A AShM, 2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 2 twin
SP 30+: 18+ M901A5 (TOW); 12 BTR-3RK
100mm gun
MANPATS M47 Dragon
2 Chao Phraya with 4 twin lnchr with C-802A AShM,
RCL 180: 75mm 30 M20; 106mm 150 M40
2 RBU 1200 Uragan A/S mor, 1 twin 100mm gun, 1
ARTILLERY 2,579
hel landing platform
SP 155mm 42: 16 ATMOS 2000; 6 CAESAR; 20 M109A5
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 70
TOWED 525: 105mm 296: 24 LG1 MkII; 12 M-56; 200
CORVETTES 7:
M101A1; 60 L119 Light Gun; (12 M102; 32 M618A2 in
FSGM 2 Rattanakosin with 2 twin lnchr with RGM-84
store); 155mm 229: 90 GHN-45 A1; 118 M198; 21 M-71
Harpoon AShM, 1 octuple Albatros lnchr with Aspide
(48 M114 in store)
SAM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Stingray
MRL 68: 122mm 4 SR-4; 130mm 60 PHZ-85; 302mm 4: 1
LWT, 1 76mm gun
DTI-1 (WS-1B); 3 DTI-1G (WS-32)
FSG 1 Krabi (UK River mod) with 2 twin lnchr with
MOR 1,944+: 81mm/107mm/120mm 1,867; SP 81mm 39:
RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 1 76mm gun
18 BTR-3M1; 21 M125A3; SP 107mm M106A3; SP 120mm
FS 4:
38: 8 BTR-3M2; 6+ Elbit Spear; 12 M1064A3; 12 SM-4A
AIRCRAFT 1 Makut Rajakumarn with 2 triple 324mm ASTT,
TPT • Light 22: 2 Beech 200 King Air; 2 Beech 1900C; 1 2 114mm gun
C-212 Aviocar; 1 C295W; 3 Cessna 182T Skylane; 9 Cessna 1 Pin Klao (ex-US Cannon) (trg role) with 2 triple
A185E (U-17B); 2 ERJ-135LR; 2 Jetstream 41 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT, 3 76mm gun
TRG 33: 11 MX-7-235 Star Rocket; 22 T-41B Mescalero 2 Tapi with 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with
HELICOPTERS Mk 46 LWT, 1 76mm gun
ATK 7 AH-1F Cobra PSO 1 Krabi (UK River mod) with 1 76mm gun
MRH 20: 8 AS550 Fennec; 2 AW139; 10 Mi-17V-5 Hip H PCT 3 Khamronsin with 2 triple 324mm ASTT with
TPT 122: Heavy 5 CH-47D Chinook; Medium 11: 8 UH- Stingray LWT, 1 76mm gun
60L Black Hawk; 3 UH-60M Black Hawk; Light 106: 27 Bell PCOH 2 Pattani (1 in trg role) with 1 76mm gun
206 Jet Ranger; 52 Bell 212 (AB-212); 16 Enstrom 480B; 6 PCO 4: 3 Hua Hin with 1 76mm gun; 1 M58 Patrol Gun
H145M (VIP tpt); 5 UH-72A Lakota Boat with 1 76mm gun
TRG 53 Hughes 300C PCC 9: 3 Chon Buri with 2 76mm gun; 6 Sattahip with 1
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 76mm gun
ISR • Medium 4+: 4 Hermes 450; Searcher; Searcher II PBF 4 M18 Fast Assault Craft (capacity 18 troops)
AIR DEFENCE PB 40: 3 T-81; 5 M36 Patrol Boat; 1 T-227; 2 T-997; 23 M21
SAM 8+ Patrol Boat; 3 T-991; 3 T-994
Short-range Aspide MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 17
Point-defence 8+: 8 Starstreak; 9K338 Igla-S MCCS 1 Thalang
(RS-SA-24 Grinch) MCO 2 Lat Ya
GUNS 192 MCC 2 Bang Rachan
SP 54: 20mm 24 M163 Vulcan; 40mm 30 M1/M42 SP MSR 12: 7 T1; 5 T6
296 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AMPHIBIOUS RCL • SP 106mm M40A1


PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LPD 1 Angthong ARTILLERY 54
(SGP Endurance) with 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 hel; 19 SP 155mm 6 ATMOS-2000
MBT; 500 troops) TOWED 48: 105mm 36 M101A1; 155mm 12 GC-45
LANDING SHIPS 2 AIR DEFENCE
LST 2 Sichang with 2 hel landing platform (capacity 14 SAM Point-defence QW-18
MBT; 300 troops) GUNS 12.7mm 14
LANDING CRAFT 14
LCU 9: 3 Man Nok; 2 Mataphun (capacity either 3–4 Naval Special Warfare Command
MBT or 250 troops); 4 Thong Kaeo
LCM 2 Air Force ε46,000
UCAC 3 Griffon 1000TD 4 air divs, one flying trg school
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 13
FORCES BY ROLE
ABU 1 Suriya
FIGHTER
AGOR 1 Sok
AGS 2: 1 Chanthara; 1 Paruehatsabodi 2 sqn with F-5E/5F Tiger II
AOL 5: 1 Matra with 1 hel landing platform; 2 Proet; 3 sqn with F-16A/B Fighting Falcon
1 Prong; 1 Samui FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
AOR 1 Chula 1 sqn with Gripen C/D
AORH 1 Similan (capacity 1 hel) GROUND ATTACK
AWT 2 1 sqn with Alpha Jet*
1 sqn with AU-23A Peacemaker
Naval Aviation 1,200 1 sqn with T-50TH Golden Eagle*
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ELINT/ISR
AIRCRAFT 3 combat capable 1 sqn with DA42 MPP Guardian
ASW 2 P-3A Orion (P-3T) AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
ISR 9 Sentry O-2-337 1 sqn with Saab 340B; Saab 340 Erieye
MP 1 F-27-200 MPA* TRANSPORT
TPT • Light 15: 7 Do-228-212; 2 ERJ-135LR; 2 F-27-400M 1 (Royal Flight) sqn with A319CJ; A340-500; B-737-800
Troopship; 3 N-24A Searchmaster; 1 UP-3A Orion (UP-3T) 1 sqn with ATR-72; BAe-748
HELICOPTERS 1 sqn with BT-67
ASW 8: 6 S-70B Seahawk; 2 Super Lynx 300 1 sqn with C-130H/H-30 Hercules
MRH 2 MH-60S Knight Hawk TRAINING
TPT 18: Medium 2 Bell 214ST (AB-214ST); Light 16: 6 1 sqn with CT-4A/B Airtrainer; T-41D Mescalero
Bell 212 (AB-212); 5 H145M; 5 S-76B 1 sqn with CT-4E Airtrainer
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AShM AGM-84 Harpoon 1 sqn with PC-9
Marines 23,000 1 sqn with H135
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
COMMAND
1 sqn with Bell 412 Twin Huey; S-92A
1 mne div HQ
MANOEUVRE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Reconnaissance AIRCRAFT 122 combat capable
1 recce bn FTR 75: 1 F-5B Freedom Fighter; 20 F-5E Tiger II; 2 F-5F
Light Tiger II (F-5E/F being upgraded); 1 F-5TH(E) Tiger II;
2 inf regt (total: 6 bn) 1 F-5TH(F) Tiger II; 36 F-16A Fighting Falcon; 14 F-16B
Amphibious Fighting Falcon
1 amph aslt bn FGA 11: 7 Gripen C; 4 Gripen D
COMBAT SUPPORT ATK 16 AU-23A Peacemaker
1 arty regt (3 fd arty bn, 1 ADA bn) ISR 5 DA42 MPP Guardian
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AEW&C 2 Saab 340 Erieye
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES ELINT 2 Saab 340 Erieye (COMINT/ELINT)
LT TK 3 VN-16 TPT 42: Medium 14: 6 C-130H Hercules; 6 C-130H-30
IFV 14 BTR-3E1 Hercules; 2 Saab 340B; Light 21: 3 ATR-72; 3 Beech 200
APC • APC (W) 24 LAV-150 Commando King Air; 8 BT-67; 1 Commander 690; 6 DA42M; PAX 7:
AAV 33 LVTP-7 1 A319CJ; 1 A320CJ; 1 A340-500; 1 B-737-800; 3 SSJ-100-
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES 95LR (1 A310-324 in store)
ARV 1 AAVR-7 TRG 87: 16 Alpha Jet*; 13 CT-4A Airtrainer; 6 CT-4B
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Airtrainer; 20 CT-4E Airtrainer; 21 PC-9; 7 T-41D Mescalero;
MSL 4 T-50TH Golden Eagle*
SP 10 M1045A2 HMMWV with TOW HELICOPTERS
MANPATS M47 Dragon; TOW MRH 11: 2 Bell 412 Twin Huey; 2 Bell 412SP Twin Huey;
Asia 297

1 Bell 412HP Twin Huey; 6 Bell 412EP Twin Huey


CSAR 12 H225M Super Cougar
DEPLOYMENT
TPT 23: Medium 3 S-92A Super Hawk; Light 20: 17 Bell INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 6
205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 3 H135 SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 281; 1 engr coy
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Light U-1
AIR DEFENCE
SAM Medium-range 3+ KS-1C (CH-SA-12)
FOREIGN FORCES
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES United States US Pacific Command: 100
AAM • IR AIM-9P/S Sidewinder; Python 3; IIR IRIS-T; Python
5 (reported); ARH AIM-120 AMRAAM; Derby (reported) Timor-Leste TLS
ASM AGM-65 Maverick
AShM RBS15F US Dollar USD 2021 2022 2023
BOMBS GDP USD 2.36bn 2.46bn
Laser-guided Paveway II per capita USD 1,754 1,793
INS/GPS-guided GBU-38 JDAM Growth % 1.5 3.3
Inflation % 3.8 7.0
Royal Security Command
Def bdgt USD 39.2m 44.3m
FORCES BY ROLE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
MANOEUVRE
80
Light
2 inf regt (3 inf bn)
21
2008 2015 2022
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε93,700

Asia
Population 1,445,006
Border Patrol Police 20,000
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Marine Police 2,200 Male 20.2% 5.3% 4.9% 3.8% 13.6% 2.0%
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Female 19.1% 5.1% 4.8% 4.0% 14.9% 2.2%
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 101
PCO 1 Srinakrin Capabilities
PCC 2 Hameln
The small Timor-Leste Defence Force (F-FDTL) has been afflicted by
PB 52: 1 Chasanyabadee; 3 Cutlass; 2 M25;
funding, personnel and morale challenges since it was established
2 Ratayapibanbancha (Reef Ranger); 1 Sriyanont; in 2001. The F-FDTL was reconstituted in the wake of fighting
2 Wasuthep; 41 (various) between regional factions in the security forces in 2006, but is still
PBR 46 a long way from meeting the ambitious force-structure goals set
out in the Force 2020 plan published in 2007. In 2016, the govern-
National Security Volunteer Corps 45,000 ment published a Strategic Defence and Security Concept (SDSC).
– Reserves This outlined the roles of the F-FDTL as including the protection
of the country from external threats and combating violent crime.
Police Aviation 500 However, this parallel internal-security role has sometimes brought
it into conflict with the national police force. The SDSC also stated
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
that the F-FDTL needs to improve its naval capabilities, owing to
AIRCRAFT 6 combat capable the size of Timor-Leste’s exclusive economic zone. The origins of
ATK 6 AU-23A Peacemaker the F-FDTL in the Falintil national resistance force, and continuing
TPT 16: Light 15: 2 CN235; 8 PC-6 Turbo-Porter; 3 SC-7 training and doctrinal emphasis on low-intensity infantry tactics,
3M Skyvan; 2 Short 330UTT; PAX 1 F-50 mean that the force provides a deterrent to invasion. The F-FDTL
HELICOPTERS has received training from Australian and US personnel. Austra-
lia is also donating two Guardian-class patrol vessels as part of
MRH 12: 6 Bell 412 Twin Huey; 6 Bell 429
its Pacific Patrol Boat Replacement programme; these are due to
TPT • Light 61: 27 Bell 205A; 14 Bell 206 Jet Ranger; 20 arrive in 2023. Maintenance capacity is limited and the country has
Bell 212 (AB-212) no defence industry.

Provincial Police 50,000 (incl ε500 Special ACTIVE 2,280 (Army 2,200 Naval Element 80)
Action Force)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Thahan Phran (Hunter Soldiers) 21,000
Volunteer irregular force Army 2,200
FORCES BY ROLE Training began in January 2001 with the aim of deploying
MANOEUVRE 1,500 full-time personnel and 1,500 reservists. Authorities
Other are engaged in developing security structures with
22 paramilitary regt (total: 275 paramilitary coy) international assistance
298 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Light Royal Guard & Land Force 140
2 inf bn
FORCES BY ROLE
COMBAT SUPPORT
MANOEUVRE
1 MP pl Light
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT 1 inf coy(-)
1 log spt coy Other
1 sy coy(-)
Naval Element 80
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Navy 130
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PB 5: 2 Dili (ex-ROK); 2 Shanghai II; 1 Kamenassa (ex- PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
ROK Chamsuri) PCO 2 Guardian (AUS Bay mod)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCM 1
Air Component LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AOL 1
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 1 Cessna 172 Vietnam VNM
Vietnamese Dong VND 2021 2022 2023
Tonga TON GDP VND 8399tr 9325tr
Tongan Pa’anga TOP 2021 2022 2023 USD 366bn 414bn
GDP TOP 1.07bn 1.14bn per capita USD 3,718 4,163
USD 470m 501m Growth % 2.6 7.0
per capita USD 4,701 5,008 Inflation % 1.8 3.8
Growth % -2.7 -2.0 Def bdgt VND ε145tr ε136tr
Inflation % 1.4 8.5 USD ε6.31bn ε6.03bn
Def bdgt TOP 11.6m 18.5m 20.4m FMA (US) USD 10.9m 12.0m 12.0m
USD 5.09m 8.15m USD1=VND 22934.42 22534.02
USD1=TOP 2.27 2.27 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
5.66
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
10
2.84
2008 2015 2022
5
2008 2015 2022 Population 103,808,319
Population 105,517 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Male 12.5% 3.8% 3.7% 4.1% 23.1% 3.0%
Female 11.2% 3.6% 3.5% 3.9% 23.3% 4.5%
Male 15.5% 5.2% 4.7% 4.0% 17.4% 3.2%
Female 15.0% 5.0% 4.5% 4.0% 17.4% 3.9%
Capabilities
Capabilities Vietnam has a stronger military tradition, and its armed forces
have more operational experience, than its neighbours. Its defence
His Majesty’s Armed Forces (HMAF) are a battalion-sized military efforts and armed forces also benefit from broad popular support,
based around the light infantry of the Tonga Royal Guards and the particularly in the context of tensions with China over conflict-
Royal Tongan Marines, and a small naval patrol squadron. Maritime ing claims in the South China Sea. Vietnam adopted a new Law
security is a primary concern of defence operations, although, on National Defence in 2018 and issued a defence White Paper in
between 2002 and 2014, HMAF also contributed platoon-sized 2019. The latter referred several times to Vietnam’s differences with
forces to multinational peacekeeping efforts in the Solomon China and the need for both sides to ‘put more effort into main-
taining stability’. It is evident, from Hanoi’s perspective, that stabil-
Islands, and then international coalition operations in Iraq and
ity will depend in good measure on Vietnam bolstering its deter-
Afghanistan. Australia and the United States are Tonga’s key exter-
rent capabilities in the South China Sea. This explains the emphasis
nal defence partners, but the armed forces also undertake defence on strengthening naval and air capabilities, including develop-
cooperation activities with China, India, New Zealand and the ment of an advanced submarine capability and procurement of
United Kingdom. new ISR, air-defence and naval anti-surface systems to boost the
capacity for anti-access/area-denial operations in Vietnam’s mari-
ACTIVE 600 (Royal Guards & Land Force 140 Navy time littoral. A joint vision statement on defence cooperation and
130 Other 330) a memorandum of understanding on mutual logistics support
Asia 299

were signed with India in June 2022. While Russia has been the 1 trg regt
dominant defence supplier, Washington lifted its arms embargo on AIR DEFENCE
Vietnam in 2016, and New Delhi and Seoul are understood to be 11 AD bde
seeking inroads into Vietnam’s defence market. Japan also signed
a defence trade deal with Vietnam in September 2021 to support Reserve
defence exports to the country as well as future collaboration on
research and development. Long-expected orders for new combat FORCES BY ROLE
aircraft and maritime-patrol aircraft have failed to materialise, MANOEUVRE
though Vietnam ordered a Japanese-produced satellite-based sur- Light
veillance system in April 2020 and jet and turboprop trainers from 9 inf div
the Czech Republic and United States, while the US has also trans-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ferred ex-Hamilton class vessels to Vietnam’s coastguard under the
US Excess Defense Articles programme. Vietnam is developing ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
its limited defence-industrial capacities and launched a defence- MBT 1,383: 45 T-34; 850 T-54/T-55; 4+ T-54B mod;
focused subsidiary to state-owned Viettel Military Industry and 70 T-62; 64 T-90S; 350 Type-59;
Telecoms Group, called Viettel High Technology Industries Corpo- LT TK 620: 300 PT-76; 320 Type-62/Type-63
ration, which focuses on defence electronics and communications. RECCE 100 BRDM-1/BRDM-2
The 2019 White Paper promoted investment in Vietnam’s defence IFV 300 BMP-1/BMP-2
industry with the aim to become internationally competitive and
APC 1,380+
join the ‘global value chain’ by 2030.
APC (T) 280+: Some BTR-50; 200 M113 (to be
ACTIVE 482,000 (Army 412,000 Navy 40,000 Air upgraded); 80 Type-63
30,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 40,000 APC (W) 1,100 BTR-40/BTR-60/BTR-152
Conscript liability 2 years army and air defence, 3 years air force and ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
navy, specialists 3 years, some ethnic minorities 2 years AEV IMR-2
ARV BREM-1M
RESERVES Gendarmerie & Paramilitary

Asia
VLB TMM-3
5,000,000 ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger);
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 9M14 mod
RCL 75mm Type-56; 82mm Type-65 (B-10); 87mm Type-51
Space GUNS
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE SP 100mm SU-100; 122mm SU-122
SATELLITES • ISR 1 VNREDSat TOWED 100mm T-12 (arty); M-1944
ARTILLERY 3,040+
Army ε412,000 SP 30+: 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 30 2S3 Akatsiya;
8 Mil Regions (incl capital) 175mm M107
FORCES BY ROLE TOWED 2,300: 105mm M101/M102; 122mm D-30/Type-
COMMAND 54 (M-1938)/Type-60 (D-74); 130mm M-46; 152mm D-20;
4 corps HQ 155mm M114
SPECIAL FORCES MRL 710+: 107mm 360 Type-63; 122mm 350 BM-21 Grad;
1 SF bde (1 AB bde, 1 demolition engr regt) 140mm BM-14
MANOEUVRE MOR 82mm; 120mm M-1943; 160mm M-1943
Armoured SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
10 tk bde SRBM • Coventional 9K72/9K77 (RS-SS-1C/D Scud B/C)
Mechanised AIR DEFENCE
2 mech inf div SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡;
Light 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse)
23 inf div GUNS 12,000
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE SP 23mm ZSU-23-4
1 SRBM bde TOWED 14.5mm/30mm/37mm/57mm/85mm/100mm
COMBAT SUPPORT
13 arty bde Navy ε40,000 (incl ε27,000 Naval Infantry)
1 arty regt
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
11 engr bde
1 engr regt SUBMARINES 8
1 EW unit SSK 6 Hanoi (RUS Project 636.1 (Improved Kilo))
3 sigs bde with 6 533mm TT with 3M14E Klub-S (RS-SS-N-30B)
2 sigs regt LACM/3M54E1/E Klub-S (RS-SS-N-27A/B) AShM (Klub-S
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT AShM variant unclear)/53-65KE HWT/TEST-71ME HWT
9 economic construction div SSW 2 Yugo (DPRK)
1 log regt PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 61
1 med unit CORVETTES 12:
300 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

FSGM 5: LANDING CRAFT • LCM 13


1 BPS-500 with 2 quad lnchr with 3M24E Uran-E 8 LCM 6 (capacity 1 Lt Tk or 80 troops)
(RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 1 9K32 Strela- 4 LCM 8 (capacity 1 MBT or 200 troops)
2M (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM (manually operated), 1 VDN-150
2 twin 533mm TT, 1 RBU 1600 A/S mor, 1 AK630 LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 22
CIWS, 1 76mm gun AGS 1 Tran Dai Nia (Damen Research Vessel 6613)
2 Dinh Tien Hoang (RUS Gepard 3.9 (Project 11661E)) AH 1 Khanh Hoa (Truong Sa mod)
with 2 quad lnchr with 3M24E Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 AKR 4 Damen Stan Lander 5612
Switchblade) AShM, 1 3M89E Palma (Palash) CIWS AKSL 10+
with Sosna-R SAM (RS-CADS-N-2), 2 AK630M AP 1 Truong Sa
CIWS, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform ASR 1 Yết Kiêu (Damen Rescue Gear Ship 9316)
2 Tran Hung Dao (RUS Gepard 3.9 (Project 11661E)) AT 2
with 2 quad lnchr with 3M24E Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 AWT 1
Switchblade), 1 3M89E Palma (Palash) CIWS with AXS 1 Le Quy Don
Sosna-R SAM (RS-CADS-N-2), 2 twin 533mm TT
with SET-53M HWT, 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm Naval Infantry ε27,000
gun, 1 hel landing platform EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FSG 1 Po Hang (Flight III) (ex-ROK) with 2 quad lnchr ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
with 3M24E Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, LT TK PT-76; Type-63
2 76mm guns APC • APC (W) BTR-60
FS 6:
3 Project 159A (ex-FSU Petya II) with 1 quintuple Coastal Defence
406mm ASTT, 4 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 twin FORCES BY ROLE
76mm gun COASTAL DEFENCE
2 Project 159AE (ex-FSU Petya III) with 1 triple 3 AShM bde
533mm ASTT with SET-53ME HWT, 4 RBU 2500 1 coastal arty bde
Smerch 1 A/S mor, 2 twin 76mm gun
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 Po Hang (Flight III) (ex-ROK) with 2 76mm guns
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 4K44 Redut (RS-SSC-1B
PCFGM 12:
Sepal); 4K51 Rubezh (RS-SSC-3 Styx); K-300P Bastion-P
4 Project 1241RE (Tarantul I) with 2 twin lnchr with
(RS-SSC-5 Stooge)
P-15 Termit-R (RS-SS-N-2D Styx) AShM, 1 quad
ARTILLERY • MRL 160mm AccuLAR-160; 306mm EXTRA
lnchr with 9K32 Strela-2M (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM
(manually operated), 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm gun Navy Air Wing
8 Project 12418 (Tarantul V) with 4 quad lnchr with 3M24E
FORCES BY ROLE
Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 Switchblade) AShM, 1 quad lnchr
ASW/SAR
with 9K32 Strela-2M (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM (manually
1 regt with H225; Ka-28 (Ka-27PL) Helix A; Ka-32 Helix C
operated), 2 AK630M CIWS, 1 76mm gun
PCO 7: 1 Project FC264; 6 TT-400TP with 2 AK630M EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
CIWS, 1 76mm gun AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 6 DHC-6-400 Twin Otter
PCC 6 Svetlyak (Project 1041.2) with 1 AK630M CIWS, 1 HELICOPTERS
76mm gun ASW 10 Ka-28 Helix A
PBFG 8 Project 205 (Osa II) with 4 single lnchr with TPT • Medium 4: 2 H225; 2 Ka-32 Helix C
P-20U (RS-SS-N-2B Styx) AShM
PBFT 1+ Shershen† (FSU) with 4 single 533mm TT Air Force 30,000
PH 2 Shtorm (ex-FSU Project 206M (Turya))† with 1 twin 3 air div, 1 tpt bde
57mm gun FORCES BY ROLE
PHT 3 Shtorm (ex-FSU Project 206M (Turya))† with 4 FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
single 533mm TT with 53-65KE HWT, 1 twin 57mm gun 3 regt with Su-22M3/M4/UM Fitter (some ISR)
PB 6: 4 Zhuk (mod); 2 TP-01 1 regt with Su-27SK/Su-27UBK Flanker
PBR 4 Stolkraft 1 regt with Su-27SK/Su-27UBK Flanker; Su-30MK2 Flanker
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 8 2 regt with Su-30MK2 Flanker
MSO 2 Akvamaren (Project 266 (Yurka)) TRANSPORT
MSC 4 Sonya (Project 1265 (Yakhont)) 2 regt with An-2 Colt; Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); Mi-8
MHI 2 Korund (Project 1258 (Yevgenya)) Hip; Mi-17 Hip H; M-28 Bryza; C295M
AMPHIBIOUS TRAINING
LANDING SHIPS 7 1 regt with L-39 Albatros
LST 2 Tran Khanh Du (ex-US LST 542) with 1 hel 1 regt with Yak-52
landing platform (capacity 16 Lt Tk/APC; 140 troops) ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
LSM 5: 2 regt with Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-171; Mi-24 Hind
1 Polnochny A (capacity 6 Lt Tk/APC; 200 troops) AIR DEFENCE
2 Polnochny B (capacity 6 Lt Tk/APC; 200 troops) 6 AD div HQ
2 Nau Dinh 2 SAM regt with S-300PMU1 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
Asia 301

3 SAM regt with Spyder-MR Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 40,000+ active


3 SAM regt with S-75 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline)
4 SAM regt with S-125-2TM Pechora-2TM Border Defence Corps ε40,000
2 SAM regt with S-125M Pechora-M
4 ADA regt Coast Guard
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 84 combat capable PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 79+
FGA 72: 26 Su-22M3/M4/UM Fitter (some ISR); 6 Su-27SK PSOH 2 Hamilton (ex-US) with 1 76mm gun (capacity
Flanker; 5 Su-27UBK Flanker B; 35 Su-30MK2 Flanker G
1 med hel)
TPT • Light 12: 6 An-2 Colt; 3 C295M; 1 M-28 Bryza; 2
PSO 4 DN2000 (Damen 9014)
C-212 Aviocar (NC-212i)
TRG 59: 17 L-39 Albatros; 12 Yak-130 Mitten*; 30 Yak-52 PCO 13+: 1 Mazinger (ex-ROK); 9 TT-400; 3+ other
HELICOPTERS PCC 2 Hae Uri (ex-ROK)
MRH 6 Mi-17 Hip H PBF 28: 26 MS-50S; 2 Shershen
TPT 28: Medium 17: 14 Mi-8 Hip; 3 Mi-171; Light 11 Bell PB 30: 1 MS-50; approx 14 TT-200; 14 TT-120; 1 other
205 (UH-1H Iroquois) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 5
AIR DEFENCE AFS 1
SAM 98+: ATF 4 Damen Salvage Tug
Long-range 12 S-300PMU1 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
AIRCRAFT • MP 5 C-212-400 MPA
Medium-range 65: ε25 S-75 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline);
ε30 S-125-2TM Pechora-2TM; ε10 Spyder-MR Local Forces ε5,000,000 reservists
Short-range 21+: 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); 21
Incl People’s Self-Defence Force (urban units) and
S-125M Pechora-M (RS-SA-3 Goa)
Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; 9K310 People’s Militia (rural units); comprises static and mobile

Asia
Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) cbt units, log spt and village protection pl; some arty,
GUNS 37mm; 57mm; 85mm; 100mm; 130mm mor and AD guns; acts as reserve
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A
Archer); IR/SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo); ARH R-77
DEPLOYMENT
(RS-AA-12A Adder) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 9
ASM Kh-29L/T (RS-AS-14 Kedge); Kh-59M (RS-AS-18 Kazoo)
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 69; 1 fd hospital
AShM Kh-31A (RS-AS-17B Krypton)
ARM Kh-28 (RS-AS-9 Kyle); Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton) SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 190; 1 engr coy
302 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Chapter Seven

Middle East and North Africa


„ Iran emerged as a key military supporter of Russia in maritime and air exercises, between Egypt, Greece and
2022, as the latter struggled during its war in Ukraine. Cyprus, as well as between Greece and the UAE.
Iran sent Shahed 131 and 136 Direct Attack Munitions „ To foster greater regional collective cooperation
to Ukraine, and there was speculation that in response against Iran, the US has orchestrated initiatives that
Russia would step up sales to Iran, potentially selling capitalised on warming relations between Israel and
the Su-35 aircraft originally intended for Egypt. Russia several regional states. In February, USCENTCOM
has also sought Iranian assistance to circumvent launched a task force in the Gulf to conduct
Western sanctions. surveillance by using uninhabited systems and in April
„ 2022 saw regional governments embrace de- the US announced the creation of CTF-153, a maritime
escalation and engage in diplomacy in ways not seen task force in the Red Sea designed to monitor the
before. These developments were motivated largely by activities of Iran and its proxies.
the post-pandemic recovery and the need for a greater „ Amidst a challenging global economic context,
focus on economic affairs. However, the picture was regional real GDP growth is estimated to have
not wholly positive: violence persisted in Libya, Syria increased from an average 4.1% in 2021 to an average
and Yemen, while Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and 5.0% in 2022, excluding Lebanon, Libya and Syria.
the UAE continued. But regional trends mask sharp disparities driven by
„ Ties improved between Turkey and Gulf states, and the surge in the oil price over 2022. Growth among
between Turkey and Israel. Ankara obtained Gulf oil importers is estimated to have reached 4.4% in
investment pledges and Gulf boycotts of Turkish 2022 compared to 5.2% for oil exporters and 6.5%
goods were lifted. This occurred within a context for Gulf Cooperation Council member states. Fiscal
of strengthening defence cooperation, including conservatism still shaped spending decisions in 2022.

Saudi Arabia, real-terms defence budget Active military personnel – top 10


trend, 2012–22 (USDbn, constant 2015)* (25,000 per unit)
Iran Global
70 20 total
610,000
20,773,950

60 15 Egypt 438,500

50 10 Saudi Arabia 257,000

Morocco 195,800
Year-on-year % change
USDbn, constant 2015

40 5

Iraq 193,000
30 0
Israel 169,500
20 -5
Syria 169,000

10 -10
Algeria 139,000

0 -15 Jordan 100,500


12.4% Regional
2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022 total
United Arab Emirates 63,000 2,571,750
Note: Defence budget only – excludes security expenditure
Middle East and North Africa 303

Regional defence policy and economics 304 ►

Arms procurements and deliveries 312 ►

Armed forces data section 315 ►

Middle East and North Africa: selected tactical combat aircraft, 2022*

Algeria
Advanced
Egypt Modern
Iran Ageing
Obsolescent
Iraq
Israel
Morocco
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Syria
UAE

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350 400


*’Combat aircraft’ includes fighter, fighter ground-attack and attack aircraft

and North Africa


Middle East
Middle East and North Africa: selected main battle tank fleets, 2022

Algeria
Egypt
Iran
Israel
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Morocco
Modern
Saudi Arabia Ageing
UAE Obsolescent

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500

Egypt’s navy: selected assets by country of origin

6 Submarines Frigates
5 Corvettes Principal Amphibious Ships

4
3
2
1
China France Germany Italy South Korea Spain United States

Icons are for illustrative purposes only


304 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Middle East and North Africa

Conflict and competition in the Middle East and access and a boost to the local economy, though
North Africa reached their lowest levels of intensity the reopening of roads across zones of control was
in a decade, as 2022 saw regional governments limited. The Houthis had agreed to the ceasefire after
embrace de-escalation and engage in diplomacy in months of ground attacks aimed at seizing Marib.
ways not seen in previous years. These developments Several thousand Houthi fighters were reportedly
were motivated by the post-pandemic recovery and killed in this campaign, mainly after operations by
the need for a greater focus on economic affairs. Saudi Arabia’s air force. The Houthis were believed
While power projection by most of the major states to have only agreed to the truce because they believed
engaged in regional competition appeared to decline, it would allow them to regroup and reconstitute their
Iran stepped up its activities, exerting influence in forces before attempting new attacks.
the war in Ukraine by supplying weapons to Russia. Several reports, including by UN experts,
Indeed, broader concerns about Iran’s activities and indicated that Iranian provision of weaponry to the
the regional repercussions of Russia’s invasion of Houthis continued during the truce. Anti-Houthi
Ukraine, together with the lack of formal settlements forces also used the lull to regroup and prepare for
of various crises, suggested caution over the durability new rounds of fighting but faced conflicted patrons
of this regional de-escalation in the medium term. whose interests and risk profile were more limited
than during the early years of the intervention.
Regional conflicts Analysts believe that Saudi Arabia agreed to the
Since 2011, three major civil wars have engulfed the ceasefire not only to placate the United States and
region. Although these conflicts saw their lowest levels the rest of the international community but also to
of violence yet in 2022, they continue to destabilise reduce its exposure to the conflict, notably in the
the region’s economies and societies, risking military form of Houthi aerial attacks against the Kingdom’s
confrontation between states and continuing to cause infrastructure. To support the political process,
much human suffering for civilian populations. Riyadh also compelled president Hadi to resign in
favour of a newly formed presidential council. Saudi-
Yemen and Emirati-supported factions largely abided by the
In Yemen, a United Nations-brokered ceasefire was ceasefire, mostly out of exhaustion but also out of
agreed in April. This froze the front lines and, though deference to their patrons. The Houthi decision not to
it was extended in July, ended in October. In the extend the ceasefire in October came as the regional
months leading up to April, Houthi forces had made security situation worsened. The failure of Saudi–
further advances towards the south and the east. Iranian talks in Iraq over Yemen and large-scale
Meanwhile, United Arab Emirates-supported militias popular unrest in Iran increased concerns over the
made progress pushing back Houthi advances in potential for renewed attacks by the Houthis as well
Shabwa and along the western coast. The forces of as Iran on Saudi Arabia. It was also largely interpreted
the UAE-backed secessionist Southern Transitional as heralding new campaigns in Marib and Ta’izz.
Council (STC) pushed into Abyan province. In recent Meanwhile, the UAE maintained its support for the
years, the STC had clashed with forces loyal to the STC and other militias, as did Saudi Arabia with its
central government of president Abd Rabbo Mansour own partners.
Hadi and expelled them from several regions in the
south. In contrast, government forces retained the Libya
greater authority in Marib, the last major government- In Libya, violence resumed in mid-year because
held city in central Yemen, thanks largely to Saudi of a political stalemate. Long-awaited presidential
military support. Non-governmental organisations elections had been scheduled for late 2021, after the
reported a 60% decrease in civilian casualties during formation of a unity government headed by Abdul
the ceasefire, along with greater humanitarian Hamid Dbeibah. However, the postponement of the
Middle East and North Africa 305

elections fuelled political divisions and led to political Irini, a maritime mission designed to intercept illicit
and militia realignments. In early 2022, two rival shipments bound for Libya, boarded a number of
governments claimed authority and legitimacy: the vessels in 2022 and seized weapons and military
Tripoli-based Government of National Unity led by vehicles bound for the country. The UN process,
Dbeibah and the Government of National Stability which in 2019 and 2021 seemed close to delivering a
based in eastern Libya and headed by former interior settlement, was once again under threat in late 2022.
minister Fathi Bashagha. Both entities relied on the
support of militias: Dbeibah depended on Tripoli- and Syria
Misrata-based factions, while Bashagha could muster The main battlelines in Syria did not change
some support in Tripoli as well as from militias loyal to significantly in 2022 despite violence reaching its
the Tobruk parliament. Khalifa Haftar, the country’s lowest levels since 2011. The regime of President
most powerful warlord, was nominally supportive of Bashar al-Assad remained firmly in place in
Bashagha but did not commit his Libyan Arab Armed Damascus but remained too weak to consolidate
Forces (LAAF), which had failed to seize the capital power in the areas in the northwest and northeast
in 2019–20. These factions competed over territory, that are outside its control. However, Assad’s
particularly oil-export facilities, and institutions, various opponents remained in disarray and heavily
including the National Oil Corporation and Libyan dependent on foreign support. Throughout the year,
Central Bank. there were assessments that Turkey might conduct a
In August, Bashagha attempted to seize power campaign to seize further territory from the Kurdish-
in Tripoli, mobilising several militias and obtaining dominated administration in northern and eastern
political backing in the Gulf as well as Egypt. Having Syria, but US lobbying and Russian opposition
secured the support of Tripoli and Misrata militias, seemed to forestall any Turkish plans. Instead, the
Dbeibah successfully resisted the attack. Both men, greatest change occurred inside the rebel holdout of
however, emerged weaker from this confrontation, Idlib, where the jihadi group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham

and North Africa


unable to muster forces or attract foreign support. seized more territory from groups aligned with

Middle East
Importantly, Egypt, Turkey and the UAE have Ankara. The humanitarian situation remained dire,
appeared less willing to deploy forces or provide with international aid agencies securing less than
equipment in this current round but appear ready half of the funding required to provide support to the
to back more reliable and effective local partners. population. In July, the UN Security Council agreed
Dbeibah was keen to cultivate the support of Turkey, to keep the sole remaining cross-border humanitarian
which maintained a small presence in the country, route from Turkey into Idlib open for only six months,
while Egypt backed the speaker of parliament and down from 12 months in previous years. This was
Bashagha ally Aguileh Saleh. due to Russian opposition.
The Wagner Group, a Russian private military Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has had some
company, had been less active since the 2020 Tripoli military effect in Syria. Moscow maintains a naval
debacle when it attempted to assault the city. But presence in the port of Tartus and an air base in
it maintained a significant presence, estimated to Hmeimim, as well as an operations room and military
number between 1,500 and 2,000 troops, alongside intelligence group in Damascus that coordinates
Haftar’s troops and in key locations, including oil Russian activity countrywide. In the first months of
facilities. There was no discernible reduction in this Russia’s invasion, there was no noticeable reduction
presence after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in the size of the Russian military presence in Syria,
as Libya remained a convenient pressure point for estimated to be around 4,000 troops. But reports
Russia against Turkey and European countries. emerged in the autumn of increased turnover,
Some of the combat aircraft previously associated suggesting a limited but noteworthy Russian
with Wagner seemed to have been transferred to readjustment including the relocation of one of
LAAF control. This situation led to relative quiet Russia’s S-300 air-defence units back to Russia.
in the country but presaged violent competition as Indeed, as Russian forces began to struggle
new contenders, courting foreign support, geared in Ukraine, this had a direct impact on the Syrian
up to replace existing groups. Moreover, there were battlefield. Turkey was a prime beneficiary of
continued attempts to rearm. Crew from vessels Russia’s isolation and its reliance on Turkish
participating in the European Union’s Operation goodwill. The prospects of Russia supporting an
306 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Assad campaign to retake Idlib were considerably Turkey continued to fight Kurdish separatists of the
reduced. Likewise, Iran benefitted insofar as it could Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) through ground and
maintain its influence in Syria, with reduced chances aerial operations, which caused civilian casualties as
of Russian pushback. Israel’s reluctance to condemn well as protests from Baghdad over the violation of
the Russian invasion was partly determined by the Iraqi sovereignty. Kurdish separatists of the Free Life
imperative of maintaining military coordination Party of Kurdistan (PJAK) in Iraq were also the target
with Russia in Syria to secure air access and of intense Iranian attacks.
avoid accidents. Israel was keen to preserve its air There were also more attacks by Iranian-aligned
dominance and worried that direct Israeli military groups against US military targets in Iraq and Syria. In
support to Ukraine would lead to Russian pushback parallel with diplomatic paralysis over Iran’s nuclear
in Syria. Nonetheless, the IDF was troubled by programme and in the context of regional tensions,
the increase in defence cooperation between Iran Iranian-backed groups launched missile and UAV
and Russia. It was feared that Iranian provision of attacks against small US bases in northern Iraq and
uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) to Russia would Syria, including Al-Tanf in August. This precipitated
allow Tehran to test its capabilities on a contested US retaliation against militia leaders.
battlefield, while the increased ties between the two
also raised concerns that Russia could reciprocate Regional effects of Russia’s 2022 invasion
and provide Iran with defence technologies of Ukraine
previously denied to it and align itself with Tehran Many states in the region have preferred to remain
on critical security issues. neutral in the war in Ukraine or have only mildly
Within this environment, there was no real condemned the Russian invasion without taking
progress in reforming and modernising the Syrian measures against Moscow or reducing their
Arab Army and the wider security apparatus. engagement. Over the past decade, Russia had
The worsening economic climate in Syria and the emerged as a security interlocutor as well as a
continued existence of pro-regime militias keen to possible alternative to the US in the eyes of several
preserve their autonomy precluded any prospect of countries who were unnerved by fluctuations in US
consolidation. This led to sustained violence in many policy and appreciative of Vladimir Putin’s ostensibly
regions across the country: the Islamic State (ISIS) effective statecraft. Several countries – notably Algeria
insurgency remained active in the Badiya desert and Syria, but also Egypt, Iraq and other smaller
region and in Deir ez-Zor and increasingly in the states – have been traditional customers of Russian
south. The regime was also unable to stabilise the weaponry as well as defence partners, at times also
region bordering Jordan. Moscow had guaranteed the conducting joint exercises with Russian armed forces.
regional deal that led in 2018 to the dismantlement Even US regional allies had evoked the possibility
and abandonment by their foreign sponsors of rebel of acquiring Russian weapons systems, such as the
groups operating there. Moscow, however, did not S-400 air-defence system. Russian military trainers
deploy military police units, provide stabilisation and private military companies, including the
funds or encourage reconciliation. This failure caused Wagner Group, have operated in several countries in
security to deteriorate. the region, including Libya, Syria and Sudan.
However, Russian prestige and credibility
Iraq diminished in 2022, in comparison with a high point
In contrast to Libya, Syria and Yemen, violence in in 2015–16, when Moscow successfully intervened
Iraq increased in 2022. Civil unrest, which peaked in the Syrian civil war. Russia’s operational and
in 2019, took a back seat as political competition military setbacks in Ukraine and the relatively
increased between parties backed by militias. This poor performance of its weapons systems have
was notably the case between Moqtada al-Sadr, a damaged its reputation across the region. It is widely
prominent and popular Shia cleric with nationalistic considered that Russia will struggle to innovate in
appeal, and an array of Iranian-backed militias. the technological domain and to maintain its export
This escalated into several armed confrontations in capability given its internal demands and shortages.
Baghdad and elsewhere, though the violence was Concerns about incurring Western sanctions were
ultimately contained. Intensified violence in northern also thought to be a deterrent for most countries.
Iraq was perhaps of greater significance. There, Importantly, the rapid growth of Russian–Iranian
Middle East and North Africa 307

defence relations has caused significant unease, cooperation, including maritime and air exercises,
particularly among Gulf governments. In recent years, between Cyprus, Egypt and Greece as well as between
Iran had hoped that Russia would help it recapitalise Greece and the UAE.
its armed forces. But Moscow, then seen as the senior A maritime agreement between Israel and
partner, was reluctant and unwilling to upset Israel Lebanon, brokered by the US, also served to reduce
and Gulf countries and risk Western disapproval. The tensions. The two countries have not delineated
Ukraine conflict has made Russia more dependent their land borders and there have been regular
on Iranian goodwill: Moscow has acquired Iranian confrontations. However, the prospect of exploiting
UAVs and deployed them in Ukraine. Tehran has offshore energy resources seemed to underpin the
supplied the Shahed-131 and Shahed-136 direct- agreement in October by both countries to delineate
attack munitions and the Mohajer-6 UAV to Russia their maritime border. In the months prior to the
as Moscow has attempted to fill gaps in its inventory agreement, Hizbullah had threatened Israeli ships
resulting from the invasion. As of November 2022, and exploration vessels operating in the hitherto
the initial batch of the Shahed systems appeared to contested area, deploying surveillance UAVs and
have almost been exhausted in Russia’s attacks. They alluding to the possession of armed UAVs. However,
have been used to supplement Moscow’s inventory domestic pressure in Lebanon, where the prospect of
of land-attack cruise missiles, which has depleted energy wealth seemed to improve an otherwise dire
considerably since it launched its 2022 invasion on 24 economic outlook, trumped Hizbullah’s scepticism.
February. Russia has also sought Iranian assistance to There was hope that the agreement would reduce
circumvent Western sanctions. tensions between Lebanon and Israel, but Hizbullah
as well as other Iran- and Syria-aligned groups
Regional competition rejected this prospect. The breakthrough happened
There was a trend towards regional de-escalation as Lebanon continued to face economic and political
in 2022. In the Gulf region, Iran was engaged in turmoil. This put significant pressure on the armed

and North Africa


separate diplomatic discussions with two of its main forces to preserve domestic stability, with some help

Middle East
rivals, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. A key motivation from Western and Arab governments.
for the governments of Saudi Arabia and the UAE The rivalry between Algeria and Morocco
was the need to avoid becoming entangled in US– worsened substantially in 2022. Morocco obtained
Iran or Israel–Iran escalation, especially as talks over increased access to defence technology thanks to
Iran’s nuclear programme seemed inconclusive. improving ties with the US, and especially Israel –
Additionally, they both sought to reduce aerial with whom it signed a normalisation agreement in
attacks from Yemen. The UAE was the target of 2020. It now boasts the most diverse UAV fleet in
several waves of UAV and missile strikes in January the region, comprising Chinese, Israeli, Turkish and
and February and the Saudi city of Jeddah was hit US equipment. Rabat deployed UAVs against the
in March during the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix. The Polisario Front in the contested Western Sahara region.
bilateral discussions had limited positive impact, with Morocco reportedly sought to buy the Israeli-made
Iran unwilling to make firm security commitments Barak MX air- and missile-defence system in 2022.
until an agreement with the US had been reached. For Algeria, the prospect of a better-armed Morocco,
More notable detentes occurred between Saudi benefitting from Western alliances, has raised alarms
Arabia and the UAE and between Saudi Arabia given its dependence on Russian weaponry.
and Turkey. Turkey’s economic problems were the To foster conditions for greater regional
proximate cause of this rapprochement, which helped collective cooperation against Iran, the US has
alleviate its regional isolation. Ankara obtained orchestrated initiatives that capitalised on warming
Gulf investment pledges and the Gulf boycotts of relations between Israel and several regional states.
Turkish goods were lifted. This also opened the way In February, US Central Command launched a task
to renewed discussions over defence procurement, force in the Gulf to conduct surveillance by using
notably those concerning Turkish UAVs. Likewise, uninhabited systems. In March, the Negev Summit
Turkish–Israeli relations improved markedly. Facing in Israel brought together the US, Israeli, Egyptian,
isolation in the Eastern Mediterranean, Turkey was Moroccan, Bahraini and Emirati foreign ministers.
keen to restore political ties with Israel. This took In April, the US announced the creation of CTF-153,
place within a context of strengthening defence a maritime task force in the Red Sea designed to
308 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

monitor the activities of Iran and its proxies in IMF put it. Brent crude prices jumped to levels in
the region. Over the spring and summer, the US excess of USD120 a barrel in March, but they then
organised regional discussions about air-defence stabilised to pre-invasion levels by the end of the
cooperation. However, political and operational year mainly because of a strong dollar, an increase
obstacles hindered an agreement. Perhaps the most in interest rates and fears of recession impacting oil
significant hurdles were the absence of a peace demand. Throughout 2022, oil prices have stayed at
agreement between Saudi Arabia and Israel and levels beyond the amount needed by some Gulf states
political disagreements related to Red Sea issues. to balance their budgets. In 2022, this fiscal breakeven
Inventories comprising different weapons systems price ranged between USD60 and USD80 a barrel for
and states having diverse weapons procurement Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE and was between
priorities were equally significant factors. USD48–55 a barrel for Kuwait and Qatar, with
Bahrain being the exception at USD128 a barrel. In
DEFENCE ECONOMICS late September 2022, days after prices dipped close to
USD80 a barrel for the first time since the beginning
Macroeconomics  of the year, OPEC+ (OPEC members plus ten leading
The region’s economies have generally been shielded non-OPEC oil exporters) announced an agreement
from the slowdown in global economic activity in for the biggest oil production cut since the start of the
2022. The year before, a tentative economic recovery coronavirus pandemic in a move likely designed to
across the world saw real GDP grow by 6% following keep oil prices at elevated levels.
the near 3% contraction in 2020 linked to the
coronavirus pandemic. In contrast, real GDP growth Defence spending and procurement 
in 2022 is projected to reach just 3.2%, inhibited by Defence spending in the Middle East and North Africa
the economic fallout of Russia’s full-scale invasion of reached USD187 billion in 2022, up from USD173bn
Ukraine – which contributed to high rates of inflation in 2021 (excluding Foreign Military Financing
and a cost-of-living crisis in several regions. The allocations from the US) largely due to a surge in
lingering coronavirus pandemic and the negative spending in Iran. However, Iran’s 40% inflation rate
impact on Chinese economic activity is also weighing meant that regional spending in real terms continued
heavily on the economic outlook. to contract in line with the trend seen in the region
Amid this challenging context, regional real GDP since 2018. The strengthening of the oil price in 2021
growth is projected to increase from an average was not reflected in the spending decisions for 2022
4.1% in 2021 to an average 5.0% in 2022, excluding made by several of the region’s oil exporters that
Lebanon, Libya and Syria. The Middle East and continued to pursue a fiscally conservative stance.
North Africa is highly exposed to global food prices, This subdued regional trend covers significant
particularly the price of wheat, but inflation rates in disparities. The notable real reductions in defence
several regional states are lower than those being spending between 2021 and 2022 in Saudi Arabia
experienced in Europe, Russia and Latin America. (-12.4%), Israel (-5.6%), Algeria (-3.7%) and Oman
The most notable exceptions to this are inflation rates (-3.0%) were partially offset by growth in Iran (+30.0%),
in Iran and Yemen, which reached 40.0% and 43.8% Qatar (+28.8%), Iraq (10.3%) and Egypt (+2.9%). It
in 2022 respectively. Conversely, inflation in Gulf has been suggested that Saudi Arabia’s reduced
Cooperation Council (GCC) states is expected to be share could be linked to the Kingdom’s ambition to
just 3.6% in 2022. Regional trends therefore mask diversify its economy through the development of
sharp disparities driven by the surge in the oil price local industry and plans to increase domestic weapons
over 2022: real GDP growth among oil importers is procurement and reduce dependence on expensive
expected to reach 4.4% in 2022 compared with 5.2% imports. Other factors should not be overlooked,
for the region’s oil exporters and 6.5% for the GCC. such as the completion of existing equipment
Indeed, higher oil prices are offering these delivery contracts, a possible reduction in the level
countries a chance to transcend the two policy of spending on military operations in Yemen and a
trade-offs that the war in Ukraine has sharpened for strained diplomatic relationship between Riyadh and
most of the world: ‘between tackling inflation and Washington, traditionally the Kingdom’s main arms
safeguarding the recovery; and between supporting supplier. Economic recovery in Saudi Arabia and
the vulnerable and rebuilding fiscal buffers’, as the other oil exporters may, along with the rise in oil prices
Middle East and North Africa 309

Increase
Qatar
Iraq** εUSD8.42bn
εUSD8.94bn

Iran**
εUSD44.01bn
Tunisia
USD1.37bn
Egypt
USD6.51bn

UAE
Mauritania εUSD20.36bn
USD0.23bn
Morocco
USD6.42bn
Bahrain
USD1.40bn
Jordan

and North Africa


USD2.28bn

Middle East
Algeria
USD8.94bn

Saudi Arabia**
Israel USD45.60bn
USD22.65bn
Oman
εUSD6.43bn
Kuwait*
USD9.17bn
Decrease

*IISS estimate of Ministry of Defence and National Guards budget using overall
Lebanon Libya Palestine Syria Yemen government expenditure which dropped significantly in 2022, official spending
n.k n.k n.k n.k n.k breakdown not available. **Security expenditure removed from defence budget figure.

[1] Map illustrating 2022 planned defence-spending levels (in USDbn at market
Real % Change (2021–22) exchange rates), as well as the annual real percentage change in planned
More than 20% increase Between 0% and 3% decrease defence spending between 2021 and 2022 (at constant 2015 prices and exchange
Between 10% and 20% increase Between 3% and 10% decrease rates). Percentage changes in defence spending can vary considerably from
year to year, as states revise the level of funding allocated to defence. Changes
Between 3% and 10% increase Between 10% and 20% decrease indicated here highlight the short-term trend in planned defence spending
Between 0% and 3% increase More than 20% decrease between 2021 and 2022. Actual spending changes prior to 2021, and projected
spending levels post-2022, are not reflected.
ε Estimate Spending 2% of GDP or above Insufficient data
©IISS

▲ Map 7 Middle East and North Africa: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy)1

in 2022, enable increased investment over the next few as well as to major modernisation cycles in certain
years. In October 2022, Saudi Arabia announced plans countries. Real-terms increases in Qatari defence
to boost public spending by 18% in 2023. spending averaged 12% annually between 2011
Over the last decade, the upward trend in defence and 2022. They were driven at various points by
spending in certain regional states can be linked to heightened security concerns amid the diplomatic
renewed tensions and associated threat perceptions crisis with its neighbours over the period, and a
310 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Egypt, 3.3% Other North Africa, 0.8% focused on US and European suppliers. For instance,
Morocco, 3.4%
Kuwait is growing its fleet with US helicopters and
Algeria, 4.6%
Jordan, 1.2% F/A-18E/F Super Hornets and Eurofighter Typhoons
Saudi Arabia
23.7% and also its air defence such as with the notification
Israel by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency in
11.8%
October 2022 of a potential US sale of the NASAMS III
Bahrain air defence system. Several countries may be tempted
0.7% to branch out to other partners to move towards
Qatar, 3.3% relative autonomy, which is increasingly supported
Oman, 4.4% by the development of regional defence-industrial
and technological bases.
Kuwait, 4.6% United Arab The outlook for the region will hinge on the
Emirates, 22.8%
Iraq, 4.8% response of oil producers to higher oil prices as they
Iran, 10.6% make their budgetary decisions. The spike in prices
means that fiscal balances in the Gulf have moved
Note: Analysis excludes Lebanon, Libya, Palestinian Authority, Syrian Arab Republic and Yemen. ©IISS
from an average deficit of 5% of GDP during 2015–21
▲ Figure 14 Middle East and North Africa: defence to a projected surplus of around 5% of GDP for 2022
spending by country and sub-region, 2022 and that countries will remain in surplus in 2023 and
2024. However, Gulf states may continue to adopt
procurement drive from 2015 that included 108 fiscally cautious behaviour. The volatility in oil prices
combat aircraft, such as the F-15 from the United and vulnerability to global shocks create significant
States, and the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Rafale budgetary uncertainty in the major defence-spending
from the UK and France respectively. Qatar’s air force states in the Gulf. As a result, countries may prefer
will be one of the most modern and diverse in the to continue improving resilience through economic
region once all three types are in service. However, diversification, reducing fiscal breakeven points, and
the volume and speed of these acquisitions raises shoring up reserves in the short term.
questions over Qatar’s ability to crew and maintain If countries do implement increases for
the aircraft. Modernisation programmes in Kuwait defence in the short term, these will likely benefit
and Egypt have also driven budget growth, while investment spending or enable a resumption of
recent defence budget uplifts in Morocco were made delayed procurement programmes or one-off capital
against the backdrop of rising tensions with Algeria projects that support modernisation and domestic
in 2021. Rabat procured attack helicopters and fighter development efforts. The countries spending the most
jets from the US in 2019–2020 and armed uninhabited – Saudi Arabia and the UAE – have ambitious defence-
aerial vehicles (UAVs) from Turkey in 2021. industrial ambitions, so higher government revenues
In Egypt and other regional states, another
important recent trend has been a diversification 7
6.33
of arms suppliers and defence partners. While 6.00
6 5.41 5.42 5.39
Cairo historically procured from Washington, it has
5 4.66 4.81
increasingly turned to Europe (mainly France but 4.31 4.30 4.28 4.41
also Germany and Italy). While most of their crewed 4 3.79
% of GDP

air platforms still come from these traditional Western


3
suppliers, regional states have increasingly turned
to other sources for UAVs and air defence systems. 2
Over the past few years, for armed UAVs, Egypt 1
turned to China (2018), Saudi Arabia to China (2017),
0
the UAE to China (2017 and 2019), and Morocco to 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Turkey (2021). In January 2022, the UAE and South
Korea also inked a preliminary agreement for the Middle East and North Africa GCC
acquisition of surface-to-air missile systems a day
before Houthi forces launched a UAV and missile ▲ Figure 15 Middle East and North Africa: defence
attack on Abu Dhabi. Some regional markets remain spending as % of GDP (average)
Middle East and North Africa 311

may enable much-needed investment in defence R&D to their neighbours to buy military equipment or
to bolster domestic production capabilities. However, develop joint projects. The region’s only credible
governments will likely want to avoid higher recurring arms provider would have been Israel until recently.
costs that result in a sustained increase in the defence Prior to 2021, there had already been numerous
budget, for instance changes in force structure. The cases of intra-regional military assistance and arms
Middle East and North Africa remains home to most transfers, and also to African countries, particularly
of the world’s countries with the highest military of armoured personnel carriers. Meanwhile, the
burden, including Oman (where spending accounts UAE has started exporting its weapons, such as Al
for 5.9% of GDP), Kuwait (5.0%) and Saudi Arabia Tariq guided bombs (re-branded Denel-designed
(4.5%). The region’s average is 3.8% of GDP to defence, Umbani guided bombs) sold to Egypt in 2020.
which is well above the global average of 1.7% in 2022, However, the growth in intra-regional defence-
meaning that the cost of defence is already higher here industrial cooperation became particularly evident
compared with other regions. in 2021 with the memorandum of understanding
between Saudi Arabia’s General Authority for
Defence industry Military Industries and the UAE’s Tawazun
Continued initiatives to produce military equipment Economic Council signed at that year’s IDEX
domestically and increasingly localise arms show. This is designed to boost defence-industrial
procurement are notable trends. This is apparent capability, explore the prospects for joint projects
chiefly in Gulf states, led by the UAE and followed and identify areas of cooperation in defence R&D.
by Saudi Arabia, although more recently Egypt, It is particularly important to improve in this
Jordan, Morocco and Qatar have followed suit. Rabat, area, as one of the identified roadblocks to the
for example, is developing its aircraft maintenance development of domestic capabilities has been
capability. The development of a defence-industrial the low regional investment in defence R&D. At
and technological base is most advanced in the the same time, regional states are becoming more

and North Africa


UAE, notably with the EDGE Group. Its success willing to showcase their wares as they look to

Middle East
is supported by demanding offset policies and defence sales as a way of boosting local industrial
diversification of partners. This has included turning capacity. IDEX has been established since the
to countries willing to consider technology transfer, early 1990s in the UAE; the Egypt Defence Expo is
such as South Africa, or looking to acquire know-how hosted in Cairo; Jordan hosts SOFEX; Morocco the
by acquiring or closely working with foreign firms. Marrakesh Airshow; and Saudi Arabia joined in
The nascent localisation of regional defence early 2022 with its first World Defense Show, held
procurements is also noteworthy as countries turn outside Riyadh.
312 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Arms procurements and deliveries – Middle East and North Africa


Significant events in 2022

UAE: TAWAZUN ECONOMIC COUNCIL EXPANDS


FEBRUARY
Tawazun Economic Council (TEC) signed an agreement with L3Harris Technologies to create the Intelligence
Software Center (ISC) and the Electro-Optical Center of Excellence (EOCE) in the UAE. This is part of a
scheme whereby, since 2018, foreign companies have been encouraged to establish UAE-based regional
headquarters, termed a ‘landed’ company, to increase local defence-industrial capability. Saab launched its
UAE-based landed company in December 2017 (officially approved by the TEC in 2019), with both Raytheon
Technologies and Thales following in 2019. Airbus signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a landed
company in November 2021. TEC had managed UAE offset programmes since it was established in 1992,
but from 2021 the organisation oversees the entire military acquisition processes and is able to formulate
procurement policies and legislation, authorise procurement budgets and organise defence R&D programmes.

SAMI SECURES CONTRACTS AT WDS


MARCH
State-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries (SAMI) signed several deals with foreign firms during the
first World Defense Show (WDS) exhibition near Riyadh. SAMI announced that it had secured SAR7bn
(USD1.87bn) from three Saudi banks to help achieve localisation goals. This will include work on two
agreements signed at the show: with MBDA and NIMR Automotive. The former seeks to establish an
MRO facility in Saudi Arabia, and there are plans for local production. The deal with NIMR will lead to the
production of Jais 4x4 armoured vehicles in the Kingdom. At the show, SAMI and its subsidiaries were also
awarded SAR7.65bn (USD2.04bn) worth of contracts for equipment and services for the Saudi armed forces.
SAMI was formed in 2017 with ambitions to become a ‘top 25’ defence company by 2030 and for Saudi Arabia to
localise over 50% of its equipment spending within the country.

OMAN: INDUSTRIAL COLLABORATION


JULY
Oman signed agreements with Rolls-Royce, Lockheed Martin, FNSS and INDRA. The Royal Air Force of Oman
(RAFO) will localise engine maintenance and repair capability for its Hawk aircraft with the assistance
of Rolls-Royce, while Lockheed Martin will help the air force operate satellite-based aircraft tracking
systems for its C-130J Hercules and F-16C/D Fighting Falcon fleets. Turkey’s FNSS will help establish an
armoured-vehicle modernisation and maintenance facility, likely as a follow-up to Oman’s 2016 order for
Pars III 6x6 and 8x8 vehicles. Meanwhile, Spanish firm Indra will set up an Earth observation centre in Oman.
No timelines have been released. Oman has long planned to strengthen its defence-industrial base through
international collaboration. For instance, in October 2016, the Omani State General Reserve Fund (SGRF)
purchased a 32.2% stake in Escribano Mechanical & Engineering (Escribano M&E) for EUR18m (USD19.9m).
The plan was that the firm would establish an Oman-based joint venture, Escribano Middle East, as part of Oman’s drive
to help establish its defence-industrial base through technology transfer. However, in January 2022, Escribano M&E
bought back this 32% share for undisclosed reasons, again becoming a 100% Spanish-owned firm.

ISRAEL: DEFENCE EXPORTS REFORM


AUGUST
New defence export regulations were put before the legislature. Under these proposals, Israeli defence
contractors would undergo a simpler licensing process for ‘unclassified’ products, with more exports
permitted to more countries. Israel is looking to expand the numbers of countries and equipment that
are exempt from marketing licence requirements, to 127 countries and 8,200 products from 111 and 5,500
respectively. In April, Israel announced that annual defence exports in 2021 had risen by 30% from 2020,
reaching USD11.3bn. The top three sectors were missiles, rockets and air defence systems (20%), training
and instruction services (15%) and uninhabited systems (9%). The top three export destinations were Europe
(41%), Asia-Pacific (34%) and North America (12%). Israel forecasts that exports will rise in 2022 as Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine has boosted defence spending in Europe and elsewhere, while the Abraham Accords have
opened new markets in the Gulf to all Israeli companies, not just in the defence sector.
Middle East and North Africa 313

Table 14 Qatar: selected procurement since 2010


Contract Equipment Type Quantity Contractor Deliveries
Date
Apr 2013 Leopard 2A7+ Main battle tank 62 Krauss-Maffei Wegmann 2015–20
PzH 2000 155mm self-propelled 24 (KMW) 2015–16
artillery
Aug 2014 AH-64E Apache Guardian Attack helicopter 24 Boeing 2019–20
Dec 2014 Patriot Long-range surface-to-air 10 Raytheon 2018–
missile (SAM) system ongoing
Jun 2015 C-17A Globemaster III Heavy transport aircraft 4 Boeing 2016
May 2015 Rafale Fighter ground-attack 24 Dassault Aviation Feb 2019–
aircraft (FGA ac) ongoing
c. 2016 BP-12A (CH-SS-14 Mod 2) Short-range ballistic ≥8 China Aerospace c. 2017
missile launcher Science and Industry
Corporation (CASIC)
Sep 2016 Marte-ER Land-based anti-ship n.k. M MBDA 2022*
Exocet MM40 Blk III missile launcher
Feb 2017 AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Ballistic missile early 1 Raytheon Technologies 2026*
Early Warning Radar warning radar
Aug 2017 Al Zubarah Frigate 4 Fincantieri Oct 2021–
Musherib Corvette 2 ongoing
LPD Amphibious assault ship 1
Dec 2017 Rafale FGA ac 12 Dassault Aviation n.k.
Dec 2017 Eurofighter Typhoon FGA ac 24 BAE Systems Aug 2022–
2024*
Hawk Mk167 Training aircraft 9 Sep 2021–

and North Africa


ongoing

Middle East
Dec 2017 F-15QA FGA ac 48 Boeing Oct 2021–
ongoing
Mar 2018 Bayraktar TB2 Medium combat 6 Baykar est. 2019
intelligence, surveillance
and reconnaissance
uninhabited aerial vehicle
Mar 2018 Kirpi Protected patrol vehicle 50 BMC est. 2020–21
Amazon 35
Mar 2018 NH90 TTH Medium transport 16 Leonardo Dec 2021–
helicopter (formerly Finmeccanica) 2025*
NH90 NFH Anti-submarine warfare 12 Mar 2022–
helicopter 2025*
H125 (AS350) Ecureuil** Light transport helicopter 16 est. 2018–21
Jul 2019 MIM-104 Patriot Long-range SAM system n.k. Raytheon Technologies n.k.
NASAMS II Short-range SAM system
c. 2020 Fuwairit (TUR Anadolu Landing craft tank 1 Anadolu Shipyard Feb 2022
Shipyard LCT)
Broog (Anadolu Landing craft medium 2
Shipyard LCM)
16m (Anadolu Landing craft vehicles and 1
Shipyard LCVP) personnel
Dec 2020 Gepard 35mm self-propelled 15 Rheinmetall Air 2021–ongoing
air defence artillery Defence (formerly
Oerlikon Contraves)
c. 2021 M-346 Training aircraft 6 Leonardo (formerly n.k.
Finmeccanica)
*Planned
**In training configuration
M = multinational
314 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

▼ Map 8 Egypt: defence industry

During the Cold War, Egypt’s defence industries licence-built withdrew, leaving AOI as a solely Egyptian entity owned by the
foreign equipment but the country did not possess significant Ministry of Defense. AOI factories subsequently licence-built
indigenous design capacity. Over two decades later Egypt’s French Alpha Jet training aircraft and Gazelle helicopters and
defence industry has made little progress in this regard de- Brazilian Tucano turboprop training aircraft, as well as various
spite spending significant sums on acquisition, particularly in missiles. The production of 120 Chinese K-8 training aircraft was
the last decade. completed in 2010 in Helwan, with a high level of indigenisation
Egypt’s defence industry is mostly grouped under three reported, and the site now serves as a maintenance, repair and
entities that broadly correspond to the air, land and maritime overhaul (MRO) facility for the aircraft.
domains. The Ministry of Military Production is a stand-alone Established in 2003, the Marine Industry & Services Organ-
government ministry established in 1954 that today oversees isation is the smallest of the three groups and is focused on
the production of armoured vehicles, artillery, small arms and shipbuilding and maritime services. Alexandria Shipyard is
ammunition. The Fahd APC, based on a German chassis and licence-building three of four French Gowind frigates and in
powerpack, has been exported in small numbers to states in 2020 announced that it was going to build a MEKO A200 frig-
the Middle East and North Africa and in Sub-Saharan Africa. ate. The navy plans to acquire at least three from Germany.
A 2022 deal with South Korea for the licensed production of Today many of the factories that had production lines in
an estimated 200 K9 howitzers will be carried out by the Abu previous decades have now either switched to MRO or have
Zaabal Tank Repair Factory (Factory 200) that assembled M1 diversified their business to produce civil products. Military
Abrams tanks from 1992 to 2018. factories have been active in the civil sector since the 1980s;
Established in 1975, the Arab Organization for Industrializa- continued focus and activity in this sector may continue to
tion (AOI) was originally a joint effort by Egypt, Kuwait, Qatar complicate Cairo’s ambitions to further develop indigenous
and Saudi Arabia to develop a pan-Arab defence industry. Fol- defence production, including the development of complex
lowing Egypt’s peace treaty with Israel in 1979, the other nations equipment, without foreign assistance.

©IISS
Benha Company
for Electronic
Ismailia Canal
Industries
Damietta
branch (River Nile)
Abu Zaabal Company for Specialized
Abu Zaabal Tank Industries (Factory 300)
Repair Factory
Qaha Chemical (Factory 200) Abu Zaabal Engineering
Plant (Factory 270) Industries Company (Factory 100)

Heliopolis Company for


Rosetta Chemical Industries (Factory 81)
Egyptian Ship Repair branch
and Building Company (River Nile) Shubra Company Arab International Optronics
for Engineering
Industries
Triumph Sakr Factory for
Alexandria Shipping Advanced Industries
Shipyard Company Helwan Diesel
(ASY) Engines Company
(Factory 909) Arab American Vehicles

Greater Electronics Factory


Maadi Cairo New
Engineering Kader Factory for Administrative
Land Defence Capital
Electronics Services Developed Industries

Air Munitions EAF Vehicles Department


Helwan Engineering
Factory (Factory 99) International Marathon United
Naval Small Arms Technology Group (IMUT)
and Ammunition Helwan Factory
for Machinery Helwan Factory for
and Equipment Developed Industires
River River Nile
(Factory 999)
Urban areas
Engines Factory
Fertile areas
Desert area
0 700 1,400 2,100 Kilometers
Middle East and North Africa 315

RESERVE 150,000 (Army 150,000) to age 50


Algeria ALG
Algerian Dinar DZD 2021 2022 2023 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
GDP DZD 22.0tr 27.2tr
USD 163bn 187bn
Space
per capita USD 3,660 4,151
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SATELLITES 4
Growth % 3.5 4.7
COMMUNICATIONS 1 ALCOMSAT
Inflation % 7.2 9.7 ISR 3 ALSAT
Def bdgt DZD 1.23tr 1.30tr
USD 9.09bn 8.94bn
Army 35,000; 75,000 conscript (total 110,000)
FORCES BY ROLE
USD1=DZD 135.34 145.33
6 Mil Regions
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
MANOEUVRE
10.4
Armoured
2 (1st & 8th) armd div (3 tk regt; 1 mech regt, 1 arty gp)
4.09
2 indep armd bde
2008 2015 2022
Mechanised
Population 44,178,884 2 (12th & 40th) mech div (1 tk regt; 3 mech regt,
1 arty gp)
4 indep mech bde
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Light
Male 14.9% 3.8% 3.3% 3.9% 21.6% 3.2% 1 indep mot bde
Female 14.2% 3.6% 3.1% 3.7% 21.1% 3.5% Air Manoeuvre
1 AB div (4 para regt; 1 SF regt)
Capabilities COMBAT SUPPORT
Algeria’s armed forces are among the best equipped in North 2 arty bn

and North Africa


Africa. The armed forces’ primary roles relate to securing territo- 1 AT regt

Middle East
rial integrity, internal security and regional stability. The army 4 engr bn
retains a key political position since its instrumental role in 2019 AIR DEFENCE
in ending President Abdelaziz Bouteflika’s two decades in power. 7 AD bn
Algeria is part of the African Union’s North African Regional Capa- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
bility Standby Force, hosting the force’s logistics base in Algiers. ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
There are discussions with neighbours about regional security MBT 1,485: 270 T-55AMV; 290 T-62; 325 T-72M1/M1M;
challenges such as counter-terrorism and there is close security
600+ T-90SA
cooperation with Tunisia. A November 2020 referendum approved
TSV 26+: 13+ BMPT; 13+ BMPT-62
a change to the constitution enabling Algeria to send forces on UN
peacekeeping missions. Tensions with Morocco, which increased
RECCE 70: 44 AML-60; 26 BRDM-2
once more in 2021, have persisted into 2022. The conscript-based IFV 980: ε220 BMP-2; 760 BMP-2M with 9M133 Kornet
force exercises regularly, although standards are difficult to judge (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
from open sources. There is an ongoing attempt to professionalise APC 1,307+
the armed forces, which was reflected in the reduction of conscript APC (T) VP-6
liability from 18 to 12 months in 2014. Military logistics capability APC (W) 1,305: 250 BTR-60; 150 BTR-80; 150 OT-64; 55
appears sufficient to support internal deployments. Army and air M3 Panhard; ε600 Fuchs 2; 100 Fahd
force inventories consist of a core of modern, primarily Russian- PPV 2+: 2 Marauder; some Maxxpro
sourced equipment, though China has also supplied equipment, AUV Nimr Ajban; Nimr Ajban LRSOV
including self-propelled artillery. The extent to which Russia’s inva- ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
sion of Ukraine has affected the supply of spare parts to Algeria AEV IMR-2
is unclear, though these are likely to become evident the longer ARV BREM-1
that conflict continues. Algiers has recapitalised around half of its
VLB MTU-20
fixed-wing combat-aircraft inventory and the navy has invested
MW M58 MICLIC
in its submarine and frigate fleet. Local industry and the services
are capable of equipment maintenance. Algeria is largely depen- ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
dent on foreign suppliers for new equipment, but it has in recent SP 92: 64 9P133 with 9M113 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel);
years made investments towards developing a domestic defence 28 9P163-3 Kornet-EM (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
industry. This has led to joint ventures with foreign partners, such MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger);
as Italy’s Leonardo and Germany’s Rheinmetall. 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5
Spandrel); 9K115-2 Metis-M1 (RS-AT-13); 9K135 Kornet-E
ACTIVE 139,000 (Army 110,000 Navy 15,000 Air (RS-AT-14 Spriggan); Luch Skif; Milan
14,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 187,200 RCL 180: 82mm 120 B-10; 107mm 60 B-11
Conscript liability 12 months GUNS 100mm 10 T-12
316 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ARTILLERY 1,127 PB 9 Kebir with 1 76mm gun


SP 224: 122mm 140 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 30 2S3 MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 2
Akatsiya; 155mm ε54 PLZ-45 MCC 2 El-Kasseh (ITA Gaeta mod)
TOWED 393: 122mm 345: 160 D-30 (incl some truck AMPHIBIOUS
mounted SP); 25 D-74; 100 M-1931/37; 60 M-30; 130mm PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LHD 1 Kalaat
10 M-46; 152mm 20 M-1937 (ML-20); 155mm 18 PLL-01 Beni Abbes with 1 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS with Aster 15
MRL 180: 122mm 48 BM-21 Grad; 140mm 48 BM-14; SAM, 1 76mm gun (capacity 5 med hel; 3 LCVP; 15
220mm 36: 18+ SR5; ε18 TOS-1A; 240mm 30 BM-24;
MBT; 350 troops)
300mm 18 9A52 Smerch
LANDING SHIPS 3:
MOR 330+: 82mm 150 M-37; 120mm 120 M-1943; W86;
LSM 1 Polnochny B with 1 twin AK230 CIWS (capacity
SP 120mm Nimr Hafeet with SM5; SM4; W86 (SP);
160mm 60 M-1943 6 MBT; 180 troops)
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS LST 2 Kalaat beni Hammad (capacity 7 MBT; 240
SRBM 12 Iskander-E troops) with 1 med hel landing platform
AIR DEFENCE LANDING CRAFT • LCVP 3
SAM LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 3
Point-defence 68+: ε48 9K33M Osa (RS-SA-8B Gecko); AGS 1 El Idrissi
ε20 9K31 Strela-1 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin); 9K32 Strela-2 AX 1 Daxin with 2 AK230 CIWS, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel
(RS-SA-7A/B Grail)‡; QW-2 (CH-SA-8) landing platform
SPAAGM 30mm 38 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 AXS 1 El Mellah
Greyhound); Pantsir-SM
GUNS ε425 Naval Infantry ε7,000
SP 23mm ε225 ZSU-23-4
FORCES BY ROLE
TOWED 200: 14.5mm 100: 60 ZPU-2; 40 ZPU-4; 23mm
SPECIAL FORCES
100 ZU-23-2
1 cdo bn
Navy ε15,000 MANOEUVRE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Amphibious
SUBMARINES • SSK 6: 8 naval inf bn
2 Paltus (FSU Project 877 (Kilo)) with 6 single 533mm TT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
with TEST-71ME HWT ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
4 Varshavyanka (RUS Project 636.1 (Improved Kilo)) with APC • APC(W) BTR-80
6 single 533mm TT with 3M14E Klub-S (RS-SS-N-30B)
LACM/3M54E1/E Klub-S (RS-SS-N-27A/B) AShM Naval Aviation
(Klub-S AShM variant unclear)/TEST-71ME HWT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 5
FFGHM 5: HELICOPTERS
3 Adhafer (C-28A) with 2 quad lnchr with C-802A MRH 9: 3 AW139 (SAR); 6 Super Lynx 300
AShM, 1 octuple lnchr with FM-90 (CH-SA-N-4) SAR 9: 5 AW101 SAR; 4 Super Lynx Mk130
SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT, 2 Type-730B (H/PJ-12)
CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 hel) Coastal Defence
2 Erradii (MEKO A200AN) with 2 octuple lnchrs with FORCES BY ROLE
RBS15 Mk3 AShM, 4 8-cell VLS with Umkhonto-IR COASTAL DEFENCE
SAM, 2 twin 324mm TT with MU90 LWT, 1 127mm 1 AShM regt with 4K51 Rubezh (RS-SSC-3 Styx); CM-
gun (capacity 1 Super Lynx 300)
302 (YJ-12E)
ATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 28 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
CORVETTES • FS 3 Mourad Rais (FSU Project 1159 COASTAL DEFENCE
(Koni)) with 2 twin 533mm TT, 2 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S AShM 4K51 Rubezh (RS-SSC-3 Styx); CM-302 (YJ-12E)
mor, 2 twin 76mm gun
PCGM 3 Rais Hamidou (FSU Project 1234E (Nanuchka Coast Guard ε500
II)) with 4 quad lnchr with 3M24E Uran-E (RS-SS-N-25 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Switchblade) AShM, 1 twin lnchr with 4K33 Osa-M (RS- PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 74
SA-N-4 Gecko) SAM, 1 AK630 CIWS, 1 twin 57mm gun PBF 6 Baglietto 20
PCG 4: 3 Djebel Chenoua with 2 twin lnchr with C-802
PB 68: 6 Baglietto Mangusta; 12 Jebel Antar; 40 Deneb; 4
(CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 1 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun; 1 Rais
El Mounkid; 6 Kebir with 1 76mm gun
Hassen Barbiar (Djebel Chenoua mod) with 2 twin lnchr
with C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 1 Type-730 (H/PJ-12) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 9
CIWS, 1 76mm gun AR 1 El Mourafek
PBFG 9 Project 205 (ex-FSU Osa II) (or which 3†) with 4 ARS 3 El Moundjid
single lnchr with P-20U (RS-SS-N-2B Styx) AShM AXL 5 El Mouderrib (PRC Chui-E) (2 more in reserve†)
Middle East and North Africa 317

Air Force 14,000 (med tpt)/Mi-17 Hip H


FORCES BY ROLE TPT 62: Heavy 14 Mi-26T2 Halo; Medium 4 Ka-32T
FIGHTER Helix; Light 44: 8 AW119KE Koala; 8 AS355 Ecureuil; 28
4 sqn with MiG-29S/UB Fulcrum PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
3 sqn with Su-30MKA Flanker H
GROUND ATTACK CISR • Heavy CH-3; CH-4; Yabhon United-30
2 sqn with Su-24M/MK Fencer D ISR • Medium Seeker II; Yabhon Flash-20
ELINT AIR DEFENCE • SAM
1 sqn with Beech 1900D Long-range 32+ S-300PMU2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
MARITIME PATROL
Medium-range 20+ 9K317 Buk-M2E (RS-SA-17 Grizzly)
2 sqn with Beech 200T/300 King Air
ISR Short-range 36+: 2K12 Kvadrat (RS-SA-6 Gainful);
1 sqn with Su-24MR Fencer E* 12 S-125M; Pechora-M (RS-SA-3 Goa); 24 S-125M1
TANKER Pechora-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa)
1 sqn with Il-78 Midas
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with C-130H/H-30 Hercules; L-100-30 AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A
1 sqn with C295M Archer); IR/SARH R-40/46 (RS-AA-6 Acrid); R-23/24
1 sqn with Gulfstream IV-SP; Gulfstream V (RS-AA-7 Apex); R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo); ARH R-77
1 sqn with Il-76MD/TD Candid
(RS-AA-12A Adder)
TRAINING
2 sqn with Z-142 ASM Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen); Kh-29 (RS-AS-14 Kedge);
1 sqn with Yak-130 Mitten* Kh-59ME (RS-AS-18 Kazoo); ZT-35 Ingwe; 9M120 Ataka
2 sqn with L-39C Albatros; L-39ZA Albatros* (RS-AT-9)
1 hel sqn with PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
AShM Kh-31A (RS-AS-17B Krypton)
ATTACK HELICOPTER
3 sqn with Mi-24 Hind (one re-equipping with Mi- ARM Kh-25MP (RS-AS-12A Kegler); Kh-31P (RS-AS-

and North Africa


28NE Havoc) 17A Krypton)

Middle East
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with AS355 Ecureuil Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε187,200
5 sqn with Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H
1 sqn with Ka-27PS Helix D; Ka-32T Helix
Gendarmerie 20,000
ISR UAV
1 sqn with Seeker II Ministry of Defence control; 6 regions
AIR DEFENCE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
3 ADA bde
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
3 SAM regt with S-125M/M1 Pechora-M/M1 (RS-SA-3
Goa); 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); S-300PMU2 RECCE AML-60
(RS-SA-20 Gargoyle) APC • APC (W) 210: 100 TH-390 Fahd; 110 Panhard M3
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 12+: 12 AW109; Some
AIRCRAFT 184 combat capable PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
FTR 23 MiG-29S/UB Fulcrum
FGA 73: 14 MiG-29M/M2 Fulcrum; 59 Su-30MKA National Security Forces 16,000
Flanker H
ATK 33 Su-24M/MK Fencer D Directorate of National Security. Equipped with small arms
ISR 3 Su-24MR Fencer E*
TKR 6 Il-78 Midas Republican Guard 1,200
TPT 67: Heavy 11: 3 Il-76MD Candid B; 8 Il-76TD EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Candid; Medium 18: 8 C-130H Hercules; 6 C-130H-30
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Hercules; 2 C-130J Hercules; 2 L-100-30; Light 32: 3
Beech C90B King Air; 5 Beech 200T King Air; 6 Beech RECCE AML-60
300 King Air; 12 Beech 1900D (electronic surv); 5
C295M; 1 F-27 Friendship; PAX 6: 1 A340; 4 Gulfstream Legitimate Defence Groups ε150,000
IV-SP; 1 Gulfstream V Self-defence militia, communal guards (60,000)
TRG 99: 36 L-39ZA Albatros*; 7 L-39C Albatros; 16 Yak-
130 Mitten*; 40 Z-142
HELICOPTERS DEPLOYMENT
ATK 72: 30 Mi-24 Hind; 42+ Mi-28NE/UB Havoc
SAR 3 Ka-27PS Helix D DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
MRH 85: 8 AW139 (SAR); 3 Bell 412EP; 74 Mi-8 Hip MONUSCO 2
318 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MANOEUVRE
Bahrain BHR Armoured
1 armd bde(-) (1 recce bn, 2 armd bn)
Bahraini Dinar BHD 2021 2022 2023 Mechanised
GDP BHD 14.6bn 16.4bn 1 inf bde (2 mech bn, 1 mot bn)
USD 38.9bn 43.5bn Light
per capita USD 26,136 28,692 1 (Amiri) gd bn
COMBAT SUPPORT
Growth % 2.2 3.4
1 arty bde (1 hvy arty bty, 2 med arty bty, 1 lt arty bty,
Inflation % -0.6 3.5 1 MRL bty)
Def bdgt [a] BHD 526m 526m 1 engr coy
USD 1.40bn 1.40bn COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 log coy
FMA (US) USD 3.0m 4.0m 4.0m
1 tpt coy
USD1=BHD 0.38 0.38 1 med coy
[a] Excludes funds allocated to the Ministry of the Interior and AIR DEFENCE
the National Security Agency 1 AD bn (1 ADA bty, 2 SAM bty)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1.53
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 100 M60A3; (80 more in store)
0.81 RECCE 22 AML-90
2008 2015 2022
IFV 67: 25 YPR-765 PRI; 42 AIFV-B-C25
Population 1,540,558 APC 303+
APC (T) 303: 300 M113A2; 3 AIFV-B
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC (W) Arma 6×6
Male 9.2% 3.5% 4.8% 6.3% 34.5% 1.9% AUV M-ATV
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Female 9.0% 3.0% 3.4% 3.9% 18.6% 1.8%
ARV 53 Fahd 240
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Capabilities MSL
Bahrain is a member of the GCC and occupies a key strategic SP 5 AIFV-B-Milan; HMMWV with BGM-71A TOW;
position between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. The 9P163-3 Kornet-EM (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
principal roles of the armed forces are territorial defence
MANPATS BGM-71A TOW; Kornet-EM (RS-AT-14
and internal-security support. Bahrain’s most critical security
relationship is with Saudi Arabia, but it also has a strong defence
Spriggan)
relationship with the US and has been a US major non-NATO RCL 31: 106mm 25 M40A1; 120mm 6 MOBAT
ally since 2002. The US 5th Fleet is headquartered in Bahrain, as ARTILLERY 175
is the US-led Combined Maritime Forces (CMF) and the UK-led SP 82: 155mm 20 M109A5; 203mm 62 M110A2
International Maritime Security Construct. Bahrain has periodically TOWED 36: 105mm 8 L118 Light Gun; 155mm 28 M198
commanded CMF task forces. The armed forces carried out a MRL 13: 220mm 4 SR5; 227mm 9 M270 MLRS
limited expeditionary deployment in support of the Saudi-led MOR 44: 81mm 12 L16; SP 81mm 20 VAMTAC with
intervention in Yemen, notably by the special forces. Bahrain also
EIMOS; SP 120mm 12 M113A2
signed a security cooperation agreement with Israel in February
2022. As part of a major air-force modernisation, Bahrain is in the
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
process of acquiring new F-16V fighters and upgrading its existing SRBM • Conventional MGM-140A ATACMS (launched
F-16s to that configuration, as well as acquiring the Patriot air- and from M270 MLRS)
missile-defence system. In recent years there have been modest AIR DEFENCE
additions to Bahrain’s naval forces in the form of an ex-UK patrol SAM 13+
ship and former-US patrol vessels, as well as upgrades to other Medium-range 6 MIM-23B I-Hawk
craft. The armed forces have organic maintenance support, but Short-range 7 Crotale
there is little in the way of a defence-industrial base beyond the
Point-defence 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
limited maintenance support provided by the Arab Shipbuilding
and Repair Yard. (reported); FIM-92 Stinger; RBS-70
GUNS 24: 35mm 12 GDF-003/-005; 40mm 12 L/70
ACTIVE 8,200 (Army 6,000 Navy 700 Air 1,500)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 11,260 Navy 700
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 1
FFGHM 1 Sabha (ex-US Oliver Hazard Perry) with 1 Mk
Army 6,000 13 GMLS with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/SM-
FORCES BY ROLE 1MR Block VI SAM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT
SPECIAL FORCES with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx Block 1B CIWS, 1
1 SF bn 76mm gun (capacity 1 Bo-105 hel)
Middle East and North Africa 319

PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 25 HELICOPTERS


PSO 1 Al Zubara (ex-UK River (OPV) Batch 1 (mod)) ATK 28: 10 AH-1E Cobra; 12 AH-1F Cobra; 6 AH-1Z Viper
with 1 hel landing platform TPT 27: Medium 13: 3 S-70A Black Hawk; 1 S-92A (VIP);
PCFG 4 Ahmed el Fateh (GER Lurssen 45m) with 2 twin 1 UH-60L Black Hawk; 8 UH-60M Black Hawk; Light 14:
lnchr with MM40 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun 11 Bell 212 (AB-212); 3 Bo-105
PCG 2 Al Manama (GER Lurssen 62m) with 2 twin lnchr TRG 6 TAH-1P Cobra
with MM40 Exocet AShM, 2 76mm guns, 1 hel landing AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
platform AAM • IR AIM-9P Sidewinder; SARH AIM-7 Sparrow;
PCF 5 Al-Gurairiyah (ex-US Cyclone) ARH AIM-120B/C AMRAAM
PB 6: 2 Al Jarim (US Swift FPB-20); 2 Al Riffa (GER ASM AGM-65D/G Maverick; some TOW
Lurssen 38m); 2 Mashhoor (US Swiftships 35m) BOMBS
PBF 7 Mk V FPB Laser-guided GBU-10/12 Paveway II
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 9
LCM 7: 1 Loadmaster; 4 Mashtan; 2 Dinar (ADSB 42m)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε11,260
LCVP 2 Sea Keeper Police 9,000
Naval Aviation Ministry of Interior
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 2 Bo-105
APC • PPV Otokar ISV
Air Force 1,500 AUV Cobra
HELICOPTERS
FORCES BY ROLE
MRH 2 Bell 412 Twin Huey
FIGHTER
ISR 2 Hughes 500
2 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
TPT • Light 1 Bo-105
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK

and North Africa


Middle East
1 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II National Guard ε2,000
TRANSPORT FORCES BY ROLE
1 (Royal) flt with B-737–800; B-767; B-747; BAe-146; MANOEUVRE
Gulfstream II; Gulfstream IV; Gulfstream 450; Other
Gulfstream 550; S-92A 3 paramilitary bn
TRAINING EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with Hawk Mk129* ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
1 sqn with T-67M Firefly APC • APC (W) Arma 6×6; Cobra
ATTACK HELICOPTER
2 sqn with AH-1E/F Cobra; TAH-1P Cobra Coast Guard ε260
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Ministry of Interior
1 sqn with Bell 212 (AB-212); Bell 412EP Twin Huey PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 55
1 sqn with UH-60M Black Hawk PBF 26: 2 Ares 18; 3 Response Boat-Medium (RB-M); 4
1 (VIP) sqn with Bo-105; S-70A Black Hawk; UH-60L Jaris; 6 Saham; 6 Fajr; 5 Jarada
Black Hawk PB 29: 6 Haris; 1 Al Muharraq; 10 Deraa (of which 4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Halmatic 20, 2 Souter 20, 4 Rodman 20); 10 Saif (of
AIRCRAFT 38 combat capable which 4 Fairey Sword, 6 Halmatic 160); 2 Hawar
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCU 1 Load-
FTR 12: 8 F-5E Tiger II; 4 F-5F Tiger II
master II
FGA 20: 16 F-16C Block 40 Fighting Falcon; 4 F-16D
Block 40 Fighting Falcon
MRH 2+ Bell 412EP Twin Huey FOREIGN FORCES
TPT 14: Medium 2 C-130J Hercules; PAX 12: 1 B-737- United Kingdom Operation Kipion 1,000; 1 FFGHM; 2
800 (VIP); 1 B-767 (VIP); 2 B-747 (VIP); 1 Gulfstream II MCO; 2 MHO; 1 LSD; 1 naval facility
(VIP); 1 Gulfstream IV (VIP); 1 Gulfstream 450 (VIP); 1 United States US Central Command 4,700; 1 HQ (5th
Gulfstream 550 (VIP); 2 BAe-146-RJ85 (VIP); 1 BAe-146- Fleet); 10 PCFG; 4 MCO; 1 ESB; 1 ASW sqn with 2 P-8A
RJ100 (VIP); 1 BAe-146-RJ170 (VIP); (1 B-727 in store) Poseidon; 1 EP-3E Aries II; 2 SAM bty with M902/M903
TRG 9: 6 Hawk Mk129*; 3 T-67M Firefly Patriot PAC-3/PAC-3 MSE
320 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ACTIVE 438,500 (Army 310,000 Navy 18,500 Air


Egypt EGY 30,000 Air Defence Command 80,000) Gendarmerie
Egyptian Pound EGP 2021 2022 2023 & Paramilitary 397,000
Conscription liability 12–36 months (followed by refresher training
GDP EGP 6.66tr 7.74tr over a period of up to 9 years)
USD 423bn 469bn
per capita USD 4,144 4,504
RESERVE 479,000 (Army 375,000 Navy 14,000 Air
20,000 Air Defence Command 70,000)
Growth % 3.3 6.6
Inflation % 4.5 8.5
Def bdgt EGP 76.2bn 86.0bn
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
USD 4.84bn 5.21bn
Space
FMA (US) USD 1.30bn 1.30bn 1.30bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD1=EGP 15.74 16.50 SATELLITES 2
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) COMMUNICATIONS 1 TIBA-1
6.99 ISR 1 Egyptsat-A

5.71 Army ε310,00 (incl ε200,00 conscripts)


2008 2015 2022
FORCES BY ROLE
Population 107,770,524 SPECIAL FORCES
5 cdo gp
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 counter-terrorist unit
Male 17.9% 4.5% 4.2% 3.8% 18.3% 2.6% 1 spec ops unit
Female 16.9% 4.3% 4.0% 3.6% 17.3% 2.5% MANOEUVRE
Armoured
4 armd div (2 armd bde, 1 mech bde, 1 arty bde)
Capabilities 4 indep armd bde
Egypt’s armed forces are the second-largest in the region and are 1 Republican Guard bde
focused principally on maintaining territorial integrity and internal Mechanised
security, including tackling ISIS-affiliated groups in northern Sinai. 8 mech div (1 armd bde, 2 mech bde, 1 arty bde)
The armed forces remain deeply involved in the civilian economy 4 indep mech bde
and retain a central role in Egyptian politics. Egypt and the US Light
maintain a strong strategic partnership, which has seen significant 1 inf div
US equipment deliveries and ongoing foreign military assistance. 2 indep inf bde
Defence relations have developed with Russia and other states Air Manoeuvre
such as France, particularly regarding procurement. National mili- 2 air mob bde
tary training is supplemented by regular bilateral and multinational 1 para bde
exercises. Egypt has a developing capacity to deploy independently SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
beyond its borders. It contributes to UN missions, has intervened
1 SRBM bde with FROG-7
militarily in Libya and sent some combat aircraft to support the
1 SRBM bde with 9K72 Elbrus (RS-SS-1C Scud-B)
Saudi-led coalition in Yemen. The navy’s two Mistral-class amphibi-
COMBAT SUPPORT
ous assault ships have bolstered its regional deployment capacity,
15 arty bde
although Egypt currently lacks the range of maritime helicopters
6 engr bde (3 engr bn)
to fully utilise these vessels’ capabilities. The armed forces’ inven-
2 spec ops engr bn
tory primarily comprises obsolete Soviet-era systems and newer
6 salvage engr bn
Western-origin equipment though an extensive recapitalisation
24 MP bn
programme has also included the delivery of Russian multi-role
18 sigs bn
fighters, attack helicopters and SAM systems. However, it is pos-
sible that the threat of sanctions by the US and others may have
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
led some acquisitions from Russia to stall. Combat aircraft have 36 log bn
also been sourced from France and armed UAVs from China. Naval 27 med bn
recapitalisation includes submarines (from Germany) and frigates EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
(from France, Germany and Italy). The diversity of the inventory ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
risks complicating military maintenance and sustainment. Egypt MBT 2,480: 1,130 M1A1 Abrams; 300 M60A1; 850
has an established domestic defence industry, although it does not M60A3; 200 T-62 (840 T-54/T-55; 300 T-62 all in store)
have the capability to fully develop platforms. This has resulted in RECCE 412: 300 BRDM-2; 112 Commando Scout
a number of licensed- and co-production agreements with foreign IFV 690: 390 YPR-765 25mm; 300 BMP-1
companies, including the local assembly of M1A1 main battle tanks APC 5,244+
from US-supplied kits, production of Chinese-designed K-8 jet APC (T) 2,700: 2,000 M113A2/YPR-765 (incl variants);
trainers and of frigates with French assistance. 500 BTR-50; 200 OT-62
Middle East and North Africa 321

APC (W) 1,560: 250 BMR-600P; 250 BTR-60; 410 Fahd- Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm gun
30/TH 390 Fahd; 650 Walid (capacity 2 SH-2G Super Seasprite ASW hel)
PPV 984+: 535 Caiman; some REVA III; some REVA V 2 El Fateh (Gowind 2500) with 2 quad lnchrs with
LWB; 360 RG-33L; 89 RG-33 HAGA (amb); ST-500 MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 16-cell CLA VLS
AUV 173+: Panthera T6; 173 Sherpa Light Scout; ST-100 with VL MICA SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES MU90 LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel)
ARV 367+: Fahd 240; BMR 3560.55; 12 Maxxpro ARV; 220 1 Tahya Misr (FRA Aquitaine (FREMM)) with 2 quad lnchr
M88A1; 90 M88A2; M113 ARV; 45 M578; T-54/55 ARV with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 2 8-cell Sylver A43
VLB KMM; MTU; MTU-20 VLS with Aster 15 SAM, 2 twin 324mm B-515 ASTT
MW Aardvark JFSU Mk4 with MU90 LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel)
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL FFGH 2 Damyat (ex-US Knox) with 1 octuple Mk 16
SP 352+: 52 M901, 300 YPR-765 PRAT; HMMWV with GMLS with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/ASROC,
TOW-2 2 twin 324mm SVTT Mk 32 TT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk
MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger) (incl 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 SH-2G Super
BRDM-2); HJ-73; Luch Corsar (reported); Milan; Seasprite ASW hel)
Stugna-P (reported); TOW-2 FFHM 2 Al-Galala (ITA Bergamini (FREMM)) with 2
ARTILLERY 4,468 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS with Aster 15/30 SAM, 2 twin
324mm B-515 ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1 127mm gun, 1
SP 492+: 122mm 124+: 124 SP 122; D-30 mod; 130mm
76mm gun (fitted for but not with Otomat (Teseo) Mk2A
M-46 mod; 155mm 368: 164 M109A2; 204 M109A5
AShM) (capacity 2 med hel)
TOWED 962: 122mm 526: 190 D-30M; 36 M-1931/37; 300
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 73
M-30; 130mm 420 M-46; 155mm 16 GH-52
CORVETTES 5
MRL 450: 122mm 356: 96 BM-11; 60 BM-21; 50 Sakr-
FSGM 2 Abu Qir (ESP Descubierta) (of which 1†) with
10; 50 Sakr-18; 100 Sakr-36; 130mm 36 K136 Kooryong;
2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM,
140mm 32 BM-14; 227mm 26 M270 MLRS; 240mm (48
1 octuple Albatros lnchr with Aspide SAM, 2 triple
BM-24 in store)
324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Sting Ray LWT, 1 twin
MOR 2,564: 81mm 50 M125A2; 82mm 500; SP 107mm 375mm Bofors ASW Rocket Launcher System A/S
100: 65 M106A1; 35 M106A2; 120mm 1,848: 1,800 M-1943; mor, 1 76mm gun
48 Brandt; SP 120mm 36 M1064A3; 160mm 30 M-160

and North Africa


FSG 2 Najim Al Zaffer (PRC Type-053HE (Jianghu I))
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS

Middle East
with 2 twin lnchr with HY-2 (CH-SS-N-2 Safflower)
SRBM • Conventional 42+: 9 FROG-7; 24 Sakr-80; 9 AShM, 4 RBU 1200 A/S mor, 2 twin 57mm guns
9K72 Elbrus (RS-SS-1C Scud-B) FS 1 Shabab Misr (ex-RoK Po Hang) with 2 76mm guns
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES PCFGM 4 Ezzat (US Ambassador Fast Missile Craft) with
ISR • Medium R4E-50 Skyeye; ASN-209 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 1
AIR DEFENCE 21-cell Mk49 lnchr with RIM-116B RAM Block 1A SAM,
SAM 45+ 1 Mk15 mod 21 Block 1B Phalanx CIWS 1 76mm gun
Point-defence 45 Sinai-23 with Ayn al-Saqr; Ayn al- PCFG 8:
Saqr; FIM-92 Stinger; 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); 1 Project 12418 (RUS Tarantul IV) with 2 twin lnchr
9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch) (reported) with 3M80E Moskit (RS-SS-N-22A Sunburn), 2
GUNS 860 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun
SP 160: 23mm 120 ZSU-23-4; 57mm 40 ZSU-57-2 6 Ramadan with 4 single lnchr with Otomat Mk2
TOWED 700: 14.5mm 300 ZPU-4; 23mm 200 ZU-23-2; AShM, 1 76mm gun
57mm 200 S-60 1 Tiger with 2 twin lnchr with RGM-84 Harpoon
AShM, 1 76mm gun
Navy ε8,500 (incl 2,000 Coast Guard); 10,000 PCF 4 Tiger with 1 76mm gun
conscript (total 18,500) PCC 15: 5 Al-Nour (ex-PRC Hainan) (3 more in reserve†)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE with 2 triple 324mm TT, 4 RBU 1200 A/S mor, 2 twin
57mm guns; 1 Lurssen 41m; 9 Omar Ibn El Khattab (GER
SUBMARINES • SSK 8
OPB 40)
4 Type-033 (PRC Romeo) with 8 single 533mm TT with
PBFGM 8 Project 205 (ex-YUG Osa I) (of which 3†) with
UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/Mk 37 HWT
4 single lnchr with P-20 (RS-SS-N-2A Styx) AShM, 1
4 Type-209/1400 with 8 single 533mm TT with UGM-84L
9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail) SAM (manual aiming)
Harpoon Block II AShM/SeaHake mod 4 (DM2A4) HWT PBFG 9:
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 12 4 Type-024 (PRC Hegu) (2 additional vessels in
FFGHM 8: reserve) with 2 single lnchr with SY-1 (CH-SS-N-1
1 Al-Aziz (GER MEKO A200) with 4 quad lnchr with Scrubbrush) AShM
MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 4 8-cell CLA with VL 5 October (FSU Komar) (of which 1†) with 2 single
MICA NG SAM, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 med hel) lnchr with Otomat Mk2 AShM (1 additional vessel
4 Alexandria (ex-US Oliver Hazard Perry) with 1 Mk in reserve)
13 GMLS with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/ PBFM 4 Shershen (FSU) with 1 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5
SM-1MR Block VI SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with Grail) SAM (manual aiming), 1 12-tube BM-24 MRL
322 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

PBF 10: ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE


6 Kaan 20 (TUR MRTP 20) 1 sqn with SH-2G Super Seasprite
4 Project 205 (ex-FIN Osa II) MARITIME PATROL
PB 6: 1 sqn with Beech 1900C
4 Type-062 (ex-PRC Shanghai II) ELECTRONIC WARFARE
2 Shershen (FSU) (of which 1†) with 4 single 533mm 1 sqn with Beech 1900 (ELINT); Commando Mk2E (ECM)
TT, 1 8-tube BM-21 MRL ELECTRONIC WARFARE/TRANSPORT
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 14 1 sqn with C-130H/VC-130H Hercules
MHC 5: 2 Al Siddiq (ex-US Osprey); 3 Dat Assawari AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING
(US Swiftships) 1 sqn with E-2C Hawkeye
MSI 2 Safaga (US Swiftships) SEARCH & RESCUE
MSO 7: 3 Assiout (FSU T-43); 4 Aswan (FSU Yurka) 1 unit with AW139
AMPHIBIOUS TRANSPORT
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LHD 2 Gamal 1 sqn with An-74TK-200A
Abdel Nasser (FRA Mistral) (capacity 16 med hel; 2 LCT 1 sqn with C-130H/C-130H-30 Hercules
or 4 LCM; 13 MBTs; 50 AFVs; 450 troops) 1 sqn with C295M
LANDING CRAFT 15: 1 sqn with DHC-5D Buffalo
LCT 2 EDA-R 1 sqn with B-707-366C; B-737-100; Beech 200 Super
LCM 13: 4 CTM NG; 9 Vydra (FSU) (capacity either 3 King Air; Falcon 20; Gulfstream III; Gulfstream IV;
MBT or 200 troops) Gulfstream IV-SP
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 23 TRAINING
AE 1 Halaib (ex-GER Westerwald) 1 sqn with Alpha Jet*
AKR 3 Al Hurreya 1 sqn with DHC-5 Buffalo
AOT 7 Ayeda (FSU Toplivo) (1 more in reserve) 3 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano
AR 1 Shaledin (ex-GER Luneberg) 1 sqn with Grob 115EG
ARS 2 Al Areesh ε6 sqn with K-8 Karakorum*
ATF 5 Al Maks† (FSU Okhtensky) 1 sqn with L-39 Albatros; L-59E Albatros*
AX 4: 1 El Horriya (also used as the presidential yacht); ATTACK HELICOPTER
1 Al Kousser; 1 Intishat; 1 other 1 sqn with Mi-24V
2 sqn with AH-64D Apache
Coastal Defence 1 sqn with Ka-52A Hokum B
Army tps, Navy control 2 sqn with SA-342K Gazelle (with HOT)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 sqn with SA-342L Gazelle
COASTAL DEFENCE TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
ARTY 100mm; 130mm SM-4-1; 152mm 1 sqn with CH-47C/D Chinook 1 sqn with Mi-8
AShM 4K87 (RS-SSC-2B Samlet); Otomat MkII 1 sqn with Mi-8/Mi-17-V1 Hip
1 sqn with S-70 Black Hawk; UH-60A/L Black Hawk
Naval Aviation UAV
All aircraft operated by Air Force Some sqn with R4E-50 Skyeye; Wing Loong I
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 4 Beech 1900C
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
(maritime surveillance) AIRCRAFT 509 combat capable
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES FTR 32: 26 F-16A Fighting Falcon; 6 F-16B Fighting Falcon
ISR • Light 2 S-100 Camcopter FGA 274: 138 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 37 F-16D Fighting
Falcon; 2 Mirage 2000B; 15 Mirage 2000C; 12 Mirage 5E2;
Coast Guard 2,000
ε46 MiG-29M/M2 Fulcrum; 16 Rafale DM; 8 Rafale EM
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ELINT 2 VC-130H Hercules
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 89 ISR 12: ε6 AT-802 Air Tractor*; 6 Mirage 5R (5SDR)*
PBF 14: 6 Crestitalia; 5 Swift Protector; 3 Peterson AEW&C 7 E-2C Hawkeye
PB 75: 5 Nisr; 12 Sea Spectre MkIII; 25 Swiftships; TPT 82: Heavy 2 Il-76MF Candid; Medium 24: 21
21 Timsah; 3 Type-83; 9 Peterson C-130H Hercules; 3 C-130H-30 Hercules; Light 45: 3
An-74TK-200A; 1 Beech 200 King Air; 4 Beech 1900
Air Force 20,000; 10,000 conscript (total 30,000) (ELINT); 4 Beech 1900C; 24 C295M; 9 DHC-5D Buffalo
FORCES BY ROLE (being withdrawn) PAX 11: 1 B-707-366C; 3 Falcon 20; 2
FIGHTER Gulfstream III; 1 Gulfstream IV; 4 Gulfstream IV-SP
1 sqn with F-16A/B Fighting Falcon TRG 329: 36 Alpha Jet*; 54 EMB-312 Tucano; 74 Grob
8 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon 115EG; 120 K-8 Karakorum*; 10 L-39 Albatros; 35 L-59E*
1 sqn with Mirage 2000B/C HELICOPTERS
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK ATK 104: 45 AH-64D Apache; up to 46 Ka-52A Hokum B;
1 sqn with Mirage 5E2 ε13 Mi-24V Hind E
2 sqn with Rafale DM/EM ASW 10 SH-2G Super Seasprite (opcon Navy)
3 sqn with MiG-29M/M2 Fulcrum ELINT 4 Commando Mk2E (ECM)
Middle East and North Africa 323

MRH 77: 2 AW139 (SAR); 5 AW149; 65 SA342K Gazelle GUNS 910


(some with HOT); 5 SA342L Gazelle (opcon Navy) SP • 23mm 230 ZSU-23-4 Shilka
TPT 96: Heavy 19: 3 CH-47C Chinook; 16 CH-47D TOWED 680: 35mm 80 GDF-005 with Skyguard;
Chinook; Medium 77: 2 AS-61; 24 Commando (of which 57mm 600 S-60
3 VIP); 40 Mi-8T Hip; 3 Mi-17-1V Hip; 4 S-70 Black Hawk
(VIP); 4 UH-60L Black Hawk (VIP) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε397,000 active
TRG 17 UH-12E
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES Central Security Forces ε325,000
CISR • Heavy 4+ Wing Loong I Ministry of Interior; includes conscripts
ISR • Medium R4E-50 Skyeye ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AIR LAUNCHED MISSILES APC • APC (W) Walid
AAM • IR AIM-9M/P Sidewinder; R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); AUV Sherpa Light Scout
R-550 Magic; 9M39 Igla-V; IIR Mica IR; ARH Mica RF;
R-77 (RS-AA-12 Adder); SARH AIM-7F/M Sparrow; R-530 National Guard ε60,000
ASM AASM; AGM-65A/D/F/G Maverick; AGM-114F/K Lt wpns only
Hellfire; AS-30L; HOT; LJ-7 (AKD-10); 9M120 Ataka FORCES BY ROLE
(RS-AT-9) MANOEUVRE
LACM SCALP EG Other
AShM AGM-84L Harpoon Block II; AM39 Exocet; Kh- 8 paramilitary bde (cadre) (3 paramilitary bn)
35U (RS-AS-20 Kayak) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARM Armat; Kh-25MP (RS-AS-12A Kegler) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
BOMBS APC • APC (W) 250 Walid
Laser-guided GBU-10/12 Paveway II
INS/SAT-guided Al Tariq Border Guard Forces ε12,000
Ministry of Interior; lt wpns only
Air Defence Command 80,000 conscript; FORCES BY ROLE
70,000 reservists (total 150,000) MANOEUVRE
FORCES BY ROLE Other

and North Africa


AIR DEFENCE 18 Border Guard regt

Middle East
5 AD div HQ (geographically based)
3 SAM bty with S-300V4 (RS-SA-23) DEPLOYMENT
4 SAM bty with 9K37M1-2/9K317 Buk-M1-2/M2E (RS-
SA-11 Gadfly/RS-SA-17 Grizzly) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 1,025;
11 SAM bty with MIM-23B I-Hawk 1 inf bn; 1 tpt coy
38 SAM bty with S-75M Volkhov (RS-SA-2 Guideline) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
10 SAM bty with S-125-2M Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26) MONUSCO 11
Some SAM bty with 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful) MALI: UN • MINUSMA 1,052; 1 spec ops coy; 1 sy bn;
2 SAM bty with 9K331/9K331ME Tor-M1/M2E (RS- 1 MP coy
SA-15 Gauntlet)
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 5
14 SAM bty with Crotale
12 SAM bty with M48 Chaparral SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 3
30 SAM bty with S-125M Pechora-M (RS-SA-3 Goa) WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 22
18 AD bn with RIM-7M Sea Sparrow with Skyguard/GDF-
003 with Skyguard
12 ADA bde (total: 100 ADA bn)
FOREIGN FORCES
Australia MFO (Operation Mazurka) 27
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Canada MFO 55
AIR DEFENCE
SAM 777 Colombia MFO 275; 1 inf bn
Long-range ε18 S-300V4 (RS-SA-23) Czech Republic MFO 18; 1 C295M
Medium-range 323+: 40+ 9K37M1-2/9K317 Buk-M1-2/ Fiji MFO 170; elm 1 inf bn
M2E (RS-SA-11 Gadfly/RS-SA-17 Grizzly); ε33 MIM- France MFO 1
23B I-Hawk; ε210 S-75M Volkhov (RS-SA-2 Guideline); Italy MFO 75; 3 PB
ε40 S-125-2M Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26) New Zealand MFO 26; 1 trg unit; 1 tpt unit
Short-range 300+: 56+ 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); Norway MFO 3
10 9K331 Tor-M1 (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet); 10+ 9K331ME United Arab Emirates ε300: 12 F-16E/F Fighting Falcon;
Tor-M2E (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet); 24+ Crotale; 80 RIM-7M Wing Loong I UAV; Wing Loong II UAV (status uncertain)
Sea Sparrow with Skyguard; ε120 S-125M Pechora-M United Kingdom MFO 2
(RS-SA-3 Goa) United States MFO 426; elm 1 ARNG inf bn; 1 ARNG spt
Point-defence 136+: 50 M1097 Avenger; 50+ M48 bn (1 EOD coy, 1 medical coy, 1 hel coy)
Chaparral; 36+ Sinai-23 with Ayn al-Saqr Uruguay MFO 41 1 engr/tpt unit
324 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ACTIVE 610,000 (Army 350,000 Islamic


Iran IRN Revolutionary Guard Corps 190,000 Navy 18,000
Iranian Rial IRR 2021 2022 2023
Air 37,000 Air Defence 15,000) Gendarmerie &
Paramilitary 40,000
GDP IRR 66775tr 99764tr
Armed Forces General Staff coordinates two parallel organisations:
USD 1.59tr 1.97tr the regular armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
per capita USD 18,739 23,034 Conscript liability 18–21 months (reported, with variations depend-
ing on location in which service is performed)
Growth % 4.7 3.0
Inflation % 40.1 40.0 RESERVE 350,000 (Army 350,000, ex-service
Def bdgt [a] IRR 1180tr 2225tr volunteers)
USD 28.1bn 44.0bn
USD1=IRR 42000.00 50545.67
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
[a] Excludes Law Enforcement Forces (NAJA) Army 130,000; 220,000 conscript (total
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 350,000)
17.5 FORCES BY ROLE
5 corps-level regional HQ
7.65 COMMAND
2008 2015 2022 1 cdo div HQ
4 armd div HQ
Population 86,758,304
2 mech div HQ
4 inf div HQ
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
SPECIAL FORCES
Male 12.1% 3.6% 3.3% 3.8% 25.0% 3.0% 1 cdo div (3 cdo bde)
Female 11.6% 3.4% 3.1% 3.6% 24.2% 3.4% 6 cdo bde
1 SF bde
Capabilities MANOEUVRE
Iran is a major regional military power, with a military doctrine that
Armoured
combines territorial defence, through national mobilisation and a 8 armd bde
substantial missile arsenal, with an asymmetric defence strategy. Mechanised
To achieve the last objective, Iran exerts military pressure using a 14 mech bde
range of regional allies and proxies, mainly via their relationship Light
with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Quds Force, 12 inf bde
as well as by the supply of weapons. During the fourth quarter of Air Manoeuvre
2022, state security forces were struggling to control widespread 1 AB bde
protests, following the death of a 22-year-old woman in police Aviation
custody. Tehran has also emerged as a weapons supplier to Russia, Some avn gp
with the provision of armed uninhabited aerial vehicles and direct COMBAT SUPPORT
attack munitions for use in the latter’s war with Ukraine. Iran ini- 5 arty gp
tially denied any transfers, then in early November 2022 said what
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
it claimed were a small number of systems had been provided
prior to Russia’s full-scale invasion. Iran has a key relationship with Totals incl those held by IRGC Ground Forces. Some
Syria and has developed influence in weaker regional states like equipment serviceability in doubt
Iraq, Lebanon and Yemen through a network of non-state groups, ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
such as Hizbullah and Houthi forces. Tehran retains the region’s MBT 1,513+: 480 T-72S; 150 M60A1; 75+ T-62; 100
largest short- and medium-range ballistic-missile inventory, has Chieftain Mk3/Mk5; 540 T-54/T-55/Type-59/Safir-74; 168
developed land-attack cruise missiles, and has a substantial inven- M47/M48
tory of a variety of UAVs. The rest of the conventional armed forces, LT TK 80+: 80 Scorpion
although large by regional standards, struggle with an increasingly RECCE 35 EE-9 Cascavel
obsolescent equipment inventory that ingenuity and asymmetric- IFV 610+: 210 BMP-1; 400 BMP-2 with 9K111 Fagot (RS-
warfare techniques can only partially offset. Tehran’s support for AT-4 Spigot); BMT-2 Cobra
Russia in Ukraine, however, has the potential to offer a conduit to APC 640+
access more modern weaponry. The division of capability between
APC (T) 340: 140 Boragh with 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4
the regular military services and the IRGC hampers effective
Spigot); 200 M113
command and control. The IRGC’s operational primacy, coupled
with the regular armed forces’ dependence on conscript person- APC (W) 300+: 300 BTR-50/BTR-60; Rakhsh
nel, has also focused combat experience in IRGC formations. In PPV Toofan
regional terms, Iran has a well-developed defence-industrial base, ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
which has displayed the capacity to support and sustain equip- ARV 20+: BREM-1 reported; 20 Chieftain ARV; M578;
ment. While unable to meet national needs for all major weapons, T-54/55 ARV reported
the domestic industry continues to produce equipment, including VLB 15 Chieftain AVLB
surface-to-air missile systems and an array of ISR- and armed-UAVs. MW Taftan 1
Middle East and North Africa 325

ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE SPECIAL FORCES


MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 3 spec ops div
9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 1 AB bde
Spandrel/Towsan-1); Almaz; Dehleavieh (Kornet); I-Raad; MANOEUVRE
Saeqhe 1; Saeqhe 2; Toophan; Toophan 2 Armoured
RCL 200+: 75mm M20; 82mm B-10; 106mm ε200 M40; 2 armd div
107mm B-11 3 armd bde
ARTILLERY 6,798+ Light
SP 292+: 122mm 60+: 60 2S1 Gvozdika; Raad-1 (Thunder 8+ inf div
1); 155mm 150+: 150 M109A1; Raad-2 (Thunder 2); 5+ inf bde
170mm 30 M-1978; 175mm 22 M107; 203mm 30 M110 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
TOWED 2,030+; 105mm 150: 130 M101A1; 20 M-56; LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS
122mm 640: 540 D-30; 100 Type-54 (M-30); 130mm 985 Shahed 131; Shahed 136
M-46; 152mm 30 D-20; 155mm 205: 120 GHN-45; 70
M114; 15 Type-88 WAC-21; 203mm 20 M115 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Naval
MRL 1,476+: 107mm 1,300: 700 Type-63; 600 HASEB Fadjr Forces 20,000+ (incl 5,000 Marines)
1; 122mm 157: 7 BM-11; 100 BM-21 Grad; 50 Arash/Hadid/ FORCES BY ROLE
Noor; 240mm 19+: ε10 Fadjr 3; 9 M-1985; 330mm Fadjr 5 COMBAT SUPPORT
MOR 3,000: 81mm; 82mm; 107mm M30; 120mm HM- Some arty bty
15; HM-16; M-65 Some AShM bty with HY-2 (CH-SSC-3 Seersucker) AShM
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SRBM • Conventional ε30 CH-SS-8 (175 msl); Shahin-1/ In addition to the vessels listed, the IRGC operates a
Shahin-2; Nazeat; Oghab substantial number of patrol boats with a full-load dis-
AIRCRAFT • TPT 17 Light 16: 10 Cessna 185; 2 F-27 placement below 10 tonnes, including Boghammar-class
Friendship; 4 Turbo Commander 690; PAX 1 Falcon 20 vessels and small Bavar-class wing-in-ground effect
HELICOPTERS air vehicles
ATK 50 AH-1J Cobra PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 129
TPT 167: Heavy ε20 CH-47C Chinook; Medium 69: 49 PCGM 1 Shahid Soleimani with 2 twin lnchr with

and North Africa


Bell 214; 20 Mi-171; Light 78: 68 Bell 205A (AB-205A); 10 Ghader AShM, 2 single lnchr with C-704 (Nasr)

Middle East
Bell 206 Jet Ranger (AB-206) AShM, 2 3-cell VLS & 4 single cell VLS (likely fitted
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES with SAM), 1 hel landing platform
CISR • Medium Mohajer 6; Kaman 12 PBFG 56:
ISR • Medium Ababil 2; Ababil 3; Mohajer 3; Mohajer 4; 5 C14 with 2 twin lnchr with C-701 (Kosar)/C-704
Light Mohajer 2 (Nasr) AShM
AIR DEFENCE 10 Mk13 with 2 single lnchr with C-704 (Nasr)
SAM AShM, 2 single 324mm TT
Short-range FM-80 (CH-SA-4) 10 Thondor (PRC Houdong) with 2 twin lnchr with
Point-defence 9K36 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K32 C-802A (Ghader) AShM, 2 AK230 CIWS
Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; Misaq 1 (QW-1); Misaq 2 25 Peykaap II (IPS-16 mod) with 2 single lnchr
(QW-18); 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch) (reported); with C-701 (Kosar) AShM/C-704 (Nasr), 2 single
HN-5A (CH-SA-3) 324mm TT
GUNS 1,122 6 Zolfaghar (Peykaap III/IPS-16 mod) with 2 single
SP 180: 23mm 100 ZSU-23-4; 57mm 80 ZSU-57-2 lnchr with C-701 (Kosar)/C-704 (Nasr) AShM
TOWED 942+: 14.5mm ZPU-2; ZPU-4; 23mm 300 PBG 1 Shahid Rouhi with 2 twin lnchr with C-704
ZU-23-2; 35mm 92 GDF-002; 37mm M-1939; 40mm 50 (Nasr) AShM
L/70; 57mm 200 S-60; 85mm 300 M-1939 PBFT 15 Peykaap I (IPS -16) with 2 single 324mm TT
BOMBS PBF 35: 15 Kashdom II; 10 Tir (IPS-18); ε10 Pashe
Laser-guided Qaem (MIG-G-1900)
Electro-optical guided Qaem PB 21: ε20 Ghaem; 1 Shahid Nazeri
AMPHIBIOUS
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps 190,000 LANDING SHIPS • LST 3 Hormuz 24 (Hejaz design
for commercial use)
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Ground LANDING CRAFT • LCT 2 Hormuz 21
Forces 150,000 (minelaying capacity)
Controls Basij paramilitary forces. Lightly staffed in LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AP 3 Naser
peacetime. Primary role: internal security; secondary role: COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM C-701 (Kosar); C-704
external defence, in conjunction with regular armed forces (Nasr); C-802 (Noor); HY-2 (CH-SSC-3 Seersucker)
FORCES BY ROLE HELICOPTERS
COMMAND MRH 5 Mi-171 Hip
31 provincial corps HQ (2 in Tehran) TPT • Light some Bell 206 (AB-206) Jet Ranger
326 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES SSW 15: 14 Ghadir (Yono) with 2 single 533mm TT with
CISR • Medium Mohajer 6 Jask-2 (C-704 (Nasr)) AShM/Valfajr HWT (additional
BOMBS vessels in build); 1 Nahang
Laser-guided Qaem PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 68
Electro-optical guided Qaem CORVETTES 7
FSGM 3 Jamaran (UK Vosper Mk 5 derivative – 1
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps more undergoing sea trials) with 2 twin lnchr with
Marines 5,000+ C-802 (Noor) (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 2 single lnchr with
FORCES BY ROLE SM-1 SAM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT, 1
MANOEUVRE 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform
Amphibious FSG 4:
1 mne bde 2 Alvand (UK Vosper Mk 5) with 2 twin lnchr with
C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
Mk 32 ASTT, 1 114mm gun
Aerospace Force 15,000
1 Alvand (UK Vosper Mk 5) with 2 twin lnchr with
Controls Iran’s strategic-missile force
C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT
FORCES BY ROLE
Mk 32 ASTT, 1 AK630M CIWS, 1 114mm gun
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 Bayandor (US PF-103) with 2 twin lnchr with C-802
1 sqn with Su-22M4 Fitter K; Su-22UM-3K Fitter G
(CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32
TRAINING
ASTT, 1 76mm gun
1 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano*
PCFG 15: up to 10 Kaman (FRA Combattante II) with 1
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE twin lnchr with C-802 (Noor) (CH-SS-N-6) AShM,
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 1 76mm gun; 5+ Sina with 1 twin lnchr with C-802
MRBM • Conventional up to 50: Emad-1 (Shahab-3 (Noor) (CH-SS-N-6) AShM, 1 76mm gun
mod); Ghadr-1/-2 (Shahab-3 mod); Sajjil-2; Shahab-3
PBG 9:
(IR-SS-7) (mobile & silo); Khorramshahr (in devt)
3 Hendijan with 2 twin lnchr with C-802 (Noor)
SRBM • Conventional up to 100: Fateh-110; Fateh-313;
(CH-SS-N-6) AShM
Khalij Fars (Fateh-110 mod ASBM); Qiam-1/-1 mod;
3 Kayvan with 2 single lnchr with C-704 (Nasr)
Shahab-1/-2 (Scud variants; service status uncertain);
AShM
Zelzal; Zolfaghar (IR-SS-1)
3 Parvin with 2 single lnchr with C-704 (Nasr) AShM
GLCM • Conventional some Ya’ali (Quds-1)
PBFT 3 Kajami (semi-submersible) with 2 324mm TT
AIRCRAFT 23 combat capable
PBF 1 MIL55
FGA 8: up to 7 Su-22M4 Fitter K; 1+ Su-22UM-3K Fitter G
PB 33: 9 C14; 8 Hendijan; 6 MkII; 10 MkIII
TRG 15 EMB-312 Tucano*
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES •
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
MCC 1 Shahin
CISR • Heavy Shahed 129; Medium Shahed 181;
Shahed 191 AMPHIBIOUS
ISR • Medium Ababil 3; Mohajer 4; Shahed 123 LANDING SHIPS 12
AIR DEFENCE LST 3 Hengam with 1 hel landing platform (capacity 9
SAM tanks; 225 troops)
Medium-range Ra‘ad/3rd Khordad; Talash/15th Khordad LSM 3 Farsi (ROK) (capacity 9 tanks; 140 troops)
Point-defence Misaq 1 (QW-1); Misaq 2 (QW-18) LSL 6 Fouque
BOMBS LANDING CRAFT 11
Laser-guided Sadid LCT 2
Electro-optical guided Sadid LCU 1 Liyan 110
UCAC 8: 2 Wellington Mk 4; 4 Wellington Mk 5; 2
Islamic Revolutionary Quds Force 5,000 Tondar (UK Winchester)
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 18
Navy 18,000 AE 2 Delvar
HQ at Bandar Abbas AFD 2 Dolphin
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AG 1 Hamzah with 2 single lnchr with C-802 (Noor)
In addition to the vessels listed, the Iranian Navy operates (CH-SS-N-6) AShM
a substantial number of patrol boats with a full-load dis- AK 3 Delvar
placement below 10 tonnes AKR 1 Makran
SUBMARINES • TACTICAL 17 AORH 2 Bandar Abbas
SSK 1 Taregh (RUS Paltus (Project 877EKM (Kilo))) (2 AWT 5: 4 Kangan; 1 Delvar
more non-operational) with 6 single 533mm TT AX 2 Kialas
SSC 1 Fateh with 4 single 533mm TT with C-704 (Nasr-1) COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM C-701 (Kosar); C-704
AShM/Valfajr HWT (Nasr); C-802 (Noor); C-802A (Ghader); Ra’ad (reported)
Middle East and North Africa 327

Marines 2,600 Some units with Bell 206A Jet Ranger (AB-206A);
FORCES BY ROLE Shabaviz 2-75; Shabaviz 2061
MANOEUVRE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Amphibious AIRCRAFT 312 combat capable
2 mne bde FTR 180+: 20 F-5B Freedom Fighter; 54+ F-5E/F Tiger II;
24 F-7M Airguard; up to 41 F-14 Tomcat; 35 MiG-29A/UB
Naval Aviation 2,600 Fulcrum; up to 6 Azarakhsh (reported)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE FGA 80: 62 F-4D/E Phantom II; 2 Mirage F-1BQ; 10
AIRCRAFT Mirage F-1EQ; up to 6 Saegheh (reported)
TPT 16: Light 13: 5 Do-228; 4 F-27 Friendship; 4 Turbo ATK 29 Su-24MK Fencer D
Commander 680; PAX 3 Falcon 20 (ELINT) ASW 3 P-3F Orion
HELICOPTERS ISR: 6+ RF-4E Phantom II*
ASW ε10 SH-3D Sea King TKR/TPT 3: ε1 B-707; ε2 B-747
MCM 3 RH-53D Sea Stallion TPT 116: Heavy 12 Il-76 Candid; Medium ε19 C-130E/H
TPT • Light 17: 5 Bell 205A (AB-205A); 2 Bell 206 Jet Hercules; Light 75: 11 An-74TK-200; 5 An-140 (Iran-140
Ranger (AB-206); 10 Bell 212 (AB-212) Faraz); 10 F-27 Friendship; 1 L-1329 Jetstar; 10 PC-6B
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES Turbo Porter; 8 TB-21 Trinidad; 4 TB-200 Tobago; 3 Turbo
CISR • Heavy Shahed 129 Commander 680; 14 Y-7; 9 Y-12; PAX 10: ε1 B-707; 1
BOMBS B-747; 4 B-747F; 1 Falcon 20; 3 Falcon 50
Laser-guided Sadid TRG 126: 25 Beech F33A/C Bonanza; 14 JJ-7*; 25 MFI-17
Electro-optical guided Sadid Mushshak; 12 Parastu; 15 PC-6; 35 PC-7 Turbo Trainer
HELICOPTERS
Air Force 37,000 MRH 2 Bell 412
FORCES BY ROLE TPT 34+: Heavy 2+ CH-47 Chinook; Medium 30 Bell
Serviceability probably about 60% for US ac types and about 214C (AB-214C); Light 2+: 2 Bell 206A Jet Ranger (AB-
80% for PRC/Russian ac. Includes IRGC AF equipment 206A); some Shabaviz 2-75 (indigenous versions in
FIGHTER production); some Shabaviz 2061
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES

and North Africa


1 sqn with F-7M Airguard; JJ-7*
AAM • IR PL-2A‡; PL-7; R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73

Middle East
2 sqn with F-14 Tomcat
2 sqn with MiG-29A/UB Fulcrum (RS-AA-11A Archer); AIM-9J Sidewinder; IR/SARH R-27
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK (RS-AA-10 Alamo); SARH AIM-7E-2 Sparrow; ARH
1 sqn with Mirage F-1B/E AIM-54 Phoenix†
1 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II ASM AGM-65A Maverick; Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen); Kh-
5 sqn with F-4D/E Phantom II 25ML (RS-AS-10 Karen); Kh-29L/T (RS-AS-14A/B Kedge)
3 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II AShM C-801K
GROUND ATTACK ARM Kh-58 (RS-AS-11 Kilter)
1 sqn with Su-24MK Fencer D BOMBS
MARITIME PATROL Electro-optical guided GBU-87/B Qassed
1 sqn with P-3F Orion
ISR Air Defence Force 15,000
1 (det) sqn with RF-4E Phantom II* FORCES BY ROLE
SEARCH & RESCUE AIR DEFENCE
Some flt with Bell 214C (AB-214C) 16 bn with MIM-23B I-Hawk/Shahin
TANKER/TRANSPORT 4 bn with S-300PMU2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle)
1 sqn with B-707; B-747; B-747F 5 sqn with FM-80 (CH-SA-4); Rapier; HQ-2 (CH-SA-1);
TRANSPORT S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5 Gammon); 9K331 Tor-M1
1 sqn with B-707; Falcon 50; L-1329 Jetstar; Bell 412 (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet)
2 sqn with C-130E/H Hercules EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with F-27 Friendship; Falcon 20 AIR DEFENCE
1 sqn with Il-76 Candid; An-140 (Iran-140 Faraz) SAM 410
TRAINING Long-range 42+: 10 S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5 Gammon);
1 sqn with Beech F33A/C Bonanza 32 S-300PMU2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle); Bavar-373
1 sqn with F-5B Freedom Fighter Medium-range 59+: ε50 MIM-23B I-Hawk/Shahin; 9
1 sqn with PC-6 HQ-2 (CH-SA-1); Talash/15th Khordad
1 sqn with PC-7 Turbo Trainer Short-range 279: 250 FM-80 (CH-SA-4); 29 9K331
Some units with MFI-17 Mushshak; TB-21 Trinidad; TB- Tor-M1 (RS-SA-15 Gauntlet)
200 Tobago Point-defence 30+: 30 Rapier; Misaq 1 (QW-1); Misaq 2
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER (QW-18)
1 sqn with CH-47 Chinook GUNS • TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2; 35mm GDF-002
328 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 40,000–60,000 the relationship between the official government forces, Kurdish
Peshmerga forces and the Popular Mobilisation Units militias
Law-Enforcement Forces 40,000–60,000 remains uncertain. The government’s most critical security rela-
(border and security troops); 450,000 on tionship has been with the US, on whom Iraqi forces remain largely
mobilisation (incl conscripts) dependent for training and ISR support, as well as contractor
maintenance. Political pressure from nationalist and Iran-aligned
Part of armed forces in wartime
political parties, and continuing attacks on US forces by Iranian-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE supported militia units have strained this relationship in recent
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB ε90 years. The US-led combat mission designed to help Iraqi forces
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 2+: 2 An-140; some Cessna tackle ISIS ended in December 2021 with troops under Combined
185/Cessna 310 Joint Task Force – Inherent Resolve moving to an ‘advise, assist
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light ε24 AB-205 (Bell 205)/ and enable’ role. The NATO Mission Iraq is focused on training and
AB-206 (Bell 206) Jet Ranger capacity building. The armed forces’ inventory comprises a heter-
ogenous mix of Soviet-era and Russian equipment combined with
Basij Resistance Force ε600,000 on mobilisation newer European- and US-sourced platforms, but significant short-
comings remain in logistics support. Barring military maintenance
Paramilitary militia with claimed membership of 12.6
facilities, Iraq’s defence industry has only limited capacity, focusing
million; ε600,000 combat capable on the manufacture of light weapons and ammunition.

DEPLOYMENT ACTIVE 193,000 (Army 180,000 Navy 3,000 Air 5,000


GULF OF ADEN AND SOMALI BASIN: Navy: 1 FSGM; 1 AKR Air Defence 5,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 266,000
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 2
SYRIA: 1,500
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Army ε180,000
Iraq IRQ Includes Counter Terrorism Service
Iraqi Dinar IQD 2021 2022 2023 FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
GDP IQD 300tr 410tr
3 SF bde
USD 207bn 283bn 1 ranger bde (3 ranger bn)
per capita USD 5,021 6,696 MANOEUVRE
Growth % 7.7 9.3 Armoured
Inflation % 6.0 6.5 1 (9th) armd div (2 armd bde, 2 mech bde, 1 engr bn, 1
sigs regt, 1 log bde)
Def bdgt [a] IQD 10.8tr 12.6tr
Mechanised
USD 7.4bn 8.7bn 3 (5th, 8th & 10th) mech div (4 mech inf bde, 1 engr bn,
FMA (US) USD 250m 250m 100m 1 sigs regt, 1 log bde) 1 (7th) mech div (2 mech inf
USD1=IQD 1450.00 1450.00 bde, 1 inf bde, 1 engr bn, 1 sigs regt, 1 log bde)
[a] Excludes MInistry of the Interior and National Security Light
Council budget 1 (6th) mot div (3 mot inf bde, 1 inf bde, 1 engr bn, 1 sigs
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) regt, 1 log bde)
10.9 1 (14th) mot div (2 mot inf bde, 3 inf bde, 1 engr bn, 1
sigs regt, 1 log bde)
6.07
1 (1st) inf div (2 inf bde)
2008 2015 2022 1 (11th) inf div (3 lt inf bde, 1 engr bn, 1 sigs regt, 1 log bde)
1 (15th) inf div (5 inf bde)
Population 40,462,701 1 (16th) inf div (2 inf bde)
1 (17th Cdo) inf div (4 inf bde, 1 engr bn, 1 sigs regt, 1
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus log bde)
Male 18.3% 5.4% 4.7% 4.0% 16.3% 1.6% 1 inf bde
Other
Female 17.5% 5.2% 4.6% 3.9% 16.4% 2.0%
1 (PM SF) sy div (3 inf bde)
HELICOPTER
Capabilities 1 atk hel sqn with Mi-28NE Havoc
The armed forces’ capabilities and morale have generally improved 1 atk hel sqn with Mi-35M Hind
since the collapse of several divisions in the face of the ISIS advance 1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II)
in the north in 2014, but there remains concern about Baghdad’s 3 atk hel sqn with Bell T407; H135M
ability to independently sustain this level of operational effective-
3 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-171Sh
ness. The continuing reliance on a relatively small number of key
formations for offensive operations, particularly the well-regarded 1 ISR sqn with SA342M Gazelle
Counter-Terrorism Service (CTS), resulted in these forces suffer- 2 trg sqn with Bell 206; OH-58C Kiowa
ing disproportionately high levels of attrition. An organic aviation 1 trg sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II)
capability for the CTS has been mooted. Meanwhile, the nature of 1 trg sqn with Mi-17 Hip
Middle East and North Africa 329

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Air Force ε5,000


ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
FORCES BY ROLE
MBT 391+: ε100 M1A1 Abrams; 168+ T-72M/M1; ε50
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
T-55; 73 T-90S
2 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon
RECCE 53: 18 BRDM 2; 35 EE-9 Cascavel;
GROUND ATTACK
IFV 650: ε400 BMP-1; ε90 BMP-3M; ε60 BTR-4 (inc
variants); 100 BTR-80A 1 sqn with Su-25/Su-25K/Su-25UBK Frogfoot
APC 1,592+ 1 sqn with L-159A; L-159T1
APC (T) 900: ε500 M113A2/Talha; ε400 MT-LB ISR
PPV 692+: 12 Barracuda; 250 Caiman; Gorets-M; ε400 1 sqn with CH-2000 Sama; SB7L-360 Seeker
ILAV Badger; Mamba; 30 Maxxpro 1 sqn with Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; Cessna AC-208B
AUV 420+: ε400 Akrep; 20 Commando; M-ATV Combat Caravan*
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES 1 sqn with Beech 350 King Air
ARV 222+: 180 BREM; 35+ M88A1/2; 7 Maxxpro ARV; TRANSPORT
T-54/55 ARV; Type-653; VT-55A 1 sqn with An-32B Cline
NBC VEHICLES 20 Fuchs NBC 1 sqn with C-130E/J-30 Hercules
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE TRAINING
MSL • MANPATS 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
1 sqn with Cessna 172, Cessna 208B
(reported)
1 sqn with Lasta-95
ARTILLERY 1,064+
1 sqn with T-6A
SP 48+: 152mm 18+ Type-83; 155mm 30: 6 M109A1;
1 sqn with T-50IQ Golden Eagle*
24 M109A5
TOWED 60+: 130mm M-46/Type-59; 152mm D-20; EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Type-83; 155mm ε60 M198 AIRCRAFT 90 combat capable
MRL 6+: 122mm some BM-21 Grad; 220mm 6+ TOS-1A FGA 34: 26 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 8 F-16D Fighting Falcon;
MOR 950+: 81mm ε500 M252; 120mm ε450 M120; ATK 30: 10 L-159A; 1 L-159T1; ε19 Su-25/Su-25K/Su-
240mm M-240 25UBK Frogfoot†

and North Africa


HELICOPTERS

Middle East
ISR 10: 2 Cessna AC-208B Combat Caravan*; 2 SB7L-360
ATK 35: 11 Mi-28NE Havoc; 4 Mi-28UB Havoc; 20+ Mi- Seeker; 6 Beech 350ER King Air
35M Hind TPT 29: Medium 15: 3 C-130E Hercules; 6 C-130J-30
MRH 63+: 4+ SA342 Gazelle; 17 Bell IA407; 23 H135M; Hercules; 6 An-32B Cline (of which 2 combat capable);
ε19 Mi-17 Hip H/Mi-171Sh
Light 14: 1 Beech 350 King Air; 5 Cessna 208B Grand
ISR 10 OH-58C Kiowa
Caravan; 8 Cessna 172
TPT • Light 44: 16 Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II); 10 Bell
TRG 57+: 8 CH-2000 Sama; 10+ Lasta-95; 15 T-6A; 24
206B3 Jet Ranger; ε18 Bell T407
T-50IQ Golden Eagle*
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
CISR • Heavy 12 CH-4 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ASM 9K114 Shturm (RS- AAM • IR AIM-9L/M Sidewinder; SARH AIM-7M Sparrow
AT-6 Spiral); AGR-20A APKWS; AR-1; Ingwe ASM AGM-114 Hellfire
BOMBS BOMBS
INS/GPS-guided FT-9 Laser-guided GBU-10 Paveway II; GBU-12 Paveway II

Navy 3,000 Air Defence Command ε5,000


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE FORCES BY ROLE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 32 AIR DEFENCE
PCF (2 Musa ibn Nusayr (ITA Assad) with 1 76mm gun 1 SAM bn with 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
non-operational) 1 SAM bn with M1097 Avenger
PCO 2 Al Basra (US River Hawk) 1 SAM bn with 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
PCC 4 Fateh (ITA Diciotti) 1 ADA bn with ZU-23-2; S-60
PB 20: 12 Swiftships 35; 5 Predator (PRC 27m); 3 Al Faw
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PBR 6: 2 Type-200; 4 Type-2010
AIR DEFENCE
Marines 1,000 SAM
FORCES BY ROLE Point-defence M1097 Avenger; 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24
MANOEUVRE Grinch)
Amphibious SPAAGM 30mm 24 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
2 mne bn GUNS • TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2; 57mm S-60
330 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε266,000 Norway Operation Inherent Resolve 60; 1 trg unit • NATO
Mission Iraq 2
Iraqi Federal Police ε36,000 Poland Operation Inherent Resolve 150 • NATO Mission
Iraq 30
Territorial Interdiction Force ε50,000 Portugal Operation Inherent Resolve 30
FORCES BY ROLE
Romania Operation Inherent Resolve 30 • NATO Mission
MANOEUVRE
Iraq 170
Other
Slovakia NATO Mission Iraq 5
4 sy bde
11 sy bde (forming) Slovenia Operation Inherent Resolve 3
Spain Operation Inherent Resolve 150; 1 trg units; 1 hel unit
Popular Mobilisation Forces ε180,000 • NATO Mission Iraq 130
Includes Badr Organisation; Kataib Hizbullah; Kataib Sweden Operation Inherent Resolve 2 • NATO Mission Iraq 1
Imam Ali; Kataib Sayyid al-Shuhada Turkey Army 1,000; 1 cdo unit • NATO Mission Iraq 86
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE United Kingdom Operation Inherent Resolve (Shader) 100 •
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES NATO Mission Iraq 12
MBT T-55; T-72B; T-72 Rakhsh United States Operation Inherent Resolve 2,000; 1 mech bde(-);
IFV BMP-1 mod (23mm gun); BMP-2 1 atk hel bn with AH-64E Apache; MQ-1C Gray Eagle; 1 spec
APC • PPV Toophan
ops hel bn with MH-47G Chinook; MH-60M Black Hawk; 1
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
CISR UAV sqn with MQ-9A Reaper • NATO Mission Iraq 12
MANPATS Dehlavieh (Kornet); Toophan
ARTILLERY
TOWED • 130mm M-46; 152mm D-20
MRL • 122mm HM-20
Israel ISR
AIR DEFENCE New Israeli Shekel ILS 2021 2022 2023
SAM • Short-range Saqr-1 (358) (reported)
GDP ILS 1.58tr 1.74tr
GUNS • SP 23mm BMP-1 mod (ZU-23-2 on
BMP-1 chassis) USD 489bn 527bn
per capita USD 52,152 55,359
FOREIGN FORCES Growth % 8.6 6.1
Inflation % 1.5 4.5
Australia Operation Inherent Resolve (Okra) 110 • NATO
Mission Iraq 2 Def bdgt ILS 65.9bn 63.9bn
Belgium Operation Inherent Resolve (Valiant Phoenix) 6 • USD 20.4bn 19.4bn
NATO Mission Iraq 7 FMA (US) USD 3.30bn 3.30bn 3.30bn
Canada NATO Mission Iraq 16 USD1=ILS 3.23 3.30
Croatia Operation Inherent Resolve 3 • NATO Mission Iraq 8 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
Czech Republic Operation Inherent Resolve 60 19.3
Denmark Operation Inherent Resolve 39 • NATO Mission
Iraq 125 16.9
Estonia Operation Inherent Resolve 10 • NATO Mission Iraq 40 2008 2015 2022
Fiji UNAMI 174; 2 sy unit Population 8,914,885
Finland Operation Inherent Resolve 75; 1 trg unit • NATO
Mission Iraq 5 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
France Operation Inherent Resolve 6 • NATO Mission Iraq 3 Male 13.4% 4.2% 3.9% 3.6% 19.7% 5.5%
Germany Operation Inherent Resolve 70 • NATO Mission Female 12.8% 4.0% 3.7% 3.4% 19.1% 6.7%
Iraq 15
Greece NATO Mission Iraq 2 Capabilities
Hungary Operation Inherent Resolve 133 • NATO Mission
Iraq 3 The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are organised for territorial defence,
short-term interventions in neighbouring states and limited
Italy Operation Inherent Resolve (Prima Parthica) 650; 1 inf regt; regional power projection. In recent years this has included air-to-
1 trg unit; 1 hel sqn with 4 NH90 • NATO Mission Iraq 610 ground missions in Syria, while the navy is tasked with interdicting
Latvia Operation Inherent Resolve 6 • NATO Mission Iraq 1 illicit shipments and delivering maritime security as Israel’s littoral
Lithuania Operation Inherent Resolve 6 • NATO Mission becomes more economically important to the country. Israel is
Iraq 34 widely believed to possess a nuclear-weapons capability. Follow-
Luxembourg NATO Mission Iraq 1 ing the 2015 Plan Gideon, the IDF adopted a new five-year Tnufa
(Momentum) programme in 2020. It seeks to improve areas of
Nepal UNAMI 77; 1 sy unit
relative superiority, such as technology and intelligence, to ensure
Netherlands Operation Inherent Resolve 150; 2 trg units • swifter and more decisive operations against future threats. The
NATO Mission Iraq 2 new government approved a defence budget in mid-2021, follow-
New Zealand Operation Inherent Resolve 9 ing two years without a new budget, which has enabled the plan
Middle East and North Africa 331

to progress. The US remains Israel’s key defence partner, as well as Army 26,000; 100,000 conscript (total 126,000)
a significant source of funding, and is instrumental in several of the
Organisation and structure of formations may vary
IDF’s equipment programmes, particularly in missile defence and
combat aviation. Israel also maintains discreet ties with a number according to op situations. Equipment includes that
of Arab states, has recently normalised relations with several Gulf required for reserve forces on mobilisation
states and has even started selling defence and security equip- FORCES BY ROLE
ment to the region. Personnel quality and training are generally at
COMMAND
a high standard, despite the IDF’s continuing reliance on national
service. A task force tasked with examining the number of combat 3 (regional comd) corps HQ
roles open to women reported to service chiefs in 2022; additional 2 armd div HQ
roles will be opened to women, including some additional special 1 (Multidimensional) div HQ
forces positions. Ground-forces training is being overhauled, with 5 (territorial) inf div HQ
new training centres under construction. Edge of Tomorrow, a 1 (home defence) comd HQ
new MOD and industry technology-driven project, is designed to SPECIAL FORCES
improve situational awareness and networking. Given its mission-
1 spec ops bde (3 spec ops unit)
set, the IDF’s logistics capabilities are likely limited to sustaining
operations within Israel itself or in immediately neighbouring ter- MANOEUVRE
ritories. The largely asymmetric nature of the threats the IDF has Reconnaissance
faced in recent years has focused modernisation efforts on force- 1 indep recce bn
protection, missile-defence and precision-strike capabilities. Armoured
Israel maintains a broad defence-industrial base, with world-class 3 armd bde (1 recce coy, 3 a rmd bn, 1 AT coy, 1 cbt
capabilities in armoured vehicles, uninhabited systems, guided-
engr bn)
weapons, radars and sensors, and cyber security.
1 (Multidimensional) armd inf/ISR bn
ACTIVE 169,500 (Army 126,000 Navy 9,500 Mechanised
Air 34,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 8,000 3 mech inf bde (3 mech inf bn, 1 cbt spt bn, 1 sigs coy)
Conscript liability Officers 48 months, other ranks 32 months, 1 mech inf bde (1 recce bn, 4 mech inf bn, 1 cbt spt bn)
women 24 months (Jews and Druze only; Christians, Circassians 1 indep mech inf bn
and Muslims may volunteer) Light
RESERVE 465,000 (Army 400,000 Navy 10,000 2 indep inf bn

and North Africa


Air 55,000) Air Manoeuvre

Middle East
Annual trg as cbt reservists to age 40 (some specialists to age 54) 1 para bde (3 para bn, 1 cbt spt bn, 1 sigs coy)
for male other ranks, 38 (or marriage/pregnancy) for women Other
1 armd trg bde (3 armd bn)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 (Border Protection) sy bde (5 ISR bn; 4 sy bn)
COMBAT SUPPORT
Strategic Forces 3 arty bde
Israel is widely believed to have a nuclear capability – 1 engr bde (3 engr bn, 3 EOD coy)
delivery means include F-15I and F-16I ac, Jericho 2 IRBM 1 CBRN bn
and, reportedly, Dolphin/Tanin-class SSKs with LACM 1 int bde (3 int bn)
FORCES BY ROLE 1 int unit
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE 1 SIGINT unit
3 IRBM sqn with Jericho 2 2 MP bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Reserves 400,000+ on mobilisation
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
FORCES BY ROLE
IRBM • Nuclear: ε24 Jericho 2
COMMAND
Strategic Defences 3 armd div HQ
1 AB div HQ
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
AIR DEFENCE
3 bty with Arrow 2 ATBM with Green Pine/Super Green Armoured
Pine radar and Citrus Tree command post 9 armd bde
10 bty with Iron Dome (incl reserve bty) Mechanised
4 bty with M901 Patriot PAC-2 8 mech inf bde
2 bty with David’s Sling Light
16 (territorial/regional) inf bde
Space Air Manoeuvre
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 4 para bde
SATELLITES 10 Mountain
COMMUNICATIONS 3 Amos 1 mtn inf bde
ISR 7: 1 EROS; 5 Ofeq (5, 7, 9, 10 & 16); 1 TecSAR-1 (Polaris) 1 mtn inf bn
332 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SUPPORT 1 Eilat (Sa’ar 5) with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84


5 arty bde Harpoon AShM/Gabriel V AShM, 4 8-cell VLS with
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT Barak-8 SAM, 2 triple 324mm TT with Mk 46 LWT,
6 log unit 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS (capacity 1 AS565SA Panther
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ASW hel)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 4 Magen (Sa’ar 6) with 2 quad lnchr with Gabriel V AShM,
MBT ε400 Merkava MkIV (ε700 Merkava MkIII; ε200 2 20-cell VLS with Tamir (C-Dome) SAM, 4 8-cell VLS
Merkava MkIV all in store) with Barak LRAD, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with Mk 54
APC 1,190+ LWT (capacity 1 AS565SA Panther ASW hel)
APC (T) 1,190: ε290 Namer; 500 M113A2; ε400 Nagmachon PCGM 8 Hetz (Sa’ar 4.5) with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-
(Centurion chassis); Nakpadon (5,100: ε100 Achzarit 84 Harpoon AShM (can also be fitted with up to 6 single
lnchr with Gabriel II AShM), 2 8-cell VLS with Barak-1
(modified T-55 chassis); 5,000 M113A1/A2 all in store)
SAM, (can be fitted with 2 triple 324mm Mk32 TT with
APC (W) some Eitan
Mk46 LWT), 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CWIS, 1 76mm gun
AUV Ze’ev
PBF 34: 5 Shaldag; 3 Stingray; 9 Super Dvora Mk I (SSM
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
& TT may be fitted); 4 Super Dvora Mk II (SSM & TT
AEV D9R; Namer; Puma
may be fitted); 6 Super Dvora Mk II-I (SSM & TT may be
ARV Nemmera; M88A1; M113 ARV
fitted); 4 Super Dvora Mk III (SSM & TT may be fitted); 3
VLB Alligator MAB; M48/60; MTU
Super Dvora Mk III (SSM may be fitted)
NBC VEHICLES ε8 TPz-1 Fuchs NBC
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCVP 3 Manta
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AG 1 Bat Yam (ex-GER
SP M113 with Spike; Tamuz (Spike NLOS)
Type-745)
MANPATS IMI MAPATS; Spike SR/MR/LR/ER
ARTILLERY 530 Naval Commandos ε300
SP 250: 155mm 250 M109A5 (155mm 30 M109A2; FORCES BY ROLE
175mm 36 M107; 203mm 36 M110 all in store) SPECIAL FORCES
TOWED (155mm 171: 40 M-46 mod; 50 M-68/M-71; 81 1 cdo unit
M-839P/M-845P all in store)
MRL 30: 227mm 30 M270 MLRS; 306mm IMI Lynx Air Force 34,000
(160mm 50 LAR-160; 227mm 18 M270 MLRS; 290mm 20 Responsible for Air and Space Coordination
LAR-290 all in store)
FORCES BY ROLE
MOR 250: 81mm 250 (81mm 1,100; 120mm 650; 160mm
FIGHTER & FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
18 Soltam M-66 all in store)
1 sqn with F-15A/B/D Eagle (Baz)
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence Machbet; FIM-
1 sqn with F-15B/C/D Eagle (Baz)
92 Stinger
1 sqn with F-15I Ra’am
5 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (Barak)
Navy 7,000; 2,500 conscript (total 9,500) 4 sqn with F-16I Fighting Falcon (Sufa)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 2 sqn with F-35I Adir
SUBMARINES 5 ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
SSK 5: 1 sqn with AS565SA Panther (missions flown by IAF but
3 Dolphin (GER HDW design) with 6 single 533mm with non-rated aircrew)
TT with UGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM/SeaHake ELECTRONIC WARFARE
(DM2A3) HWT/SeaHake mod 4 (DM2A4) HWT/ 1 sqn with RC-12D Guardrail; Beech A36 Bonanza (Hofit);
Kaved HWT, 4 single 650mm TT with dual-capable Beech 200/200T/200CT King Air
LACM (reported) AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
2 Tanin (GER HDW design) (fitted with AIP) with 6 1 sqn with Gulfstream G550 Eitam; Gulfstream G550 Shavit
single 533mm TT with UGM-84C Harpoon Block TANKER/TRANSPORT
1B AShM/SeaHake (DM2A3) HWT/SeaHake mod 4 1 sqn with C-130E/H Hercules; KC-130H Hercules
(DM2A4) HWT/Kaved HWT, 4 single 650mm TT 1 sqn with C-130J-30 Hercules
with dual-capable LACM (reported) 1 sqn with KC-707
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 49 TRAINING
CORVETTES • FSGHM 7: 1 OPFOR sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon (Barak)
2 Eilat (Sa’ar 5) with 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84 1 sqn with F-35I Adir
Harpoon AShM/Gabriel V AShM, 4 8-cell VLS with 1 sqn with M-346 Master (Lavi)
Barak-1 SAM (being upgraded to Barak-8), 2 triple ATTACK HELICOPTER
324mm TT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS 1 sqn with AH-64A Apache (Peten)
(capacity 1 AS565SA Panther ASW hel) 1 sqn with AH-64D Apache (Sarat)
Middle East and North Africa 333

TRANSPORT HELICOPTER AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES


2 sqn with CH-53D Sea Stallion AAM • IR AIM-9 Sidewinder; Python 4; IIR Python 5;
2 sqn with S-70A Black Hawk; UH-60A Black Hawk ARH AIM-120C AMRAAM
1 medevac unit with CH-53D Sea Stallion ASM AGM-114 Hellfire; AGM-62B Walleye; AGM-65
UAV
Maverick; Delilah AL; Popeye I/II; Spike NLOS
2 ISR sqn with Hermes 450
BOMBS
1 ISR sqn with Heron (Shoval); Heron TP (Eitan)
1 ISR sqn with Heron (Shoval) (MP role) IIR guided Opher
1 ISR sqn with Orbiter 4 (Nitzotz) Laser-guided Griffin; Lizard; Paveway II
AIR DEFENCE INS/GPS-guided GBU-31 JDAM; GBU-39 Small
3 bty with Arrow 2/3 Diameter Bomb (Barad Had); Spice
10 bty with Iron Dome
4 bty with M901 Patriot PAC-2 Airfield Defence 3,000 active (15,000 reservists)
2 bty with David’s Sling
SPECIAL FORCES Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε8,000
1 SF wg (2 SF unit, 1 CSAR unit, 1 int unit)
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE
Border Police ε8,000
3 IRBM sqn with Jericho 2
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FOREIGN FORCES
AIRCRAFT 345 combat capable UNTSO unless specified. UNTSO figures represent total
FGA 315: 16 F-15A Eagle (Baz); 6 F-15B Eagle (Baz); 17 numbers for mission
F-15C Eagle (Baz); 19 F-15D Eagle (Baz); 25 F-15I Ra’am; Argentina 3
ε50 F-16C Fighting Falcon (Barak); 49 F-16D Fighting Falcon
Australia 11
(Barak); 97 F-16I Fighting Falcon (Sufa); 36 F-35I Adir
ISR 7: 6 RC-12D Guardrail; 1 Gulfstream G550 Oron Austria 4
ELINT 3 Gulfstream G550 Shavit Belgium 1
AEW 2 Gulfstream G550 Eitam Bhutan 5 • UNDOF 3
TKR/TPT 10: 4 KC-130H Hercules; 6 KC-707

and North Africa


Canada 4

Middle East
TPT 65: Medium 18: 5 C-130E Hercules; 6 C-130H
Chile 3
Hercules; 7 C-130J-30 Hercules; Light 47: 3 AT-802 Air
China 5
Tractor; 9 Beech 200 King Air; 8 Beech 200T King Air; 5
Beech 200CT King Air; 22 Beech A36 Bonanza (Hofit) Czech Republic UNDOF 4
TRG 66: 16 Grob G-120; 30 M-346 Master (Lavi)*; 20 T-6A Denmark 10
HELICOPTERS Estonia 3
ATK 43: 26 AH-64A Apache (Peten); 17 AH-64D Fiji 2 • UNDOF 150; 1 inf coy
Apache (Sarat)
Finland 14
ASW 7 AS565SA Panther (missions flown by IAF but
with non-rated aircrew) Ghana UNDOF 6
ISR 12 OH-58B Kiowa India 2 • UNDOF 198; 1 inf pl; 1 MP pl; 1 log coy(-)
TPT 80: Heavy 25 CH-53D Sea Stallion; Medium 49: 39 Ireland 12 • UNDOF 130; 1 inf coy
S-70A Black Hawk; 10 UH-60A Black Hawk; Light 6 Bell Latvia 1
206 Jet Ranger
Nepal 3 • UNDOF 412; 1 mech inf coy; 1 inf coy; 1 log coy(-)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
ISR 3+: Heavy 3+: Heron (Shoval); 3 Heron TP (Eitan); Netherlands 12 • UNDOF 1
RQ-5A Hunter; Medium Hermes 450; Hermes 900 (22+ New Zealand 8
Searcher MkII in store); Light Orbiter 4 (Nitzotz); (an Norway 13
unknown number of ISR UAVs are combat capable) Poland 4
LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS
Russia 4
Harop; Harpy
Serbia 1
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
IRBM • Nuclear ε24 Jericho 2 Slovakia 2
AIR DEFENCE Slovenia 3
SAM 40+: Sweden 7
Long-range M901 Patriot PAC-2 Switzerland 11
Medium-range some David’s Sling
United States 2 • US Strategic Command; 100; 1 AN/TPY-
Short-range up to 40 Iron Dome
Point-defence Machbet 2 X-band radar at Mount Keren
GUNS • TOWED 20mm M167 Vulcan Uruguay UNDOF 212; 1 mech inf coy
MISSILE DEFENCE • SAM 24 Arrow 2/Arrow 3; Zambia 1
334 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Jordan JOR ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Jordanian Dinar JOD 2021 2022 2023 Army 86,000
GDP JOD 32.1bn 34.1bn FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
USD 45.3bn 48.1bn
1 (Royal Guard) SF gp (1 SF regt, 1 SF bn, 1 CT bn)
per capita USD 4,412 4,666 1 spec ops bde (3 spec ops bn)
Growth % 2.2 2.4 MANOEUVRE
Inflation % 1.3 3.8 Armoured
Def bdgt [a] JOD 1.28bn 1.37bn 2 armd bde
USD 1.80bn 1.93bn
Mechanised
8 mech bde
FMA (US) USD 425m 350m 400m
Light
USD1=JOD 0.71 0.71 2 (Border Gd) inf bde
[a] Excludes expenditure on public order and safety 1 (Border Gd) inf gp
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Air Manoeuvre
2.13 1 AB bde (3 AB bn)
COMBAT SUPPORT
1.58 4 arty bde
2008 2015 2022 4 AD bde
1 MRL bn
Population 10,998,531 1 engr bn
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 log bn
Male 16.4% 5.1% 5.0% 4.7% 19.4% 1.9% EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Female 15.5% 4.9% 4.4% 4.0% 16.6% 2.0% ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 266: ε80 FV4034 Challenger 1 (Al Hussein); 4+
Capabilities Leclerc; 182 M60A3 (ε300 FV4034 Challenger 1 (Al
The Jordanian Armed Forces are structured to provide border Hussein) in store)
security and an armoured response to conventional threats, and ASLT 80 B1 Centauro (61 more in store)
they have recently focused on tackling narcotics- and weapons- IFV 399: 13 AIFV-B-C25; 50 Marder 1A3; 336 YPR-765 PRI
smuggling from Syria. Efforts to restructure, review modernisa- APC 968+
tion requirements and increase efficiency are ongoing. In recent APC (T) 729: 370 M113A1/A2 Mk1J; 269 M577A2
years, Jordan has withdrawn some equipment from service,
(CP); 87 YPR-765 PRCO (CP); 3 AIFV-B
particularly aircraft, likely due to budgetary pressure. There has
been no recent public statement of defence policy, but regional PPV 239: some Al-Wahsh; 45 Caiman; 25 Marauder; 25
instability remains a key concern, principally the ongoing war Matador; 100 MaxxPro; 44 Nomad/Thunder
in Syria. Jordan is a major non-NATO ally of the US and there is a AUV 35 Cougar
close bilateral defence relationship. The country has developed a ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
bespoke special-forces training centre and has hosted training for ARV 85+: Al Monjed; 5 BPz-1; FV4204 Chieftain ARV; 32
numerous state and non-state military forces. A training centre for M88A1; 30 M578; 18 YPR-806
female personnel was inaugurated in mid-2021 and aims to boost
MW 12 Aardvark Mk2
the number of women in the armed forces to 3% of the total by
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
the end of 2024. Personnel are relatively well trained, particularly
aircrew and special forces, who are highly regarded internation- SP 115: 70 M901; 45 AIFV-B-Milan
ally. Jordanian forces are able to independently deploy regionally MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; TOW/TOW-2A; 9K135
and have participated in ISAF operations in Afghanistan and in Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan); Luch Corsar; Stugna-P
coalition air operations over Syria and Yemen; additional second- ARTILLERY 1,397
hand transport aircraft were recently acquired. Jordan’s inventory SP 506: 155mm 358 M109A1/A2; 203mm 148 M110A2
largely comprises older systems and procurements have typically TOWED 84: 105mm 66: 54 M102; 12 M119A2; 155mm
been in small numbers, second-hand or donations. Although the
18 M114
state-owned Jordan Design and Development Bureau (JODDB, for-
merly KADDB) has demonstrated the capacity to upgrade vehicles,
MRL 30: 227mm 12 M142 HIMARS; 273mm 18 WM-80
the army has largely recapitalised its armoured-vehicle fleet with MOR 777: 81mm 359; SP 81mm 50; 107mm 50 M30;
second-hand armour from European countries. JODDB has pro- 120mm 300 Brandt SP 120mm 18 Agrab Mk2
duced some light-armoured vehicles for domestic use through AIR DEFENCE
agreements with foreign suppliers, but the company currently has SAM • Point-defence 92+: 92 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13
little export profile. Gopher); 9K36 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K310 Igla-1
(RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); 9K338
ACTIVE 100,500 (Army 86,000 Navy 500 Air 14,000)
Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 15,000
GUNS • SP 108: 23mm 48 ZSU-23-4 Shilka; 35mm
RESERVE 65,000 (Army 60,000 Joint 5,000) 60 Gepard
Middle East and North Africa 335

Navy ε500 HELICOPTERS


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ATK 12 AH-1F Cobra (17 more in store, offered for sale)
MRH 14: 3 AW139; 11 H135M (Tpt/SAR) (6 MD-530F in
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 9
store, offered for sale)
PBF 2 Response Boat-Medium (RB-M)
TPT 49: Heavy 4 Mi-26T2 Halo; Medium 33: 10 AS332M
PB 7: 4 Abdullah (US Dauntless); 3 Al Hussein (UK
Super Puma (being WFU); 8 UH-60A Black Hawk; 12 UH-
Vosper 30m)
60M Black Hawk; 3 VH-60M Black Hawk; (8 UH-60L in
Marines store, offered for sale); Light 12 R-44 Raven II; (13 Bell
FORCES BY ROLE 205 (UH-1H Iroquois) in store, offered for sale)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
MANOEUVRE
CISR • Heavy (some CH-4B in store, offered for sale)
Amphibious
ISR • Light up to 10 S-100 Camcopter
1 mne unit
AIR DEFENCE
SAM • Medium-range 24 MIM-23B Phase III I-Hawk
Air Force 14,000
GUNS • TOWED 40mm 22 L/70 (with Flycatcher radar)
FORCES BY ROLE
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
AAM • IR AIM-9J/N/P Sidewinder; SARH AIM-7
2 sqn with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon
Sparrow; ARH AIM-120C AMRAAM
ISR
ASM AGM-65D/G Maverick; BGM-71 TOW
1 sqn with AT-802U Air Tractor
BOMBS
1 sqn with Cessna 208B Laser-guided GBU-10/12 Paveway II
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with C-130E Hercules Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε15,000 active
TRAINING
1 OCU with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon Gendarmerie ε15,000 active

and North Africa


1 sqn with PC-21 3 regional comd

Middle East
1 sqn with Grob 120TP FORCES BY ROLE
1 hel sqn with R-44 Raven II SPECIAL FORCES
ATTACK HELICOPTER 2 SF unit
2 sqn with AH-1F Cobra (with TOW) MANOEUVRE
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Other
1 sqn with AS332M Super Puma; UH-60A Black Hawk 10 sy bn
1 sqn with UH-60A Black Hawk EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with UH-60M Black Hawk ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
1 sqn with Mi-26T2 Halo APC • APC (W) 25+: AT105 Saxon (reported); 25+
EE-11 Urutu
1 (Royal) flt with VH-60M Black Hawk; AW139
AUV AB2 Al-Jawad
ISR UAV
1 sqn with S-100 Camcopter
AIR DEFENCE DEPLOYMENT
2 bde with MIM-23B Phase III I-Hawk CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 10
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
AIRCRAFT 57 combat capable MONUSCO 11
FGA 47: 33 F-16AM Fighting Falcon; 14 F-16BM
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 322; 1 mech inf coy(+)
Fighting Falcon
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 5
ATK (2 AC235 in store, offered for sale)
ISR 10 AT-802U Air Tractor*
TPT 11: Medium 3 C-130E Hercules (1 C-130B Hercules; FOREIGN FORCES
4 C-130H Hercules in store); Light 7: 5 Cessna 208B; 2 France Operation Inherent Resolve (Chammal) 300; 4 Rafale F3
M-28 Skytruck (2 C295M in store, offered for sale); PAX 1 Germany Operation Inherent Resolve 150; 1 A400M
CL-604 Challenger United States Central Command: Operation Inherent
TRG 26: 14 Grob 120TP; 12 PC-21; (12 Hawk Mk63* in Resolve 3,000; 1 FGA sqn with 18 F-15E Strike Eagle; 1 CISR
store, offered for sale) sqn with 12 MQ-9A Reaper
336 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Kuwait KWT ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Kuwaiti Dinar KWD 2021 2022 2023 Army 11,500


GDP KWD 41.2bn 55.7bn FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
USD 136bn 184bn
1 SF unit
per capita USD 28,665 38,123 1 cdo bde
Growth % 1.3 8.7 MANOEUVRE
Inflation % 3.4 4.3 Armoured
Def bdgt [a] KWD 2.93bn ε2.78bn 3 armd bde
Mechanised
USD 9.64bn ε9.17bn
2 mech inf bde
USD1=KWD 0.30 0.30
COMBAT SUPPORT
[a] Includes National Guard 1 arty bde
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 1 engr bde
7.50 1 MP bn
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
3.09 1 log gp
2008 2015 2022 1 fd hospital
Population 3,068,155 Reserve
FORCES BY ROLE
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MANOEUVRE
Male 12.3% 3.3% 4.8% 7.1% 28.8% 1.4% Mechanised
Female 11.3% 3.1% 3.7% 4.3% 17.8% 1.8% 1 bde
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Capabilities ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 293: 218 M1A2/A2K Abrams; 75 M-84AB (75 more
Kuwait’s armed forces are postured to provide territorial defence
in store)
through a strategy of holding out against any superior aggressor
IFV 537: 76 BMP-2; 122 BMP-3; 103 BMP-3M; 236 Desert
until allied forces can be mobilised to assist. Kuwait is a member
Warrior† (incl variants)
of the GCC, but its key defence relationship has been with the US
APC 260
since 1991. Washington designated Kuwait a major non-NATO
APC (T) 260: 230 M113A2; 30 M577 (CP)
ally in 2004, and a bilateral defence-cooperation agreement pro-
APC (W) (40 TH 390 Fahd in store)
vides for a range of joint activities and mentoring, and the station-
AUV 300 Sherpa Light Scout
ing and pre-positioning of US personnel and equipment. The US
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
drawdown of forces from CENTCOM in 2021 means that, in future,
ARV 19+: 19 M88A1/2; Type-653A; Warrior
greater emphasis for Kuwait’s defence may be placed upon the
MW Aardvark Mk2
country’s own capabilities, as well as those of its regional GCC NBC VEHICLES 12 Fuchs-2 NBC
allies. The planned new defence ministry headquarters complex ARTY 193
could presage improved command and control capacity. The focus SP 155mm 88: 37 M109A3; 51 PLZ-45
on national defence means that Kuwait has little expeditionary MRL 300mm 27 9A52 Smerch
sustainment capacity, although it did make a small air contribution MOR 78: 81mm 60; 107mm 6 M30; 120mm ε12 RT-F1
to the Saudi-led coalition at the beginning of the Yemen conflict. ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Improvements in air and missile defence continue to receive pri- MSL
ority, given Kuwait’s proximity to Iran, and the Emirate has begun SP 74: 66 HMMWV TOW; 8 M901
to receive new air combat platforms and is modernising its land MANPATS 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan); TOW-2
forces armour component, although COVID-19 has delayed these RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
plans. There is some organic maintenance capacity, though this is AIR DEFENCE
bolstered by contractor support. Kuwait lacks a domestic defence- SAM • Point-defence Starburst; FIM-92 Stinger
industrial base and is reliant on imports, albeit with offset require-
ments to help stimulate the country’s wider industrial sector. Navy ε2,000 (incl 500 Coast Guard)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ACTIVE 17,500 (Army 11,500 Navy 2,000 Air 2,500
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 20
Emiri Guard 1,500) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 7,100 PCFG 2:
Conscript liability 12 months, males 18–35 years 1 Al Sanbouk (GER Lurssen TNC 45m) with 2 twin
lnchr with MM40 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun
RESERVE 23,700 (Joint 23,700) 1 Istiqlal (GER Lurssen TNC 57m) with 2 twin lnchr
Reserve obligation to age 40; 1 month annual trg with MM40 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun
Middle East and North Africa 337

PBF 10 Al Nokatha (US Mk V PBF) Emiri Guard 1,500


PBG 8 Um Almaradim (FRA Combattante 1 derivative)
FORCES BY ROLE
with 2 twin lnchr with Sea Skua AShM
MANOEUVRE
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 8
Other
LCT 2 Assafar (ADSB 64m)
1 (Emiri) gd bde
LCM 1 Abhan (ADSB 42m)
LCVP 5 ADSB 16m
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AG 1 Sawahil with 1 hel
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε7,100 active
landing platform
National Guard ε6,600 active
Air Force 2,500 FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
FORCES BY ROLE
1 SF bn
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
2 sqn with F/A-18C/D Hornet MANOEUVRE
TRANSPORT Reconnaissance
1 sqn with C-17A Globemaster III; KC-130J Hercules; 1 armd car bn
L-100-30 Other
TRAINING 3 security bn
1 OCU sqn with F/A-18C/D Hornet COMBAT SUPPORT
1 OCU sqn (forming) with Eurofighter Typhoon 1 MP bn
1 unit with EMB-312 Tucano*; Hawk Mk64* EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ATTACK HELICOPTER ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
2 sqn with AH-64D Apache RECCE 20 VBL
1 atk/trg sqn with SA342 Gazelle with HOT IFV ε150 Pandur (incl variants)
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER APC 67+
1 sqn with AS532 Cougar; H225M; SA330 Puma
APC (W) 27+: 5+ Desert Chameleon; 22 S600
1 (VIP) sqn with S-92A

and North Africa


(incl variants)

Middle East
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE PPV 40 Otokar ISV
AIRCRAFT 53 combat capable AUV 120 Sherpa Light Scout
FGA 39: 6 Eurofighter Typhoon; 26 F/A-18C Hornet; 7
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
F/A-18D Hornet
ARV Pandur
TKR/TPT 3 KC-130J Hercules
HELICOPTERS
TPT 5: Heavy 2 C-17A Globemaster III; Medium 3 L-100-30
TPT • Heavy 3 H225M
TRG 14: 6 EMB-312 Tucano*; 8 Hawk Mk64* (10 EMB-312
Tucano* in store) Coast Guard 500
HELICOPTERS
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ATK 16 AH-64D Apache
MRH 13 SA342 Gazelle with HOT PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 32
TPT 19: Heavy 6+ H225M; Medium 13: 3 AS532 Cougar; PBF 12 Manta
7 SA330 Puma; 3 S-92A (SAR/VIP) PB 20: 3 Al Shaheed; 4 Inttisar (Austal 31.5m); 3 Kassir
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES (Austal 22m); 10 Subahi
AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder; R-550 Magic; SARH AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT
AIM-7F Sparrow; ARH AIM-120C7 AMRAAM LCU 4: 2 Al Tahaddy; 1 Saffar; 1 other
ASM AGM-65G Maverick; AGM-114K Hellfire; HOT LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AG 1 Sawahil
AShM AGM-84D Harpoon Block IC
FOREIGN FORCES
Air Defence Command
Canada Operation Inherent Resolve (Impact) 200
FORCES BY ROLE
Italy Operation Inherent Resolve (Prima Parthica) 300; 4
AIR DEFENCE
1 SAM bde (7 SAM bty with M902 Patriot PAC-3) Typhoon; 1 MQ-9A Reaper; 1 C-27J Spartan; 1 KC-767A;
1 SAM bde (6 SAM bty with Skyguard/Aspide) 1 SAM bty with SAMP/T
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE United Kingdom Operation Inherent Resolve (Shader) 50;
AIR DEFENCE 1 CISR UAV sqn with 8 MQ-9A Reaper
SAM 47 United States Central Command: 10,000; 1 ARNG armd
Long-range 35 M902 Patriot PAC-3 bn; 1 ARNG (cbt avn) hel bde; 1 spt bde; 1 CISR UAV sqn
Short-range 12 Aspide with Skyguard with MQ-9A Reaper; 1 (APS) armd bde eqpt set; 1 (APS)
GUNS • TOWED 35mm 12+ Oerlikon GDF inf bde eqpt set
338 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Lebanon LBN ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Lebanese Pound LBP 2021 2022 2023 Army 56,600


GDP [a] LBP n.k n.k FORCES BY ROLE
USD n.k n.k 5 regional comd (Beirut, Bekaa Valley, Mount Lebanon,
per capita USD n.k n.k North, South)
SPECIAL FORCES
Growth % n.k n.k
1 cdo regt
Inflation % n.k n.k
MANOEUVRE
Def bdgt [b] LBP n.k n.k Armoured
USD n.k n.k 1 armd regt
FMA (US) USD 120m 160m 150m Mechanised
USD1=LBP n.k n.k 11 mech inf bde
Air Manoeuvre
[a] No IMF economic data available for Lebanon from 2021
1 AB regt
[b] No defence budget published since 2020
Amphibious
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 1 mne cdo regt
2.05
Other
n.k. n.k. 1 Presidential Guard bde
0.98 6 intervention regt 4 border sy regt
2008 2015 2022
COMBAT SUPPORT
Population 5,296,814 2 arty regt
1 cbt spt bde (1 engr regt, 1 AT regt, 1 sigs regt; 1 log bn)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 MP gp
Male 10.0% 3.7% 3.6% 3.8% 25.1% 3.7% COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Female 9.5% 3.6% 3.5% 3.6% 24.9% 5.0% 1 log bde
1 med gp
1 construction regt
Capabilities
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
The ability of the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) to fulfil its mis- MBT 334: 92 M48A1/A5; 10 M60A2; 185 T-54; 47 T-55
sions remains under strain from Hizbullah’s position in national RECCE 55 AML
politics, from the spillover effects of the Syrian conflict, the IFV 56: 24 AIFV-B-C25; 32 M2A2 Bradley
severe and prolonged economic depression and crisis in gov- APC 1,378
ernance. The latter was highlighted and indeed exacerbated by APC (T) 1,274 M113A1/A2 (incl variants)
the port explosion in Beirut on 4 August 2020. The LAF is reliant
APC (W) 96: 86 VAB VCT; 10 VBPT-MR Guarani
on outside assistance to continue its operations. In August
PPV 8 Maxxpro
2021, the UN Security Council ordered the UNIFIL peacekeep-
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
ing mission to provide the LAF with food, fuel and medicine, and
ARV 3 M88A1; M113 ARV; T-54/55 ARV (reported)
a number of governments have provided other assistance. The
VLB MTU-72 reported
economic crisis has left the government struggling to pay wages
MW Bozena
to troops without foreign assistance, while inflation has eroded
ARTILLERY 641
the value of salaries. This has likely hampered plans, since 2017,
SP 155mm 12 M109A2
for the LAF to gradually boost its presence in the south of the
TOWED 313: 105mm 13 M101A1; 122mm 35: 9 D-30;
country and has led to fears that troops may have to supple-
ment their wages with other employment. Training and opera- 26 M-30; 130mm 15 M-46; 155mm 250: 18 M114A1; 218
tional assistance have traditionally been provided by the US, as M198; 14 Model-50
well as by France, Germany, Italy and the UK. Reconstruction has MRL 122mm 11 BM-21
started at the Beirut naval base with German funding. The base MOR 305: 81mm 134; 82mm 112; 120mm 59: 29 Brandt;
was damaged in the 2020 port explosion. LAF operations several 30 M120
years ago against ISIS demonstrated an improved capability, but ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
how much of this remains is unclear. The LAF has no require- MSL
ment and minimal capability for extraterritorial deployment. SP 35 VAB with HOT
It remains dependent on foreign support to replace and mod- MANPATS Milan; TOW
ernise its ageing equipment inventory. Barring limited organic RCL 106mm 113 M40A1
maintenance facilities, Lebanon has no significant domestic UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
defence industry. ISR • Medium 8 Mohajer 4
AIR DEFENCE
ACTIVE 60,000 (Army 56,600 Navy 1,800 Air 1,600) SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2M (RS-SA-7B Grail)‡
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 20,000 GUNS • TOWED 77: 20mm 20; 23mm 57 ZU-23-2
Middle East and North Africa 339

Navy 1,800 Argentina 3 • UNIFIL 2


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Armenia UNIFIL 31
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 13 Australia 11
PCC 1 Trablous Austria 4 • UNIFIL 171: 1 log coy
PBF 1 Bangladesh UNIFIL 118: 1 FSGM
PB 11: 1 Aamchit (ex-GER Bremen); 1 Al Kalamoun (ex- Belarus UNIFIL 5
FRA Avel Gwarlarn); 7 Tripoli (ex-UK Attacker/Tracker Mk Belgium 1
2); 1 Naquora (ex-GER Bremen); 1 Tabarja (ex-GER Bergen) Bhutan 5
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT Brazil UNIFIL 9
LCT 2 Sour (ex-FRA EDIC – capacity 8 APC; 96 troops)
Brunei UNIFIL 30
Cambodia UNIFIL 180: 1 EOD coy
Air Force 1,600
Canada 4 (Operation Jade)
4 air bases
Chile 3
FORCES BY ROLE
China, People’s Republic of 5 • UNIFIL 419: 2 engr coy;
GROUND ATTACK
1 med coy
1 sqn with Cessna AC-208 Combat Caravan*
1 sqn with EMB-314 Super Tucano* Colombia UNIFIL 1
ATTACK HELICOPTER Croatia UNIFIL 1
1 sqn with SA342L Gazelle Cyprus UNIFIL 2
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Denmark 10
4 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois/Huey II) El Salvador UNIFIL 52: 1 inf pl
1 sqn with SA330/IAR330SM Puma Estonia 3 • UNIFIL 1
1 trg sqn with R-44 Raven II Fiji 2 • UNIFIL 1
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Finland 14 • UNIFIL 161; 1 inf coy
AIRCRAFT 9 combat capable France UNIFIL 571: 1 mech inf bn(-); VBL; VBCI; VAB;
ISR 3 Cessna AC-208 Combat Caravan* Mistral
TRG 9: 3 Bulldog; 6 EMB-314 Super Tucano* Germany UNIFIL 82: 1 FSGM
HELICOPTERS

and North Africa


Ghana UNIFIL 874: 1 recce coy; 1 mech inf bn

Middle East
MRH 14: 1 AW139; 5 MD530F+; 8 SA342L Gazelle (5
Greece UNIFIL 109: 1 FFGHM
SA342L Gazelle; 5 SA316 Alouette III; 1 SA318 Alouette II
all non-operational) Guatemala UNIFIL 2
TPT 41: Medium 13: 3 S-61N (fire-fighting); 10 SA330/ Hungary UNIFIL 16
IAR330 Puma; Light 28: 18 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 6 India 2 • UNIFIL 895: 1 inf bn; 1 med coy
Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II); 4 R-44 Raven II (basic trg) (11 Indonesia UNIFIL 1,106: 1 mech inf bn; 1 MP coy; 1 FSGM
Bell 205; 7 Bell 212 all non-operational) Ireland 12 • UNIFIL 338: 1 mech inf bn(-)
AIR LAUNCHED MISSILES Italy MIBIL 160 • UNIFIL 868: 1 mech bde HQ; 1 mech inf
ASM AGM-114 Hellfire; AGR-20A APKWS bn; 1 MP coy; 1 sigs coy; 1 hel bn
Kazakhstan UNIFIL 9
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε20,000 active Kenya UNIFIL 3
Korea, Republic of UNIFIL 254: 1 mech inf BG HQ; 1
Internal Security Force ε20,000
mech inf coy; 1 inf coy; 1 log coy
Ministry of Interior
Latvia 1
FORCES BY ROLE
Macedonia, North UNIFIL 3
Other Combat Forces
Malaysia UNIFIL 830: 1 mech inf bn(-); 1 sigs coy; 1 log
1 (police) judicial unit
coy; 1 maint coy; 1 med coy
1 regional sy coy
1 (Beirut Gendarmerie) sy coy Malta UNIFIL 9
Moldova UNIFIL 4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Nepal 3 • UNIFIL 872: 1 mech inf bn
APC • APC (W) 60 V-200 Chaimite Netherlands 12 • UNIFIL 1
New Zealand 8
Customs Nigeria UNIFIL 2
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Norway 13
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 7 Peru UNIFIL 1
PB 7: 5 Aztec; 2 Tracker Poland 4 • UNIFIL 193; 1 mech inf coy
Qatar UNIFIL 1
FOREIGN FORCES Russia 4
Unless specified, figures refer to UNTSO and represent Serbia 1 • UNIFIL 177; 1 mech inf coy
total numbers for the mission Sierra Leone UNIFIL 3
340 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Slovakia 2 external actors in the region. Equipment is mainly of Russian or


Slovenia 3 • UNIFIL 1 Soviet origin, including items from the former Libyan armed forces,
Spain UNIFIL 669: 1 mech bde HQ; 1 mech inf bn(-); 1 and suffers from varying degrees of obsolescence. The country has
engr coy; 1 sigs coy; 1 log coy no domestic defence-industrial capability.
Sri Lanka UNIFIL 126: 1 inf coy Forces loyal to the Government of National Unity
Sweden 7
(Tripoli-based)
Switzerland 11
Tanzania UNIFIL 124: 1 MP coy ACTIVE n.k.
Turkey UNIFIL 110: 1 FFGHM
United States 2
Uruguay UNIFIL 1
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Zambia 1 • UNIFIL 2
Ground Forces n.k.
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Libya LBY ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Libyan Dinar LYD 2021 2022 2023 MBT T-55; T-72
IFV BMP-2
GDP LYD 176bn 195bn
APC
USD 39.0bn 40.8bn
APC (T) ACV-AAPC; Steyr 4K-7FA
per capita USD 5,813 6,026
APC (W) Mbombe-6
Growth % 28.3 -18.5
PPV Al-Wahsh; Kirpi-2; Vuran
Inflation % 2.8 5.5 AUV Lenco Bearcat G3; Nimr Ajban
Def bdgt LYD n.k. n.k. ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
USD n.k. n.k. ARV Centurion 105 AVRE
USD1=LYD 4.51 4.78 ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
SP 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S (RS-AT-15 Springer)
Population 7,137,931
MANPATS 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus ARTILLERY
Male 17.0% 4.2% 3.7% 3.4% 20.9% 1.9% SP 155mm Palmaria
Female 16.3% 4.0% 3.5% 3.3% 19.5% 2.3% TOWED 122mm D-30
AIR DEFENCE
Capabilities SAM • Point-defence QW-18 (CH-SA-11)
The formation of a new Government of National Unity, in March GUNS • SP 14.5mm ZPU-2 (on tch); 23mm ZU-23-2
2021, unified the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (on tch)
(GNA) and the Tobruk-based House of Representatives. A UN-
backed ceasefire, agreed in October 2020, is intended to see the Navy n.k.
deployment of monitors, while a follow-up resolution agreed in
A number of intact naval vessels remain in Tripoli,
April 2021 called for all foreign forces and mercenaries to with-
draw. Libyan elections, originally scheduled for December 2021, although serviceability is questionable
have been postponed due to the lack of consensus between the EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
two factions on an electoral constitutional framework. Despite PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 3+
President Mohamed Al-Menfi’s efforts to unify government insti-
tutions and the military forces of the GNA and the Libyan Arab CORVETTES • FSGM (1 Al Hani (ex-FSU Project 1159
Armed Forces (LAAF), controlled by General Khalifa Haftar, the (Koni)) in Malta for refit since 2013 with 2 twin lnchr
situation on the ground remains unstable. Forces affiliated to both with P-22 (RS-SS-N-2C Styx) AShM, 1 twin lnchr with
have relatively low levels of training though the presence in these 4K33 Osa-M (RS-SA-N-4 Gecko) SAM, 2 twin 406mm
formations of units from the former Gadhafi-era army has over the
years bolstered their military capability. The GNA-affiliated forces
ASTT, 1 RBU 6000 Smerch 2 A/S mor, 2 AK230 CIWS,
have since 2016 benefited from several military advisory and train- 2 twin 76mm gun)
ing programmes, including EUNAVFOR–MED maritime-security PBFG 1 Sharaba (FRA Combattante II) with 4 single lnchr
training for the Libyan Navy and Coast Guard. EUNAVFOR Opera- with Otomat Mk2 AShM, 1 76mm gun†
tion Irini continues to monitor the implementation of the UN arms
PB 2+ PV30
embargo, and in 2022 again seized military materiel bound for
Libya. Foreign-military involvement increased in 2020. Both the AMPHIBIOUS
GNA and the LAAF continue to be supported by foreign military LANDING SHIPS • LST 1 Ibn Harissa (capacity 1 hel;
forces, private military contractors and mercenaries. There are 11 MBT; 240 troops)
also reports of Syrian combatants paid to fight for both sides and
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 2
of continued activity by Russia’s Wagner Group. LAAF troops have
combat experience from fighting ISIS in the eastern coastal region AFD 1
and have allegedly received training and combat support from ARS 1 Al Munjed (YUG Spasilac)†
Middle East and North Africa 341

Air Force n.k. ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MSL
AIRCRAFT 3+ combat capable SP 9P157-2 Khrizantema-S (status unknown)
FGA 2 MiG-23BN MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 9K111
ATK 1 J-21 Jastreb†
Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5
TRG 9+: 3 G-2 Galeb*; ε5 L-39ZO*; 1+ SF-260ML*
Spandrel); 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan); Milan
HELICOPTERS
ATK Mi-24 Hind RCL: 106mm M40A1; 84mm Carl Gustaf
TPT • Medium Mi-17 Hip ARTILLERY
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 SP 122mm 2S1 Gvodzika; 155mm G5
Atoll)‡; R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-24 (RS-AA-7 Apex) TOWED 122mm D-30

Paramilitary n.k. MRL 107mm Type-63; 122mm BM-21 Grad


MOR M106
Coast Guard n.k. AIR DEFENCE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE SAM
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 10
Short-range 2K12 Kvadrat (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
PCC 1 Damen Stan 2909 with 1 sextuple 122mm MRL
Point-defence 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
PBF 6: 4 Bigliani; 2 Fezzan (ex-ITA Corrubia)
PB 3: 1 Burdi (Damen Stan 1605); 1 Hamelin; 1 Ikrimah GUNS • SP 14.5mm ZPU-2 (on tch); 23mm ZSU-23-4
(FRA RPB 20) Shilka; ZU-23-2 (on tch)

FOREIGN FORCES Navy n.k.


Italy MIASIT 90 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Nepal UNSMIL 235; 2 sy coy PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 7+

and North Africa


Turkey ε500; ACV-AAPC; Kirpi; 1 arty unit with T-155 PB: 7+: 2 Burdi (Damen Stan 1605); 1 Burdi (Damen

Middle East
Firtina; 1 AD unit with MIM-23B Hawk; Korkut; GDF-003; 1 Stan 1605) with 1 73mm gun; 2 Ikrimah (FRA RPB20); 1
CISR UAV unit with Bayraktar TB2
Hamelin; 1+ PV30
United Kingdom UNSMIL 1
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AFD 1
United States UNSMIL 1

Air Force n.k.


TERRITORY WHERE THE RECOGNISED
AUTHORITY DOES NOT EXERCISE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE

EFFECTIVE CONTROL AIRCRAFT 49 combat capable


FTR 14: 2 MiG-23ML Flogger G; up to 12 MiG-29
Data here represents the de facto situation. This does not
imply international recognition Fulcrum (operator uncertain)
FGA 13: ε10 MiG-21MF Fishbed; 1 Mirage F-1AD; 1
ACTIVE n.k.
Mirage F-1ED; 1 Su-22UM3 Fitter G
ATK up to 4 Su-24M Fencer D (operator uncertain)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
TRG 19: ε10 L-39ZO Albatros*; 1+ MiG-21UM Mongol B;

Libyan Arab Armed Forces n.k. 8 SF-260ML*

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE HELICOPTERS


ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES ATK Mi-24/35 Hind
MBT T-55; T-62; T-72 TPT • Medium 3: up to 3 H215 (AS332L) Super Puma;
RECCE BRDM-2; EE-9 Cascavel Mi-8/Mi-17 Hip
IFV BMP-1; Ratel-20
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2
APC
Atoll)‡; R-27T (RS-AA-10B Alamo); R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid);
APC (T) M113
APC (W) Al-Mared; BTR-60PB; Mbombe-6; Nimr Jais; R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer)
Puma
PPV Al-Wahsh; Caiman; Streit Spartan; Streit Typhoon; FOREIGN FORCES
Vuran; Titan-DS
AUV Panthera T6; Panthera F9; Terrier LT-79 Wagner Group 2,000
342 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MANOEUVRE
Mauritania MRT Reconnaissance
Mauritanian Ouguiya 1 armd recce bn
2021 2022 2023 Armoured
MRU
GDP MRU 360bn 366bn 1 armd bn
USD 9.89bn 10.1bn Light
7 mot inf bn
per capita USD 2,333 2,328
8 (garrison) inf bn
Growth % 2.4 4.0
Air Manoeuvre
Inflation % 3.8 7.1 1 cdo/para bn
Def bdgt MRU 7.77bn 8.33bn Other
USD 213m 229m 2 (camel corps) bn
USD1=MRU 36.44 36.30 1 gd bn
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) COMBAT SUPPORT
208 3 arty bn
n.k. 4 ADA bty
111 1 engr coy
2008 2015 2022 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Population 4,161,925
MBT 35 T-54/T-55
RECCE 70: 20 AML-60; 40 AML-90; 10 Saladin
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC • APC (W) 32: 5 FV603 Saracen; 7 Bastion APC; ε20
Male 18.3% 5.1% 4.5% 3.9% 14.5% 1.8% Panhard M3
Female 18.2% 5.2% 4.7% 4.3% 17.0% 2.4% AUV 12 Cobra
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Capabilities ARV T-54/55 ARV reported
The country’s small and modestly equipped armed forces are ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
tasked with maintaining territorial integrity and internal secu- MSL • MANPATS Milan
rity. In light of the regional threat from extremist Islamist groups, RCL • 106mm ε90 M40A1
border security is also a key role for the armed forces, which are ARTILLERY 180
accustomed to counter-insurgency operations in the desert. In TOWED 80: 105mm 36 HM-2/M101A1; 122mm 44: 20
early 2021, the cabinet approved a draft decree establishing a D-30; 24 D-74
defence area along the northern border to counter incursions by
MRL 10: 107mm 4 Type-63; 122mm 6 Type-81
the Polisario Front. This followed the group’s closure of a border
crossing for several weeks in late 2020. The country is a member MOR 90: 81mm 60; 120mm 30 Brandt
of the G5 Sahel group and in late 2021 the armed forces of Mauri- AIR DEFENCE
tania and Senegal signed an agreement to jointly patrol offshore SAM • Point-defence ε4 9K31 Strela-1 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin)
gas fields. Both countries have also conducted joint riverine patrols (reported); 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
along their border. Mauritania’s armed forces take part in the Flint- GUNS • TOWED 82: 14.5mm 28: 16 ZPU-2; 12 ZPU-4;
lock US-led special-operations exercise and also train with France’s
23mm 20 ZU-23-2; 37mm 10 M-1939; 57mm 12 S-60;
armed forces. Deployment capabilities are limited, but the armed
forces have demonstrated mobility and sustainment in desert 100mm 12 KS-19
regions. A new naval base has been constructed by a Chinese firm
in the south, possibly designed to enable improved protection of Navy ε600
offshore gas fields. Mauritania has a limited and ageing equipment EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
inventory, but the navy has recently received some new patrol
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 17
vessels from China. Despite recent acquisitions, including small ISR
aircraft, aviation resources are insufficient considering the coun-
PCO 1 Voum-Legleita
try’s size. Naval equipment is geared toward coastal-surveillance PCC 7: 1 Abourbekr Ben Amer (FRA OPV 54); 1 Arguin;
missions and China’s donation of a landing ship has helped estab- 2 Conejera; 1 Limam El Hidrami (PRC); 2 Timbédra (PRC
lish a basic sealift capability. There is no domestic defence industry. Huangpu mod)
PB 9: 1 El Nasr† (FRA Patra); 4 Mandovi; 2 Saeta-12; 2
ACTIVE 15,850 (Army 15,000 Navy 600 Air 250)
Megsem Bakkar (FRA RPB20 – for SAR duties)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 5,000
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING SHIPS 1
Conscript liability 24 months
LSM 1 Nimlane (PRC)

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Fusiliers Marins


FORCES BY ROLE
Army 15,000 MANOEUVRE
FORCES BY ROLE Amphibious
6 mil regions 1 mne unit
Middle East and North Africa 343

Air Force 250


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Morocco MOR
AIRCRAFT 2 combat capable Moroccan Dirham MAD 2021 2022 2023
ISR 2 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
TPT 14: Light 13: 1 Beech 350 King Air; 2 BN-2 Defender; GDP MAD 1.28tr 1.37tr
1 C-212; 2 CN235; 3 G1; 2 PA-31T Cheyenne II; 2 Y-12(II); USD 143bn 143bn
PAX 1 BT-67 (with sensor turret) per capita USD 3,934 3,896
TRG 9: 3 EMB-312 Tucano; 2 EMB-314 Super Tucano*; 4 Growth % 7.9 0.8
SF-260E
Inflation % 1.4 6.2
HELICOPTERS
MRH 3: 1 SA313B Alouette II; 2 Z-9 Def bdgt [a] MAD 58.6bn 61.7bn 63.5bn
TPT • Light 2 AW109 USD 6.52bn 6.41bn
FMA (US) USD 10m 10m 10m
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε5,000 active USD1=MAD 8.99 9.62
[a] Includes autonomous defence spending (SEGMA) and
Gendarmerie ε3,000 Treasury funding for "Acquisitions and Repair of Equipment
Ministry of Interior for Royal Armed Forces"
FORCES BY ROLE Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
MANOEUVRE 5.66
Other
6 regional sy coy 3.61
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 2008 2015 2022
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 2
Rodman 55M Population 36,738,229

National Guard 2,000 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Ministry of Interior Male 13.4% 4.3% 3.9% 3.8% 20.8% 3.8%
Female 12.9% 4.2% 3.9% 3.8% 21.3% 4.0%

and North Africa


Customs

Middle East
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Capabilities
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 2:
Regional security challenges are a key concern for Morocco’s
1 Dah Ould Bah (FRA Amgram 14); 1 Yaboub Ould Rajel
armed forces. A 30-year ceasefire between Morocco and the
(FRA RPB18) Polisario Front ended in late 2020 and the UN has reported that
hostilities have resumed, albeit at a low-level. Morocco maintains
DEPLOYMENT defence ties with France and the US, receiving military training and
equipment from both. However, although the US Trump adminis-
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 464; 1 inf tration recognised Moroccan claims to Western Sahara, the Biden
bn(-) administration has come under pressure in Congress to reverse
the policy and to find an alternative location for the African Lion
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 7
exercises, which in 2022 saw exercise activity in Ghana, Morocco,
SOMALIA: UN • UNSOS 1 Senegal, and Tunisia. There is also close cooperation with NATO,
and in 2016 Morocco was granted access to the Alliance’s Interop-
erability Platform in order to strengthen the defence and security
sectors and bring the armed forces up to NATO standards. Defence
ties have developed with Israel, and Morocco is reportedly pro-
curing an Israeli-developed air defence system. In 2017, Morocco
rejoined the African Union. The armed forces have gained experi-
ence from UN peacekeeping deployments and from multinational
exercises. Conscription was reintroduced in early 2019. The armed
forces have some capacity to deploy independently within the
region and on UN peacekeeping missions in sub-Saharan Africa,
although they lack heavy sealift and airlift capabilities. Morocco
has also deployed overseas in a combat role, contributing F-16
aircraft to the Saudi-led coalition intervention in Yemen from 2015
to early 2019. The inventory primarily comprises ageing French
and US equipment, though there are plans to re-equip all the ser-
vices and to invest significantly in the navy. Morocco operates two
Earth-observation satellites, meeting some surveillance require-
ments. Morocco relies on imports and donations for major defence
equipment. However, its relative stability has attracted Western
defence companies, such as Airbus, Safran and Thales, to establish
aerospace manufacturing and servicing facilities in the country.
344 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ACTIVE 195,800 (Army 175,000 Navy 7,800 Air APC 1,225


13,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 50,000 APC (T) 905: 400 M113A1/A2; 419 M113A3; 86
Conscript liability 12 months for men aged 19–25 M577A2 (CP)
APC (W) 320 VAB VTT
RESERVE 150,000 (Army 150,000) AUV 36 Sherpa Light Scout
Reserve obligation to age 50 ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
ARV 85+: 10 Greif; 55 M88A1; M578; 20 VAB-ECH
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL
SP 80 M901
Space
MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); HJ-8L;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE M47 Dragon; Milan; TOW
SATELLITES • ISR 2 Mohammed VI RCL 106mm 350 M40A1
GUNS • SP 36: 90mm 28 M56; 100mm 8 SU-100
Army 175,000 ARTILLERY 2,321
FORCES BY ROLE SP 359: 105mm 5 AMX Mk 61; 155mm 294: ε4 CAESAR;
2 comd (Northern Zone, Southern Zone) ε130 M109A1/A1B/A2/A3/A4; 70 M109A5; 90 Mk F3;
MANOEUVRE 203mm 60 M110
Armoured TOWED 118: 105mm 50: 30 L118 Light Gun; 20 M101;
1 armd bde 130mm 18 M-46; 155mm 50: 30 FH-70; 20 M114
11 armd bn MRL 47: 122mm 35 BM-21 Grad; 300mm 12+ PHL-03
Mechanised MOR 1,797: 81mm 1,100 Expal model LN; SP 107mm 36
3 mech inf bde M106A2; 120mm 550 Brandt; SP 120mm 110: 20 (VAB
Mechanised/Light APC); 91 M1064A3
8 mech/mot inf regt (2–3 bn) UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
Light ISR • Medium R4E-50 Skyeye
1 lt sy bde AIR DEFENCE
3 (camel corps) mot inf bn SAM 55+
35 lt inf bn Medium-range 18 Tianlong-50
4 cdo unit Short-range 6+: DK-9 (CH-SA-5); ε6 VL-MICA (reported)
Air Manoeuvre Point-defence 37+: 37 M48 Chaparral; 9K38 Igla
2 para bde (RS-SA-18 Grouse)
SPAAGM 30mm 12 2K22M Tunguska-M (RS-SA-19 Grison)
2 AB bn
GUNS 390
Mountain
SP 20mm 60 M163 Vulcan
1 mtn inf bn
TOWED 330: 14.5mm 200: 150–180 ZPU-2; 20 ZPU-4;
COMBAT SUPPORT
20mm 40 M167 Vulcan; 23mm 75–90 ZU-23-2; 35mm
11 arty bn
some PG-99
7 engr bn
AIR DEFENCE
Navy 7,800 (incl 1,500 Marines)
2 AD gp
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Royal Guard 1,500 PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 4
FORCES BY ROLE FFGHM 2:
MANOEUVRE 1 Mohammed VI (FRA FREMM) with 2 quad lnchr
Other with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 2 8-cell Sylver A43
VLS with Aster 15 SAM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS-3 (B-
1 gd bn
515) ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity
2 cav sqn
1 AS565SA Panther)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 Tarik ben Ziyad (NLD SIGMA 10513) with 2 twin
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 12-cell
MBT 656: 222 M1A1SA Abrams; 220 M60A1 Patton; 120 CLA VLS with VL MICA SAM, 2 triple 324mm
M60A3 Patton; 40 T-72B; 54 Type-90-II (MBT-2000); ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1 76mm gun
(ε200 M48A5 Patton & ε60 T-72B in store) (capacity 1 AS565SA Panther)
LT TK 116: 5 AMX-13; 111 SK-105 Kuerassier FFGH 2 Mohammed V (FRA Floreal) with 2 single lnchr
ASLT 80 AMX-10RC with MM38 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun (fitted for but
RECCE 284: 38 AML-60-7; 190 AML-90; 40 EBR-75; 16 Eland not with Simbad SAM) (capacity 1 AS565SA Panther)
IFV 238: 10 AMX-10P; 30 Ratel Mk3-20; 30 Ratel Mk3-90; PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 52
45 VAB VCI; 123 YPR-765 CORVETTES 3
Middle East and North Africa 345

FSGHM 2 Sultan Moulay Ismail (NLD SIGMA 9813) 1 VIP sqn with B-737BBJ; Beech 200/300 King Air; Falcon
with 2 twin lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block 2/3 AShM, 50; Gulfstream II/III/V-SP/G550
1 12-cell CLA VLS with VL MICA SAM, 2 triple TRAINING
324mm ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT with MU90 LWT, 1 1 sqn with Alpha Jet*
76mm gun (capacity 1 AS565SA Panther) 1 sqn T-6C
FSM 1 Lt Col Errhamani (ESP Descubierto) with 1 ATTACK HELICOPTER
octuple Albatros lnchr with Aspide SAM, 2 triple 1 sqn with SA342L Gazelle (some with HOT)
324mm ASTT with Mk46 LWT, 1 76mm gun TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
PSO 1 Bin an Zaran (OPV 70) with 1 76mm gun 1 sqn with Bell 205A (AB-205A); Bell 206 Jet Ranger (AB-
PCG 4 Cdt El Khattabi (ESP Lazaga 58m) with 4 single 206); Bell 212 (AB-212)
lnchr with MM38 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun 1 sqn with CH-47D Chinook
PCO 5 Rais Bargach (under control of fisheries dept) 1 sqn with SA330 Puma
PCC 12:
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
4 El Hahiq (DNK Osprey 55, incl 2 with customs)
AIRCRAFT 90 combat capable
6 LV Rabhi (ESP 58m B-200D)
FTR 22: 19 F-5E Tiger II; 3 F-5F Tiger II
2 Okba (FRA PR-72) each with 1 76mm gun
FGA 49: 15 F-16C Fighting Falcon; 8 F-16D Fighting
PB 27: 6 El Wacil (FRA P-32); 10 VCSM (RPB 20); 10
Falcon; 15 Mirage F-1C (F-1CH); 11 Mirage F-1E (F-1EH)
Rodman 101; 1 other (UK Bird)
ELINT 1 EC-130H Hercules
AMPHIBIOUS
TKR/TPT 2 KC-130H Hercules
LANDING SHIPS • LST 3 Ben Aicha (FRA Champlain
TPT 47: Medium 17: 4 C-27J Spartan; 13 C-130H
BATRAL) with 1 hel landing platform (capacity 7 tanks;
Hercules; Light 19: 4 Beech 100 King Air; 2 Beech 200
140 troops)
King Air; 1 Beech 200C King Air; 2 Beech 300 King
LANDING CRAFT 2:
LCT 1 Sidi Ifni Air; 3 Beech 350 King Air; 5 CN235; 2 Do-28; PAX 11:
LCM 1 CTM (FRA CTM-5) 1 B-737BBJ; 2 Falcon 20; 2 Falcon 20 (ELINT); 1 Falcon
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 9 50 (VIP); 1 Gulfstream II (VIP); 1 Gulfstream III; 1
AG 1 Damen 3011 Gulfstream V-SP; 2 Gulfstream G550
AGHS 1 Dar Al Beida (FRA BHO2M) TRG 80: 12 AS-202 Bravo; 19 Alpha Jet*; 2 CAP-10; 24
AGOR 1 Abou Barakat Albarbari† (ex-US Robert D. T-6C Texan; 9 T-34C Turbo Mentor; 14 T-37B Tweet

and North Africa


Conrad) HELICOPTERS

Middle East
AGS 1 Damen Stan Tender 1504 MRH 19 SA342L Gazelle (7 with HOT, 12 with cannon)
AK 2 TPT 76: Heavy 10 CH-47D Chinook; Medium 24 SA330
AX 1 Essaouira Puma; Light 42: 24 Bell 205A (AB-205A); 11 Bell 206 Jet
AXS 2 Ranger (AB-206); 3 Bell 212 (AB-212); 4 Bell 429
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
Marines 1,500 CISR
FORCES BY ROLE Heavy Wing Loong (reported)
MANOEUVRE Medium Bayraktar TB2 (reported)
Amphibious ISR • Heavy Heron
2 naval inf bn AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR AIM-9J Sidewinder; R-550 Magic; Mica IR;
Naval Aviation IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder II; ARH AIM-120C7 AMRAAM;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Mica RF
AIRCRAFT • MP 2 Beech 350ER King Air ASM AASM; AGM-65 Maverick; HOT
HELICOPTERS • ASW/ASUW 3 AS565SA Panther ARM AGM-88B HARM
BOMBS
Air Force 13,000 Laser-guided Paveway II
FORCES BY ROLE Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-54 Laser JDAM
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK INS/GPS-guided GBU-31 JDAM
2 sqn with F-5E/F-5F Tiger II
3 sqn with F-16C/D Fighting Falcon Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 50,000 active
1 sqn with Mirage F-1C (F-1CH)
1 sqn with Mirage F-1E (F-1EH) Gendarmerie Royale 20,000
ELECTRONIC WARFARE FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with EC-130H Hercules; Falcon 20 (ELINT) MANOEUVRE
MARITIME PATROL Air Manoeuvre
1 flt with Do-28 1 para sqn
TANKER/TRANSPORT Other
1 sqn with C-130/KC-130H Hercules 1 paramilitary bde
TRANSPORT 4 (mobile) paramilitary gp
1 sqn with CN235 1 coast guard unit
346 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

TRANSPORT HELICOPTER has a close and long-standing defence and security relationship.
1 sqn Oman does not host a significant permanent presence of US or
other foreign forces, in contrast to other GCC states, but UK forces
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
are frequently deployed to the country for training and Oman
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 15
has been developing its naval exercises with these and other
Arcor 53 partner countries. In addition, both the US and the UK make use
AIRCRAFT • TRG 2 R-235 Guerrier of Omani air- and naval-logistics facilities, most notably the port
HELICOPTERS at Duqm, where the UK has a Joint Logistics Support Base. Oman
MRH 14: 3 SA315B Lama; 2 SA316 Alouette III; 3 SA318 has also been seeking to strengthen ties with Asian states; there
Alouette II; 6 SA342K Gazelle was another joint exercise with India and also a meeting with
TPT 8: Medium 6 SA330 Puma; Light 2 SA360 Dauphin senior Chinese defence officials. Whilst Oman is a member of the
GCC, it has not participated in the Saudi-led coalition’s operations
Force Auxiliaire 30,000 (incl 5,000 Mobile in Yemen and has largely followed a semi-independent regional
Intervention Corps) policy. Although Muscat has recently maintained the highest
level of defence spending as a percentage of GDP in the GCC,
Customs/Coast Guard the defence budget was reduced in 2021. Nonetheless, Oman
has recently recapitalised its core air- and naval-systems inven-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE tory, including combat aircraft and patrol and high-speed support
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS vessels, and is now looking to do the same in the land domain.
PB 36: 4 Erraid; 18 Arcor 46; 14 (other SAR craft) Oman has very limited indigenous defence-industrial capacity, but
it has begun local production of various types of ammunition and
is looking to boost organic support capability, particularly in the
DEPLOYMENT air and land sectors.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 777; 1
inf bn ACTIVE 42,600 (Army 25,000 Navy 4,200
Air 5,000 Foreign Forces 2,000 Royal Household
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
6,400) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,400
MONUSCO 926; 1 inf bn; 1 fd hospital
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 3
Army 25,000
Oman OMN FORCES BY ROLE
Omani Rial OMR 2021 2022 2023
(Regt are bn size)
MANOEUVRE
GDP OMR 33.0bn 41.9bn Armoured
USD 85.9bn 109bn 1 armd bde (2 armd regt, 1 recce regt)
per capita USD 18,966 23,542 Light
Growth % 3.0 4.4 1 inf bde (5 inf regt, 1 arty regt, 1 fd engr regt, 1 engr
regt, 1 sigs regt)
Inflation % 1.5 3.1
1 inf bde (3 inf regt, 2 arty regt)
Def bdgt [a] OMR 2.47bn 2.47bn
1 indep inf coy (Musandam Security Force)
USD 6.43bn 6.43bn Air Manoeuvre
USD1=OMR 0.38 0.38 1 AB regt
[a] Excludes security funding COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 1 tpt regt
8.45 AIR DEFENCE
1 ADA regt (2 ADA bty)
3.70 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2008 2015 2022 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 117: 38 Challenger 2; 6 M60A1 Patton; 73 M60A3 Patton
Population 3,764,348 LT TK 37 FV101 Scorpion
RECCE 12 Pars III 6×6 (Recce)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus IFV 72 Pars III 8×8 IFV
Male 15.3% 4.0% 4.7% 5.6% 22.4% 1.8% APC 262
Female 14.6% 3.8% 4.1% 4.4% 17.2% 2.1% APC (T) 10 FV4333 Stormer
APC (W) 252: 15 AT-105 Saxon; 15 Pars III 6×6 (incl
Capabilities 10 CP; 1 trg); 47 Pars III 8×8 (38 CP; 8 amb; 1 trg); 175
Piranha (incl variants);
The principal task for Oman’s armed forces is ensuring territorial
integrity, with a particular focus on maritime security, given the AUV 143: 6 FV103 Spartan; 13 FV105 Sultan (CP); 124
country’s long coastline. Oman maintains important but carefully VBL
calibrated relations with the US while it continues to develop its ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
defence agreements with the UK, a country with which Muscat AEV 6 Pars III AEV
Middle East and North Africa 347

ARV 19: 4 Challenger ARV; 2 M88A1; 8 Pars III ARV; 2 TRANSPORT


Piranha ARV; 3 Samson 1 sqn with C-130H/J/J-30 Hercules
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL 1 sqn with C295M
SP 8 VBL with TOW TRAINING
MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; Milan; BGM-71 TOW/ 1 sqn with MFI-17B Mushshak; PC-9*; Bell 206 (AB-206)
TOW-2A Jet Ranger
ARTILLERY 245 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
SP 155mm 24 G-6 4 (med) sqn; Bell 212 (AB-212); NH-90; Super Lynx
TOWED 108: 105mm 42 L118 Light Gun; 122mm 30 Mk300 (maritime/SAR)
D-30; 130mm 24: 12 M-46; 12 Type-59-I; 155mm 12 FH-70 AIR DEFENCE
MOR 113: 81mm 69; SP 81mm VAMTAC with A3MS; 2 sqn with NASAMS
107mm 20 M30; 120mm 12 Brandt; SP 120mm 12 Pars EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
III AMV AIRCRAFT 63 combat capable
AIR DEFENCE FGA 35: 17 F-16C Block 50 Fighting Falcon; 6 F-16D
SAM • Point-defence Mistral 2; Javelin; 9K32 Strela-2 Block 50 Fighting Falcon; 12 Typhoon
(RS-SA-7 Grail)‡ MP 4 C295MPA
GUNS 26: 23mm 4 ZU-23-2; 35mm 10 GDF-005 (with TPT 12: Medium 6: 3 C-130H Hercules; 2 C-130J
Skyguard); 40mm 12 L/60 (Towed) Hercules; 1 C-130J-30 Hercules (VIP); Light 4 C295M;
PAX 2 A320-300
Navy 4,200 TRG 43: 4 Hawk Mk103*; 7 Hawk Mk166; 12 Hawk
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Mk203*; 8 MFI-17B Mushshak; 12 PC-9*
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 3 HELICOPTERS
FFGHM 3 Al-Shamikh with 2 twin lnchr with MM40 MRH 15 Super Lynx Mk300 (maritime/SAR)
Exocet Block 3 AShM, 2 6-cell CLA VLS with VL MICA TPT 26+ Medium 20 NH90 TTH; Light 6: 3 Bell 206
SAM, 1 76mm gun (AB-206) Jet Ranger; 3 Bell 212 (AB-212)
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 11 AIR DEFENCE • SAM
CORVETTES • FSGM 2: Short-range NASAMS

and North Africa


2 Qahir Al Amwaj with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet MSL

Middle East
AShM, 1 octuple lnchr with Crotale SAM, 1 76mm AAM • IR AIM-9/M/P Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X
gun, 1 hel landing platform Sidewinder II; ARH AIM-120C7 AMRAAM
PCFG 1 Dhofar with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet ASM AGM-65D/G Maverick
AShM, 1 76mm gun AShM AGM-84D Harpoon
PCO 4 Al Ofouq with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform BOMBS
PCC 3 Al Bushra (FRA P-400) with 1 76mm gun Laser-guided EGBU-10 Paveway II; EGBU-12 Paveway II
PBF 1 1400 FIC INS/GPS-guided GBU-31 JDAM
AMPHIBIOUS
LANDING SHIPS • LST 1 Nasr el Bahr† with 1 hel Royal Household 6,400
landing platform (capacity 7 tanks; 240 troops) (in refit (incl HQ staff)
since 2017) FORCES BY ROLE
LANDING CRAFT 5: 1 LCU; 1 LCT; 3 LCM SPECIAL FORCES
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 8 2 SF regt
AGS 1 Al Makhirah
AK 1 Al Sultana Royal Guard Brigade 5,000
AP 2 Shinas (commercial tpt – auxiliary military role FORCES BY ROLE
only) (capacity 56 veh; 200 tps) MANOEUVRE
AX 1 Al-Mabrukah Other
AXS 1 Shabab Oman II 1 gd bde (1 armd sqn, 2 gd regt, 1 cbt spt bn)
EPF 2 Al Mubshir (High Speed Support Vessel 72) with 1 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
hel landing platform (capacity 260 troops) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
ASLT 9 Centauro MGS (9 VBC-90 in store)
Air Force 5,000 IFV 14 VAB VCI
FORCES BY ROLE APC • APC (W) ε50 Type-92
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
2 sqn with F-16C/D Block 50 Fighting Falcon MSL • MANPATS Milan
1 sqn with Hawk Mk103; Hawk Mk203; Hawk Mk166 ARTILLERY • MRL 122mm 6 Type-90A
1 sqn with Typhoon AIR DEFENCE
MARITIME PATROL SAM • Point-defence Javelin
1 sqn with C295MPA GUNS • SP 9: 20mm 9 VAB VDAA
348 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Royal Yacht Squadron 150 al-Qassam Brigades personnel have received military training
in Iran and Syria. None of the Palestinian security organisations
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
conduct external military deployments, and they lack a formal
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 3 military-logistics structure. Both Hamas and the Palestinian
AP 1 Fulk Al Salamah (also veh tpt) with up to 2 AS332 Authority lack heavy military equipment, although the former has
Super Puma hel retained a substantial arsenal of improvised rocket and mortar
capabilities, as well as some portable guided weapons. During
Royal Flight 250 renewed conflict in mid-2021, Hamas demonstrated a loitering-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE munition capability as well as new missiles with a claimed range
AIRCRAFT • TPT • PAX 7: 1 747-400; 1 747-8; 1 of 250 km. No formal defence industry exists, although Hamas can
B-747SP; 1 A319; 1 A320; 2 Gulfstream IV acquire light or improvised weapons, either smuggled into Gaza
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Medium 6 EC225LP Super Puma or of local construction or assembly.

ACTIVE 0 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary n.k.


Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,400 active Precise personnel-strength figures for the various Palestinian
groups are not known
Tribal Home Guard 4,000
org in teams of ε100
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Police Coast Guard 400 There is little available data on the status of the
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE organisations mentioned below. Following internal
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 32 fighting in June 2007, Gaza has been under the de facto
PCO 2 Haras control of Hamas, while the West Bank is controlled by the
PBF 3 Haras (US Mk V PBF) Palestinian Authority. In October 2017, both sides agreed a
PB 27: 3 Rodman 101; 1 Haras (SWE CG27); 3 Haras preliminary reconciliation deal on control of Gaza.
(SWE CG29); 14 Rodman 58; 1 D59116; 5 Zahra

Police Air Wing Gendarmerie & Paramilitary


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Palestinian Authority n.k.
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 4: 1 BN-2T Turbine Islander;
2 CN235M; 1 Do-228 Presidential Security ε3,000
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 5: 2 Bell 205A; 3 Bell
214ST (AB-214ST)
Special Forces ε1,200
Police ε9,000
FOREIGN FORCES National Security Force ε10,000
United Kingdom 90
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Palestinian Territories PT Other
9 paramilitary bn
New Israeli Shekel ILS 2021 2022 2023
GDP USD Preventative Security ε4,000
per capita USD Civil Defence ε1,000
Growth %
The al-Aqsa Brigades n.k.
Inflation %
Profess loyalty to the Fatah group that dominates the
USD1=ILS Palestinian Authority
Population 4,997,349
Hamas n.k.
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Izz al-Din al-Qassam Brigades ε15,000–20,000
Male 19.0% 5.7% 5.0% 4.4% 14.9% 1.7%
FORCES BY ROLE
Female 18.0% 5.5% 4.9% 4.4% 14.9% 1.8%
COMMAND
6 bde HQ (regional)
Capabilities MANOEUVRE
The Palestinian Territories remain effectively divided between Other
the Palestinian Authority-run West Bank and Hamas-run Gaza. 1 cdo unit (Nukhba)
Each organisation controls its own security forces, principally
27 paramilitary bn
the National Security Forces (NSF) in the West Bank and the Izz
al-Din al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza. Both have generally proved 100 paramilitary coy
effective at maintaining internal security in their respective terri- COMBAT SUPPORT Some engr units
tories. The Palestinian Authority has received support from the EU, COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Jordan and the US. Israel claims that a small number of Izz al-Din Some log units
Middle East and North Africa 349

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE is helping to build Qatari capabilities on the aircraft, deployed to


ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL Qatar in October 2022 to support Doha’s staging of the FIFA World
• MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger) Cup. Qatar currently has a limited indigenous defence-industrial
(reported); Dehlavieh (Kornet) (reported) capability, including in ship repair.
ARTILLERY
ACTIVE 16,500 (Army 12,000 Navy 2,500 Air 2,000)
MRL • Qassam rockets (multiple calibres); 122mm
some; 240mm some Fadjr 3 (reported); 330mm some Gendarmerie & Paramilitary up to 5,000
Fadjr 5 (reported) Conscript liability 12 months, males 18–35 years. Voluntary national
MOR some (multiple calibres) service for women
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS
SRBM • Conventional some Ayyash-250 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Martime Police ε600 Space
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Qatar QTR SATELLITES • COMMUNICATIONS 1 Es’hail-2
Qatari Riyal QAR 2021 2022 2023
Army 12,000 (including Emiri Guard)
GDP QAR 654bn 806bn
FORCES BY ROLE
USD 180bn 221bn
SPECIAL FORCES
per capita USD 68,622 82,887
1 SF coy
Growth % 1.6 3.4 MANOEUVRE
Inflation % 2.3 4.5 Armoured
Def bdgt [a] QAR ε22.8bn ε30.6bn 1 armd bde (1 tk bn, 1 mech inf bn, 1 mor sqn, 1 AT bn)
USD ε6.26bn ε8.42bn Mechanised
USD1=QAR 3.64 3.64 3 mech inf bn
[a] Defence budget estimate derived from Defence and Security 1 (Emiri Guard) bde (3 mech regt)
allocation in the ‘Public Budget Statement’ COMBAT SUPPORT

and North Africa


Middle East
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 1 SP arty bn
7.89 1 fd arty bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2.12 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
2008 2015 2022
MBT 62 Leopard 2A7+
Population 2,508,182 ASLT 48: 12 AMX-10RC; 36 Piranha II 90mm
RECCE 32 Fennek
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus IFV 40 AMX-10P
Male 6.6% 2.3% 5.7% 10.0% 51.5% 0.9% APC 418
Female 6.5% 1.7% 1.8% 2.6% 10.0% 0.5% APC (T) 30 AMX-VCI
APC (W) 168: 8 V-150 Chaimite; 160 VAB
Capabilities PPV 220+: 170+ Ejder Yalcin; 50 Kirpi-2; RG-31
AUV 30+: 14 Dingo 2; NMS; 16 VBL
Qatar is attempting to transform its military capabilities and
regional defence standing based on significant equipment acqui- ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
sitions, including platforms with power-projection capability. The AEV 6 Wisent 2
scale of the equipment plan is increasing personnel requirements ARV 3: 1 AMX-30D; 2 Piranha
and suggests that Qatar will need significant assistance to integrate
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
and operate its new capabilities. Combat-aircraft procurements
are dramatically increasing the size of the air force, where Qatar MSL
faces most questions about its ability to develop and sustain the SP 24 VAB VCAC HOT; Ejder Yalcin with Stugna-P;
necessary personnel, infrastructure and maintenance capacity. The NMS with Stugna-P
diplomatic crisis with several of its GCC neighbours brought Qatar MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; Milan; Kornet-EM
and Turkey closer together in their limited but significant defence
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
cooperation, which includes a small Turkish military presence in-
country. The crisis appears not to have affected the significant ARTILLERY 89+
Qatar–US military relationship, including the presence of forces SP 155mm 24 PzH 2000
from the US and other Western states at Al-Udeid airbase and TOWED 155mm 12 G-5
the key US-run coalition air-operations centre. Qatar has begun MRL 8+: 107mm PH-63; 122mm 2+ (30-tube); 127mm 6
deploying its own Patriot air- and missile-defence systems and an
AN/FPS-132 early-warning radar. The Italian Navy is supporting
ASTROS II Mk3
training for new Italian-built vessels among other naval enhance- MOR 45: 81mm 26 L16; SP 81mm 4 VAB VPM 81;
ments. A joint Qatar–UK Eurofighter Typhoon squadron, which 120mm 15 Brandt
350 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 1 sqn with M-346


SRBM • Conventional 8+ BP-12A (CH-SS-14 mod 2) 1 sqn with PC-21; Super Mushshak
AIR DEFENCE ATTACK HELICOPTER
SAM • Point-defence NMS with Igla 1 sqn with SA341 Gazelle; SA342L Gazelle with HOT
GUNS • SP 35mm 15 Gepard
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with AW139
Navy 2,500 (incl Coast Guard)
1 sqn with NH90 TTH (forming)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 1 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FFGHM 1 Al Zubarah with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 AIRCRAFT 62 combat capable
Exocet Block 3 AShM, 2 8-cell Sylver A50 VLS with Aster FGA 62: 4 Eurofighter Typhoon; 22 F-15QA; 9 Rafale DQ;
30 SAM, 1 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with RIM-116 RAM 27 Rafale EQ; (9 Mirage 2000ED; 3 Mirage 2000D in store)
SAM, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel) TPT 18: Heavy 8 C-17A Globemaster III; Medium 4
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 13
C-130J-30 Hercules; PAX 6: 1 A340; 2 B-707; 1 B-727; 2
CORVETTES • FSGM 2 Musherib with 2 twin lnchr
Falcon 900
with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 8-cell CLA VLS with
VL MICA SAM, 1 76mm gun TRG 37: 5 Hawk Mk167; 3 M-346; 21 PC-21; 8 Super
PCFGM 4 Barzan (UK Vita) with 2 quad lnchr with Mushshak; (6 Alpha Jet in store)
MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 sextuple Sadral lnchr HELICOPTERS
with Mistral SAM, 1 Goalkeeper CIWS, 1 76mm gun ATK 24 AH-64E Apache
PCFG 3 Damsah (FRA Combattante III) with 2 quad lnchr ASW 3 NH90 NFH
with MM40 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun MRH 34: 21 AW139 (incl 3 for medevac); 2 SA341
PBF 3 MRTP 16 Gazelle; 11 SA342L Gazelle
PB 1 MRTP 34
TPT 3: Medium 2 NH90 TTH; Light 1 H125 Ecureuil
AMPHIBIOUS 4
LCT 1 Fuwairit (TUR Anadolu Shipyard LCT) (trg config)
LCM 2 Broog (TUR Anadolu Shipyard LCM) UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
LCVP 1 Anadolu 16m CISR • Medium 6 Bayraktar TB2
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AX 2 Al Doha with 1 hel AIR DEFENCE • SAM
landing platform Long-range 34 M903 Patriot PAC-3 MSE
Medium-range NASAMS III
Coast Guard
Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger; FN-6 (CH-SA-10); Mistral
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
RADAR 1 AN/FPS-132 Upgraded Early Warning Radar
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12
PBF 4 DV 15 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
PB 8: 4 Crestitalia MV-45; 3 Halmatic M160; 1 other AAM • IR R-550 Magic 2; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder II;
ASMRAAM; ARH AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM; Meteor;
Coastal Defence Mica RF
FORCES BY ROLE ASM Apache; AGM-114R Hellfire; AGR-20A APKWS; HOT
COASTAL DEFENCE AShM AM39 Exocet
1 bty with 3 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet AShM
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Gendarmerie & Paramilitary up to 5,000
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 12 MM40 Exocet
AShM Internal Security Force up to 5,000
Air Force 2,000
DEPLOYMENT
FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1
1 sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon
1 sqn with Eurofighter Typhoon (personnel only) (joint
QTR-UK unit)
FOREIGN FORCES
1 sqn with F-15QA Turkey 300 (trg team); 1 mech coy; 1 arty unit
1 sqn with Rafale DQ/EQ United Kingdom 200; 1 FGA sqn with 12 Typhoon FGR4
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE United States US Central Command: 10,000; CAOC; 1
1 sqn with NH90 NFH (forming)
ISR sqn with 4 RC-135 Rivet Joint; 1 ISR sqn with 4 E-8C
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with C-17A Globemaster III; C-130J-30 Hercules JSTARS; 2 tkr sqn with 12 KC-135R/T Stratotanker; 1 tpt
1 sqn with A340; B-707; B-727; Falcon 900 sqn with 4 C-17A Globemaster; 4 C-130H/J-30 Hercules; 2
TRAINING SAM bty with M902/M903 Patriot PAC-3/PAC-3 MSE • US
1 sqn with Hawk Mk167 Strategic Command: 1 AN/TPY-2 X-band radar
Middle East and North Africa 351

Saudi Arabia SAU ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Saudi Riyal SAR 2021 2022 2023 Army 75,000
GDP SAR 3.13tr 3.79tr FORCES BY ROLE
USD 834bn 1.01tr MANOEUVRE
per capita USD 23,507 27,941 Armoured
Growth % 3.2 7.6
4 armd bde (1 recce coy, 3 tk bn, 1 mech bn, 1 fd arty bn,
1 AD bn, 1 AT bn, 1 engr coy, 1 log bn, 1 maint coy, 1
Inflation % 3.1 2.7
med coy)
Def bdgt [a] SAR 190bn 171bn Mechanised
USD 50.7bn 45.6bn 5 mech bde (1 recce coy, 1 tk bn, 3 mech bn, 1 fd arty bn,
USD1=SAR 3.75 3.75 1 AD bn, 1 AT bn, 1 engr coy, 1 log bn, 1 maint coy, 1
[a] Military budget only - excludes security budget med coy)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Light
59.0 2 lt inf bde
Other
31.7
1 (Al-Saif Al-Ajrab) gd bde
2008 2015 2022 1 (Royal Guard) gd regt (3 lt inf bn)
Air Manoeuvre
Population 35,354,380 1 AB bde (2 AB bn, 3 SF coy)
Aviation
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
1 comd (3 hel gp)
Male 12.2% 4.0% 3.9% 4.3% 30.0% 2.1% COMBAT SUPPORT
Female 11.8% 3.8% 3.6% 3.6% 18.8% 1.9% 3 arty bde
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Capabilities MBT 1,010: 140 AMX-30; ε500 M1A2/A2S Abrams; ε370
M60A3 Patton

and North Africa


Saudi Arabia is the leading member of the GCC, with the largest

Middle East
and best equipped armed forces in the group. In addition to tra- RECCE 300 AML-60/AML-90
ditional objectives relating to territorial integrity and internal IFV 860: 380 AMX-10P; 380 M2A2 Bradley; 100 VAB Mk3
security, the Kingdom has displayed an increasing willingness to APC 1,340
use the armed forces as part of a more assertive regional foreign
APC (T) 1,190 M113A4 (incl variants)
policy, most notably in Yemen. Whilst operations in Yemen have
allowed the armed forces to gain combat experience, they have APC (W) 150 Panhard M3; (ε40 AF-40-8-1 Al-Fahd
also exposed areas of comparative weakness and capability gaps, in store)
especially in the application of precision airpower, air–ground AUV 1,200+: 100 Didgori (amb); 1,000+ M-ATV; Al-Shibl
coordination and logistics support. Meanwhile, cruise-missile and 2; 100 Sherpa Light Scout; Terradyne Gurkha
UAV attacks on Saudi oil infrastructure have exposed capability ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
weaknesses with the Kingdom’s air- and missile-defence capa- AEV 15 M728
bilities. Saudi Arabia’s most critical defence relationship continues
ARV 275+: 8 ACV ARV; AMX-10EHC; 55 AMX-30D;
to be with the US, although recent frictions including over the
Ukraine war, related particularly to oil production, led to a review Leclerc ARV; 122 M88A1; 90 M578
of that relationship in Washington. Issues including aspects of VLB 10 AMX-30
Saudi Arabia’s military campaign in Yemen have also sharpened MW Aardvark Mk2
focus in the US over defence sales to the country more generally. NBC VEHICLES 10 TPz-1 Fuchs NBC
Riyadh has over the years sought to mitigate any dependence on ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Washington by also maintaining security relationships with other MSL
states such as France and the UK, while relationships with China –
SP 290+: 90+ AMX-10P (HOT); 200 VCC-1 ITOW;
including equipment sales – as well as India and others have been
strengthened. Equipment recapitalisation continues, with orders M-ATV with Milan
for combat aircraft, corvettes and multi-mission surface combat- MANPATS Hyeongung; Luch Corsar (reported); Luch
ants, despite concerns about austerity. There is currently only a Skif (reported); Stugna-P (reported); TOW-2A
modest domestic defence-industrial base, mainly in the assem- RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf; 90mm M67; 106mm M40A1
bly and overhaul of land systems. However, Riyadh continues ARTILLERY 833
to reaffirm and pursue an intention to spend 50% of its defence SP 155mm 224: 60 AU-F-1; 110 M109A1B/A2; 54 PLZ-45
outlays locally as part of its Vision 2030 initiative and established
TOWED 172: 105mm 62 LG1; (100 M101/M102 in store);
the state-owned Saudi Arabian Military Industries to oversee local
defence production. 155mm 110: 50 M114; 60 M198; 203mm (8 M115 in store)
MRL 70: 127mm 60 ASTROS II Mk3; 220mm 10 TOS-1A
ACTIVE 257,000 (Army 75,000 Navy 13,500 Air MOR 367: SP 81mm 70; 107mm 150 M30; 120mm 147:
20,000 Air Defence 16,000 Strategic Missile Forces 110 Brandt; 37 M12-1535; SP 120mm M113A4 with 2R2M
2,500 National Guard 130,000) Gendarmerie & HELICOPTERS
Paramilitary 24,500 ATK 35: 11 AH-64D Apache; 24 AH-64E Apache
352 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MRH 21: 6 AS365N Dauphin 2 (medevac); 15 Bell 406CS EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


Combat Scout ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
TPT 90: Heavy 4+ CH-47F Chinook; Medium 67: 22 UH- RECCE Bastion Patsas
60A Black Hawk (4 medevac); 36 UH-60L Black Hawk; 9 APC • APC (W) 135 BMR-600P
UH-60M Black Hawk; Light 19 Schweizer 333
AIR DEFENCE • SAM Air Force 20,000
Short-range Crotale FORCES BY ROLE
Point-defence FIM-92 Stinger FIGHTER
4 sqn with F-15C/D Eagle
Navy 13,500 FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
Navy HQ at Riyadh; Eastern Fleet HQ at Jubail; Western 3 sqn with F-15S/SA Eagle
Fleet HQ at Jeddah 3 sqn with Typhoon
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE GROUND ATTACK
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 8 3 sqn with Tornado IDS; Tornado GR1A
FFGHM 8: AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL
2 Al-Jubail (ESP Avante 2200) with 2 quad lnchr with 1 sqn with E-3A Sentry
RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 2 8-cell Mk 41 VLS 1 sqn with Saab 2000 Erieye
with RIM-162B ESSM SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT ELINT
with Mk 46 LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 med hel) 1 sqn with RE-3A/B; Beech 350ER King Air
3 Al Riyadh (FRA La Fayette mod) with 2 quad lnchr with TANKER
MM40 Exocet Block 2 AShM, 2 8-cell Sylver A43 VLS 1 sqn with KE-3A
with Aster 15 SAM, 4 single 533mm TT with F17P TANKER/TRANSPORT
HWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 AS365N Dauphin 2 hel) 1 sqn with KC-130H/J Hercules
3 Madina (FRA F-2000) (1 more damaged in 2017 and 1 sqn with A330 MRTT
non-operational) with 2 quad lnchr with Otomat TRANSPORT
Mk2 AShM, 1 octuple lnchr with Crotale SAM, 4 3 sqn with C-130H Hercules; C-130H-30 Hercules; CN-
single 533mm TT with F17P HWT, 1 100mm gun 235; L-100-30HS (hospital ac)
(capacity 1 AS365N Dauphin 2 hel) 2 sqn with Beech 350 King Air (forming)
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 53 TRAINING
CORVETTES • FSG 4 Badr (US Tacoma) with 2 quad lnchr 1 OCU sqn with F-15SA Eagle
with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 2 triple 324mm 3 sqn with Hawk Mk65*; Hawk Mk65A*; Hawk Mk165*
ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS, 1 76mm gun 1 sqn with Jetstream Mk31
PCFG 9 Al Siddiq (US 58m) with 2 twin lnchr with 1 sqn with MFI-17 Mushshak; SR22T
RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B AShM, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx 2 sqn with PC-9; PC-21
CIWS, 1 76mm gun
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
PBF 21 HSI 32
4 sqn with AS532 Cougar (CSAR); Bell 212 (AB-212); Bell
PB 19: 17 (US) Halter Marine 24m; 2 Plascoa 2200
412 (AB-412) Twin Huey (SAR)
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 3
MHC 3 Al Jawf (UK Sandown) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 5 AIRCRAFT 455 combat capable
LCU ε2 Al Qiaq (US LCU 1610) (capacity 120 troops) FTR 81: 56 F-15C Eagle; 25 F-15D Eagle
LCM 3 LCM 6 (capacity 80 troops) FGA 221: up to 66 F-15S Eagle (being upgraded to
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 1 F-15SA configuration); 84 F-15SA Eagle; 71 Typhoon
AORH 1 Boraida (mod FRA Durance) (1 more non- ATK 66 Tornado IDS
operational and in drydock since 2017) (capacity either ISR 14+: 12 Tornado GR1A*; 2+ Beech 350ER King Air
2 AS365F Dauphin 2 hel or 1 AS332C Super Puma) AEW&C 7: 5 E-3A Sentry; 2 Saab 2000 Erieye
ELINT 2: 1 RE-3A; 1 RE-3B
Naval Aviation TKR/TPT 15: 6 A330 MRTT; 7 KC-130H Hercules; 2 KC-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 130J Hercules
HELICOPTERS TKR 7 KE-3A
MRH 34: 6 AS365N Dauphin 2; 15 AS565; 13 Bell TPT 47+: Medium 36: 30 C-130H Hercules; 3 C-130H-30
406CS Combat Scout Hercules; 3 L-100-30; Light 11+: 10+ Beech 350 King Air; 1
TPT • Medium 12 AS332B/F Super Puma Jetstream Mk31
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES TRG 194: 24 Hawk Mk65* (incl aerobatic team); 16 Hawk
AShM AM39 Exocet; AS-15TT Mk65A*; 35 Hawk Mk165*; 20 MFI-17 Mushshak; 20 PC-9;
55 PC-21; 24 SR22T
Marines 3,000 HELICOPTERS
FORCES BY ROLE MRH 15 Bell 412 (AB-412) Twin Huey (SAR)
SPECIAL FORCES TPT 30: Medium 10 AS532 Cougar (CSAR); Light 20 Bell
1 spec ops regt with (2 spec ops bn) 212 (AB-212)
Middle East and North Africa 353

UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES Other


CISR • Heavy some Wing Loong I (reported); some CH-4 1 (Special Security) sy bde (3 sy bn)
ISR • Medium some Falco 1 (ceremonial) cav sqn
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES COMBAT SUPPORT
AAM • IR AIM-9P/L Sidewinder; IIR AIM-9X Sidewinder 1 MP bn
II; IRIS-T; SARH AIM-7 Sparrow; AIM-7M Sparrow; ARH EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIM-120C AMRAAM ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
ASM AGM-65 Maverick; AR-1; Brimstone ASLT 239: 204 LAV-AG (90mm); 35 LAV 700 (105mm)
AShM AGM-84L Harpoon Block II IFV 1,235: ε635 LAV-25; ε600 LAV 700 (incl variants)
ARM ALARM APC 778
ALCM Storm Shadow APC (W) 514: 116 LAV-A (amb); 30 LAV-AC (ammo
BOMBS carrier); 296 LAV-CC (CP); 72 LAV-PC
Laser-guided GBU-10/12 Paveway II; Paveway IV PPV 264 Aravis; some Arive
Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-54 Laser JDAM ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
INS/GPS-guided GBU-31 JDAM; FT-9 AEV 58 LAV-E
ARV 111 LAV-R; V-150 ARV
Royal Flt
MW MV5; MV10
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
AIRCRAFT • TPT 24: Medium 8: 5 C-130H Hercules; 3 MSL
L-100-30; Light 3: 1 Cessna 310; 2 Learjet 35; PAX 13: 1 SP 182 LAV-AT
A340; 1 B-737-200; 2 B-737BBJ; 2 B-747SP; 4 BAe-125-800; MANPATS TOW-2A; M47 Dragon
2 Gulfstream III; 1 Gulfstream IV RCL • 106mm M40A1
HELICOPTERS • TPT 3+: Medium 3: 2 AS-61; 1 S-70 ARTILLERY 363+
Black Hawk; Light some Bell 212 (AB-212)
SP 155mm up to 136 CAESAR
TOWED 108: 105mm 50 M102; 155mm 58 M198
Air Defence Forces 16,000 MOR 119+: 81mm some; SP 120mm 119: 107 LAV-M; 12
FORCES BY ROLE LAV-M with NEMO
AIR DEFENCE HELICOPTERS

and North Africa


6 bn with M902 Patriot PAC-3 ATK 12 AH-64E Apache

Middle East
17 bty with Shahine/AMX-30SA MRH 35: 23 AH-6i Little Bird; 12 MD530F (trg role)
16 bty with MIM-23B I-Hawk TPT • Medium ε50 UH-60M Black Hawk
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AIR DEFENCE
AIR DEFENCE SAM 73
SAM 817+ Short-range 5 VL MICA
Long-range 108 M902 Patriot PAC-3 Point-defence 68 MPCV
Medium-range 128 MIM-23B I-Hawk GUNS • TOWED • 20mm 30 M167 Vulcan
Short-range 181: 40 Crotale; 141 Shahine AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
Point-defence 400+: LMM; 400 M1097 Avenger; Mistral ASM AGM-114R Hellfire II
GUNS 218
SP • 20mm 90 M163 Vulcan Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 24,500+ active
TOWED 128: 35mm 128 GDF Oerlikon; 40mm (150
L/70 in store) Border Guard 15,000
DE • Laser Silent Hunter FORCES BY ROLE
Subordinate to Ministry of Interior. HQ in Riyadh. 9
Strategic Missile Forces 2,500 subordinate regional commands
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MANOEUVRE
MSL • TACTICAL Other
IRBM 10+ DF-3 (CH-SS-2) (service status unclear) Some mobile def (long-range patrol/spt) units
MRBM Some DF-21 (CH-SS-5 – variant unclear) 2 border def (patrol) units
(reported) 12 infrastructure def units
18 harbour def units
National Guard 130,000 Some coastal def units
FORCES BY ROLE COMBAT SUPPORT
MANOEUVRE Some MP units
Mechanised EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
5 mech bde (1 recce coy, 3 mech inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
cbt engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn) APC • PPV Caprivi Mk1/Mk3
Light PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 106
5 inf bde (3 combined arms bn, 1 arty bn, 1 log bn) PCC 13+ OPB 40
3 indep lt inf bn PBF 85: 4 Al Jouf; 2 Sea Guard; 79 Plascoa FIC 1650
354 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

PB 8: 6 Damen Stan Patrol 2606; 2 Al Jubatel production and distribution of illegal narcotics to other countries
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • UCAC 8: 5 in the region, the Gulf and Europe. There is no published defence
Griffon 8000; 3 other doctrine or White Paper with the conflict instead dictating ad hoc
requirements. Opposition groups maintain control over parts
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 4: 1 AXL; 3 AO
of the country. Most formal pre-war structures and formations
exist in name only, as resources have been channelled into the
Facilities Security Force 9,000+ irregular network of military organisations that form the regime’s
Subordinate to Ministry of Interior most effective military capabilities. Russia has been the regime’s
principal ally and has provided essential combat support and assis-
General Civil Defence Administration Units tance, as well as replacement equipment. Russia is also involved
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE in efforts to reconstitute the army’s pre-war divisions, although
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Medium 10 Boeing Vertol 107 some Russian equipment has been withdrawn following Russia’s
invasion of Ukraine. Iran and Hizbullah also continue to assist in
Special Security Force 500 the provision and training of militias and other ground forces but
reports allege a lack of coordination, with Russia supporting some
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE formations and Iran/Hizbullah others. Overall levels of training
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES remain poor but combat experience has improved proficiency in
APC • APC (W) UR-416 select regular and irregular military formations. The armed forces
AUV 60+: Gurkha LAPV; 60 Kozak-5 lack the requisite capabilities for external deployment, although
they remain able to redeploy moderate numbers of formations
and capabilities within the country. Logistics support for major
DEPLOYMENT internal operations away from established bases remains a chal-
YEMEN: Operation Restoring Hope 2,500; 2 armd BG; M60A3; lenge. Before the civil war, Syria did not have a major domestic
defence industry, although it possessed facilities to overhaul
M2A2 Bradley; M113A4; M-ATV; 2+ M902 Patriot PAC-3
and maintain its existing systems. It did, however, possess some
capacity in focused areas, such as ballistic missiles and chemical
FOREIGN FORCES weapons. International efforts continue to verify destruction of
chemical-weapons stockpiles and production facilities.
France 50 (radar det)
Greece 100: 1 SAM bty with M901 Patriot PAC-2 ACTIVE 169,000 (Army 130,000 Navy 4,000
United Kingdom 50 (radar det) Air 15,000 Air Defence 20,000) Gendarmerie &
United States US Central Command: 2,000; 1 FGA sqn Paramilitary 100,000
with 12 F-16C Fighting Falcon Conscript liability 30 months (there is widespread avoidance of
military service)

Syria SYR ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Syrian Pound SYP 2021 2022 2023
Army ε130,000
GDP SYP
FORCES BY ROLE
USD The Syrian Arab Army combines conventional forma-
per capita USD tions, special forces and auxiliary militias. The main fight-
Growth % ing units are the 4th Division, the Republican Guard, the
Inflation % Special Forces (including the former Tiger Forces) and the
brigades assigned to the 5th Assault Corps; they receive
Def exp SYP
the most attention and training. Most other formations are
USD under-strength, at an estimated 500–1,000 personnel in bri-
USD1=SYP gades and regiments, but Russia has been assisting in the
Definitive economic data not available reconstruction and re-equipment of some divisions.
COMMAND
Population 21,563,800 5 corps HQ
SPECIAL FORCES
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 3 SF div(-)
Male 17.0% 4.9% 4.7% 4.1% 17.2% 2.0% MANOEUVRE
Female 16.2% 4.7% 4.7% 4.3% 17.8% 2.3% Mechanised
2 (4th & Republican Guard) mech div
Capabilities 1 (1st) mech div (being reconstituted)
10 mech div(-)
The protracted civil war has significantly depleted the combat
7 mech bde (assigned to 5th Assault Corps)
capabilities of the Syrian armed forces and transformed them
1 (16th) indep mech bde
into an irregularly structured militia-style organisation focused
on internal security. Various nominally pro-government militias, 2 indep inf bde(-)
often formed around local or religious identity, are reportedly Amphibious
funded by local businessmen or foreign powers, raising questions 1 mne unit
over capability and morale as well as loyalty. There are allegations COMBAT SUPPORT
that some elements of the Syrian Arab Army are involved in the 2 SSM bde
Middle East and North Africa 355

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Navy ε4,000


Attrition during the civil war has severely reduced equip- Some personnel are likely to have been drafted into
ment numbers for almost all types. It is unclear how much other services
remains available for operations EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 31:
MBT T-55A; T-55AM; T-55AMV; T-62; T-62M; T-72; CORVETTES • FS 1 Project 159AE (Petya III)† with 1
T-72AV; T-72B; T-72B3; T-72M1; T-90; T-90A triple 533mm ASTT with SAET-60 HWT, 4 RBU 2500
RECCE BRDM-2 Smerch 1 A/S mor, 2 twin 76mm gun
PBFG 22:
IFV BMP-1; BMP-2; BTR-82A
16 Project 205 (Osa I/II)† with 4 single lnchr with P-22
APC
(RS-SS-N-2C Styx) AShM
APC (T) BTR-50 6 Tir with 2 single lnchr with C-802 (CH-SS-N-6) AShM
APC (W) BTR-152; BTR-60; BTR-70; BTR-80 PB 8 Zhuk†
APC IVECO LMV MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 7
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES MHC 1 Project 1265 (Sonya) with 2 quad lnchr with
ARV BREM-1 reported; T-54/55 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail)‡ SAM, 2 AK630 CIWS
VLB MTU; MTU-20 MSO 1 Akvamaren-M (FSU Project 266M (Natya)) with 2
MW UR-77 quad lnchr with 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail)‡ SAM
MSI 5 Korund (Project 1258 (Yevgenya))
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING SHIPS • LSM 3 Polnochny B
SP 9P133 Malyutka-P (BRDM-2 with RS-AT-3C Sagger);
(capacity 6 MBT; 180 troops)
9P148 Konkurs (BRDM-2 with RS-AT-5 Spandrel) LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AX 1 Al Assad
MANPATS 9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K111-1
Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Coastal Defence
Saxhorn); 9K115-2 Metis-M (RS-AT-13); 9K135 Kornet FORCES BY ROLE
(RS-AT-14 Spriggan); Milan COASTAL DEFENCE
ARTILLERY 1 AShM bde with P-35 (RS-SSC-1B Sepal); P-15M
SP 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya Termit-R (RS-SSC-3 Styx); C-802; K-300P Bastion

and North Africa


(RS-SSC-5 Stooge)
TOWED 122mm D-30; M-30 (M1938); 130mm M-46;

Middle East
152mm D-20; ML-20 (M-1937); 180mm S-23 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM P-35 (RS-SSC-1B Sepal);
GUN/MOR 120mm 2S9 NONA-S
P-15M Termit-R (RS-SSC-3 Styx); C-802; K-300P Bastion
MRL 107mm Type-63; 122mm BM-21 Grad; 140mm BM-
(RS-SSC-5 Stooge)
14; 220mm 9P140 Uragan; 300mm 9A52 Smerch; 330mm
some (also improvised systems of various calibres) Naval Aviation
MOR 82mm some; 120mm M-1943; 160mm M-160; All possibly non-operational after vacating base for Rus-
240mm M-240 sian deployment
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SRBM • Conventional 8K14 (RS-SS-1C Scud-B); 9K72 HELICOPTERS • ASW 9: 4 Ka-28 Helix A; 5 Mi-14 Haze
Elbrus (RS-SS-1D Scud C) 9K72-1 (RS-SS-1E Scud D);
Scud lookalike; 9K79 Tochka (RS-SS-21 Scarab); Fateh- Air Force ε15,000(-)
110/M-600 FORCES BY ROLE
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES FIGHTER
2 sqn with Mig-23MF/ML/MLD/UM Flogger
ISR • Medium Mohajer 3/4; Light Ababil
2 sqn with MiG-29A/UB/SM Fulcrum
AIR DEFENCE
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
SAM 4 sqn with MiG-21MF/bis Fishbed; MiG-21U Mongol A
Medium-range 9K37 Buk (RS-SA-11 Gadfly); 9K317 2 sqn with MiG-23BN/UB Flogger
Buk-M2 (RS-SA-17 Grizzly) GROUND ATTACK
Point-defence 9K31 Strela-1 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin); 9K33 4 sqn with Su-22M3/M4 Fitter J/K
Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 1 sqn with Su-24MK Fencer D
Gopher); 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; 9K38 Igla 1 sqn with L-39ZA/ZO Albatros*
(RS-SA-18 Grouse); 9K36 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); TRANSPORT
1 sqn with An-24 Coke; An-26 Curl; Il-76 Candid
9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
1 sqn with Falcon 20; Falcon 900
SPAAGM 30mm 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
1 sqn with Tu-134B-3
GUNS 1 sqn with Yak-40 Codling
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4; 57mm ZSU-57-2 ATTACK HELICOPTER
TOWED 23mm ZU-23-2; 37mm M-1939; 57mm S-60; 3 sqn with Mi-24D/P Hind D/F
100mm KS-19 2 sqn with SA342L Gazelle
356 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
6 sqn with Mi-8 Hip/Mi-17 Hip H
FOREIGN FORCES
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Hizbullah 7,000–8,000
Heavy use of both fixed- and rotary-wing assets has like- Iran 1,500
ly reduced readiness and availability to very low levels. Russia 4,000: 1 inf BG; 3 MP bn; 1 engr unit; ε10 T-72B3;
It is estimated that no more than 30–40% of the inventory ε20 BTR-82A; BPM-97; 12 2A65; 4 9A52 Smerch; 10 Su-24M
is operational Fencer; 6 Su-34; 6 Su-35S; 1 A-50U; 1 Il-20M; 12 Mi-24P/
AIRCRAFT 184 combat capable Mi-35M Hind; 4 Mi-8AMTSh Hip; 1 AShM bty with 3K55
FTR 55: ε25 MiG-23MF/ML/MLD/UM Flogger; ε30 MiG- Bastion (RS-SSC-5 Stooge); 1 SAM bty with S-400 (RS-SA-21
29A/SM/UB Fulcrum Growler); 1 SAM bty with Pantsir-S1/S2; air base at Latakia;
FGA 79: ε50 MiG-21MF/bis Fishbed J/L; 9 MiG-21U naval facility at Tartus
Mongol A; ε20 MiG-23BN/UB Flogger
ATK 30: 20 Su-22M3/M4 Fitter J/K; ε10 Su-24MK Fencer D TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
TPT 23: Heavy 3 Il-76 Candid; Light 13: 1 An-24 Coke; 6 DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL
An-26 Curl; 2 PA-31 Navajo; 4 Yak-40 Codling; PAX 7: 2
Data here represents the de facto situation for selected
Falcon 20; 1 Falcon 900; 4 Tu-134B-3 armed opposition groups and their observed equipment
TRG 20+: ε20 L-39ZA/ZO Albatros*; some MBB-223
Flamingo†
Syrian Democratic Forces ε50,000
HELICOPTERS
A coalition of predominantly Kurdish rebel groups in
ATK 20+: ε20 Mi-24D Hind D; some Mi-24P Hind F
de facto control of much of northeastern Syria. Kurdish
MRH 40: ε20 Mi-17 Hip H; ε20 SA342L Gazelle
forces from the YPG/J (People’s Protection Units/
TPT • Medium ε10 Mi-8 Hip
Women’s Protection Units) provide military leadership
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES and main combat power, supplemented by Arab militias
AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11 and tribal groups.
Archer); IR/SARH; R-23/24 (RS-AA-7 Apex); R-27
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
(RS-AA-10 Alamo); ARH; R-77 (RS-AA-12A Adder)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
ASM Kh-25 (RS-AS-10 Karen); Kh-29T/L (RS-AS-14
MBT T-55; T-72 (reported)
Kedge); HOT
IFV BMP-1
ARM Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton)
APC • PPV Guardian
AUV M-ATV
Air Defence Command ε20,000(-) ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
FORCES BY ROLE MSL • MANPATS 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-SA-5 Spandrel)
AIR DEFENCE RCL 73mm SPG-9; 90mm M-79 Osa
4 AD div with S-125M/M1 Pechora-M/M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa); ARTILLERY
S-125-2M Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26); 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 MRL 122mm BM-21 Grad; 9K132 Grad-P
Gainful); S-75 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline) MOR 82mm 82-BM-37; M-1938; 120mm M-1943;
3 AD regt with S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5 Gammon); improvised mortars of varying calibre
S-300PMU2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle) AIR DEFENCE • GUNS
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE SP 14.5mm ZPU-4 (tch); ZPU-2 (tch); ZPU-1 (tch); 1
AIR DEFENCE • SAM ZPU-2 (tch/on T-55); 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka; ZU-23-2
Long-range S-200 Angara (RS-SA-5 Gammon); 20 (tch); 57mm S-60
S-300PMU2 (RS-SA-20 Gargoyle) TOWED 14.5mm ZPU-2; ZPU-1; 23mm ZU-23-2
Medium-range 36+: S-75 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline); ε36
S-125-2M Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26) Syrian National Army & National Front for
Short-range 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful); S-125M/M1 Liberation ε70,000
Pechora-M/M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa) In late 2019 the Syrian National Army (SNA) and the
Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2/2M (RS-SA-7A/B Grail)‡ National Front for Liberation (NLF) began to merge
under the SNA umbrella. The SNA formed in late 2017
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε100,000 from Syrian Arab and Turkmen rebel factions operating
under Turkish command in the Aleppo governate and
National Defence Force ε50,000 northwestern Syria, including Afrin province. The NLF
An umbrella of disparate regime militias performing a is a coalition of surviving Islamist and nationalist rebel
variety of roles, including territorial control factions formed in 2018 operating in northwestern Syria,
particularly in and around Idlib.
Other Militias ε50,000 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Numerous military groups fighting for the Assad ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
regime, including Afghan, Iraqi, Pakistani and sectarian MBT T-54; T-55; T-62
organisations. Some receive significant Iranian support IFV BMP-1
Middle East and North Africa 357

ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); Tunisia TUN
9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K113 Konkurs (RS-T-5
Tunisian Dinar TND 2021 2022 2023
Spandrel); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7); 9K115-2 Metis-M
GDP TND 131bn 144bn
(RS-AT-13 Saxhorn 2); 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan);
USD 46.8bn 46.3bn
BGM-71 TOW; Milan
per capita USD 3,897 3,816
RCL 73mm SPG-9; 82mm B-10
Growth % 3.3 2.2
ARTILLERY
Inflation % 5.7 8.1
TOWED 122mm D-30
Def bgt TND 3.44bn 4.00bn
MRL 107mm Type-63; 122mm 9K132 Grad-P; BM-21
USD 1.23bn 1.28bn
Grad; Grad (6-tube tech)
FMA (US) USD 85m 85m 45m
MOR 82mm 2B9 Vasilek; improvised mortars of varying
USD1=TND 2.79 3.11
calibre Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
AIR DEFENCE 1.4
SAM • Point-defence MANPADS some
GUNS 0.5
2008 2015 2022
SP 14.5mm ZPU-4 (tch); ZPU-2 (tch); ZPU-1 (tch);
23mm ZU-23-2 (tch); ZSU-23-4 Shilka; 57mm AZP S-60 Population 11,896,972
TOWED 14.5mm ZPU-1; ZPU-2; ZPU-4; 23mm ZU-23-2
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) ε10,000 Male 12.9% 3.4% 3.0% 3.4% 22.4% 4.5%
Female 12.1% 3.2% 3.0% 3.5% 23.5% 5.0%
HTS was formed by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham (formerly known
as Jabhat al-Nusra) in January 2017 by absorbing other
Capabilities
hardline groups. It is designated a terrorist organisation by

and North Africa


The armed forces’ main tasks are to ensure territorial sovereignty

Middle East
the US government.
and internal security and, while they have limited capacities, a
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE modernisation process is underway. Instability in Libya and Islam-
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE ist terrorist groups operating from there continue to pose a secu-
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); rity concern. In the light of terrorist attacks, the armed forces are
engaged in counter-terrorism operations and have been tasked
9K113 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel); 9K115-2 Metis-M
with securing sensitive industrial sites. Designated a major non-
(RS-AT-13); 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan) NATO ally by the US in 2015, Tunisia benefits from defence and
RCL 73mm SPG-9; 106mm M-40 security cooperation with US AFRICOM and also with France and
ARTILLERY NATO. A ten-year military-cooperation agreement signed with the
MRL 107mm Type-63 US in 2020 will provide more training and after-sales support. In
2019, Tunisia sent a C-130 transport aircraft to support the UN’s
MOR 120mm some; improvised mortars of varying
MINUSMA peacekeeping mission in Mali and maintains a deploy-
calibres ment to the mission. A helicopter unit was deployed to the Central
AIR DEFENCE African Republic in 2021 to join the UN MINUSCA mission there,
SAM followed by a battalion of troops in 2022. Tunisia is a member of
the Saudi-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition. The
Point-defence 9K32M Strela-2M (RS-SA-7B Grail)‡
armed forces are involved in multinational exercises, notably those
GUNS led by the US, and was one of the hosts for the 2022 African Lion
SP 14.5mm ZPU-1; ZPU-2; 23mm ZU-23-2; 57mm S-60 exercise. Overall military capability is limited by the ageing equip-
ment inventory, although Tunisia has been the recipient of surplus
Guardians of Religion (Huras al-Din) ε2,500 US systems, including armed utility helicopters. The country has
limited defence-industrial capabilities but has recently manufac-
An al-Qaeda-affiliated group operating in Idlib province. It
tured a small number of patrol boats for the navy.
is designated a terrorist organisation by the US government.
ACTIVE 35,800 (Army 27,000 Navy 4,800 Air 4,000)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 12,000
FOREIGN FORCES
Conscript liability 12 months selective
Turkey ε3,000; 3 armd BG; some cdo units; 1
gendarmerie unit ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
United States Operation Inherent Resolve 900; 1 armd inf
coy; 1 mne bn(-) Army 5,000; 22,000 conscript (total 27,000)
358 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

FORCES BY ROLE Air Force 4,000


SPECIAL FORCES
FORCES BY ROLE
1 SF bde
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 (Sahara) SF bde
1 sqn with F-5E/F-5F Tiger II
MANOEUVRE
TRANSPORT
Reconnaissance
1 sqn with C-130B/H/J-30 Hercules; G.222; L-410 Turbolet
1 recce regt
1 liaison unit with S-208A
Mechanised
TRAINING
3 mech bde (1 armd regt, 2 mech inf regt, 1 arty regt,
2 sqn with L-59 Albatros*; MB-326B; SF-260
1 AD regt, 1 engr regt, 1 sigs regt, 1 log gp)
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 sqn with MB-326K; MB-326L
1 engr regt TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
2 sqn with AS350B Ecureuil; AS365 Dauphin 2; AB-205
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
(Bell 205); SA313; SA316 Alouette III; UH-1H Iroquois;
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
UH-1N Iroquois
MBT 84: 30 M60A1; 54 M60A3
1 sqn with HH-3E
LT TK 48 SK-105 Kuerassier
RECCE 60: 40 AML-90; 20 FV601 Saladin EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
APC 480 AIRCRAFT 23 combat capable
APC (T) 140 M113A1/A2 FTR 11: 9 F-5E Tiger II; 2 F-5F Tiger II
APC (W) 110 Fiat 6614 ATK 3 MB-326K
PPV 230: 4 Bastion APC: 71 Ejder Yalcin; 146 Kirpi; ISR 12 Maule MX-7-180B
9 Vuran TPT 18: Medium 13: 5 C-130B Hercules; 1 C-130H
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES Hercules; 2 C-130J-30 Hercules; 5 G.222; Light 5: 3 L-410
ARV 11: 5 Greif; 6 M88A1 Turbolet; 2 S-208A
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • MSL TRG 32: 9 L-59 Albatros*; 4 MB-326B; 3 MB-326L; 14 SF-
SP 35 M901 ITV TOW 260; 2 T-6C Texan II
MANPATS Milan; TOW HELICOPTERS
ARTILLERY 276 MRH 34: 1 AS365 Dauphin 2; 6 SA313; 3 SA316 Alouette
TOWED 115: 105mm 48 M101A1/A2; 155mm 67: 12 III; 24 OH-58D Kiowa Warrior
M114A1; 55 M198 SAR 11 HH-3E
MOR 161: 81mm 95; SP 107mm 48 M106; 120mm TPT 39: Medium 8 UH-60M Black Hawk; Light 31: 6
18 Brandt AS350B Ecureuil; 15 Bell 205 (AB-205); 8 Bell 205 (UH-
AIR DEFENCE 1H Iroquois); 2 Bell 212 (UH-1N Iroquois)
SAM • Point-defence 26 M48 Chaparral; RBS-70
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
GUNS 112
AAM • IR AIM-9P Sidewinder
SP 40mm 12 M42
ASM AGM-114R Hellfire
TOWED • 20mm 100 M-55

Navy ε4,800 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 12,000


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE National Guard 12,000
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 37 Ministry of Interior
PSO 4 Jugurtha (Damen Stan MSOPV 1400) (of which 2
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
with 1 hel landing platform)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
PCFG 3 La Galite (FRA Combattante III) with 2 quad
ASLT 2 EE-11 Urutu FSV
lnchr with MM40 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun
APC 29+
PCC 3 Bizerte (FRA PR 48)
APC (W) 16 EE-11 Urutu (anti-riot); VAB Mk3
PCFT 6 Albatros (GER Type-143B) with 2 single 533mm
PPV 13 Streit Typhoon
TT, 2 76mm guns
AUV IVECO LMV
PBF 2 20m Fast Patrol Boat
PB 19: 5 Istiklal; 3 Utique (ex-PRC Type-062 (Haizhui II) PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 24
mod); 5 Joumhouria; 6 V Series PCC 6 Rais el Blais (ex-GDR Kondor I)
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 7: PBF 7: 4 Gabes; 3 Patrouiller
ABU 3: 2 Tabarka (ex-US White Sumac); 1 Sisi Bou Said PB 11: 5 Breitla (ex-GDR Bremse); 4 Rodman 38;
AGE 1 Hannibal 2 Socomena
AGS 1 Khaireddine (ex-US Wilkes) HELICOPTERS
AWT 1 Ain Zaghouan (ex-ITA Simeto) MRH 8 SA318 Alouette II/SA319 Alouette III
AX 1 Salambo (ex-US Conrad, survey) TPT • Light 3 Bell 429
Middle East and North Africa 359

an advanced inventory of modern equipment across the domains,


DEPLOYMENT including its air and missile defences, and are taking steps to
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 324; 1 inf upgrade their airborne ISR capabilities. An enhanced defence rela-
tionship with Israel reportedly includes the supply of an advanced
coy; 1 hel flt with 3 Bell 205
Israeli air defence system. The UAE continues to develop its
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • domestic defence-industrial base, having consolidated its leading
MONUSCO 10 defence firms into the state-owned EDGE Group in 2019, but the
country remains reliant on external providers for many major
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 88; 1 tpt flt with C-130J-30
weapons systems.
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2
ACTIVE 63,000 (Army 44,000 Navy 2,500 Air 4,500
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2
Presidential Guard 12,000)
Conscript liability 16–24 months, males 18–30 years dependent on
United Arab Emirates UAE education level. Voluntary service enrolment for women

Emirati Dirham AED 2021 2022 2023


ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
GDP AED 1.54tr 1.85tr
USD 420bn 504bn Space
per capita USD 41,205 47,793 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Growth % 3.8 5.1 SATELLITES 4
Inflation % 0.2 5.2 COMMUNICATIONS 3 Yahsat
Def bdgt [a] AED ε70.4bn ε74.8bn ISR 1 FalconEye
USD ε19.2bn ε20.4bn Army 44,000
USD1=AED 3.67 3.67 FORCES BY ROLE
[a] Defence budget estimate derived from central MoD MANOEUVRE
expenditure and a proportion of the Federal Services section Armoured
of the Abu Dhabi budget
2 armd bde
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Mechanised

and North Africa


19.3 2 mech bde

Middle East
Light
9.95 1 inf bde
2008 2015 2022 COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty bde (3 SP arty regt)
Population 9,915,803
1 engr gp
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Male 8.3% 2.8% 2.8% 4.8% 48.8% 1.4%
MBT 303: 45 AMX-30; 258 Leclerc
Female 7.9% 2.4% 2.3% 3.1% 15.1% 0.4% LT TK 76 FV101 Scorpion
RECCE 49 AML-90
Capabilities IFV 395: 160 BMP-3; 235 Rabdan
The UAE’s armed forces are arguably the best trained and most APC 1,656
capable of all GCC states. Iran remains a key defence concern, for APC (T) 136 AAPC (incl 53 engr plus other variants)
reasons including the continuing dispute with Tehran over owner- APC (W) 185: 45 AMV 8×8 (one with BMP-3 turret);
ship of islands in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as attacks both on 120 EE-11 Urutu; 20 VAB
tankers off the UAE coast and on oil infrastructure. However, the PPV 1,335: ε460 Caiman; ε680 Maxxpro LWB; 150 Nimr
UAE has shown a growing willingness to take part in operations
Hafeet 630A (CP); 45 Nimr Hafeet (Amb)
and project power and influence further abroad, including by
sending an F-16 detachment to Afghanistan in the early-to-mid
AUV 674+: MCAV-20; 650 M-ATV; Nimr Ajban; Nimr
2010s, and involvement in the conflict in Libya. The UAE also con- Jais; 24 VBL
tinues to be involved in the Yemen conflict as part of the Saudi- ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
led coalition. In 2022 it was the target of missile and UAV attacks, AEV 53+: 53 ACV-AESV; Wisent-2
and the UAE continues to seek to enhance its air defences against ARV 158: 8 ACV-AESV Recovery; 4 AMX-30D; 85
such threats. Experience gained in Yemen-related operations has BREM-L; 46 Leclerc ARV; 15 Maxxpro ARV
offered combat lessons, not least in limited amphibious opera- NBC VEHICLES 32: 8 Fuchs 2 BIO-RS; 16 Fuchs 2 NBC-
tions, and has demonstrated the country’s developing approach to RS; 8 Fuchs 2 NBC-CPS (CP)
both the use of force and the acceptance of military risk. The UAE
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
hosts a French base and is diversifying its security relationships,
MSL
including with China, although these are complicating ties with
the US, which remains the country’s key extra-regional defence SP 135: 20 HOT; 115 Nimr Ajban 440A with Kornet-E
partner. A new defence agreement with Washington came into (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
force in May 2019 and the US Air Force continues to maintain a MANPATS FGM-148 Javelin; Milan; TOW
substantial force at the Al Dhafra airbase. The armed forces have RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
360 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ARTILLERY 649 Air Force 4,500


SP 155mm 181: 78 G-6; 85 M109A3; 18 Mk F3
FORCES BY ROLE
TOWED 99: 105mm 73 L118 Light Gun; 130mm 20
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
Type-59-I; 155mm 6 AH-4
MRL 124: 122mm 74: 48 Firos-25 (est 24 op); 2 Jobaria; 3 sqn with F-16E/F Block 60 Fighting Falcon
220mm 24 SR5; 227mm 32 M142 HIMARS; 239mm 12 3 sqn with Mirage 2000-9DAD/EAD/RAD
K239 Chunmoo; 300mm 6 9A52 Smerch AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING AND CONTROL
MOR 251: 81mm 134: 20 Brandt; 114 L16; 120mm 21 1 flt with GlobalEye
Brandt; SP 120mm 96 RG-31 MMP Agrab Mk2 SEARCH & RESCUE
SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS 2 flt with AW109K2; AW139
SRBM • Conventional 6 Hwasong-5 (up to 20 msl); TANKER
MGM-168 ATACMS (launched from M142 HIMARS) 1 flt with A330 MRTT
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES TRANSPORT
ISR • Medium Seeker II
1 sqn with C-17A Globemaster
AIR DEFENCE
1 sqn with C-130H/H-30 Hercules; L-100-30
SAM • Point-defence Mistral
1 sqn with CN235M-100
Navy 2,500 TRAINING
1 sqn with Grob 115TA
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 43 1 sqn with Hawk Mk102*
CORVETTES 7 1 sqn with PC-7 Turbo Trainer
FSGHM 6 Baynunah with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 1 sqn with PC-21
Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 8-cell Mk 56 VLS with RIM- TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
162 ESSM SAM, 1 21-cell Mk 49 GMLS with RIM- 1 sqn with Bell 412 Twin Huey
116C RAM Block 2 SAM, 1 76mm gun EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FSGM 1 Abu Dhabi with 2 twin lnchr with MM40 AIRCRAFT 156 combat capable
Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 76mm gun
FGA 137: 54 F-16E Block 60 Fighting Falcon (Desert
PCFGM 2 Mubarraz (GER Lurssen 45m) with 2 twin
Eagle); 24 F-16F Block 60 Fighting Falcon (13 to remain in
lnchr with MM40 Exocet AShM, 1 sextuple Sadral lnchr
with Mistral SAM, 1 76mm gun US for trg); 15 Mirage 2000-9DAD; 44 Mirage 2000-9EAD
PCGM 4: MP 2 DHC-8 Dash 8 MPA
2 Muray Jib (GER Lurssen 62m) with 2 quad lnchr ISR 7 Mirage 2000 RAD*
with MM40 Exocet Block 2 AShM, 1 octuple lnchr SIGINT 1 Global 6000
with Crotale SAM, 1 Goalkeeper CIWS, 1 76mm gun, AEW&C 3 GlobalEye
1 hel landing platform TPT/TKR 3 A330 MRTT
2 Ghantut (Falaj 2) with 2 twin lnchr with MM40 TPT 26: Heavy 8 C-17A Globemaster III; Medium 6: 3
Exocet Block 3 AShM, 2 3-cell VLS with VL-MICA C-130H Hercules; 1 C-130H-30 Hercules; 2 L-100-30; Light
SAM, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform 16: 5 C295W; 5 CN235; 2 P.180 Avanti (MEDEVAC)
PCFG 6 Ban Yas (GER Lurssen TNC-45) with 2 twin
TRG 79: 12 Grob 115TA; 12 Hawk Mk102*; 30 PC-7 Turbo
lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 76mm gun
Trainer; 25 PC-21
PBFG 12 Butinah (Ghannatha mod) with 4 single lncher
HELICOPTERS
with Marte Mk2/N AShM
PBF 12: 6 Ghannatha with 1 120mm NEMO mor MRH 21: 12 AW139; 9 Bell 412 Twin Huey
(capacity 42 troops); 6 Ghannatha (capacity 42 troops) TPT • Light 4: 3 AW109K2; 1 Bell 407
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 1 UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
MHO 1 Al Murjan (ex-GER Frankenthal Type-332) CISR • Heavy Wing Loong I; Wing Loong II
AMPHIBIOUS ISR • Heavy RQ-1E Predator XP
LANDING SHIPS • LST 3 Alquwaisat with 1 hel AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
landing platform AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder; R-550 Magic; IIR AIM-
LANDING CRAFT 18 9X Sidewinder II; IIR/ARH Mica; ARH AIM-120B/C
LCM 5: 3 Al Feyi (capacity 56 troops); 2 (capacity 40
AMRAAM
troops and additional vehicles)
ASM AGM-65G Maverick; LJ-7; Hakeem 1/2/3 (A/B)
LCP 4 Fast Supply Vessel (multi-purpose)
ARM AGM-88C HARM
LCT 9: 7 ADSB 64m; 1 Al-Saadiyat with 1 hel landing
platform; 1 Al Shareeah (LSV 75m) with 1 hel landing ALCM Black Shaheen (Storm Shadow/SCALP EG variant)
platform BOMBS
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 3: Laser-guided GBU-12/-58 Paveway II
AFS 2 Rmah with 4 single 533mm TT Laser & INS/GPS-guided GBU-54 Laser JDAM
AX 1 Al Semeih with 1 hel landing platform INS/SAT-guided Al Tariq
Middle East and North Africa 361

Air Defence TPT • Light 14: 2 Beech 350 King Air; 7 Cessna 208B
FORCES BY ROLE Grand Caravan*; 1 DHC-6-300 Twin Otter; 4 DHC-6-400
AIR DEFENCE Twin Otter
2 AD bde (3 bn with Barak LRAD: M902 Patriot PAC-3) HELICOPTERS
3 (short range) AD bn with Crotale; Mistral; Rapier; ATK 28 AH-64D Apache
RBS-70; Javelin; 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); 96K6 ASW 7 AS332F Super Puma (5 in ASuW role)
Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22)
MRH 53+: 4 AS365F Dauphin 2 (VIP); 9 H125M Fennec; 7
2 SAM bty with THAAD
AS565 Panther; 3 AW139 (VIP); 20 Bell 407MRH; 4 SA316
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Alouette III; 6+ UH-60M Black Hawk (ABH)
AIR DEFENCE
SAM 81+ TPT 66: Heavy 22 CH-47F Chinook; Medium 44: 11 UH-
Long-range 39+: 2+ Barak LRAD: 37 M902 Patriot 60L Black Hawk; up to 33 UH-60M Black Hawk
PAC-3 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
Short-range Crotale ASM AGM-114 Hellfire; Cirit; Hydra-70; HOT
Point-defence 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse); RBS-70; AShM AS-15TT; AM39 Exocet
Rapier; Mistral
SPAAGM 30mm 42 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary
GUNS • Towed 35mm GDF-005
MISSILE DEFENCE 12 THAAD Critical Infrastructure and Coastal
Protection Agency (CICPA)
Presidential Guard Command 12,000 Ministry of Interior
FORCES BY ROLE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF bn PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 115
1 spec ops bn PSO 1 Al Wtaid
MANOEUVRE PCM 2 Arialah (Damen Sea Axe 6711) with 1 11-cell
Reconaissance Mk 15 SeaRAM GMLS with RIM-116C RAM Block 2

and North Africa


1 recce sqn SAM, 1 57mm gun, 1 hel landing platform

Middle East
Mechanised PCC 1 Shujaa (Damen Stan Patrol 5009)
1 mech bde (1 tk bn, 4 mech inf bn, 1 AT coy, 1 cbt engr
PBF 58: 6 Baglietto GC23; 3 Baglietto 59; 15 DV-15;
coy, 1 CSS bn)
Amphibious 34 MRTP 16
1 mne bn PB 53: 2 Protector; 16 (US Camcraft 65); 5 (US
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Camcraft 77); 6 Watercraft 45; 12 Halmatic Work;
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 12 Al Saber
MBT 50 Leclerc
IFV 290: 200 BMP-3; 90 BTR-3U Guardian DEPLOYMENT
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • SP HMMWV with 9M133 Kornet EGYPT: ε300 12 F-16E/F Fighting Falcon; Wing Loong I UAV;
(RS-AT-14 Spriggan) Wing Loong II UAV (status uncertain)

Joint Aviation Command SOMALIA: 180


FORCES BY ROLE
GROUND ATTACK FOREIGN FORCES
1 sqn with Archangel; AT802 Air Tractor Australia 400; 1 tpt det with 2 C-130J-30 Hercules
ANTI-SURFACE/ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
1 sqn with AS332F Super Puma; AS565 Panther France 650: 1 armd BG (1 tk coy, 1 armd inf coy; 1 aty bty);
TRANSPORT Leclerc; VBCI; CAESAR; 7 Rafale F3; • EMASOH;
1 (Spec Ops) gp with AS365F Dauphin 2; H125M Fennec; 1 Atlantique-2
AW139; Bell 407MRH; Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; Korea, Republic of 170 (trg activities at UAE Spec Ops
CH-47C/F Chinook; DHC-6-300/400 Twin Otter; UH- School)
60L/M Black Hawk
United Kingdom 200; 1 tkr/tpt flt with C-17A Globemaster;
ATTACK HELICOPTER
1 gp with AH-64D Apache C-130J Hercules; A330 MRTT Voyager
United States 5,000; 1 ISR sqn with 4 U-2S; 1 AEW&C
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 37 combat capable sqn with 4 E-3B/G Sentry; 1 tkr sqn with 12 KC-10A; 1 ISR
ATK 23 Archangel UAV sqn with RQ-4 Global Hawk; 2 SAM bty with M902/
ISR ε6 AT802 Air Tractor* M903 Patriot PAC-3/PAC-3 MSE
362 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

APC
Yemen, Republic of YEM APC (W) BTR-60
PPV Streit Cougar; Streit Spartan
Yemeni Rial YER 2021 2022 2023
AUV M-ATV
GDP YER 20.6tr 30.2tr ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
USD 19.9bn 27.6bn MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger);
per capita USD 644 874 M47 Dragon; TOW
Growth % -1.0 2.0
GUNS • SP 100mm SU-100†
ARTILLERY • SP 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika
Inflation % 45.7 43.8
AIRCRAFT • ISR 6 AT-802 Air Tractor*
Def bdgt YER n.k n.k AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 14.5mm ZPU-4;
USD n.k n.k 23mm ZU-23-2
USD1=YER 1035.48 1092.84

Population 30,984,689 DEPLOYMENT


MALI: UN • MINUSMA 2
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 18.3% 5.8% 5.1% 4.5% 15.4% 1.4%
FOREIGN FORCES
Female 17.6% 5.6% 5.0% 4.4% 15.1% 1.8%
All Operation Restoring Hope unless stated
Capabilities Saudi Arabia 2,500: 2 armd BG; M60A3; M2A2 Bradley;
M113A4; M-ATV; AH-64 Apache; M902 Patriot PAC-3
There appears to be little prospect that any of the competing
forces in Yemen’s civil war will be able to gain a decisive upper Sudan 650; 1 mech BG; T-72AV; BTR-70M Kobra 2
hand in the near term, with successive offensives by various fac-
tions failing to significantly alter the situation on the ground. TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
After President Hadi resigned in April 2022, a Saudi-brokered deal DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL
agreed a ceasefire and established the Presidential Leadership
Council (PLC) under new President al-Alimi that has included the
Southern Transitional Council (STC). The new unity government Insurgent forces 20,000 (incl Houthi and tribes)
only appears to exercise limited control over the forces nominally
allied together against the Houthis, and the end of the cease- The Houthi-run de facto administration has controlled
fire in October meant a resumption of open hostilities. Irregular northern Yemen since 2015 and is supported by a
forces, such as Tareq Saleh’s National Resistance and those of the combination of Houthi tribal militias and elements of the
UAE-backed STC are reportedly better paid and equipped than Yemeni armed forces that had been loyal to former president
government forces. The UAE has largely drawn down its own forces Ali Abdullah Saleh. Following a break between the Houthis
and focused its support on the STC and other non-government and Saleh in late 2017 that resulted in the latter’s death,
forces fighting the Houthis, while the remaining members of the Saleh’s former forces have become further split between
Saudi-led coalition continue to provide air support for the PLC
those that remained affiliated with the Houthis and those
administration. The conflict appears to have been sustained by a
combination of large existing stockpiles of weapons and ammu- who have joined his son and nephew to fight against them.
nition, and external supplies, despite UN embargoes. There is no Houthi forces receive material support from Iran, with
domestic defence industry, barring some limited maintenance and several clandestine weapons shipments of Iranian origin
workshop facilities. intercepted in recent years. As well as fighting within
Yemen, Houthi forces have launched missile and UAV
ACTIVE 40,000 (Government forces 40,000) attacks on targets in Saudi Arabia and the UAE.
FORCES BY ROLE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE MANOEUVRE
Mechanised
Government forces ε40,000 (incl militia) up to 20 bde(-)
Despite the establishment of the Presidential Leadership EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Council, central government control over the forces ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
nominally allied together against the Houthis MBT T-55; T-72
remains limited. IFV BMP-2; BTR-80A
FORCES BY ROLE APC • APC (W) Some BTR-40; BTR-60
MANOEUVRE AUV M-ATV
Mechanised ARTILLERY
up to 20 bde(-) MRL • 122mm BM-21 Grad; 210mm Badr
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES MSL • MANPATS 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5B Spandrel/
MBT Some M60A1; T-34†; T-54/55; T-62; T-72 Towsan-1); 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn); Dehlavieh
RECCE some BRDM-2 (Kornet); Toophan
IFV BMP-2; BTR-80A; Ratel-20 RCL 82mm B-10
Middle East and North Africa 363

SURFACE-TO-SURFACE MISSILE LAUNCHERS LOITERING & DIRECT ATTACK MUNITIONS


MRBM • Conventional Kheibar Shekan (reported) Qasef-1; Qasef-2K; Sammad-2; Sammad-3; Waed
SRBM • Conventional Borkan-2H (Qiam-1); Borkan-3; (Shahed-136)
Falaq; Fateh-110; Khalij Fars AIR DEFENCE
GLCM • Conventional Quds-1; Quds-2; Quds-3
SAM
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM C-801; C-802
Short-range Saqr-1 (358)
HELICOPTERS
MRH 1 Mi-17 Hip H Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; 9K34
TPT • Light 1 Mi-8 Hip Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); Misaq-1 (QW-1); Misaq-2
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES (QW-18)
ISR • Medium Sammad-1 GUNS • TOWED 20mm M167 Vulcan; 23mm ZU-23-2

and North Africa


Middle East
364 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Chapter Eight

Latin America and the Caribbean


 The low risk of state-on-state conflict in Latin America  Brazil’s army is engaged in a plan to modernise its
and the Caribbean means that armed forces and armoured forces. There are two sub-programmes, for
defence investments remain limited, relative to the wheeled and tracked vehicles. In July, initial contracts
size of the region’s economies and populations. were awarded for the modernisation of nine EE-9
Lacklustre economic performance, an absence of Cascavel M VII 6x6 armoured reconnaissance vehicles;
major external security threats and persistently the plan is to upgrade 98 by 2031. However, the plan
high rates of inflation have resulted in a constrained to eventually acquire Centauro II vehicles for the 8x8
budgetary environment for defence, with 2022 medium wheeled armoured combat vehicle project
funding at the same level as 2009 in real terms. hit delays in December, when a court objected to the
 Brazil remains the region’s foremost military power, proposed deal for a total of 98.
with its most sophisticated domestic defence  Argentina’s share of regional defence spending fell from
industry. It still has the largest defence budget in Latin 11% in 2015 to 5% in 2021 before increasing slightly
America, though its share of regional spending fell to 7% in 2022. Hopes of recapitalising its combat air
from 57% in 2010 to 45% in 2022. Defence-industrial inventory faded at the end of the year, after suggestions
modernisation is being helped by technology offset that Buenos Aires was interested in the JF-17.
terms associated with key defence programmes  The arrival of a new government in Colombia raised
focused on air and maritime capabilities, such as the questions over the future of key procurement plans,
Gripen contract with Saab and the PROSUB submarine notably the replacement of the country’s ageing Kfir
modernisation contract with French defence firm combat aircraft fleet, though the programme was
Naval Group. reactivated in September.

Latin America and the Caribbean defence Active military personnel – top 10
spending, 2022 – top 5, including US Foreign (25,000 per unit)
Military Financing Global
Brazil 366,500 total
20,773,950
Colombia 255,950
United States

USD767bn Mexico 216,000

Venezuela 123,000

Peru 81,000

Total Argentina 72,100


Latin America
and the
Caribbean Chile 68,500
spending
USD51bn
Dominican Republic 56,050
Brazil Colombia Mexico Chile Argentina
Cuba 49,000
Regional
7.2% total
USD23bn USD6.3bn USD5.7bn USD3.8bn USD3.4bn
Ecuador 41,250 1,488,330
Latin America and the Caribbean 365

Regional defence policy and economics 366 ►

Arms procurements and deliveries 373 ►

Armed forces data section 376 ►

Latin America and the Caribbean: selected tactical combat aircraft, 2022

Argentina
Modern
Brazil Ageing
Chile Obsolescent
Colombia
Cuba
El Salvador
Honduras
Peru
Uruguay
Venezuela

0 20 40 60 80 100
*’Combat aircraft’ includes fighter, fighter ground-attack and attack aircraft

Latin America and the Caribbean: selected main battle tank fleets, 2022

Brazil
Chile

Latin America and


Cuba

the Caribbean
Nicaragua
Peru
Modern Obsolescent
Uruguay Mixed Obsolete
Venezuela Ageing

0 100 200 300 400

Latin America and the Caribbean: defence spending as % of GDP (average), 2008-22

1.25

1.15

1.05

0.95

0.85

0.75
2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
366 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Latin America and the Caribbean

Non-state threats in the region have in recent decades Brazil remains the region’s foremost military
led to significant investment in security capacities. power, with the region’s most sophisticated domestic
Insecurity and violence persist, but this is generally defence industry. Defence-industrial modernisation
the result of organised criminal activity, some is being helped by technology-offset terms associated
political violence and, in some cases, attempts by with key defence programmes, such as the Gripen
groups to supplant state institutions. However, the contract with Saab and the PROSUB submarine-
still-limited risk of state-on-state conflict in Latin modernisation contract with French firm Naval
America and the Caribbean means that armed forces Group. Military modernisation is focused on the
and defence investments remain small relative to the air force and navy, but despite having the region’s
size of the region’s economies and populations. High largest defence budget, fiscal constraints continue
levels of coronavirus-related spending in 2020–21 and to force procurement trade-offs. An example is
the regional economic shock caused by the pandemic, the decision to purchase additional Gripen combat
combined with the global rise in inflation and other aircraft (eventually taking the total to over 60) but at
effects of the war in Ukraine, such as supply-chain the cost of reducing its planned fleet of locally built
disruptions, mean that there will be less fiscal space KC-390 medium transport aircraft to just 19. Four
for states looking to increase defence expenditure. As Gripens will be added to the original contract for 36,
a result, it is likely that priorities, in the short term at and negotiations are under way for an additional
least, will focus on continuing existing modernisation batch of 26. The first aircraft are now in flight test
plans, particularly in countries where there are readily in Brazil. Meanwhile, the navy’s first Scorpène-class
apparent capability gaps. And there will be continued submarine, the Riachuelo (S40), was commissioned
investment by many regional defence establishments in September 2022, with three more to follow along
in internal-security capabilities, particularly in those with a nuclear-powered attack submarine (the
states suffering from high levels of drug-related region’s first) later in the decade. As part of this
organised crime, such as Mexico, or from low-level PROSUB programme, significant investment has
insurgencies, such as Colombia and Peru. been made in manufacturing and operational-related
Perhaps the most significant challenge to internal infrastructure. For its part, the army is engaged
security is seen in Mexico, where authorities continue in a significant series of programmes intended to
attempts to tackle drug cartels in various regions. modernise its armoured vehicles. Nonetheless, the
Although there have been some procurements in country faces few serious internal or external threats,
recent years, notably of naval vessels and helicopters, though there were entreaties by supporters of Jair
it is possible that these continued internal-security Bolsonaro, the defeated candidate in the presidential
requirements could take priority over improving the elections, for the armed forces to intervene following
armed forces’ limited war-fighting capabilities. Indeed, his loss, in a bid to halt the transfer of power.
organisational reform has recently been a focus of The country will continue to remain active in
the administration, including the plan to place the international security tasks, such as humanitarian and
National Guard under military control (which faced peacekeeping missions. But it is reportedly unlikely
legal objections in late 2022) and to extend until 2028 to repeat its deployment to Haiti, where it led the
the mandate for the armed forces to remain engaged MINUSTAH mission in the last decade, amid calls for
in domestic security duties. Analysts understand an international presence to help stabilise Haiti in the
that the National Guard has not reached its full midst of continued instability and violence.
personnel complement or deployment targets but its Modernisation plans in Argentina remain largely
presence across the country will continue expanding, dependent on the country’s economic outlook.
particularly in regions most prone to drug-related Principal capability gaps are the lack of fast-jet combat
violence such as the north and along the Pacific coast. aircraft as well as submarines, with its two ageing boats
Latin America and the Caribbean 367

currently non-operational and reactivation increasingly willingness to proceed, and it has been reported that
unlikely. Argentine defence officials reportedly visited ex-European F-16s could be a potential replacement
China and Pakistan in 2022 seeking information about (these have also been suggested for Argentina) and
the JF-17 combat aircraft. But such a purchase would there have been reports of negotiations with South
very likely prove difficult in budgetary terms without Korea for FA-50 aircraft. Meanwhile, the government
some form of special funding arrangement, given the has also begun a rapprochement with Venezuela,
declining defence budget and increasing inflation. including the re-establishment of military ties, which
In recent years there were reports that Buenos Aires had been suspended since 2019. Colombia continues
was interested in obtaining second-hand aircraft from to face the threat of low-intensity guerrilla warfare,
abroad, and that the United Kingdom had vetoed the although it is not certain that this would escalate
export of UK-sourced components given reported to levels seen before the 2016 peace deal with the
Argentinian interest in the South Korean FA-50 aircraft. Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)
Also, there was tension with Chile in 2022 amid a guerrilla group.
dispute over the two countries’ Antarctic maritime Peru has faced a similar situation with regards
boundaries. In contrast to its neighbour, Chile has to the Shining Path terrorist group, which continues
undertaken one of the most comprehensive military to have a localised presence in areas such as the
modernisation processes in Latin America over the Valley of the Apurímac, Ene and Mantaro rivers
past two decades. Concerns that there may have been (VRAEM) region despite the armed forces scoring
tension between the administration of Gabriel Boric some notable successes against them in recent
and the armed forces appear to have dissipated, and years. Some limited modernisation efforts are under
the president has ordered deployments into some way, such as a requirement for a fleet of new 8x8
southern regions affected by territorial disputes with armoured personnel carriers, although the upgrade
indigenous groups. The armed forces are adjusting to of Peru’s equipment inventory has been complicated
the law passed in 2019 that sets a new framework for by limited funding in recent years, the diverse
defence financing, which was previously reliant on nature of the current inventory and also by the war
copper revenues; the new framework sets financing in Ukraine. Venezuela’s economic crisis appears
plans for four-year periods. Similar to Chile, the arrival to have plateaued since 2020, though it remains
of a new government in Colombia raised questions subject to sanctions, which will limit the source of
for observers over the future of key procurement any military modernisation aspirations. Venezuela

Latin America and


plans, notably the replacement of the country’s ageing remains the region’s most important client state for

the Caribbean
Kfir combat aircraft fleet. However, there appears a Russian, Chinese and Iranian weapons.

Brazil’s armoured-vehicle recapitalisation plans


In recent years, Brazil’s army has taken a series of ambitious Capability (Programa Estratégico do Exército Obtenção
decisions in the hope of strengthening its armoured da Capacidade Operacional Plena (Prg EE OCOP)).
firepower, protection and mobility. These projects are
intended to not only upgrade and replace capabilities Modernisation programmes
that are in many cases ageing but also contribute to the The armoured forces programme comprises two sub-
development of the local defence technological and programmes, one for wheeled vehicles (SPrg Vtr Rodas)
industrial base. The army has received several types of and another for tracked vehicles (SPrg Vtr Lagartas).
tracked vehicles from the US as part of the Excess Defense Brazil has acquired a significant number of the Iveco
Articles programme, has modernised and refurbished VBTP-MR Guarani 6x6 armoured personnel carrier
existing vehicles and has launched projects to acquire (APC) as part of the wheeled-vehicles programme.
wheeled and tracked platforms and upgrade vehicles Around 600 of these have been delivered to date from
already in service. Two key projects are under way, both the manufacturing plant in Brazil. Vehicles have been
run by the Army Projects Office: the Army Strategic contracted in tranches, such as the contract for 1,580
Programme for Armoured Forces (Programa Estratégico announced in 2016. A number of variants are being
do Exército Forças Blindadas (Prg EE F Bld)) and the Army pursued, including ambulance, APC, 120mm mortar
Strategic Programme for Obtaining Full Operational carrier, engineering, communications, reconnaissance
368 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

and fire-direction vehicles. Analysts understand that a acquired for additional trials, followed by production
batch of 6x6 truck-based armoured recovery vehicles is vehicles in tranches. The Materiel Directorate of the
being acquired through the US Foreign Military Sales army’s Logistics Command had earlier issued the request
programme to support the Guarani fleet. for proposals (RFP) on 20 July. An additional 89 vehicles
On 7 July 2022, a consortium comprising Akaer in serial production configuration will be later acquired
Engenharia, Opto Space and Defence and Universal was in different tranches and another 123 vehicles may be
awarded a contract for the modernisation of an initial acquired at a later date, depending on budget availability.
nine EE-9 Cascavel M VII 6x6 armoured reconnaissance The VBC OAP 155mm SR project will lead to the
vehicles. The contract is reportedly valued at acquisition of up to 36 truck-mounted 155mm 52-calibre
BRL74.6 million (USD14.6m) and was awarded by the artillery systems. Guidelines for the project were approved
Manufacturing Directorate. The plan is to gradually in July 2021 and initial requirements were reportedly
modernise 98 vehicles by 2031 with upgrades including unveiled in April 2022. A request for information / request
a new powerpack; new communications; optronics for for quotations consultation process began in mid-August
the driver, commander and gunner; an anti-tank guided 2022 and was scheduled to end in November.
missile (ATGM) launcher; an electric gun- and turret-drive The SPrg Vtr Lagartas project is intended to refurbish
system; as well as refurbishment of the 90mm cannon. An and upgrade 116 of the existing 220 Leopard 1A5BR
additional 103 vehicles could be modernised depending main battle tanks (MBTs) from 2023. Options include
on available funds. refurbishing the chassis and adding new features
In 2021 the army received the first 32 LMV-BR including an electric gun and turret drive system; battle
4x4 armoured vehicles under a reported BRL67.8m management system; fire-control system; and driver and
(USD17.2m) contract signed in November 2019 with commander optronics. An RFP for this modernisation
Iveco to fulfil the army’s VBMT-LSR project for wheeled project may be issued in late 2022 or early 2023. The
light multirole vehicles. The plan is to acquire additional Leopard 1A5BR fleet will be replaced later by a medium
vehicles in several variants, including to carry ATGMs, and MBT with a 120mm cannon under the VBC CC project.
the artillery-observation role. Initial requirements for the future MBT were released in
The 8x8 medium wheeled cavalry armoured combat February 2020.
vehicle project, known as the VBC Cav-MSR 8x8, achieved The army also wants to replace its ageing M113BR
a major milestone on 25 November. It was announced APCs. To meet this requirement, the VBC Fuz project was
that the Centauro II (combining the Iveco VBM 8x8 set up to acquire a tracked platform with a crewed turret
wheeled armoured platform and the Leonardo HITFACT fitted with a medium-calibre automatic cannon and
MkII 120mm modular protected turret) from the CIO 7.62mm and 12.7mm machine guns. The Fifth Regional
consortium (comprising Iveco Defence Vehicles and Maintenance Park modernised 150 M113B APCs to the
Leonardo Electronics) had been selected over proposals M113BR standard between 2011 and 2016. A further 236
from NORINCO and General Dynamics Land Systems- M113Bs were modernised at the facility between 2016
Canada. It was suggested that a contract would be and 2019 via the US FMS programme, with the assistance
placed in early December for an initial two vehicles for of BAE Systems. This plant will soon begin modernising
evaluation in Brazil in 2023, with a further seven to be the third and final batch of 150 M113Bs.

2021, with regional real GDP growth surging to 6.9% as


DEFENCE ECONOMICS countries moved ahead with vaccination programmes,
trading partners returned to growth, commodity prices
Macroeconomics rose, and external financing conditions remained
Even before the additional shocks brought on by the accommodative, which kept the cost of borrowing low.
war in Ukraine in 2022, the region’s recovery from A lower rate of growth for 2022 would be expected
the economic effects of the coronavirus pandemic in all regions as GDP levels return to trend, but the
was losing momentum, according to the International recovery in Latin America was inhibited by structural
Monetary Fund (IMF). The 7.0% economic contraction problems including low productivity and high
in the Caribbean and Latin America was the sharpest in inequality. With the war in Ukraine continuing, the
the world and more severe than the global slowdown of region now faces challenges stemming from slower
3.0% in 2020. However, there was a strong recovery in growth in the US and China combined with the
Latin America and the Caribbean 369

supply-chain disruptions and soaring inflation that The wave of demonstrations across the region since
have stemmed from the war. Regional governments late 2019 stalled in 2020 because of pandemic-related
are also limited in their fiscal and monetary options, restrictions on public activity. These re-emerged as the
having increased deficits and debt to fund the support underlying drivers of unrest have intensified with the
measures intended to counter the economic impact easing of pandemic restrictions. According to the IMF,
of the pandemic. Moreover, any positive economic countries in the region must simultaneously tackle
effect from higher commodity prices is countered by three major challenges: ‘ensuring the sustainability of
rising inflation, higher interest rates and the negative public finances; raising potential growth; and doing
impact on crucial trading partners. it in a manner that promotes social cohesion and
Regional real GDP growth is projected to come to addresses social inequities’.
3.5% in 2022 and slow to 1.7% in 2023. The regional
trend masks variances in economic performance and Defence spending
outlook across the region. The relatively quick and Lacklustre economic performance, an absence of major
effective vaccine rollout in Chile, combined with external security threats and persistently high rates of
extensive policy support, resulted in a rapid recovery inflation have resulted in a constrained budgetary
in 2021 and its outlook is stronger than many of environment for defence, with 2022 funding at the
its neighbours due to strong consumer activity. same level as 2009 in real terms. Widespread social
Colombia is also on a strong economic footing, challenges and pressing internal-security concerns
having recovered to pre-pandemic levels of output create conflicting spending pressures and, as a result,
in early 2022. The outlook there is strengthened regional defence spending has stagnated in recent
by higher prices for oil, coal and metals. Real GDP years. Budgets have also fallen significantly in US
growth in Argentina reached a sizeable 10.4% in 2021, dollar terms, as several currencies – including the
after contracting by 9.9% in 2020, and the projected Argentine peso, the Brazilian real and the Chilean
4.0% growth rate in 2022 was among the strongest in peso – have been severely devalued against the dollar
the region. However, inflation will continue to have a since 2018.
dampening effect on growth. Regional spending is further muted by the stable but
Coming into 2022, Brazil looked to be on a low growth trend in the Brazilian defence budget. This
solid path to regaining pre-pandemic levels of remains the largest in Latin America even though its
output, but the country faced challenges from share of regional spending fell from 57% in 2010 to 45%

Latin America and


high inflation which restricted real incomes, from in 2022. The Brazilian defence budget has fluctuated

the Caribbean
stalling investment growth and from domestic between USD22 billion and USD27bn in real terms for
political uncertainty after the presidential election. the last decade with the country generally spending
Meanwhile, Mexico suffered a severe 8.1% real GDP between 1.3% and 1.5% of GDP. This is somewhat
contraction in 2020 and has struggled to achieve higher than the regional average of 0.9% of GDP but
sizeable growth since. Mexico’s economy is more well below the global average of 1.7% of GDP.
exposed to global shocks as its manufacturing sector After a sizeable cut to the 2020 defence budget
is more globally integrated and therefore more was reversed, Brazilian funding reached BRL114bn
vulnerable to supply-chain disruptions. Finally, (USD22.2bn) that year, which marked a 1.9% real
Caribbean countries with high tourism-dependence increase over 2019 levels. However, growth rates have
saw significant contractions in output in 2022, and been subdued ever since with spending effectively
it may take until 2024 for them to recover as global static, resulting in cuts in real terms of 9.7% and
travel struggles to return to pre-pandemic levels. 6.0% in 2021 and 2022 respectively. The 2023 budget
High rates of inflation are a pervasive issue of BRL121bn (USD24.0bn) does little to counter this
across the region while increased unemployment trend, with inflation expected to come to 5%, though
has also resulted in a rise in regional inequality and former Minister of Defence Paulo Sérgio Nogueria de
poverty. According to the Economic Commission Oliveira was looking to increase the defence budget
for Latin America and the Caribbean, the number to 2% of GDP. Speaking to the House Foreign Affairs
of people in poverty in the region reached 209 Committee of the Brazilian Congress in July 2022,
million in 2020, 22m more than in 2019. High rates he highlighted the need to invest in R&D, military
of inequality have fuelled protests in recent years, training and surveillance in the Amazon as well as the
with some driven by perceptions of social injustice. need to engage more in international security.
370 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023
Increase

Dominican Republic
USD0.76bn

Guatemala
USD0.40bn
Belize Argentina
USD0.02bn USD3.38bn

Panama
USD0.87bn

Honduras
USD0.37bn Colombia
Guyana USD6.35bn
Barbados USD0.08bn
USD0.04bn

Nicaragua Jamaica
USD0.08bn USD0.20bn
Bolivia
USD0.48bn Brazil
Antigua Uruguay USD22.95bn
and Barbuda USD0.55bn
USD0.01bn Trinidad
and Tobago
Bahamas USD0.84bn
USD0.09bn

El Salvador
USD0.26bn Paraguay Ecuador Chile
USD0.28bn USD1.59bn USD3.76bn Peru Mexico
Costa Rica USD1.75bn USD5.74bn
Decrease

USD0.42bn
Cuba Suriname Venezuela Haiti
n.k n.k n.k USD0.01bn

[1] Map illustrating 2022 planned defence-spending levels (in USDbn at market
Real % Change (2021–22) exchange rates), as well as the annual real percentage change in planned
More than 20% increase Between 0% and 3% decrease defence spending between 2021 and 2022 (at constant 2015 prices and exchange
Between 10% and 20% increase Between 3% and 10% decrease rates). Percentage changes in defence spending can vary considerably from
year to year, as states revise the level of funding allocated to defence. Changes
Between 3% and 10% increase Between 10% and 20% decrease indicated here highlight the short-term trend in planned defence spending
Between 0% and 3% increase More than 20% decrease between 2021 and 2022. Actual spending changes prior to 2021, and projected
spending levels post-2022, are not reflected.
ε Estimate Spending 2% of GDP or above Insufficient data
©IISS

▲ Map 9 Latin America and the Caribbean: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy)1

Speaking alongside the minister, the commanders acquisition programmes. They include the PROSUB
of the air force and the army asked the committee for submarine-development programme and the
more funds for defence and highlighted the challenges purchase of 36 Saab Gripen combat aircraft (both with
that the constrained budgetary environment had technology-transfer terms); four MEKO frigates; a
created over the previous eight years. According to medium-range air-defence system; main battle tanks;
the air force commander, despite closing four air bases transport aircraft; and offshore patrol vessels.
and three maintenance facilities, personnel spending Inflation in Colombia has not been as severe as
still needed to reduce in order to fund investments. in many of its neighbours, reaching 3.5% in 2021
The army commander asked that any cuts to defence compared with the regional average of 8.2% (excluding
be minimised so the progress of strategic projects was Venezuela). This means the country managed real
not impeded. defence budget growth in 2020 and 2021 whereas
Despite a constrained budgetary environment, other countries saw contractions. Despite inflation
Brazil is pursuing several modernisation and rising to 9.7% in 2022, the country still managed to
Latin America and the Caribbean 371

implement real growth in the ‘defence and police’ 1.5


budget, which reached USD10.5bn. Approximately
1.17
57% of this budget is allocated to defence with the 1.09 1.07 1.05
1.00
remaining 43% allocated to the National Police. The 1.0 0.92
2023 budget is expected to show a stronger increase

% of GDP
for ‘defence and police’ to USD11.6bn, although the
Ministry of Finance was considering a small reduction 0.5
to the defence budget that would reportedly impact
investment in new systems and equipment.
It had been suggested that the outlook for
0.0
Colombia’s defence budget would be subdued with 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
the election in June 2022 of a new president, Gustavo
Petro, focused on pursuing ‘total peace’ for Colombia ▲ Figure 17 Latin America and the Caribbean: regional
with a strong accent on social development. Petro defence spending as % of GDP (average)
reportedly stated during the election campaign that
he would not prioritise the purchase of combat aircraft
or military hardware. However, the programme to first real-term increase for four years and investment
replace Colombia’s ageing Kfir fighter ground-attack has increased from an average of 2.1% of the budget
aircraft was reactivated in September 2022. Reports over 2010–20 to 5.3% in 2021 and 5.9% in 2022. The
suggest that the disparity with Venezuela’s inventory government is also planning to spend USD684m on
was a driver behind the decision, although relations new combat aircraft and related infrastructure, a
between the two countries have improved recently programme that has been stymied by UK embargo
after eight years of political conflict. restrictions in the past.
Argentina’s defence budget plummeted in both Defence budget movements in Mexico have been
real and US dollar terms between 2017 and 2021. volatile in recent years, with an 8% real cut in 2019
Inflation has averaged 50% since 2018, which has followed by sharp increases in 2020 and 2021 of 13%
created further pressure for devaluation of a currency and 10% respectively to reach USD6.7bn in 2021.
that has already fallen from 17 pesos to the dollar in The 2022 budget fell back slightly to USD5.7bn. The
2017 to 125 pesos to the dollar in 2022. Argentina’s recent increases derive from the increasing role that

Latin America and


share of regional spending fell from 11% in 2015 to 5% defence forces have played in domestic security,

the Caribbean
in 2021 before increasing slightly to 7% in 2022. The taking on functions previously allocated to internal
2022 defence budget increase to USD3.4bn was the security forces. In 2022, the president unveiled a plan
to bring the National Guard under military control,
though this was subject to legal challenge in late year.
▼ Figure 16 Latin America and the Caribbean: defence These factors are likely to drive future increases in
spending by country and sub-region, 2022 the defence budget but could result in conflicting
The Caribbean, 3.8% funding priorities and perhaps mask any reductions
Other Central America, 4.7%
for core defence capabilities.
Mexico, 11.2%
Defence industry
Other South
America, 2.7% Brazil has been keen to develop indigenous defence
industrial capabilities through successive national
Ecuador
3.1% Brazil defence strategies since 2005 that have aimed to
44.7% progress from off-the-shelf foreign purchases to the
Peru, 3.4%
pursuit of programmes that would boost domestic
capabilities and enable import substitution. Brazil has
Argentina
6.6% looked to leverage technology transfer and industrial
participation in its foreign procurement contracts in
Chile, 7.3%
order to develop domestic industry. This has resulted
Colombia, 12.4% in a defence industrial base with the capability to
Note: Analysis excludes Cuba, Suriname and Venezuela ©IISS produce large-scale naval and air platforms as well as
372 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Argentina Brazil Chile Colombia Mexico Peru

Source: IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2022 ©IISS

▲ Figure 18 Latin America: selected countries, inflation (%), 2017–27

rockets and artillery. The country has also developed Beyond Brazil, the lack of any significant and
capabilities in the uninhabited arena with Akaer, a sustained growth in defence spending and the low
domestic company, developing the Albatross family levels of funding allocated by the major regional
of medium-altitude long-endurance uninhabited players to investment (procurement and R&D) – at
aerial vehicles (MALE UAVs). between 2% and 10% of annual defence expenditure –
According to Brazil’s defence minister, the constrains the development of indigenous capabilities
country’s defence industry makes up 4.8% of GDP in Latin America. Colombia’s offset policy has yet
and supports almost 3m direct and indirect jobs. to result in a wide-ranging or advanced domestic
He also stated that the Brazilian defence-industrial defence capability, with the country still heavily
base extends to more than 1,100 companies, of reliant on foreign imports for major programmes.
which 142 are strategic. Embraer – Brazil’s primary One area of development is in space systems, with
defence aerospace company – reported a 31% drop in Colombia’s air force inaugurating a space operations
company-wide revenues in 2020 but revenue growth centre on 28 July 2022. It plans to launch a new satellite
returned in 2021, reaching 11%. Nevertheless, the in 2022 or 2023. Mexico, meanwhile, has established
defence and security sector saw revenues fall in 2021 a small defence industry capable of producing small
following the agreement with the air force to reduce arms and light weapons, 4x4 tactical patrol vehicles,
the number of KC-390 transport aircraft on order UAVs, fast interceptor craft and coastal and ocean
from 29 to 19. patrol vessels.
Latin America and the Caribbean 373

Arms procurements and deliveries – Latin America


Significant events in 2022 and the Caribbean

ENAER PRESENTS NEW TRAINING-AIRCRAFT DESIGN


APRIL
Aerospace firm Empresa Nacional de Aeronáutica de Chile (ENAER), owned by the Chilean Air Force (FACh),
presented a model of a Pillán II turboprop training aircraft that will replace the 1980s-era T-35 Pillán in
FACh service. ENAER has completed the concept-design phase and plans for a first flight in 2025 and
certification in 2026. Over 80 T-35 Pilláns remain in service, and as such the Pillán II represents an export
opportunity for Chile. Since being established in 1984, ENAER has largely focused on maintenance, repair
and overhaul (MRO) for the FACh and other customers. It also makes subcomponents for aircraft such as
the Dassault Falcon business jet and the Airbus C295 transport aircraft. The T-35 Pillán was one of three aircraft
manufactured by ENAER after the firm was established in 1984, and it was exported to Spain and six Latin
American states.

PERU RATIFIES MOU WITH ISRAEL


AUGUST
The Peruvian government finally ratified a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Israeli
government that was signed in July 2008. The plan is to develop defence-industrial cooperation, including
in procurement and in technology transfer. Israeli investment in Peru’s defence industry has so far been
limited, with the main development being the opening in 2011 of a Peruvian production line for Israeli
small arms. Peru spent USD61.8m on Spike LR anti-tank missiles in 2009, followed in the mid-2010s by an
order for Spike-ER and a handful of armoured vehicles. Most of Peru’s defence industry is state-owned and,
while defence spending has been stagnant for the past decade, it is possible that foreign investment and
cooperation could facilitate equipment recapitalisation. Currently, much equipment (particularly in the army) is
obsolescent and there has been relatively little recent investment.

COLOMBIA FRIGATE AGREEMENT


SEPTEMBER

Latin America and


the Caribbean
Representatives from Colombian Navy-owned COTECMAR and Dutch shipbuilder Damen Schelde
Naval Shipbuilding signed a design contract for a frigate based on Damen’s SIGMA 10514 design.
Colombia’s Plataforma Estratégica de Superficie (PES) [Strategic Surface Platform] programme was first
announced in 2015, with the aim of acquiring two batches of four frigates to be commissioned between
2027 and 2035. Seven years later, the requirement has been reduced to five vessels. Due to the complexity
of modern frigate design, Colombia had planned from the beginning to seek a partnership with a foreign
company. Bogota took the same approach with Project Orión, the programme for offshore patrol vessels that
it had begun in 2008 in partnership with Chile and German company Fassmer. Colombia is the third export
customer for the SIGMA 10514 design, following sales to Indonesia and Mexico. Both contracts involved local
construction and technology transfer.

BRAZIL CUTS AEROSPACE PROGRAMMES


OCTOBER
Embraer announced that it had agreed with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) to cut the number of KC-390s on
order from 22 to 19. In May, the chief of the FAB told reporters that he had begun talks with Embraer to
reduce the number of aircraft from 22 to 15. The FAB and Embraer had previously agreed in February to
cut the order under the 2014 contract from 28 to 22 aircraft and stretch deliveries from 2027 out to 2034.
The coronavirus pandemic and other financial pressures mean that the service cannot presently afford
all the aircraft it originally ordered. However, the FAB also wants to prioritise a second batch of 26 Gripen
combat aircraft and modify the original 2014 Gripen order to increase numbers from 36 to 40. Similarly,
the tri-service H-XBR programme to acquire 50 H225M helicopters will be cut by three (one from each service),
in order to fund in-service support for the army as well as the procurement of H125 helicopters, for training, by the
FAB and navy. The FAB also announced that it would cancel work, that it had started in early 2021, with Embraer on an
armed UAV and a light transport aircraft.
374 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Table 15 Peru: selected procurement since 2010

Since 2010, Peru has acquired defence equipment from helicopters, SH-2 Seasprite helicopters and KC-130H tanker
over 15 countries. A reduction in defence spending since aircraft, were acquired from the Netherlands, New Zealand
2013 and recent budgetary pressures resulting from the and Spain respectively.
coronavirus pandemic have meant that much acquisition Similarly, apart from the procurement of Israeli and Russian
has been relatively small scale and that some programmes, anti-tank missiles in the 2000s, and Chinese multiple rocket
such as new frigates for the navy and 8x8 armoured vehicles launchers and Russian helicopters in the 2010s, the army has
for the army, have been postponed or scaled down. Indeed, seen relatively little investment and continues to operate largely
the largest single acquisition since 2010 has been the army’s obsolescent equipment. In contrast, the navy has acquired
procurement of 24 Mi-171Sh transport helicopters from Russia improved systems. A 2012 naval cooperation agreement with
for USD528 million. South Korea has so far seen the donation of two Po Hang-class
Although replacements were examined for the air force’s corvettes as well as the licensed-production of two landing
ageing Mirage 2000 and MiG-29 fighter aircraft in the early platform dock (LPD) vessels at state-owned shipyard SIMA,
2010s, there has been little progress since – likely because located in Callao. The shipyard will likely also be involved in
of the relatively high cost of any potential acquisition. building new offshore patrol vessels (OPVs). A number of
Nonetheless, some second-hand aircraft, including utility foreign designs have been linked to this requirement.

Contract Equipment Type Quantity Value (USD Contractor Deliveries Service


Date millions)
Feb Fokker 60 Maritime patrol 2; 2 n.k. Netherlands 2010 Navy
2010 aircraft; Light government surplus
transport aircraft
Jul 2010 Mi-35P Hind E; Attack helicopter; 2; 6 107.9 Russian Helicopters 2011 Air Force
Mi-171Sh Hip Medium transport
helicopter
Jun DHC-6-400 Light transport 12 67 Viking Air 2011–15 Air Force
2011 Twin Otter aircraft

c. 2012 Río Itaya Patrol boat 1 1.09 SIMA Peru 2013 Coast
Guard
Jan Griffon Utility craft air 5 13.27 Griffon Hoverwork 2013 Navy
2012 2000TD cushioned
Nov KT-1P Training aircraft 20 208.87 Korea Aerospace 2014–17 Air Force
2012 Industries (KAI)

Dec H145 Light transport 5 n.k. M Airbus 2013–14 Police


2012 helicopter
Aug Pisco Landing 2 137.14 SIMA Peru 2018– Navy
2013 platform dock ongoing
Nov C-27J Spartan Medium transport 2 132.81 Alenia Aermacchi 2015 Air Force
2013 aircraft
Dec Río Pativilca Coastal patrol craft 6 n.k. SIMA Peru 2016–21 Navy
2013
Dec Mi-171Sh Hip Medium transport 24 528 Ulan-Ude Aviation Plant 2014–16 Army
2013 helicopter (U-UAZ)
Dec PHL-90B 122mm multiple 27 38.58 NORINCO 2015 Army
2013 rocket launcher
c. 2014 Angamos Attack submarine 4 470.63 SIMA Peru tbd Navy
(GER Type- upgrade
209/1200)
Apr PerúSAT-1 ISR satellite 1 199.01 M Airbus 2016 Ministry of
2014 Defence
Jul 2014 LAV II Armoured 32 67 General Dynamics 2015-16 Marines
personnel carrier Land Systems-Canada
(wheeled) (GDLS-C)
Jul 2014 Tacna (ex-NLD Fleet 1 69.1 Netherlands 2014 Navy
Amsterdam) replenishment government surplus
oiler with a hangar
Latin America and the Caribbean 375

Oct 2014 Fokker 50 Light transport 2 n.k. Netherlands 2014 Navy


aircraft government surplus
Oct 2014 SH-2G Super Anti-submarine 5 n.k. General Dynamics 2018–22 Navy
Seasprite warfare helicopter Mission Systems-Canada
upgrade
Dec Carrasco Oceanographic 1 105.24 Freire Shipyard 2017 Navy
2014 research vessel
Dec C-27J Spartan Medium transport 2 132.88 Finmeccanica 2015–17 Air Force
2014 aircraft
Dec SH-2G Super Anti-submarine 5 24.93 New Zealand 2018–22 Navy
2014 Seasprite warfare helicopter government surplus
c. 2014 Cessna 172 Light transport 7 n.k. Textron Aviation 2015 Air Force
aircraft
c. 2014 Spike-ER Man-portable 36 n.k. Rafael Advanced 2015–16 Army
anti-tank missile Defense Systems
systems
Apr 2015 Bell 412SP Multi-role 3 11.98 Netherlands 2015 Navy
Twin Huey helicopter government surplus
Oct 2015 Ferré (ex-ROK Corvette 1 0 Republic of Korea 2016 Navy
Po Hang) government surplus
Jan RAM Mk3 Armoured 7 1.74 IAI RAMTA 2017 Navy
2016 reconnaissance
vehicle
Jun Enstrom F-28 Training helicopter 4 4.11 Enstrom Helicopter 2021– Air Force
2019 Corporation ongoing
Dec Mi-171Sh Hip Medium transport 2 43.7 Belspetsvneshtechnika 2021 Police
2019 helicopter
Oct 2020 Combat Boat Fast patrol boat 2 n.k. SIMA Peru tbd Navy
90HSM
Dec KC-130H Tanker/transport 2 28.53 Spain government 2021 Air Force
2020 Hercules aircraft surplus
Apr 2021 Ferré (ex-ROK Corvette 1 0 Republic of Korea 2022 Navy
Po Hang) government surplus

M = multinational

Latin America and


the Caribbean
376 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Antigua and Barbuda ATG Argentina ARG


East Caribbean Dollar XCD 2021 2022 2023 Argentine Peso ARS 2021 2022 2023
GDP XCD 3.97bn 4.57bn GDP ARS 46.3tr 81.8tr
USD 1.47bn 1.69bn USD 487bn 631bn
per capita USD 14,809 16,787 per capita USD 10,617 13,622
Growth % 5.3 6.0 Growth % 10.4 4.0
Inflation % 1.6 8.5 Inflation % 48.4 72.4
Def bdgt [a] XCD 20.0m 20.5m Def bdgt ARS 246bn 438bn 827bn
USD 7.40m 7.59m USD 2.59bn 3.38bn
USD1=XCD 2.70 2.70 USD1=ARS 95.09 129.63

[a] Budget for the Ministry of Legal Affairs, Public Safety, Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
Immigration & Labour 6.34

Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)


8.77 3.26
2008 2015 2022
2.00
Population 46,245,668
2008 2015 2022
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Population 100,335
Male 12.2% 3.9% 3.8% 3.6% 20.6% 5.3%
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Female 11.5% 3.7% 3.6% 3.5% 21.0% 7.2%
Male 11.2% 3.6% 4.0% 3.8% 20.3% 4.1%
Female 10.9% 3.6% 4.1% 4.0% 24.8% 5.5%
Capabilities
Argentina’s armed forces have sufficient training and equipment
Capabilities to fulfil internal-security tasks, although any power-projection
ambition is limited by funding shortfalls. The armed forces princi-
The Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force (ABDF) focuses on internal pally focus on border security, surveillance and counter-narcotics
security and disaster relief, and also contributes to regional counter- operations, and there is some cooperation with Bolivia and Para-
narcotics efforts. It comprises a light-infantry element, which carries
guay. In 2020, the government repealed 2018 legislation, passed
out internal-security duties, and a coastguard, which is tasked with
under the previous administration, that had allowed greater
fishery protection and counter-narcotics. Antigua and Barbuda is a
latitude in deploying the armed forces to tackle external chal-
member of the Caribbean Community and the Caribbean Regional
lenges including from organised-crime groups. There is military
Security System. There are defence ties with the UK and the US.
cooperation with the US and the armed forces participate in mul-
The ABDF has participated in US SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds disaster-
tinational exercises and bilateral peacekeeping exercises with
response exercise, though it has no independent capacity to deploy
neighbour Chile. There are limited deployment capabilities, and
forces other than in its immediate neighbourhood. There is no heavy
land-forces equipment, while the coastguard maintains ex-US patrol the equipment inventory is increasingly obsolete, with moderni-
vessels and a number of smaller boats. Aside from limited mainte- sation hampered by funding problems. The air force faces signifi-
nance facilities, there is no indigenous defence industry. cant equipment-availability challenges and the navy has seen its
capability decline in areas such as anti-submarine warfare, mine
ACTIVE 180 (Army 130 Coast Guard 50) warfare and airborne early warning, although it has received new
(all services form combined Antigua and Barbuda Defence Force) investment in the way of offshore patrol vessels. Argentina pos-
RESERVE 80 (Joint 80) sesses an indigenous defence-manufacturing and maintenance
capacity covering land, sea and air systems, although industry
fortunes have dipped in recent years because of a lack of invest-
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE ment. Recent international procurement ambitions have been
hampered by the UK’s refusal to provide export licences for UK-
Army 130 built defence-related components.
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE ACTIVE 72,100 (Army 42,800 Navy 16,400 Air
Light 12,900) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 31,250
1 inf bn HQ
1 inf coy ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 spt gp (1 engr unit, 1 med unit)
Army 42,800
Coast Guard 50 Regt and gp are usually bn-sized
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE FORCES BY ROLE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 2: 1 MANOEUVRE
Dauntless; 1 Swift Mechanised
Latin America and the Caribbean 377

1 (1st) div (1 armd bde (1 armd recce regt, 3 tk regt, 1 MRL 8: 105mm 4 SLAM Pampero; 127mm 4 CP-30
mech inf regt, 1 SP arty gp, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 int coy, 1 MOR 886: 81mm 492; SP 107mm 25 M106A2; 120mm
sigs sqn, 1 log coy), 1 (3rd) jungle bde (2 jungle inf regt, 330 Brandt; SP 120mm 39 TAM-VCTM
2 jungle inf coy, 1 arty gp, 1 engr coy, 1 int coy, 1 sigs AIRCRAFT
coy, 1 log coy, 1 med coy); 1 (12th) jungle bde (2 jungle TPT • Light 13: 1 Beech 80 Queen Air; 3 C-212-200
inf regt, 1 jungle inf coy, 1 arty gp, 1 engr bn, 1 int coy, Aviocar; 4 Cessna 208EX Grand Caravan; 1 Cessna 500
1 sigs coy, 1 log coy, 1 med coy), 2 engr bn, 1 sigs bn, Citation (survey); 1 Cessna 550 Citation Bravo; 2 DHC-6
1 log coy) Twin Otter; 1 Sabreliner 75A (Gaviao 75A)
1 (3rd) div (1 armd bde (1 armd recce sqn, 3 tk regt, 1 TRG 5 T-41 Mescalero
mech inf regt, 1 SP arty gp, 1 cbt engr sqn, 1 int coy, 1 HELICOPTERS
sigs sqn, 1 log coy); 1 mech bde (1 armd recce regt, 1 MRH 5: 4 SA315B Lama; 1 Z-11
tk regt, 2 mech inf regt, 1 SP arty gp, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 TPT 62: Medium 3 AS332B Super Puma; Light 59:
int coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log coy); 1 mech bde (1 armd recce 1 Bell 212; 25 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois – 6 armed);
regt, 1 tk regt, 2 mech inf regt, 1 SP arty gp, 1 cbt engr 5 Bell 206B3; 13 UH-1H-II Huey II; 15 AB206B1
bn, 1 int coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log coy); 1 int bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 AIR DEFENCE
log coy, 1 AD gp (2 AD bn)) SAM • Point-defence RBS-70
1 (Rapid Deployment Force) div (1 SF gp; 1 mech bde (1 GUNS • TOWED 229: 20mm 200 GAI-B01; 30mm 21
armd recce regt, 3 mech inf regt, 1 arty gp, 1 MRL gp, HS L81; 35mm 8 GDF-002 (Skyguard fire control)
1 cbt engr coy, 1 sigs coy,1 log coy); 1 AB bde (1 recce
sqn, 2 para regt, 1 air aslt regt, 1 arty gp, 1 cbt engr coy, Navy 16,400
1 sigs coy, 1 log coy)) Commands: Surface Fleet, Submarines, Naval Avn, Marines
Light
FORCES BY ROLE
1 (2nd) mtn inf div (1 mtn inf bde (1 recce regt, 3 mtn inf
SPECIAL FORCES
regt, 1 mtn inf coy, 2 arty gp, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs coy,
1 (diver) SF gp
1 log coy); 1 mtn inf bde (1 recce regt, 3 mtn inf regt, 1
mtn inf coy, 1 arty gp, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs coy, 1 log EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
coy); 1 mtn inf bde (1 recce regt, 2 mtn inf regt, 2 arty SUBMARINES • SSK
gp, 1 cbt engr bn, 1 sigs coy, 1 construction coy, 1 log 1 Santa Cruz (GER TR-1700) (non-operational,
coy), 1 arty gp, 1 AD bn, 1 sigs bn) undergoing MLU since 2015) with 6 single 533mm TT
1 mot cav regt (presidential escort) with SST-4 HWT
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 Salta (GER T-209/1100) (non-operational since 2013)
1 engr bn with 8 single 533mm TT with Mk 37/SST-4 HWT)
1 CBRN coy PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 5
1 sigs gp (1 EW bn, 1 sigs bn, 1 maint bn) DESTROYERS • DDH 1 Hercules (UK Type-42)
1 sigs bn (utilised as a fast troop-transport ship), with 1 114mm

Latin America and


1 sigs coy gun (capacity 2 SH-3H Sea King hel)

the Caribbean
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT FRIGATES • FFGHM 4 Almirante Brown (GER MEKO
3 maint bn 360) (of which 1†) with 2 quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet
HELICOPTER AShM, 1 octuple Albatros lnchr with Aspide SAM,
1 avn gp (bde) (1 avn bn, 1 tpt hel bn, 1 atk/ISR hel sqn) 2 triple ILAS-3 (B-515) 324mm TT with A244/S LWT,
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 AS555 Fennec hel)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 24
MBT 231: 225 TAM, 6 TAM S21 CORVETTES 9:
LT TK 117: 107 SK-105A1 Kuerassier; 6 SK-105A2 FSGH 6 Espora (GER MEKO 140) with 2 twin lnchr
Kuerassier; 4 Patagón with MM38 Exocet AShM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS-3 (B-
RECCE 47 AML-90 515) ASTT with A244/S LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1
IFV 232: 118 VCTP (incl variants); 114 M113A2 (20mm AS555 Fennec hel)
cannon) FSG 3 Drummond (FRA A-69) (of which 2†) with 2
APC 278 twin lnchr with MM38 Exocet AShM, 2 triple 324mm
APC (T) 274: 70 M113A1-ACAV; 204 M113A2 ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT with A244/S LWT, 1 100mm gun
APC (W) 4 WZ-551B1 PSOH 4 Bouchard (FRA OPV 87) (of which 1 ex-FRA
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES L'Adroit) (capacity 1 hel)
ARV Greif PSO 1 Teniente Olivieri (ex-US oilfield tug)
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE PCFGT 1 Intrepida (GER Lurssen 45m) with 2 single
MSL • SP 3 M1025 HMMWV with TOW-2A lnchr with MM38 Exocet AShM, 2 single 533mm TT with
RCL 105mm 150 M-1968 SST-4 HWT, 1 76mm gun
ARTILLERY 1,108 PCF 1 Intrepida (GER Lurssen 45m) with 1 76mm gun
SP 155mm 42: 23 AMX F3; 19 VCA 155 Palmaria PCO 1 Murature (ex-US King – trg/river-patrol role) with
TOWED 172: 105mm 64 Model 56 pack howitzer; 2 105mm gun
155mm 108: 28 CITEFA M-77/CITEFA M-81; 80 PB 7: 4 Baradero (ISR Dabur); 2 Punta Mogotes (ex-US
SOFMA L-33 Point); 1 Zurubi
378 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AMPHIBIOUS 6 LCVP 2 (tac air) sqn with EMB-312 Tucano (on loan for
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 16 border surv/interdiction)
ABU 3 Red ISR
AFS 4 Puerto Argentina (ex-RUS Neftegaz) 1 sqn with Learjet 35A
AGB 1 Almirante Irizar (damaged by fire in 2007; SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
returned to service in mid-2017) 2 sqn with Bell 212; Bell 412; Mi-171, SA-315B Lama
AGHS 3: 1 Austral (ex-GER Sonne); 1 Cormoran; 1 Puerto TANKER/TRANSPORT
Deseado (ice-breaking capability, used for polar research) 1 sqn with C-130H Hercules; KC-130H Hercules; L-100-30
AGOR 1 Commodoro Rivadavia TRANSPORT
AK 2 Costa Sur (capacity 4 LCVP) 1 sqn with Beech A200 King Air (UC-12B Huron);
AOR 1 Patagonia (ex-FRA Durance) with 1 hel platform Cessna 182 Skylane
AXS 1 Libertad 1 sqn with DHC-6 Twin Otter; Saab 340
1 sqn with F-28 Friendship
Naval Aviation 2,000 1 sqn with Learjet 35A; Learjet 60
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 (Pres) flt with B-737-700; B-757-23ER; S-70A Black
AIRCRAFT 16 combat capable Hawk, S-76B
FGA (5 Super Etendard Modernisé non-operational and TRAINING
undergoing modernisation; 11 Super Etendard in store) 1 sqn with AT-63 Pampa II
ASW 6: 2 S-2T Tracker; 4 P-3B Orion† 1 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano
TPT • Light 7 Beech 200F/M King Air 1 sqn with Grob 120TP
TRG 10 T-34C Turbo Mentor* 1 sqn with IA-63 Pampa III*
HELICOPTERS 1 sqn with T-6C Texan II
ASW 2 SH-3H (ASH-3H) Sea King
1 hel sqn with Hughes 369; SA-315B Lama
MRH 1 AS555 Fennec
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
TPT • Medium 6: 2 S-61T; 4 UH-3H Sea King
1 sqn with Hughes 369; MD-500; MD-500D
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR R-550 Magic EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AShM AM39 Exocet AIRCRAFT 22 combat capable
ATK 12: 10 A-4 (A-4AR) Skyhawk (of which 6†); 2
Marines 2,500 OA-4 (OA-4AR) Skyhawk (of which 1†)
FORCES BY ROLE ELINT 1 Learjet 35A
MANOEUVRE TKR/TPT 2 KC-130H Hercules
Amphibious TPT 25: Medium 4: 3 C-130H Hercules; 1 L-100-30;
1 (fleet) force (1 cdo gp, 1 (AAV) amph bn, 1 mne bn, Light 17: 3 Beech A200 King Air (UC-12B Huron); 4
1 arty bn, 1 ADA bn) Cessna 182 Skylane; 2 DHC-6 Twin Otter; 3 Learjet
1 (fleet) force (2 mne bn, 2 navy det) 35A (of which 2 test and calibration and 1 medevac);
1 force (1 mne bn) 1 Learjet 60 (VIP); 1 PA-28-236 Dakota; 3 Saab 340
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE (jointly operated with LADE); PAX 4: 1 B-737; 1 B-737-
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 700; 1 B-757-23ER; 1 F-28 Fellowship
RECCE 12 ERC-90F Sagaie TRG 46: 2 AT-63 Pampa II* (LIFT); 11 EMB-312 Tucano;
APC • APC (W) 31 VCR 9 Grob 120TP; 8 IA-63 Pampa III*; 6 P2002JF Sierra; 10
AAV 11 LVTP-7 T-6C Texan II (8 EMB-312 Tucano in store)
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES HELICOPTERS
ARV AAVR 7 MRH 29: 6 Bell 412EP; 11 Hughes 369; 3 MD-500; 4
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE MD-500D; 5 SA315B Lama
RCL 105mm 30 M-1974 FMK-1 TPT 12: Medium 3: 2 Mi-171E; 1 S-70A Black Hawk
ARTILLERY 89 (VIP); Light 9: 7 Bell 212; 2 S-76B (VIP)
TOWED 19: 105mm 13 Model 56 pack howitzer; AIR DEFENCE
155mm 6 M114 GUNS 88: 20mm: 86 Oerlikon/Rh-202 with 9 Elta EL/
MOR 70: 81mm 58; 120mm 12 M-2106 radar; 35mm: 2 GDF-001 with Skyguard radar
AIR DEFENCE AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
SAM • Point-defence RBS-70 AAM • IR AIM-9L Sidewinder; R-550 Magic; Shafrir 2‡
GUNS 40mm 4 Bofors 40L
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 31,250
Air Force 12,900
4 Major Comds – Air Operations, Personnel, Air Regions, Gendarmerie 18,000
Logistics, 8 air bde Ministry of Security
FORCES BY ROLE
Air Operations Command COMMAND
FORCES BY ROLE 7 regional comd
GROUND ATTACK SPECIAL FORCES
2 sqn with A-4/OA-4 (A-4AR/OA-4AR) Skyhawk 1 SF unit
Latin America and the Caribbean 379

MANOEUVRE
Other Bahamas BHS
17 paramilitary bn
Bahamian Dollar BSD 2021 2022 2023
Aviation
1 (mixed) avn bn GDP BSD 11.2bn 12.7bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE USD 11.2bn 12.7bn
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES per capita USD 28,792 32,246
APC (W) 87: 47 Grenadier; 40 UR-416 Growth % 13.7 8.0
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm Inflation % 2.9 5.7
AIRCRAFT
Def bdgt BSD 95.4m 94.5m 146m
TPT 13: Light 12: 3 Cessna 152; 3 Cessna 206; 1 Cessna
USD 95.4m 94.5m
336; 1 PA-28 Cherokee; 2 PC-6B Turbo Porter; 2 PC-12;
PAX 1 Learjet 35 USD1=BSD 1.00 1.00
HELICOPTERS Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
MRH 2 MD-500C 152
TPT • Light 17: 3 AW119 Koala; 2 Bell 206 Jet Ranger
(AB-206); 7 AS350 Ecureuil; 1 H135; 1 H155; 3 R-44 Raven II 52
TRG 1 S-300C 2008 2015 2022

Prefectura Naval (Coast Guard) 13,250 Population 355,608


Ministry of Security
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 71 Male 10.9% 3.6% 3.8% 4.0% 22.7% 3.7%
PCO 7: 1 Correa Falcon; 1 Delfin; 5 Mantilla (F30 Halcón Female 10.6% 3.5% 3.7% 3.9% 23.7% 5.7%
– undergoing modernisation)
PCC 1 Mariano Moreno Capabilities
PB 58: 1 Dorado; 25 Estrellemar; 2 Lynch (US Cape); 18 The Royal Bahamas Defence Force (RBDF) is primarily a naval force
Mar del Plata (Z-28); 1 Surel; 8 Damen Stan 2200; 3 Stan tasked with disaster relief, maritime security and counter-narcotics
Tender 1750 duties. Its single commando squadron is tasked with base pro-
PBF 4 Shaldag II tection and internal security. The Bahamas is a member of the
Caribbean Community and is looking to strengthen cooperative
PBR 1 Tonina
partnerships with its neighbours in maritime law enforcement.
LOGISTICS & SUPPORT 11 The RBDF maintains training relationships with the UK and US.
AAR 1 Tango The RBDF has participated in US SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds disaster-
AFS 1 Prefecto Garcia response exercise. There is little independent capacity to deploy

Latin America and


AG 2 abroad, aside from recent regional disaster-relief efforts. The

the Caribbean
ARS 1 Prefecto Mansilla RBDF’s Sandy Bottom Project, the largest-ever capital investment
AX 5: 1 Mandubi; 4 other in the service, includes the acquisition of patrol craft and the devel-
opment of bases and port facilities. The maritime wing is focused
AXS 1 Dr Bernardo Houssay
around patrol vessels and smaller patrol boats, while the air wing
AIRCRAFT has a small inventory of light aircraft. Apart from limited mainte-
MP 1 Beech 350ER King Air nance facilities, the Bahamas has no indigenous defence industry.
TPT • Light 6: 5 C-212 Aviocar; 1 Beech 350ER King Air
TRG 2 Piper PA-28 Archer III ACTIVE 1,500
HELICOPTERS
SAR 3 AS565MA Panther ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
MRH 1 AS365 Dauphin 2
TPT 7: Medium 3: 1 H225 Puma; 2 SA330L (AS330L) Royal Bahamas Defence Force 1,500
Puma; Light 4: 2 AS355 Ecureuil II; 2 Bell 206 (AB-206)
FORCES BY ROLE
Jet Ranger
MANOEUVRE
TRG 4 S-300C
Amphibious
1 mne coy (incl marines with internal- and base-
DEPLOYMENT security duties)
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 2 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 21
CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 251; 2 inf coy; 1 hel flt with 2 Bell 212 PCC 2 Bahamas
INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 3 PB 19: 4 Arthur Dion Hanna (Damen Stan Patrol 4207);
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIl 2 2 Dauntless; 4 Lignum Vitae (Damen 3007); 1 Safe 33;
4 Safe 44; 2 Sea Ark 12m; 2 Sea Ark 15m
MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 3 LOGISTICS & SUPPORT • AKR 1 Lawrence Major
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 3 (Damen 5612)
380 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Coast Guard 110


AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 3: 1 Beech A350 King Air;
HQ located at HMBS Pelican, Spring Garden
1 Cessna 208 Caravan; 1 P-68 Observer
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 6
FOREIGN FORCES PB 6: 1 Dauntless; 2 Enterprise (Damen Stan 1204);
Guyana Navy: Base located at New Providence Island 3 Trident (Damen Stan Patrol 4207)

Barbados BRB Belize BLZ


Belize Dollar BZD 2021 2022 2023
Barbados Dollar BBD 2021 2022 2023
GDP BZD 4.85bn 5.35bn
GDP BBD 9.71bn 11.6bn
USD 2.43bn 2.68bn
USD 4.85bn 5.79bn
per capita USD 5,638 6,096
per capita USD 16,817 20,004
Growth % 16.3 3.5
Growth % 0.7 10.5
Inflation % 3.2 6.6
Inflation % 3.1 9.9
Def bdgt [a] BZD 40.0m 46.6m
Def bdgt [a] BBD 79.6m 84.8m
USD 20.0m 23.3m
USD 39.8m 42.4m
FMA (US) USD 1.0m 0.0m 0.0m
USD1=BBD 2.00 2.00
USD1=BZD 2.00 2.00
[a] Defence & security expenditure
[a] Excludes funds allocated to Coast Guard and Police Service
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
38 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
24

31 n.k.
2008 2015 2022 16
2008 2015 2022
Population 302,674
Population 412,387
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 8.5% 3.0% 3.0% 3.1% 24.4% 6.3%
Male 16.1% 5.4% 5.1% 4.1% 17.2% 2.3%
Female 8.5% 3.0% 3.1% 3.2% 25.3% 8.7%
Female 15.4% 5.0% 4.5% 3.9% 18.6% 2.5%

Capabilities Capabilities
Maritime security and resource protection are the main tasks of
Belize maintains a small Defence Force (BDF) and coastguard to
the Barbados Defence Force (BDF), but it has a secondary public- provide national security, particularly control of the borders with
safety role in support of the police force. The BDF has undertaken Guatemala and Mexico. In 2022, a new National Security Strategy
counter-narcotics work, while troops have also been tasked with underscored priorities of maintaining sovereignty and territorial
supporting law enforcement. There are plans to improve disaster- integrity; reducing trans-national, cross-border and other violent
relief capabilities. Barbados is a member of the Caribbean Commu- crime; counter-terrorism; and reducing risk from natural human-
nity, and the Caribbean Regional Security System is headquartered caused hazards. The UK has a long-standing security relationship
there. The BDF has participated in US SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds with Belize and maintains a small training unit there, and the BDF
disaster-response exercise. There is limited capacity to deploy inde- also trains with US SOUTHCOM. Overall training levels are limited
pendently within the region, such as on hurricane-relief duties. The but generally sufficient for the BDF’s tasks. Belize is a member of
inventory consists principally of a small number of patrol vessels. the Caribbean Community. The BDF does not deploy internation-
Apart from limited maintenance facilities, Barbados has no indig- ally and logistics support is adequate for border-security missions.
The conventional equipment inventory is limited and there is no
enous defence industry.
significant domestic defence industry.
ACTIVE 610 (Army 500 Coast Guard 110) ACTIVE 1,500 (Army 1,500) Gendarmerie &
RESERVE 430 (Joint 430) Paramilitary 550
RESERVE 700 (Joint 700)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Army 500
FORCES BY ROLE Army ε1,500
MANOEUVRE FORCES BY ROLE
Light SPECIAL FORCES
1 inf bn (cadre) 1 SF unit
Latin America and the Caribbean 381

MANOEUVRE Capabilities
Light
The armed forces are constitutionally tasked with maintaining
2 inf bn (3 inf coy)
sovereignty and territorial defence, though principal tasks are
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT counter-narcotics and internal and border security. Joint task forces
1 spt gp have been formed and dispatched to border regions to combat
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE smuggling, and a series of border posts have been established.
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE • RCL 84mm Airspace control is an emerging strategic priority. The armed forces
have also been playing a greater role in disaster-relief operations,
Carl Gustaf
with a new dedicated joint command established in 2022.There is
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 6 defence-technology cooperation with Russia, and China remains
a significant supplier of military materiel. Bolivia cooperates with
Air Wing
Peru and Paraguay on countering illicit trafficking and on providing
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE disaster relief. The armed forces have stressed the need to improve
AIRCRAFT conditions for personnel, amid greater internal deployments to
TPT • Light 2: 1 BN-2B Defender†; 1 Cessna 182 border areas on counter-trafficking tasks. An aerospace R&D centre
Skylane† was created in 2018 in the military-engineering school, with the
objective of developing munitions and ISR UAVs. There is some
TRG 1 T-67M-200 Firefly
local maintenance, repair and overhaul capacity.
HELICOPTERS
TPT • Light 3: 2 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 1 Bell 407 ACTIVE 34,100 (Army 22,800 Navy 4,800 Air 6,500)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 37,100
Reserve Conscript liability 12 months voluntary conscription for both males
FORCES BY ROLE and females
MANOEUVRE
Light ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
1 inf bn (3 inf coy)
Army 9,800; 13,000 conscript (total 22,800)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 550 FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND
Coast Guard 550 6 mil region HQ
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 10 div HQ
All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD SPECIAL FORCES
3 SF regt
FOREIGN FORCES MANOEUVRE
Reconnaissance

Latin America and


United Kingdom BATSUB 12

the Caribbean
1 mot cav gp
Armoured
Bolivia BOL 1 armd bn
Mechanised
Bolivian Boliviano BOB 2021 2022 2023 1 mech cav regt
GDP BOB 279bn 298bn 2 mech inf regt
USD 40.7bn 43.4bn Light
per capita USD 3,449 3,631 1 (aslt) cav gp
5 (horsed) cav gp
Growth % 6.1 3.8
3 mot inf regt
Inflation % 0.7 3.2 21 inf regt
Def bdgt BOB 3.26bn 3.30bn Air Manoeuvre
USD 476m 481m 2 AB regt (bn)
USD1=BOB 6.86 6.86 Other
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) 1 (Presidential Guard) inf regt
519 COMBAT SUPPORT
6 arty regt (bn)
293 6 engr bn
2008 2015 2022 1 int coy
1 MP bn
Population 12,054,379 1 sigs bn
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
2 log bn
Male 15.2% 5.0% 4.5% 4.1% 18.4% 3.1%
AVIATION
Female 14.6% 4.9% 4.4% 4.0% 18.3% 3.6% 2 avn coy
382 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AIR DEFENCE TRANSPORT


1 ADA regt 1 (TAM) sqn with B-727; B-737; MA60
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 (TAB) sqn with C-130A Hercules; MD-10-30F
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 1 sqn with C-130B/H Hercules
LT TK 54: 36 SK-105A1 Kuerassier; 18 SK-105A2 Kuerassier 1 sqn with F-27-400M Troopship
RECCE 24 EE-9 Cascavel 1 (VIP) sqn with Beech 90 King Air; Beech 200 King Air
APC 148+ Beech 1900; Falcon 900EX; Sabreliner 60; Falcon 50EX
APC (T) 87+: 50+ M113, 37 M9 half-track 6 sqn with Cessna 152/206; IAI-201 Arava; PA-32
APC (W) 61: 24 EE-11 Urutu; 22 MOWAG Roland; 15 Saratoga; PA-34 Seneca
V-100 Commando TRAINING
1 sqn with DA40; T-25; Z-242L
AUV 19 Tiger 4×4
1 sqn with Cessna 152/172
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
1 sqn with PC-7 Turbo Trainer
ARV 4 Greif; M578 LARV
1 hel sqn with R-44 Raven II
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
MSL
1 (anti-drug) sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
SP 2 Koyak with HJ-8
AIR DEFENCE
MANPATS HJ-8
1 regt with Oerlikon; Type-65
RCL 90mm M67; 106mm M40A1
ARTILLERY 311+ EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
TOWED 61: 105mm 25 M101A1; 122mm 36 M-30 (M- AIRCRAFT 21 combat capable
TPT 77: Heavy 1 MD-10-30F; Medium 4: 1 C-130A
1938)
Hercules; 2 C-130B Hercules; 1 C-130H Hercules; Light
MOR 250+: 81mm 250 M29; Type-W87; 107mm M30;
64: 1 Aero Commander 690; 3 Beech 90 King Air; 2 Beech
120mm M120
200 King Air; 1 Beech 250 King Air; 1 Beech 350 King
AIRCRAFT
Air; 3 C-212-100; 6 Cessna 152; 2 Cessna 172; 18 Cessna
TPT • Light 3: 1 Fokker F-27-200; 1 Beech 90 King Air; 1
206; 3 Cessna 210 Centurion; 1 Cessna 402; 8 DA40; 1
C-212 Aviocar
F-27-400M Troopship; 4 IAI-201 Arava; 2 Learjet 25B/D;
HELICOPTERS • MRH 6 H425
2 MA60†; 1 PA-32 Saratoga; 4 PA-34 Seneca; 1 Sabreliner
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 37mm 18 Type-65
60; PAX 8: 1 B-727; 3 B-737-200; 1 Falcon 50EX; 1 Falcon
900EX (VIP); 2 RJ70
Navy 4,800 TRG 35: 5 K-8WB Karakorum*; 6 T-25; 16 PC-7 Turbo
Organised into six naval districts with HQ located at Trainer*; 8 Z-242L
Puerto Guayaramerín HELICOPTERS
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MRH 1 SA316 Alouette III
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 7 TPT 35: Medium 6 H215 Super Puma; Light 29: 2 H125
PBR 7: 1 Santa Cruz; 6 Type 928 YC Ecureuil; 19 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 2 H145; 6 R-44
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 3 Raven II
AG 1 Mojo Huayna AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 18+: 20mm Oerlikon
AH 2 GAI; 37mm 18 Type-65

Marines 1,700 (incl 1,000 Naval Military Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 37,100+
Police)
FORCES BY ROLE National Police 31,100+
MANOEUVRE FORCES BY ROLE
Mechanised MANOEUVRE
1 mech inf bn Other
Amphibious 27 frontier sy unit
6 mne bn (1 in each Naval District) 9 paramilitary bde
COMBAT SUPPORT 2 (rapid action) paramilitary regt
4 (naval) MP bn
Narcotics Police 6,000+
FOE (700) – Special Operations Forces
Air Force 6,500 (incl conscripts)
FORCES BY ROLE
GROUND ATTACK DEPLOYMENT
1 sqn with K-8WB Karakorum CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 7
ISR
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
1 sqn with Cessna 206; Cessna 402; Learjet 25B/25D
MONUSCO 4
(secondary VIP role)
SEARCH & RESCUE SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 5
1 sqn with AS332B Super Puma; H125 Ecureuil; H145 SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 4
Latin America and the Caribbean 383

Brazil BRZ ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Brazilian Real BRL 2021 2022 2023 Space


GDP BRL 8.68tr 9.66tr EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD 1.61tr 1.89tr SATELLITES • COMMUNICATIONS 1 SGDC-1 (civil–
military use)
per capita USD 7,564 8,857
Growth % 4.6 2.8
Army 102,000; 112,000 conscript (total
Inflation % 8.3 9.4 214,000)
Def bdgt [a] BRL 115bn 117bn 121bn FORCES BY ROLE
USD 21.3bn 23.0bn COMMAND
USD1=BRL 5.40 5.10 8 mil comd HQ
[a] Includes military pensions 12 mil region HQ
7 div HQ (2 with regional HQ)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
26.8
SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF bde (1 SF bn, 1 cdo bn)
1 SF coy
21.8
2008 2015 2022
MANOEUVRE
Reconnaissance
Population 217,240,060 3 mech cav regt
Armoured
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 1 (5th) armd bde (1 mech cav sqn, 2 tk regt, 2 mech inf bn,
Male 10.2% 3.9% 4.1% 3.9% 22.8% 4.4% 1 SP arty bn, 1 engr bn, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
Female 9.8% 3.8% 4.0% 3.8% 23.7% 5.8% 1 (6th) armd bde (1 mech cav sqn, 2 tk regt, 2 mech
inf bn, 1 SP arty bn, 1 AD bty, 1 engr bn, 1 sigs coy,
1 log bn)
Capabilities
Mechanised
The armed forces are among the most capable in the region. 4 (1st, 3rd & 4th) mech cav bde (1 armd cav regt, 3 mech
Brazil seeks to enhance its power-projection capabilities, boost cav regt, 1 arty bn, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
surveillance of the Amazon region and coastal waters, and further 1 (2nd) mech cav bde (1 armd cav regt, 2 mech cav regt,
develop its defence industry. Security challenges from organised 1 SP arty bn, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
crime have seen the armed forces deploy on internal-security 1 (3rd) mech inf bde (1 mech cav sqn, 2 mech inf bn, 1 inf
operations. Brazil maintains military ties with most of its neigh- bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)

Latin America and


bours including personnel exchanges and joint military training 1 (11th) mech inf bde (1 mech cav regt, 3 mech inf bn,

the Caribbean
with Chile and Colombia. There is also defence cooperation with 1 arty bn, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 MP coy, 1 log bn)
France, Sweden and the US, centred on procurement, technical 1 (15th) mech inf bde (3 mech inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr
advice and personnel training. Brazil’s air-transport fleet enables it
coy, 1 log bn)
Light
to independently deploy forces. It contributes small contingents to
1 (4th) mot inf bde (1 mech cav sqn, 1 mot inf bn, 1 inf bn,
several UN missions. Brazil is attempting to modernise its equip-
1 mtn inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
ment across all domains. Major platform developments include
1 (7th) mot inf bde (3 mot inf bn, 1 arty bn)
PROSUB (one nuclear-powered and four diesel-electric subma-
1 (8th) mot inf bde (1 mech cav sqn, 3 mot inf bn, 1 arty
rines) and the acquisition in 2018 of a former UK helicopter carrier.
bn, 1 log bn)
Projects to boost aerospace capabilities are also underway includ- 1 (10th) mot inf bde (1 mech cav sqn, 4 mot inf bn, 1 inf
ing the FX-2 project to procure the Saab Gripen combat aircraft, as coy, 1 arty bn, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy)
well as the plan to introduce the Embraer KC-390 transport aircraft. 1 (13th) mot inf bde (1 mot inf bn, 2 inf bn, 1 inf coy,
Brazil has a well-developed defence-industrial base, across all 1 arty bn)
domains, with a capability to design and manufacture equipment. 1 (14th) mot inf bde (1 mech cav sqn, 3 inf bn, 1 arty bn)
Aerospace firms Avibras and Embraer also export some products. 10 inf bn
Local companies are also involved in the SISFRON border-security 1 (1st) jungle inf bde (1 mech cav sqn, 2 jungle inf bn,
programme. There are industrial partnerships, including tech- 1 arty bn)
nology transfers and R&D support, with France’s Naval Group 4 (2nd, 16th, 17th & 22nd) jungle inf bde (3 jungle inf bn)
(PROSUB) and Sweden’s Saab (FX-2 fighter). 1 (23rd) jungle inf bde (1 cav sqn, 4 jungle inf bn, 1 arty
bn, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
ACTIVE 366,500 (Army 214,000 Navy 85,000 Air Air Manoeuvre
67,500) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 395,000 1 AB bde (1 cav sqn, 3 AB bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs
Conscript liability 12 months (can go to 18; often waived) coy, 1 log bn)
1 (12th) air mob bde (1 cav sqn, 3 air mob bn, 1 arty bn,
RESERVE 1,340,000 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log bn)
384 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Other HELICOPTERS
1 (9th) mot trg bde (3 mot inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 log bn) MRH 51: 22 AS565 Panther (HM-1); 12 AS565 K2 Panther
1 (18th) sy bde (2 sy bn, 2 sy coy) (HM-1); 17 AS550A2 Fennec (HA-1 – armed)
1 sy bn TPT 41: Heavy 14 H225M Caracal (HM-4); Medium 12:
7 sy coy 8 AS532 Cougar (HM-3); 4 S-70A-36 Black Hawk (HM-2);
3 gd cav regt Light 15 AS350L1 Ecureuil (HA-1)
1 gd inf bn UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
COMBAT SUPPORT ISR • Medium 1 Nauru 1000C
3 SP arty bn AIR DEFENCE
6 fd arty bn SAM • Point-defence RBS-70; 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18
1 MRL bn Grouse); 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch)
1 STA bty GUNS 100:
6 engr bn SP 35mm 34 Gepard 1A2
1 engr gp (1 engr bn, 4 construction bn) TOWED 66: 35mm 39 GDF-001 towed (some with Super
1 engr gp (4 construction bn, 1 construction coy) Fledermaus radar); 40mm 27 L/70 (some with BOFI)
2 construction bn
1 CBRN bn Navy 85,000
1 EW coy Organised into 9 districts with HQ I Rio de Janeiro, HQ II
1 int coy Salvador, HQ III Natal, HQ IV Belém, HQ V Rio Grande,
8 MP bn HQ VI Ladario, HQ VII Brasilia, HQ VIII Sao Paulo, HQ
2 MP coy IX Manaus
4 sigs bn
FORCES BY ROLE
2 sigs coy
SPECIAL FORCES
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
5 log bn 1 (diver) SF gp
1 tpt bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
4 spt bn SUBMARINES • SSK 6:
HELICOPTER 1 Riachuelo (FRA Scorpène) with 6 533mm TT with SM39
1 avn bde (3 hel bn, 1 maint bn) Exocet AShM/F21 HWT
1 hel bn 2 Tupi (GER T-209/1400) with 8 single 533mm TT with
AIR DEFENCE Mk 24 Tigerfish HWT
1 ADA bde (5 ADA bn) 2 Tupi (GER T-209/1400) with 8 single 533mm TT with
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Mk 48 HWT
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 1 Tikuna (GER T-209/1450) with 8 single 533mm TT with
MBT 296: 41 Leopard 1A1BE; 220 Leopard 1A5BR; 35 Mk 24 Tigerfish HWT
M60A3/TTS PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 7
LT TK 50 M41C FRIGATES 7
RECCE 408 EE-9 Cascavel FFGHM 6:
IFV 13 VBTP-MR Guarani 30mm 1 Greenhalgh (ex-UK Broadsword) with 4 single lnchr
APC 1,458 with MM40 Exocet Block 2 AShM, 2 sextuple lnchr
APC (T) 660: 198 M113A1; 386 M113BR; 12 M113A2; with Sea Wolf SAM, 2 triple 324mm STWS Mk.2
64 M577A2 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT (capacity 2 Super Lynx
APC (W) 798: 223 EE-11 Urutu; ε575 VBTP-MR Mk21A hel)
Guarani 6×6 5 Niterói with 2 twin lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block 2
AUV IVECO LMV (LMV-BR) AShM, 1 octuple Albatros lnchr with Aspide SAM,
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46
AEV 7+: Greif; 2 Sabiex HART; 5 Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs LWT, 1 twin 375mm Bofors ASW Rocket Launcher
ARV 13+: 9 BPz-2; 4 M88A1; M578 LARV System A/S mor, 1 115mm gun (capacity 1 Super
VLB 5+: XLP-10; 5 Leopard 1 with Biber Lynx Mk21A hel)
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE FFGH 1 Barroso with 2 twin lnchr with MM40 Exocet
MSL • MANPATS Eryx; Milan; MSS-1.2 AC Block 2 AShM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT
RCL 194+: 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm 194 M40A1 with Mk 46 LWT, 1 115mm gun (capacity 1 Super Lynx
ARTILLERY 1,881 Mk21A hel)
SP 169: 155mm 169: 37 M109A3; 100 M109A5; 32 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 44
M109A5+ CORVETTES • FSGH 1 Inhaúma with 2 twin lnchr with
TOWED 431: 105mm 336: 233 M101/M102; 40 L118 MM40 Exocet Block 2 AShM, 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk
Light Gun; 63 Model 56 pack howitzer; 155mm 95 M114 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT, 1 115mm gun (1 Super Lynx
MRL 127mm 36: 18 ASTROS II Mk3M; 18 ASTROS II Mk6 Mk21A hel)
MOR 1,245: 81mm 1,168: 453 L16, 715 M936 AGR; PSO 3 Amazonas with 1 hel landing platform
120mm 77 M2 PCO 6: 4 Bracuí (ex-UK River); 1 Imperial Marinheiro with
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AP 1 Jacaretinga 1 76mm gun; 1 Parnaiba with 1 hel landing platform
Latin America and the Caribbean 385

PCC 2 Macaé (FRA Vigilante) 1 sqn with AS350 Ecureuil (armed); H225M Caracal
PCR 5: 2 Pedro Teixeira with 1 hel landing platform; 3 (UH-15)
Roraima 1 sqn with AS332 Super Puma; AS532 Cougar (UH-14);
PB 23: 12 Grajaú; 6 Marlim (ITA Meatini derivative); 5
H225M Caracal (UH-15)
Piratini (US PGM)
PBR 4 LPR-40 1 sqn with H225M Caracal (UH-15)
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 3 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MSC 3 Aratù (GER Schutze) AIRCRAFT 7 combat capable
AMPHIBIOUS ATK 7: 5 A-4M (AF-1B) Skyhawk; 2 TA-4M (AF-1C)
PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS 2
Skyhawk
LPH 1 Atlântico (ex-UK Ocean) (capacity 18 hels; 4
LCVP; 40 vehs; 800 troops) HELICOPTERS
LPD 1 Bahia (ex-FRA Foudre) (capacity 4 hels; 8 LCM, ASW 18: 9 Super Lynx Mk21A; 3 Super Lynx Mk21B;
450 troops) 6 S-70B Seahawk (MH-16)
LANDING SHIPS 2 CSAR 3 H225M Caracal (UH-15A)
LST 1 Mattoso Maia (ex-US Newport) with 1 Mk 15
TPT 55: Heavy 8 H225M Caracal (UH-15); Medium 7:
Phalanx CIWS (capacity 3 LCVP; 1 LCPL; 400 troops)
5 AS332 Super Puma; 2 AS532 Cougar (UH-14); Light 40:
LSLH 1 Almirante Sabóia (ex-UK Sir Bedivere) (capacity
1 med hel; 18 MBT; 340 troops) 15 AS350 Ecureuil (armed); 8 AS355 Ecureuil II (armed);
LANDING CRAFT 16: 15 Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger III (IH-6B); 2 H135 (UH-17)
LCM 12: 10 EDVM-25; 2 Icarai (ex-FRA CTM) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AShM: AM39 Exocet;
LCT 1 Marambaia (ex-FRA CDIC) Sea Skua; AGM-119 Penguin
LCU 3 Guarapari (LCU 1610)
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 42 Marines 16,000
ABU 5: 4 Comandante Varella; 1 Faroleiro Mario Seixas
ABUH 1 Almirante Graça Aranha (lighthouse tender) FORCES BY ROLE
AFS 1 Potengi SPECIAL FORCES
AGHS 5: 1 Caravelas (riverine); 4 Rio Tocantin 1 SF bn
AGOS 2: 1 Ary Rongel with 1 hel landing platform; 1 MANOEUVRE
Almirante Maximiano (capacity 2 AS350/AS355 Ecureuil hel) Amphibious
AGS 8: 1 Aspirante Moura; 1 Cruzeiro do Sul; 1 Antares;
1 amph div (1 lt armd bn, 3 mne bn, 1 arty bn)
3 Amorim do Valle (ex-UK River (MCM)); 1 Rio Branco; 1
Vital de Oliveira 1 amph aslt bn
AH 5: 2 Oswaldo Cruz with 1 hel landing platform; 1 7 (regional) mne gp
Dr Montenegro; 1 Tenente Maximiano with 1 hel landing 1 rvn bn

Latin America and


platform; 1 Soares de Meirelles COMBAT SUPPORT

the Caribbean
AOR 1 Almirante Gastão Motta 1 engr bn
AP 3: 1 Almirante Leverger; 1 Paraguassu; 1 Pará (all river
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
transports)
ARS 3 Mearim 1 log bn
ASR 1 Guillobel EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ATF 2 Tritao ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AX 1 Brasil (Niterói mod) with 1 hel landing platform LT TK 18 SK-105 Kuerassier
AXL 3 Nascimento
APC 60
AXS 1 Cisne Branco
APC (T) 30 M113A1 (incl variants)
Naval Aviation 2,100 APC (W) 30 Piranha IIIC
FORCES BY ROLE AAV 47: 13 AAV-7A1; 20 AAVP-7A1 RAM/RS;
GROUND ATTACK 2 AAVC-7A1 RAM/RS (CP); 12 LVTP-7
1 sqn with A-4M (AF-1B) Skyhawk; TA-4M (AF-1C)
ENGINEERING VEHICLES • ARV 2: 1 AAVR-7;
Skyhawk
1 AAVR-7A1 RAM/RS
ANTI SURFACE WARFARE
1 sqn with Super Lynx Mk21A/B ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
ANTI SUBMARINE WARFARE MSL• MANPATS RB-56 Bill; MSS-1.2 AC
1 sqn with S-70B Seahawk (MH-16) ARTILLERY 65
TRAINING TOWED 41: 105mm 33: 18 L118 Light Gun; 15 M101;
1 sqn with Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger III
155mm 8 M114
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
MRL 127mm 6 ASTROS II Mk6
2 sqn with AS350 Ecureuil (armed)
1 sqn with AS350 Ecureuil (armed); AS355 Ecureuil II MOR 81mm 18 M29
(armed); H135 (UH-17) AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 40mm 6 L/70 (with BOFI)
386 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Air Force 67,500 MP 18: 10 EMB-111 (P-95A Bandeirulha)*; 8 EMB-111


Brazilian airspace is divided into 7 air regions, each of (P-95BM Bandeirulha)*
which is responsible for its designated air bases. Air assets ISR: 8: 4 AMX-R (RA-1)*; 4 EMB-110B (R-95)
are divided among 4 designated air forces (I, II, III & V) for ELINT 6: 3 EMB-145RS (R-99); 3 Learjet 35AM
operations (IV Air Force temporarily deactivated) (R-35AM)
FORCES BY ROLE AEW&C 5: 2 EMB-145SA (E-99); 3 EMB-145SA (E-99M)
FIGHTER SAR 7: 3 C295M Amazonas (SC-105); 4 EMB-110 (SC-95B)
3 sqn with F-5EM/FM Tiger II TKR/TPT 2 KC-130H
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK TPT 186: Medium 24: 4 C-130E Hercules; 16 C-130H
2 sqn with AMX (A-1A/B) Hercules; 5 KC390 Millennium; Light 153: 11 C295M
1 sqn with F-5EM/FM Tiger II (converting to Gripen E
(C-105A); 7 Cessna 208 (C-98); 9 Cessna 208B (C-98); 13
(F-39E))
Cessna 208-G1000 (C-98A); 52 EMB-110 (C-95A/B/C/M);
GROUND ATTACK/ISR
16 EMB-120 (C-97); 4 EMB-120RT (VC-97); 5 EMB-121
4 sqn with EMB-314 Super Tucano (A-29A/B)*
MARITIME PATROL (VU-9); 7 EMB-135BJ (VC-99B); 3 EMB-201R Ipanema
1 sqn with P-3AM Orion (G-19); 2 EMB-202A Ipanema (G-19A); 4 EMB-550 Legacy
2 sqn with EMB-111 (P-95A/B/M) 500 (IU-50); 2 ERJ-135LR (VC-99C); 7 ERJ-145 (C-99A);
ISR 1 ERJ-145LR (VC-99A); 9 Learjet 35A (VU-35); 1 Learjet
1 sqn with AMX-R (RA-1)* 55C (VU-55); PAX 8: 1 A319 (VC-1A); 3 EMB-190 (VC-2);
1 sqn with Learjet 35AM (R-35AM); EMB-110B (R-95) 4 Hawker 800XP (EU-93A – calibration)
AIRBORNE EARLY WARNING & CONTROL TRG 211: up to 50 EMB-312 Tucano (T-27); 38 EMB-
1 sqn with EMB-145RS (R-99); EMB-145SA (E-99); EMB- 314 Super Tucano (A-29A)*; 43 EMB-314 Super Tucano
145SA (E-99M) (A-29B)*; 80 T-25A/C
SEARCH & RESCUE HELICOPTERS
1 sqn with C295M Amazonas (SC-105); UH-60L Black
MRH 2 H135M (VH-35)
Hawk (H-60L)
TPT 58: Heavy 14 H225M Caracal (12 H-36 & 2 VH-36);
TANKER/TRANSPORT
1 sqn with C-130H/KC-130H Hercules; KC-390 Medium 16 UH-60L Black Hawk (H-60L); Light 28: 24
Millennium AS350B Ecureuil (H-50); 4 AS355 Ecureuil II (H-55/VH-55)
TRANSPORT UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
1 VIP sqn with A319 (VC-1A); EMB-190 (VC-2); AS355 ISR 7: Heavy 2 Heron 1; Medium 5: 4 Hermes 450; 1
Ecureuil II (VH-55); H135M (VH-35); H225M Caracal Hermes 900
(VH-36) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
1 VIP sqn with EMB-135BJ (VC-99B); ERJ-135LR (VC- AAM • IR MAA-1 Piranha; R-550 Magic 2; Python 3; IIR
99C); ERJ-145LR (VC-99A); Learjet 35A (VU-35); Python 4; SARH Super 530F; ARH Derby
Learjet 55C (VU-55C) AShM AM39 Exocet
2 sqn with C-130E/H Hercules ARM MAR-1 (in development)
2 sqn with C295M (C-105A)
7 (regional) sqn with Cessna 208/208B (C-98); Cessna
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 395,000
208-G1000 (C-98A); EMB-110 (C-95); EMB-120 (C-97)
1 sqn with ERJ-145 (C-99A) Public Security Forces 395,000 opcon Army
1 sqn with EMB-120RT (VC-97), EMB-121 (VU-9)
TRAINING State police organisation technically under army control.
1 sqn with EMB-110 (C-95) However, military control is reducing, with authority
2 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano (T-27) (incl 1 air show sqn) reverting to individual states
1 sqn with T-25A/C
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER DEPLOYMENT
1 sqn with H225M Caracal (H-36)
1 sqn with AS350B Ecureuil (H-50); AS355 Ecureuil II (H-55) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: EU • EUTM RCA 6; UN •
1 sqn with Bell 205 (H-1H); H225M Caracal (H-36) MINUSCA 10
2 sqn with UH-60L Black Hawk (H-60L) CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 2
ISR UAV
1 sqn with Hermes 450/900 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
MONUSCO 23
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 187 combat capable LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 9
FTR 47: 43 F-5EM Tiger II; 4 F-5FM Tiger II SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 11
FGA 29: 15 AMX/AMX-T (A-1A/B); 8 AMX A-1M; 1 AMX
A-1BM; 5 Gripen E (F-39E) (in test) SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 3
ASW 9 P-3AM Orion WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 9
Latin America and the Caribbean 387

Chile CHL ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Chilean Peso CLP 2021 2022 2023 Space


GDP CLP 240tr 265tr EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD 317bn 311bn SATELLITES
per capita USD 16,065 15,604 ISR 1 SSOT (Sistema Satelital de Observación de la Tierra)
Growth % 11.7 2.0
Inflation % 4.5 11.6 Army 37,650
6 military administrative regions
Def bdgt [a] CLP 3.07tr 3.21tr
USD 4.04bn 3.76bn FORCES BY ROLE
Currently being reorganised into 1 SF bde, 4 armd bde,
USD1=CLP 759.07 853.17
1 armd det, 4 mot bde, 2 mot det, 4 mtn det and 1 avn bde
[a] Includes military pensions
COMMAND
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
6 div HQ
4.16
SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF bde (1 SF bn, 1 (mtn) SF gp, 1 para bn, 3 cdo coy,
2.90
2008 2015 2022 1 log coy)
MANOEUVRE
Population 18,430,408 Reconnaissance
4 cav sqn
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
2 recce sqn
Male 10.0% 3.2% 3.5% 3.9% 23.3% 5.3% 2 recce pl
Female 9.6% 3.1% 3.4% 3.7% 23.8% 7.3% Armoured
1 (1st) armd bde (1 armd recce pl, 1 armd cav gp, 1 mech
Capabilities inf bn, 2 arty gp, 1 AT coy, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy)
Chile’s 2017 defence White Paper noted core roles of assuring sov- 2 (2nd & 3rd) armd bde (1 armd recce pl, 1 armd cav gp,
ereignty and territorial integrity, but also indicated an increasing 1 mech inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 AT coy, 1 engr coy, 1 sigs coy)
shift towards non-traditional military roles such as disaster relief, 1 (4th) armd bde (1 armd recce pl, 1 armd cav gp, 1 mech
humanitarian assistance and peacekeeping. In 2021, the armed inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 engr coy)
forces were also granted authority to fight human trafficking and 1 (5th) armd det (1 armd cav gp, 1 mech inf coy, 1 arty gp)
illegal migration in border areas. There is R&D cooperation with Mechanised

Latin America and


Brazil and Colombia, as well as exchange programmes. Defence 1 (1st) mech inf regt

the Caribbean
cooperation with the US is centred on procurement, technical Light
advice and personnel training. There is routine national training, 1 (1st) mot inf bde (1 recce coy, 1 mot inf bn, 1 arty gp,
and the armed forces participate in international exercises. Chile 3 AT coy, 1 engr bn)
has a limited capacity to deploy independently beyond its borders. 1 (4th) mot inf bde (1 mot inf bn, 1 MRL gp, 2 AT coy,
The plans to upgrade the country’s F-16s to prolong service life
1 engr bn)
have been temporarily suspended due to the lack of available
1 (24th) mot inf bde (1 mot inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 AT coy)
funding. Capability priorities reflect a focus on littoral and blue-
1 (Maipo) mot inf bde (3 mot inf regt, 1 arty regt)
water surveillance. In 2020, two frigates were bought from Australia
and the surface fleet has boosted its air-defence capabilities more
1 (6th) reinforced regt (1 mot inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 sigs coy)
generally, with upgrades also to the navy’s ex-UK Type-23 frigates. 1 (10th) reinforced regt (1 mot inf bn, 2 AT coy, 1 engr bn)
A new multi-role amphibious vessel will enhance Chile’s ability to 1 (11th) mot inf det (1 inf bn, 1 arty gp)
provide logistic support and carry out HADR operations. Chile has 1 (14th) mot inf det (1 mot inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 sigs coy,
a developed defence-industrial base, with ENAER conducting air- 1 AT coy)
craft maintenance. ASMAR and FAMAE are key maritime and land 4 mot inf regt
firms respectively, with the former building a new icebreaker that 1 (3rd) mtn det (1 mtn inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 engr coy)
will enhance Chile’s ability to support operations in Antarctica. The 1 (9th) mtn det (1 mtn inf bn, 1 engr coy, 1 construction bn)
air force is also currently contributing to the development of the 2 (8th & 17th) mtn det (1 mtn inf bn, 1 arty coy)
country’s first indigenously built satellite constellation. COMBAT SUPPORT
ACTIVE 68,500 (Army 37,650 Navy 19,800 Air 1 engr regt
4 sigs bn
11,050) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 44,700
1 sigs coy
Conscript liability Army 12 months; Navy 18 months; Air Force 12
1 int bde (7 int gp)
months. Legally, conscription can last for 2 years
2 int regt
RESERVE 19,100 (Army 19,100) 1 MP regt
388 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT FRIGATES • FFGHM 8:


1 log div (2 log regt) 3 Almirante Cochrane (ex-UK Norfolk Type-23) with
4 log regt 2 quad lnchr with RGM-84C Harpoon Block 1B
6 log coy AShM, 1 32-cell VLS with Sea Ceptor SAM, 2 twin
1 maint div (1 maint regt) 324mm ASTT with Mk 46 mod 2 LWT, 1 114mm gun
AVIATION (capacity 1 AS532SC Cougar)
1 avn bde (1 tpt avn bn, 1 hel bn, 1 spt bn) 2 Almirante Latorre (ex-AUS Adelaide) with 1 Mk 13 GMLS
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM/SM-2 Block IIIA
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES SAM, 1 8-cell Mk 41 VLS with RIM-162B ESSM SAM,
MBT 170: 30 Leopard 1V; 140 Leopard 2A4 2 triple 324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with MU90 LWT,
IFV 191: 173 Marder 1A3; 18 YPR-765 PRI 1 76mm gun (capacity 2 AS532SC Cougars)
APC 445 APC (T) 306 M113A1/A2 2 Almirante Riveros (ex-NLD Karel Doorman) with 2 quad
APC (W) 139: 121 Piranha 6×6; 18 Piranha 8×8 lnchr with MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 8-cell Mk 48
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES VLS with RIM-7P Sea Sparrow SAM, 4 single 324mm
AEV 6 Pionierpanzer 2 Dachs SVTT Mk 32 mod 9 ASTT with Mk 46 mod 5 HWT,
ARV 30 BPz-2 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 AS532SC Cougar)
VLB 13 Biber 1 Almirante Williams (ex-UK Broadsword Type-22) with 2
MW 8+: Bozena 5; 8 Leopard 1 MW quad lnchr with RGM-84 Harpoon AShM, 2 8-cell VLS
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE with Barak-1 SAM; 2 triple 324mm ASTT with Mk 46
MSL • MANPATS Spike-LR; Spike-ER LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 AS532SC Cougar)
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm 213 M40A1 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12
ARTILLERY 1,398 PSOH 4: 2 Piloto Pardo; 2 Piloto Pardo with 1 76mm gun
SP 155mm 48: 24 M109A3; 24 M109A5+ (ice-strengthened hull)
TOWED 239: 105mm 191: 87 M101; 104 Model 56 pack PCG 3:
howitzer; 155mm 48 M-68 2 Casma (ISR Sa’ar 4) with 6 single lnchr with Gabriel I
MRL 160mm 12 LAR-160 AShM, 2 76mm guns
MOR 1,099: 81mm 744: 295 ECIA L65/81; 192 FAMAE; 1 Casma (ISR Sa’ar 4) with 4 single lnchr with Gabriel I
257 Soltam; 120mm 284: 171 ECIA L65/120; 16 FAMAE; AShM, 2 twin lnchr with MM40 Exocet AShM,
97 M-65; SP 120mm 71: 35 FAMAE (on Piranha 6×6); 36 2 76mm guns
Soltam (on M113A2) PCO 5 Micalvi
AIRCRAFT AMPHIBIOUS
TPT • Light 8: 2 C-212-300 Aviocar; 3 Cessna 208 PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LPD 1 Sargento
Caravan; 3 CN235 Aldea (ex-FRA Foudre) with 3 twin Simbad lnchr with
HELICOPTERS Mistral SAM (capacity 4 med hel; 1 LCT; 2 LCM; 22 tanks;
ISR 9 MD-530F Lifter (armed) 470 troops)
TPT 17: Medium 12: 8 AS532AL Cougar; 2 AS532ALe LANDING SHIPS 3
Cougar; 2 SA330 Puma; Light 5: 4 H125 Ecureuil; 1 LSM 1 Elicura
AS355F Ecureuil II LST 2 Maipo (FRA Batral) with 1 hel landing platform
AIR DEFENCE (capacity 7 tanks; 140 troops)
SAM • Point-defence Mistral LANDING CRAFT 3
GUNS 41: LCT 1 CDIC (for use in Sargento Aldea)
SP 20mm 17 Piranha/TCM-20 LCM 2 (for use in Sargento Aldea)
TOWED 20mm 24 TCM-20
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 13
ABU 1 George Slight Marshall with 1 hel landing platform
Navy 19,800 AFD 3
5 Naval Zones; 1st Naval Zone and main HQ at Valparaiso; AGOR 1 Cabo de Hornos
2nd Naval Zone at Talcahuano; 3rd Naval Zone at Punta AGHS 1 Micalvi
Arenas; 4th Naval Zone at Iquique; 5th Naval Zone at AOR 2: 1 Almirante Montt (ex-US Henry J. Kaiser) with 1
Puerto Montt hel landing platform; 1 Araucano
FORCES BY ROLE AP 1 Aguiles (1 hel landing platform)
SPECIAL FORCES ATF 3: 1 Janequeo; 2 Veritas
1 (diver) SF comd AXS 1 Esmeralda
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SUBMARINES • SSK 4: Naval Aviation 600
2 O’Higgins (Scorpène) with 6 single 533mm TT with EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SM39 Exocet Block 2 AShM/Black Shark HWT AIRCRAFT 14 combat capable
2 Thomson (GER T-209/1400) (of which 1 in refit) with ASW 4: 2 C295ASW Persuader; 2 P-3ACH Orion
8 single 533mm TT with SM39 Exocet Block 2 AShM/ MP 4: 1 C295MPA Persuader; 3 EMB-111 Bandeirante*
Black Shark HWT/SUT HWT ISR 7 P-68
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS 8 TRG 7 PC-7 Turbo Trainer*
Latin America and the Caribbean 389

HELICOPTERS EQUIPMENT BY TYPE


ASW 5 AS532SC Cougar AIRCRAFT 92 combat capable
MRH 8 AS365 Dauphin FTR 48: 10 F-5E Tigre III+; 2 F-5F Tigre III+; 29 F-16AM
TPT 9: Medium 2 H215 (AS332L1) Super Puma; Light Fighting Falcon; 7 F-16BM Fighting Falcon
7: 4 Bo-105S; 3 H125 FGA 10: 6 F-16C Block 50 Fighting Falcon; 4 F-16D Block
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AShM AM39 Exocet 50 Fighting Falcon
ATK 16 C-101CC Aviojet (A-36 Halcón)
Marines 3,600 ISR 3 Cessna O-2A
FORCES BY ROLE AEW&C 2 E-3D Sentry
MANOEUVRE TKR 3 KC-135 Stratotanker
Amphibious TKR/TPT 2 KC-130R Hercules
1 amph bde (2 mne bn, 1 cbt spt bn, 1 log bn) TPT 33: Medium 3: 1 C-130B Hercules; 2 C-130H
2 coastal def unit Hercules; Light 24: 2 C-212-200 Aviocar; 1 C-212-300
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Aviocar; 4 Cessna 525 Citation CJ1; 3 DHC-6-100 Twin
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Otter; 7 DHC-6-300 Twin Otter; 7 PA-28-236 Dakota; PAX
LT TK 15 FV101 Scorpion 6: 1 B-737-300; 1 B-737-500 (VIP); 1 B-767-300ER (VIP);
IFV 9 NZLAV 3 Gulfstream IV (VIP/aerial photography)
APC • APC (W) 25 MOWAG Roland TRG 57: 8 Cirrus SR-22T; 22 EMB-314 Super Tucano*;
AAV 12 AAV-7 27 T-35A/B Pillan
ARTILLERY 39 HELICOPTERS
TOWED 23: 105mm 7 KH-178; 155mm 16 M-71 MRH 12 Bell 412EP Twin Huey
MOR 81mm 16 TPT 25: Medium 7: 1 S-70A Black Hawk; 6 S-70i (MH-
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM MM38 Exocet 60M) Black Hawk; Light 18: 13 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois);
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence 14: 4 M998 5 Bell 206B (trg)
Avenger; 10 M1097 Avenger UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
ISR • Medium 3 Hermes 900
Coast Guard AIR DEFENCE
Integral part of the Navy
SAM
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Short-range 17: 5 Crotale; 12 NASAMS
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 55 Point-defence Mistral (including some Mygale/Aspic)
PBF 26 Archangel GUNS • TOWED 20mm M163/M167 Vulcan; 35mm
PB 29: 18 Alacalufe (Protector); 4 Grumete Diaz (Dabor); Oerlikon GDF-005
6 Pelluhue; 1 Ona AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR AIM-9J/M Sidewinder; Python 3; Shafrir‡;
Air Force 11,050

Latin America and


IIR Python 4; ARH AIM-120C AMRAAM; Derby

the Caribbean
FORCES BY ROLE ASM AGM-65G Maverick
FIGHTER BOMBS
1 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger III+ Laser-guided Paveway II
2 sqn with F-16AM/BM Fighting Falcon INS/GPS guided JDAM
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with F-16C/D Block 50 Fighting Falcon (Puma) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 44,700
ISR
1 (photo) flt with; DHC-6-300 Twin Otter; Gulfstream IV Carabineros 44,700
TANKER/TRANSPORT Ministry of Interior; 15 zones, 36 districts, 179 comisaria
1 sqn with B-737-300; C-130B/H Hercules; E-3D Sentry; EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
KC-130R Hercules; KC-135 Stratotanker ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
TRANSPORT
APC • APC (W) 20 MOWAG Roland
3 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); C-212-200/300 Aviocar;
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm
Cessna O-2A; Cessna 525 Citation CJ1; DHC-6-100/300
AIRCRAFT
Twin Otter; PA-28-236 Dakota; Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
TPT • Light 4: 1 Beech 200 King Air; 1 Cessna 208;
1 VIP flt with B-767-300ER; B-737-500; Gulfstream IV
1 Cessna 550 Citation V; 1 PA-31T Cheyenne II
TRAINING
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 16: 5 AW109E Power;
1 sqn with EMB-314 Super Tucano*
1 AW139; 1 Bell 206 Jet Ranger; 2 BK-117; 5 Bo-105; 2 H135
1 sqn with Cirrus SR-22T; T-35A/B Pillan
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); Bell 206B (trg); Bell DEPLOYMENT
412 Twin Huey; S-70A Black Hawk BOSNIA-HERZEGOVINA: EU • EUFOR (Operation Althea) 8
AIR DEFENCE
1 AD regt M163/M167 Vulcan CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 6
4 AD sqn with Crotale; NASAMS; Mistral; Oerlikon GDF-005 MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 3
390 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Colombia COL ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


Colombian Peso COP 2021 2022 2023 Army 185,900
GDP COP 1177tr 1374tr FORCES BY ROLE
USD 314bn 343bn SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF div (3 SF regt)
per capita USD 6,159 6,644
1 (anti-terrorist) SF bn
Growth % 10.7 7.6
MANOEUVRE
Inflation % 3.5 9.7 Mechanised
Def bdgt [a] COP 22.8tr 25.3tr 28.4tr 1 (1st) mech div (1 (2nd) mech bde (2 mech inf bn,
USD 6.08bn 6.31bn 1 mtn inf bn, 1 engr bn, 1 MP bn, 1 spt bn, 2 Gaula anti-
kidnap gp); 1 (10th) mech bde (1 (urban) spec ops bn,
FMA (US) USD 38.5m 40.0m 38.0m
1 armd recce bn, 1 mech cav bn, 1 mech inf bn, 1 mtn
USD1=COP 3744.25 4006.34
inf bn, 3 sy bn, 2 arty bn, 1 engr bn, 1 spt bn, 2 Gaula
[a] Excludes security budget anti-kidnap gp))
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Light
6.98 1 (2nd) inf div (1 (1st) inf bde (1 mech cav bn, 2 inf bn,
1 mtn inf bn, 1 sy bn, 1 arty bn, 1 spt bn, 1 Gaula anti-
5.57 kidnap gp); 1 (5th) inf bde (3 inf bn, 1 jungle inf bn,
2008 2015 2022 1 sy bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr bn, 1 spt bn, 1 Gaula anti-
kidnap gp); 1 (30th) inf bde (1 mech cav bn, 2 inf bn, 1
Population 49,059,221
sy bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr bn, 1 spt bn); 1 AD bn; 1 sy gp
(1 (urban) spec ops bn, 4 COIN bn, 3 sy bn); 1 (rapid
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
reaction) sy bde)
Male 11.6% 4.0% 4.0% 4.1% 20.5% 4.7% 1 (3rd) inf div (1 (3rd) inf bde (2 inf bn, 1 mtn inf bn,
Female 11.1% 3.8% 3.9% 4.1% 22.3% 5.9% 1 COIN bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr bn, 1 cbt spt bn, 1 MP bn,
1 log bn, 1 Gaula anti-kidnap gp); 1 (23rd) inf bde (1
Capabilities cav gp, 1 lt inf bn, 1 jungle inf bn, 1 spt bn, 1 log bn); 1
(29th) mtn bde (1 mtn inf bn, 1 inf bn, 2 COIN bn, 1 spt
Colombia’s armed forces have improved their training and bn, 1 log bn); 1 lt cav bde (2 lt cav gp); 1 mtn inf bn; 2
overall capabilities in recent decades. Internal security remains (rapid reaction) sy bde)
a priority, and the armed forces are focused on conducting 1 (4th) inf div (1 (7th) air mob bde (1 (urban) spec ops bn,
counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics operations. In response 2 air mob inf bn, 1 lt inf bn, 1 COIN bn, 1 engr bn, 1 spt
to the humanitarian and security challenge from Venezuela, bn, 1 log bn, 1 Gaula anti-kidnap gp); 1 (22nd) jungle
Colombia has strengthened cooperation with Brazil on border bde (1 air mob inf bn, 1 lt inf bn, 1 jungle inf bn, 1 COIN
controls. There are military ties with Argentina, Chile and Peru. bn, 1 spt bn, 1 log bn); 1 (31st) jungle bde (1 lt inf bn,
The US is Colombia’s closest international military partner, with 1 jungle inf bn))
cooperation in equipment procurement, technical advice and 1 (5th) inf div (1 (6th) lt inf bde (2 lt inf bn, 1 mtn inf bn,
personnel training. In May 2018, Colombia joined NATO as a global 3 COIN bn, 1 EOD bn, 2 spt bn, 1 Gaula anti-kidnap
partner. The forces train regularly, including multilateral exercises. gp); 1 (8th) inf bde (1 inf bn, 1 mtn inf bn, 1 arty bn,
Although the equipment inventory mainly comprises legacy 1 engr bn, 1 spt bn, 1 Gaula anti-kidnap gp); 1 (9th) inf
systems, Colombia has the capability to independently deploy bde (1 (urban) spec ops bn, 2 inf bn, 1 arty bn, 1 COIN
force elements beyond national borders. The navy is planning bn, 1 sy bn, 1 spt bn, 1 Gaula anti-kidnap gp); 1 (13th)
to enhance its surface warfare capabilities by acquiring five new inf bde (1 recce bn, 3 inf bn, 1 mtn inf bn, 1 air mob
frigates, while the army is planning to modernise its armoured bn, 1 COIN bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr bn, 2 MP bn, 1 spt bn,
vehicles. The air force has established a space operations centre 1 Gaula anti-kidnap gp))
and plans to launch a new earth observation satellite in 2023. New 1 (6th) inf div (1 (12th) inf bde (1 (urban) spec ops bn,
medium transport aircraft will be equipped with ISR sensors to 1 inf bn, 1 jungle inf bn, 1 mtn inf bn, 1 COIN bn, 1 engr
boost reconnaissance capabilities. Colombia’s defence industry is bn, 1 spt bn, 1 Gaula anti-kidnap gp); 1 (26th) jungle
active in all domains. CIAC is developing its first indigenous UAVs, bde (1 jungle inf bn, 1 spt bn); 1 (27th) jungle inf bde
while CODALTEC is developing an air-defence system for regional (1 inf bn, 1 jungle inf bn, 1 sy bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr bn,
export. COTECMAR has supplied patrol boats and amphibious 1 spt bn); 1 (13th) mobile sy bde; 2 COIN bn)
ships for national and export markets. 1 (7th) inf div (1 (4th) inf bde (1 (urban) spec ops bn;
1 mech cav gp, 3 inf bn, 1 sy bn, 1 arty bn, 1 engr bn,
ACTIVE 255,950 (Army 185,900, Navy 56,400 Air 1 MP bn, 1 spt bn, 2 Gaula anti-kidnap gp); 1 (11th) inf
13,650) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 172,400 bde (1 inf bn, 1 air mob bn, 1 sy bn, 1 spt bn, 2 Gaula
Conscript liability 18 months’ duration with upper age limit of 24, anti-kidnap gp); 1 (14th) inf bde (2 inf bn, 1 sy bn,
males only 1 engr bn, 1 spt bn); 1 (15th) jungle bde (1 inf bn,
2 COIN bn, 1 engr bn); 1 (17th) inf bde (2 inf bn, 1 engr
RESERVE 34,950 (Army 25,050 Navy 6,500 Air 3,400) bn, 1 spt bn))
Latin America and the Caribbean 391

1 (8th) inf div (1 (16th) lt inf bde (1 recce bn, 1 inf bn, PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 58
1 spt bn, 1 Gaula anti-kidnap gp); 1 (18th) inf bde (1 CORVETTES 6
(urban) spec ops bn; 1 air mob gp, 5 sy bn, 1 arty bn, FSGHM 4 Almirante Padilla with 2 quad lnchr with
1 engr bn, 1 spt bn); 1 (28th) jungle bde (2 inf, 2 COIN, Hae Sung I AShM, 2 twin Simbad lnchr with Mistral
1 spt bn); 1 (rapid reaction) sy bde, 4 COIN bn) SAM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT each
3 COIN mobile bde (each: 4 COIN bn, 1 spt bn) with A244/S LWT, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Bo-105/
COMBAT SUPPORT AS555SN Fennec hel)
1 cbt engr bde (1 SF engr bn, 1 (emergency response) FSG 1 Almirante Tono (Ex-ROK Po Hang (Flight IV))
engr bn, 1 EOD bn, 1 construction bn, 1 demining bn, 2 twin lnchr with Hae Sung I AShM, 2 triple 324mm
1 maint bn) ASTT with Mk 46, 2 76mm guns
1 int bde (2 SIGINT bn, 1 log bn, 1 maint bn) FS 1 Narino (ex-ROK Dong Hae) with 2 triple 324mm
SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 46 LWT
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
PSOH 3: 2 20 de Julio (CHL Piloto Pardo); 1 20 de Julio
2 spt/log bde (each: 1 spt bn, 1 maint bn, 1 supply bn,
(CHL Piloto Pardo) with 1 76mm gun
1 tpt bn, 1 medical bn, 1 log bn)
PCR 10: 2 Arauca with 1 76mm guns; 8 Nodriza (PAF I-IV)
AVIATION
with hel landing platform
1 air aslt div (1 counter-narcotics bde (4 counter-narcotics
PBR 39: 5 Diligente; 16 LPR-40; 3 Swiftships; 9 Tenerife
bn, 1 spt bn); 1 (25th) avn bde (4 hel bn; 5 avn bn; 1 avn (US Bender Marine 12m); 2 PAF-L; 4 others
log bn); 1 (32nd) avn bde (1 avn bn, 2 maint bn, 1 trg AMPHIBIOUS 16
bn, 1 spt bn); 1 SF avn bn) LCT 6 Golfo de Tribuga
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE LCU 2 Morrosquillo (LCU 1466)
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES UCAC 8 Griffon 2000TD
RECCE 121 EE-9 Cascavel LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 8
IFV 60: 28 Commando Advanced; 32 LAV III ABU 1 Quindio
APC 114 AG 1 Inirida
APC (T) 54: 28 M113A1 (TPM-113A1); 26 M113A2 AGHS 2: 1 Caribe; 1 Roncador
(TPM-113A2) AGOR 2 Providencia
APC (W) 56 EE-11 Urutu AGS 1 Gorgona
PPV 4+: some Hunter XL; 4 RG-31 Nyala AXS 1 Gloria
AUV 126 M1117 Guardian Coast Guard
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MSL
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 17
SP 77 Nimrod
PCO 2: 1 San Andres (ex-US Balsam); 1 Valle del Cauca
MANPATS TOW; Spike-ER
Durable (ex-US Reliance) with 1 hel landing platform
RCL 106mm 73 M40A1
PCC 3 Punta Espada (CPV-46)

Latin America and


ARTILLERY 1,796

the Caribbean
PB 12: 1 11 de Noviembre (CPV-40) (GER Fassmer); 2 Castillo
TOWED 120: 105mm 107: 22 LG1 MkIII; 85 M101; y Rada (Swiftships 105); 2 Jaime Gomez (ex-US Peterson
155mm 13 155/52 APU SBT-1 Mk 3); 1 Jorge Luis Marrugo Campo; 1 José Maria Palas
MOR 1,676: 81mm 1,507; 120mm 169 (Swiftships 110); 3 Point; 2 Toledo (US Bender Marine 35m)
AIRCRAFT LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • ABU 1 Isla Albuquerque
ELINT 3: 2 Beech B200 King Air; 1 Beech 350 King Air
TPT • Light 23: 2 An-32B; 2 Beech B200 King Air; Naval Aviation 150
3 Beech 350 King Air; 1 Beech C90 King Air; 2 C-212 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Aviocar (Medevac); 8 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; AIRCRAFT
1 Cessna 208B-EX Grand Caravan; 4 Turbo Commander 695A MP 3 CN235 MPA Persuader
HELICOPTERS ISR 1 PA-31 Navajo (upgraded for ISR)
MRH 19: 8 Mi-17-1V Hip; 6 Mi-17MD; 5 Mi-17V-5 Hip TPT • Light 14: 1 Beech 360ER King Air; 2 Beech C90
TPT 92: Medium 53: 46 UH-60L Black Hawk; 7 S-70i King Air; 1 C-212 (Medevac); 4 Cessna 206; 3 Cessna
Black Hawk; Light 39: 24 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 15 208 Caravan; 1 PA-31 Navajo; 1 PA-34 Seneca; 1 Beech
Bell 212 (UH-1N Twin Huey) 350 King Air
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 40mm 4 M1A1 HELICOPTERS
SAR 2 AS365 Dauphin
Navy 56,400 (incl 12,100 conscript) MRH 9: 1 AS555SN Fennec; 3 Bell 412 Twin Huey;
4 Bell 412EP Twin Huey; 1 Bell 412EPI Twin Huey
HQ located at Bogotá
TPT • Light 8: 1 Bell 212; 4 Bell 212 (UH-1N); 1 BK-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 117; 2 Bo-105
SUBMARINES 4
SSK 2 Pijao (GER T-209/1200) each with 8 single 533mm Marines 22,250
TT each with SeaHake (DM2A3) HWT FORCES BY ROLE
SSC 2 Intrépido (ex-GER T-206A) each with 8 single SPECIAL FORCES
533mm TT each with SeaHake (DM2A3) HWT 1 SF bde (4 SF bn)
392 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MANOEUVRE ELINT 11: 3 Beech 350 King Air; 6 Cessna 208 Grand
Amphibious Caravan; 1 ECN235; 1 Turbo Commander 695
1 mne bde (1 SF (Gaula) bn, 5 mne bn, 2 rvn bn, 1 spt bn) TKR/TPT 1 KC-767
1 mne bde (1 SF bn, 2 mne bn, 2 rvn bn, 1 spt bn) TPT 74: Medium 10: 3 C-130B Hercules; 6 C-130H
1 rvn bde (1 SF bn, 1 mne bn, 2 rvn bn, 1 spt bn) Hercules; 1 B-737F; Light 52: 7 ATR-42; 2 Beech 300 King
1 rvn bde (4 rvn bn) Air; 1 Beech 350C King Air (medevac); 1 Beech 350i King
1 rvn bde (3 rvn bn) Air (VIP); 2 Beech 350 King Air (medevac); 2 Beech C90
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT King Air; 3 Beech C90GTx King Air; 4 C-212; 6 C295M; 8
1 log bde (6 spt bn) Cessna 172; 1 Cessna 182R; 12 Cessna 208B (medevac);
1 trg bde (7 trg bn, 1 spt bn) 1 CN235M; 2 EMB-110P1 (C-95); PAX 12: 2 B-737-400; 2
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE B-737-800; 1 B-737BBJ (VIP); 2 ERJ-135BJ Legacy 600 (VIP);
ARTILLERY • MOR 82: 81mm 74; 120mm 8 2 ERJ-145; 1 F-28-1000 Fellowship; 1 F-28-3000 Fellowship;
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence Mistral 1 Learjet 60
TRG 68: 14 EMB-312 Tucano*; 24 EMB-314 Super Tucano
Air Force 13,650 (A-29)*; 23 Lancair Synergy (T-90 Calima); 7 T-6C Texan II
FORCES BY ROLE HELICOPTERS
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK MRH 18: 4 AH-60L Arpia III; 10 AH-60L Arpia IV; 1 AW139
1 sqn with Kfir C-10/C-12/TC-12 (VIP); 1 Bell 412EP Twin Huey (VIP); 2 Hughes 500M
GROUND ATTACK/ISR TPT 49: Medium 16 UH-60L Black Hawk (incl 1 VIP hel);
1 sqn with AC-47T; ECN235; IAI Arava Light 33: 10 Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II); 12 Bell 206B3 Jet
1 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano* Ranger III; 11 Bell 212
2 sqn with EMB-314 Super Tucano* (A-29) TRG 60 TH-67
GROUND ATTACK UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Medium
1 sqn with AC-47T Spooky (Fantasma); Bell 205 (UH-1H 8: 6 Hermes 450; 2 Hermes 900
Huey II); Cessna 208 Grand Caravan AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
1 sqn with Cessna 208 Grand Caravan; C-212; UH-60L AAM • IR Python 3; IIR Python 4; Python 5; ARH Derby;
Black Hawk I-Derby ER (reported)
EW/ELINT ASM Spike-ER; Spike-NLOS
2 sqn with Beech 350 King Air; Cessna 208; SA 2-37; BOMBS
Turbo Commander 695 Laser-guided Paveway II
ELINT INS/GPS guided Spice
2 sqn with Cessna 560
TRANSPORT Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 172,400
1 (Presidential) sqn with AW139; B-737BBJ; EMB-600
Legacy; Bell 412EP; F-28 Fellowship; UH-60L Black Hawk
National Police Force 172,400
1 sqn with B-737-400; B-737-800; Beech C90GTx King Air; EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
C-130B/H Hercules; C-212; C295M; CN235M; KC-767 AIRCRAFT
1 sqn with Beech 350C King Air; Bell 212; Cessna 208B; ELINT 5 C-26B Metroliner
EMB-110P1 (C-95) TPT • Light 42: 5 ATR-42; 3 Beech 200 King Air; 2 Beech
1 sqn with Beech C90 King Air 300 King Air; 2 Beech 1900; 1 Beech C99; 3 BT-67; 3 C-26
TRAINING Metroliner; 3 Cessna 152; 3 Cessna 172; 9 Cessna 206; 2
1 sqn with Cessna 172 Cessna 208 Caravan; 2 DHC-6 Twin Otter; 1 DHC-8; 3
1 sqn with Lancair Synergy (T-90 Calima) PA-31 Navajo
1 sqn with T-6C Texan II HELICOPTERS
1 hel sqn with Bell 206B3 MRH 5: 2 Bell 407GXP; 1 Bell 412EP; 2 MD-500D
1 hel sqn with TH-67 TPT 80: Medium 22: 10 UH-60A Black Hawk; 9 UH-60L
HELICOPTER Black Hawk; 3 S-70i Black Hawk; Light 58: 34 Bell 205
1 sqn with AH-60L Arpia III (UH-1H-II Huey II); 6 Bell 206B; 5 Bell 206L/L3/L4 Long
1 sqn with UH-60L Black Hawk (CSAR) Ranger; 8 Bell 212; 5 Bell 407
1 sqn with Hughes 500M
1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II) DEPLOYMENT
1 sqn with Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger III
1 sqn with Bell 212; Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 2
ISR UAV EGYPT: MFO 275; 1 inf bn
1 sqn with Hermes 450; Hermes 900 LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 2
AIRCRAFT 66 combat capable
FGA 22: 10 Kfir C-10; 9 Kfir C-12; 3 Kfir TC-12
ATK 6 AC-47T Spooky (Fantasma) FOREIGN FORCES
ISR 11: 5 Cessna 560 Citation II; 6 SA 2-37 United States US Southern Command: 50
Latin America and the Caribbean 393

PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 9


Costa Rica CRI PB 9: 1 Cabo Blanco (US Swift 65); 1 Isla del Coco (US
Swift 105); 3 Libertador Juan Rafael Mora (ex-US Island);
Costa Rican Colon CRC 2021 2022 2023
2 Point; 1 Primera Dama (US Swift 42); 1 Puerto Quepos
GDP CRC 40.0tr 43.8tr
(US Swift 36)
USD 64.4bn 68.5bn
per capita USD 12,436 13,090 Air Surveillance Unit 400
Growth % 7.8 3.8 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Inflation % 1.7 8.9 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 14: 2 Cessna T210 Centurion;
Sy Bdgt [a] CRC 267bn 270bn 269bn 4 Cessna U206G Stationair; 2 PA-31 Navajo; 2 PA-34
USD 430m 423m Seneca; 1 Piper PA-23 Aztec; 1 Cessna 182RG; 2 Y-12E
FMA (US) USD 7.5m 0.0m 0.0m HELICOPTERS
MRH 3: 1 MD-500E; 2 MD-600N
USD1=CRC 620.85 638.94
TPT • Light 4 Bell 212 (UH-1N)
[a] Paramilitary budget
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
462 Cuba CUB
224 Cuban Peso CUP 2021 2022 2023
2008 2015 2022 GDP USD
per capita USD
Population 5,204,411
Growth
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Inflation
Male 11.1% 3.6% 3.8% 4.1% 23.1% 4.4% Def exp CUP
Female 10.6% 3.4% 3.7% 3.9% 23.1% 5.1% USD
USD1=CUP
Capabilities Definitive data not available
Costa Rica’s armed forces were constitutionally abolished in 1949,
and the country relies on police and coastguard organisations Population 11,008,112
for internal security, maritime and air domain awareness, and
counter-narcotics tasks. A new National Security Strategy was Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
adopted in 2018 in order to help tackle rising crime. Colombia and Male 8.4% 2.8% 3.1% 3.0% 24.9% 7.5%
the US have provided assistance and training, focused on policing
Female 8.0% 2.6% 2.9% 2.8% 25.2% 9.0%

Latin America and


and internal-security tasks rather than conventional military

the Caribbean
operations. The Special Intervention Unit (UEI) has received
specialist training from non-regional states, including the US. In Capabilities
May 2022, Costa Rica declared a state of emergency in the face of
a cyber-attack, underscoring its limited national defences against Cuba’s armed forces are principally focused on protecting ter-
such a threat. The Public Force, Coast Guard and Air Surveillance ritorial integrity and rely on a mass-mobilisation system. Military
units have little heavy equipment, and recent modernisation has capability is limited by equipment obsolescence and a largely
depended on donations from countries such as China and the conscript-based force. Cuba maintains military ties with China
US. Apart from limited maintenance facilities, Costa Rica has no and Russia, and the latter has supplied oil and fuel following Ven-
domestic defence industry. ezuela’s economic collapse. Defence cooperation with Russia is
largely centred around technical and maintenance support. Coop-
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 9,950
eration with China appears to be on a smaller scale and involves
training agreements and personnel exchanges. In recent years
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Cuba has sent medics and maintenance personnel to South Africa
and has also trained some South African personnel in Cuba. The
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 9,950 armed forces are no longer designed for expeditionary operations
and have little logistical capability to support operational deploy-
Special Intervention Unit ments abroad. The inventory is almost entirely composed of legacy
FORCES BY ROLE Soviet-era systems with varying degrees of obsolescence. Service-
SPECIAL FORCES ability appears problematic, with much equipment at a low level
1 spec ops unit of availability and maintenance demands growing as fleets age.
Much of the aviation fleet is reported to be in storage. Training
Public Force 9,000 levels are uncertain and flying hours are likely to be low due to
11 regional directorates limited availability of aircraft. It is unlikely that significant equip-
ment recapitalisation can be financed in the near term. Cuba has
Coast Guard Unit 550 little in the way of domestic defence industry, apart from some
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE upgrade and maintenance capacity.
394 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ACTIVE 49,000 (Army 38,000 Navy 3,000 Air 8,000) AIR DEFENCE
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 26,500 SAM
Conscript liability 2 years Short-range 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
Pont-defence 200+: 200 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13
RESERVE 39,000 (Army 39,000) Gendarmerie & Gopher); 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 9K31 Strela-1 (RS-
Paramilitary 1,120,000 SA-9 Gaskin); 9K36 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K310
Ready Reserves (serve 45 days per year) to fill out Active and Igla-1 (SA-16 Gimlet); 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
Reserve units; see also Paramilitary GUNS 400
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4; 30mm BTR-60P SP; 57mm
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE ZSU-57-2
TOWED 100mm KS-19/M-1939/85mm KS-12/57mm
Army ε38,000 S-60/37mm M-1939/30mm M-53/23mm ZU-23
FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND
Navy ε3,000
Western Comd HQ at Cabanas; Eastern Comd HQ
3 regional comd HQ
at Holquin
3 army comd HQ
COMMAND EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
3 SF regt SUBMARINES • SSW 1 Delfin
MANOEUVRE PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 9
Armoured PCG 2 Rio Damuji with two single P-22 (RS-SS-N-2C
1 tk div (3 tk bde) Styx) AShM, 2 57mm guns, 1 hel landing platform
Mechanised PCM 1 Project 1241PE (FSU Pauk II) with 1 quad lnchr
2 (mixed) mech bde (manual aiming) with 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-N-5 Grail)
Light SAM, 2 RBU 1200 A/S mor, 1 76mm gun
2 (frontier) bde PBF 6 Project 205 (FSU Osa II)† each with 4 single lnchr
Air Manoeuvre (for P-20U (RS-SS-N-2B Styx) AShM – missiles removed
1 AB bde to coastal-defence units)
AIR DEFENCE MINE WARFARE AND MINE COUNTERMEASURES 5
1 ADA regt MHI 3 Korund (Project 1258 (Yevgenya))†
1 SAM bde MSC 2 Yakhont (FSU Project 1265 (Sonya))†
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 2
Reserves 39,000 ABU 1
FORCES BY ROLE AX 1
MANOEUVRE
Light
Coastal Defence
14 inf bde EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE† ARTILLERY • TOWED 122mm M-1931/37; 130mm
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES M-46; 152mm M-1937
MBT ε400 T-54/T-55/T-62 COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 4+: Bandera IV
LT TK PT-76 (reported); 4 4K51 Rubezh (RS-SSC-3 Styx)
ASLT BTR-60 100mm
Naval Infantry 550+
RECCE BRDM-2;
AIFV ε50 BMP-1/1P FORCES BY ROLE
APC ε500 BTR-152/BTR-50/BTR-60 MANOEUVRE
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Amphibious
MSL 2 amph aslt bn
SP 2K16 Shmel (RS-AT-1 Snapper)
MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger) Anti-aircraft Defence and Revolutionary Air
GUNS 600+: 57mm 600 ZIS-2 (M-1943); 85mm D-44 Force ε8,000 (incl conscripts)
ARTILLERY 1,715+ Air assets divided between Western Air Zone and Eastern
SP 40+: 100mm AAPMP-100; CATAP-100; 122mm 2S1 Air Zone
Gvozdika; AAP-T-122; AAP-BMP-122; Jupiter III; Jupiter FORCES BY ROLE
IV; 130mm AAP-T-130; Jupiter V; 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
TOWED 500: 122mm D-30; M-30 (M-1938); 130mm 3 sqn with MiG-21bis/UM Fishbed; MiG-29/MiG-
M-46; 152mm D-1; M-1937 (ML-20) 29UB Fulcrum
MRL • SP 175: 122mm BM-21 Grad; 140mm BM-14 TRANSPORT
MOR 1,000: 82mm M-41; 82mm M-43; 120mm M-43; M-38 1 (VIP) tpt sqn with An-24 Coke; Mi-8P Hip
Latin America and the Caribbean 395

ATTACK HELICOPTER
2 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-35 Hind Dominican Republic DOM
TRAINING Dominican Peso DOP 2021 2022 2023
1 (tac trg) sqn with L-39C Albatros (basic); Z-142 GDP DOP 5.41tr 6.17tr
(primary) USD 94.7bn 112bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE per capita USD 8,986 10,573
AIRCRAFT 10 combat capable Growth % 12.3 5.3
FTR 5: 2 MiG-29 Fulcrum†; 3 MiG-29UB Fulcrum† Inflation % 8.2 9.0
FGA 5: up to 3 MiG-21bis Fishbed; up to 2 MiG- Def bdgt DOP 33.2bn 41.8bn 49.9bn
21UM Fishbed USD 582m 761m
ISR 1 An-30 Clank† USD1=DOP 57.09 54.93
TPT 23: Heavy 2 Il-76 Candid; Light 9: 1 An-24 Coke Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
667
(Aerogaviota); 3 An-26 Curl (Aerogaviota); 5 ATR-42-
500 (Cubana & Aergaviota); PAX 12: 6 An-158 (Cubana);
296
3 Il-96-300 (Cubana); 3 Tu-204E-100 (Cubana) 2008 2015 2022
TRG 25+: up to 25 L-39 Albatros; some Z-142C
Population 10,694,700
HELICOPTERS
ATK 4 Mi-35 Hind† (8 more in store) Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MRH 8 Mi-17 Hip H (12 more in store) Male 13.3% 4.5% 4.5% 4.3% 20.8% 3.2%
TPT • Medium 2 Mi-8P Hip Female 12.9% 4.4% 4.3% 4.1% 20.2% 3.6%
AIR DEFENCE • SAM
Medium-range S-75 Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline); S-75
Capabilities
The principal tasks for the Dominican armed forces include
Dvina mod (RS-SA-2 Guideline – on T-55 chassis)
internal- and border-security missions, as well as disaster relief.
Short-range S-125M/M1 Pechora-M/M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa); Training and operations increasingly focus on counter-narcotics
S-125M1 Pechora-M1 mod (RS-SA-3 Goa – on T-55 chassis) and include collaboration with the police in an inter-agency task
force. The US sends training teams to the country under the terms
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
of a 2015 military-partnership agreement, and the navy has trained
AAM • IR R-3‡ (RS-AA-2 Atoll); R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); with French forces. The Dominican Republic has participated in US
R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); IR/SARH R-23/24‡ (RS-AA-7 SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds disaster-response exercise. In response
to instability in Haiti, the army has strengthened its presence along

Latin America and


Apex); R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo) the border, establishing new surveillance posts, while the air force

the Caribbean
ASM Kh-23‡ (RS-AS-7 Kerry) has carried out overflight operations; in 2022, 12,000 troops were
deployed to the border. However, there is little capacity to deploy
and sustain forces abroad. The army’s limited number of armoured
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 26,500 active vehicles are obsolete and likely difficult to maintain. The air force
operates a modest number of light fixed-wing and rotary-wing
State Security 20,000 assets, and the navy a small fleet of mainly ex-US patrol craft of
Ministry of Interior varying sizes. Apart from maintenance facilities, the country does
not have a domestic defence industry.
Border Guards 6,500 ACTIVE 56,050 (Army 28,750 Navy 11,200 Air
Ministry of Interior 16,100) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 15,000
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 20
PCC 2 Stenka ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
PB 18 Zhuk
Army 28,750
Youth Labour Army 70,000 reservists 5 Defence Zones
FORCES BY ROLE
Civil Defence Force 50,000 reservists SPECIAL FORCES
3 SF bn
Territorial Militia ε1,000,000 reservists MANOEUVRE
Light
FOREIGN FORCES 4 (1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th) inf bde (3 inf bn)
2 (5th & 6th) inf bde (2 inf bn)
United States US Southern Command: 650 (JTF-GTMO) at Air Manoeuvre
Guantanamo Bay 1 air cav bde (1 cdo bn, 1 (6th) mtn bn, 1 hel sqn with
396 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Bell 205 (op by Air Force); OH-58 Kiowa; R-22; R-44 Raven II) TRG 12: 8 EMB-314 Super Tucano*; 4 T-35B Pillan
Other HELICOPTERS
1 (Presidential Guard) gd regt ISR 9 OH-58 Kiowa (CH-136)
1 (MoD) sy bn TPT • Light 16: 8 Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II); 5 Bell 205
COMBAT SUPPORT (UH-1H Iroquois); 1 H155 (VIP); 2 S-333
1 cbt spt bde (1 lt armd bn; 1 arty bn; 1 engr bn; 1 sigs bn) AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 20mm 4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 15,000
LT TK 12 M41B (76mm)
APC • APC (W) 8 LAV-150 Commando National Police 15,000
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
RCL 106mm 20 M40A1 Ecuador ECU
GUNS 37mm 20 M3
ARTILLERY 104 United States Dollar USD 2021 2022 2023
TOWED 105mm 16: 4 M101; 12 Reinosa 105/26 GDP USD 106bn 115bn
MOR 88: 81mm 60 M1; 107mm 4 M30; 120mm 24 Expal
per capita USD 5,979 6,413
Model L
Growth % 4.2 2.9
HELICOPTERS
ISR 8: 4 OH-58A Kiowa; 4 OH-58C Kiowa Inflation % 0.1 3.2
TPT • Light 6: 4 R-22; 2 R-44 Raven II Def bdgt USD 1.59bn 1.58bn 1.67bn
FMA (US) USD 5.0m 5.0m 5.0m
Navy 11,200 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
HQ located at Santo Domingo 2.02
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES 1.38
1 (SEAL) SF unit 2008 2015 2022
MANOEUVRE
Amphibious Population 17,289,554
1 mne sy unit Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Male 12.7% 4.4% 4.4% 4.3% 19.7% 4.1%
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 17
Female 12.2% 4.2% 4.3% 4.2% 20.9% 4.7%
PCO 1 Almirante Didiez Burgos (ex-US Balsam)
PCC 2 Tortuguero (ex-US White Sumac)
PB 14: 1 Altair (Swiftships 35m); 4 Bellatrix (US Sewart Capabilities
Seacraft); 1 Betelgeuse (Damen Stan Patrol 2606); 2 Canopus Ecuador’s armed forces are able to fulfil internal-security tasks,
(Swiftships 110); 3 Hamal (Damen Stan Patrol 1505); 3 Point although the crisis in Venezuela and resulting refugee flows have
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT added to existing security challenges in the northern border area.
LCU 1 Neyba (ex-US LCU 1675) These security conditions led the armed forces to create a joint
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 1 task force for counter-insurgency and counter-narcotics opera-
tions. Defence cooperation with Peru includes demining efforts
AX 1 Almirante Juan Bautista Cambiaso
on the border. Quito has recently signed a new defence agree-
ment with Colombia to increase joint operations to counter drug
Air Force 16,100 trafficking and illicit smuggling. Military ties with Washington
FORCES BY ROLE have been revived, which has led to the re-establishment of bilat-
GROUND ATTACK eral training programmes and equipment donations. The armed
1 sqn with EMB-314 Super Tucano* forces train regularly and have participated in multinational mili-
SEARCH & RESCUE tary exercises. There is limited capability to deploy independently
beyond national borders. The equipment inventory is derived from
1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II); Bell 205 (UH-1H
a variety of sources, though obsolescence and low availability is a
Iroquois); Bell 430 (VIP); OH-58 Kiowa (CH-136); S-333 challenge. Modernisation plans are modest in scope and are cur-
TRANSPORT rently focused on armoured vehicles as well as maritime-patrol
1 sqn with C-212-400 Aviocar; PA-31 Navajo capabilities. Ecuador’s defence industries are centred on the army’s
TRAINING Office of Industries (DINE), which produces military equipment
1 sqn with T-35B Pillan through army-run enterprises. The state-owned shipyard ASTI-
AIR DEFENCE NAVE has some construction, maintenance and repair capabilities,
1 ADA bn with 20mm guns although the navy’s submarines are being modernised in Chile.
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ACTIVE 41,250 (Army 25,650 Navy 9,400 Air 6,200)
AIRCRAFT 8 combat capable Paramilitary 500
ISR 1 AMT-200 Super Ximango Conscript liability Voluntary conscription
TPT • Light 13: 3 C-212-400 Aviocar; 1 Cessna 172; 1
Cessna 182; 1 Cessna 206; 1 Cessna 207; 1 Commander RESERVE 118,000 (Joint 118,000)
690; 3 EA-100; 1 PA-31 Navajo; 1 P2006T Ages 18–55
Latin America and the Caribbean 397

2 Cessna 172; 1 Cessna 206; 1 Cessna 500 Citation I; 1


ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE IAI-201 Arava; 1 M-28 Skytruck
TRG 4: 2 MX-7-235 Star Rocket; 2 T-41D Mescalero
Army 25,650
HELICOPTERS
FORCES BY ROLE
MRH 30: 7 H125M (AS550C3) Fennec; 3 Mi-17-1V Hip; 2
gp are bn sized
COMMAND SA315B Lama; 18 SA342L Gazelle (13 with HOT for anti-
4 div HQ armour role)
SPECIAL FORCES TPT 13: Medium 9: 5 AS332B Super Puma; 2 Mi-171E; 2
1 (9th) SF bde (3 SF gp, 1 SF sqn, 1 para bn, 1 sigs sqn, 1 SA330 Puma; Light 4: 2 H125 (AS350B2) Ecureuil; 2 H125
log comd) (AS350B3) Ecureuil
MANOEUVRE AIR DEFENCE
Mechanised
SAM • Point-defence Blowpipe; 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7
1 (11th) armd cav bde (3 armd cav gp, 1 mech inf bn, 1
Grail)‡; 9K38 Igla (RS-SA-18 Grouse)
SP arty gp, 1 engr gp)
1 (5th) inf bde (1 SF sqn, 2 mech cav gp, 2 inf bn, 1 cbt GUNS 240
engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log coy) SP 20mm 44 M163 Vulcan
Light TOWED 196: 14.5mm 128 ZPU-1/-2; 20mm 38: 28
1 (1st) inf bde (1 SF sqn, 1 armd cav gp, 1 armd recce M-1935, 10 M167 Vulcan; 40mm 30 L/70/M1A1
sqn, 3 inf bn, 1 med coy) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ASM HOT
1 (3rd) inf bde (1 SF gp, 1 mech cav gp, 1 inf bn, 1 arty gp,
1 hvy mor coy, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log coy)
Navy 9,400 (incl Naval Aviation, Marines and
1 (7th) inf bde (1 SF sqn, 1 armd recce sqn, 1 mech cav
gp, 3 inf bn, 1 jungle bn, 1 arty gp, 1 cbt engr coy, 1 Coast Guard)
sigs coy, 1 log coy, 1 med coy) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 (13th) inf bde (1 SF sqn, 1 armd recce sqn, 1 mot cav SUBMARINES 2
gp, 3 inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 hvy mor coy, 1 cbt engr coy, SSK 2 Shyri (GER T-209/1300) with 8 single 533mm TT
1sigs coy, 1 log coy) each with A184 mod 3 HWT
2 (17th & 21st) jungle bde (3 jungle bn, 1 cbt engr coy, 1
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 2
sigs coy, 1 log coy)
1 (19th) jungle bde (3 jungle bn, 1 jungle trg bn, 1 cbt FFGH 2 Moran Valverde (ex-UK Leander batch II) with 1
engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log coy) quad lnchr with MM40 Exocet AShM, 2 triple 324mm
COMBAT SUPPORT ILAS-3 (B-515) ASTT with A244 LWT, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx
1 (27th) arty bde (1 SP arty gp, 1 MRL gp, 1 ADA gp, 1 CIWS, 1 twin 114mm gun (capacity 1 Bell 230 hel)
cbt engr coy, 1 sigs coy, 1 log coy)

Latin America and


PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 9

the Caribbean
1 (23rd) engr bde (3 engr bn) CORVETTES • FSGM 6
2 indep MP coy
5 Esmeraldas (ITA Tipo 550) with 2 triple lnchr
1 indep sigs coy
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT with MM40 Exocet AShM, 1 quad Albatros lnchr
1 (25th) log bde (1 log bn, 1 tpt bn, 1 maint bn, 1 med bn) with Aspide SAM, 2 triple 324mm ILAS-3 (B-515)
9 indep med coy ASTT with A244 LWT, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing
AVIATION platform
1 (15th) avn bde (2 tpt avn gp, 2 hel gp, 1 mixed avn gp) 1 Esmeraldas (ITA Tipo 550) with 2 triple lnchr with
AIR DEFENCE MM40 Exocet AShM, 1 quad Albatros lnchr with
1 ADA gp
Aspide SAM, 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE PCFG 3 Quito (GER Lurssen TNC-45 45m) with 4 single
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
lnchr with MM38 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun (upgrade
LT TK 25 AMX-13
RECCE 42: 10 EE-3 Jararaca; 32 EE-9 Cascavel programme ongoing)
APC 151 LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 8
APC (T) 102: 82 AMX-VCI; 20 M113 AE 1 Calicuchima
APC (W) 49: 17 EE-11 Urutu; 32 UR-416 AG 1 Hualcopo (ex-PRC Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999) (utilised
ARTILLERY 486 in transport ship role)
SP 155mm 5 Mk F3 AGOS 1 Orion with 1 hel landing platform
TOWED 106: 105mm 84: 36 M101; 24 M2A2; 24 Model
AGS 1 Sirius
56 pack howitzer; 155mm 22: 12 M114; 10 M198
AKL 1 Isla Bartolome (operated by TRANSNAVE)
MRL 122mm 18 BM-21 Grad
MOR 81mm 357 M29 ATF 1 Chimborazo
AIRCRAFT AWT 1 Atahualpa
TPT • Light 10: 1 Beech 200 King Air; 2 C-212; 1 CN235; AXS 1 Guayas
398 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Naval Aviation 380 TRG 36: 11 DA20-C1; 17 EMB-314 Super Tucano*; 8


G-120TP
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 13: 4 AW119 Koala; 6 Bell
AIRCRAFT
206B Jet Ranger II; 3 H145
MP 1 CN235-300M
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR Python 3;
ISR 3: 2 Beech 200T King Air; 1 Beech 300 Catpass
R-550 Magic; IIR Python 4
King Air
AIR DEFENCE
TPT • Light 3: 1 Beech 200 King Air; 1 Beech 300 King
SAM • Point-defence 10+: 10 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko);
Air; 1 CN235-100
9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
TRG 3 T-35B Pillan
GUNS • TOWED 52: 23mm 34 ZU-23; 35mm 18 GDF-
HELICOPTERS
002 (twin)
TPT • Light 9: 3 Bell 206A; 3 Bell 206B; 1 Bell 230; 2
Bell 430
Paramilitary 500
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
ISR 4: Heavy 2 Heron; Medium 2 Searcher Mk.II Coast Guard 500
Marines 1,950 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 21
FORCES BY ROLE PCC 7: 3 Isla Fernandina (Vigilante); 2 Isla San Cristóbal
SPECIAL FORCES (Damen Stan Patrol 5009); 2 Isla Floreana (ex-ROK
1 cdo bn Hae Uri)
MANOEUVRE PB 13: 2 Espada; 2 Manta (GER Lurssen 36m); 1 Point; 4
Amphibious Rio Coca; 4 Isla Santa Cruz (Damen Stan 2606)
5 mne bn PBR 1 Rio Puyango
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARTILLERY • MOR 32+ 81mm/120mm
DEPLOYMENT
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence 9K38 Igla
(RS-SA-18 Grouse) CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 2
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 3
Air Force 6,200 SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 3
Operational Command WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 2
FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER El Salvador SLV
1 sqn with Cheetah C/D
GROUND ATTACK United States Dollar USD 2021 2022 2023
1 sqn with EMB-314 Super Tucano* GDP USD 28.7bn 32.0bn
per capita USD 4,408 4,883
Military Air Transport Group
Growth % 10.3 2.6
FORCES BY ROLE
Inflation % 3.5 7.3
ISR
1 sqn with Beech 350i King Air; Gulfstream G-1159; Def bdgt USD 248m 257m
Sabreliner 40 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER 225
1 sqn with AW119 Koala; Bell 206B Jet Ranger II; H145
1 sqn with Cessna 206; PA-34 Seneca 132
TRANSPORT 2008 2015 2022
1 sqn with C295M
Population 6,568,745
1 sqn with DHC-6-300 Twin Otter
1 sqn with B-727; B-737-200; L-100-30 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
TRAINING
Male 13.1% 4.1% 4.7% 4.7% 17.9% 3.5%
1 sqn with DA20-C1
Female 12.5% 4.0% 4.6% 4.8% 21.7% 4.5%
1 sqn with G-120TP
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Capabilities
AIRCRAFT 17 combat capable
TPT 19: Medium 1 L-100-30; (2 C-130B Hercules; 1 The primary challenge for El Salvador’s armed forces is tackling
organised crime and narcotics trafficking in support of the National
C-130H Hercules in store); Light 11: 1 Beech E90 King
Civil Police. A Territorial Control Plan implemented in 2019 has seen
Air; 1 Beech 350i King Air; 3 C295M; 1 Cessna 206; 3 mixed military and police patrols deployed to areas with high crime
DHC-6 Twin Otter; 1 PA-34 Seneca; 1 Sabreliner 40; PAX rates. A spike in homicide rates in early 2020 led in March to further
7: 2 A320 (operated by TAME); 2 B-727; 1 B-737-200; 1 emergency measures and led to widespread arrests. El Salvador
Falcon 7X; 1 Gulfstream G-1159 participates in a tri-national border task force with Guatemala and
Latin America and the Caribbean 399

Honduras. The armed forces have long-standing training pro- Air Force 2,000
grammes, including with regional states and with the US, focused
on internal security, disaster relief and support to civilian authori- FORCES BY ROLE
ties. El Salvador has deployed on UN peacekeeping missions up to FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK/ISR
company strength but lacks the logistical support to sustain inde- 1 sqn with A-37B/OA-37B Dragonfly; O-2A/B Skymaster*
pendent international deployments. The armed forces have received
little new heavy military equipment in recent years and are depend- TRANSPORT
ent on an inventory of Cold War-era platforms; the majority of these 1 sqn with Cessna 337G; IAI-202 Arava
are operational, indicating adequate support and maintenance. El TRAINING
Salvador lacks a substantive defence industry but has successfully
produced light armoured vehicles based upon commercial vehicles. 1 sqn with R-235GT Guerrier; T-35 Pillan; T-41D
Mescalero; TH-300; TH-300C
ACTIVE 24,500 (Army 20,500 Navy 2,000 Air 2,000) TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Paramilitary 26,000
1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); Bell 407; Bell
Conscript liability 12 months (selective); 11 months for officers
and NCOs 412EP Twin Huey; MD-530F; UH-1M Iroquois
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
RESERVE 9,900 (Joint 9,900)
AIRCRAFT 25 combat capable
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE ATK 14 A-37B Dragonfly
ISR 11: 6 O-2A/B Skymaster*; 5 OA-37B Dragonfly*
Army 20,500 TPT • Light 4: 1 Cessna 337G Skymaster; 3 IAI-201 Arava
FORCES BY ROLE TRG 9: 5 R-235GT Guerrier; 3 T-35 Pillan; 1 T-41D Mescalero
SPECIAL FORCES HELICOPTERS
1 spec ops gp (1 SF coy, 1 para bn, 1 (naval inf) coy) MRH 14: 4 Bell 412EP Twin Huey (of which 1 VIP); 8+
MANOEUVRE
MD-530F; 2 UH-1M Iroquois
Reconnaissance
1 armd cav regt (2 armd cav bn) TPT• Light 9: 8 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 1 Bell 407
Light (VIP tpt, govt owned)
6 inf bde (3 inf bn) TRG 3: 2 TH-300; 1 TH-300C; (4 TH-300 in store)
Other AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR Shafrir‡
1 (special) sy bde (2 border gd bn, 2 MP bn)
COMBAT SUPPORT
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 26,000
1 arty bde (2 fd arty bn, 1 AD bn)
1 engr comd (2 engr bn)
National Civilian Police 26,000
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE

Latin America and


Ministry of Public Security

the Caribbean
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AIRCRAFT
RECCE 5 AML-90 (4 more in store)
APC • APC (W) 38: 30 VAL Cashuat (mod); 8 UR-416 ISR 1 O-2A Skymaster
AUV 5+ SandCat TPT • Light 1 Cessna 310
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE HELICOPTERS
RCL 399: 106mm 20 M40A1 (incl 16 SP); 90mm 379 M67 MRH 9: 2 MD-520N; 7 MD-500E
ARTILLERY 229+
TPT • Light 3: 1 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 2 R-44
TOWED 66: 105mm 54: 36 M102; 18 M-56 (FRY);
155mm 12 M198 Raven II
MOR 163+: 81mm 151 M29; 120mm 12+: 12 UBM 52;
(some M-74 in store) DEPLOYMENT
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 35: 20mm 31 M-55; 4 TCM-20
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 52; 1 inf pl
Navy 2,000 MALI: UN • MINUSMA 176; 1 hel sqn with 3 MD-500E
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12 SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1
PB 12: 1 Bering 65; 3 Camcraft (30m); 1 Defiant 85; 1 SUDAN: UN • UNIFSA 1
Swiftships 77; 1 Swiftships 65; 4 Type-44 (ex-US); 1 YP 660
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 1
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCM 4 LCM 8 (of
which 3†)
FOREIGN FORCES
Naval Inf (SF Commandos) 90
FORCES BY ROLE United States US Southern Command: 1 Forward
SPECIAL FORCES Operating Location (Military, DEA, USCG and Customs
1 SF coy personnel)
400 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MANOEUVRE
Guatemala GUA Light
1 (strategic reserve) mech bde (1 inf bn, 1 cav regt, 1
Guatemalan Quetzal GTQ 2021 2022 2023
log coy)
GDP GTQ 665bn 722bn
6 inf bde (1 inf bn)
USD 86.0bn 91.3bn
Air Manoeuvre
per capita USD 4,688 4,880
1 AB bde with (2 AB bn)
Growth % 8.0 3.4
Amphibious
Inflation % 4.3 6.4
1 mne bde
Def bdgt GTQ 2.63bn 3.16bn
Other
USD 340m 400m
1 (Presidential) gd bde (1 gd bn, 1 MP bn, 1 CSS coy)
USD1=GTQ 7.74 7.90
COMBAT SUPPORT
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
340 1 engr comd (1 engr bn, 1 construction bn)
2 MP bde with (1 MP bn)
206
2008 2015 2022 Reserves
Population 17,703,190 FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Age 0–14 15 –19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Light
Male 16.5% 5.0% 4.7% 4.5% 16.6% 2.3% ε19 inf bn
Female 15.9% 4.9% 4.7% 4.5% 17.6% 2.8%
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Capabilities
RECCE (7 M8 in store)
The armed forces are refocusing on border security, having drawn
APC 39
down their decade-long direct support for the National Civil Police
in 2018 as part of the inter-agency Plan Fortaleza. Guatemala APC (T) 10 M113 (5 more in store)
maintains an inter-agency task force with neighbouring El Salvador APC (W) 29: 22 Armadillo; 7 V-100 Commando
and Honduras. The army has trained with US SOUTHCOM, as well ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
as with regional partners such as Brazil and Colombia. Training for RCL 120+: 75mm M20; 105mm 64 M-1974 FMK-1
conventional military operations is limited by budget constraints
and the long focus on providing internal security. Guatemala has
(ARG); 106mm 56 M40A1
participated in UN peacekeeping missions to company level. The ARTILLERY 149
equipment inventory is small and ageing. The US has provided TOWED 105mm 76: 12 M101; 8 M102; 56 M-56
several soft-skinned vehicles to the army and helicopters to the MOR 73: 81mm 55 M1; 107mm (12 M30 in store);
air force, while there has been modest recapitalisation of the
120mm 18 ECIA
air force’s fixed-wing transport and surveillance capacity. Aside
from limited maintenance facilities, the country has no domestic AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 32: 20mm 32: 16
defence industry. GAI-D01; 16 M-55

ACTIVE 18,050 (Army 15,550 Navy 1,500 Air 1,000)


Navy 1,500
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 25,000
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
RESERVE 63,850 (Navy 650 Air 900 Armed Forces PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 10
62,300) PB 10: 6 Cutlass; 1 Dauntless; 1 Kukulkan (US Broadsword
(National Armed Forces are combined; the army provides log spt
32m); 2 Utatlan (US Sewart)
for navy and air force)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 3
LCT 1 Quetzal (COL Golfo de Tribuga)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
LCP 2 Machete
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AXS 3
Army 15,550
15 Military Zones
Marines 650 reservists
FORCES BY ROLE
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF bde (1 SF bn, 1 trg bn) MANOEUVRE
1 SF bde (1 SF coy, 1 ranger bn) Amphibious
1 SF mtn bde 2 mne bn(-)
Latin America and the Caribbean 401

Air Force 1,000


2 air comd
Guyana GUY
FORCES BY ROLE Guyanese Dollar GYD 2021 2022 2023

TRANSPORT GDP GYD 1.61tr 3.09tr


USD 7.72bn 14.8bn
1 sqn with Beech 90/200/300 King Air
per capita USD 9,778 18,745
1 (tactical support) sqn with Cessna 206
Growth % 23.8 57.8
TRAINING
Inflation % 3.3 7.6
1 sqn with T-35B Pillan
Def bdgt GYD 14.8bn 17.6bn
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
USD 70.9m 84.6m
1 sqn with Bell 212 (armed); Bell 407GX; Bell 412 Twin
USD1=GYD 208.51 208.50
Huey (armed)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 88
Serviceability of ac is less than 50%
33
AIRCRAFT
2008 2015 2022
TPT • Light 16: 1 Beech 90 King Air; 2 Beech 200 King
Population 789,683
Air; 2 Beech 300 King Air (VIP); 2 Cessna 206; 3 Cessna
208B Grand Caravan; 1 DHC-6 Twin Otter; 2 PA-28 Archer Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
III; 1 PA-31 Navajo; 2 PA-34 Seneca; (5 Cessna R172K Male 12.2% 5.2% 5.9% 4.2% 20.3% 3.3%
Hawk XP in store) Female 11.7% 5.0% 5.6% 3.8% 18.7% 4.3%
TRG 1 SR22; (4 T-35B Pillan in store)
HELICOPTERS Capabilities
MRH 2 Bell 412 Twin Huey (armed) The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is focused on border control,
support for law-enforcement operations and assistance to the
TPT • Light 6: 2 Bell 206B Jet Ranger; 2 Bell 212 (armed); civil power. The government is planning to restructure the GDF to
2 Bell 407GX improve its flexibility. Guyana is part of the Caribbean Basin Security
Initiative. It has close military ties with Brazil, with whom it cooper-
Tactical Security Group ates on border security via annual regional military exchange meet-
ings. The country also has bilateral agreements with China, France
Air Military Police and the US. The GDF trains regularly and takes part in bilateral and
multinational exercises. A training initiative with China helped two

Latin America and


Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 25,000 Guyanese pilots to acquire air-combat certification although Guyana

the Caribbean
has no combat aircraft in its inventory. There is no expeditionary or
National Civil Police 25,000 associated logistics capability. Equipment is mostly composed of
second-hand platforms, mainly of Brazilian and North American
FORCES BY ROLE manufacture. The air force has expanded its modest air-transport
SPECIAL FORCES capabilities with some second-hand utility aircraft. Apart from main-
tenance facilities, there is no defence-industrial sector.
1 SF bn
MANOEUVRE ACTIVE 3,400 (Army 3,000 Navy 200 Air 200)
Active numbers combined Guyana Defence Force
Other
1 (integrated task force) paramilitary unit (incl mil RESERVE 670 (Army 500 Navy 170)
and treasury police)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
DEPLOYMENT
Army 3,000
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 4 FORCES BY ROLE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF sqn
MONUSCO 152; 1 spec ops coy MANOEUVRE
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 2 Light
3 inf bn
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 2 COMBAT SUPPORT
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 7 1 arty coy
1 (spt wpn) cbt spt coy
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 3 1 engr bn
402 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT Capabilities


1 spt bn
Haiti possesses almost no military capability. Following the assassination
Reserve of the president in 2021, violence and instability deepened and criminal
groups are active in many areas. The armed forces also struggled to
FORCES BY ROLE respond swiftly to the country’s most recent earthquake, where their
MANOEUVRE ability to deliver aid and shelter was tested. A small coastguard is
Amphibious tasked with maritime security and law enforcement and the country’s
1 inf bn army is still in the very early stages of development, though it is hoped
this will eventually number around 5,000 personnel. Plans for military
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
expansion were outlined in the 2015 White Paper on Security and
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Defence. A road map for the re-establishment of the Haitian armed
RECCE 6 EE-9 Cascavel (reported) forces was distributed to ministers in early 2017 and in March 2018 an
ARTILLERY 54 army high command was established. The army’s initial mandate is
TOWED 130mm 6 M-46† to provide disaster relief and border security. A 2018 agreement with
MOR 48: 81mm 12 L16A1; 82mm 18 M-43; 120mm 18 M-43 Mexico has seen small groups of Haitian troops travel to Mexico for
training, including ‘train-the-trainer’ tasks. Mexico will also offer police
training. Ecuador and Argentina are also reported to have offered
Navy 200 training assistance. Haiti is a member of the Caribbean Community
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE and has participated in US SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds disaster-response
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5 exercise. There is no heavy military equipment, and no defence industry.
PCO 1 Essequibo (ex-UK River (MCM))†
ACTIVE 700 (Army 700) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 50
PB 4 Barracuda (ex-US Type-44)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Air Force 200
FORCES BY ROLE Army ε700
TRANSPORT FORCES BY ROLE
1 unit with Bell 206; Cessna 206; Y-12 (II) MANOEUVRE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 inf bn (forming)
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 6: 2 BN-2 Islander; 1 Cessna
206; 2 SC.7 3M Skyvan; 1 Y-12 (II) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 50
HELICOPTERS
MRH 2: 1 Bell 412 Twin Huey†; 1 Bell 412EPI Twin Huey Coast Guard ε50
TPT • Light 2 Bell 206 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
PB 8: 5 Dauntless; 3 3812-VCF
Haiti HTI
Haitian Gourde HTG 2021 2022 2023 Honduras HND
GDP HTG 1.70tr 2.13tr
Honduran Lempira HNL 2021 2022 2023
USD 21.0bn 20.2bn
GDP HNL 684bn 768bn
per capita USD 1,765 1,673
USD 28.5bn 30.6bn
Growth % -1.8 -1.2
per capita USD 2,816 2,969
Inflation % 15.9 26.8
Growth % 12.5 3.4
Def bdgt [a] HTG 2.99bn 1.46bn
Inflation % 4.5 8.6
USD 37.0m 13.9m
Def bdgt [a] HNL 8.46bn 9.34bn 12.1bn
USD1=HTG 80.85 105.49
USD 352m 371m
[a] 2021 increase in defence budget due to greater investment
in infrastructure and new Covid-19 responsibilities of the Haitian USD1=HNL 24.02 25.14
Armed Forces [a] Defence & national security budget
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
26 338
n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k.
2 120
2008 2015 2022 2008 2015 2022

Population 11,334,637 Population 9,459,440

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 15.0% 5.1% 5.0% 4.7% 17.5% 2.0% Male 14.5% 5.3% 5.1% 4.4% 16.7% 2.5%
Female 15.1% 5.1% 5.0% 4.8% 18.1% 2.5% Female 14.1% 5.3% 5.1% 4.6% 19.0% 3.2%
Latin America and the Caribbean 403

Capabilities AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 3


LCT 1 Gracias a Dios (COL Golfo de Tribugá)
The armed forces have been deployed in support of the police
to combat organised crime and narcotics trafficking since 2011. LCM 3: 2 LCM 8; 1 Punta Caxinas
The new government has pledged renewed focus on profession-
alisation, anti-corruption and human rights in the security forces. Marines 1,000
Honduras maintains diplomatic relations with Taiwan, which has FORCES BY ROLE
supplied surplus military equipment, and also receives US security
MANOEUVRE
assistance. Honduras hosts a US base at Soto Cano airfield and is
also part of a tri-national border-security task force with neigh- Amphibious
bouring El Salvador and Guatemala. Training remains focused 2 mne bn
on internal- and border-security requirements, and training for
conventional military action is limited. Honduras does not have Air Force 2,300
the capability to maintain substantial foreign deployments. Most
equipment is ageing, with serviceability in doubt. There have been FORCES BY ROLE
reports of security assistance from Israel. Apart from limited main- FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
tenance facilities, the country has no domestic defence industry. 1 sqn with A-37B Dragonfly
ACTIVE 14,950 (Army 7,300 Navy 1,350 Air 2,300 1 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II
Military Police 4,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 8,000 GROUND ATTACK/ISR/TRAINING
1 unit with Cessna 182 Skylane; EMB-312 Tucano; MXT-
RESERVE 60,000 (Joint 60,000; Ex-servicemen
7-180 Star Rocket
registered)
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with Beech 200 King Air; C-130A Hercules; Cessna
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 185/210; IAI-201 Arava; PA-42 Cheyenne; Turbo
Commander 690
Army 7,300 1 VIP flt with PA-31 Navajo; Bell 412EP/SP Twin Huey
FORCES BY ROLE
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
SPECIAL FORCES
1 sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); Bell 412SP Twin Huey
1 (special tac) spec ops gp (2 spec ops bn, 1 inf bn; 1 AB
bn; 1 arty bn) AIR DEFENCE
MANOUEVRE 1 ADA bn
Mechanised EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 inf bde (1 mech cav regt, 1 inf bn, 1 arty bn) AIRCRAFT 17 combat capable
Light
FTR 11: 9 F-5E Tiger II†; 2 F-5F Tiger II†
1 inf bde (3 inf bn, 1 arty bn)
ATK 6 A-37B Dragonfly
3 inf bde (2 inf bn)

Latin America and


TPT 17: Medium 1 C-130A Hercules; Light 16: 1 Beech

the Caribbean
1 indep inf bn
Other 200 King Air; 2 Cessna 172 Skyhawk; 2 Cessna 182 Skylane;
1 (Presidential) gd coy 1 Cessna 185; 3 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; 1 Cessna 210;
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 EMB-135 Legacy 600; 1 IAI-201 Arava; 1 L-410 (leased); 1
1 engr bn PA-31 Navajo; 1 PA-42 Cheyenne; 1 Turbo Commander 690
1 sigs bn TRG 15: 9 EMB-312 Tucano; 6 MXT-7-180 Star Rocket
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE HELICOPTERS
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES MRH 7: 1 Bell 412EP Twin Huey (VIP); 4 Bell 412SP Twin
LT TK 12 FV101 Scorpion
Huey; 2 Hughes 500
RECCE 43: 3 FV107 Scimitar; 40 FV601 Saladin
AUV 1 FV105 Sultan (CP) TPT • Light 6: 5 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 1 H125 Ecureuil
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 20mm 48: 24 M-55A2; 24 TCM-20
RCL 50+: 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm 50 M40A1 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR Shafrir‡
ARTILLERY 118+
TOWED 28: 105mm: 24 M102; 155mm: 4 M198 Military Police 4,000
MOR 90+: 81mm; 120mm 60 FMK-2; 160mm 30 M-66
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOUEVRE
Navy 1,350
Other
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
8 sy bn
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 15
PCO 1 General Cabañas (ISR OPV 62 Sa’ar)
PB 14: 2 Lempira (Damen Stan Patrol 4207 – leased); 1 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 8,000
Chamelecon (Swiftships 85); 1 Tegucigalpa (US Guardian
32m); 3 Guaymuras (Swiftships 105); 5 Nacaome (Swiftships Public Security Forces 8,000
65); 1 Río Aguán (Defiant 85); 1 Rio Coco (US PB Mk III) Ministry of Public Security and Defence; 11 regional comd
404 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SUPPORT
DEPLOYMENT
1 engr regt (4 engr sqn)
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 10 1 MP bn
1 cbt spt bn (1 (PMV) lt mech inf coy)
FOREIGN FORCES COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
United States US Southern Command: 400; 1 avn bn with
1 spt bn (1 med coy, 1 log coy, 1 tpt coy)
4 CH-47F Chinook; 12 UH-60 Black Hawk
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Jamaica JAM
AUV 18 Bushmaster
Jamaican Dollar JMD 2021 2022 2023 ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 12 L16A1
GDP JMD 2.30tr 2.62tr
USD 15.4bn 16.1bn Reserves
per capita USD 5,615 5,870 FORCES BY ROLE
Growth % 4.6 2.8 MANOEUVRE
Inflation % 5.9 9.0
Light
Def bdgt JMD 30.9bn 33.2bn
3 inf bn
USD 207m 204m
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
USD1=JMD 149.70 162.61
1 spt bn
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
246
Coast Guard 300
102 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2008 2015 2022
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 11
Population 2,818,596 PCC 1 Nanny of the Maroons (Damen Fast Crew Supplier
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus 5009)
Male 12.4% 4.4% 4.4% 4.0% 19.6% 4.6% PBF 3
Female 12.0% 4.3% 4.3% 4.0% 20.8% 5.1% PB 7: 3 Honour (Damen Stan Patrol 4207); 4 Dauntless

Capabilities Air Wing 250


The Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) is focused principally on mari- Plus National Reserve
time and internal security, including support to police operations.
Jamaica maintains military ties, including for training purposes, FORCES BY ROLE
with Canada, the UK and the US and is a member of the Caribbean MARITIME PATROL/TRANSPORT
Community. The defence force has participated in US SOUTHCOM’s
1 flt with Beech 350ER King Air; BN-2A Defender
Tradewinds disaster-response exercise. Jamaica is host to the Carib-
bean Special Tactics Centre, which trains special-forces units from SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Jamaica and other Caribbean nations. The JDF does not have any 1 flt with Bell 407
capacity to support independent deployments abroad. Funds
1 flt with Bell 412EP
have been allocated to procure new vehicles and helicopters, and
new patrol craft are being procured. Other than limited mainte- TRAINING
nance facilities, Jamaica has no domestic defence industry. 1 unit with Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger; Bell 505; DA40-180FP
ACTIVE 5,950 (Army 5,400 Coast Guard 300 Air 250) Diamond Star
(combined Jamaican Defence Force) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
RESERVE 2,580 (Army 2,500 Coast Guard 60 Air 20) AIRCRAFT
MP 1 Beech 350ER King Air
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE TPT • Light 2 DA40-180FP Diamond Star (1 BN-2A
Defender in store)
Army 5,400 HELICOPTERS
FORCES BY ROLE MRH 1 Bell 412EP Twin Huey (1 more in store)
MANOUEVRE
TPT • Light 13: 1 Bell 206B3 Jet Ranger; 3 Bell 407; 3 Bell
Light
4 inf bn 429; 6 Bell 505
Latin America and the Caribbean 405

Space
Mexico MEX EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Mexican Peso MXN 2021 2022 2023
SATELLITES • COMMUNICATIONS 2 Mexsat

GDP MXN 26.3tr 28.8tr


Army 157,500
USD 1.30tr 1.42tr 12 regions (total: 46 army zones)
per capita USD 10,062 10,948 FORCES BY ROLE
Growth % 4.8 2.1 SPECIAL FORCES
Inflation % 5.7 8.0 1 (1st) SF bde (5 SF bn)
Def bdgt [a] MXN 136bn 116bn 138bn 1 (2nd) SF bde (7 SF bn)
USD 6.71bn 5.74bn 1 (3rd) SF bde (4 SF bn)
MANOEUVRE
FMA (US) USD 6.0m 0.0m 0.0m
Reconnaissance
USD1=MXN 20.27 20.25
3 (2nd, 3rd & 4th Armd) mech bde (2 armd recce bn, 2 lt
[a] National security expenditure mech bn, 1 arty bn, 1 (Canon) AT gp)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 25 mot recce regt
6.25 Light
1 (1st) inf corps (1 (1st Armd) mech bde (2 armd recce
2.87 bn, 2 lt mech bn, 1 arty bn, 1 (Canon) AT gp), 3 (2nd,
2008 2015 2022 3rd & 6th) inf bde (each: 3 inf bn, 1 arty regt, 1 (Can-
Population 129,150,971
on) AT gp), 1 cbt engr bde (3 engr bn))
3 (1st, 4th & 5th) indep lt inf bde (2 lt inf bn, 1 (Canon)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus AT gp)
92 indep inf bn
Male 12.4% 4.5% 4.3% 4.0% 20.1% 3.5%
25 indep inf coy
Female 11.8% 4.2% 4.0% 4.1% 22.7% 4.4%
Air Manoeuvre
1 para bde with (1 (GAFE) SF gp, 3 bn, 1 (Canon) AT gp)
Capabilities COMBAT SUPPORT
Mexico’s armed forces are the most capable in Central America, 1 indep arty regt
though they have been committed to providing internal-security EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
support within Mexico for nearly a decade. The National Plan for ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Peace and Security 2018–24 envisaged that the armed forces RECCE 223: 19 DN-5 Toro; 127 ERC-90F1 Lynx (7 trg); 40
would hand over lead responsibility for tackling drug cartels and M8; 37 MAC-1

Latin America and


other organised crime to a new National Guard gendarmerie.
IFV 390 DNC-1 (mod AMX-VCI)

the Caribbean
However, recent moves suggested a broadening of the armed
APC 309
forces’ internal role, for instance with plans to transfer the National
APC (T) 73: 40 HWK-11; 33 M5A1 half-track
Guard to Ministry of Defence control. There have also been strains
APC (W) 236: 95 BDX; 16 DN-4; 2 DN-6; 28 LAV-100
in the US-Mexico security relationship. The US has provided equip-
(Pantera); 26 LAV-150 ST; 25 MOWAG Roland; 44 VCR
ment and training to Mexican forces under the Mérida Initiative, as
well as through bilateral programmes via the Pentagon. The armed
(3 amb; 5 cmd post)
forces have a moderate capability to deploy independently, but AUV 379: 100 DN-XI; 247 SandCat; 32 VBL
do not do so in significant numbers. There are plans to recapital- ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
ise diverse and ageing conventional combat platforms across all ARV 7: 3 M32 Recovery Sherman; 4 VCR ARV
three services. In 2020, Mexico brought back to service some of ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
its ageing F-5 combat aircraft. State-owned shipyards have pro- MSL • SP 8 VBL with Milan
duced patrol craft for the navy. Army factories have produced light RCL • 106mm 1,187+ M40A1 (incl some SP)
armoured utility vehicles for domestic use. Airbus Helicopters is GUNS 37mm 30 M3
expanding a manufacturing plant for sub-assemblies that it oper- ARTILLERY 1,390
ates in Querétaro. TOWED 123: 105mm 123: 40 M101; 40 M-56; 16 M2A1,
14 M3; 13 NORINCO M90
ACTIVE 216,000 (Army 157,500 Navy 50,500 Air MOR 1,267: 81mm 1,100: 400 M1; 400 Brandt; 300 SB
8,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 136,900 120mm 167: 75 Brandt; 60 M-65; 32 RT-61
Conscript liability 12 months (partial, selection by ballot) from age AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 80: 12.7mm 40 M55;
18, serving on Saturdays; voluntary for women; conscripts allo- 20mm 40 GAI-B01
cated to reserves.

RESERVE 81,500 (National Military Service) Navy 50,500


Two Fleet Commands: Gulf (6 zones), Pacific (11 zones)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 1
406 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
FFGHM 1 Benito Juárez (Damen SIGMA 10514) with
AIRCRAFT 3 combat capable
2 quad lnchr with RGM-84L Harpoon Block II AShM, 1
MP 6 CN235-300 MPA Persuader
8-cell Mk 56 VLS with RIM-162 ESSM SAM, 1 21-cell
ISR 2 Z-143Lsi
Mk 49 lnchr with RIM-116C RAM Block 2 SAM, 2 triple
TPT 20: Light 18: 5 Beech 350ER King Air (4 used
324mm SVTT Mk 32 ASTT with Mk 54 LWT, 1 57mm gun
for ISR); 3 Beech 350i King Air; 4 C295M; 2 C295W; 1
(capacity 1 med hel) (fitted for but not with Mk 56 VLS
DHC-8 Dash 8; 2 Learjet 31A; 1 Learjet 60; PAX 2: 1
with RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missile)
CL-605 Challenger; 1 Gulfstream 550
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 128
TRG 46: 7 MX-7-180 Star Rocket; 13 T-6C+ Texan II; 26
PSOH 8:
Z-242L
4 Oaxaca with 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 AS565MB
HELICOPTERS
Panther hel)
MRH 21: 2 AS555 Fennec; 15 Mi-17-1V Hip; 4 Mi-17V-5 Hip
4 Oaxaca (mod) with 1 57mm gun (capacity 1
SAR 14: 4 AS565MB Panther; 10 AS565MBe Panther
AS565MB Panther hel)
TPT 26: Heavy 3 H225M Caracal; Medium 8 UH-60M
PCOH 16:
Black Hawk; Light 15: 1 AW109SP; 1 H145; 5 MD-902
4 Durango with 1 57mm gun (capacity 1 Bo-105 hel)
(SAR role); 8 S-333
4 Holzinger (capacity 1 MD-902 Explorer)
3 Sierra with 1 57mm gun (capacity 1 MD-902 TRG 4 Schweizer 300C
Explorer)
Marines 21,500
5 Uribe (ESP Halcon) (capacity 1 Bo-105 hel)
PCO 9: 6 Valle (US Auk MSF) with 1 76mm gun; 3 Valle FORCES BY ROLE
(US Auk MSF) with 1 76mm gun, 1 hel landing platform SPECIAL FORCES
PCGH 1 Huracan (ex-ISR Aliya) with 4 single lnchr with 3 SF unit
Gabriel II AShM, 1 Mk 15 Phalanx CIWS MANOEUVRE
PCC 2 Democrata Light
PBF 72: 6 Acuario; 2 Acuario B; 48 Polaris (SWE CB90); 16 32 inf bn(-)
Polaris II (SWE IC 16M) Air Manoeuvre
PB 20: 3 Azteca; 3 Cabo (ex-US Cape Higgon); 2 Lago; 2 1 AB bn
Punta (US Point); 10 Tenochtitlan (Damen Stan Patrol 4207) Amphibious
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING SHIPS 1 amph bde (4 inf bn, 1 amph bn, 1 arty gp)
LST 4: 2 Monte Azules with 1 hel landing platform; 1 Other
Papaloapan (ex-US Newport) with 2 twin 76mm guns, 1 1 (Presidential) gd bn (included in army above)
hel landing platform; 1 Papaloapan (ex-US Newport) with COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 hel landing platform 2 spt bn
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 27 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AGOR 2 Altair (ex-US Robert D. Conrad) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
AGS 9: 5 Arrecife; 1 Onjuku; 1 Río Hondo; 1 Río Tecolutla; APC • APC (W) 29: 3 BTR-60 (APC-60); 26 BTR-70
1 Río Tuxpan (APC-70)
AK 1 Río Suchiate ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
AOTL 2 Aguascalientes RCL 106mm M40A1
AP 2: 1 Isla María Madre (Damen Fast Crew Supplier ARTILLERY 22+
5009); 1 Nautla TOWED 105mm 16 M-56
ATF 4 Otomi with 1 76mm gun MRL 122mm 6 Firos-25
ATS 4 Kukulkan MOR 81mm some
AX 2 Huasteco (also serve as troop transport, supply and
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence 9K38 Igla (RS-
hospital ships)
SA-18 Grouse)
AXS 1 Cuauhtemoc

Naval Aviation 1,250 Air Force 8,000


FORCES BY ROLE FORCES BY ROLE
MARITIME PATROL FIGHTER
5 sqn with MX-7-180 Star Rocket; T-6C+ Texan II 1 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II
1 sqn with Beech 350ER King Air; CN235-300 GROUND ATTACK/ISR
MPA Persuader 4 sqn with T-6C+ Texan II*
TRANSPORT 1 sqn with PC-7*
1 (VIP) sqn with DHC-8 Dash 8 ISR/AEW
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER 1 sqn with Beech 350ER King Air; EMB-145AEW Erieye;
2 sqn with AS555 Fennec; AS565MB/AS565MBe EMB-145RS
Panther; MD-902 TRANSPORT
5 sqn with Mi-17-1V/V-5 Hip 1 sqn with C295M; PC-6B
TRAINING 1 sqn with B-737; Beech 90 King Air
1 sqn with Z-242L; Z-143Lsi 1 sqn with C-27J Spartan; C-130K-30 Hercules; L-100-30
Latin America and the Caribbean 407

5 (liaison) sqn with Cessna 182 FORCES BY ROLE


1 (anti-narcotic spraying) sqn with Bell 206 MANOEUVRE
1 (Presidential) gp with AS332L Super Puma; AW109SP; Other
B-737; B-757; B-787; Gulfstream 150/450/550; H225; 12 sy bde (3 sy bn)
Learjet 35A; Learjet 36; Turbo Commander 680 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 (VIP) gp with B-737; Beech 200 King Air; Beech 350i HELICOPTERS
King Air; Cessna 501 Citation; CL-605 Challenger; MRH 5: 1+ Bell 407GX; 4 Mi-17 Hip H
Gulfstream 550; Learjet 35A; S-70A-24 Black Hawk TPT • Medium 7 UH-60M Black Hawk
TRAINING
1 sqn with Cessna 182 Rural Defense Militia 17,400
1 sqn with PC-7; T-6C+ Texan II FORCES BY ROLE
1 sqn with Grob G120TP MANOEUVRE
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Light
4 sqn with Bell 206B; Bell 407GX 13 inf unit
1 (anti-narcotic spraying) sqn with Bell 206 13 (horsed) cav unit
1 sqn with MD-530MF/MG
1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip
1 sqn with H225M Caracal; Bell 412EP Twin Huey;
DEPLOYMENT
S-70A-24 Black Hawk CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 2
1 sqn with UH-60M Black Hawk
INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 1
ISR UAV
1 unit with Hermes 450; Hermes 900; S4 Ehécatl MALI: UN • MINUSMA 4
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 4
AIRCRAFT 80 combat capable
FTR 5: 4 F-5E Tiger II; 1 F-5F Tiger II
ISR 2 Cessna 501 Citation
Nicaragua NIC
ELINT 8: 6 Beech 350ER King Air; 2 EMB-145RS Nicaraguan Gold Cordoba
2021 2022 2023
AEW&C 1 EMB-145AEW Erieye NIO
TPT 99: Medium 7: 4 C-27J Spartan; 2 C-130K-30 GDP NIO 493bn 564bn
Hercules; 1 L-100-30; Light 79: 2 Beech 90 King Air; 1 USD 14.0bn 15.7bn
Beech 200 King Air; 1 Beech 350i King Air; 6 C295M; 2 per capita USD 2,141 2,375
C295W; 59 Cessna 182; 1 Cessna 501 Citation; 2 Learjet
Growth % 10.3 4.0
35A; 1 Learjet 36; 3 PC-6B; 1 Turbo Commander 680;
Inflation % 4.9 9.9
PAX 13: 6 B-737; 1 B-757; 1 B-787; 1 CL-605 Challenger; 2
Gulfstream 150; 1 Gulfstream 450; 1 Gulfstream 550 Def bdgt NIO 2.85bn 3.05bn

Latin America and


TRG 100: 25 Grob G120TP; 20 PC-7* (30 more possibly

the Caribbean
USD 81.0m 84.9m
in store); 55 T-6C+ Texan II* USD1=NIO 35.20 35.91
HELICOPTERS
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm constant 2015)
MRH 41: 14 Bell 407GXP; 11 Bell 412EP Twin Huey; 16 90
Mi-17 Hip H
ISR 11: 3 MD-530MF; 8 MD-530MG 43
TPT 99: Heavy 12 H225M Caracal; Medium 28: 3 AS332L 2008 2015 2022
Super Puma (VIP); 2 H225 (VIP); 6 S-70A-24 Black Hawk;
17 UH-60M Black Hawk Light 59: 5 AW109SP; 45 Bell 206; Population 6,301,880
1 Bell 206B Jet Ranger II; 8 Bell 206L
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR 9: Medium Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
4: 3 Hermes 450; 1 Hermes 900; Light 5 S4 Ehécatl Male 12.5% 4.6% 4.8% 5.0% 19.1% 2.8%
Female 12.0% 4.4% 4.7% 5.1% 21.5% 3.5%
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 136,900
Federal Ministerial Police 4,500 Capabilities
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Nicaragua’s armed forces are primarily a territorial light-infantry
HELICOPTERS force, with limited coastal-patrol capability. They are tasked with
TPT • Light 25: 18 Bell 205 (UH-1H); 7 Bell 212 border and internal security, as well as with support for disaster-
relief efforts and ecological protection. Nicaragua has renewed
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
its training relationship with Russia and improved ties with China
ISR • Heavy 2 Dominator XP and Iran. Training is largely focused on key internal- and border-
security tasks, although the mechanised brigade has received
National Guard 115,000 Russian training. The armed forces do not undertake significant
Public Security Secretariat. Gendarmerie created in international deployments and lack the logistical support for
2019 from elements of the Army, Navy, Air Force and large-scale military operations, although the mechanised brigade
Federal Police can deploy internally. Equipment primarily consists of ageing Cold
408 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

War-era platforms. Russia has supplied some second-hand tanks PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
and armoured vehicles to help re-equip the mechanised brigade PB 12: 3 Dabur; 2 Farallones; 1 Río Segovia (Zhuk 1400ME); 4
and has supported the establishment of a repair workshop to Rodman 101; 2 Soberanía (ex-JAM Damen Stan Patrol 4207)
maintain the vehicles in-country. There are maintenance facilities
but no domestic defence industry. Marines
ACTIVE 12,000 (Army 10,000 Navy 800 Air 1,200) FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Amphibious
1 mne bn
Army ε10,000
Air Force 1,200
FORCES BY ROLE
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
1 SF bde (2 SF bn) TRANSPORT
MANOEUVRE 1 sqn with An-26 Curl; Beech 90 King Air; Cessna U206;
Mechanised Cessna 404 Titan (VIP)
1 mech inf bde (1 armd recce bn, 1 tk bn, 1 mech inf bn, TRAINING
1 arty bn, 1 MRL bn, 1 AT coy) 1 unit with Cessna 172; PA-18 Super Cub; PA-28 Cherokee
Light TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 regional comd (3 lt inf bn) 1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H (armed)
1 regional comd (2 lt inf bn; 1 arty bn) AIR DEFENCE
3 regional comd (2 lt inf bn) 1 gp with ZU-23
2 indep lt inf bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Other AIRCRAFT
1 comd regt (1 inf bn, 1 sy bn, 1 int unit, 1 sigs bn) TPT • Light 9: 3 An-26 Curl; 1 Beech 90 King Air; 1
1 (ecological) sy bn Cessna 172; 1 Cessna U206; 1 Cessna 404 Titan (VIP); 2
COMBAT SUPPORT PA-28 Cherokee
1 engr bn TRG 2 PA-18 Super Cub
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT HELICOPTERS
1 med bn MRH 7 Mi-17 Hip H (armed)†
1 tpt regt TPT • Medium 2 Mi-171E
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 23mm 18 ZU-23
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ASM 9M17 Skorpion
MBT 82: 62 T-55 (65 more in store); 20 T-72B1MS (RS-AT-2 Swatter)
LT TK (10 PT-76 in store)
RECCE 20 BRDM-2
IFV 17+ BMP-1 Panama PAN
APC • APC (W) 90+: 41 BTR-152 (61 more in store); 45 Panamanian Balboa PAB 2021 2022 2023
BTR-60 (15 more in store); 4+ BTR-70M
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES GDP PAB 63.6bn 71.1bn
AEV IMR USD 63.6bn 71.1bn
VLB TMM-3 per capita USD 14,664 16,173
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Growth % 15.3 7.5
MSL
Inflation % 1.6 3.9
SP 12 9P133 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger)
MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger) Def bdgt [a] PAB 830m 870m
RCL 82mm B-10 USD 830m 870m
GUNS 281: 57mm 174 ZIS-2; (90 more in store); 76mm FMA (US) USD 2.0m 0.0m 0.0m
83 ZIS-3; 100mm 24 M-1944
USD1=PAB 1.00 1.00
ARTILLERY 766
TOWED 12: 122mm 12 D-30; (152mm 30 D-20 in store) [a] Public security expenditure
MRL 151: 107mm 33 Type-63: 122mm 118: 18 BM- Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
21 Grad; 100 Grad 1P (BM-21P) (single-tube rocket 797
launcher, man portable)
MOR 603: 82mm 579; 120mm 24 M-43; (160mm 4 M-160 314
in store) 2008 2015 2022
AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Point-defence 9K36 Strela-3
Population 4,337,768
(RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K32
Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus

Navy ε800 Male 13.0% 3.9% 4.0% 3.9% 21.0% 4.6%


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Female 12.4% 3.8% 3.9% 3.8% 20.6% 5.2%
Latin America and the Caribbean 409

Capabilities AIRCRAFT
TPT • Light 17: 1 Beech 100 King Air; 1 Beech 250
Panama abolished its armed forces in 1990, but retains a border
King Air; 1 Beech 350 King Air; 2 DHC-6-400 Twin
service, a police force and an air/maritime service for low-level
Otter; 3 C-212M Aviocar; 1 Cessna 152, 1 Cessna 172;
security tasks. The primary security focus is on the southern border
with Colombia, and the majority of the border service is deployed 2 Cessna 208B; 1 Cessna 210; 1 ERJ-135BJ; 1 PA-31
there. Both Colombia and the US have provided training and Navajo; 2 PA-34 Seneca
support. Training is focused on internal and border security rather TRG (2 T-35D Pillan in store)
than conventional military operations and there is no capability to HELICOPTERS
mount significant external deployments. None of Panama’s secu- MRH 10: 8 AW139; 1 Bell 412EP; 1 MD-500E
rity services maintain heavy military equipment, focusing instead TPT • Light 5: 1 AW109; 2 Bell 212; 2 Bell 407
on light-transport, patrol and surveillance capabilities. Aside
from limited maintenance facilities, the country has no domestic
defence industry. Paraguay PRY
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 27,700 Paraguayan Guarani PYG 2021 2022 2023
GDP PYG 264tr 293tr
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
USD 38.8bn 41.9bn

Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 27,700 per capita USD 5,279 5,615


Growth % 4.2 0.2
National Border Service 4,000 Inflation % 4.8 9.5
FORCES BY ROLE Def bdgt PYG 1.89tr 1.93tr 2.13tr
SPECIAL FORCES USD 278m 276m
1 SF gp
USD1=PYG 6803.27 6989.62
MANOEUVRE
Other Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
316
1 sy bde (5 sy bn(-))
1 indep sy bn
144
National Police Force 20,000 2008 2015 2022
No hvy mil eqpt, small arms only Population 7,356,409
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
1 SF unit Male 11.5% 4.0% 4.2% 4.7% 21.5% 4.2%
MANOEUVRE

Latin America and


Female 11.1% 3.9% 4.2% 4.7% 21.3% 4.6%

the Caribbean
Other
1 (presidential) gd bn(-)
Capabilities
National Aeronaval Service 3,700 The armed forces are small by regional standards and the equip-
FORCES BY ROLE ment inventory for all services is ageing and largely obsolete.
TRANSPORT The country faces internal challenges from insurgency and
1 sqn with Beech 250 King Air; C-212M Aviocar; Cessna transnational organised crime, chiefly drug trafficking. Conscript
210; PA-31 Navajo; PA-34 Seneca numbers have reduced in recent years, and there are a signifi-
cant number of higher ranks in the force structure. Key forma-
1 (Presidential) flt with ERJ-135BJ; S-76C
tions have long been under-strength. Paraguay has had a con-
TRAINING
sistent if limited tradition of contributing to UN peacekeeping
1 unit with Cessna 152; Cessna 172; T-35D Pillan
operations since 2001. There is only limited ability to self-sustain
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER forces abroad, and no effective power-projection capacity. There
1 sqn with AW139; Bell 205; Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); is a small force of river-patrol craft. Armoured capability is very
Bell 212; Bell 407; Bell 412EP; H145; MD-500E limited. Recent acquisitions of heavy equipment have been con-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE fined to small quantities of engineering and transport capabili-
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 14 ties but there is a plan to upgrade the air force’s fleet of training
PCC 1 Saettia aircraft. There is some local maintenance capacity but the effec-
PB 13: 1 Cocle (ex-US Swift); 1 Chiriqui (ex-US PB tiveness of systems is limited by age. While there is some R&D
MkIV); 2 Panquiaco (UK Vosper 31.5m); 5 3 De and manufacturing cooperation with local research institutes,
there is no traditional defence-industrial base.
Noviembre (ex-US Point), 4 Type-200
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 1 ACTIVE 13,950 (Army 7,400 Navy 3,800 Air 2,750)
LCU 1 General Estaban Huertas Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 14,800
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 2
Conscript liability 12 months
AG 1 Lina María
AKR 1 Manuel Amador Guerror (Damen Stan Lander 5612) RESERVE 164,500 (Joint 164,500)
410 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

FORCES BY ROLE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
MANOEUVRE

Army 7,400 Amphibious


Much of the Paraguayan army is maintained in a cadre 3 mne bn(-)
state during peacetime; the nominal inf and cav divs are ARTILLERY • TOWED 105mm 2 M101
effectively only at coy strength. Active gp/regt are usually
coy sized Air Force 2,750
FORCES BY ROLE
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Light GROUND ATTACK/ISR
3 inf corps (total: 6 inf div(-), 3 cav div(-), 6 arty bty) 1 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano*
Other TRANSPORT
1 (Presidential) gd regt (1 SF bn, 1 inf bn, 1 sy bn, 1 log
1 gp with C-212-200/400 Aviocar; DHC-6 Twin Otter
gp)
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 VIP gp with Beech 58 Baron; Bell 427; Cessna U206
1 arty bde with (2 arty gp, 1 ADA gp) Stationair; Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; Cessna 402B;
1 engr bde with (1 engr regt, 3 construction regt) PA-32R Saratoga (EMB-721C Sertanejo)
1 sigs bn
TRAINING
Reserves 1 sqn with T-25 Universal; T-35A/B Pillan
FORCES BY ROLE TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
MANOEUVRE 1 gp with AS350 Ecureuil (HB350 Esquilo); Bell 205 (UH-
Light
1H Iroquois)
14 inf regt (cadre)
4 cav regt (cadre) MANOEUVRE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Air Manoeuvre
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 1 AB bde
RECCE 28 EE-9 Cascavel
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
APC • APC (W) 12 EE-11 Urutu
ARTILLERY 99 AIRCRAFT 6 combat capable
TOWED 105mm 19 M101 TPT 18: Light 17: 1 Beech 58 Baron; 4 C-212-200 Aviocar;
MOR 81mm 80 1 C-212-400 Aviocar; 3 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan; 2
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 22:
Cessna 208 Grand Caravan EX; 1 Cessna 310; 1 Cessna
SP 20mm 3 M9 half track
TOWED 19: 40mm 13 M1A1, 6 L/60 402B; 2 Cessna U206 Stationair; 1 DHC-6 Twin Otter; 1
PA-32R Saratoga (EMB-721C Sertanejo); PAX 1 Cessna
Navy 3,800 680 Sovereign
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE TRG 21: 6 EMB-312 Tucano*; 6 T-25 Universal; 6 T-35A
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 18
PCR 1 Itaipú (BRZ Roraima) with 1 hel landing platform Pillan; 3 T-35B Pillan
PBR 17: 1 Capitán Cabral; 2 Capitán Ortiz (ROC Hai HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 11: 3 AS350 Ecureuil
Ou); 2 Novatec; 4 Type-701 (US Sewart); 3 Croq 15 (AUS (HB350 Esquilo); 6 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 1 Bell 407; 1
Armacraft); 5 others Bell 427 (VIP)
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCVP 3

Naval Aviation 100 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 14,800


FORCES BY ROLE
TRANSPORT Special Police Service 10,800; 4,000 conscript
1 (liaison) sqn with Cessna 150; Cessna 210 Centurion; (total 14,800)
Cessna 310
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with AS350 Ecureuil (HB350 Esquilo) DEPLOYMENT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 4
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 6: 2 Cessna 150; 1 Cessna 210
Centurion; 2 Cessna 310 CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 12
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 2 AS350 Ecureuil DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
(HB350 Esquilo)
MONUSCO 6
Marines 700; 200 conscript (total 900) SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2
Latin America and the Caribbean 411

Army 47,500
Peru PER 4 mil region
Peruvian Nuevo Sol PEN 2021 2022 2023 FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
GDP PEN 877bn 957bn
1 (1st) SF bde (2 spec ops bn, 2 cdo bn, 1 cdo coy, 1 CT
USD 226bn 239bn coy, 1 airmob arty gp, 1 MP coy, 1 cbt spt bn)
per capita USD 6,679 7,005 1 (3rd) SF bde (1 spec ops bn, 2 cdo bn, 1 airmob arty
Growth % 13.6 2.7 gp, 1 MP coy)
Inflation % 4.0 7.5 1 (6th) SF bde (2 spec ops bn, 2 cdo bn, 1 cdo coy, 1 MP coy)
MANOEUVRE
Def bdgt PEN 7.05bn 6.98bn 7.31bn
Armoured
USD 1.82bn 1.75bn 1 (3rd) armd bde (2 tk bn, 1 armd inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 AT
USD1=PEN 3.88 4.00 coy, 1 AD gp, 1 engr bn, 1 cbt spt bn)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) 1 (9th) armd bde (2 tk bn, 1 armd inf bn, 1 SP arty gp, 1
2.47 ADA gp)
Mechanised
1.17 1 (3rd) armd cav bde (3 mech cav bn, 1 mot inf bn, 1
2008 2015 2022 arty gp, 1 AD gp, 1 engr bn, 1 cbt spt bn)
1 (1st) cav bde (4 mech cav bn, 1 MP coy, 1 cbt spt bn)
Population 32,275,736 Light
2 (2nd & 31st) mot inf bde (4 mot inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1 MP
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus coy, 1 log bn)
Male 13.4% 4.2% 3.8% 3.9% 20.2% 3.6% 3 (1st, 7th & 32nd) inf bde (3 inf bn, 1 MP coy, 1 cbt spt bn)
Female 12.9% 4.1% 3.8% 4.0% 21.6% 4.5% 1 (33rd) inf bde (4 inf bn)
1 (4th) mtn bde (1 armd regt, 3 mot inf bn, 1 arty gp, 1
Capabilities MP coy, 1 cbt spt bn)
1 (5th) mtn bde (1 armd regt, 2 mot inf bn, 3 jungle coy,
Peru’s armed forces are primarily orientated towards preserving
territorial integrity and security, focusing on counter-insurgency
1 arty gp, 1 MP coy, 1 cbt spt bn)
and counter-narcotics operations, while also strengthening their 1 (6th) jungle inf bde (4 jungle bn, 1 engr bn, 1 MP coy,
disaster-relief capabilities. The armed forces are capable of fulfill- 1 cbt spt bn)
ing domestic-security tasks, although they are limited by economic 1 (35th) jungle inf bde (1 SF gp, 3 jungle bn, 3 jungle coy,
constraints and an increasingly ageing inventory. Peru maintains 1 jungle arty gp, 1 AT coy, 1 AD gp, 1 jungle engr bn)
close ties with Colombia, including a cooperation agreement on air COMBAT SUPPORT
control, humanitarian assistance and counter-narcotics. The armed 1 arty gp (bde) (4 arty gp, 2 AD gp, 1 sigs gp)
forces train regularly and take part in national and multilateral

Latin America and


1 (3rd) arty bde (4 arty gp, 1 AD gp, 1 sigs gp)

the Caribbean
exercises, and Peru took part in the 2022 iteration of the RIMPAC
1 (22nd) engr bde (3 engr bn, 1 demining coy)
multinational exercise. The armed forces are capable of indepen-
dently deploying externally and contribute to UN missions abroad. COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
There has been some aviation modernisation, though not across 1 (1st Multipurpose) spt bde
the whole fleet. Tanker/transport capabilities have been boosted AVIATION
with the recent acquisition of two second-hand KC-130Hs. The 1 (1st) avn bde (1 atk hel/recce hel bn, 1 avn bn, 2 aslt
navy is looking to acquire new OPVs and some second-hand anti- hel/tpt hel bn)
submarine warfare helicopters but its ageing fleet of submarines AIR DEFENCE
have yet to finish a modernisation process. The state-owned ship- 1 AD gp (regional troops)
yard SIMA and aviation firm SEMAN are key players in Peru’s defence
industry, both in terms of manufacturing and maintenance. In 2017, EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SEMAN completed final assembly for the last Korean-designed KT-1 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
trainer, and in 2018 the navy commissioned the first locally built MBT 165 T-55; (75† in store)
and South Korean-designed multipurpose vessel. LT TK 96 AMX-13
RECCE 95: 30 BRDM-2; 15 Fiat 6616; 50 M9A1
ACTIVE 81,000 (Army 47,500 Navy 24,000 Air 9,500) APC 295
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 77,000 APC (T) 120 M113A1
Conscript liability 12 months voluntary conscription for APC (W) 175: 150 UR-416; 25 Fiat 6614
both males and females ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
RESERVE 188,000 (Army 188,000) ARV M578
VLB GQL-111
ANTI-TANK-ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE MSL
SP 22 M1165A2 HMMWV with 9K135 Kornet E
Space (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); HJ-73C;
SATELLITES • ISR PéruSAT-1 9K135 Kornet E (RS-AT-14 Spriggan); Spike-ER
412 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

RCL 106mm M40A1 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 14


ARTILLERY 1,025
CORVETTES 8
SP 155mm 12 M109A2
FSG 6 Velarde (FRA PR-72 64m) with 4 single lnchr
TOWED 290: 105mm 152: 44 M101; 24 M2A1; 60 M-56;
with MM38 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun
24 Model 56 pack howitzer; 122mm; 36 D-30; 130mm 36
FS 2 Ferré (ex-ROK Po Hang) with 1 76mm gun
M-46; 155mm 66: 36 M114, 30 Model 50
MRL 122mm 49: 22 BM-21 Grad; 27 Type-90B PCR 6: 2 Amazonas with 1 76mm gun; 2 Manuel Clavero;
MOR 674+: 81mm/107mm 350; SP 107mm 24 M106A1; 2 Marañon with 2 76mm guns
120mm 300+ Brandt/Expal Model L AMPHIBIOUS
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PBR 1 PRINCIPAL AMPHIBIOUS SHIPS • LPD 1 Pisco (IDN
Vargas Guerra Makassar) (capacity 2 LCM; 3 hels; 24 IFV; 450 troops)
AIRCRAFT LANDING SHIPS • LST 2 Paita (capacity 395 troops)
TPT • Light 17: 2 An-28 Cash; 3 An-32B Cline; 1 Beech (ex-US Terrebonne Parish)
350 King Air; 1 Beech 1900D; 4 Cessna 152; 1 Cessna 208 LANDING CRAFT • UCAC 7 Griffon 2000TD (capacity
Caravan; 1 Cessna 560 Citation; 2 Cessna U206 Stationair; 22 troops)
1 PA-31T Cheyenne II; 1 PA-34 Seneca LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 24
TRG 4 IL-103 AG 6 Río Napo
HELICOPTERS AGOR 1 Humboldt (operated by IMARPE)
MRH 7 Mi-17 Hip H AGORH 1 Carrasco
TPT 33: Heavy (3 Mi-26T Halo in store); Medium 21 Mi- AGS 5: 1 Zimic (ex-NLD Dokkum); 2 Van Straelen; 1 La Macha,
171Sh; Light 12: 1 AW109K2; 9 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite; 2 R-44 1 Stiglich (river survey vessel for the upper Amazon)
TRG 4 F-28F AH 4 (river hospital craft)
AIR DEFENCE
AO 2 Noguera
SAM • Point-defence 9K36 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin);
AORH 1 Tacna (ex-NLD Amsterdam)
9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7
ATF 1 Morales
Grail)‡
AWT 1 Caloyeras
GUNS 165
SP 23mm 35 ZSU-23-4 AXS 2: 1 Marte; 1 Unión
TOWED 23mm 130: 80 ZU-23-2; 50 ZU-23
Naval Aviation ε800
Navy 24,000 (incl 1,000 Coast Guard) FORCES BY ROLE
Commands: Pacific, Lake Titicaca, Amazon River MARITIME PATROL
1 sqn with Beech 200T; Bell 212 ASW (AB-212 ASW);
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
F-27 Friendship; Fokker 60; SH-2G Super Seasprite; SH-
SUBMARINES • SSK 6:
3D Sea King
4 Angamos (GER T-209/1200) with 8 single 533mm TT
with SST-4 HWT (of which 1 in refit) TRANSPORT
2 Islay (GER T-209/1100) with 8 single 533mm TT with 1 flt with An-32B Cline; Cessna 206; Fokker 50
SUT 264 HWT TRAINING
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 7 1 sqn with F-28F; T-34C/-1 Turbo Mentor
FFGHM 7: TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
2 Aguirre (ex-ITA Lupo) with 8 single lnchr with 1 (liaison) sqn with Bell 206B Jet Ranger II; Mi-8 Hip
Otomat Mk2 AShM, 1 octuple Mk 29 lnchr with EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
RIM-7P Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT AIRCRAFT
with A244 LWT, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 Bell 212 MP 6: 4 Beech 200T; 2 Fokker 60
(AB-212)/SH-3D Sea King) ELINT 1 F-27 Friendship
2 Aguirre (ex-ITA Lupo) with 2 twin lnchr with MM40 SIGINT 1 Fokker 50
Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 octuple Mk 29 lnchr with MP 1 Fokker 50
RIM-7P Sea Sparrow SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT
TPT • Light 5: 2 An-32B Cline; 1 Cessna 206; 2 Fokker 60
with A244 LWT, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 Bell 212
TRG 3: 2 T-34C Turbo Mentor; 1 T-34C-1 Turbo Mentor
(AB-212)/SH-3D Sea King)
HELICOPTERS
1 Carvajal (ITA Lupo mod) with 8 single lnchr with
ASW 10: 2 Bell 212 ASW (AB-212 ASW); 5 SH-2G
Otomat Mk2 AShM, 1 octuple Albatros lnchr with
Aspide SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with A244 LWT, Super Seasprite; 3 SH-3D Sea King
1 127mm gun (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212)/SH-3D MRH 3 Bell 412SP
Sea King) TPT 10: Medium 7: 1 Mi-8 Hip; 6 UH-3H Sea King;
2 Carvajal (ITA Lupo mod) with 2 twin lnchr with Light 3 Bell 206B Jet Ranger II
MM40 Exocet Block 3 AShM, 1 octuple Albatros lnchr TRG 5 F-28F
with Aspide SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT with A244 MSL
LWT, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212)/ ASM AGM-65D Maverick
SH-3D Sea King) AShM AM39 Exocet
Latin America and the Caribbean 413

Marines 4,000 MiG-29SMP Fulcrum; 2 MiG-29UBM Fulcrum B


FORCES BY ROLE FGA 12: 2 Mirage 2000ED (2000DP); 10 Mirage 2000E
SPECIAL FORCES (2000P) (some†)
3 cdo gp ATK 19: 15 A-37B Dragonfly; 2 Su-25A Frogfoot A; 2 Su-
MANOEUVRE 25UBK Frogfoot B; (8 Su-25A Frogfoot A; 6 Su-25UBK
Light Frogfoot B in store)
2 inf bn ISR 5: 2 Learjet 36A; 3 SA-227-BC Metro III (C-26B)
1 inf gp TKR/TPT 2 KC-130H Hercules
Amphibious TPT 37: Medium 6: 4 C-27J Spartan; 2 L-100-20; Light
1 mne bde (1 SF gp, 1 recce bn, 2 inf bn, 1 amph bn, 1 29: 4 An-32 Cline; 7 Cessna 172 Skyhawk; 3 DHC-6 Twin
arty gp) Otter; 12 DHC-6-400 Twin Otter; 1 PA-44; 1 PC-6 Turbo-
Jungle Porter; PAX 3: 2 B-737; 1 Learjet 45 (VIP)
1 jungle inf bn TRG 75: 8 CH-2000; 19 EMB-312 Tucano†; 20 KT-1P; 10
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MB-339A*; 6 T-41A/D Mescalero; 12 Z-242
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES HELICOPTERS
APC • APC (W) 47+: 32 LAV II; V-100 Commando; 15 ATK 18: 16 Mi-25 Hind D†; 2 Mi-35P Hind E
V-200 Chaimite MRH 12: 2 Bell 412 Twin Huey; up to 10 Mi-17-1V Hip
AUV 7 RAM Mk3 TPT 25: Medium 3 Mi-171Sh; Light 22: 8 Bell 206 Jet
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Ranger; 6 Bell 212 (AB-212); 6 Bo-105LS; 2 Enstrom 280FX
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm M40A1 TRG 4 Schweizer 300C
ARTILLERY 18+ AIR DEFENCE • SAM
TOWED 122mm D-30 Short-range S-125 Pechora (RS-SA-3 Goa)
MOR 18+: 81mm some; 120mm ε18 Point-defence Javelin
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 20mm SP (twin) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 Atoll)‡; R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid)‡;
Air Force 9,500 R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); R-550 Magic; IR/SARH R-27
Divided into five regions – North, Lima, South, Central (RS-AA-10 Alamo); ARH R-77 (RS-AA-12 Adder)
and Amazon ASM AS-30; Kh-29L (RS-AS-14A Kedge)
FORCES BY ROLE ARM Kh-58 (RS-AS-11 Kilter)
FIGHTER
1 sqn with MiG-29S/SE Fulcrum C; MiG-29UBM Fulcrum B Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 77,000
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
National Police 77,000 (100,000 reported)
1 sqn with Mirage 2000E/ED (2000P/DP)
2 sqn with A-37B Dragonfly EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES

Latin America and


1 sqn with Su-25A Frogfoot A; Su-25UBK Frogfoot B

the Caribbean
ISR APC (W) 120: 20 BMR-600; 100 MOWAG Roland
1 (photo-survey) sqn with Learjet 36A; SA-227-BC Metro AIRCRAFT
III (C-26B) TPT • Light 5: 1 An-32B Cline; 1 Beech 1900C;
TRANSPORT 3 Cessna 208B
1 sqn with B-737; An-32 Cline HELICOPTERS
1 sqn with DHC-6 Twin Otter; DHC-6-400 Twin Otter; MRH 4 Mi-17 Hip H
PC-6 Turbo Porter TPT • Light 16: 5 H145; 2 Mi-171Sh; 9 UH-1H Huey II
1 sqn with L-100-20
TRAINING General Police 43,000
2 (drug interdiction) sqn with EMB-312 Tucano
Security Police 21,000
1 sqn with MB-339A*
1 sqn with Z-242 Technical Police 13,000
1 hel sqn with Enstrom 280FX; Schweizer 300C
ATTACK HELICOPTER Coast Guard 1,000
1 sqn with Mi-25†/Mi-35P Hind Personnel included as part of Navy
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with Mi-17-1V Hip PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 45
1 sqn with Bell 206 Jet Ranger; Bell 212 (AB-212); Bell 412 PSOH 1 Carvajal (ITA Lupo mod) with 1 127mm gun
Twin Huey (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212)/SH-3D Sea King)
1 sqn with Bo-105LS PCC 10: 6 Río Pativilca (ROK Tae Geuk); 4 Río Nepeña
AIR DEFENCE PBF 1 Río Itaya (SWE Combat Boat 90)
6 bn with S-125 Pechora (RS-SA-3 Goa) PB 12: 6 Chicama (US Dauntless); 2 Punta Sal (Defiant
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 45); 1 Río Chira; 3 Río Santa
AIRCRAFT 60 combat capable PBR 21: 1 Río Viru; 8 Parachique; 12 Zorritos
FTR 19: 9 MiG-29S Fulcrum C; 3 MiG-29SE Fulcrum C; 5 LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AH 1 Puno
414 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AIRCRAFT
TPT • Light 3: 1 DHC-6 Twin Otter; 2 F-27 Friendship
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Rondas Campesinas Army 1,400


Peasant self-defence force. Perhaps 7,000 rondas ‘gp’, up FORCES BY ROLE
to pl strength, some with small arms. Deployed mainly MANOEUVRE
in emergency zone Mechanised
1 mech cav sqn
DEPLOYMENT Light
1 inf bn (4 coy)
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 235; 1 COMBAT SUPPORT
engr coy 1 MP bn (coy)
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
MONUSCO 6 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
RECCE 6 EE-9 Cascavel
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1
APC • APC (W) 15 EE-11 Urutu
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 4 ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 4 RCL 106mm M40A1
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 6

Suriname SUR Navy ε240


Suriname Dollar SRD 2021 2022 2023 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12
GDP SRD 56.2bn 79.8bn
PB 6: 2 FPB 72 Mk II; 1 FPB 98 Mk I; 3 Rodman 101†
USD 2.85bn 3.01bn
PBR 6: 1 Project 414; 5 Rodman 55
per capita USD 4,681 4,880
Growth % -3.5 1.3 Air Force ε200
Inflation % 59.1 47.6 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Def bdgt SRD n.k. n.k. HELICOPTERS • MRH 3 SA316B Alouette III (Chetak)
USD n.k. n.k.
USD1=SRD 19.71 26.51 Trinidad and Tobago TTO
Population 632,638 Trinidad and Tobago
2021 2022 2023
Dollar TTD
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus GDP TTD 162bn 198bn
Male 11.8% 4.2% 4.5% 4.0% 22.2% 2.9% USD 24.0bn 29.3bn
Female 11.4% 4.0% 4.3% 3.9% 22.8% 4.2% per capita USD 17,056 20,746
Growth % -0.7 4.0
Capabilities Inflation % 1.5 5.0
The armed forces are principally tasked with preserving territo- Def bdgt TTD 5.23bn 5.66bn 5.80bn
rial integrity. They also assist the national police in internal- and USD 773m 838m
border-security missions, as well as tackling transnational crimi-
USD1=TTD 6.76 6.76
nal activity and drug trafficking and have also been involved in
disaster-relief and humanitarian-assistance operations. Suriname Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
is a member of the Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management 1710
Agency and the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. Ties with
Brazil, China, India and the US have been crucial for the supply 620
of equipment, including a limited number of armoured vehicles 2008 2015 2022
and helicopters, as well as training activity. The armed forces take
part in US SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds disaster-response exercise. Population 1,405,646
The armed forces are not sized or equipped for power projec-
tion. Resource challenges and limited equipment serviceability Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
means the armed forces are constrained in providing sufficient Male 9.9% 3.3% 3.2% 3.2% 24.5% 6.1%
border and coastal control and surveillance. There is no capability Female 9.5% 3.2% 3.0% 3.0% 23.9% 7.0%
to design and manufacture modern military equipment and Suri-
name has looked to its foreign-military cooperation to improve not
just trade training but also maintenance capacity.
Capabilities
The Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force (TTDF) focuses on border
ACTIVE 1,840 (Army 1,400 Navy 240 Air 200) protection and maritime security, as well as counter-narcotics
(All services form part of the army) tasks. A larger role in law-enforcement support is planned for
Latin America and the Caribbean 415

the army. Trinidad and Tobago is a member of the Caribbean


Community and cooperates with other countries in the region in Uruguay URY
disaster-relief efforts. There are plans to establish a joint training
Uruguayan Peso UYU 2021 2022 2023
academy in Trinidad and a proposal for a new coastguard base in
Tobago. The TTDF has taken part in US SOUTHCOM’s Tradewinds GDP UYU 2.58tr 2.98tr
disaster-response exercise and has sent personnel to the US and USD 59.3bn 71.2bn
UK for training. Trinidad and Tobago has no capacity to deploy and per capita USD 16,735 20,018
maintain troops abroad, and apart from limited maintenance facili- Growth % 4.4 5.3
ties, has no domestic defence industry. Inflation % 7.7 9.1
ACTIVE 4,650 (Army 3,000 Coast Guard 1,600 Air Def bdgt UYU 22.5bn 22.9bn 23.2bn

Guard 50) USD 516m 546m

(All services form the Trinidad and Tobago Defence Force) USD1=UYU 43.57 41.93
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
RESERVE 650 532

409
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 2008 2015 2022

Army ε3,000 Population 3,407,213

FORCES BY ROLE Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus


SPECIAL FORCES
Male 9.7% 3.5% 3.8% 3.9% 21.3% 6.1%
1 SF unit
Female 9.4% 3.4% 3.7% 3.8% 22.2% 9.0%
MANOEUVRE
Light Capabilities
2 inf bn Principal tasks for the armed forces are assuring sovereignty and ter-
COMBAT SUPPORT ritorial integrity. In 2019, parliament approved a new Military Law,
1 engr bn which aims, among other measures, to reduce the number of senior
officers and address promotion issues across all services. Uruguay
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
and Argentina have a joint peacekeeping unit and conduct joint
1 log bn exercises. In 2018 a defence-cooperation agreement was signed
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE with Russia, including training exchanges. There is long-established
military engagement with the US. The armed forces participate
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
regularly in multinational exercises and deployments, notably on

Latin America and


RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf

the Caribbean
UN missions. The arrival of ex-US Coast Guard patrol boats as part
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 6 L16A1 of the navy’s fleet modernisation plan heralds a focus on policing
and coast guard roles, while the navy is also focused on tackling
personnel issues and rebuilding broader capabilities. The air force is
Coast Guard 1,600 focused on the counter-insurgency role, but ambitions to purchase
FORCES BY ROLE a light fighter aircraft remain hampered by funding problems. The
COMMAND acquisition of air-defence radars may have improved the armed
forces’ ability to monitor domestic airspace, but the lack of inter-
1 mne HQ diction capability will continue to limit the capacity to respond to
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE contingencies. Much equipment is second-hand, and there is little
capacity for independent power projection. Maintenance work is
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 17
sometimes outsourced to foreign companies, such as Chile’s ENAER.
PCO 3: 2 Port of Spain (AUS Cape); 1 Nelson II (ex-PRC
Shuke III) ACTIVE 21,100 (Army 13,500 Navy 5,000 Air 2,600)
PCC 6: 2 Point Lisas (Damen Fast Crew Supplier 5009); 4 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 1,400
Speyside (Damen Stan Patrol 5009)
PB 8: 2 Gaspar Grande†; 6 Scarlet Ibis (Austal 30m) ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Air Guard 50 Army 13,500


Uruguayan units are substandard size, mostly around
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
30%. Div are at most bde size, while bn are of reinforced
AIRCRAFT
coy strength. Regts are also coy size, some bn size, with the
TPT • Light 2 SA-227 Metro III (C-26) largest formation being the 2nd armd cav regt
HELICOPTERS FORCES BY ROLE
MRH 4 AW139 COMMAND
TPT • Light 1 S-76 4 mil region/div HQ
416 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MANOEUVRE Naval Aviation 210


Mechanised
FORCES BY ROLE
2 (1st & 2nd Cav) mech bde (1 armd cav regt, 2 mech
MARITIME PATROL
cav regt)
1 flt with Beech 200T*; Cessna O-2A Skymaster
1 (3rd Cav) mech bde (2 mech cav regt, 1 mech inf bn)
SEARCH & RESCUE/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
3 (2nd, 3rd & 4th Inf) mech bde (2 mech inf bn; 1 inf bn)
1 sqn with AS350B2 Ecureuil (Esquilo); Bell 412SP
1 (5th Inf) mech bde (1 armd cav regt; 1 armd inf bn; 1
Twin Huey
mech inf bn)
TRANSPORT/TRAINING
Light
1 flt with T-34C Turbo Mentor
1 (1st Inf) inf bde (2 inf bn)
TRAINING
Air Manoeuvre
1 hel sqn with Bell 412SP Twin Huey; OH-58 Kiowa
1 para bn
COMBAT SUPPORT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 (strategic reserve) arty regt AIRCRAFT 2 combat capable
5 fd arty gp ISR 4: 2 Beech 200T*; 2 Cessna O-2A Skymaster
1 (1st) engr bde (2 engr bn) TRG 2 T-34C Turbo Mentor
4 cbt engr bn HELICOPTERS
AIR DEFENCE ISR 1 OH-58 Kiowa
1 AD gp MRH 4: 2 Bell 412 (AB-412); 2 Bell 412SP Twin Huey
TPT • Light 1 AS350B2 Ecureuil (Esquilo)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Naval Infantry 700
MBT 15 Tiran-5
FORCES BY ROLE
LT TK 47: 22 M41A1UR; 25 M41C
MANOEUVRE
RECCE 15 EE-9 Cascavel
Amphibious
IFV 18 BMP-1
1 mne bn(-)
APC 376
APC (T) 27: 24 M113A1UR; 3 MT-LB
APC (W) 349: 54 Condor; 48 GAZ-39371 Vodnik; 53 OT-
Air Force 2,600
64; 47 OT-93; 147 Piranha FORCES BY ROLE
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
AEV MT-LB 1 sqn with A-37B Dragonfly
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE ISR
MSL • MANPATS Milan 1 flt with EMB-110 Bandeirante†
RCL 106mm 69 M40A1 TRANSPORT
ARTILLERY 185 1 sqn with C-130B Hercules; C-212 Aviocar; EMB-120 Brasilia
SP 122mm 6 2S1 Gvozdika 1 (liaison) sqn with Cessna 206H; T-41D
TOWED 44: 105mm 36: 28 M101A1; 8 M102; 155mm 8 M114A1 1 (liaison) flt with Cessna 206H
MOR 135: 81mm 91: 35 M1, 56 Expal Model LN; 120mm TRAINING
44 Model SL 1 sqn with PC-7U Turbo Trainer
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES • ISR • Light 1 Charrua 1 sqn with Beech 58 Baron (UB-58); SF-260EU
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 14: 20mm 14: 6 M167 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Vulcan; 8 TCM-20 (w/Elta M-2106 radar) 1 sqn with AS365 Dauphin; Bell 205 (UH–1H Iroquois);
Bell 212
Navy 5,000 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
HQ at Montevideo AIRCRAFT 13 combat capable
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ATK 12 A-37B Dragonfly
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 13 ISR 4: 1 EMB-110 Bandeirante*†; 3 O-2A Skymaster
PB 10: 1 Colonia (ex-US Cape); 9 Type-44 TKR/TPT 2 KC-130H Hercules
PBI 3 Rio Arapey (ex-US Marine Protector) TPT 23: Medium 2 C-130B Hercules; Light 20: 1 BAe-
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 2 125-700A; 2 Beech 58 Baron (UB-58); 6 C-212 Aviocar; 9
MSO 2 Temerario (Kondor II) Cessna 206H; 1 Cessna 210; 1 EMB-120 Brasilia; PAX 1
AMPHIBIOUS 3: 2 LCVP; 1 LCM C-29 Hawker
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 8 TRG 17: 5 PC-7U Turbo Trainer; 12 SF-260EU
AAR 2 Islas de Flores (ex-GER Hermann Helms) HELICOPTERS
ABU 1 Sirius MRH 2 AS365N2 Dauphin II
AG 2: 1 Artigas (GER Freiburg, general spt ship with TPT • Light 8: 5 Bell 205 (UH–1H Iroquois); 3 Bell 212
replenishment capabilities); 1 Maldonado (also used as
patrol craft) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 1,400
ARS 1 Vanguardia
AXS 2: 1 Capitan Miranda; 1 Bonanza Guardia Nacional Republicana 1,400
Latin America and the Caribbean 417

DEPLOYMENT ACTIVE 123,000 (Army 63,000 Navy 25,500 Air


11,500 National Guard 23,000) Gendarmerie &
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 3 Paramilitary 220,000
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • Conscript liability 30 months selective, varies by region for
MONUSCO 819; 1 inf bn; 1 hel sqn all services
EGYPT: MFO 41; 1 engr/tpt unit RESERVE 8,000 (Army 8,000)
INDIA/PAKISTAN: UN • UNMOGIP 3
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 1 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2
Army ε63,000
SYRIA/ISRAEL: UN • UNDOF 212; 1 mech inf coy
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Venezuela VEN Armoured
1 (4th) armd div (1 armd bde, 1 lt armd bde, 1 AB bde,
Venezuelan Bolivar 1 arty bde)
2021 2022 2023
soberano VES Mechanised
GDP VES n.k n.k 1 (9th) mot cav div (1 mot cav bde, 1 ranger bde, 1 sy bde)
USD 59.5bn 82.1bn Light
per capita USD 2,157 3,052 1 (1st) inf div (1 SF bn, 1 armd bde, 1 mech inf bde, 1
Growth % 0.5 6.0 ranger bde, 1 inf bde, 1 arty unit, 1 spt unit)
1 (2nd) inf div (1 mech inf bde, 1 inf bde, 1 mtn inf bde)
Inflation % 1588.5 210.0
1 (3rd) inf div (1 inf bde, 1 ranger bde, 1 sigs bde, 1 MP bde)
Def bdgt VES [a] n.k n.k 1 (5th) inf div (1 SF bn, 1 cav sqn, 2 jungle inf bde, 1 engr bn)
USD n.k n.k COMBAT SUPPORT
USD1=VES n.k n.k 1 cbt engr corps (3 engr regt)
[a] Defence budget allocations have been difficult to track COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
since 2017 due to high levels of currency volatility and reduced 1 log comd (2 log regt)
transparency in public expenditure AVIATION
1 avn comd (1 tpt avn bn, 1 atk hel bn, 1 ISR avn bn)
Population 29,789,730
Reserve Organisations 8,000
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
FORCES BY ROLE
Male 12.9% 4.1% 3.9% 4.0% 20.9% 3.9% MANOEUVRE

Latin America and


Female 12.4% 4.0% 3.9% 3.9% 21.4% 4.7% Armoured

the Caribbean
1 armd bn
Capabilities Light
The armed forces and national guard are tasked with protecting 4 inf bn
sovereignty, assuring territorial integrity and assisting with 1 ranger bn
internal-security and counter-narcotics operations. They have COMBAT SUPPORT
sufficient capabilities and funding to fulfil internal-security tasks 1 arty bn
and their regime-protection role, but economic challenges have 2 engr regt
affected equipment availability and training levels. Venezuela EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
and Colombia have recently re-established military relations ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
after tensions due to the humanitarian crisis and to the presence MBT 173: 81 AMX-30V; 92 T-72B1
of irregular Colombian armed groups and resulting troop LT TK 109: 31 AMX-13; 78 Scorpion-90
deployments near the Colombia–Venezuela border. There are close RECCE 121: 42 Dragoon 300 LFV2; 79 V-100/V-150
ties with China and Russia, with Caracas relying on both countries IFV 237: 123 BMP-3 (incl variants); 114 BTR-80A
for procurements and technical support. The armed forces train
(incl variants)
regularly and civil–military cooperation has increased. Venezuela
APC 81
has also taken part in joint combined exercises with China, Cuba
APC (T) 45: 25 AMX-VCI; 12 AMX-PC (CP); 8 AMX-
and Russia. There is little logistics capability to support deployment
abroad. Equipment is relatively modern and much is of Chinese VCTB (Amb)
and Russian manufacture. While the economic crisis has affected APC (W) 36 Dragoon 300
the government’s ability to sustain military expenditure and ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
procurement have suffered as a consequence, there have recently ARV 5: 3 AMX-30D; BREM-1; 2 Dragoon 300RV; Samson
been renewed, but modest, maintenance and modernisation VLB Leguan
efforts. Venezuela’s defence industry is based on a series of small, NBC VEHICLES 10 TPz-1 Fuchs NBC
state-owned companies, mainly focused on the production of ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
small arms and munitions. Local platform production has been MSL • MANPATS IMI MAPATS
limited to small coastal-patrol boats. RCL 106mm 175 M40A1
418 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

GUNS • SP 76mm 75 M18 Hellcat MARITIME PATROL


ARTILLERY 515 1 flt with C-212-200 MPA
SP 60: 152mm 48 2S19 Msta-S; 155mm 12 Mk F3 TRANSPORT
TOWED 92: 105mm 80: 40 M101A1; 40 Model 56 pack 1 sqn with Beech 200 King Air; C-212 Aviocar; Turbo
howitzer; 155mm 12 M114A1 Commander 980C
TRAINING
MRL 56: 122mm 24 BM-21 Grad; 160mm 20 LAR SP
1 hel sqn with Bell 206B Jet Ranger II; TH-57A Sea Ranger
(LAR-160); 300mm 12 9A52 Smerch
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
GUN/MOR 120mm 13 2S23 NONA-SVK
1 sqn with Bell 412EP Twin Huey; Mi-17V-5 Hip H
MOR 294: 81mm 165; SP 81mm 21 Dragoon 300PM;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AMX-VTT; 120mm 108: 60 Brandt; 48 2S12
AIRCRAFT 2 combat capable
AIRCRAFT
MP 2 C-212-200 MPA*
TPT • Light 28: 1 Beech 90 King Air; 1 Beech 200 King TPT • Light 7: 1 Beech C90 King Air; 1 Beech 200 King
Air; 1 Beech 300 King Air; 1 Cessna 172; 6 Cessna 182 Air; 4 C-212 Aviocar; 1 Turbo Commander 980C
Skylane; 2 Cessna 206; 2 Cessna 207 Stationair; 1 IAI-201 HELICOPTERS
Arava; 2 IAI-202 Arava; 11 M-28 Skytruck ASW 4 Bell 212 ASW (AB-212 ASW)
HELICOPTERS MRH 12: 6 Bell 412EP Twin Huey; 6 Mi-17V-5 Hip H
ATK 9 Mi-35M2 Hind TPT • Light 1 Bell 206B Jet Ranger II (trg)
MRH 31: 10 Bell 412EP; 2 Bell 412SP; 19 Mi-17V-5 Hip H TRG 1 TH-57A Sea Ranger
TPT 9: Heavy 3 Mi-26T2 Halo; Medium 2 AS-61D; Light
Marines ε15,000
4: 3 Bell 206B Jet Ranger, 1 Bell 206L3 Long Ranger II
FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND
Navy ε22,300; ε3,200 conscript (total ε25,500)
1 div HQ
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE SPECIAL FORCES
SUBMARINES 1 1 spec ops bde
SSK 1 Sábalo (in refit; 1 more non-operational) (GER MANOEUVRE
T-209/1300) with 8 single 533mm TT with SST-4 HWT Amphibious
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 2 1 amph aslt bde
FFGHM 2 Mariscal Sucre (ITA Lupo mod)† (1 more 3 mne bde
non-operational) with 8 single lnchr with Otomat Mk2 3 (rvn) mne bde
AShM, 1 octuple Albatros lnchr with Aspide SAM, 2 COMBAT SUPPORT
triple 324mm ASTT with A244 LWT, 1 127mm gun 1 cbt engr bn
1 MP bde
(capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212) hel)
1 sigs bn
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 9
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
PSOH 3 Guaiqueri with 1 Millennium CIWS, 1 76mm gun
1 log bn
PBG 3 Federación (UK Vosper 37m) with 2 single lnchr
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
with Otomat Mk2 AShM
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
PB 3 Constitucion (UK Vosper 37m) with 1 76mm gun LT TK 10 VN-16
AMPHIBIOUS IFV 21: 11 VN-1; 10 VN-18
LANDING SHIPS • LST 4 Capana (ROK Alligator) APC • APC (W) 37 EE-11 Urutu
capacity 12 tanks; 200 troops) AAV 11 LVTP-7
LANDING CRAFT 3: ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
LCU 2 Margarita (river comd) ARV 1 VS-25
UCAC 1 Griffon 2000TD AEV 1 AAVR7
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 10 ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
AGOR 1 Punta Brava RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm M40A1
AGS 2 Gabriela ARTILLERY 30
TOWED 105mm 18 M-56
AKR 4 Los Frailes
MRL 107mm ε10 Fajr-1
AORH 1 Ciudad Bolívar
MOR 120mm 12 Brandt
ATF 1 Almirante Franciso de Miranda (Damen Salvage
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
Tug 6014) PBR 23: 18 Constancia; 2 Manaure; 3 Terepaima (Cougar)
AXS 1 Simón Bolívar AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • 1 LCU; 1 LCM;
12 LCVP
Naval Aviation 500
FORCES BY ROLE Coast Guard 1,000
ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with Bell 212 ASW (AB-212 ASW) PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 25
Latin America and the Caribbean 419

PSO 3 Guaicamacuto with 1 Millennium CIWS, 1 76mm AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES


gun (capacity 1 Bell 212 (AB-212) hel) AAM • IR AIM-9L/P Sidewinder; R-73 (RS-AA-11A
PB 22: 1 Fernando Gomez de Saa (Damen Stan Patrol Archer); PL-5E; R-27T/ET (RS-AA-10B/D Alamo); IR
4207); 12 Gavion; 3 Pagalo (Damen Stan Patrol 2606); 4 Python 4; SARH R-27R/ER (RS-AA-10A/C Alamo); ARH
Petrel (US Point); 2 Protector R-77 (RS-AA-12 Adder)
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 4 ASM Kh-29L/T (RS-AS-14A/B Kedge); Kh-59M
AG 1 Los Taques (salvage ship) (RS-AS-18 Kazoo)
AKSL 1 AShM Kh-31A (RS-AS-17B Krypton); AM39 Exocet
AP 2 ARM Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton)

Air Force 11,500 Air Defence Command (CODAI)


FORCES BY ROLE Joint service command with personnel drawn from
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK other services
1 sqn with F-5 Freedom Fighter (VF-5) FORCES BY ROLE
2 sqn with F-16A/B Fighting Falcon AIR DEFENCE
4 sqn with Su-30MKV Flanker
5 AD bde
2 sqn with K-8W Karakorum*
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
GROUND ATTACK/ISR
1 log bde (5 log gp)
1 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano*
ELECTRONIC WARFARE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sqn with Falcon 20DC; SA-227 Metro III (C-26B) AIR DEFENCE
TRANSPORT SAM
1 sqn with Y-8; C-130H Hercules; KC-137 Long-range 12 S-300VM (RS-SA-23)
1 sqn with A319CJ; B-737 Medium-range 53: 9 9K317M2 Buk-M2E (RS-SA-17
4 sqn with Cessna T206H; Cessna 750 Grizzly); 44 S-125 Pechora-2M (RS-SA-26)
1 sqn with Cessna 500/550/551; Falcon 20F; Falcon 900 Point-defence 9K338 Igla-S (RS-SA-24 Grinch);
1 sqn with G-222; Short 360 Sherpa ADAMS; Mistral; RBS-70
TRAINING GUNS 440+
1 sqn with Cessna 182N; SF-260E SP 40mm 12+: 6+ AMX-13 Rafaga; 6 M42
2 sqn with DA40NG; DA42VI TOWED 428+: 20mm: 114 TCM-20; 23mm ε200 ZU-
1 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano* 23-2; 35mm; 40mm 114+: 114+ L/70; Some M1
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 VIP sqn with AS532UL Cougar; Mi-172 National Guard (Fuerzas Armadas de

Latin America and


Cooperacion) 23,000

the Caribbean
3 sqn with AS332B Super Puma; AS532 Cougar
2 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H (Internal sy, customs) 9 regional comd
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 80 combat capable ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
FTR 18: 15 F-16A Fighting Falcon†; 3 F-16B Fighting APC • APC (W) 44: 24 Fiat 6614; 20 UR-416
Falcon† AUV 121 VN4
FGA 22 Su-30MKV Flanker ARTILLERY • MOR 50 81mm
EW 4: 2 Falcon 20DC; 2 SA-227 Metro III (C-26B) PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
TKR 1 KC-137 PB 34: 12 Protector; 12 Punta; 10 Rio Orinoco II
TPT 75: Medium 14: 5 C-130H Hercules (some in store); AIRCRAFT
1 G-222; 8 Y-8; Light 56: 6 Beech 200 King Air; 2 Beech TPT • Light 34: 1 Beech 55 Baron; 1 Beech 80 Queen Air;
350 King Air; 10 Cessna 182N Skylane; 12 Cessna 206 1 Beech 90 King Air; 1 Beech 200C King Air; 3 Cessna 152
Stationair; 4 Cessna 208B Caravan; 1 Cessna 500 Citation Aerobat; 2 Cessna 172; 2 Cessna 402C; 4 Cessna U206
I; 3 Cessna 550 Citation II; 1 Cessna 551; 1 Cessna 750 Stationair; 6 DA42 MPP; 1 IAI-201 Arava; 12 M-28 Skytruck
Citation X; 2 Do-228-212; 1 Do-228-212NG; 11 Quad TRG 3: 1 PZL 106 Kruk; 2 PLZ M2-6 Isquierka
City Challenger II; 2 Short 360 Sherpa; PAX 5: 1 A319CJ; 1 HELICOPTERS
B-737; 1 Falcon 20F; 2 Falcon 900 MRH 13: 8 Bell 412EP; 5 Mi-17V-5 Hip H
TRG 82: 24 DA40NG; 6 DA42VI; 17 EMB-312 Tucano*; TPT • Light 18: 9 AS355F Ecureuil II; 4 AW109; 4 Bell
23 K-8W Karakorum*; 12 SF-260E 206B/L Jet Ranger/Long Ranger; 1 Bell 212 (AB 212);
HELICOPTERS TRG 5 F-280C
MRH 8 Mi-17 (Mi-17VS) Hip H
TPT 22: Medium 14: 3 AS332B Super Puma; 7 AS532 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε220,000
Cougar; 2 AS532UL Cougar; 2 Mi-172 (VIP); Light 8+
Enstrom 480B Bolivarian National Militia ε220,000
420 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Chapter Nine

Sub-Saharan Africa
 In West Africa, tentative improvements in the region’s accounts for 25.1% of total regional spending, up
security achieved in recent years are now either at from 11.0% in 2010.
risk or are being rolled back. Jihadist activity is again  Nigeria’s budget has grown significantly in recent
on the rise, notably in Gulf of Guinea countries, while years, from NGN594bn (USD1.83bn) in 2019 to
coups and insurrections have highlighted continued NGN1.14 trillion (USD2.78bn) in 2022, averaging 16%
problems with civil-military relations. nominal growth between 2020 and 2022. However,
 Conflict continued in the Eastern DRC, and in the budget has been stagnant in real terms, and
September an agreement was signed enabling accounted for between 0.5% and 0.6% of GDP, well
the intervention of armed forces from East African below the regional average of 1.5%.
Community (EAC) states. An initial force of Kenyan  South Africa retains the largest defence budget in
troops landed at Goma in early November; it has been sub-Saharan Africa, but the country’s share of regional
reported that the Kenyan contingent alone could spending has fallen considerably over the last decade.
number up to 900. In 2011, South African spending accounted for 27% of
 Though a ceasefire was signed between the the total for sub-Saharan Africa but this proportion has
Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces at the end declined every year since, falling to just 15% in 2022.
of the year, in 2022 Ethiopia more than quadrupled  Two decades of underfunding have left the South
its defence budget from USD0.38bn to USD1.58bn African National Defence Force in a parlous state.
amid the return to conflict with the Tigray People’s Nevertheless, it has sustained contingents in the DRC
Liberation Front. As a result, growth in East African and Mozambique and some border patrols. The air
defence spending in 2022 was faster than in other force has faced significant challenges in generating
sub-regions. Combined with consistent spending operational capability, but a new support contract for
in Tanzania and a 2020 jump in Uganda’s defence the Gripen has enabled the start of a process to rebuild
budget, this means that the sub-region now air combat capability.

Sub-Saharan Africa defence spending, Active military personnel – top 10


2022 – top 5 (25,000 per unit)

United States Global


Ethiopia 503,000 total
USD767bn 20,773,950
Eritrea 301,750

Nigeria 143,000

Democratic Republic of the Congo 134,250

Total Angola 107,000


sub-Saharan
Africa
spending Sudan 104,300
USD21bn

South Africa Nigeria South Africa 74,000

USD3.1bn USD2.8bn South Sudan 53,000

Uganda 45,000
Angola Ethiopia Kenya
Regional
9.4% total
Chad 33,250
USD1.8bn USD1.6bn USD1.3bn 1,959,880
Sub-Saharan Africa 421

Regional defence policy and economics 422 ►

Arms procurements and deliveries 431 ►

Armed forces data section 433 ►

Sub-Saharan Africa: Defence spending by sub-region, 2008–22


70

60

50
% share of total

40

30

20

10

0
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Southern Africa West Africa East Africa Central Africa

Sub-Saharan Africa: medium airlift, 2022 (1 per unit)


Medium Transport Aircraft
la

ad

go

er

ria

an

da

a
an

oo

pi

bo

ny

ric

ni

bi
go

g
Ch

an
ge
o

m
Ni
Ke
w

er

Co

Ga

Su
Af
An

hi

nz

Za
Ug
Ni
ts

Et

Ta
h
DR
Bo

Ca

ut

Sub-Saharan
So

Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa: selected main battle tank fleets, 2022

Angola
Modern
Chad Mixed
Democratic Republic
Ageing
of the Congo
Eritrea Obsolescent

Ethiopia
Kenya
Nigeria
South Sudan
Sudan
Uganda

0 100 200 300 400 500


422 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Sub-Saharan Africa

WEST AFRICA facing ‘its worst food crisis in ten years’ and that
‘between 2015 and 2022, the number of people
Tentative improvements in the region’s security in need of emergency food assistance nearly
in the latter years of the last decade are now quadrupled, from 7–27 million’. The risk for
either at risk or are being rolled back. In 2016– local states remains that these factors will fuel
18, there was hope that, despite difficult security instability, including jihadist activity.
challenges, the region’s governments were in the Responses have varied. Senegal has looked to
ascendant. Nigeria had regained the upper hand maintain military professionalism and continues
over Boko Haram, principally assisted by Chad to receive assistance in this regard, including
and Cameroon. Cameroon, after consolidating from France and also the United States, which
and adapting its forces, had reduced the jihadist in recent years has been working with the
threat, and Mali – with the military support of Senegalese forces on NCO development and
the French-led Operation Barkhane, the EU and professional military education. Togo is also
other countries – was on the cusp of moving pursuing modernisation and professionalisation
beyond the 2012 coup and resulting conflict efforts, while Benin is looking to adapt its armed
and instability. forces to address non-traditional threats. Both
Five years later, the security situation in the these states have suffered terrorist attacks in
region has deteriorated. Coups and insurrections recent years. There were around 20 in Benin
have highlighted problems not only related to between the end of 2021 and summer 2022, while
civil-military relations in regional states but also in May 2022, eight Togolese soldiers were killed
in relation to military assistance from abroad. (along with 15 attackers) and 13 troops were
To be most effective and durable, this assistance injured. According to analysts, Côte d’Ivoire’s
needs to be focused as much on longer-term armed forces benefit from important, but discreet,
force health as it is on the generation of combat French military cooperation, and while recent
capability (such as through special- or rapid- jihadist attacks have generally been unsuccessful,
reaction forces) that governments might desire to the current government is looking to improve its
tackle more immediate threats. But requirements, military and security capacities. Plans have been
and timescales, can be different for the recipient announced to boost personnel numbers, while
states, and in some cases choices have been made there were reports of additional armoured vehicle
to look beyond their security partners of recent procurements in 2022.
years. Indeed, assistance initiatives are also being There is continuing jihadist activity in Burkina
reshaped, with France rebalancing its forces in Faso, Mali, Niger and the Lake Chad Basin area.
the region, other Western states reducing security Niger’s armed forces are receiving additional
assistance, and Russia increasing its activity equipment. Airlift capacity has been increased
and influence in places. Meanwhile, jihadist with the delivery of a second (of three) C-130H
activity is again on the rise, notably in Gulf of medium transport aircraft from the US, while
Guinea countries. Regional states are having to reconnaissance and attack capabilities will be
deal not only with political instability but also boosted by the arrival of Turkish-produced Hurkus
community conflicts, resource constraints and light-attack aircraft. Reports currently point to
illicit trafficking. At the same time, they are also only two airframes, while there are also reports
feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, indicating that protected patrol vehicles may also
which hindered local industrial and agricultural be procured.
production and exacerbated poverty. An April The situation is worse in Mali and Burkina
2022 report by Oxfam said that West Africa was Faso, where the armed forces seized power in
Sub-Saharan Africa 423

2021 and 2022 respectively. Tensions between EAST AFRICA


France and Mali worsened when the new regime
in Bamako failed to implement plans for elections The Horn of Africa is more unstable than it has been
in early 2022, postponing them to 2024. The for some years. Multiple conflicts – in Ethiopia,
Malian government’s decision to contract Russia’s Somalia, South Sudan and Sudan – threaten the
Wagner Group has seen ties deteriorate further. stability and development of a region already
This decision came in the context of allegations prone to high levels of displacement and migration.
of apparent information operations designed to The population numbers more than 140 million in the
foment local opposition to particularly French narrowly defined Horn comprising Djibouti, Eritrea,
assistance. Wagner personnel were subsequently Ethiopia and Somalia, and over 260m in the larger
accused by observers of committing war crimes. region made up of Intergovernmental Authority on
Reliance on Russia may create difficulties for Development (IGAD) states comprising the above
Malian forces, as weapons contracts may be plus Kenya, South Sudan, Sudan and Uganda.
affected by sanctions, and there may be other In November 2022, a peace deal was signed between
problems if Wagner personnel – or Russian the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan leaders.
maintenance personnel – are recalled to serve in This raised hopes of an end to a two-year civil war
Ukraine. France’s military mission in Mali was that has threatened the entire Horn of Africa. The
wound down and redeployed to Niger, and other economies of Ethiopia’s neighbours may not depend
European states such as the United Kingdom upon its economy, but the possibility that the
curtailed their military support in the country. conflict would worsen, or even lead to an Ethiopian
Mali’s armed forces have, in recent years, collapse and potential break-up, risked the political
received a range of military equipment, from and civil stability of the whole region. Indeed, fears
armoured vehicles and helicopters to C295 light were expressed that a regional refugee crisis would
transport aircraft, and in 2022 Bamako received emerge in this eventuality.
some Russian ground-attack aircraft and attack Meanwhile, analysts assert that Eritrea has
helicopters. Nonetheless, with the departure of continued to act as a spoiler in the Horn by favouring
international support missions and a change in Amhara over the federal government in Ethiopia
military assistance policy by the new government, since a humanitarian ceasefire was declared with
any progress made in the last decade towards Tigray in April 2022. Eritrean forces have, it has been
professionalisation is at risk if the focus of military claimed, helped Amhara forces seize, clear and hold
authorities on force-health issues wanes, such as on western Tigray against Tigray Defence Force (TDF)
counter-corruption initiatives. attempts to retake it since January 2021. Meanwhile,
In Nigeria and Cameroon, the break-up into there have also been sporadic attacks across Tigray,
factions of the former Boko Haram terrorist group and reports of support for rebels in eastern Sudan.
has complicated the challenge for the armed Asmara has also forged a new bilateral relationship
forces, and analysts fear an escalation in Nigeria with the new Somali president, Hassan Sheikh

Sub-Saharan
as presidential elections approach in 2023. Abuja Mohamud, in place of the close trilateral relationship

Africa
continues to pursue military modernisation formed between Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia after
efforts, and the government’s bid to acquire 12 the peace deal between Ethiopia and Eritrea in June
AH-1Z Viper attack helicopters was approved in 2018. The al-Shabaab terrorist group still poses a
April by the US State Department (with this then regional threat. In July 2022 hundreds of al-Shabaab
sent to Congress for approval). If acquired, these fighters crossed the Ethiopian border from Somalia.
could be assigned to the army’s planned new Although Ethiopia claims to have effectively
light aviation formation. Although the country contained this threat, it illustrates the extent to which
maintains equipment of diverse origin, and the Ethiopian security system has been challenged
French firms have supplied many of the navy’s by the multiple conflicts in the country.
recent procurements, in recent years China has Security in the Horn of Africa is also threatened
also emerged as a significant arms supplier with by regional tensions, particularly around the Nile
CS/VP3 protected patrol vehicles and ZSD-89 and the continuing construction of the Grand
tracked armoured personnel carrier among the Ethiopian Renaissance Dam near the border
equipment delivered. with Sudan. Ethiopia’s dam is a critical issue
424 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

for Egypt, with the country dependent on the rivalries continue to play out in the Horn, with the
Nile for 85% of its water requirements. This has contest in Somalia between the central government
led to the resurfacing of allegations of Egyptian and the federal states a notable example.
support for armed opposition groups in Ethiopia. Qatar supports the Somali central government,
There have been allegations, principally on social while the United Arab Emirates supports
media, of Egyptian involvement in the delivery autonomous regions in the north. Somaliland
by air of supplies into Tigray in 2022 and the and Puntland have also received significant
unsubstantiated claim that the Ethiopian Air support from Saudi Arabia, while Turkey has been
Force shot down one of these aircraft when the supportive of the central state.
fighting reignited in northern Tigray in August. Meanwhile, the region’s economic community,
Meanwhile, Sudan’s November 2020 reoccupation IGAD, is failing to resolve disputes between
of the fertile al-Fashaga triangle, formerly home to nations. Ongoing tensions between Sudan and
many Ethiopian farmers, has created a rift between Ethiopia and between Kenya and Somalia, coupled
Sudan and Ethiopia just as the two were becoming with external interference in the Horn, leave
more dependent on one another for their stability. IGAD unable to agree on actions between states
Sudan’s own faltering political transition means and unable to counter external influences. The
the country is ill-equipped to play a constructive current lack of unity among IGAD states, which
role in the region. existed previously and was both a product and an
Middle Eastern states’ interest in the region enabler of IGAD’s capacity to address problems
is usually attributed to political and security within the region (Ethiopia chaired IGAD in 2010–
considerations, but there are growing signs of more 19), leaves the region without an effective voice
constructive, and mutually beneficial, economic or institution to address its own political and
engagement. However, Middle Eastern political security challenges.

The war in Tigray and the Ethiopian National Defence Force


In mid-2020, before the conflict with Tigray, the Ethiopian ENDF allowed them to contain the TDF in Tigray. In the
National Defence Force (ENDF) consisted of an all- TDF offensive from August to September 2022, during
volunteer force of approximately 130,000 regular soldiers the late rainy season, the ENDF, with the help of Amhara
and 5,000 air force personnel. They were drawn from forces, thwarted Tigrayan attempts to re-establish a land
across the country, with a majority of the experienced corridor to Sudan through Western Tigray.
senior officers from the Tigray region, and were mostly Prior to the Tigray war, a number of Western states
tasked with defending Ethiopia’s borders. By late 2022, were preparing to provide significant support to the
the ENDF had expanded to become an all-volunteer regeneration of the ENDF. The conflict with Tigray
force of approximately 500,000. The army makes up the caused the cancellation of these agreements, and
vast majority, with a largely internal role fighting the the growth and re-equipment of the ENDF in the
Tigray Defence Force (TDF) in the north and other armed past year was largely supported by agreements with
insurgent groups across the country. Since 2021, the China, Russia and Turkey. The support from Russia and
ENDF has also included a naval element, but no vessels China has helped to provide conventional equipment,
have been acquired and no agreement has been publicly uniforms and vehicles. But the real turning point for
reached with neighbouring states on where any naval the ENDF was the air force’s acquisition of armed
force may be based. uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) from China, Iran and
The loss of experienced Tigrayan leadership, who either Turkey. When weather conditions are favourable, these
left to join the TDF or were detained as a potential threat, have allowed the ENDF to dominate remote and rocky
was expected to seriously weaken the ENDF, and the battlespaces in Tigray, giving them a decisive tactical
force did indeed fail to maintain control of Tigray after an and operational edge over the TDF, who operate in
early victory in November 2020. They again failed to halt units as a regular armed force. However, it is unclear
the TDF when it launched an offensive into the Amhara whether the ENDF has been able to fuse intelligence
region in the second half of 2021. However, by early and targeting to successfully operate UAVs against
2022 the reformation, growth and re-equipment of the armed insurgent groups.
Sub-Saharan Africa 425

CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AFRICA led to the deaths of protesters and peacekeepers,
the government in Kinshasa in August reportedly
Instability continues to mark much of the region. said it would re-evaluate the UN mission’s plan to
To the north, there are risks that the conflicts in the stay another two years. Meanwhile, in September
Central African Republic and South Sudan may 2022, an agreement was signed enabling the
spill over into surrounding regions. While piracy intervention of additional armed forces from the
along the East African coast has declined, there are East African Community (EAC). A status of forces
still risks of maritime terrorism in the region due to agreement was signed in Kinshasa between the
the insurgency in Mozambique. In the centre and EAC secretary-general and the president of the
south of the region, insurgencies in the Democratic DRC. An initial force of Kenyan troops landed at
Republic of the Congo (DRC) and in Mozambique Goma in early November, and it has been reported
contrast with the generally stable security situation that the Kenyan contingent alone could number up
elsewhere in the Southern African Development to 900. The mission will be led by the DRC armed
Community (SADC) region, even if Eswatini, forces and the deployment was planned to last six
Lesotho and Zimbabwe and potentially Angola are months initially.
politically fragile. The insurgency in Mozambique’s northern Cabo
The security situation is worsening in the DRC’s Delgado province has spread to Niassa province
eastern provinces of Ituri and North and South to the west and Nampula province to the south.
Kivu, despite the efforts of government forces and Government forces and Rwandan and SADC
the United Nations mission, MONUSCO. Non-state contingents have failed to stabilise the area. But
armed groups aiming to attack Uganda (ISIS- the 2,000 Rwandan troops and police deployed to
allied Allied Democratic Forces (ADF)), Rwanda Palma and the TotalEnergies gas installation on the
(Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda Afungi Peninsula have largely secured the area.
(FDLR)) and Burundi (RED-Tabara) have brought SADC special forces had some success, but the
instability and led these countries to deploy forces force is far too small and lacks air mobility and air
to strike at them inside the DRC. These groups have support. Meanwhile, the South African Navy has
been in the DRC for so long that they have effectively been unable to sustain the patrols needed to stop
become local insurgencies. Meanwhile, M23 rebels supplies reaching insurgents by sea. South Africa
are again active in the east, with Kinshasa accusing is deploying an infantry battalion, but without
Rwanda of supporting them. Conflict between the effective air support there is little prospect of early
local militias and with government forces as well as stabilisation. Indeed, South Africa lacks the military
a plethora of illegal activities – including logging, strength to play a major role in the region or even
mining and smuggling – further complicate the on its periphery and faces growing risk of internal
situation. In May 2021, the government in Kinshasa instability. The civil unrest of July 2021 in KwaZulu-
declared a ‘state of siege’ with the armed forces Natal and Gauteng provinces saw 354 killed and
assuming control of local governments in North led to authorities deploying some 25,000 troops

Sub-Saharan
Kivu and Ituri, while in December 2021 Ugandan to support the police. In August 2022, specialised

Africa
armed forces were allowed into the DRC to combat police units were required to deal with illegal gold
the ADF. However, government forces remain mining in Mpumalanga province. Both the Police
unable to tackle the nation’s security challenges Service and the Defence Force are underfunded and
and MONUSCO lacks the strength, mobility and understrength. The latter is stretched by two external
air support to be effective. Protesters in the east deployments (DRC and Mozambique) and border
have demanded that MONUSCO forces withdraw patrols. Troops were deployed internally in 2020 to
from some locations, asserting it has failed to help the police enforce the COVID-19 lockdown and
restore security. After violent demonstrations that in 2021 to deal with civil unrest.

South Africa: armed forces and defence industry


Two decades of underfunding have left the South African that much of its equipment is obsolescent and poorly
National Defence Force (SANDF) in a parlous state. Analysts maintained. Nevertheless, it has sustained contingents
assert that the army is understrength for the tasks set, and in the DRC and Mozambique and some border patrols.
426 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

It was also able to deploy troops to help enforce the three Rooivalk and five Oryx helicopters in the DRC and
COVID-19 lockdown in 2020 and to contain the July two Oryx in Mozambique, while the lack of airlift hampers
2021 riots. The army is reverting to a more traditional troop rotation and support.
organisational structure by re-establishing standing The navy is in a similar situation. Specialists say that
brigades, with a mechanised and light brigade in the only one frigate and one submarine have been refitted
process of formation with a motorised and airborne brigade since delivery in the early 2000s and their combat systems
to follow, and afterwards two division headquarters and are now largely obsolescent. The only logistics ship is
additional brigades. ageing and in need of refit and many smaller vessels are
The air force, however, has faced significant challenges not operational. The first of three inshore patrol vessels
in generating operational capability. In September, the has been delivered and a new survey ship is under
flight of one of the air force’s Gripen combat aircraft construction, but continued underfunding casts doubt on
marked the start of a process of rebuilding air combat how long these can be maintained in operational status.
capability, following the agreement of a support Meanwhile, the defence industry has been crippled by
contract. However, it was unclear how many aircraft a lack of local orders, inadequate government support
the deal covered. Other aircraft have been grounded, and problems in obtaining export permits. The state-
including most of the Hawk trainers, about half of the owned Denel group is attempting to recover from the
Rooivalk attack and Oryx transport helicopters and many damage of ‘state capture’ in the mid-2010s but will find
of the AW109 utility and Super Lynx maritime helicopters. this challenging without acquisition funding for the
The only maritime-surveillance capability currently SANDF and export support. The risk is that much of the
available for operations is a single C-47TP with weather rest of the industry may wind down, forcing the SANDF
radar. Only two C-130s, two C-212s and some Caravans to rely on imported equipment, which will in turn present
are available for transport. Even most of the PC-7 Mk II problems in supporting locally manufactured equipment
trainers are grounded for lack of maintenance. As a result, in service, given dependencies related to maintenance
the air force is facing problems in keeping operational its and spares requirements.

on security. Meanwhile, higher energy prices have


DEFENCE ECONOMICS
had a negative impact overall, as most countries in
the region are oil importers. Moreover, higher food
Macroeconomics prices are having a disproportionate impact on the
The IMF estimates that after a stronger-than-expected most vulnerable countries.
economic performance in 2021, the global shock The IMF finds that per capita incomes are expected
caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine to remain more than 4% below pre-pandemic
has disrupted the economic recovery in sub-Saharan projections until the late 2020s. Advanced economies,
Africa. Surging food and energy prices are straining meanwhile, are expected to return to pre-pandemic
public finances at a time when governments have projections of per capita GDP by 2023, further
limited policy response options following the costly widening the inequality gap that the pandemic has
fiscal measures enacted to counter the economic already exacerbated. The progress made in recent
impact of the coronavirus pandemic. years to reduce poverty levels in the region has been
The 1.6% contraction in regional real GDP reversed, with an estimated 39 million more people
in 2020 may seem mild in comparison with the falling into extreme poverty in 2020 and 2021. The
global average of 3%, but this masks some of the much-needed expansion of skilled human capital
underlying problems facing the region. Vaccination that would, in time, serve to reduce inequality levels
programmes continue to face challenges, not least was hindered by the length of school closures during
because of the low purchasing power that countries the pandemic.
are able to muster to fund vaccine rollouts or to As with all regions, inflation represents a significant
sustain fiscal policies aimed at alleviating the long- cause for concern in sub-Saharan Africa. Rates were
term economic impact of the pandemic. According already high before the Ukraine war owing to factors
to the World Bank, governments have limited fiscal such as currency depreciations, destabilising conflict
space due to the need to fund subsidies, support and adverse weather. Supply-chain disruptions
farmers and, in certain countries, increase spending stemming from the pandemic resulted in spikes in
Sub-Saharan Africa 427

South Sudan
Increase Togo USD0.06bn
USD0.17bn
Kenya
USD1.35bn
Niger Ethiopia
USD0.24bn USD1.58bn

Zambia
Benin USD0.44bn
USD0.39bn Mauritius
USD0.23bn

Burkina
Guinea Faso
Lesotho
USD0.33bn USD0.47bn
USD0.04bn Nigeria
USD2.78bn
Dem Republic
of Congo
USD0.37bn Mali
USD0.83bn

Namibia
USD0.36bn
Tanzania
Angola USD0.94bn
USD1.76bn
Rwanda Côte d'Ivoire
USD0.17bn USD0.61bn

Cabo Verde Senegal


Cameroon USD0.01bn USD0.42bn
USD0.42bn South Africa
Mozambique USD3.09bn Chad
Madagascar USD0.15bn USD0.26bn
USD0.10bn
Botswana
USD0.49bn
Uganda Gabon
Central
USD1.09bn USD0.28bn
African Rep Burundi
USD0.04bn USD0.07bn
Malawi Sierra Leone Liberia
USD0.07bn USD0.03bn USD0.02bn Gambia
USD0.01bn Congo
Zimbabwe
USD0.26bn Ghana
Decrease

USD0.75bn
Djibouti Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Guinea-Bissau Seychelles Somalia Sudan USD0.26bn
n.k n.k n.k n.k n.k n.k n.k

Sub-Saharan
[1] Map illustrating 2022 planned defence-spending levels (in USDbn at market

Africa
Real % Change (2021–22) exchange rates), as well as the annual real percentage change in planned
More than 20% increase Between 0% and 3% decrease defence spending between 2021 and 2022 (at constant 2015 prices and exchange
Between 10% and 20% increase Between 3% and 10% decrease rates). Percentage changes in defence spending can vary considerably from
year to year, as states revise the level of funding allocated to defence. Changes
Between 3% and 10% increase Between 10% and 20% decrease indicated here highlight the short-term trend in planned defence spending
Between 0% and 3% increase More than 20% decrease between 2021 and 2022. Actual spending changes prior to 2021, and projected
spending levels post-2022, are not reflected.
ε Estimate Spending 2% of GDP or above Insufficient data
©IISS

▲ Map 10 Sub-Saharan Africa: regional defence spending (USDbn, %ch yoy)1

inflation rates across the region in 2020 that persisted prices are leading to growing concerns about food
into 2021 and were exacerbated in 2022. Even in security in countries such as Chad, the Democratic
countries that are benefitting from higher commodity Republic of the Congo, Eritrea, Madagascar and South
prices, such as Angola, Nigeria and South Africa, the Sudan. When food-security concerns are combined
challenges of soaring food prices and fiscal policy with poor employment prospects, the risk is that this
tightening are weighing on growth. Higher food undermines political stability.
428 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

▼ Figure 19 Sub-Saharan Africa: defence spending by ▼ Figure 20 Sub-Saharan Africa: regional defence
country and sub-region, 2022 spending as % of GDP (average)

Other East Africa, 1.5% Central Africa, 4.6%


2.0
Tanzania, 4.5% South Africa, 14.7%

Uganda, 5.2% 1.53


1.49 1.42 1.48
1.5 1.38
1.34
Kenya Angola
6.4% 8.4%

% of GDP
1.0
Ethiopia Zimbabwe
7.5% 3.6%
0.5
Other
Southern Africa
Other 9.0%
West Africa 0.0
14.5% 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Nigeria, 13.2%
Côte d’Ivoire, 2.9% Note: Analysis excludes Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, Seychelles,
Mali, 4.0% Somalia, Sudan

Note: Analysis excludes Djibouti, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Guinea-Bissau, © IISS


Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan

stabilised in 2022 at ZAR49.8bn (USD3.09bn) but


Defence spending still fell by 3.9% in real terms. The Medium-Term
Economic constraints have continued to subdue Expenditure Framework (MTEF) projects that the
defence expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa, with defence budget will continue to stagnate in the
regional spending accounting for under 1% of the short term, with spending falling to ZAR48.6bn
global total for the last decade. After strong, double- (USD3.02bn) in 2023 before returning to ZAR50.0bn
digit real growth in 2013 and 2014, regional spending (USD3.10bn) in 2024. Therefore, the budget does not
peaked at USD23.5 billion in 2014 before contracting build in any significant growth that would allow it
by 4% in real terms on average every year up to to return to peak 2011 levels.
and including 2019. A surge in Nigerian defence The Special Defence Account, used to fund
spending fuelled an uptick in regional spending in the procurement of strategic and special defence
2020 with real growth reaching 7.6%, but this was equipment, has dropped significantly in recent years,
swiftly followed by a 5.3% real contraction in 2021 from ZAR5.2bn (USD316m) in 2020 to ZAR1.5bn
owing to high rates of inflation, averaging 16%. (USD101m) in 2021. The Treasury had indicated that
While inflation persisted at this level into 2022, the account would be closed completely by 2021/22;
regional defence spending growth was strong however, the MTEF projects that the account will
enough to reach 9.9% in real terms, largely due to a hold steady at ZAR1.9bn–2bn (USD118–124m)
surge in Ethiopian spending. between 2022 and 2024, offering a few more years
South Africa retains the largest defence budget in of funding for major acquisitions. If the account is
sub-Saharan Africa, but the country’s share of regional closed, investment will need to be funded from the
spending has fallen considerably over the last decade. core defence budget, of which personnel will account
In 2011, South African spending accounted for 27% of for a sizeable 63% over the course of the MTEF. The
the total for sub-Saharan Africa but this proportion 2021 and 2022 budgets did outline several reforms
has declined every year since, falling to just 15% in to personnel, driven by the government’s aim to
2022. Thus, the country may still lead the region’s stabilise debt. The reforms included freezing pay,
spending, but it now accounts for a smaller share of reducing headcount, limiting reserve forces activity
a market that has itself been considerably constrained and capping discretionary allowances. According
over the last decade. As a proportion of GDP, South to the 2022 budget, the reductions to personnel
Africa’s budget has fallen to 0.75% in 2022 after will enable the Department of Defence (DoD) to
averaging 1% over the previous decade. address other cost pressures, including the need
After a significant drop in 2021, the defence for investment in border safeguarding and mid-life
budget (including funding for military veterans) upgrades of naval vessels.
Sub-Saharan Africa 429

Angolan defence spending has also been 0.6% of GDP. Nonetheless, Nigerian spending is
constrained in recent years. Any increases in local- still considerably higher than levels seen over the
currency terms between 2015 and 2021 were wiped previous decade. The 2022 budget noted that funding
out by depreciations in the new kwanza and soaring would be allocated to settle the final payment for
inflation. Over that period, real cuts to defence three JF-17 Thunder aircraft; the procurement of a
spending averaged 17%, as inflation rates ranged hydrographic survey ship, a landing ship tank and
from 10% to 30% while the kwanza dropped from three AW109 helicopters; and part-payment for the
120 kwanza to the dollar in 2015 to 631 to the dollar procurement of one AW139 helicopter. The Nigerian
in 2021. Angola’s economy, and therefore public defence budget is likely to increase as instability in
finances, was severely affected by the 2014–16 the north of the country worsens. Nigeria continues
collapse in oil prices. This placed the oil producer to pursue significant defence acquisitions, including
on a weak footing when the coronavirus pandemic the potential purchase of 12 AH-1Z Viper attack
emerged in 2020, creating a further economic helicopters in a deal valued at USD997m (including
shock. However, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in support and spares) that was approved by the US
February 2022 and the subsequent spike in oil prices State Department in April 2022.
has benefitted Angola’s GDP. With greater fiscal Defence spending in Mali has increased every
headroom, the government enacted a sizeable uplift year in real terms since 2013, with funding reaching
to defence spending, from AOA627bn (USD993m) USD831m in 2022, quadruple the level reached in
in 2021 to AOA790bn (USD1.76bn) in 2022, leading 2012. French forces completed their withdrawal
to the first real-terms increase in Angolan spending from Mali in August following several coups in 2020
for seven years. The increase will help fund Angola’s and 2021 and the shift towards Russian support by
order of three Airbus C295 maritime-patrol aircraft the military-led government. In August 2022, Russia
in April 2022 in a deal valued at USD188.11m. delivered L-39 and Su-25 ground-attack aircraft. The
Nigeria’s economy is also benefitting from higher country ordered C295 light transport aircraft from
oil prices, but slow reform of the downstream Airbus in December 2021.
energy sector means recurrent fuel shortages and There has been strong growth in recent years
power, blackouts present a drag on output while in other countries in West Africa, including Benin,
high rates of inflation restrict consumer purchasing Burkina Faso, Ghana and Senegal. As a result, West
power according to the World Bank. The 2020 African spending grew to exceed the share spent by
defence budget rose to NGN900bn (USD2.51bn), a Southern African states in 2021, although in light
41% real increase over 2019 levels. The 2021 budget of growth in Angola it fell back below this amount
grew to NGN966bn (USD2.42bn – Nigerian naira in 2022.
depreciated over 2021) in 2021 and NGN1.14 trillion However, the fastest-growing sub-region in 2022
(USD2.78bn) in 2022. But with inflation reaching was East Africa. Ethiopia more than quadrupled
16–17% in both years, the budget has been stagnant its defence budget from USD0.38bn to USD1.58bn
in real terms, accounting for between 0.5% and amid a return to conflict between the Tigray People’s

Sub-Saharan
Africa
25 25
Regional defence spending

20
USDbn (constant, 2015)

% growth year on year

20
15
15 10

10 5
0
5
-5
0 -10
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022

Southern Africa West Africa East Africa Central Africa Real growth
© IISS

▲ Figure 21 Sub-Saharan Africa: total defence spending by sub-region, 2008–22


430 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Liberation Front and the Ethiopian government. with downside risks amplified by the uncertainty
Combined with consistent spending in Tanzania surrounding Denel’s strategic direction, together
and a 2020 jump in Uganda’s defence budget, this with a loss of key personnel.
means that the sub-region now accounts for 25.1% Nigeria’s defence-industrial base is small, with
of total regional spending, up from 11.0% in 2010. the largest concerns being the Nigerian Naval
In contrast, spending in Central Africa continues to Dockyard and Proforce. Efforts to bolster indigenous
stagnate, with the sub-region now accounting for capabilities have, until recent years, been restricted
4.6% of the sub-Saharan Africa total, down from a by economic conditions and conflicting budget
high of 7.4% in 2016. priorities, such as the drive to professionalise the
armed forces and the need to counter insurgent
Defence industry groups. These create a higher personnel and
The lack of sustained growth in regional defence operational burden within the budget, further
spending, and the low proportions allocated to constricting funds for R&D. The 2020 surge in
investment and R&D, have continued to restrict the Nigerian defence spending was primarily seen in
development of indigenous capabilities and local the personnel account, which grew to 80% of the
defence industries. entire budget, a level at which it was maintained
The South African DoD Strategic Plan 2020– into 2021 and 2022. As a result, capital spending has
2025 acknowledged that the economic outlook and fallen from 26.6% of the budget in 2019 to 13.6% in
persistently low defence budget allocations have 2022. Similarly, while allocations to the state-owned
had ‘a profound adverse impact on the availability Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria (DICON)
and modernisation of required defence capabilities’. have been maintained over the last five years as a
This was apparent when a lack of funding and proportion of the defence budget, allocations have
maintenance saw South Africa’s Gripen C/Ds fallen from 1.1% in 2016 to just 0.32% in 2022.
grounded in September 2021, with two deemed Angola’s industrial ambitions have been
beyond economic repair. To address this, the country restricted by low levels of investment, with no major
signed a USD30m support contract with Saab in programmes signed in recent years. The country
September 2022. State-owned Denel, the country’s still has ambitions for the local assembly of tactical
primary defence manufacturer, was already facing a vehicles, platform maintenance capabilities and
severe liquidity crisis before the pandemic, with the improved naval capabilities. For its part, Uganda
company struggling to pay staff wages in 2019–21. opened a new armoured vehicle manufacturing and
Although the company has now managed to settle assembly facility in Nakasongola in July 2022. The
salary payments, ratings agencies are cautioning that plant was a joint project with the STREIT Group, a
the company still faces severe liquidity constraints company based in the United Arab Emirates.
Sub-Saharan Africa 431

Arms procurements and deliveries – Sub-Saharan Africa


Significant events in 2022

UGANDA: DEFENCE-INDUSTRY EXPANSION


JULY
President Yoweri Museveni opened a new armoured-vehicle production facility. Located to the east of
Nakasongola air base, the factory is a joint project between the National Enterprise Corporation (NEC),
owned by the Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF), and United Arab Emirates-based STREIT Group.
It will manufacture wheeled armoured vehicles for the armed forces, police and other state services.
This comes four years after a plant was opened at Magamaga, in Uganda’s south-east, operated by the UPDF
with assistance from South African company Twiga Services and Logistics. This facility has been producing
Mamba armoured vehicles since 2014 and in 2021 unveiled the Chui protected patrol vehicle. Earlier, in
January 2022, a joint venture between the NEC and Russian firm Pro Heli International opened a maintenance,
repair and overhaul (MRO) facility for Mi-24 Hind helicopters at Nakasongola air base. The intention is that the site
will become an MRO centre for East Africa, as well as reducing the funds spent maintaining UPDF helicopters.

PROFORCE TAKES TO THE AIR


AUGUST
Nigerian armoured-vehicle firm Proforce signed agreements that could see it enter the aerospace sector.
In April, an agreement was signed with French company Aeraccess that, according to press releases, will
see ‘the immediate production of drones within Nigeria’. Aeraccess manufactures small quadcopter UAVs,
which have been exported to Canada and Mali among other countries. In August, the company signed
a memorandum of understanding with Nigeria’s National Space Research and Development Agency
(NASRDA) to launch the first satellite programme involving Nigeria’s private sector. NASRDA, already
operates several foreign-built satellites. A Proforce press release discusses ‘the potential and future of
launching a satellite in Nigeria’. It is unclear whether this refers to simply building the satellite or also establishing
indigenous launch services.

KENYA SHIPYARDS FLOATS OUT KENYAN-BUILT VESSEL


AUGUST
The Kisumu shipyard was commissioned on the shores of Lake Victoria by then-president Uhuru Kenyatta
and a transport ship, the future MV Uhuru II, was floated out. The ship is being built in partnership with
Dutch company Damen Schelde. It is now being fitted out and the formal launch is planned for late 2022.
It is the first vessel of significant size to be constructed in the country. Owned by Kenya’s National Treasury,
Kenya Shipyards Limited (KSL) was established in 2020 and is run by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
A second shipyard was commissioned on the east coast in December 2021 and is now refitting the patrol
craft KNS Shupavu. As well as providing extra defence-industrial capability, the two shipyards are key to the
government’s effort to grow the country’s ‘blue economy’. There may be potential to build patrol vessels for the

Sub-Saharan
KDF, and others, if there is sustained investment in KSL.

Africa
PROJECT HOEFYSTER TO PROCEED
AUGUST
State-owned company Denel has received regular bailouts in recent years and its collapse would be
a significant blow to South Africa’s defence-industrial capability. Under Project Hoefyster, Denel Land
Systems was selected in 2007 to develop the Badger wheeled infantry fighting vehicle, based on Finnish
company Patria’s Armoured Modular Vehicle (AMV), to partially replace the South African Army’s ageing
fleet of Ratels. However, technical difficulties, staff shortages, COVID-19 and ‘state capture’ have meant that
no deliveries have been made as part of the 2013 production contract. In February 2022 ARMSCOR, the
defence procurement agency, recommended cancelling the programme. However, following discussions,
both Denel and ARMSCOR decided that it was ‘feasible’ to proceed with the project provided a funding
structure is agreed; this could potentially include measures such as a reconsideration of penalty charges incurred
to date by Denel.
432 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Table 16 Kenya: defence procurement since 2000

Tackling the al-Shabaab terrorist group remains a principal and Kenya’s suspension of payments. Overall, KDF has a var-
focus of the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). This emphasis is ied list of suppliers, but China has delivered the most, span-
reflected in the procurement of mine-resistant ambush pro- ning both land and air systems. For its part, US deliveries have
tected vehicles (MRAPs) and helicopters. Until a recent con- focused on air assets and there have been more US donations
tract for Turkish MRAPs, the KDF had purchased armoured than sales. At the same time, some plans have faced prob-
vehicles only in relatively small batches, with the result being lems. The mooted purchase in 2017 of a squadron of AT-802L
that the KDF and Police now operate a variety of equipment ground-attack/ISR aircraft from L-3 Communications (now
types. Meanwhile, several purchases have attracted scrutiny, L3Harris) appears to have been abandoned after elections
including surplus Jordanian F-5 fighters and Chinese Z-9W in Kenya that year and objections to the deal in the US. The
helicopters. Kenyan media reported that auditors were inves- proposed maximum contract value, at up to USD418m, may
tigating the procurements. The Navy has received the least also have been an issue. By way of comparison, Kenya’s most
investment. The delivery of a Spanish-built patrol vessel un- expensive procurement, of three C-27J Spartan transport air-
der a 2003 contract was delayed due to contractual disputes craft, was valued at USD197.48m.

Contract Equipment Type Quantity Value (USD Contractor Deliveries Notes


Date millions)
2003 Jasiri Oceangoing patrol craft 1 60.58 Euromarine 2012
Industries
c. 2006 WZ-551 Wheeled armoured 32 n.k. Chongqing Tiema 2007
personnel carrier Industries Group
2007 F-5E/F Tiger II Fighter aircraft 13; 2 27.56 Government surplus c. 2008
c. 2009 Z-9W Multi-role helicopter (MRH) Up to 9 n.k. AVIC 2010–15
2011 Harambee Coastal patrol craft (PCC) 1 0 Government surplus 2011
(ex-FRA P400)
c. 2012 G 120A Training aircraft 6 n.k. Grob Aircraft 2013
2014 Doria PCC 1 39.87 JGH Marine; 2017 Coast
Western Marine Guard
Shipyard
2014 BOV M10; NORA Armoured reconnaissance n.k. n.k. Yugoimport 2015
B-52 vehicle; 155mm
self-propelled artillery
2014 Cessna 208B Intelligence, surveillance 1 0 Textron Aviation c. 2016
Grand Caravan and reconnaissance
EX aircraft
2015 Springbuck 4×4 Protected patrol vehicle (PPV) 7 2.4 DCD Protected Mobility 2016
c. 2015 VN-4 Armoured utility vehicle 30 n.k. Chongqing Tiema 2016 Police
Industries Group
2016 Bell 205 (UH-1H Light transport helicopter 8 n.k. Bell Helicopter 2016–17
Huey II)
c. 2016 AH-1F Cobra Attack helicopter 3+ n.k. Government surplus 2017
c. 2016 CS/VP3 PPV 25 n.k. Poly Technologies 2017 Police
2017 AW139; MRH; light transport 2; 1 44.18 Leonardo 2018 Police
AW119Kx helicopter
2017 M-28 Skytruck Light transport aircraft 3 n.k. Government surplus 2020–
Ongoing
2018 MD-530F MRH 6 n.k. MD Helicopters 2020
c. 2018 C-27J Spartan Medium transport aircraft 3 197.48 Leonardo 2020
c. 2018 AW139 MRH 3 59.24 Leonardo c. 2020
c. 2018 M119A2 105mm howitzer 6 0 Government surplus 2019
c. 2020 CS/VP14 PPV n.k. n.k. NORINCO c. 2021
c. 2020 G 120TP Training aircraft 9 n.k. Grob Aircraft 2021
2021 Hizir PPV 118 91.42 Katmerciler 2022–23*
*Planned
Sub-Saharan Africa 433

FORCES BY ROLE
Angola ANG MANOEUVRE
Armoured
New Angolan Kwanza
AOA
2021 2022 2023 1 tk bde
GDP AOA 47.5tr 56.0tr
Light
1 SF bde
USD 75.2bn 125bn
1 (1st) div (1 mot inf bde, 2 inf bde)
per capita USD 2,352 3,791 1 (2nd) div (3 mot inf bde, 3 inf bde, 1 arty regt)
Growth % 0.8 2.9 1 (3rd) div (2 mot inf bde, 3 inf bde)
Inflation % 25.8 21.7 1 (4th) div (1 tk regt, 5 mot inf bde, 2 inf bde, 1 engr bde)
Def bdgt AOA 627bn 790bn 1 (5th) div (2 inf bde)
1 (6th) div (1 mot inf bde, 2 inf bde, 1 engr bde)
USD 993m 1.76bn
COMBAT SUPPORT
USD1=AOA 631.45 448.96 Some engr units
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
5.41 Some log units
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
1.39 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
2008 2015 2022
MBT 300: ε200 T-55AM2; 50 T-62; 50 T-72M1
Population 34,795,287 LT TK 10 PT-76
ASLT 9+ PTL-02 Assaulter
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus RECCE 603: 600 BRDM-2; 3+ Cayman BRDM
Male 23.7% 5.3% 4.1% 3.3% 11.5% 1.0% IFV 250 BMP-1/BMP-2
Female 23.7% 5.5% 4.3% 3.6% 12.8% 1.3% APC 276
APC (T) 31 MT-LB
APC (W) 200+: ε200 BTR-152-60/-70/-80; WZ-551 (CP)
Capabilities
PPV 45 Casspir NG2000
Though numerically one of the region’s largest and best- ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
equipped armed forces, Angola’s available inventory faces ARV 5+: 5 BTS-2; T-54/T-55
maintenance and readiness challenges. The armed forces are MW Bozena
constitutionally tasked with ensuring sovereignty and territo- ARTILLERY 1,503+
rial integrity, and there is growing attention to the protection SP 25+: 122mm 9+ 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 4 2S3 Akatsiya;
of offshore resources and maritime-security cooperation with
203mm 12 2S7 Pion
regional and external powers. Defence ties with Russia continue,
TOWED 575: 122mm 523 D-30; 130mm 48 M-46; 152mm
mainly in the form of equipment deliveries, though there are
4 D-20
plans to boost defence-industrial cooperation. There are increas-
ing military ties with China, and Luanda is looking for help in
MRL 153+: 122mm 110: 70 BM-21 Grad; 40 RM-70;
military modernisation, defence-industrial development and 220mm; 3+ 9P140MB Uragan-M; 240mm BM-24
maritime security. There were discussions with US AFRICOM in MOR 750: 82mm 250; 120mm 500
2022 on shared security concerns. Angola retains conscription, ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
but there are also volunteer components. In recent years, force MSL • MANPATS 9K11 (RS-AT-3 Sagger)
health and education have been investment priorities. The armed RCL 500: 400 82mm B-10/107mm B-11†; 106mm 100 M40†
forces train regularly and have participated in multinational GUNS • SP 100mm SU-100†

Sub-Saharan
exercises. Angola is the only regional state with a strategic-airlift AIR DEFENCE

Africa
capacity and an order for medium-lift aircraft for transport mis- SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡;
sions and maritime surveillance was placed with Spain in 2022. 9K36 Strela-3 (RS-SA-14 Gremlin); 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-
Improving the military-logistics system has been identified as SA-16 Gimlet)
a key requirement. Modernisation and equipment-purchasing GUNS
plans were curtailed in recent years by the fall in oil prices and a SP 23mm ZSU-23-4
reduced defence budget. The defence industry is limited to in-ser- TOWED 450+: 14.5mm ZPU-4; 23mm ZU-23-2; 37mm
vice maintenance facilities, but Angola has ambitions to develop M-1939; 57mm S-60
greater capacity by partnering with countries such as Brazil,
China, Portugal and Russia.
Navy ε1,000
ACTIVE 107,000 (Army 100,000 Navy 1,000 Air EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
6,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 10,000 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 24
Conscript liability 2 years PCO 2 Ngola Kiluange with 1 hel landing platform
(Ministry of Fisheries)
PCC 5 Rei Bula Matadi (Ministry of Fisheries)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE PBF 8: 3 HSI 32; 5 PVC-170
PB 9: 4 Mandume; 5 Comandante Imperial Santana
Army 100,000 (Ministry of Fisheries)
434 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Coastal Defence TRG 54: 13 EMB-312 Tucano; 6 EMB-314 Super Tucano*;


12 K-8W Karakorum; 6 L-29 Delfin; 2 L-39C Albatros; 5
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PC-7 Turbo Trainer; 4 PC-9*; 6 Z-142
COASTAL DEFENCE • AShM 4K44 Utyos (RS-SSC-1B
HELICOPTERS
Sepal – at Luanda)
ATK 56: 34 Mi-24 Hind; 22 Mi-35 Hind
Marines ε500 MRH 63: 8 AS565 Panther; 4 AW139; 8 SA316 Alouette III
(IAR-316) (incl trg); 8 SA342M Gazelle; 27 Mi-8 Hip/Mi-
FORCES BY ROLE
17 Hip H; 8 Mi-171Sh Terminator
MANOEUVRE
TPT • Light 10: 2+ AW109E; 8 Bell 212
Amphibious
AIR DEFENCE • SAM 73
1 mne bn
Short-range 28: 16 2K12-ML Kvadrat-ML (RS-SA-6
Gainful); 12 S-125M1 Pechora-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa)
Air Force/Air Defence 6,000 Point-defence 45: 10 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher)†; 15
FORCES BY ROLE 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); 20 9K31 Strela-1 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin)
FIGHTER AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
1 sqn with MiG-21bis/MF Fishbed AAM
1 sqn with Su-27/Su-27UB/Su-30K Flanker IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 Atoll)‡; R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK (RS-AA-11A Archer)
1 sqn with MiG-23BN/ML/UB Flogger IR/SARH R-23/24 (RS-AA-7 Apex)‡; R-27
1 sqn with Su-22 Fitter D (RS-AA-10 Alamo)
GROUND ATTACK ASM 9M17M Falanga-M (RS-AT-2 Swatter); HOT
1 sqn with Su-25 Frogfoot ARM Kh-28 (RS-AS-9 Kyle)
MARITIME PATROL
1 sqn with Cessna 500 Citation 1; C-212 Aviocar Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 10,000
TRANSPORT
3 sqn with An-12 Cub; An-26 Curl; An-32 Cline; An- Rapid-Reaction Police 10,000
72 Coaler; BN-2A Islander; C-212 Aviocar; Do-28D
Skyservant; EMB-135BJ Legacy 600 (VIP); Il-76TD DEPLOYMENT
Candid MA60
TRAINING MOZAMBIQUE: SADC • SAMIM 18
1 sqn with Cessna 172K/R
1 sqn with EMB-312 Tucano Benin BEN
1 sqn with L-29 Delfin; L-39 Albatros
1 sqn with PC-7 Turbo Trainer; PC-9* CFA Franc BCEAO XOF 2021 2022 2023
1 sqn with Z-142 GDP XOF 9.81tr 10.9tr
ATTACK HELICOPTER USD 17.7bn 17.5bn
2 sqn with Mi-24/Mi-35 Hind; SA342M Gazelle (with HOT) per capita USD 1,417 1,367
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Growth % 7.2 5.7
2 sqn with AS565; SA316 Alouette III (IAR-316) (trg)
1 sqn with Bell 212 Inflation % 1.7 5.0
1 sqn with Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H Def bdgt XOF 125bn 244bn
1 sqn with Mi-171Sh USD 226m 394m
AIR DEFENCE USD1=XOF 554.25 619.62
5 bty with S-125M1 Pechora-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa); Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
5 coy with 9K35 Strela-10 (RS-SA-13 Gopher)†; 2K12-ML 374
Kvadrat-ML (RS-SA-6 Gainful); 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8
Gecko); 9K31 Strela-1 (RS-SA-9 Gaskin) 52
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE† 2008 2015 2022
AIRCRAFT 97 combat capable
FTR 36: 6 Su-27/Su-27UB Flanker; 12 Su-30K Flanker; 18 Population 13,754,688
MiG-23ML Flogger
FGA 41: 20 MiG-21bis/MF Fishbed; 8 MiG-23BN/UB Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Flogger; 13 Su-22 Fitter D Male 22.9% 5.3% 4.7% 3.7% 11.5% 1.1%
ATK 10: 8 Su-25 Frogfoot; 2 Su-25UB Frogfoot Female 22.5% 5.3% 4.8% 4.0% 12.9% 1.3%
MP 1 Cessna 500 Citation I
TPT 57: Heavy 4 Il-76TD Candid; Medium 6 An-12 Cub; Capabilities
Light 47: 12 An-26 Curl; 2 An-32 Cline; 8 An-72 Coaler; The armed forces focus on border- and internal-security issues,
8 BN-2A Islander; 2 C-212 Aviocar; 5 Cessna 172K; 6 as well as combating illicit trafficking. Border patrols and secu-
Cessna 172R; 1 Do-28D Skyservant; 1 EMB-135BJ Legacy rity have increased following concern over the regional threat
600 (VIP); 2 MA60 from Islamist groups. Maritime security is a priority in light of
Sub-Saharan Africa 435

continuing piracy in the Gulf of Guinea. A National Guard has Air Force ε250
been established to focus on counter-terrorism and internal
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
security issues. There have been reports of efforts to improve
AIRCRAFT
soldiers’ living conditions. The increased security threat in the
TPT 3: Light 1 DHC-6 Twin Otter†; PAX 2: 1 B-727;
North led to the opening of a new military base there. In July
1 HS-748†
2022, Benin signed a military cooperation agreement with
TRG (1 LH-10 Ellipse non-operational)
Niger and security cooperation with Rwanda was boosted after
a bilateral meeting in September; this might include logisti-
HELICOPTERS
cal support. There is a military-cooperation agreement with TPT • Light 5: 4 AW109BA; 1 AS350B Ecureuil†
France, whose Senegal-based forces have delivered training to
boost Benin’s border-surveillance capacity. Armoured vehicles National Guard ε3,500
have also been received from China. The US has provided similar FORCES BY ROLE
training to the army and national police. Benin contributes per- MANOEUVRE
sonnel to the Multinational Joint Task Force fighting Islamist ter- Air Manoeuvre
rorist groups. There is a limited capacity to deploy beyond neigh- 1 AB bn
bouring states without external support. There is some mainte-
nance capability but no defence-manufacturing sector. Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,800
ACTIVE 12,300 (Army 8,000 Navy 550 Air 250 National Republican Police ε4,800
Guard 3,500) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,800 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Conscript liability 18 months (selective) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
APC • PPV Casspir NG
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
DEPLOYMENT
Army ε8,000 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 6
FORCES BY ROLE
CHAD: Lake Chad Basin Commission • MNJTF 150
MANOEUVRE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
Armoured
MONUSCO 9
2 armd sqn
Light MALI: UN • MINUSMA 299; 1 mech inf coy(+)
1 (rapid reaction) mot inf bn SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 4
8 inf bn SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2
COMBAT SUPPORT
2 arty bn
1 engr bn
Botswana BWA
1 sigs bn Botswana Pula BWP 2021 2022 2023
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT GDP BWP 195bn 220bn
1 log bn USD 17.6bn 18.0bn
1 spt bn
per capita USD 7,337 7,348
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE

Sub-Saharan
Growth % 11.4 4.1
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES

Africa
Inflation % 6.7 11.2
LT TK 18 PT-76†
Def bdgt [a] BWP 5.76bn 6.06bn
RECCE 24: 3 AML-90; 14 BRDM-2; 7 M8
USD 520m 495m
APC 34
USD1=BWP 11.09 12.24
APC (T) 22 M113;
APC (W) 2 Bastion APC [a] Defence, Justice and Security Budget
PPV 10 Casspir NG Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
611
AUV 16+: 6+ Dongfeng Mengshi; 10 VBL
ARTILLERY 16+
288
TOWED 105mm 16: 12 L118 Light Gun; 4 M101
2008 2015 2022
MOR 81mm some; 120mm some
Population 2,384,246
Navy ε550
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 6: Male 14.9% 4.6% 4.3% 4.3% 17.6% 2.4%
2 Matelot Brice Kpomasse (ex-PRC); 3 FPB 98; 1 27m (PRC) Female 14.7% 4.7% 4.5% 4.4% 20.4% 3.4%
436 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Capabilities ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL
The Botswana Defence Force (BDF) comprises ground forces
SP V-150 TOW
and a small but comparatively well-equipped air wing. The BDF’s
primary responsibility is to ensure territorial integrity; its other tasks MANPATS TOW
include tackling poaching. There is a history of involvement in RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
peacekeeping operations. The BDF has reportedly been working ARTILLERY 78
on a defence doctrine that is believed to be influenced by US TOWED 30: 105mm 18: 12 L118 Light Gun; 6 Model 56
concepts and practices. Botswana has a good relationship with
pack howitzer; 155mm 12 Soltam
the US which provides training to the BDF. The armed forces also
MRL 122mm 20 APRA-40
train with other African nations, including Namibia, with whom it
holds biannual exercises. The operations centre for the Southern MOR 28: 81mm 22; 120mm 6 M-43
African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force is located AIR DEFENCE
in Gaborone. The BDF has deployed a small force to Mozambique, SAM
to join soldiers from other SADC countries. Recent personnel priori- Short-range 1 VL MICA
ties include improving conditions of service and overhauling retire-
Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; 9K310
ment ages. Recruitment into the BDF is voluntary. Some BDF mili-
Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet); Javelin; Mistral
tary personnel have travelled to China for training. The air force has
a modest airlift capacity and the BDF is able to deploy a small force GUNS • TOWED 20mm 7 M167 Vulcan; 37mm PG-65
by air if required. There is interest in replacing the ageing fleet of
F-5 combat aircraft, though a successor type has yet to be ordered Air Wing 500
due to financial constraints. While reports suggest a limited mainte- FORCES BY ROLE
nance capacity, there is no defence-manufacturing sector.
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
ACTIVE 9,000 (Army 8,500 Air 500) 1 sqn with F-5A Freedom Fighter; F-5D Tiger II
ISR
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 sqn with O-2 Skymaster
TRANSPORT
Army 8,500 2 sqn with BD-700 Global Express; BN-2/-2B Defender*;
FORCES BY ROLE Beech 200 King Air (VIP); C-130B Hercules; C-212-
MANOEUVRE 300/400 Aviocar; CN-235M-100; Do-328-110 (VIP)
Armoured TRAINING
1 armd bde(-) 1 sqn with PC-7 MkII Turbo Trainer*
Light TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
2 inf bde (1 armd recce regt, 4 inf bn, 1 cdo unit, 1 engr 1 sqn with AS350B Ecureuil; Bell 412EP/SP Twin Huey;
regt, 1 log bn, 2 ADA regt) EC225LP Super Puma
COMBAT SUPPORT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 arty bde
AIRCRAFT 28 combat capable
1 engr coy
FTR 13: 8 F-5A Freedom Fighter; 5 F-5D Tiger II
1 sigs coy
ISR 5 O-2 Skymaster
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
TPT 20: Medium 3 C-130B Hercules; Light 16: 4 BN-2
1 log gp
Defender*; 6 BN-2B Defender*; 1 Beech 200 King Air
AIR DEFENCE
1 AD bde(-) (VIP); 1 C-212-300 Aviocar; 1 C-212-400 Aviocar; 2 CN-
235M-100; 1 Do-328-110 (VIP); PAX 1 BD700 Global Express
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
TRG 5 PC-7 MkII Turbo Trainer*
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
LT TK 45: ε20 SK-105 Kurassier; 25 FV101 Scorpion HELICOPTERS
IFV 35+ Piranha V UT-30 MRH 7: 2 Bell 412EP Twin Huey; 5 Bell 412SP Twin Huey
APC 157: TPT 9: Medium 1 EC225LP Super Puma; Light 8 AS350B
APC (W) 145: 50 BTR-60; 50 LAV-150 Commando (some Ecureuil
with 90mm gun); 45 Piranha III
PPV 12 Casspir DEPLOYMENT
AUV 70: 6 FV103 Spartan; 64 VBL
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
ARV Greif; M578 MONUSCO 2
MW Aardvark Mk2 MOZAMBIQUE: SADC • SAMIM 359
Sub-Saharan Africa 437

6 inf regt
Burkina Faso BFA Air Manoeuvre
CFA Franc BCEAO XOF 2021 2022 2023 1 AB regt (1 CT coy)
COMBAT SUPPORT
GDP XOF 10.6tr 11.3tr
1 arty bn (2 arty tp)
USD 19.1bn 18.3bn
per capita USD 887 825
1 engr bn
Growth % 6.9 3.6 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Inflation % 3.9 14.2 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Def bdgt XOF 254bn 291bn RECCE 83: 19 AML-60/AML-90; 24 EE-9 Cascavel;
USD 459m 469m 30 Ferret; 2 M20; 8 M8
USD1=XOF 554.24 620.61 APC 138
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) APC (W) 24: 13 Panhard M3; 11 Bastion APC
435 PPV 114: 24 Ejder Yalcin; 6 Gila; 63 Puma M26-15;
21 Stark Motors Storm
97
AUV 46+: 8+ Bastion Patsas; 38 Cobra
2008 2015 2022
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Population 21,935,389 MW 3 Shrek-M
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
RCL 75mm Type-52 (M20); 84mm Carl Gustaf
Male 21.7% 5.5% 4.9% 3.7% 11.9% 1.4%
Female 21.0% 5.4% 4.9% 4.0% 14.0% 1.8% ARTILLERY 50+
TOWED 14: 105mm 8 M101; 122mm 6
Capabilities MRL 9: 107mm ε4 Type-63; 122mm 5 APR-40
In recent years, Burkina Faso’s security forces have been chal- MOR 27+: 81mm Brandt; 82mm 15; 120mm 12
lenged by an increasing terrorist threat, which has led Ouaga- AIR DEFENCE
dougou to refocus its military efforts particularly on the north of
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
the country. In 2022, two military coups illustrated problems with
military cohesion. The effect that these coups, and continuing GUNS • TOWED 42: 14.5mm 30 ZPU; 20mm 12 TCM-20
instability, will have on Burkina Faso’s defence cooperation with
France remains unclear. ECOWAS missions have continued to work Air Force 600
on processes for a transition to constitutional democracy with
the new leadership. In early October, US sources reported assur- FORCES BY ROLE
ances that Burkina Faso would not extend an invitation to Russia’s GROUND ATTACK/TRAINING
Wagner Group, but later in the same month authorities in Ouaga-
dougou reportedly indicated that they could review relations with 1 sqn with SF-260WL Warrior*; Embraer EMB-314
Russia. In recent years, the US donated armoured vehicles and Super Tucano*
other equipment. Aviation capacity is slowly improving with the TRANSPORT
arrival of additional helicopters and more modern PPVs. Financial
challenges and political instability might hinder broader capabil- 1 sqn with AT-802 Air Tractor; B-727 (VIP); Beech 200
ity developments. Without external support, deployment capacity King Air; 1 C295W; CN235-220; PA-34 Seneca; Tetras

Sub-Saharan
is limited to neighbouring countries. While there are maintenance ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER

Africa
facilities, there is no defence-manufacturing sector.
1 sqn with AS350 Ecureuil; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-35
ACTIVE 7,000 (Army 6,400 Air 600) Gendarmerie & Hind AW 139; UH-1Y Huey
Paramilitary 4,450
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 5 combat capable
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
ISR 1 DA42M (reported)
TPT 10: Light 9: 1 AT-802 Air Tractor; 2 Beech 200 King
Army 6,400
Three military regions. In 2011, several regiments were Air; 1 C295W; 1 CN235-220; 1 PA-34 Seneca; 3 Tetras;
disbanded and merged into other formations, including PAX 1 B-727 (VIP)
the new 24th and 34th régiments interarmes TRG 5: 3 EMB-314 Super Tucano*; 2 SF-260WL Warrior*
FORCES BY ROLE HELICOPTERS
MANOEUVRE ATK 2 Mi-35 Hind
Mechanised
MRH 3: 2 Mi-17 Hip H; 1 AW139
1 cbd arms regt
Light TPT 3: Medium 1 Mi-8 Hip; Light 2: 1 AS350 Ecureuil;
1 cbd arms regt 1 UH-1H Huey
438 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,450 have increased the individual skills of those troops. Peacekeeping
missions help to fund the armed forces, though financial and
National Gendarmerie 4,200 equipment deficiencies otherwise restrict military effectiveness.
Apart from limited maintenance facilities, the country has no
Ministry of Defence and Veteran Affairs
domestic defence-industrial capability. 
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES ACTIVE 30,050 (Army 30,000 Navy 50) Gendarmerie
1 spec ops gp (USIGN) & Paramilitary 1,000
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
APC • APC (W) some Bastion APC

People’s Militia (R) 45,000 reservists (trained) Army 30,000


FORCES BY ROLE
Security Company 250 MANOEUVRE
Mechanised
DEPLOYMENT 2 lt armd bn (sqn)
Light
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 11 7 inf bn
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • MONUSCO 5 Some indep inf coy
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 653; 1 mech inf bn COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty bn
1 engr bn
FOREIGN FORCES AIR DEFENCE
France 300; 1 SF gp; 2 Tiger; 3 AS532UL; 2 H225M; 1 AD bn
2 SA342 Gazelle EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Burundi BDI RECCE 48: 6 AML-60; 12 AML-90; 30 BRDM-2
APC 114
Burundi Franc BIF 2021 2022 2023 APC (W) 70: 20 BTR-40; 10 BTR-80; 10 Fahd-300;
GDP BIF 6.61tr 7.50tr 9 Panhard M3; 15 Type-92; 6 Walid
PPV 44: 12 Casspir; 12 RG-31 Nyala; 10 RG-33L;
USD 3.35bn 3.69bn
10 Springbuck 4×4
per capita USD 274 293 AUV 15 Cougar 4×4
Growth % 3.1 3.3 ARTILLERY 120
Inflation % 8.3 17.3 TOWED 122mm 18 D-30
Def bdgt BIF 129bn 136bn 208bn MRL 122mm 12 BM-21 Grad
USD 65.5m 66.7m
MOR 90: 82mm 15 M-43; 120mm ε75
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
USD1=BIF 1973.38 2035.18
MSL • MANPATS Milan (reported)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) RCL 75mm Type-52 (M20)
83
AIR DEFENCE
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
62 GUNS • TOWED 150+: 14.5mm 15 ZPU-4; 135+ 23mm
2008 2015 2022
ZU-23/37mm Type-55 (M-1939)
Population 12,696,478
Air Wing 200
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Male 21.7% 5.5% 4.5% 3.7% 12.9% 1.4%
AIRCRAFT 1 combat capable
TPT • Light 2 Cessna 150L†
Female 21.4% 5.5% 4.5% 3.7% 13.4% 1.8%
TRG 1 SF-260W Warrior*
HELICOPTERS
Capabilities ATK 2 Mi-24 Hind
The political crisis in 2015 tested the cohesion of the armed forces MRH 2 SA342L Gazelle
and largely halted military-training activity with international TPT • Medium (2 Mi-8 Hip non-op)
partners. Cross-border and internal security challenges continue.
There are reports of improving relations with Rwanda. Burundi Reserves
signed a cooperation agreement with Russia in 2018 on counter-
terrorism and joint training. The armed forces have a limited FORCES BY ROLE
capability to deploy externally and in 2022 sent troops to the MANOEUVRE
neighbouring DRC and have long-maintained a deployment in Light
Somalia. The experience accumulated during UN operations will 10 inf bn (reported)
Sub-Saharan Africa 439

Navy 50 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 4
AMPHIBIOUS • LCT 2
Army 1,000
FORCES BY ROLE
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε1,000 MANOEUVRE
Light
General Administration of State Security 2 inf bn (gp)
ε1,000 COMBAT SUPPORT
1 engr bn
DEPLOYMENT EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 766; 1 inf bn ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 1 RECCE 10 BRDM-2
ARTILLERY • MOR 18: 82mm 12; 120mm 6 M-1943
SOMALIA: AU • ATMIS 4,000; 5 inf bn
AIR DEFENCE
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 7
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
GUNS • TOWED 30: 14.5mm 18 ZPU-1; 23mm 12 ZU-23
Cabo Verde CPV
Cape Verde Escudo CVE 2021 2022 2023
Coast Guard ε100
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
GDP CVE 197bn 214bn
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5
USD 2.11bn 2.05bn
PCC 2: 1 Guardião; 1 Kondor I
per capita USD 3,749 3,600 PB 2: 1 Espadarte; 1 Tainha (PRC 27m)
Growth % 7.0 4.0 PBF 1 Archangel
Inflation % 1.9 6.5 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 1 Do-228
Def bdgt CVE 1.12bn 1.20bn
USD 12.0m 11.5m
Air Force up to 100
USD1=CVE 93.18 104.14
FORCES BY ROLE
MARITIME PATROL
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
11 1 sqn with An-26 Curl
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
7 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 3 An-26 Curl†
2008 2015 2022

Population 596,707 Cameroon CMR


Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus CFA Franc BEAC XAF 2021 2022 2023

Male 13.6% 4.5% 4.5% 4.5% 19.3% 2.2% GDP XAF 25.2tr 27.4tr
Female 13.4% 4.4% 4.5% 4.6% 20.8% 3.7% USD 45.4bn 44.2bn

Sub-Saharan
per capita USD 1,667 1,584
Capabilities

Africa
Growth % 3.6 3.8
Defence priorities include territorial defence, maritime secu- Inflation % 2.3 4.6
rity, and EEZ and airspace protection. Authorities are working to Def bdgt XAF 246bn 260bn
boost Coast Guard capability and presence as part of a 2017-27
coast guard strategic plan. There are plans to host the maritime USD 444m 419m
coordination centre HQ for ‘Zone G’ of the Yaoundé maritime USD1=XAF 554.25 619.61
security architecture. There is interest in greater regional and Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
international defence engagement, possibly including participa- 399
tion in UN peacekeeping missions. The armed forces take part
in multinational regional exercises and cooperative activities.
299
2022 saw broader maritime security cooperation with the US
Navy and regional partners. Security cooperation with Portugal 2008 2015 2022
includes training of aircrew and maintenance staff. China report-
Population 29,321,637
edly donated equipment, including trucks and buses, to the armed
forces in 2021. Equipment capabilities remain limited and there is
no defence industry, beyond maintenance facilities. Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 21.1% 5.4% 4.6% 3.9% 13.2% 1.5%
ACTIVE 1,200 (Army 1,000 Coast Guard 100 Air 100)
Female 20.8% 5.4% 4.6% 4.0% 13.7% 1.7%
Conscript liability Selective conscription (14 months)
440 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Capabilities ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES


ARV WZ-551 ARV
Internal security is a key concern for Cameroon’s armed forces, ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
as is the cross-border challenge from Boko Haram. Cameroon is
MSL
part of the Multinational Joint Task Force engaged on operations
against Islamist terrorist groups. There are long-standing military
SP 24 TOW (on Jeeps)
ties with France, including for support and training. There is a MANPATS Milan
military-assistance agreement with China and the two countries RCL 53: 75mm 13 Type-52 (M20); 106mm 40 M40A2
have cooperated over a floating dock at Kribi, which it is hoped will ARTILLERY 106+
improve operational readiness. In April 2022, Cameroon signed a SP 155mm 18 ATMOS 2000
military cooperation agreement with Russia. The AU maintains TOWED 52: 105mm 20 M101; 130mm 24: 12 M-1982
its continental logistics base at Douala. The armed forces are (reported); 12 Type-59 (M-46); 155mm 8 M-71
considered well organised, though allegations of abuses led the MRL 122mm 20 BM-21 Grad
US in February 2019 to halt some military assistance. Although
MOR 16+: 81mm (some SP); 120mm 16 Brandt
deployments continue to UN peacekeeping operations, there is
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS
only limited organic power-projection capability without external
support. Much of the equipment inventory is ageing, but infan- SP 20mm RBY-1 with TCM-20
try fighting vehicles and protected patrol vehicles have been TOWED 54: 14.5mm 18 Type-58 (ZPU-2); 35mm 18
acquired from China, France, South Africa and gifted by the US. The GDF-002; 37mm 18 Type-63
armed forces are improving their ISR capability with fixed-wing
aircraft and small UAVs. Additional patrol vessels have in recent Navy ε1,500
years improved maritime capability. Cameroon has no defence- HQ located at Douala
industrial capacity, bar maintenance facilities.
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ACTIVE 25,400 (Army 23,500 Navy 1,500 Air 400) PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 16
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 9,000 PCC 3: 1 Dipikar (ex-FRA Flamant); 2 Le Ntem (PRC
Limam El Hidrami)
PB 11: 2 Aresa 2400; 2 Aresa 3200; 2 Rodman 101;
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 4 Rodman 46; 1 Quartier Maître Alfred Motto†
PBR 2 Swift-38
Army 23,500 AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 4
5 Mil Regions LCU 2 Type-067 (Yunnan)
FORCES BY ROLE LCM 2: 1 Aresa 2300; 1 Le Moungo
MANOEUVRE
Light Fusiliers Marin
1 rapid reaction bde (1 armd recce bn, 1 AB bn, 1 amph bn) FORCES BY ROLE
1 mot inf bde (4 mot inf bn, 1 spt bn) MANOEUVRE
5 mot inf bde (3 mot inf bn, 1 spt bn) Amphibious
6 rapid reaction bn 3 mne bn
4 inf bn
Air Manoeuvre Air Force 300–400
1 cdo/AB bn FORCES BY ROLE
Other FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 (Presidential Guard) gd bn 1 sqn with Alpha Jet*†
COMBAT SUPPORT TRANSPORT
1 arty regt (5 arty bty) 1 sqn with C-130H/H-30 Hercules; PA-23 Aztec
5 engr regt 1 VIP unit with AS332 Super Puma; AS365 Dauphin 2;
AIR DEFENCE Bell 206B Jet Ranger; Gulfstream III
1 AD regt (6 AD bty) TRAINING
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 unit with Tetras
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES ATTACK HELICOPTER
ASLT 18: 6 AMX-10RC; ε12 PTL-02 mod (Cara 105) 1 sqn with SA342 Gazelle (with HOT); Mi-24 Hind
RECCE 54: 31 AML-90; 15 Ferret; 8 M8 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
IFV 42: 8 LAV-150 Commando with 20mm gun; 14 1 sqn with Bell 206L-3; Bell 412; SA319 Alouette III
LAV-150 Commando with 90mm gun; 12 Ratel-20 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
(Engr); ε8 Type-07P AIRCRAFT 6 combat capable
APC 115 ISR 2 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
APC (T) 12 M3 half-track TPT 17: Medium 3: 2 C-130H Hercules; 1 C-130H-30
APC (W) 66: 45 Bastion APC; 21 LAV-150 Commando Hercules; Light 13: 1 CN235 (1 IAI-201 Arava in store);
PPV 37: 16 Gaia Thunder; 21 PKSV 2 J.300 Joker; 1 MA60; 2 PA-23 Aztec; 7 Tetras; PAX 1
AUV 19+: 6 Cougar 4×4; Panthera T6; 5 RAM Mk3; 3 Tiger Gulfstream III
4×4; 5 VBL TRG 6 Alpha Jet*†
Sub-Saharan Africa 441

HELICOPTERS the National Recovery and Peacebuilding Plan 2017–21, attempts


ATK 2 Mi-24 Hind to improve security have focused on disarmament, demobilisation
MRH 15: 1 AS365 Dauphin 2; 4 Bell 412 Twin Huey; and reintegration and security sector reform. The UN’s MINUSCA
2 Mi-17 Hip H; 2 SA319 Alouette III; 4 SA342 Gazelle mission remains the principal security provider in the country but
(with HOT); 2 Z-9 has been targeted by armed groups. The UN reported that, for the
TPT 6: Medium 4: 2 AS332 Super Puma; 2 SA330J Puma; first time, anti-personnel mines were discovered (and destroyed) in
Light 2: 1 Bell 206B Jet Ranger; 1 Bell 206L-3 Long Ranger the country. Russia has deepened its military ties in the CAR and
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES has donated small arms and armoured vehicles and dispatched
ASM HOT teams of military instructors. Russian private military contractors
(PMCs) are also active in the country. Apart from some equip-
Fusiliers de l’Air ment deliveries, the country remains under a UN arms embargo,
though the terms of this were eased in late 2019. The armed forces
FORCES BY ROLE
have received training from UN forces and an EU training mission,
MANOEUVRE
though the EU suspended its operational training in 2021, because
Other
of concerns related to the presence of Russian PMCs. France with-
1 sy bn
drew its logistics deployment in November 2022, after suspending
military cooperation with the CAR in 2021. Poor infrastructure and
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 9,000 logistics capacity limit the armed forces’ ability to provide security
across the country. There is no independent capability to deploy
Gendarmerie 9,000
troops externally, while the lack of financial resources and defence-
FORCES BY ROLE industrial capacity makes equipment maintenance problematic.
MANOEUVRE
Reconnaissance ACTIVE 9,150 (Army 9,000 Air 150) Gendarmerie &
3 (regional spt) paramilitary gp Paramilitary 1,000
Conscript liability Selective conscription 2 years; reserve obligation
DEPLOYMENT thereafter, term n.k.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 758; 1 inf bn


ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
MONUSCO 4
Army ε9,000
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 2
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Central African Republic CAR Light
CFA Franc BEAC XAF 2021 2022 2023
1 spec ops bn
7 inf bn
GDP XAF 1.43tr 1.54tr
Amphibious
USD 2.58bn 2.49bn 1 amph coy
per capita USD 525 496
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Growth % 1.0 1.5 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Inflation % 4.3 6.5 MBT 3 T-55†
Def exp XAF 24.0bn 24.1bn RECCE 28: 8 Ferret†; 20 BRDM-2

Sub-Saharan
USD 43.2m 38.9m IFV 18 Ratel

Africa
USD1=XAF 554.19 620.63 APC • APC (W) 14+: 4 BTR-152†; 10+ VAB†
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) AUV Cobra (reported)
56 ARTILLERY • MOR 12+: 81mm†; 120mm 12 M-1943†
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
26 RCL 106mm 14 M40†
2008 2015 2022 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PBR 9†

Population 5,454,533
Air Force 150
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Male 20.1% 5.6% 5.0% 4.2% 13.4% 1.5% AIRCRAFT • TPT 6: Medium (1 C-130A Hercules in
store); Light 6: 3 BN-2 Islander; 1 Cessna 172RJ Skyhawk;
Female 19.1% 5.2% 4.7% 4.2% 15.2% 2.0%
2 J.300 Joker
Capabilities HELICOPTERS
ATK 1 Mi-24V Hind E
Effective military and security organisations remain largely absent
in the wake of violence in 2013 and the armed forces remain unable MRH some SA341B Gazelle
to fully address the country’s internal-security challenges. Under TPT 2: Medium 1 Mi-8T Hip; Light 1 AS350 Ecureuil
442 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

FOREIGN FORCES Chad CHA


MINUSCA unless stated
Argentina 2 CFA Franc BEAC XAF 2021 2022 2023
Bangladesh 1,382; 1 cdo coy; 1 inf bn; 1 med coy; 1 hel coy GDP XAF 6.54tr 7.62tr
Benin 6 USD 11.8bn 12.9bn
Bhutan 6 per capita USD 697 743
Bolivia 7
Growth % -1.1 3.3
Brazil 10 • EUTM RCA 6
Burkina Faso 11 Inflation % -0.8 4.9
Burundi 766; 1 inf bn Def bdgt XAF 159bn 152bn
Cambodia 225; 1 engr coy USD 286m 259m
Cameroon 758; 1 inf bn USD1=XAF 554.24 588.59
Colombia 2 Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
Congo 10 267
Côte d’Ivoire 2
Czech Republic 3 103
Ecuador 2 2008 2015 2022
Egypt 1,025; 1 inf bn; 1 tpt coy
France 5 • EUTM RCA 13 Population 17,963,211
Gabon 4
Gambia 10 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Georgia EUTM RCA 35 Male 23.6% 5.7% 4.5% 3.5% 11.2% 1.1%
Ghana 13 Female 23.0% 5.6% 4.5% 3.5% 12.4% 1.4%
Guatemala 4
Indonesia 241; 1 engr coy Capabilities
Jordan 10
Kenya 15 Chad’s principal security concerns relate to instability in
West Africa and the Sahel and counter-insurgency operations
Lithuania EUTM RCA 1
against Boko Haram in the Lake Chad Basin area. Although the
Macedonia, North EUTM RCA 1 armed forces are combat experienced, some observers judge
Mauritania 464; 1 inf bn(-) that improvements are required in strategy and doctrine, and
Mexico 2 command and control. The country is a key contributor to the G5
Moldova 4 Sahel and is an important component of the Multinational Joint
Morocco 777; 1 inf bn Task Force fighting Islamist terrorist groups. There is close defence
Nepal 835; 1 inf bn; 1 MP pl cooperation with France, which has military forces headquartered
Niger 6 in N’Djamena. French forces also contribute to the training of some
elements of the Chadian military and security forces. Chadian mili-
Nigeria 6
tary skills are widely recognised by partners, though training levels
Pakistan 1,310; 1 inf bn; 2 engr coy; 1 hel sqn
are not uniform across the force. After the death of President Idriss
Paraguay 4 Déby in 2021, his son became the leader of an interim administra-
Peru 235; 1 engr coy tion. This body passed reform plans for the armed forces, which if
Philippines 3 implemented would increase the size of the army. However, this
Poland EUTM RCA 2 is now dependent on the transitional council. A lack of logistical
Portugal 196; 1 AB coy • EUTM RCA 14 capacity has hindered routine rotations for deployed forces. In
Romania EUTM RCA 20 recent years, ISR capability has been boosted by the donation of
Russia 14 aircraft from the US, with earlier improvements in Chadian ground-
attack and medium-airlift capability. Apart from maintenance facil-
Rwanda 2,148; 2 inf bn; 1 fd hospital
ities, there is no domestic defence-industrial capacity.
Senegal 191; 1 inf coy
Serbia 78; 1 med coy • EUTM RCA 7 ACTIVE 33,250 (Army 27,500 Air 350 State Security
Sierra Leone 7 Service 5,400) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 11,900
Slovakia EUTM RCA 2 Conscript liability Conscription authorised
Spain EUTM RCA 8
Sri Lanka 112; 1 hel sqn
Tanzania 457; 1 inf bn(-)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Togo 10
Tunisia 324; 1 inf coy; 1 hel sqn with 3 Bell 205 Army ε27,500
United States 10 7 Mil Regions
Uruguay 3 FORCES BY ROLE
Vietnam 9 MANOEUVRE
Zambia 930; 1 inf bn Armoured
Zimbabwe 3 1 armd bn
Sub-Saharan Africa 443

Light ISR 2 Cessna 208B Grand Caravan


7 inf bn TPT 10: Medium 3: 2 C-27J Spartan; 1 C-130H-30
COMBAT SUPPORT Hercules; Light 4: 3 An-26 Curl; 1 Beech 1900; PAX 3:
1 arty bn 1 B-737BBJ; 1 DC-9-87; 1 Gulfstream II
1 engr bn TRG 4: 2 PC-7 (only 1*); 1 PC-9 Turbo Trainer*; 1 SF-
1 sigs bn 260WL Warrior*
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT HELICOPTERS
1 log gp ATK 5 Mi-24V Hind
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE MRH 8: 3 AS550C Fennec; 3 Mi-17 Hip H; 2 SA316
Includes DGSSIE equipment TPT • Medium 2 Mi-171
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 74: 60 T-55; 14 ZTZ-59G State Security Service General Direction
ASLT ε20 PTL-02 Assaulter (DGSSIE) 5,400
RECCE 265: 132 AML-60/-90; ε100 BRDM-2; 20 EE-9
Cascavel; 9 ERC-90D Sagaie; 4 ERC-90F Sagaie Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 11,900 active
IFV 131: 80 BMP-1; 42 BMP-1U; 9 LAV-150 Commando
with 90mm gun
Gendarmerie 4,500
APC 149 National and Nomadic Guard (GNNT) 7,400
APC (W) 103: 4+ Bastion APC; 24 BTR-80; 12 BTR-3E;
ε20 BTR-60; ε10 Black Scorpion; 25 VAB-VTT; 8 WZ-523 Police Mobile Intervention Group (GMIP)
PPV 46: 20 Ejder Yalcin; 6+ KrAZ Cougar; 20 Proforce
Ara 2
AUV 103+: 22 Bastion Patsas; 31+ RAM Mk3; 30 Terrier
DEPLOYMENT
LT-79; Tiger 4×4; ε20 Yoruk 4×4 MALI: UN • MINUSMA 1,449; 1 spec ops coy; 2 inf bn
ARTILLERY 34+ WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 4
SP 122mm 10 2S1 Gvozdika
TOWED 13: 105mm 5 M2; 122mm 8+ D-74
MRL 11+: 107mm some PH-63; 122mm 11: 6 BM-21 FOREIGN FORCES
Grad; 5 PHL-81 Benin MNJTF 150
MOR 81mm some; 120mm AM-50 France 1,500; 1 mech inf BG; 1 FGA det with 3 Mirage
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE 2000D; 1 tkr/tpt det with 1 A330 MRTT 1 C-130H;
MSL • MANPATS Eryx; Milan 2 CN235M
RCL 106mm M40A1
AIR DEFENCE
SAM
Short-range 4 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful)
Point-defence 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
GUNS
SP 10: 23mm 6 ZSU-23-4 Shilka; 37mm 4+ M-1939 (tch)
TOWED 14.5mm ZPU-1/-2/-4; 23mm ZU-23-2

Air Force 350

Sub-Saharan
FORCES BY ROLE

Africa
GROUND ATTACK
1 unit with PC-7; PC-9*; SF-260WL Warrior*; Su-25 Frogfoot
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with An-26 Curl; C-130H-30 Hercules; Mi-17 Hip
H; Mi-171
1 (Presidential) Flt with B-737BBJ; Beech 1900; DC-9-87;
Gulfstream II
ATTACK HELICOPTER
1 sqn with AS550C Fennec; Mi-24V Hind; SA316 Alouette III
MANOEUVRE
Other
1 sy bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 10 combat capable
FTR (1 MiG-29S Fulcrum C in store)
ATK 7: 6 Su-25 Frogfoot (2 more in store); 1 Su-25UB
Frogfoot B (1 more in store)
444 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MBT 40: 25 T-54/T-55; 15 Type-59; (some T-34 in store)


Congo, Republic of COG LT TK 13: 3 PT-76; 10 Type-62
RECCE 25 BRDM-1/BRDM-2
CFA Franc BEAC XAF 2021 2022 2023 APC 133+
GDP XAF 7.01tr 8.98tr APC (W) 78+: 28 AT-105 Saxon; 20 BTR-152; 30 BTR-60;
USD 12.6bn 14.5bn Panhard M3
PPV 55: 18 Mamba; 37 Marauder
per capita USD 2,634 2,945
ARTILLERY 56+
Growth % -0.6 4.3
SP 122mm 3 2S1 Gvozdika
Inflation % 2.0 3.5 TOWED 15+: 122mm 10 D-30; 130mm 5 M-46; 152mm D-20
Def bdgt XAF 174bn 164bn 173bn MRL 10+: 122mm 10 BM-21 Grad; 140mm BM-14;
USD 313m 264m 140mm BM-16
USD1=XAF 554.25 619.62 MOR 28+: 82mm; 120mm 28 M-43
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
RCL 57mm M18
590
GUNS 15: 57mm 5 ZIS-2 (M-1943); 100mm 10 M-1944
n.k. AIR DEFENCE • GUNS
0
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka
2008 2015 2022
TOWED 14.5mm ZPU-2/-4; 37mm 28 M-1939; 57mm
Population 5,546,307 S-60; 100mm KS-19

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Navy ε800


Male 20.6% 5.0% 3.9% 3.5% 15.5% 1.5% EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Female 20.2% 5.0% 3.9% 3.6% 15.4% 1.8% PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 8
PCC 4 5 Février 1979
Capabilities PBR 4
Congo’s small armed forces have low levels of training and limited
overall capability and utilise ageing equipment. They have strug-
Air Force 1,200
gled to recover from the brief but devastating civil war in the late FORCES BY ROLE
1990s. France provides advisory assistance and capacity-building FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
support in military administration and military and police capabil- 1 sqn with Mirage F-1AZ
ity. A military-cooperation agreement was signed with Russia in TRANSPORT
2019. Deployment capability is limited to neighbouring countries 1 sqn with An-24 Coke; An-32 Cline; CN235M-100
without external support. The air force is effectively grounded for
lack of spares and serviceable equipment. The navy is largely a riv- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
erine force, despite the need for maritime security on the country’s AIRCRAFT 3 combat capable
small coastline. A modernisation effort is under way and several FGA up to 3 Mirage F-1AZ
MRAPs have been bought. Maintenance facilities are limited and TPT • Light 4: 1 An-24 Coke; 2 An-32 Cline; 1
the country has no domestic defence-industrial capability. CN235M-100
HELICOPTERS
ACTIVE 10,000 (Army 8,000 Navy 800 Air 1,200) ATK (2 Mi-35P Hind in store)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,000 TPT • Medium (3 Mi-8 Hip in store)
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 Atoll)‡
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,000 active
Army 8,000 Gendarmerie 2,000
FORCES BY ROLE
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
MANOEUVRE
Armoured
Other
2 armd bn
20 paramilitary coy
Light
2 inf bn (gp) each with (1 lt tk tp, 1 arty bty) Presidential Guard some
1 inf bn FORCES BY ROLE
Air Manoeuvre MANOEUVRE
1 cdo/AB bn Other
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 paramilitary bn
1 arty gp (with MRL)
1 engr bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
DEPLOYMENT
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 10
Sub-Saharan Africa 445

Army ε23,000
Côte d’Ivoire CIV FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
CFA Franc BCEAO XOF 2021 2022 2023
Armoured
GDP XOF 38.8tr 42.6tr 1 armd bn
USD 70.1bn 68.6bn Light
per capita USD 2,534 2,418 7 inf bn
Growth % 7.0 5.5 Air Manoeuvre
Inflation % 4.2 5.5
1 cdo/AB bn
COMBAT SUPPORT
Def bdgt [a] XOF 354bn 379bn
1 arty bn
USD 638m 610m 1 engr bn
USD1=XOF 554.24 620.60 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
[a] Defence budget only - order and security expenses excluded 1 log bn
AIR DEFENCE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
1 AD bn
613
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
336 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 10 T-55†
2008 2015 2022
RECCE 18: 13 BRDM-2; 5 Cayman BRDM
Population 28,713,423 IFV 10 BMP-1/BMP-2†
APC 78
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC (W) 56: 9 Bastion APC; 6 BTR-80; 12 Panhard M3;
Male 18.7% 5.6% 4.7% 4.1% 15.7% 1.3% 13 VAB; 16 WZ-551
Female 18.6% 5.6% 4.7% 4.1% 15.2% 1.6% PPV 22: 21 Springbuck HD; 1 Snake
AUV 20 Cobra II
Capabilities ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
VLB MTU
The armed forces are still regenerating and security sector reform ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
initiatives continue. Deteriorating security in the north raises MSL • MANPATS 9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel)
requirements relating to regional cooperation, notwithstanding (reported); 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan) (reported)
tensions with Malian leaders. A 2015 law detailed defence zones RCL 106mm ε12 M40A1
and military regions and stressed the armed forces’ role in assist- ARTILLERY 36+
ing societal development. The Military Programme Law (LPM) TOWED 4+: 105mm 4 M-1950; 122mm (reported)
for 2016–20 outlined plans to reduce military strength, though MRL 122mm 6 BM-21
the outcome remains unclear. The 2021–25 National Develop- MOR 26+: 81mm; 82mm 10 M-37; 120mm 16 AM-50
ment Plan indicated that efforts have been made also to improve AIRCRAFT • TPT • Medium 1 An-12 Cub†
housing allowances for paramilitary personnel. The authorities AIR DEFENCE
have standardised promotion and salary structures and are also SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
looking to improve military infrastructure. The armed forces have (reported)
also received new APCs and PPVs, as well as a former French patrol GUNS 21+
boat. There is close defence cooperation with France, which has a

Sub-Saharan
SP 20mm 6 M3 VDAA
significant training mission in the country, and a new training facil- TOWED 15+: 20mm 10; 23mm ZU-23-2; 40mm 5 L/60

Africa
ity, built with French assistance, was opened in 2022. The armed-
forces school at Zambakro runs courses for Ivorian as well as
Navy ε1,000
regional personnel, and the second Higher Defence Studies course
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
graduated in late 2021 with personnel from across the region. In
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4
2021, with French assistance, Côte d’Ivoire opened the Interna-
PB 4: 3 L’Emergence; 1 Atchan 2
tional Academy for the Fight Against Terrorism (AILCT) in Abidjan,
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 1
to help develop regional as well as Ivorian counter-terrorist capa-
bility; aspects of the US-led Flintlock 2022 exercise were held there.
LCM 1 Aby
Except for limited maintenance facilities, there is no domestic
defence-industrial capability. Air Force ε1,400
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
ACTIVE 27,400 (Army 23,000 Navy 1,000 Air 1,400 AIRCRAFT
Special Forces 2,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary n.k. TPT 3: Light 2: 1 An-26 Curl; 1 C295W; PAX 1 B-727
Moves to restructure and reform the armed forces continue HELICOPTERS
ATK 3 Mi-24V Hind E
MRH 2 Mi-8P Hip
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE TPT • Medium 2 SA330L Puma (IAR-330L)
446 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Special Forces ε2,000 Capabilities


FORCES BY ROLE On paper, the DRC has the largest armed forces in Central Africa.
SPECIAL FORCES However, given the country’s size and the poor levels of train-
1 spec ops bde ing, morale and equipment, they are unable to provide security
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE throughout the country. There was renewed fighting in the east
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES in 2022, and as part of peace initiatives led by the East African
APC 16 Community (EAC) an EAC military component began deploying
late in the year. When conflict finally abates in the east, significant
APC (W) 3 BTR-70MB
attention to wide-ranging disarmament, demobilisation and rein-
PPV 13 BATT UMG
tegration and security sector reform will be required, to continue
the work intermittently undertaken over the past decade. Kin-
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary n.k. shasa has pursued several military-modernisation programmes,
and a new military programme law for 2022-24 was adopted in
Republican Guard n.k. August. The mandate of the UN’s MONUSCO mission was renewed
in December 2019 and the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade (FIB)
Gendarmerie n.k. remains active in the east. The armed forces have incorporated
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE† a number of non-state armed groups. There remains significant
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES scope to improve training, recruitment and retention, and there is
RECCE 3 Cayman BRDM foreign assistance in training and capacity-building. Deployment
IFV BMP-1 capability is limited and the lack of logistics vehicles significantly
APC reduces transport capacity. The lack of sufficient tactical airlift and
helicopters is a brake on military effectiveness and there is some
APC (W) BTR-70MB; VAB
reliance on MONUSCO capabilities, which are also insufficient
PPV 5+ RG-31 Nyala; 5+ Springbuck HD; Streit Spartan given the geographical scale of the country. Much of the inven-
AUV LT-79 Terrier tory is in poor repair and, while new equipment has been acquired,
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 1 Bian the absence of any defence sector apart from limited maintenance
capability will also hinder military efficiency.
DEPLOYMENT ACTIVE ε134,250 (Central Staffs ε14,000, Army
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 2 103,000 Republican Guard 8,000 Navy 6,700 Air 2,550)
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 872; 1 mech inf bn; 1 sy coy
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
FOREIGN FORCES
France 900; 1 inf bn; 1 (army) hel unit with 2 SA330 Puma; Army (Force Terrestre) ε103,000
2 SA342 Gazelle; 1 (air force) hel unit with 1 AS555 Fennec The DRC has 11 Military Regions. In 2011, all brigades in
North and South Kivu provinces were consolidated into 27
new regiments, the latest in a sequence of reorganisations
Democratic Republic of the designed to integrate non-state armed groups. The actual
Congo DRC combat effectiveness of many formations is doubtful
FORCES BY ROLE
Congolese Franc CDF 2021 2022 2023
MANOEUVRE
GDP CDF 113tr 129tr Light
USD 56.6bn 63.9bn 6 (integrated) inf bde
per capita USD 603 660 ε3 inf bde (non-integrated)
Growth % 6.2 6.1 27+ inf regt
Inflation % 9.0 8.4
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty regt
Def bdgt CDF 580bn 752bn
1 MP bn
USD 291m 372m
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
USD1=CDF 1990.17 2025.45 (includes Republican Guard eqpt)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
490 MBT 174: 12–17 Type-59; 32 T-55; 25 T-64BV-1; 100
n.k. T-72AV
0 LT TK 40: 10 PT-76; 30 Type-62
2008 2015 2022 RECCE up to 50: up to 17 AML-60; 14 AML-90; 19 EE-9
Cascavel
Population 108,407,721
IFV 20 BMP-1
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC 104+:
APC (T) 9: 3 BTR-50; 6 MT-LB
Male 23.2% 5.2% 4.4% 3.9% 12.1% 1.1%
APC (W) 95+: 30–70 BTR-60PB; 58 Panhard M3; 7 TH
Female 22.9% 5.2% 4.4% 3.9% 12.2% 1.4% 390 Fahd
Sub-Saharan Africa 447

ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Belgium 1
RCL 57mm M18; 73mm SPG-9; 75mm M20; Benin 9
106mm M40A1 Bhutan 2
GUNS 85mm 10 Type-56 (D-44) Bolivia 4
ARTILLERY 726+ Botswana 2
SP 16: 122mm 6 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 10 2S3 Akatsiya
Brazil 23
TOWED 125: 122mm 77 M-30 (M-1938)/D-30/Type-60;
Burkina Faso 5
130mm 42 Type-59 (M-46)/Type-59-I; 152mm 6 D-20
(reported) Cameroon 4
MRL 57+: 107mm 12 Type-63; 122mm 24+: 24 BM-21 Canada (Operation Crocodile) 7
Grad; some RM-70; 128mm 6 M-51; 130mm 3 Type-82; China, People’s Republic of 233; 1 engr coy; 1 fd hospital
132mm 12 Czech Republic 2
MOR 528+: 81mm 100; 82mm 400; 107mm M30; Egypt 11
120mm 28: 10 Brandt; 18 other France 4
AIR DEFENCE Gambia 2
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡ Ghana 19
GUNS • TOWED 64: 14.5mm 12 ZPU-4; 37mm 52
Guatemala 152; 1 spec ops coy
M-1939
India 1,891; 2 inf bn; 1 med coy
Republican Guard 8,000 Indonesia 1,037; 1 inf bn; 1 engr coy
Jordan 11
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE Kenya 264
Armoured Malawi 751; 1 inf bn
1 armd regt Malaysia 6
Light Mali 4
3 gd bde Mongolia 2
COMBAT SUPPORT Morocco 926; 1 inf bn; 1 fd hospital
1 arty regt Nepal 1,154; 1 inf bn; 1 engr coy
Niger 5
Navy 6,700 (incl infantry and marines) Nigeria 8
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Pakistan 1,974; 2 inf bn; 1 hel sqn with SA330 Puma
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 1 Paraguay 6
PB 1 Type-062 (PRC Shanghai II)†
Peru 6
Poland 1
Air Force 2,550
Romania 8
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Russia 9
AIRCRAFT 4 combat capable
Senegal 6
ATK 4 Su-25 Frogfoot
TPT 4: Medium 1 C-130H Hercules; Light 1 An-26 Curl; Sierra Leone 2
PAX 2 B-727 South Africa (Operation Mistral) 1,183; 1 inf bn; 1 hel sqn
HELICOPTERS Switzerland 1
ATK 7: 4 Mi-24 Hind; 3 Mi-24V Hind Tanzania 849; 1 spec ops coy; 1 inf bn

Sub-Saharan
TPT • Medium 3: 1 AS332L Super Puma; 2 Mi-8 Hip Tunisia 10

Africa
United Kingdom 3
Paramilitary United States 3
Uruguay 819; 1 inf bn; 1 hel sqn
National Police Force
Zambia 7
Incl Rapid Intervention Police (National and Provincial)
Zimbabwe 3
People’s Defence Force

DEPLOYMENT
MOZAMBIQUE: SADC • SAMIM 1

FOREIGN FORCES
All part of MONUSCO unless otherwise specified
Algeria 2
Bangladesh 1,637; 1 inf bn; 1 engr coy; 1 avn coy; 1 hel coy
448 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Other
Djibouti DJB 1 (Republican Guard) gd regt (1 sy sqn, 1 (close
protection) sy sqn, 1 cbt spt sqn (1 recce pl, 1 armd pl,
Djiboutian Franc DJF 2021 2022 2023 1 arty pl), 1 spt sqn)
GDP DJF 599bn 662bn COMBAT SUPPORT
USD 3.37bn 3.73bn 1 arty regt
per capita USD 3,365 3,666 1 demining coy
1 sigs regt
Growth % 4.8 3.6
1 CIS sect
Inflation % 1.2 6.6 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Def exp DJF n.k n.k 1 log regt
USD n.k n.k 1 maint coy
FMA (US) USD 5m 6m 6m EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD1=DJF 177.74 177.71 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
ASLT 3+ PTL-02 Assaulter
Population 957,273 RECCE 23: 4 AML-60†; 17 AML-90; 2 BRDM-2
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus IFV 28: 8 BTR-80A; 16-20 Ratel
APC 67
Male 14.5% 4.6% 4.7% 4.5% 15.2% 1.8%
APC (W) 30+: 12 BTR-60†; 4+ AT-105 Saxon; 14 Puma
Female 14.4% 4.9% 5.5% 5.8% 21.8% 2.3% PPV 37: 3 Casspir; 10 RG-33L; 24 Puma M26-15
AUV 37: 10 Cougar 4×4 (one with 90mm gun); 2 CS/
Capabilities VN3B; 10 PKSV; 15 VBL
Djibouti’s strategic location and relative stability have led a number ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
of foreign states to station forces in the country. The armed forces’ RCL 106mm 16 M40A1
main responsibility is internal and border security, as well as ARTILLERY 82
counter-insurgency operations. The 2017 defence White Paper SP 155mm 10 M109L
highlighted a requirement to modernise key capabilities and while TOWED 122mm 9 D-30
funds remain limited, recent purchases, including armed UAVs MRL 12: 107mm 2 PKSV AUV with PH-63; 122mm 10: 6
from Turkey, highlight some investment in new systems. Djibouti (6-tube Toyota Land Cruiser 70 series); 2 (30-tube Iveco
maintains close defence cooperation with France as it hosts its
110-16); 2 (30-tube)
largest foreign military base. The US also operates its Combined
Joint Task Force–Horn of Africa from Djibouti. Japan has based
MOR 51: 81mm 25; 120mm 26: 20 Brandt; 6 RT-F1
forces there for regional counter-piracy missions and the EU and AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 15+
NATO have at various times maintained a presence to support their SP 20mm 5 M693
operations. Djibouti also hosts an Italian base with a focus on anti- TOWED 10: 23mm 5 ZU-23-2; 40mm 5 L/70
piracy activities. China’s first overseas military base, including dock
facilities, was officially opened in Djibouti in 2017. France and the Navy ε200
US provide training assistance. EU NAVFOR Somalia has delivered
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
maritime-security training to the navy and coastguard. Djibouti
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 15
participates in a number of regional multinational exercises and
contributes personnel to the AMISOM mission in Somalia but has PCC 2 Adj Ali M Houmed (NLD Damen Stan Patrol 5009)
limited capacity to independently deploy beyond its territory. PBF 2 Battalion-17
Army equipment consists predominantly of older French and PB 11: 1 Plascoa†; 1 PRC 27m; 2 Sea Ark 1739; 1 Swari†;
Soviet-era equipment. There are some maintenance facilities, but 6 others
no defence manufacturing sector. AMPHIBIOUS 2
LANDING SHIPS • LSM 1 PRC 66m (capacity 6
ACTIVE 8,450 (Army 8,000 Navy 200 Air 250) light tanks)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,650 LANDING CRAFT • LCT 1 EDIC 700
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AKR 1 Col. Maj. Ali Gaad
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE (NLD Damen Stan Lander 5612)

Army ε8,000 Air Force 250


FORCES BY ROLE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT
4 military districts (Tadjourah, Dikhil, Ali-Sabieh and
TPT • Light 6: 1 Cessna U206G Stationair; 1 Cessna 208
Obock)
Caravan; 2 Y-12E; 1 L-410UVP Turbolet; 1 MA60
MANOEUVRE
HELICOPTERS
Mechanised
ATK (2 Mi-35 Hind in store)
1 armd regt (1 recce sqn, 3 armd sqn, 1 (anti-smuggling)
MRH 6: 4 AS365 Dauphin; 1 Mi-17 Hip H; 1 Z-9WE
sy coy)
TPT 3: Medium 1 Mi-8T Hip; Light 2 AS355F Ecureuil II
Light
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
4 inf regt (3-4 inf coy, 1 spt coy)
CISR • Medium 2+ Bayraktar TB2
1 rapid reaction regt (4 inf coy, 1 spt coy)
Sub-Saharan Africa 449

BOMBS • Laser-guided MAM-L


Equatorial Guinea EQG
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε4,650
CFA Franc BEAC XAF 2021 2022 2023
Gendarmerie 2,000 GDP XAF 6.80tr 9.82tr
Ministry of Defence USD 12.3bn 16.9bn
FORCES BY ROLE per capita USD 8,448 11,264
MANOEUVRE
Growth % -3.2 5.8
Other
1 paramilitary bn Inflation % -0.1 5.1
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Def exp XAF n.k n.k
AFV • AUV 2 CS/VN3B USD n.k n.k
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 1 USD1=XAF 554.55 581.83

Coast Guard 150 Population 1,679,172


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 11: 2
Male 18.9% 5.6% 4.8% 4.1% 17.5% 2.5%
Khor Angar; 9 other
Female 17.6% 4.7% 3.9% 3.4% 14.7% 2.4%
National Police Force ε2,500
Ministry of Interior Capabilities
The army dominates the armed forces, with internal security the
DEPLOYMENT principal task. Equatorial Guinea has been trying for several years
to modernise its armed forces. French forces based in Gabon some-
SOMALIA: AU • ATMIS 900; 1 inf bn times engage in training activities with Equatorial Guinea’s armed
forces. There is only limited capability for power projection and
FOREIGN FORCES deployments are limited to neighbouring countries without exter-
nal support. Recent naval investments include both equipment
China 400: 1 spec ops coy; 1 mne coy; 1 med unit; 2 ZTL-11;
and onshore-infrastructure improvements at Bata and Malabo,
8 ZBL-08; 1 LPD; 1 ESD although naval capabilities overall remain limited. An ammuni-
France 1,500: 1 SF unit; 1 combined arms regt (2 recce sqn, 2 tion explosion in early 2021 focused attention on stockpile man-
inf coy, 1 arty bty, 1 engr coy); 1 hel det with 4 SA330 Puma; agement. Maritime-security concerns in the Gulf of Guinea have
3 SA342 Gazelle; 1 LCM; 1 FGA sqn with 4 Mirage 2000-5; 1 resulted in an increased emphasis on boosting maritime-patrol
SAR/tpt sqn with 1 CN235M; 3 SA330 Puma capacity. There is limited maintenance capacity and no defence-
Italy BMIS 150 industrial sector.
Japan 180; 2 P-3C Orion
Spain Operation Atalanta 60; 1 P-3M Orion ACTIVE 1,450 (Army 1,100 Navy 250 Air 100)
United States US Africa Command: 4,000; 1 tpt sqn with
C-130H/J-30 Hercules; 1 tpt sqn with 12 MV-22B Osprey; ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
2 KC-130J Hercules; 1 spec ops sqn with MC-130H; PC-12
(U-28A); 1 CSAR sqn with HH-60G Pave Hawk; 1 CISR sqn Army 1,100
with MQ-9A Reaper; 1 naval air base
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE

Sub-Saharan
Light

Africa
3 inf bn(-)
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 3 T-55
ASLT 6 PTL-02 Assaulter
RECCE 6 BRDM-2
IFV 23: 20 BMP-1; 3 WZ-551 IFV
APC 41
APC (W) 16: 10 BTR-152; 6 WZ-551
PPV 25 Reva
AUV Dongfeng Mengshi
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS HJ-8
AIR DEFENCE
SAM Point-defence QW-2 (CH-SA-8)
GUNS • SP • 23mm ZU-23-2 (tch)
450 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Navy ε250 Capabilities


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Eritrea has maintained large armed forces mainly because of its
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 1 historical conflict with Ethiopia, though the easing of tensions
FF 1 Wele Nzas with 2 MS-227 Ogon’ 122mm MRL, following a 2018 peace agreement may have afforded the armed
forces the opportunity to consider restructuring and recapitalisa-
2 AK630 CIWS, 2 76mm guns
tion. The full extent of Eritrea’s military involvement in the conflict
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 10 in the neighbouring Ethiopian province of Tigray remains unclear
CORVETTES • FSG 1 Bata with 2 Katran-M RWS with as does the level of ongoing support and cooperation with the
Barrier SSM, 2 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun Ethiopian armed forces. However, Eritrean troops were initially
PCC 2 OPV 62 deployed over the border in support of Ethiopian government
forces in late 2020 and subsequently re-entered the conflict in
PBF 2 Shaldag II late 2022, launching a joint offensive against the Tigray Defence
PB 5: 1 Daphne†; 2 Estuario de Muni; 2 Zhuk Forces. There were reports of mobilisation in late 2022. Maritime
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT insecurity, including piracy, remains a challenge. It appears that
AKRH 1 Capitán David Eyama Angue Osa with 1 76mm gun the foreign military presence and related facilities at Assab, that
had been used to support Gulf states’ participation in the Yemen
campaign, had been wound down by mid-2021. Eritrea main-
Air Force 100 tains a large army due to mandatory conscription. For some, the
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE term of service is reportedly indefinite, and significant numbers
AIRCRAFT 4 combat capable of conscripts have chosen to leave the country or otherwise
evade service. These factors likely affect overall military cohesion
ATK 4: 2 Su-25 Frogfoot; 2 Su-25UB Frogfoot B
and effectiveness. Eritrea has demonstrated limited capacity to
TPT 4: Light 3: 1 An-32B Cline; 2 An-72 Coaler; PAX 1 deploy beyond its immediate borders. The armed forces’ inventory
Falcon 900 (VIP) primarily comprises outdated Soviet-era systems and moderni-
TRG 2 L-39C Albatros sation was restricted by the UN arms embargo, until it was lifted
in 2018. The arms embargo will have resulted in serviceability
HELICOPTERS
issues, notwithstanding allegations of external support. The navy
ATK 5 Mi-24P/V Hind remains capable of only limited coastal-patrol and interception
MRH 1 Mi-17 Hip H operations. There is some maintenance capability, but no defence-
TPT 4: Heavy 1 Mi-26 Halo; Medium 1 Ka-29 Helix; manufacturing sector.
Light 2 Enstrom 480
ACTIVE 301,750 (Army 300,000 Navy 1,400 Air 350)
Conscript liability 18 months (4 months mil trg) between ages
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 18 and 40

Guardia Civil RESERVE n.k.


FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Other
2 paramilitary coy Army ε300,000 (including mobilised reserves)
Div mostly bde sized
Coast Guard n.k. FORCES BY ROLE
COMMAND
4 corps HQ
Eritrea ERI SPECIAL FORCES
Eritrean Nakfa ERN 2021 2022 2023 1 cdo div
MANOEUVRE
GDP ΕRN 33.2bn 35.7bn Mechanised
USD 2.20bn 2.37bn 6 mech div
per capita USD 611 647 Light
Growth % 2.9 2.6 ε50 inf div
Inflation % 6.6 7.4 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Def exp ΕRN n.k n.k ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 270 T-54/T-55
USD n.k n.k
RECCE 40 BRDM-1/BRDM-2
USD1=ERN 15.07 15.08 IFV 15 BMP-1
Population 6,209,262 APC 35
APC (T) 10 MT-LB†
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC (W) 25 BTR-152/BTR-60
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Male 18.6% 5.8% 4.5% 3.8% 14.8% 1.6%
ARV T-54/T-55 reported
Female 18.3% 5.8% 4.6% 4.0% 15.6% 2.4% VLB MTU reported
Sub-Saharan Africa 451

ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); Ethiopia ETH
9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel) Ethiopian Birr ETB 2021 2022 2023
GUNS 85mm D-44
GDP ΕTB 4.34tr 5.93tr
ARTILLERY 258
USD 99.3bn 111bn
SP 45: 122mm 32 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 13 2S5 Giatsint-S
per capita USD 996 1,098
TOWED 19+: 122mm D-30; 130mm 19 M-46
MRL 44: 122mm 35 BM-21 Grad; 220mm 9 9P140 Uragan Growth % 6.3 3.8
MOR 150+: 82mm 50+; 120mm/160mm 100+ Inflation % 26.8 33.6
AIR DEFENCE Def bdgt ETB 16.5bn 84.0bn
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡ USD 377m 1.58bn
GUNS 70+ USD1=ETB 43.73 53.29
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
TOWED 23mm ZU-23 1463

Navy 1,400 278


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 2008 2015 2022
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12 Population 113,656,596
PBF 9: 5 Battalion-17; 4 Super Dvora
PB 3 Swiftships Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
AMPHIBIOUS 3 Male 19.7% 5.3% 4.5% 3.9% 14.8% 1.6%
LANDING SHIP 2 Female 19.5% 5.2% 4.5% 4.0% 15.0% 1.9%
LST 2: 1 Chamo† (Ministry of Transport); 1 Ashdod†
LANDING CRAFT 1 Capabilities
LCU 1 T-4† (in harbour service)
Ethiopia’s armed forces, among the region’s largest and most
capable, have been engaged in fighting armed groups in and
Air Force ε350 around the northern province of Tigray since November 2020. Con-
FORCES BY ROLE flict reignited in August 2022 but a peace agreement was signed
in November. The conflict has created a humanitarian crisis, and
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
there have been allegations of human-rights violations on all sides.
1 sqn with MiG-29/MiG-29SE/MiG-29UB Fulcrum In 2021, the conflict began to involve other ethnic groups in Ethio-
1 sqn with Su-27/Su-27UBK Flanker pia. Other military tasks include countering al-Shabaab (this group
TRANSPORT conducted a significant incursion in July 2022) and supporting
1 sqn with Y-12(II) regional security initiatives with deployments to the African Union
presence in Somalia and also to the UN mission in South Sudan. The
TRAINING
armed forces are experienced by regional standards, with a history of
1 sqn with L-90 Redigo combat operations and international peacekeeping deployments.
1 sqn with MB-339CE* Personnel numbers have risen after a recruitment campaign, and
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER along with reequipment this has somewhat offset the loss in 2020
1 sqn with Bell 412EP Twin Huey of Tigrayan military leaders. The loss of Northern Command bases
in the early fighting led to equipment losses though the degree of
1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H

Sub-Saharan
conflict-related attrition remains unclear. The country’s inventory
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE comprises mostly Soviet-era equipment, though surplus stocks have

Africa
AIRCRAFT 14 combat capable been acquired from China, Hungary, Ukraine and the US. Modern air-
FTR 8: 4 MiG-29 Fulcrum; 2 MiG-29UB Fulcrum; 1 Su-27 defence systems have been purchased from Russia and, in response
to the Tigray conflict, armed UAVs have arrived from Turkey, China
Flanker; 1 Su-27UBK Flanker
and reportedly Iran. There is a modest local defence-industrial base,
FGA 2 MiG-29SE Fulcrum primarily centred on small arms, with some licensed production of
TPT • Light 5: 1 Beech 200 King Air; 4 Y-12(II) light armoured vehicles. There is adequate maintenance capability
TRG 16+: 8 L-90 Redigo; 4 MB-339CE*; 4+ Z-143/Z-242 but only a limited capacity to support advanced platforms.
HELICOPTERS
ACTIVE 503,000 (Army 500,000 Air 3,000)
MRH 8: 4 Bell 412EP Twin Huey (AB-412EP); 4 Mi-17
Hip H
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
AAM • IR R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A
Archer); IR/SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo) Army ε500,000
Div mostly bde sized
FORCES BY ROLE
DEPLOYMENT
SPECIAL FORCES
ETHIOPIA: Tigray: 100,000 (reported) 1 cdo div
452 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MANOEUVRE FTR 11: 8 Su-27 Flanker; 3 Su-27UB Flanker


Mechanised FGA 6+ MiG-23BN/UB Flogger H/C
5 mech inf div ATK 3: 1 Su-25T Frogfoot; 2 Su-25UB Frogfoot
Light TPT 14: Medium 8: 3 An-12 Cub; 2 C-130B Hercules;
ε70 inf div 2 C-130E Hercules; 1 L-100-30; Light 6: 1 An-26 Curl;
Other 1 An-32 Cline; 3 DHC-6 Twin Otter; 1 Yak-40 Codling (VIP)
1 (Republican Guard) gd div TRG 24: 12 G 120TP; 12 L-39 Albatros
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE HELICOPTERS
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES ATK 18: 15 Mi-24 Hind; 3 Mi-35 Hind
MBT 220: ε120 T-55/T-62; ε100 T-72B/UA1 MRH 21: 3 AW139; 6 SA316 Alouette III; 12 Mi-8 Hip/
RECCE ε50 BRDM-1/BRDM-2 Mi-17 Hip H
IFV ε20 BMP-1 UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
APC 275+ CISR • Heavy some Wing Loong I; Medium some
APC (T) ε200 ZSD-89 Mohajer 6 (reported); some Bayraktar TB2
APC (W) BTR-60; WZ-551 AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
PPV 75 Gaia Thunder AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 Atoll)‡; R-27ET (RS-AA-10D
AUV some Ze’ev Alamo); R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Archer); SARH R-27 (RS-AA-10 Alamo)
ARV T-54/T-55 ARV reported; 3 BTS-5B
ASM Kh-25ML (RS-AS-12B Kegler); Kh-29T (RS-AS-14B
VLB GQL-111; MTU reported
Kedge); TL-2 (reported)
MW Bozena
BOMBS
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
TV-guided KAB-500KR
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); 9K111
Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot); 9K135 Kornet-E (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
RCL 82mm B-10; 107mm B-11 DEPLOYMENT
GUNS 85mm D-44 SOMALIA: AU • ATMIS 4,000; 5 inf bn
ARTILLERY 450+
SP 10+: 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 10 2S19 Msta-S SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1,476; 3 inf bn
TOWED 200+: 122mm ε200 D-30/M-30 (M-1938); SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 3
130mm M-46; 155mm AH2
MRL 20+: 107mm PH-63; 122mm ε20 BM-21 Grad; TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT
300mm AR-2†
MOR 81mm M1/M29; 82mm M-1937; 120mm M-1944 DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL
AIR DEFENCE Political tensions between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s
SAM federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation
Medium-range ε4 S-75M3 Volkhov (RS-SA-2 Guideline)
Front resulted in the outbreak of open fighting in November
Short-range ε4 S-125M1 Pechora-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa)
2020 between the newly founded Tigray Defense Forces
Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; 9K310
(TDF) and the Ethiopian National Defense Force. The lat-
Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet)
ter subsequently reinforced by forces from other Ethiopian
SPAAGM 30mm ε6 96K6 Pantsir-S1 (RS-SA-22 Greyhound)
regions as well as troops from the Eritrean Defence Forces.
GUNS
SP 23mm ZSU-23-4 Shilka The conflict has created a humanitarian crisis, and both
TOWED 23mm ZU-23; 37mm M-1939; 57mm S-60 Tigrayan and government forces and their allies have been
subject to allegations of human-rights violations. A hu-
Air Force 3,000 manitarian truce was implemented by the federal govern-
ment in March 2022, and after a brief resumption of fight-
FORCES BY ROLE
ing in August, that saw Eritrean forces re-enter the conflict,
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
there was a further ceasefire in November 2022.
1 sqn with MiG-23BN/UB Flogger H/C
1 sqn with Su-27/Su-27UB Flanker
TRANSPORT
Tigray Defense Forces (TDF)
1 sqn with An-12 Cub; An-26 Curl; An-32 Cline; C-130B A significant amount of Ethiopian National Defense Force
Hercules; DHC-6 Twin Otter; L-100-30; Yak-40 Codling (VIP) heavy equipment, including long-range rocket and missile
TRAINING artillery, was captured by the TDF early in the conflict. It
1 sqn with L-39 Albatros is unclear how much of this materiel remains in operation.
1 sqn with G 120TP EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
2 sqn with Mi-24/Mi-35 Hind; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H; MBT T-55; T-62; T-72B
SA316 Alouette III APC
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE APC (T) ZSD-89
AIRCRAFT 20 combat capable APC (W) WZ-551
Sub-Saharan Africa 453

ARTILLERY
TOWED 107mm PH-63; 122mm D-30; 130mm M-46;
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
155mm AH-2
MRL 122mm BM-21
Army 3,200
Republican Guard under direct presidential control
AIR DEFENCE
FORCES BY ROLE
SAM
MANOEUVRE
Short-range S-125M1 Pechora-M1 (RS-SA-3 Goa)
Light
Point-defence 9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) 1 (Republican Guard) gd gp (bn)
GUNS (1 armd/recce coy, 3 inf coy, 1 arty bty, 1 ADA bty)
TOWED 23mm ZU-23; 37mm M-1939 8 inf coy
Air Manoeuvre
1 cdo/AB coy
FOREIGN FORCES COMBAT SUPPORT
Eritrea Army: 100,000 (reported) 1 engr coy
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Gabon GAB RECCE 56: 24 AML-60/AML-90; 12 EE-3 Jararaca;
14 EE-9 Cascavel; 6 ERC-90F4 Sagaie
CFA Franc BEAC XAF 2021 2022 2023
IFV 22: 12 EE-11 Urutu (with 20mm gun); 10 VN-1
GDP XAF 11.2tr 13.8tr APC 93
USD 20.2bn 22.2bn APC (W) 35: 9 LAV-150 Commando; 5 Bastion APC;
per capita USD 9,483 10,282 3 WZ-523; 5 VAB; 12 VXB-170; 1 Pandur
Growth % 1.5 2.7 PPV 58: 8 Aravis; 34 Matador; 16 VP-11
AUV 17: 3 RAM Mk3; 14 VBL
Inflation % 1.1 3.5
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Def bdgt [a] XAF 173bn 173bn MSL • MANPATS Milan
USD 312m 280m RCL 106mm M40A1
USD1=XAF 554.25 619.61 ARTILLERY 67
[a] Includes funds allocated to Republican Guard TOWED 105mm 4 M101
MRL 24: 107mm 16 PH-63; 140mm 8 Teruel
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
269
MOR 39: 81mm 35; 120mm 4 Brandt
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 41
SP 20mm 4 ERC-20
112
TOWED 37+: 14.5mm ZPU-4; 23mm 24 ZU-23-2;
2008 2015 2022
37mm 10 M-1939; 40mm 3 L/70
Population 2,340,613
Navy ε500
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus HQ located at Port Gentil
Male 18.0% 5.8% 5.4% 5.1% 15.5% 2.1% EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Female 17.5% 5.5% 4.9% 4.3% 13.9% 2.0% PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 10
PB 10: 1 Patra†; 4 Port Gentil (FRA VCSM); 4 Rodman 66;

Sub-Saharan
1 Vice Amiral d'Escadre Jean Léonard Mbini (PRC 66m)
Capabilities

Africa
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 1
Oil revenues have allowed the government to support small but LCM 1 Mk 9 (ex-UK)
regionally capable armed forces, while the country has benefited
from the long-term presence of French troops acting as a security Air Force 1,000
guarantor. There is regular training with French forces, including FORCES BY ROLE
with France’s regionally deployed naval units, as well as with the US FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
and other international partners. There are reports of a developing 1 sqn with Mirage F-1AZ
security relationship with Russia. Gabonese forces have taken part TRANSPORT
in the US Navy-led Obangame Express exercise. A new maritime- 1 (Republican Guard) sqn with AS332 Super Puma; ATR-
operations centre was built by the US in 2019. Military medicine 42F; Falcon 900; Gulfstream IV-SP/G650ER
is well regarded. The armed forces retain sufficient airlift to ensure 1 sqn with C-130H Hercules; CN-235M-100
mobility within the country, but very limited capability to project ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
power by sea and air. Apart from limited maintenance facilities, 1 sqn with Bell 412 Twin Huey (AB-412); SA330C/H
there is no domestic defence-industrial capacity. Puma; SA342M Gazelle
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ACTIVE 4,700 (Army 3,200 Navy 500 Air 1,000)
AIRCRAFT 8 combat capable
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,000 FGA 6 Mirage F-1AZ
454 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MP (1 EMB-111* in store) SSR process is supported by UN organisations, the AU, ECOWAS,


TPT 6: Medium 1 C-130H Hercules; (1 L-100-30 in store); EU, France, the UK and the US. A National Defence Policy is under
Light 2: 1 ATR-42F; 1 CN-235M-100; PAX 3: 1 Falcon 900; development. Gambia’s small forces have traditionally focused
1 Gulfstream IV-SP; 1 Gulfstream G650ER on maritime security and countering human trafficking. France,
Germany, Turkey, the UK and the US have delivered military
TRG 2 MB-326 Impala I* (4 CM-170 Magister in store)
support in recent years. There is also cooperation with neighbouring
HELICOPTERS
states and with the AU, which maintains a technical-support mission
MRH 2: 1 Bell 412 Twin Huey (AB-412); 1 SA342M to assist in the SSR process, including on defence reform, military
Gazelle; (2 SA342L Gazelle in store) reorganisation and the rule of law. The ECOMIG deployment remains
TPT 7: Medium 4: 1 AS332 Super Puma; 3 SA330C/H in place, with its mandate extended again until the end of 2022.
Puma; Light 3: 2 H120 Colibri; 1 H135 The armed forces participate in some multinational exercises and
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR U-Darter have deployed in support of UN missions in Africa. The equipment
(reported) inventory is limited, with serviceability in doubt for some types. An
order from Turkey of new APCs was reported in 2022. Gambia has no
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,000 significant defence-industrial capabilities.

ACTIVE 4,100 (Army 3,500 Navy 300 National Guard 300)


Gendarmerie 2,000
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Armoured
2 armd sqn Gambian National Army 3,500
Other FORCES BY ROLE
3 paramilitary bde MANOEUVRE
11 paramilitary coy Light
Aviation 4 inf bn
1 unit with AS350 Ecureuil; AS355 Ecureuil II COMBAT SUPPORT
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE 1 engr sqn
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 4: 2 AS350 Ecureuil;
2 AS355 Ecureuil II Air Wing
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
DEPLOYMENT AIRCRAFT
TPT 5: Light 2 AT-802A Air Tractor; PAX 3: 1 B-727; 1
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 4 CL-601; 1 Il-62M Classic (VIP)

FOREIGN FORCES Gambia Navy 300


France 350; 1 inf bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 8
PBF 4: 2 Rodman 55; 2 Fatimah I
Gambia GAM PB 4: 1 Bolong Kanta†; 3 Taipei (ROC Hai Ou) (one
Gambian Dalasi GMD 2021 2022 2023
additional damaged and in reserve)

GDP GMD 105bn 120bn


Republican National Guard 300
USD 2.03bn 2.17bn
FORCES BY ROLE
per capita USD 816 846 MANOEUVRE
Growth % 4.3 5.0 Other
Inflation % 7.4 11.3 1 gd bn (forming)
Def bdgt GMD 834m 777m
USD 16.2m 14.1m DEPLOYMENT
USD1=GMD 51.60 55.07 CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 10
Population 2,413,403 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
MONUSCO 2
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus MALI: UN • MINUSMA 8
Male 19.9% 5.7% 4.9% 4.2% 13.3% 1.5%
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 4
Female 19.6% 5.6% 4.8% 4.1% 14.5% 1.9%

Capabilities FOREIGN FORCES


Ghana ECOMIG 50
Reform of Gambia’s security structure, and the armed forces,
has been a key objective of the security sector reform (SSR) process Nigeria ECOMIG 197
that was implemented following political instability in 2016–17. The Senegal ECOMIG 250
Sub-Saharan Africa 455

Light
Ghana GHA 1 (rapid reaction) mot inf bn
6 inf bn
Ghanaian New Cedi GHS 2021 2022 2023 Air Manoeuvre
GDP GHS 459bn 589bn 2 AB coy
USD 79.2bn 76.0bn COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty regt (1 arty bty, 2 mor bty)
per capita USD 2,521 2,369
1 fd engr regt (bn)
Growth % 5.4 3.6 1 sigs regt
Inflation % 10.0 27.2 1 sigs sqn
Def bdgt GHS 2.10bn 2.03bn COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
USD 362m 262m 1 log gp
1 tpt coy
USD1=GHS 5.80 7.75
2 maint coy
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
1 med coy
303
1 trg bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
87
2008 2015 2022
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
RECCE 3 EE-9 Cascavel
Population 33,107,275 IFV 48: 24 Ratel-90; 15 Ratel-20; 4 Piranha 25mm; 5+
Type-05P 25mm
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC 105
Male 19.2% 5.0% 4.2% 3.7% 14.7% 1.9% APC (W) 55+: 46 Piranha; 9+ Type-05P
Female 18.8% 4.9% 4.3% 4.0% 16.8% 2.4% PPV 50 Streit Typhoon
AUV 73 Cobra/Cobra II
ARTILLERY 87+
Capabilities TOWED 122mm 6 D-30
Ghana’s armed forces are among the most capable in the MRL 3+: 107mm Type-63; 122mm 3 Type-81
region, with a long-term development plan. The ability to MOR 78: 81mm 50; 120mm 28 Tampella
control its EEZ is of increasing importance, and this underpins ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
the navy’s expansion plans, including the opening of a new AEV 1 Type-05P AEV
forward-operating base. Internal and maritime security are central ARV Piranha reported
military tasks, including disaster-response, along with peace- ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
keeping missions abroad. The US delivers training and support RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
and there is also significant and long-standing defence engage- AIR DEFENCE
ment with the UK. Air-force training, close-air support and airlift SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
capabilities have developed in recent years. There are plans GUNS • TOWED 8+: 14.5mm 4+: 4 ZPU-2; ZPU-4;
to boost training and exercises, as well as to improve military 23mm 4 ZU-23-2
infrastructure. The army is a regular contributor to UN peace-
keeping operations. Ghanaian professional military education
institutions regularly train personnel from regional states. The devel-
Navy 2,000
Naval HQ located at Accra; Western HQ located at
opment of forward-operating bases continues, with the principal
Sekondi; Eastern HQ located at Tema
objective of protecting energy resources. There is a limited defence-

Sub-Saharan
industrial base, including in maintenance, ammunition manu- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE

Africa
facturing and, more recently, armoured-vehicle production. The PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 18
Defence Industries Holding Company was created in 2019 to PCO 2 Anzone (US)
improve defence industrial capacity. PCC 10: 2 Achimota (GER Lurssen 57m) with 1 76mm
gun; 2 Dzata (GER Lurssen 45m); 4 Snake (PRC 47m); 2
ACTIVE 15,500 (Army 11,500 Navy 2,000 Air 2,000) Yaa Asantewa (ex-GER Albatros)
PBF 1 Stephen Otu (ROK Sea Dolphin)
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE PB 5: 4 Flex Fighter; 1 David Hansen (US)

Special Boat Squadron


Army 11,500 FORCES BY ROLE
FORCES BY ROLE SPECIAL FORCES
COMMAND 1 SF unit
2 comd HQ
MANOEUVRE Air Force 2,000
Reconnaissance FORCES BY ROLE
1 armd recce regt (2 recce sqn) GROUND ATTACK
1 armd recce regt (forming) 1 sqn with K-8 Karakorum*
456 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ISR Capabilities
1 unit with DA42
TRANSPORT Guinea’s armed forces remain limited in size and conventional
capacity. Special-forces troops toppled the government of former
1 sqn with BN-2 Defender; C295; Cessna 172
president Alpha Condé in September 2021, with their leader sworn
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER in as interim president a month later. ECOWAS has sanctioned the
1 sqn with AW109A; Bell 412SP Twin Huey; Mi-17V-5 new leadership and called for elections within six months, which
Hip H; SA319 Alouette III; Z-9EH so far have not occurred. Guinea’s new leaders have discussed a
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE† far longer transition period. Before the coup, there had been plans
AIRCRAFT 4 combat capable since 2010 to bring the armed forces under political control and
ATK (3 MB-326K in store) begin a professionalisation process. Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea
is a key concern, as is illegal trafficking and fishing. A military-
TPT 10: Light 10: 1 BN-2 Defender; 3 C295; 3 Cessna 172;
programme law for the period 2015–20 was not fully implemented
3 DA42; (PAX 1 F-28 Fellowship (VIP) in store) due to funding issues. Defence cooperation in recent years with
TRG 4 K-8 Karakorum*; (2 L-39ZO*; 2 MB-339A* in store) France and the US has led to financial and training assistance,
HELICOPTERS including for personnel earmarked for deployment to Mali. Much
MRH 10: 1 Bell 412SP Twin Huey; 3 Mi-17V-5 Hip H; of the country’s military equipment is ageing and of Soviet-era
2 SA319 Alouette III; 4 Z-9EH vintage; serviceability will be questionable for some types. There
TPT 6: Medium 4 Mi-171Sh; Light 2 AW109A is limited organic airlift and France was in recent years supporting
the development of a light aviation observation capability. Guinea
is also attempting to improve its logistics and military-health
DEPLOYMENT capacities. There are no significant defence-industrial capabilities.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 13 ACTIVE 9,700 (Army 8,500 Navy 400 Air 800)
CYPRUS: UN • UNFICYP 1 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,600
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • Conscript liability 9–12 months (students, before graduation)
MONUSCO 19
GAMBIA: ECOWAS • ECOMIG 50 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 874; 1 recce coy; 1 mech inf bn
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 141; 1 engr coy Army 8,500
SOMALIA: UN • UNSOM 1; UN • UNSOS 1 FORCES BY ROLE
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 725; 1 inf bn MANOEUVRE
Armoured
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 656; 1 inf bn; 1 fd hosptial
1 armd bn
SYRIA/ISRAEL: UN • UNDOF 6 Light
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 16 1 SF bn
5 inf bn
Guinea GUI 1 ranger bn
1 cdo bn
Guinean Franc GNF 2021 2022 2023 Air Manoeuvre
GDP GNF 157tr 185tr
1 air mob bn
Other
USD 16.1bn 19.7bn
1 (Presidential Guard) gd bn
per capita USD 1,128 1,346 COMBAT SUPPORT
Growth % 3.8 4.6 1 arty bn
Inflation % 12.6 12.7 1 AD bn
Def bdgt GNF 2.41tr 3.06tr 1 engr bn
USD 247m 327m EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD1=GNF 9729.04 9365.60 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 38: 30 T-34; 8 T-54
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
LT TK 15 PT-76
227
RECCE 27: 2 AML-90; 25 BRDM-1/BRDM-2
IFV 2 BMP-1
39
2008 2015 2022
APC 59
APC (T) 10 BTR-50
Population 13,237,832 APC (W) 30: 16 BTR-40; 8 BTR-60; 6 BTR-152
PPV 19: 10 Mamba†; some Puma M26-15; 9 Puma M36
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus AUV Dongfeng Mengshi
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Male 20.7% 5.2% 4.5% 3.7% 14.0% 1.8%
ARV T-54/T-55 reported
Female 20.3% 5.2% 4.5% 3.7% 14.2% 2.2% ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Sub-Saharan Africa 457

MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger);


9K111-1 Konkurs (RS-AT-5 Spandrel) Guinea-Bissau GNB
RCL 82mm B-10
GUNS 6+: 57mm ZIS-2 (M-1943); 85mm 6 D-44 CFA Franc BCEAO XOF 2021 2022 2023
ARTILLERY 47+ GDP XOF 944bn 1.01tr
TOWED 24: 122mm 12 M-1931/37; 130mm 12 M-46 USD 1.70bn 1.62bn
MRL 220mm 3 9P140 Uragan
per capita USD 918 857
MOR 20+: 82mm M-43; 120mm 20 M-1938/M-1943
AIR DEFENCE Growth % 5.0 3.8
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡ Inflation % 3.3 5.5
GUNS • TOWED 24+: 30mm M-53 (twin); 37mm 8 Def bdgt XOF n.k n.k
M-1939; 57mm 12 Type-59 (S-60); 100mm 4 KS-19 USD n.k n.k

Navy ε400 USD1=XOF 554.16 619.79

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)


26
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4
PB 4: 1 Swiftships 77; 3 RPB 20 n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k.
0
Air Force 800 2008 2015 2022
FORCES BY ROLE Population 2,026,778
ISR
1 sqn with Tetras (observation) Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE† Male 21.5% 5.5% 4.6% 3.7% 12.3% 1.3%
AIRCRAFT
Female 21.3% 5.6% 4.8% 4.1% 13.5% 1.8%
FGA (2 MiG-21bis Fishbed L; 1 MiG-21UM Mongol B
in store)
TPT • Light 4 Tetras (observation) Capabilities
HELICOPTERS Guinea-Bissau’s armed forces have limited capabilities and are in
ATK 4 Mi-24 Hind the midst of DDR and SSR programmes. The UN expressed concern
MRH 5: 2 MD-500MD; 2 Mi-17-1V Hip H; about the armed forces’ role in politics, following political disputes
1 SA342K Gazelle after the late-2019 election. Defence policy is focused mainly
TPT 2: Medium 1 SA330 Puma; Light 1 AS350B Ecureuil on tackling internal-security challenges, in particular drug traf-
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES ficking. The ECOWAS and UN missions withdrew before the end
AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 Atoll)‡ of 2020. Training remains limited and there are problems with
recruitment and retention, as well as in developing adequate non-
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,600 active commissioned-officer structures. Much of the country’s military
equipment is ageing and maintenance likely limits military effec-
Gendarmerie 1,000
tiveness. There is no defence-manufacturing sector.
Republican Guard 1,600 ACTIVE 4,450 (Army 4,000 Navy 350 Air 100)
People’s Militia 7,000 reservists Conscript liability Selective conscription
Personnel and eqpt totals should be treated with caution. A

Sub-Saharan
number of draft laws to restructure the armed services and police
DEPLOYMENT have been produced

Africa
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 667; 1 mech inf bn
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 3 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 1
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 5 Army ε4,000
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Reconnaissance
1 recce coy
Armoured
1 armd bn (sqn)
Light
5 inf bn
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty bn
1 engr coy
458 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE service was established in late 2018. The long-standing defence
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES and security agreement with the UK was reaffirmed with a new
MBT 10 T-34 five-year Defence Cooperation Agreement in 2021, which has
LT TK 15 PT-76 included a permanent UK training unit within the country, support
for maritime security and a counter-IED training centre. There are
RECCE 10 BRDM-2
strong ties with the US, with the Cooperative Security Location
APC • APC (W) 55: 35 BTR-40/BTR-60; 20 Type-56 Manda Bay remaining an operational base for AFRICOM. There has
(BTR-152) also been evidence of developing relationships with the Chinese
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE and Jordanian armed forces. Regular operational deployments have
RCL 75mm Type-52 (M20); 82mm B-10 increased military experience and confidence. Kenya has been a key
GUNS 85mm 8 D-44 contributor to AMISOM in Somalia, demonstrating limited capacity
ARTILLERY 26+ to project power immediately beyond its own territory. The armed
TOWED 122mm 18 D-30/M-30 (M-1938) forces also provide smaller contributions to other UN missions and
are a leading element of the East African Standby Force. Kenya is
MOR 8+: 82mm M-43; 120mm 8 M-1943
the lead-contributor to the November 2022 EAC deployment to the
AIR DEFENCE eastern DRC. Kenya’s armed forces regularly participate in multina-
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡ tional exercises. Involvement in regional security missions and mul-
GUNS • TOWED 34: 23mm 18 ZU-23; 37mm 6 M-1939; tinational exercises may also foster improved levels of cooperation
57mm 10 S-60 and interoperability. Recent equipment investments have focused
on improving counter-insurgency capabilities and transport capac-
Navy ε350 ity to support regional deployments. There is a limited defence
industry focused on equipment maintenance as well as the manu-
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE facture of small arms and ammunition.
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4
PB 4: 2 Alfeite†; 2 Rodman 55m ACTIVE 24,100 (Army 20,000 Navy 1,600 Air 2,500)
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 5,000
Air Force 100
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 1 Cessna 208B
Army 20,000
FORCES BY ROLE
Kenya KEN SPECIAL FORCES
Kenyan Shilling KES 2021 2022 2023 1 spec ops bn
1 ranger regt (1 ranger bn, 1 AB bn)
GDP KES 12.1tr 13.4tr
MANOEUVRE
USD 111bn 115bn Armoured
per capita USD 2,219 2,255 1 armd bde (2 armd recce bn, 2 armd bn)
Growth % 7.5 5.3 Mechanised
Inflation % 6.1 7.4
1 mech inf bde (3 mech inf bn)
Light
Def bdgt [a] KES 120bn 157bn
3 inf bde (3 inf bn)
USD 1.10bn 1.35bn COMBAT SUPPORT
USD1=KES 109.47 116.72 1 arty bde (2 arty bn, 1 ADA bn, 1 mor bty)
[a] Includes national intelligence funding 1 engr bde (2 engr bn)
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) HELICOPTER
1199 1 air cav bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
790 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
2008 2015 2022 MBT 78 Vickers Mk 3
RECCE 84: 72 AML-60/AML-90; 12 Ferret
Population 55,864,655 APC 200
APC (W) 95: 52 UR-416; 31 WZ-551 (incl CP);
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
12 Bastion APC; (10 M3 Panhard in store)
Male 18.7% 5.8% 4.8% 3.8% 15.4% 1.5% PPV 105 Puma M26-15; CS/VP14; Springbuck
Female 18.5% 5.8% 4.8% 3.8% 15.4% 1.7% AUV 2+ BOV M10 (CP)
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Capabilities ARV 7 Vickers ARV
MW Bozena
The armed forces are concerned with threats to regional stabil-
ity and tackling security challenges, particularly from neighbour- ARTILLERY 112
ing Somalia, though there is also concern about the possibility of SP 155mm 3+ NORA B-52
overspill from the conflict in Ethiopia. Kenya deployed forces to TOWED 105mm 47: 40 L118 Light Gun; 7 Model 56
the DRC in late 2022 as part of an East African Community deploy- pack howitzer
ment, following rising violence in the eastern DRC. A coastguard MOR 62: 81mm 50; 120mm 12 Brandt
Sub-Saharan Africa 459

ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Air Wing


MSL • MANPATS Milan
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf
HELICOPTERS AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 6: 2 Cessna 208B Grand
MRH 42: 2 Hughes 500D†; 12 Hughes 500M†; 10 Hughes Caravan; 3 Cessna 310; 1 Cessna 402
500MD Scout Defender† (with TOW); 9 Hughes 500ME†; HELICOPTERS
6 MD-530F; 3 Z-9W MRH 3 Mi-17 Hip H
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 94: 20mm 81: 11 TPT 5: Medium 1 Mi-17V-5; Light 4: 2 AW139; 1
Oerlikon; ε70 TCM-20; 40mm 13 L/70 Bell 206L Long Ranger; 1 Bo-105
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • ASM TOW TRG 1 Bell 47G

Navy 1,600 (incl 120 marines) Coast Guard


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Ministry of Interior
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 7
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PCO 1 Jasiri with 1 AK630 CIWS, 1 76mm gun
PCF 2 Nyayo PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 1
PCC 3: 1 Harambee II (ex-FRA P400); 1 Shujaa with 1 PCC 1 Doria with 1 hel landing platform
76mm gun; 1 Shujaa
PBF 1 Archangel
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 2
DEPLOYMENT
LCM 2 Galana CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 15
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT • AP 2
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
MONUSCO 264; 1 inf coy(+)
Air Force 2,500
FORCES BY ROLE LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 3
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK MALI: UN • MINUSMA 9
2 sqn with F-5E/F Tiger II
SOMALIA: AU • AMISOM 4,000: 3 inf bn; UN • UNSOS 1
TRANSPORT
Some sqn with DHC-8†; F-70† (VIP); Y-12(II)†; C-27J SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 17
Spartan; M-28 Skytruck (C-145A) SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2
TRAINING
Some sqn with Bulldog 103/Bulldog 127†; EMB-312 Tucano†*
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER FOREIGN FORCES
1 sqn with SA330 Puma† United Kingdom BATUK 350; 1 trg unit
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
AIRCRAFT 32 combat capable
FTR 21: 17 F-5E Tiger II; 4 F-5F Tiger II
TPT 16: Medium 3 C-27J Spartan; Light 12: 3 DHC-8†;
Lesotho LSO
2 M-28 Skytruck (C-145A); 7 Y-12(II)†; (6 Do-28D-2 in Lesotho Loti LSL 2021 2022 2023
store); PAX 1 F-70 (VIP)
GDP LSL 36.6bn 40.4bn
TRG 33: 8 Bulldog 103/127†; 11 EMB-312 Tucano†*; 5 G
120A; 9 G 120TP USD 2.47bn 2.51bn

Sub-Saharan
HELICOPTERS per capita USD 1,181 1,187

Africa
ATK 3 AH-1F Cobra Growth % 2.1 2.1
MRH 12: 3 AW139; 9 H125M (AS550) Fennec Inflation % 6.0 8.1
TPT 19: Medium 11: 1 Mi-171E; 10 SA330 Puma†; Light
Def bdgt LSL 519m 637m
8 Bell 205 (UH-1H Huey II)
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES USD 34.9m 39.6m
AAM • IR AIM-9 Sidewinder USD1=LSL 14.85 16.11
ASM AGM-65 Maverick Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
53
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 5,000
30
Police General Service Unit 5,000 2008 2015 2022
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Population 2,193,970
APC • PPV 25 CS/VP3
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
AUV 30: some Streit Cyclone; 30 VN-4
Male 16.5% 5.3% 4.7% 4.2% 16.6% 2.0%
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 5
PB 5 (2 on Lake Victoria) Female 16.3% 5.2% 4.6% 4.1% 16.9% 3.4%
460 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Capabilities
Liberia LBR
Lesotho has a small ground force and an air wing for light trans-
port and liaison. It is a SADC member state, and a force from that Liberian Dollar LRD 2021 2022 2023
organisation deployed to the country in late 2017 to support the
GDP LRD 3.51bn 3.90bn
government following the assassination of the army chief. The
mission concluded at the end of November 2018. The Lesotho USD 3.51bn 3.90bn
Defence Force (LDF) is charged with protecting territorial integ- per capita USD 677 735
rity and sovereignty and ensuring internal security. Lesotho’s new Growth % 5.0 3.7
government has expressed its desire to carry out defence reforms.
Inflation % 7.8 6.9
The armed forces are comprised of volunteers. India has provided
training to the LDF since 2001. In April 2020 the army was briefly Def bdgt LRD 19.6m 18.7m
deployed internally by the prime minister. The armed forces, and USD 19.6m 18.7m
military facilities, were also utilised in the country’s coronavirus USD1=LRD 1.00 1.00
response. There is limited capacity to deploy and sustain mis-
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
sions beyond national borders, though Lesotho deployed person- 34
nel to Mozambique in 2021 as part of the SADC mission. Lesotho’s
limited inventory is obsolescent by modern standards and there is
5
little possibility of significant recapitalisation, although there is an
2008 2015 2022
aspiration to acquire light helicopters. Except for limited mainte-
nance capacity, there is no defence-industrial base. Population 5,358,483

ACTIVE 2,000 (Army 2,000) Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Male 21.7% 5.5% 4.7% 3.6% 13.1% 1.4%
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Female 21.2% 5.4% 4.8% 3.7% 13.5% 1.4%

Army ε2,000 Capabilities


FORCES BY ROLE A revised National Security Strategy was produced in 2017,
MANOEUVRE reportedly clarifying the roles of Liberia’s security institutions;
Reconnaissance priorities include improving infrastructure, training, operational
1 recce coy readiness and personnel welfare. A new National Security Agency
Light headquarters was opened in 2021. There are plans to establish an
air wing; cooperation over potential Nigerian Air Force support
7 inf coy
for this was discussed in 2022. Coast Guard capabilities are set to
Aviation increase after the signature, in mid-2022, of a capacity-building
1 sqn agreement with EU organisations, under the auspices of broader
COMBAT SUPPORT EU maritime-security support to ECOWAS states. US military
1 arty bty(-) assistance has in recent years focused on areas such as force
1 spt coy (with mor) health, including schemes to improve recruitment and retention,
as well as maritime security and military medicine, training and the
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
provision of spare parts. The armed forces are able to deploy and
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES sustain small units, such as to the MINUSMA mission in Mali. The
MBT 1 T-55 UK has in 2022 engaged in pre-deployment training to support the
RECCE 6: 4 AML-90; 2 BRDM-2† MINUSMA deployment. Equipment recapitalisation will depend
AUV 6 RAM Mk3 on finances and the development of a supporting force structure
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE but will also be dictated by the armed forces’ role in national
RCL 106mm 6 M40 development objectives. Apart from limited maintenance-support
capacities, Liberia has no domestic defence industry capacities.
ARTILLERY 12
TOWED 105mm 2 ACTIVE 2,010 (Army 1,950, Coast Guard 60)
MOR 81mm 10

Air Wing 110 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


AIRCRAFT
TPT • Light 3: 2 C-212-300 Aviocar; 1 GA-8 Airvan Army 1,950
HELICOPTERS FORCES BY ROLE
MRH 3: 1 Bell 412 Twin Huey; 2 Bell 412EP Twin Huey MANOEUVRE
TPT • Light 4: 1 Bell 206 Jet Ranger; 3 H125 Light
(AS350) Ecureuil 1 (23rd) inf bde with (2 inf bn, 1 engr coy, 1 MP coy)
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 trg unit (forming)
DEPLOYMENT ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MOZAMBIQUE: SADC • SAMIM 122 APC • PPV 3+ Streit Cougar
Sub-Saharan Africa 461

Coast Guard 60 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD
Army 12,500+
DEPLOYMENT FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 160; 1 inf coy
Light
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 1 2 (intervention) inf regt
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2 10 (regional) inf regt
COMBAT SUPPORT
1 arty regt
Madagascar MDG 3 engr regt
1 sigs regt
Malagsy Ariary MGA 2021 2022 2023 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
GDP MGA 54.7tr 62.2tr 1 log regt
AIR DEFENCE
USD 14.3bn 15.1bn
1 ADA regt
per capita USD 507 522
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Growth % 4.3 4.2 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Inflation % 5.8 9.8 LT TK 12 PT-76
Def bdgt MGA 390bn 421bn RECCE 73: ε35 BRDM-2; 10 FV701 Ferret; ε20 M3A1; 8 M8
USD 102m 102m APC • APC (T) ε30 M3A1 half-track
AUV 6 Panthera T4
USD1=MGA 3829.86 4116.04
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) RCL 106mm M40A1
101
ARTILLERY 25+
TOWED 17: 105mm 5 M101; 122mm 12 D-30
53 MOR 8+: 82mm M-37; 120mm 8 M-43
2008 2015 2022
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 70: 14.5mm 50 ZPU-4;
Population 28,172,462 37mm 20 PG-55 (M-1939)

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Navy 500 (incl some 100 Marines)
Male 19.1% 5.3% 4.7% 4.2% 15.0% 1.7% EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 8
Female 18.8% 5.2% 4.7% 4.2% 15.0% 2.0%
PCC 1 Trozona
PB 7 (ex-US CG MLB)
Capabilities AMPHIBIOUS • LCT 1 (ex-FRA EDIC)
Madagascar’s principal defence aspirations include ensuring sov-
ereignty and territorial integrity. Maritime security is also an area Air Force 500
of focus. The army is the largest armed service. The armed forces FORCES BY ROLE
intervened in domestic politics in 2009. Madagascar is a member TRANSPORT
of the SADC and its regional Standby Force. In 2018, the country 1 sqn with An-26 Curl; Yak-40 Codling (VIP)

Sub-Saharan
signed an ‘umbrella defence agreement’ with India to explore 1 (liaison) sqn with Cessna 310; Cessna 337 Skymaster;

Africa
closer defence ties and an intergovernmental agreement with PA-23 Aztec
Russia on military cooperation. This latter agreement was reported TRAINING
to have entered into force in 2022 with reports that it included 1 sqn with Cessna 172; J.300 Joker; Tetras
arms sales, joint development of military equipment and person- TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
nel training. China has also embarked on outreach activities to 1 sqn with SA318C Alouette II
foster better relations with Madagascar. There is no independ- EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ent capacity to deploy and support operations beyond national AIRCRAFT • TPT 22: Light 20: 1 An-26 Curl; 4 Cessna
borders. The equipment inventory is obsolescent, and with eco- 172; 5 Cessna 206; 1 Cessna 310; 2 Cessna 337 Skymaster;
nomic development a key government target, equipment recapi- 1 CN235M; 2 J.300 Joker; 1 PA-23 Aztec; 1 Tetras; 2 Yak-40
talisation is unlikely to be a key priority. A small number of second- Codling (VIP); PAX 2 B-737
hand transport aircraft and helicopters were acquired in 2019, HELICOPTERS
modestly boosting military mobility, with new protected patrol MRH 3 SA318C Alouette II
vehicles observed at a parade in 2020. TPT • Light 4: 3 AS350 Ecureuil; 1 BK117

ACTIVE 13,500 (Army 12,500 Navy 500 Air 500) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 8,100
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 8,100
Conscript liability 18 months (incl for civil purposes) Gendarmerie 8,100
462 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

COMBAT SUPPORT
Malawi MWI 3 lt arty bty
1 engr bn
Malawian Kwacha MWK 2021 2022 2023 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
GDP MWK 9.60tr 11.2tr 12 log coy
USD 12.0bn 11.6bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
per capita USD 559 523 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
RECCE 58: 30 Eland-90; 8 FV701 Ferret; 20 FV721 Fox
Growth % 2.2 0.9
APC • PPV 31: 14 Casspir; 9 Marauder; 8 Puma M26-15
Inflation % 9.3 18.4 AUV 8 RAM Mk3
Def bdgt MWK 65.8bn 72.1bn ARTILLERY 107
USD 82.3m 74.6m TOWED 105mm 9 L118 Light Gun
USD1=MWK 799.67 965.99 MOR 81mm 98: 82 L16A1; 16 M3
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 72: 12.7mm 32;
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
75
14.5mm 40 ZPU-4

Navy 220
26
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2008 2015 2022
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS • PB 3: 1
Population 20,794,353 Kasungu (ex-FRA Antares)†; 2 Mutharika (PRC)

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus Air Force 200
Male 19.5% 5.6% 4.7% 4.0% 13.5% 1.7% EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Female 19.8% 5.8% 4.9% 4.2% 14.2% 2.1% AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 3: 1 Do-228; 2 MA600
HELICOPTERS • TPT 8: Medium 3: 1 AS532UL Cougar;
Capabilities 1 SA330H Puma; 1 H215 Super Puma Light 5: 1 AS350L
Ecureuil; 4 SA341B Gazelle
The Malawi Defence Forces (MDF) are constitutionally
tasked with ensuring sovereignty and territorial integrity. Addi-
tional tasks include providing military assistance to civil authori-
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,200
ties and support to the police, and in recent years the army has
been used to help with infrastructure development, attempts to
Police Mobile Service 4,200
control illegal deforestation and the government’s coronavirus EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
response. The army is the largest of the armed forces. Counter- AIRCRAFT
trafficking is a role for the MDF’s small air force, previously an air TPT • Light 4: 3 BN-2T Defender (border patrol); 1
wing, and its naval unit. The MDF took delivery in 2022 of two SC.7 3M Skyvan
transport aircraft from China, suitable for transporting personnel. HELICOPTERS • MRH 2 AS365 Dauphin 2
Development priorities include improving combat readiness and
military medicine and engineering. Malawi is a member of the
SADC and its Standby Force. The armed forces have contributed DEPLOYMENT
to peacekeeping missions, including in Côte d’Ivoire, the DRC DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
and Mozambique. The UK provided training and support for the
MONUSCO 751; 1 inf bn
deployment to the DRC (to the Force Intervention Brigade),
and the UK also supports the MDF’s counter-poaching opera- MOZAMBQIUE: SADC • SAMIM 2
tions. The armed forces have no independent capacity to deploy SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 6
and support operations beyond national borders. SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 4
ACTIVE 10,700 (Army 10,500 Air Force 200) WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 5
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 4,200

ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE

Army 10,500
FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
Mechanised
1 mech bn
Light
2 inf bde (2 inf bn)
1 inf bde (1 inf bn)
Air Manoeuvre
1 para bn
Sub-Saharan Africa 463

FORCES BY ROLE
Mali MLI The remnants of the pre-conflict Malian army are being
reformed into new combined-arms battlegroups, each of
CFA Franc BCEAO XOF 2021 2022 2023 which comprises one lt mech coy, three mot inf coy, one
GDP XOF 10.6tr 11.4tr arty bty and additional recce, cdo and cbt spt elms
USD 19.2bn 18.4bn MANOEUVRE
Light
per capita USD 918 858
9 mot inf bn
Growth % 3.1 2.5 1 inf coy (Special Joint Unit)
Inflation % 3.8 8.0 5 inf coy (ULRI)
Def bdgt [a] XOF 474bn 515bn Air Manoeuvre
USD 855m 831m 1 para bn
COMBAT SUPPORT
USD1=XOF 554.23 619.62
1 engr bn
[a] Defence and security budget COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) 1 med unit
755
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
159 LT TK 2+ PT-76
2008 2015 2022
RECCE 6+ BRDM-2
Population 20,741,769 IFV 6 VN2C
APC 232:
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC (W) 48+: 27 Bastion APC; 10+ BTR-60PB; 11 BTR-70
PPV 186: 50 Casspir; 13 Marauder; 30 Puma M26-15/Puma
Male 23.8% 5.2% 3.9% 3.1% 11.2% 1.5%
M36; 24 Stark Motors Storm Light; 30 Streit Cougar;
Female 23.5% 5.5% 4.5% 3.7% 12.6% 1.5% 4 Streit Gladiator; 5+ Streit Python; 30 Streit Typhoon†
ARTILLERY 30+
Capabilities TOWED 122mm D-30
The armed forces remain focused on countering rebel and Islam- MRL 122mm 30+ BM-21 Grad
ist groups. The two military coups in August 2020 and May 2021
and the policies of Mali’s new rulers have accelerated the dete- Air Force 2,000
rioration of security relationships with Mali’s external partners FORCES BY ROLE
and with neighbouring states. At the same time, the authorities’ TRANSPORT
political and security partnership with Russia has deepened. In 1 sqn with BT-67; C295; Y-12E
May 2022, Mali left the G5 Sahel security partnership. The Russian TRAINING
private military company, Wagner Group, has been present in 1 sqn with Tetras
the country since December 2021 and has been accused of
TRANSPORT/ATTACK HELICOPTER
committing war crimes. Following the recent changes in govern-
1 sqn with H215; Mi-24D Hind; Mi-35M Hind
ment, France in 2021 suspended joint military operations and in
early 2022 accelerated the withdrawal of its forces; authorities in EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Bamako revoked the 2014 defence cooperation agreement and AIRCRAFT 9 combat capable
the 2013 Status of Force Agreement with France. France’s Opera- ISR 1 Cessna 208 Caravan
tion Barkhane officially withdrew from Mali in August 2022. The TPT • Light 12: 1 BT-67; 2 C295; 7 Tetras; 2 Y-12E

Sub-Saharan
EUTM Mali also decided to reduce its training activities. MINUSMA (1 An-24 Coke; 2 An-26 Curl; 2 BN-2 Islander all in store)
remains, though some contingents left or have reduced in size. TRG 9: 3 A-29 Super Tucano*; 6 L-39C Albratros*

Africa
The armed forces still suffer from operational deficiencies as well (6 L-29 Delfin; 2 SF-260WL Warrior* all in store)
as broader institutional weakness though there were defence- HELICOPTERS
reform plans, including under the 2015–19 military-programming
ATK 8: 2 Mi-24D Hind; 2 Mi-24P Hind F; 4 Mi-35M Hind
law. Improvements are still required in recruitment and training, as
TPT 8: Medium 7: 2 H215 (AS332L1) Super Puma;
well as in basic administrative support. Despite vehicle deliver-
ies by external partners, and the acquisition of several aircraft
4 Mi-171Sh Hip; 1 Mi-8T Hip; (1 Mi-8 Hip in store);
from Russia, the armed forces remain under-equipped. Mali does Light (1 AS350 Ecureuil in store)
not possess a defence-manufacturing industry and, with limited
equipment and maintenance capabilities, equipment serviceabil- Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 20,000 active
ity will likely be variable.
Gendarmerie 6,000
ACTIVE 21,000 (Army 19,000 Air Force 2,000) FORCES BY ROLE
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 20,000 MANOEUVRE
Other
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 8 paramilitary coy
1 air tpt gp (2 sy coy; 1 tpt coy)
Army ε19,000 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
464 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Iran 2


APC • PPV 1+ RG-31 Nyala Ireland 12 • EUTM Mali 20
Italy 2 • EUTM Mali 12
National Guard 10,000 Jordan 322; 1 mech inf coy(+)
FORCES BY ROLE Kenya 9
MANOEUVRE
Latvia 1 • EUTM Mali 5
Reconnaissance
Liberia 160; 1 sy coy
6 (camel) cav coy
Light Lithuania 45 • EUTM Mali 2
1 inf coy (Anti-terrorist special force) Luxembourg 2 • EUTM Mali 21
Mauritania 7
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Mexico 4
APC • PPV 1+ RG-31 Nyala Moldova EUTM Mali 2
Montenegro EUTM Mali 2
National Police 1,000 Nepal 177; 1 EOD coy
Netherlands 10 • EUTM Mali 6
Militia 3,000 Niger 873; 1 inf bn
Nigeria 78; 1 fd hospital
DEPLOYMENT Norway 29
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • Pakistan 221; 1 hel sqn
MONUSCO 4 Portugal EUTM Mali 11
Romania 5 • EUTM Mali 25
FOREIGN FORCES Senegal 941; 1 mech inf bn; 1 engr coy
Sierra Leone 18
All under MINUSMA comd unless otherwise specified
Slovakia EUTM Mali 4
Armenia 1
Slovenia EUTM Mali 9
Austria 2 • EUTM Mali 5
Spain 1 • EUTM Mali 420; 1 hel unit with 3 NH90 TTH
Bangladesh 1,297; 1 mech inf bn; 1 engr coy; 1 sigs coy
Sri Lanka 243; 1 sy coy
Belgium 53 • EUTM Mali 15
Sweden 184; 1 int coy • EUTM Mali 8
Benin 299; 1 mech inf coy(+)
Switzerland 5
Bhutan 5
Togo 733; 1 mech inf bn; 1 fd hospital
Bulgaria EUTM Mali 4
Tunisia 88; 1 tpt flt with 1 C-130J-30
Burkina Faso 653; 1 mech inf bn
United Kingdom 256; 1 recce regt(-)
Burundi 1
United States 10
Cambodia 289; 2 engr coy; 1 EOD coy
Cameroon 2
Canada 5
Chad 1,449; 1 SF coy; 2 inf bn
China 430; 1 sy coy; 1 engr coy; 1 fd hospital
Côte d’Ivoire 872; 1 mech inf bn; 1 sy coy
Czech Republic 5 • EUTM Mali 90
Denmark 2
Egypt 1,052; 1 SF coy; 1 sy bn; 1 MP coy
El Salvador 176; 1 hel sqn with 3 MD-500E
Estonia 2 • EUTM Mali 10
Finland 4 • EUTM Mali 12
France 26 • EUTM Mali 13
Gambia 8
Georgia EUTM Mali 1
Germany 490; 1 obs; 1 sy coy; 1 hel sqn with 5 CH-53G;
1 UAV sqn • EUTM Mali 55
Ghana 141; 1 engr coy
Greece EUTM Mali 2
Guatemala 2
Guinea 667; 1 inf bn
Hungary EUTM Mali 20
Indonesia 10
Sub-Saharan Africa 465

Coast Guard ε800


Mauritius MUS EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Mauritian Rupee MUR 2021 2022 2023 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 17
PCO 1 Barracuda with 1 hel landing platform
GDP MUR 465bn 520bn
PCC 2 Victory (IND Sarojini Naidu)
USD 11.2bn 11.5bn PB 14: 10 (IND Fast Interceptor Boat); 1 P-2000; 1 SDB-
per capita USD 8,827 9,112 Mk3; 2 Rescuer (FSU Zhuk)
Growth % 4.0 6.1 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 4: 1 BN-2T Defender; 3 Do-
Inflation % 4.0 10.2
228-101
Def bdgt [a] MUR 8.42bn 10.4bn 10.9bn Police Air Wing
USD 202m 230m EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
USD1=MUR 41.69 45.24 HELICOPTERS
[a] Police service budget MRH 9: 1 H125 (AS555) Fennec; 2 Dhruv; 1 SA315B
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) Lama (Cheetah); 5 SA316 Alouette III (Chetak)
253
Mozambique MOZ
106
Mozambique New Metical
2008 2015 2022 2021 2022 2023
MZN
Population 1,308,222 GDP MZN 1.03tr 1.15tr
USD 15.8bn 17.9bn
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus per capita USD 492 542
Male 8.0% 3.5% 3.6% 3.8% 24.7% 5.3% Growth % 2.3 3.7
Female 7.6% 3.4% 3.6% 3.8% 25.4% 7.6% Inflation % 5.7 11.3
Def bdgt MZN 9.35bn 9.33bn
Capabilities USD 143m 145m
The country has no standing armed forces; instead, responsibility USD1=MZN 65.46 64.26
for security lies with the Mauritius Police Force’s Special Mobile
Force (SMF), formed as a motorised infantry battalion. The SMF is Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
tasked with ensuring internal and external territorial and maritime 455
security. India provides support to the Mauritian National Coast
Guard, which is also a branch of the police force, through train- 69
ing, equipment maintenance and leasing, including helicopters 2008 2015 2022
and light aircraft. The SMF trains along traditional military lines but
has no ability to deploy beyond national borders. Apart from very Population 31,693,239
limited maintenance facilities there is no defence industry.
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
ACTIVE NIL Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,550 Male 22.9% 5.4% 4.6% 3.6% 11.3% 1.4%
Female 22.3% 5.4% 4.6% 3.9% 13.1% 1.5%
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Capabilities

Sub-Saharan
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,550 Mozambique faces a continuing internal threat from Islamist

Africa
groups that continue to challenge national defence forces, with
Special Mobile Force ε1,750 attacks being carried out in the country’s northern provinces of
FORCES BY ROLE Cabo Delgado, Niassa and Nampula. In 2021, the Southern African
MANOEUVRE Development Community (SADC) deployed a multinational force,
Reconnaissance while there has also been support from Portugal, Russia, Rwanda,
and the United States. The armed forces are tasked with ensuring
2 recce coy
territorial integrity and internal security, as well as tackling piracy
Light and human trafficking. The disarmament, demobilisation, and
5 (rifle) mot inf coy integration of Resistência Nacional Moçambicana (RENAMO) per-
COMBAT SUPPORT sonnel into the military is a long-standing objective and significant
1 engr sqn numbers of RENAMO fighters have been disarmed. Mozambique
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT has defence relationships with China, Portugal and Russia,
1 spt pl although US forces have delivered training to the Mozambican
military in response to the Islamist insurgency. Russian private
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
military contractors were hired to advise Mozambican forces in
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 2019, although they have since been withdrawn. Corruption in the
IFV 2 VAB with 20mm gun armed forces is reportedly a continuing concern. The armed forces
APC • APC (W) 12: 3 Tactica; 9 VAB have no capacity to deploy beyond Mozambique’s borders without
ARTILLERY • MOR 81mm 2 assistance. Soviet-era equipment makes up the majority of the
466 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

inventory and maintaining this will be problematic, not least in the FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
absence of any local defence industry. Moreover, Mozambique’s 1 sqn with MiG-21bis Fishbed; MiG-21UM Mongol B
recent economic performance will likely limit the government’s TRANSPORT
ability to recapitalise its inventory. 1 sqn with An-26 Curl; FTB-337G Milirole; Cessna 150B;
ACTIVE 11,200 (Army 10,000 Navy 200 Air 1,000) Cessna 172; PA-34 Seneca
Conscript liability 2 years ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with Mi-24 Hind†
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT 8 combat capable
FGA 8: 6 MiG-21bis Fishbed; 2 MiG-21UM Mongol B
Army ε9,000–10,000
ISR 2 FTB-337G Milirole
FORCES BY ROLE TPT 6: Light 5: 1 An-26 Curl; 2 Cessna 150B; 1 Cessna
SPECIAL FORCES 172; 1 PA-34 Seneca; (4 PA-32 Cherokee non-op); PAX 1
3 SF bn Hawker 850XP
MANOEUVRE TRG 2 L-39 Albatros
Light HELICOPTERS
7 inf bn ATK 2 Mi-24V Hind E
COMBAT SUPPORT MRH 2+ SA314B Gazelle
2-3 arty bn TPT • Medium 2 Mi-8 Hip
2 engr bn COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 log bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
FOREIGN FORCES
Equipment estimated at 10% or less serviceability Angola SAMIM 8
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Austria EUTM Mozambique 1
MBT 60+ T-54 Botswana SAMIM 359
RECCE 30 BRDM-1/BRDM-2 Democratic of the Congo SAMIM 1
IFV 40 BMP-1 Estonia EUTM Mozambique 1
APC 338 Finland EUTM Mozambique 4
APC (T) 30 FV430
France EUTM Mozambique 6
APC (W) 285: 160 BTR-60; 100 BTR-152; 25 AT-105 Saxon
Greece EUTM Mozambique 8
PPV 23+: 11 Casspir; 12 Marauder; some Tata Motors
MRAP Lesotho SAMIM 122
AUV 9+ Tiger 4×4 Lithuania EUTM Mozambique 2
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE Malawi SAMIM 2
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger); Portugal EUTM Mozambqiue 120
9K111 Fagot (RS-AT-4 Spigot) Romania EUTM Mozambique 6
RCL 75mm; 82mm B-10; 107mm 24 B-12 Rwanda Army: 1,500
GUNS 85mm 18: 6 D-48; 12 PT-56 (D-44) South Africa SAMIM 1,200
ARTILLERY 126 Spain EUTM Mozambique 2
TOWED 62: 100mm 20 M-1944; 105mm 12 M101;
Tanzania SAMIM 290
122mm 12 D-30; 130mm 6 M-46; 152mm 12 D-1
Zimbabwe SAMIM 1
MRL 122mm 12 BM-21 Grad
MOR 52: 82mm 40 M-43; 120mm 12 M-43
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 290+
SP 57mm 20 ZSU-57-2
TOWED 270+: 20mm M-55; 23mm 120 ZU-23-2; 37mm
90 M-1939; (10 M-1939 in store); 57mm 60 S-60; (30 S-60
in store)

Navy ε200
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 30
PBF 26: 20+ DV 15; 2 HSI 32; 2 Interceptor (LKA Solas
Marine); 2 Namilti (ex-IND C-401)
PB 4: 3 Ocean Eagle 43 (capacity 1 Camcopter S-100
UAV); 1 Pebane (ex-ESP Conejera)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
ISR • Light 1 S-100 Camcopter

Air Force 1,000


FORCES BY ROLE
Sub-Saharan Africa 467

Light
Namibia NAM 3 inf bde (total: 6 inf bn)
Other
Namibian Dollar NAD 2021 2022 2023 1 (Presidential Guard) gd bn
GDP NAD 182bn 201bn COMBAT SUPPORT
USD 12.3bn 12.5bn 1 arty bde with (1 arty regt)
per capita USD 4,826 4,809 1 AT regt
1 engr regt
Growth % 2.7 3.0
1 sigs regt
Inflation % 3.6 6.4 COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
Def bdgt NAD 5.43bn 5.85bn 1 log bn
USD 367m 363m AIR DEFENCE
USD1=NAD 14.78 16.10 1 AD regt
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
567 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT T-54/T-55†; T-34†
249 RECCE 12 BRDM-2
2008 2015 2022 IFV 7: 5 Type-05P mod (with BMP-1 turret); 2 Wolf
Turbo 2 mod (with BMP-1 turret)
Population 2,727,409
APC 61
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus APC (W) 13: 10 BTR-60; 3 Type-05P
PPV 48: 20 Casspir; 28 Wolf Turbo 2
Male 17.6% 5.3% 4.8% 4.3% 15.4% 1.7%
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Female 17.2% 5.2% 4.8% 4.4% 17.0% 2.3% ARV T-54/T-55 reported
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Capabilities RCL 82mm B-10
The Namibian defence authorities aim to develop a small, mobile GUNS 12+: 57mm ZIS-2; 76mm 12 ZIS-3
and well-equipped professional force. According to the constitu- ARTILLERY 72
tion, the primary mission of the Namibian Defence Force (NDF) TOWED 140mm 24 G-2
is territorial defence. Secondary roles include assistance to civil MRL 122mm 8: 5 BM-21 Grad; 3 PHL-81
authorities and supporting the AU, SADC and UN. The NDF Devel- MOR 40: 81mm; 82mm
opment Strategy 2012–22 stated that the NDF design should be AIR DEFENCE
based on a conventional force with a force-projection capabil-
SAM • Point-defence FN-6 (CH-SA-10)
ity. The navy exercises with SADC as part of the SADC’s Standing
Maritime Committee and participated in the multinational UNITAS GUNS 65
exercise for the first time in 2022. It also has conducted multina- SP 23mm 15 Zumlac
tional training missions organised by US forces. Annual meetings TOWED 50+: 14.5mm 50 ZPU-4; 57mm S-60
of a permanent commission on defence and security between
Namibia and Botswana were elevated in 2021 to a biannual Navy ε900
commission, chaired by the two countries’ heads of state. While
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
the NDF receives a comparatively large proportion of the state
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 7
budget, there have been recent problems in adequately funding
training. A recruitment drive for officers and other ranks was PSO 1 Elephant with 1 hel landing platform
announced in 2022, the first in seven years. Namibia has deployed PCC 3: 2 Daures (ex-PRC Haiqing (Type-037-IS)) with 2

Sub-Saharan
on AU, SADC and UN missions and the NDF sent a small force to FQF-3200 A/S mor; 1 Oryx

Africa
Mozambique in 2022, but there is only limited capacity for inde- PB 3: 1 Brendan Simbwaye (BRZ Grajaú); 2 Terrace Bay
pendent power projection. The NDF is equipped for the most part (BRZ Marlim)
with ageing or obsolescent systems, but economic difficulties AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 1 F406 Caravan II
make recapitalisation unlikely in the near term. There is a limited HELICOPTERS • TPT • Medium 1 S-61L
defence-manufacturing sector, mainly focused on armoured vehi-
cles, tactical communications and ammunition. Marines ε700
ACTIVE 9,900 (Army 9,000 Navy 900) Gendarmerie
& Paramilitary 6,000 Air Force
FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 sqn with F-7 (F-7NM); FT-7 (FT-7NG)
ISR
Army 9,000 1 sqn with O-2A Skymaster
FORCES BY ROLE TRANSPORT
MANOEUVRE Some sqn with An-26 Curl; Falcon 900; Learjet 36; Y-12
Reconnaissance TRAINING
1 recce regt 1 sqn with K-8 Karakorum*
468 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER relatively well trained, and there is training support from France,
1 sqn with H425; Mi-8 Hip; Mi-25 Hind D; SA315 Lama Italy and the US. Combat operations have also been conducted
(Cheetah); SA316B Alouette III (Chetak) with US forces. There is limited capacity to deploy beyond neigh-
bouring countries without external support. Operations in austere
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
environments have demonstrated adequate sustainment and
AIRCRAFT 11+ combat capable
manoeuvre capacity. While there have been moves to integrate
FTR 7: 5 F-7 (F-7NM); 2 FT-7 (FT-7NG) better-protected armoured vehicles, the armed forces are gen-
ISR 5 Cessna O-2A Skymaster erally underequipped and under-resourced. Apart from limited
TPT 6: Light 5: 2 An-26 Curl; 1 Learjet 36; 2 Y-12; PAX 1 maintenance facilities, the country has no domestic defence-
Falcon 900 industrial capability.
TRG 4+ K-8 Karakorum*
HELICOPTERS ACTIVE 33,100 (Army 33,000 Air 100) Gendarmerie
ATK 2 Mi-25 Hind D & Paramilitary 24,500
MRH 5: 1 H425; 1 SA315 Lama (Cheetah); 3 SA316B Conscript liability Selective conscription, 2 years
Alouette III (Chetak)
TPT • Medium 1 Mi-8 Hip ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 6,000
Army ε33,000
Police Force • Special Field Force 6,000 (incl 8 Mil Zones
Border Guard and Special Reserve Force) FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
DEPLOYMENT 2 spec ops coy
9 (intervention) cdo bn
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2 MANOEUVRE
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 7 Light
14 (combined arms) inf bn
Niger NER Amphibious
1 rvn coy
CFA Franc BCEAO XOF 2021 2022 2023 COMBAT SUPPORT
GDP XOF 8.29tr 9.08tr 1 engr coy
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
USD 15.0bn 14.6bn
1 log gp
per capita USD 595 561
AIR DEFENCE
Growth % 1.3 6.7 1 AD coy
Inflation % 3.8 4.5 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Def bdgt XOF 112bn 151bn ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
USD 203m 244m RECCE 125: 35 AML-20/AML-60; 90 AML-90
USD1=XOF 554.23 620.59 APC 151
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) APC (W) 53: 11 Bastion APC; 22 Panhard M3; 20 WZ-551
228 PPV 98+: 15 IAG Guardian Xtreme; 57 Mamba Mk7;
21 Puma M26-15; 5+ Puma M36
44 AUV 10+: 3+ Tiger 4×4; 7 VBL; Bastion Patsas
2008 2015 2022 ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
RCL 14: 75mm 6 M20; 106mm 8 M40
Population 24,484,587 ARTILLERY 40+
MRL 107mm PH-63 (tch)
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MOR 40: 81mm 19 Brandt; 82mm 17; 120mm 4 Brandt
Male 25.2% 5.7% 4.4% 3.2% 9.7% 1.3% AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 39
Female 24.8% 5.8% 4.6% 3.4% 10.5% 1.4% SP 20mm 10 Panhard M3 VDAA
TOWED 20mm 29
Capabilities
Principal military roles include maintaining internal and border Air Force 100
security, in light of the regional threat from Islamist groups. The EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
country is a member of the G5 Sahel group and part of the Multi- AIRCRAFT 2 combat capable
National Joint Task Force fighting Boko Haram in the Lake Chad
ATK 2 Su-25 Frogfoot
Basin. Niamey hosts air contingents from France, Germany and
the US, which maintains a detachment of UAVs. France redeployed
ISR 6: 4 Cessna 208 Caravan; 2 DA42 MPP Twin Star
part of its Barkhane operation to Niger after withdrawing from Mali TPT 8: Medium 2 C-130H Hercules; Light 5: 1 An-26
and has conducted joint counter-terrorism operations with Niger’s Curl; 2 Cessna 208 Caravan; 1 Do-28 Skyservant;
armed forces. Niger’s armed forces are combat experienced and 1 Do-228-201; PAX 1 B-737-700 (VIP)
Sub-Saharan Africa 469

HELICOPTERS were exposed during counter-insurgency operations. There have


ATK 2 Mi-35P Hind been operational changes, including attempts to implement
MRH 9: 2 Bell 412HP Twin Huey; 2 Mi-17 Hip; counter-insurgency tactics, forward-operating bases and quick-
5 SA342 Gazelle reaction groups. Nigeria is part of the Multinational Joint Task
Force and is a key member of the ECOWAS Standby Force. Nigeria
is strengthening its cooperation with Pakistan while military and
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 24,500 security assistance is either discussed or under way with Germany,
the UK and the US. The UK bases its British Defence Staff for West
Gendarmerie 7,000 Africa in Nigeria. Efforts have been made to improve training,
notably in the air force with the establishment of Air Training
National Guard 9,000 Command and Ground Training Command. Contractors have also
been used to improve training and maintenance levels. Nigeria
National Police 8,500 is able to mount regional operations, though its deployment
capacities remain limited. Important acquisitions have been made
DEPLOYMENT in every domain, including the introduction of fighter ground-
attack aircraft and combat-capable trainers as well as new tanks
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 6 and howitzers. Patrol boats and a number of small coastal-patrol
boats have been acquired in light of security requirements in the
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
Delta region. Nigeria is developing its defence-industrial capacity,
MONUSCO 5 including local production facilities for small arms and protected
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 873; 1 inf bn patrol vehicles.

ACTIVE 143,000 (Army 100,000 Navy 25,000 Air


FOREIGN FORCES 18,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 80,000
France 1,200; 1 mech inf coy; 1 FGA det with 3 Mirage Reserves planned
2000D; 1 tkr/tpt det with 1 C-135FR; 1 C-130J-30; 1 UAV
det with 6 MQ-9A Reaper; 1 ISR det with 1 Atlantique 2 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Germany Operation Gazelle 200 (trg)
Italy MISIN 295; 1 inf coy; 1 engr unit; 1 CBRN unit; 1 Army 100,000
med unit; 1 trg unit; 1 ISR unit
FORCES BY ROLE
United States 800; 1 ISR UAV sqn with MQ-9A Reaper SPECIAL FORCES
1 spec ops bn
Nigeria NGA 3 spec ops bde
3 (mobile strike team) spec ops units
Nigerian Naira NGN 2021 2022 2023 1 ranger bn
GDP NGN 176tr 207tr MANOEUVRE
Armoured
USD 442bn 504bn
1 (3rd) armd div (1 armd bde, 1 arty bde)
per capita USD 2,089 2,326
Mechanised
Growth % 3.6 3.2 1 (1st) mech div (1 recce bn, 1 mech bde, 1 mot inf bde,
Inflation % 17.0 18.9 1 arty bde, 1 engr regt)
Def bdgt NGN 966bn 1.14tr 1.25tr 1 (2nd) mech div (1 recce bn, 1 armd bde, 1 arty bde,
USD 2.42bn 2.78bn
1 engr regt)
1 (81st) composite div (1 recce bn, 1 mech bde, 1 arty

Sub-Saharan
USD1=NGN 398.77 410.59
bde, 1 engr regt)

Africa
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015) Light
2.94 1 (6th) inf div (1 amph bde, 2 inf bde)
1 (7th) inf div (1 spec ops bn, 1 recce bn(-), 1 armd bde,
1.31 7 (task force) inf bde, 1 arty bde, 1 engr regt)
2008 2015 2022 1 (8th Task Force) inf div (2 inf bde)
1 (82nd) composite div (1 recce bn, 3 mot inf bde, 1 arty
Population 225,082,083
bde, 1 engr regt)
1 (Multi-National Joint Task Force) bde (2 inf bn(-))
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Other
Male 20.9% 5.7% 4.8% 3.8% 13.8% 1.6% 1 (Presidential Guard) gd bde (4 gd bn)
Female 20.1% 5.5% 4.6% 3.7% 13.8% 1.8% AIR DEFENCE
1 AD regt
Capabilities EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Nigeria is West Africa’s principal military power and faces numerous ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
security challenges, including from the Islamic State West MBT 319+: 100 T-55†; 10 T-72AV; 31 T-72M1; 172 Vickers
African Province, Boko Haram and militants in the Delta. Reform Mk 3; 6+ VT-4
initiatives have developed after relative military weaknesses LT TK 154 FV101 Scorpion
470 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ASLT 6+ ST-1 PB 81: 1 Andoni; 1 Dorina (FPB 98); 4 FPB 110 MkII; 8
RECCE 312: 88 AML-60; 40 AML-90; 70 EE-9 Cascavel; Okpoku (FPB 72); 1 Karaduwa; 1 Sagbama; 2 Sea Eagle
44 ERC-90F1 Lynx; 50 FV721 Fox; 20 FV601 Saladin Mk2 (Suncraft 38m); 15 Stingray (Suncraft 16m); 40 Suncraft
IFV 31: 9 BTR-4EN; 22 BVP-1 12m; 4 Swiftships; 2 Town (of which one laid up); 2 Yola†
APC 865+ MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 2
APC (T) 373: 248 4K-7FA Steyr; 65 MT-LB; 60 ZSD-89 MCC 2 Ohue (ITA Lerici mod)†
APC (W) 172+: 10 FV603 Saracen; 110 AVGP Grizzly AMPHIBIOUS 5
mod/Piranha I 6x6; 47 BTR-3UN; 5 BTR-80; some EE-11 LANDING SHIPS • LST 1 Kada (NLD Damen LST 100)
Urutu (reported); with 1 hel landing platform
PPV 320+: 14 Caiman; some Conqueror; 159 CS/VP3; LANDING CRAFT • LCVP 4 Stingray 20
47 Ezugwu; 5+ Isotrex Phantom II; some Marauder; 7+ LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 2
Maxxpro; 8 Proforce Ara-1; 13 Proforce Ara-2; some AGHS 1 Lana (OSV 190)
Proforce Viper; 23 REVA III 4×4; 10 Streit Spartan; 9 AX 1 Prosperity
Streit Cougar (Igirigi); 25 Streit Typhoon
AUV 183+: 107 Cobra; FV103 Spartan; 4+ Tiger 4×4; 72 VBL Naval Aviation
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARV 17+: AVGP Husky; 2 Greif; 15 Vickers ARV HELICOPTERS
VLB MTU-20; VAB MRH 2 AW139 (AB-139)
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
TPT • Light 3 AW109E Power†
MSL • MANPATS Shershen
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf; 106mm M40A1 Special Boat Service 200
ARTILLERY 518+ EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SP 43+: 105mm 4+ SH-5; 122mm some SH-2; 155mm
FORCES BY ROLE
39 Palmaria
TOWED 104: 105mm 49 M-56; 122mm 48 D-30/D-74; SPECIAL FORCES
130mm 7 M-46; (155mm 24 FH-77B in store) 1 SF unit
MRL 122mm 41: 9 BM-21 Grad; 25 APR-21; 7 RM-70
MOR 330+: 81mm 200; 82mm 100; 120mm 30+ Air Force 18,000
AIR DEFENCE FORCES BY ROLE
SAM • Point-defence 16+: 16 Roland; Blowpipe; 9K32 Very limited op capability
Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡ FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
GUNS 89+ 1 sqn with F-7 (F-7NI); FT-7 (FT-7NI)
SP 23mm 29 ZSU-23-4 Shilka MARITIME PATROL
TOWED 60+: 20mm 60+; 23mm ZU-23; 40mm L/70 1 sqn with ATR-42-500 MP; Do-128D-6 Turbo SkyServant;
Do-228-100/200
Navy 25,000 (incl Coast Guard) TRANSPORT
Western Comd HQ located at Apapa; Eastern Comd HQ 2 sqn with C-130H Hercules; C-130H-30 Hercules; G-222
located at Calabar; Central Comd HQ located at Brass 1 (Presidential) gp with B-727; B-737BBJ; BAe-125-800;
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Beech 350 King Air; Do-228-200; Falcon 7X; Falcon 900;
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES Gulfstream IV/V
FFGHM (1 Aradu (GER MEKO 360) (non-operational) TRAINING
with 8 single lnchr with Otomat Mk1 AShM, 1 octuple 1 unit with Air Beetle†
Albatros lnchr with Aspide SAM, 2 triple 324mm ASTT 1 unit with Alpha Jet*
with A244/S LWT, 1 127mm gun (capacity 1 med hel)) 1 unit with L-39 Albatros†*
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 122 1 unit with Super Mushshak; DA40NG
CORVETTES • FSM (1 Erinomi (UK Vosper Mk 9) 1 hel unit with Mi-34 Hermit (trg)
(non-operational) with 1 triple lnchr with Seacat† SAM, ATTACK HELICOPTER
1 twin 375mm Bofors ASW Rocket Launcher System A/S
1 sqn with Mi-24/Mi-35 Hind†
mor, 1 76mm gun)
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
PSOH 4: 2 Centenary with 1 76mm gun (capacity 1 Z-9
1 sqn with H215 (AS332) Super Puma; (AS365N)
hel); 2 Thunder (ex-US Hamilton) with 1 76mm gun
Dauphin; AW109LUH; H135
PCFG 1 Siri (FRA Combattante IIIB)† with 2 twin lnchr
with MM38 Exocet AShM, 1 76mm gun EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PCF 2 Siri (FRA Combattante IIIB) with 1 76mm gun AIRCRAFT 62 combat capable
PCO 4 Kyanwa (ex-US CG Balsam) FTR 12: 10 F-7 (F-7NI); 2 FT-7 (FT-7NI)
PCC 4: 2 Ekpe (GER Lurssen 57m)† with 1 76mm gun; FGA 3 JF-17 Thunder Block II
2 Kano (Damen Fast Crew Supplier 4008) ELINT 2 ATR-42-500 MP
PBF 26: 2 ARESA 1700; 4 C-Falcon; 12 Manta MkIII ISR 1 Beech 350 King Air
(Suncraft 17m); 3 Shaldag II; 2 Torie (Nautic Sentinel MP 1 Cessna 525 Citation CJ3 (operated on behalf
17m); 3 Wave Rider of NIMASA)
Sub-Saharan Africa 471

TPT 32: Medium 5: 1 C-130H Hercules (4 more in store†);


1 C-130H-30 Hercules (2 more in store); 3 G.222† (2 more Rwanda RWA
in store†); Light 18: 1 Beech 350 King Air; 1 Cessna 550
Rwandan Franc RWF 2021 2022 2023
Citation; 8 Do-128D-6 Turbo SkyServant; 1 Do-228-100;
2 Do-228-101; 5 Do-228-200 (incl 2 VIP); PAX 9: 1 B-727; GDP RWF 10.9tr 12.7tr
1 B-737BBJ; 1 BAe 125-800; 2 Falcon 7X; 2 Falcon 900; USD 11.1bn 12.1bn
1 Gulfstream IV; 1 Gulfstream V per capita USD 854 913
TRG 116: 58 Air Beetle† (up to 20 awaiting repair); 2 Alpha Growth % 10.9 6.0
Jet A*; 10 Alpha Jet E*; 2 DA40NG; 12 EMB-314 Super Inflation % 0.8 9.5
Tucano (A-29B)*; 23 L-39ZA Albatros*†; 9 Super Mushshak
Def bdgt RWF 151bn 178bn 215bn
HELICOPTERS
USD 152m 169m
ATK 16: 2 Mi-24P Hind; 4 Mi-24V Hind; 3 Mi-35 Hind;
2 Mi-35P Hind; 5 Mi-35M Hind USD1=RWF 988.89 1047.46
MRH 11+: 6 AW109LUH; 2 Bell 412EP; 3+ SA341 Gazelle Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
178
TPT 24: Medium 12: 2 AW101; 5 H215 (AS332) Super
Puma (4 more in store); 3 AS365N Dauphin; 1 Mi-171Sh;
69
2 Mi-171E; Light 11: 4 H125 (AS350B) Ecureuil; 1 AW109;
2008 2015 2022
2 AW109M; 1 Bell 205; 3 H135
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 5+ Population 13,173,730
CISR • Heavy 3: 1+ CH-3; 2+ Wing Loong II
ISR 2: Heavy 1+ Yabhon Flash-20; Medium (9 Aerostar Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
non-operational); Light 1+ Tsaigami Male 19.5% 5.5% 4.7% 3.8% 14.3% 1.1%
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
Female 19.1% 5.5% 4.7% 3.9% 16.1% 1.7%
AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2 Atoll)‡; PL-9C
ASM AGR-20A APKWS; AR-1
BOMBS • INS/GPS guided FT-9
Capabilities
Rwanda is one of the principal security actors in East Africa, with
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε80,000 disciplined and well-trained armed forces. Their key missions are to
defend territorial integrity and national sovereignty. The country
Security and Civil Defence Corps 80,000 fields a relatively large army, but units are lightly equipped, with
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE little mechanisation. Rwanda signed a Mutual Defence Treaty with
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Kenya and Uganda in 2014 and participates in East African Com-
APC 80+ munity military activities. A contingent has been deployed to
APC (W) 74+: 70+ AT105 Saxon†; 4 BTR-3U; Mozambique since 2021, including a small marine component.
UR-416 The country’s professional military education establishments
PPV 6 Springbuck 4x4 train regional as well as Rwandan personnel. Rwanda was one of
the hosts for the US-led exercise Justified Accord in early 2022. The
AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 4: 1 Cessna 500 Citation I;
lack of fixed-wing aircraft limits the armed forces’ ability to inde-
2 PA-31 Navajo; 1 PA-31-350 Navajo Chieftain
pendently deploy much at distance beyond personnel, though
HELICOPTERS • TPT • Light 5: 2 Bell 212 (AB-212);
they have deployed on numerous occasions and there is also an
2 Bell 222 (AB-222); 1 Bell 429
aviation unit in South Sudan. There have been some acquisitions

Sub-Saharan
of modern artillery and armoured vehicles. There is limited mainte-

Africa
DEPLOYMENT nance capacity but no defence manufacturing sector.
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 6 ACTIVE 33,000 (Army 32,000 Air 1,000)
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 2,000
MONUSCO 8
GAMBIA: ECOWAS • ECOMIG 197 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 2
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 78; 1 fd hospital Army 32,000
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 14 FORCES BY ROLE
MANOEUVRE
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 15
Light
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 8
2 cdo bn
4 inf div (3 inf bde)
FOREIGN FORCES COMBAT SUPPORT
United Kingdom 80 (trg teams) 1 arty bde
472 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES Senegal SEN
MBT 34: 24 T-54/T-55; 10 Tiran-5 CFA Franc BCEAO XOF 2021 2022 2023
RECCE 90: ε90 AML-60/AML-90 GDP XOF 15.3tr 17.1tr
IFV 38+: BMP; 13+ Ratel-23; 10 Ratel-60; 15 Ratel-90 USD 27.6bn 27.5bn
APC 60+ per capita USD 1,607 1,558
APC (W) 20+: BTR; Buffalo (Panhard M3); 20 WZ-551 Growth % 6.1 4.7
(reported) Inflation % 2.2 7.5
PPV 40 RG-31 Nyala Def bdgt XOF 263bn 263bn
AUV 92: 76 Cobra/Cobra II; 16 VBL USD 474m 423m
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES USD1=XOF 554.23 620.61
ARV T-54/T-55 ARV reported Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE 416

MSL • SP HJ-9A (on Cobra)


167
ARTILLERY 177+ 2008 2015 2022
SP 17: 122mm 12: 6 CS/SH-1; 6 SH-3; 155mm 5
Population 17,923,036
ATMOS 2000
TOWED 35+: 105mm some; 122mm 6 D-30; 152mm 29 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Type-54 (D-1)† Male 21.2% 5.5% 4.5% 3.8% 12.7% 1.4%
MRL 10: 122mm 5 RM-70; 160mm 5 LAR-160 Female 20.4% 5.3% 4.5% 3.9% 14.8% 1.8%
MOR 115: 81mm; 82mm; 120mm
AIR DEFENCE SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 Capabilities
(RS-SA-7 Grail)‡ Senegal’s armed forces have strong international relationships and
GUNS ε150: 14.5mm; 23mm; 37mm are experienced in foreign deployments. Their focus is internal and
border security, including counter-insurgency in the coun-
try’s south and tackling Islamist activity in neighbouring states, as
Air Force ε1,000 well as combating narcotics trafficking. Under the ‘Horizon 2025’
FORCES BY ROLE programme, the defence authorities intend to reorganise and
re-equip key defence organisations and renew infrastructure. Pro-
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
fessional military education is a focus. New defence organisations
1 sqn with Mi-17/Mi-17MD/Mi-17V-5/Mi-17-1V Hip H; are under development, reportedly including a higher war college,
Mi-24P/V Hind staff college and doctrine centre. Senegal recently procured new
APCs, offshore patrol vessels, transport aircrafts and light artillery
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
and, despite limited resources, there are plans to improve opera-
HELICOPTERS tional capabilities and training. France remains Senegal’s principal
ATK 5: 2 Mi-24V Hind E; 3 Mi-24P Hind defence partner and retains a military presence in the country.
French military forces deliver training assistance to the armed
MRH 12: 1 AW139; 4 Mi-17 Hip H; 1 Mi-17MD Hip H;
forces and gendarmerie, including training in 2021 on the SIMBAD
1 Mi-17V-5 Hip H; 5 Mi-17-1V Hip H air-defence system that will equip new patrol ships. There is also
TPT • Light 1 AW109S defence cooperation with Spain and the UK, and an agreement
was signed with Mauritania in 2021 regarding offshore energy-
related maritime security. The US also provides security assistance,
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary including to the national police and gendarmerie. The armed
forces are able to deploy personnel using organic airlift, which has
District Administration Security Support improved with the 2022 delivery of a C295, but short-notice move-
Organ ε2,000 ments of heavy equipment would be problematic without external
assistance. Apart from maintenance facilities, the country has no
domestic defence-industrial capability.
DEPLOYMENT
ACTIVE 13,600 (Army 11,900 Navy 950 Air 750)
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 2,148; Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 5,000
2 inf bn; 1 fd hospital Conscript liability Selective conscription, 24 months
MOZAMBIQUE: Army 1,500
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2,642; 3 inf bn; 1 hel sqn
with 6 Mi-17
Army 11,900 (incl conscripts)
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 3 7 Mil Zone HQ
Sub-Saharan Africa 473

FORCES BY ROLE Air Force 750


MANOEUVRE
FORCES BY ROLE
Reconnaissance
MARITIME PATROL/SEARCH & RESCUE
5 armd recce bn
1 sqn with C-212 Aviocar; CN235; Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois)
Light
1 cdo bn ISR
6 inf bn 1 unit with BN-2T Islander (anti-smuggling patrols)
Air Manoeuvre TRANSPORT
1 AB bn 1 sqn with B-727-200 (VIP); F-27-400M Troopship
Other TRAINING
1 (Presidential Guard) horse cav bn 1 sqn with R-235 Guerrier*; TB-30 Epsilon; KA-1S*
COMBAT SUPPORT ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 arty bn 1 sqn with AS355F Ecureuil II; Bell 206; Mi-35P Hind;
1 engr bn Mi-171Sh
3 construction coy
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 sigs bn
AIRCRAFT 5 combat capable
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 log bn MP 1 CN235
1 med bn TPT 11: Light 9: 1 BN-2T Islander (govt owned, mil op);
1 trg bn 1 C-212-100 Aviocar; 1 C295; 2 CN235; 2 Beech B200 King
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Air; 2 F-27-400M Troopship (3 more in store); PAX 2:
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES 1 A319; 1 B-727-200 (VIP)
ASLT 27 PTL-02 Assaulter TRG 11: 4+ KA-1S*; 1 R-235 Guerrier*; 6 TB-30 Epsilon
RECCE 138: 30 AML-60; 74 AML-90; 20 BRDM-2; HELICOPTERS
10 M8; 4 M20 ATK 4: 2 Mi-24V Hind D; 2 Mi-35P Hind
IFV 26 Ratel-20 MRH 1 AW139
APC 102 TPT 8: Medium 2 Mi-171Sh; Light 6: 1 AS355F Ecureuil II;
APC (T) 12 M3 half-track 1 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois); 2 Bell 206; 2 PZL Mi-2 Hoplite
APC (W) 22: 2 Oncilla; 16 Panhard M3; 4 WZ-551 (CP)
PPV 68: 8 Casspir; 39 Puma M26-15; 21+ Puma M36 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 5,000
AUV 27 RAM Mk3
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES Gendarmerie 5,000
ARV 2 Puma M36 ARV EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MSL • MANPATS Milan APC 56
ARTILLERY 82
APC (W) 24: 7 Bastion APC; 5 EE-11 Urutu;
TOWED 20: 105mm 6 HM-2/M101; 155mm 14: ε6
12 VXB-170†
Model-50; 8 TR-F1
PPV 32: 24 Ejder Yalcin; 8 Gila
MRL 122mm 6 BM-21 Grad (UKR Bastion-1 mod)
AUV 13: 2 Bastion Patsas; 11 RAM Mk3
MOR 56: 81mm 24; 120mm 32

Sub-Saharan
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 39: 14.5mm 6 ZPU-4

Africa
(tch); 20mm 21 M693; 40mm 12 L/60 DEPLOYMENT
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 191;
Navy (incl Coast Guard) 950
1 inf coy
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
1 cdo coy MONUSCO 6
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE GAMBIA: ECOWAS • ECOMIG 250
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 10
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 941; 1 mech inf bn; 1 engr coy
PCO 1 Fouladou (OPV 190 Mk II)
PCC 1 Njambour (FRA SFCN 59m) with 2 76mm gun SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 3
PBF 6: 3 Anambe (Shaldag II); 2 Ferlo (RPB 33); 1 Lac Retba SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2
(Shaldag V)
PB 2: 1 Conejera; 1 Kedougou
AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT 2
FOREIGN FORCES
LCT 2 EDIC 700 France 400; 1 Falcon 50MI
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT• AG 1 Spain 65; 2 C295M
474 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ARTILLERY• MOR 82mm 6 M-43†


Seychelles SYC AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 14.5mm ZPU-2†;
ZPU-4†; 37mm M-1939†
Seychelles Rupee SCR 2021 2022 2023
GDP SCR 24.6bn 28.5bn Coast Guard 200 (incl 80 Marines)
USD 1.46bn 2.01bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
per capita USD 14,861 20,266 PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 12
PCO 3: 1 Andromache (ITA Pichiotti 42m); 2 Topaz
Growth % 7.9 10.9
(ex-IND Trinkat)
Inflation % 9.8 4.1 PCC 1 Zoroaster
Def exp SCR n.k n.k PBF 4: 1 Hermes (ex-IND Coastal Interceptor Craft);
USD n.k n.k 3 Wave Rider
USD1=SCR 16.89 14.20
PB 4: 1 Etoile (Shanghai II mod); 2 Le Vigilant (ex-UAE
Rodman 101); 1 Fortune (UK Tyne)
Population 97,017
Air Force 20
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Male 9.4% 3.1% 3.2% 3.8% 28.5% 3.8% AIRCRAFT
Female 8.9% 2.8% 2.8% 3.3% 25.2% 5.2% TPT • Light 5: 1 DHC-6-320 Twin Otter; 2 Do-228;
2 Y-12
Capabilities
The Seychelles maintains one of the smallest standing armed Sierra Leone SLE
forces in the world. Its proximity to key international shipping lanes
increases its strategic significance. The Seychelles People’s Defence Sierra Leonean Leone SLL 2021 2022 2023
Force (PDF) primarily focuses on maritime security and counter- GDP SLL 44.4tr 54.5tr
piracy operations. The country hosts US military forces conducting
USD 4.15bn 4.10bn
maritime-patrol activities on a rotational basis, including the oper-
ation of unarmed UAVs. India maintains strong defence ties with per capita USD 509 494
the Seychelles, donating equipment, providing maintenance and Growth % 4.1 2.4
supporting efforts to enhance its maritime-patrol and -surveillance
Inflation % 11.9 25.9
capability. There are plans to improve defence cooperation with
China, which has already led to some equipment deliveries. The Def bdgt SLL 349bn 341bn
Seychelles continues to participate in and host a number of multi- USD 32.6m 25.7m
national maritime-security exercises. The PDF does not deploy USD1=SLL 10694.21 13295.67
overseas and has a limited capacity to deploy and support troops
operating in the archipelago. Modern platforms in the air force and Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
coastguard comprise donations from China, India and the UAE. 41
There are limited maintenance facilities but no domestic defence
manufacturing sector. 15
2008 2015 2022
ACTIVE 420 (Land Forces 200; Coast Guard 200; Air
Force 20) Population 8,692,606

Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus


ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Male 20.7% 5.5% 4.8% 4.0% 13.3% 1.3%
Female 20.3% 5.5% 5.0% 4.6% 13.7% 1.4%
People’s Defence Force
Land Forces 200 Capabilities
FORCES BY ROLE The armed forces’ primary task is to ensure internal and
SPECIAL FORCES border security and provide forces for peacekeeping mis-
sions. With international support, there remains a focus on build-
1 SF unit
ing defence institutions, generating formal defence documenta-
MANOEUVRE tion and improving planning functions. Canada China, France,
Light the UK, and the US are among the nations supporting military
1 inf coy capacity-building and there were additional maritime security
Other capacity-building activities with the US Coast Guard in 2022. UK
1 sy unit training is also intended to boost the capacity of the police force,
COMBAT SUPPORT and of the armed forces prior to deployment abroad. Freetown’s
1 MP unit Horton Academy delivers professional military education train-
ing to national and regional personnel. Defence ties with China
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE include personnel exchanges and support for the development
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES of military infrastructure. The armed forces also maintain an agri-
RECCE 6 BRDM-2† cultural unit active in food production. The armed forces’ ability
Sub-Saharan Africa 475

to deploy more than small units is constrained by force size and


logistic-support capacity. There are plans to generate a company- Somalia SOM
sized quick-reaction force for peacekeeping missions. Limited
Somali Shilling SOS 2021 2022 2023
capability in areas including air and maritime surveillance was
modestly boosted by the arrival of additional inshore-patrol craft GDP USD 7.63bn 8.42bn
in 2020, donated by South Korea. There is limited maintenance per capita USD n.k. n.k.
capacity and no defence-manufacturing capability. Growth % 2.9 1.9
Inflation % n.k. n.k.
ACTIVE 8,500 (Joint 8,500)
Def bdgt USD n.k. n.k.
USD1=SOS 1.00 1.00
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE *Definitive economic data unavailable
Population 12,386,248
Armed Forces 8,500
FORCES BY ROLE Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MANOEUVRE Male 20.8% 5.3% 4.7% 3.6% 14.9% 1.1%
Reconnaissance Female 20.9% 5.3% 4.6% 3.5% 13.8% 1.5%
1 recce unit
Light Capabilities
3 inf bde (total: 12 inf bn) Internal stability remains fragile following decades of conflict
COMBAT SUPPORT and insurgency, with al-Shabaab and other extremist groups
still based in the country. Deployed international forces look
1 engr regt to provide security, stabilisation and capacity-building assistance.
1 int unit Continued challenges have hampered a 2018 transition plan under
1 MP unit which Somali forces were to assume security responsibility in
2021. This has required prolonged African Union support, with the
1 sigs unit
African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) replacing the
COMBAT SUPPORT previous AMISOM in April 2022 with a UN mandate to implement
1 log unit a revised transitional plan by the end of 2024. The Somali National
1 fd hospital Army (SNA) remains limited in terms of both organisational and
military capability, although the multi-clan US-mentored Danab
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE Brigade, has displayed greater capability. US forces are also
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES deployed independently to Somalia to tackle militant groups.
The SNA remains reliant on external training programmes from a
APC • PPV 4: 3 Casspir; 1 Mamba Mk5
number of countries, organisations and private security companies
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE to build internal capability and capacity. Turkey has established
RCL 84mm Carl Gustaf a significant military training facility in Somalia as well as provid-
ing specialist training abroad. There are reports that some troops
ARTILLERY 37
were sent to Eritrea for training in 2021. However, wider plans to
TOWED 122mm 6 PL-96 (D-30) professionalise, legitimatise and unite the loose collections of clan-
MOR 31: 81mm ε27; 82mm 2; 120mm 2 based militia groups that form the SNA have yet to be fully real-
HELICOPTERS • MRH 2 Mi-17 Hip H/Mi-8 Hip† ised. Growing a domestic training capacity staff within the SNA, to
enable organic continuation training remains a challenge. There
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS 14.5mm 3 is no capacity to deploy beyond national borders, while there is

Sub-Saharan
minimal national infrastructure available to support domestic

Africa
Maritime Wing ε200 operations. The equipment inventory is limited and eclectic, and
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE government plans to re-establish and equip Somalia’s air and
maritime forces remain unfulfilled. There is no domestic defence-
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 2 industrial capability.
PB 2: 1 Type-062/I (ex-PRC Shanghai III)†; 1 Isle of Man
ACTIVE 13,900 (Army 13,900)
DEPLOYMENT ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 7
Army 13,900
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN • FORCES BY ROLE
MONUSCO 2 COMMAND
4 div HQ
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 3
MANOEUVRE
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 18 Light
Some cdo bn(+)
SOMALIA: UN • UNSOM 1; UN • UNSOS 1
12 inf bde (3 inf bn)
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 7 2 indep inf bn
476 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Other COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT


1 gd bn 1 spt bn
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
APC 73+ MBT T-54/55
APC (W) 38+: 25+ AT-105 Saxon; 13 Bastion APC; RECCE Fiat 6616
Fiat 6614 APC • APC(W) Fiat 6614
PPV 35+: Casspir; MAV-5; 20 Kirpi; 9+ Mamba Mk5; 6 ARTILLERY • MRL various incl BM-21 Grad
Puma M36; RG-31 Nyala AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • 23mm ZU-23-2
AUV 12 Tiger 4×4
Ministry of the Interior
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary
Coast Guard 600
Coast Guard All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD
All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD
Puntland
FOREIGN FORCES Army ε3,000 (to be integrated into Somali
Under UNSOM command unless stated National Army)
Burundi ATMIS 4,000; 5 inf bn
Djibouti ATMIS 900; 1 inf bn
Maritime Police Force ε1,000
Ethiopia ATMIS 4,000; 5 inf bn EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
Finland EUTM Somalia 12
All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD
Ghana 1 • UNSOS 1
AIRCRAFT • TPT 4: Light 3 Ayres S2R; PAX 1 DC-3
India 1
HELICOPTERS • MRH SA316 Alouette III
Italy EUTM Somalia 150
Kenya ATMIS 4,000; 3 inf bn • UNSOS 1
Mauritania UNSOS 1
FOREIGN FORCES
Pakistan UNSOS 1 United Arab Emirates 180
Portugal EUTM Somalia 2
Romania EUTM Somalia 5 South Africa RSA
Serbia EUTM Somalia 6
South African Rand ZAR 2021 2022 2023
Sierra Leone 1 • UNSOS 1
Spain EUTM Somalia 20 GDP ZAR 6.19tr 6.62tr
Sweden EUTM Somalia 5 USD 419bn 411bn
Turkey Army: 200 (trg base) per capita USD 6,965 6,739
Uganda 627; 1 sy bn • ATMIS 5,800; 7 inf bn • UNSOS 1 Growth % 4.9 2.1
United Kingdom 2 • UNSOS 10 • Army: 65 (trg team) Inflation % 4.6 6.7
United States US Africa Command: 100 Def bdgt ZAR 49.4bn 49.8bn
USD 3.34bn 3.09bn
TERRITORY WHERE THE GOVERNMENT USD1=ZAR 14.78 16.10
DOES NOT EXERCISE EFFECTIVE CONTROL Real-terms defence budget trend (USDbn, constant 2015)
Data presented here represents the de facto situation. This 3.55
does not imply international recognition as a sovereign
state. Much of this equipment is in poor repair or inoperable 2.71
2008 2015 2022
Somaliland
Population 57,516,665
Army ε12,500
FORCES BY ROLE Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MANOUEVRE
Armoured Male 13.8% 4.2% 4.0% 4.1% 20.6% 2.7%
2 armd bde Female 13.8% 4.2% 4.1% 4.3% 20.4% 3.7%
Mechanised
1 mech inf bde Capabilities
Light South Africa’s armed forces are on paper the most capable in the
14 inf bde region but continuing economic and structural problems are
COMBAT SUPPORT eroding capabilities. Principal roles include maintaining territorial
2 arty bde integrity and supporting the police service. The Department of
Sub-Saharan Africa 477

Defence Strategic Plan 2020–2025 is the South African National Light


Defence Force’s (SANDF) primary policy instrument. A priority for 8 mot inf bn
the SANDF is to arrest the decline of critical military capabilities
1 lt inf bn
and equipment. However, the 2020/21 Defence Annual Report
said that funding constraints are affecting implementation, result- Air Manoeuvre
ing in problems in meeting future SANDF requirements and 1 AB bn
objectives outlined in the 2015 Defence Review. The army is revert- 1 air mob bn
ing to a more traditional structure with standing brigades being Amphibious
formed. South Africa contributes personnel to UN operations and
1 amph bn
remains a key component of the Force Intervention Brigade in the
DRC. South Africa is a member of the SADC Standby Force and sent COMBAT SUPPORT
1,500 personnel to Mozambique in 2021 as part of a multinational 1 arty regt
force to combat the Islamist insurgency. Troops were deployed 1 engr regt
domestically in 2021 to help counter internal unrest. Historically, 1 construction regt
South African forces have also played a key role in training and
3 sigs regt
supporting other regional forces. The SANDF can independently
deploy its forces and as well as peacekeeping missions it partici- COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
pates in national and multinational exercises. However, reduced 1 engr spt regt
funding has undermined modernisation ambitions, resulting AIR DEFENCE
in programmes being behind schedule and difficulties in main- 1 ADA regt
taining and replacing obsolete equipment. The air force has had
challenges in maintaining operational capabilities, but a new Reserve 12,250 reservists (under-strength)
support contract may lead to a revival in combat aircraft avail-
ability. Naval capacity is dependent on serviceability and many FORCES BY ROLE
vessels have been under repair or maintenance in recent years. MANOEUVRE
Budget cuts are also likely to have an adverse effect on training. Reconnaissance
South Africa has the continent’s most capable defence industry, 3 armd recce regt
including the state-owned Armaments Corporation of South Africa
Armoured
(ARMSCOR) and weapons manufacturer Denel, which continues to
experience financial difficulties. Cuban personnel remain engaged 4 tk regt
on a project to maintain and refurbish land vehicles. Mechanised
6 mech inf bn
ACTIVE 74,000 (Army 38,000 Navy 6,650 Air Light
9,800 South African Military Health Service 7,300
14 mot inf bn
Other 12,250)
3 lt inf bn (converting to mot inf)
RESERVE 15,050 (Army 12,250 Navy 850 Air 850 Air Manoeuvre
South African Military Health Service Reserve 1,100) 1 AB bn
2 air mob bn
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE Amphibious
1 amph bn
Space COMBAT SUPPORT
7 arty regt
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
2 engr regt
SATELLITES • ISR 1 Kondor-E
AIR DEFENCE

Sub-Saharan
Army 38,000 5 AD regt

Africa
FORCES BY ROLE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Regt are bn sized. A new army structure is planned ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
with 3 mixed regular/reserve divisions (1 mechanised, 1 MBT 24 Olifant 2 (133 Olifant 1B in store)
motorised and 1 contingency) comprising 12 brigades (1 ASLT 50 Rooikat-76 (126 in store)
armoured, 1 mechanised, 7 motorised, 1 airborne, 1 air- IFV 534 Ratel-20/Ratel-60/Ratel-90
landed and 1 sea landed) APC • PPV 810: 370 Casspir; 60 Mamba (refurbished);
COMMAND 380 Mamba†
2 bde HQ ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
SPECIAL FORCES
ARV Gemsbok
2 SF regt(-)
VLB Leguan
MANOEUVRE
MW Husky
Reconnaissance
1 armd recce regt ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Armoured MSL
1 tk regt(-) SP ZT-3 Swift
Mechanised MANPATS Milan ADT/ER
2 mech inf bn RCL 106mm M40A1 (some SP)
478 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

ARTILLERY 1,240 Air Force 9,800


SP 155mm 2 G-6 (41 in store) Air Force HQ, Pretoria, and 4 op gps
TOWED 155mm 6 G-5 (66 in store) Command & Control: 2 Airspace Control Sectors, 1 Mobile
MRL 127mm 6 Valkiri Mk II MARS Bataleur; (26 Valkiri Deployment Wg, 1 Air Force Command Post
Mk I and 19 Valkiri Mk II in store)
FORCES BY ROLE
MOR 1,226: 81mm 1,190 (incl some SP on Casspir &
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
Ratel); 120mm 36
1 sqn with Gripen C/D (JAS-39C/D)
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
GROUND ATTACK/TRAINING
ISR • Light up to 4 Vulture
1 sqn with Hawk Mk120*
AIR DEFENCE
TRANSPORT
SAM • Point-defence Starstreak
1 (VIP) sqn with B-737 BBJ; Cessna 550 Citation II; Falcon
GUNS 40
50; Falcon 900
SP 23mm (36 Zumlac in store)
1 sqn with C-47TP
TOWED 35mm 40: 22 GDF-002; 18 GDF-005A/007
2 sqn with Beech 200/300 King Air; C-130B/BZ; C-212
ATTACK HELICOPTER
Navy 6,650
1 (cbt spt) sqn with AH-2 Rooivalk
Fleet HQ and Naval base located at Simon’s Town; Naval
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
stations located at Durban and Port Elizabeth
4 (mixed) sqn with AW109; BK-117; Oryx
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
SUBMARINES 2
AIRCRAFT 48 combat capable
SSK 2 Heroine (Type-209/1400 mod) (1 additional boat
FGA 24 Gripen C/D (JAS-39C/D) (most non-operational)
in refit since 2014, awaiting funds to complete) with 8
TPT 23: Medium 6: 2 C-130B Hercules; 4 C-130BZ
533mm TT with SUT 264 HWT
Hercules; Light 13: 3 Beech 200C King Air; 1 Beech 300
PRINCIPAL SURFACE COMBATANTS • FRIGATES 4
King Air; 3 C-47TP (maritime); 2 C-212-200 Aviocar†; 1
FFGHM 4 Valour (MEKO A200) with 2 quad lnchr
C-212-300 Aviocar†; 2 Cessna 550 Citation II; 1 PC-12; (9
with MM40 Exocet Block 2 AShM (upgrade to Block 3
Cessna 208 Caravan in store) PAX 4: 1 B-737BBJ; 2 Falcon
planned); 2 16-cell VLS with Umkhonto-IR SAM, 1 Denel
50; 1 Falcon 900
Dual Purpose Gun (DPG) CIWS, 1 76mm gun (capacity 1
TRG 59: 24 Hawk Mk120*; 35 PC-7 Mk II Astra
Super Lynx 300 hel)
HELICOPTERS
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 4 ATK 11 AH-2 Rooivalk
PCC 3: 2 Warrior (ISR Reshef) with 1 76mm gun; MRH 4 Super Lynx 300
1 Warrior II (NLD Damen Stan Patrol 6211) TPT 69: Medium 36 Oryx; Light 33: 25 AW109; 8 BK-117
PB 1 Tobie (2 additional in reserve) AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IIR IRIS-T
MINE WARFARE • MINE COUNTERMEASURES 3 BOMBS • Laser-guided GBU-12 Paveway II
MHC 3 River (GER Navors) (limited operational roles;
training and dive support) (1 additional in reserve) Ground Defence
LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 2 FORCES BY ROLE
AGHS 1 Protea (UK Hecla) with 1 hel landing platform MANOEUVRE
AORH 1 Drakensberg (capacity 2 Oryx hels; 100 troops) Other
12 sy sqn (SAAF regt)
Maritime Reaction Squadron
FORCES BY ROLE South African Military Health Service 7,300
MANOEUVRE
Amphibious DEPLOYMENT
1 mne patrol gp
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
1 diving gp
MONUSCO • Operation Mistral 1,183; 1 inf bn; 1 hel sqn
1 mne boarding gp
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT MOZAMBIQUE: SADC • SAMIM 1,200; 1 inf bn
1 spt gp MOZAMBIQUE CHANNEL: Navy • 1 FFGHM
Sub-Saharan Africa 479

Army ε53,000 (in training)


South Sudan SSD FORCES BY ROLE
South Sudanese Pound 3 military comd
2021 2022 2023
SSP
MANOEUVRE
GDP SSP 1.60tr 2.47tr
Light
USD 5.17bn 4.78bn
8 inf div
per capita USD 364 328
COMBAT SUPPORT
Growth % 5.3 6.5
1 engr corps
Inflation % 30.2 17.6
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Def bdgt [a] SSP 13.4bn 32.8bn
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
USD 43.4m 63.5m
MBT 80+: some T-55†; 80 T-72AV†
USD1=SSP 309.34 516.03
APC • PPV Streit Typhoon; Streit Cougar; Mamba
[a] Security and law enforcement spending
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
1125 MSL • MANPATS HJ-73; 9K115 Metis (RS-AT-7 Saxhorn)
RCL 73mm SPG-9 (with SSLA)
n.k. n.k. n.k.
0 ARTILLERY
2008 2015 2022 SP 122mm 2S1 Gvozdika; 152mm 2S3 Akatsiya
Population 11,544,905 TOWED 130mm Some M-46
MRL 122mm BM-21 Grad; 107mm PH-63
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
MOR 82mm; 120mm Type-55 look-alike
Male 21.3% 5.6% 5.1% 4.1% 13.7% 1.4% AIR DEFENCE
Female 20.5% 5.6% 4.9% 3.5% 13.2% 1.1% SAM
Short-range 16 S-125 Pechora (RS-SA-3 Goa)†
Capabilities Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; QW-2
South Sudan’s civil war formally ended in 2020 and a fragile cease- GUNS 14.5mm ZPU-4; 23mm ZU-23-2; 37mm Type-65/74
fire has largely remained intact. The September 2020 peace deal
built on a 2018 accord that laid out a peace framework for opposi- Air Force
tion and government forces, resulting in changes to the number
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
and demarcation of federal states. These and other challenges
AIRCRAFT 2 combat capable
remain stumbling blocks in ongoing negotiations, with the transi-
tion period extended by two years and the country’s first elections TPT • Light 1 Beech 1900
since declaring independence in 2011 rescheduled to late 2024. TRG ε2 L-39 Albatros*
There has been some limited progress towards unifying former HELICOPTERS
rebels and the army under the banner of the South Sudan Peo- ATK 5: 2 Mi-24V Hind; 3 Mi-24V-SMB Hind
ple’s Defence Forces (SSPDF). However, doubts were raised, in a UN MRH 9 Mi-17 Hip H
report, about the effectiveness of the disarmament, screening and TPT 3: Medium 1 Mi-172 (VIP); Light 2 AW109 (civ livery)
training received by the 50,000 combatants, who officials claimed

Sub-Saharan
in February 2022 were ready for graduation after this process. The
FOREIGN FORCES

Africa
same report said that regional commanders were recruiting inde-
pendently in order to strengthen their position, in violation of the All UNMISS, unless otherwise indicated
peace agreement. Reports continue of the use of child soldiers, Albania 2
forced recruitment, and of sexual violence. There is no capacity to
Australia 15
deploy and sustain military units beyond national borders. Equip-
ment is primarily of Soviet origin with some light arms of Chinese Azerbaijan 1
origin, and there have been efforts to expand the small air force. Bangladesh 1,628; 1 inf coy; 2 rvn coy; 2 engr coy
Sanctions remain in place, with both the EU and UN arms embar- Benin 4
goes widened in 2018 to include all types of military equipment.
Bhutan 5
South Sudan has no established domestic defence industry but
Bolivia 5
has reportedly sought to develop an ammunition-manufacturing
capacity in recent years. Brazil 11
Cambodia 84; 1 MP unit
ACTIVE 53,000 (Army 53,000)
Canada 8
China, People’s Republic of 1,054; 1 inf bn; 1 engr coy; 1
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE fd hospital
480 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Ecuador 3
Sudan SDN
Egypt 5
Sudanese Pound SDG 2021 2022 2023
El Salvador 1
GDP SDG 15.0tr 32.3tr
Ethiopia 1,476; 3 inf bn
USD 35.1bn 42.8bn
Fiji 3
per capita USD 772 916
Gambia 4
Growth % 0.5 -0.3
Germany 14
Inflation % 359.1 154.9
Ghana 725; 1 inf bn Def exp SDG n.k n.k
Guatemala 7 USD n.k n.k
Guinea 3 USD1=SDG 425.62 756.05
India 2,396; 2 inf bn; 1 engr coy; 1 sigs coy; 1 fd hospital Population 47,958,856
Indonesia 3
Japan 4 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus

Jordan 5 Male 20.8% 5.9% 5.0% 3.8% 13.1% 1.6%


Female 20.1% 5.8% 4.8% 3.6% 14.0% 1.5%
Kenya 17
Korea, Republic of 277; 1 engr coy Capabilities
Kyrgyzstan 1
Political uncertainty and internal division continue in Sudan in
Liberia 1 the wake of the October 2021 military coup, which replaced the
Moldova 6 civilian and military Sovereign Council formed following the 2019
ousting of President Omar al-Bashir. Though the civilian prime
Mongolia 868; 1 inf bn
minister was reinstated a month after the coup, he subsequently
Morocco 2 resigned. The armed forces now control the transitional process
Namibia 2 toward democratic elections. The armed forces remain focused on
internal security, though a peace deal was signed with five rebel
Nepal 1,749; 2 inf bn groups in August 2020. Border issues remain a concern with neigh-
New Zealand 3 bouring Ethiopia, and there have been reports of cross-border
Nigeria 14 incursions amid the continuing conflict between Addis Ababa and
Tigrayan forces. Sudan was part of the initial Saudi-led coalition
Norway 15 intervention in Yemen, though the level of ongoing involvement in
Pakistan 286; 1 engr coy the campaign is unclear. A defence agreement with Iran in 2008
reportedly included assistance in developing the domestic arms
Paraguay 2
industry. Growing defence ties with Egypt saw joint exercises take
Peru 4 place in 2020 and 2021, and an agreement to strengthen mili-
Philippines 2 tary cooperation was signed in March 2021. The armed forces are
conscript-based and will have gained operational experience from
Poland 1 internal-security deployments and the intervention in Yemen.
Romania 6 By regional standards, Sudan’s armed forces are relatively well
Russia 2 equipped, with significant holdings of both ageing and modern
systems. A UN arms embargo remains in place, though this is
Rwanda 2,642; 3 inf bn; 1 hel sqn with 6 Mi-17 limited to equipment in the Darfur region; reports continue of vio-
Senegal 3 lations. Recent acquisitions have included Russian and Ukrainian
government surplus and also new Chinese fighter ground-attack
Sri Lanka 66; 1 fd hospital; 1 hel sqn
aircraft. The state-run Military Industry Corporation manufactures
Switzerland 1 a range of ammunition, small arms and armoured vehicles for the
Tanzania 8 domestic and export market. The majority of the corporation’s
products are based on older Chinese and Russian systems.
Thailand 281; 1 engr coy
Togo 2 ACTIVE 104,300 (Army 100,000 Navy 1,300 Air
Tunisia 2 3,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 40,000
Conscript liability 2 years for males aged 18–30
Uganda 2
United Kingdom 4
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
United States 8
Vietnam 69 Space
Zambia 9 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Zimbabwe 14 SATELLITES • ISR 1 SRSS-1
Sub-Saharan Africa 481

Army 100,000+ M167 Vulcan; 23mm 50 ZU-23-2; 37mm 80 M-1939; (30


M-1939 unserviceable); 40mm 60
FORCES BY ROLE
SPECIAL FORCES
5 SF coy
Navy 1,300
MANOEUVRE EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Reconnaissance PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 11
1 indep recce bde PBR 4 Kurmuk
Armoured PB 7: 1 13.5m; 1 14m; 2 19m; 3 41m (PRC)
1 armd div AMPHIBIOUS • LANDING CRAFT • LCVP 5
Mechanised LOGISTICS AND SUPPORT 4
1 mech inf div AG 3
1 indep mech inf bde AXL 1 Petrushka (ex-RUS)
Light
15+ inf div Air Force 3,000
6 indep inf bde FORCES BY ROLE
Air Manoeuvre FIGHTER
1 air aslt bde 2 sqn with MiG-29SE/UB Fulcrum
Amphbious FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 mne div 1 sqn with FTC-2000*
Other GROUND ATTACK
1 (Border Guard) sy bde 1 sqn with Su-24M/MR Fencer
COMBAT SUPPORT 1 sqn with Su-25K/Su-25UB Frogfoot
3 indep arty bde TRANSPORT
1 engr div (9 engr bn) Some sqn with An-30 Clank; An-32 Cline; An-72 Coaler;
An-74TK-200/300; C-130H Hercules; Il-76 Candid; Y-8
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
1 VIP unit with Falcon 20F; Falcon 50; Falcon 900; F-27;
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Il-62M Classic
MBT 465: 20 M60A3; 60 Type-59/Type-59D; 305
TRAINING
T-54/T-55; 70 T-72AV; 10 Al-Bashier (Type-85-IIM)
1 sqn with K-8 Karakorum*
LT TK 115: 70 Type-62; 45 Type-63
ATTACK HELICOPTER
RECCE 206: 6 AML-90; 70 BRDM-1/2; 50–80 FV701
2 sqn with Mi-24/Mi-24P/Mi-24V/Mi-35P Hind
Ferret; 30–50 FV601 Saladin
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
IFV 145: 135 BMP-1/-2; 10 BTR-3
2 sqn with Mi-8 Hip; Mi-17 Hip H; Mi-171
APC 405+
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
APC (T) 66: 20-30 BTR-50; 36 M113
AIRCRAFT 59 combat capable
APC (W) 339+: 50–80 BTR-152; 20 OT-62; 50 OT-64;
FTR 22: 20 MiG-29SE Fulcrum C; 2 MiG-29UB Fulcrum B
3+ Rakhsh; 10 WZ-551; WZ-523; 55-80 V-150
FGA 6 FTC-2000G
Commando; 96 Walid
ATK 20: 6 Su-24M/MR Fencer; 14 Su-25K/UB Frogfoot;
PPV some Sarsar-2; some Streit Spartan
(15 A-5 Fantan in store)
AUV 4+ Nimr Ajban 440A
ISR 2 An-30 Clank
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
TPT 24: Heavy 1 Il-76 Candid; Medium 6: 4 C-130H
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger);
Hercules; 2 Y-8; Light 13: ε3 An-26 Curl; 2 An-32 Cline;

Sub-Saharan
HJ-8; 9K135 Kornet (RS-AT-14 Spriggan)
2 An-72 Coaler; 4 An-74TK-200; 2 An-74TK-300; PAX

Africa
RCL 106mm 40 M40A1 4: 1 Falcon 20F (VIP); 1 Falcon 50 (VIP); 1 Falcon 900; 1
GUNS 76mm ZIS-3; 100mm M-1944; 85mm D-44 Il-62M Classic
ARTILLERY 860+ TRG 15+: 11 K-8 Karakorum*; some SAFAT-03; 3 Utva-75
SP 66: 122mm 56 2S1 Gvozdika; 155mm 10 Mk F3 HELICOPTERS
TOWED 128+: 105mm 20 M101; 122mm 21+: 21 D-30; ATK 40: 25 Mi-24 Hind; 2 Mi-24P Hind; 7 Mi-24V Hind E;
D-74; M-30; 130mm 75 M-46/Type-59-I; 155mm 12 6 Mi-35P Hind
M114A1 MRH ε3 Mi-17 Hip H
MRL 666+: 107mm 477 Type-63; 122mm 188: 120 BM-21 TPT 27: Medium 23: 21 Mi-8 Hip; 2 Mi-171; Light 4: 1
Grad; 50 Saqr; 18 Type-81; 302mm 1+ WS-1 Bell 205; 3 Bo-105
MOR 81mm; 82mm; 120mm AM-49; M-43; W86 TRG some SAFAT 02
AIR DEFENCE UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES
SAM • Point-defence 4+: 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; CISR • Heavy CH-3; CH-4
4+ 9K33 Osa (RS-SA-8 Gecko); FN-6 (CH-SA-10) AIR DEFENCE • SAM • Medium-range: (18 S-75M
GUNS 966+ Dvina (RS-SA-2 Guideline)‡ (non-operational))
SP 20: 20mm 8 M163 Vulcan; 12 M3 VDAA AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR R-3 (RS-AA-2
TOWED 946+: 740+ 14.5mm ZPU-2/14.5mm ZPU- Atoll)‡; R-60 (RS-AA-8 Aphid); R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer);
4/37mm Type-63/57mm S-60/85mm M-1944; 20mm 16 ARH R-77 (RS-AA-12A Adder)
482 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 40,000


The Popular Defence Forces were officially disbanded in 2019, but
Tanzania TZA
it is unclear if elements still exist in some form Tanzanian Shilling TZS 2021 2022 2023

Rapid Support Force 40,000 GDP TZS 162tr 177tr


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE USD 70.3bn 76.6bn
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES per capita USD 1,177 1,245
IFV 7 BTR-80A; WZ-523 IFV Growth % 4.9 4.5
APC • APC (W) 20+ BTR-70M Kobra 2 Inflation % 3.7 4.0
AIR DEFENCE • GUNS
Def bdgt TZS 2.08tr 2.18tr
SP 14.5mm ZPU-2 (tch)
USD 903m 943m
DEPLOYMENT USD1=TZS 2309.56 2314.19
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
YEMEN: Operation Restoring Hope 650; 1 mech BG; T-72AV, 875
BTR-70M Kobra 2
204
FOREIGN FORCES 2008 2015 2022
All UNISFA unless otherwise indicated
Population 63,852,892
Bangladesh 508; 1 inf bn
Benin 2
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
Bhutan 3
Male 21.1% 5.4% 4.6% 3.8% 13.7% 1.4%
Bolivia 4
Brazil 3 Female 20.7% 5.3% 4.5% 3.8% 13.9% 1.9%
Burundi 7
Cambodia 1
Capabilities
China, People’s Republic of 87; 1 hel flt with 2 Mi-171 Non-state actors pose the principal threat to Tanzania’s security,
Ecuador 3 with terrorism, poaching and piracy of concern. A developing rela-
Egypt 3 tionship with China has led to a series of procurements and train-
ing contracts. There are also defence-related ties with Israel, Paki-
El Salvador 1
stan and Russia and a military cooperation agreement was signed
Ethiopia 3 with the Republic of Comoros in 2022. The armed forces take part
Ghana 656; 1 inf bn; 1 fd hospital in multinational exercises in Africa and have provided some train-
Guatemala 3 ing assistance to other African forces. Training relationships also
Guinea 1 exist with extra-regional armed forces, including the US. Tanzania’s
India 325; 1 mech inf bn(-) contribution to the UN’s Force Intervention Brigade in the eastern
DRC, notably its special forces, will have provided lessons for force
Indonesia 4
development. However, there is only a limited capacity to project
Kenya 2 power independently beyond the country’s borders. Budget con-
Kyrgyzstan 2 straints have limited recapitalisation ambitions and, although
Liberia 2 heavy equipment is ageing, airlift capacity has improved with the
Malawi 4 delivery of new helicopters. There are local ammunition facilities,
Malaysia 1 but otherwise Tanzania relies on imports for its military equipment.
Mongolia 4 ACTIVE 27,000 (Army 23,000 Navy 1,000 Air 3,000)
Namibia 7 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 1,400
Nepal 89; 1 log coy Conscript liability Three months basic military training combined
Nigeria 15 with social service, ages 18–23
Pakistan 583; 1 inf bn
Peru 4 RESERVE 80,000 (Joint 80,000)
Russia 2
Rwanda 3 ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
Sierra Leone 7
Tanzania 2 Army ε23,000
Uganda 2 FORCES BY ROLE
Uruguay 2 SPECIAL FORCES
Vietnam 190; 1 engr coy 1 SF unit
Zambia 5 MANOEUVRE
Zimbabwe 9 Armoured
1 tk bde
Sub-Saharan Africa 483

Light AIR DEFENCE


5 inf bde SAM
COMBAT SUPPORT Short-range 2K12 Kub (RS-SA-6 Gainful)†
4 arty bn Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
1 mor bn GUNS 200
2 AT bn TOWED 14.5mm 40 ZPU-2/ZPU-4†; 23mm 40 ZU-23-
1 engr regt (bn) 2; 37mm 120 M-1939
COMBAT SERVICE SUPPORT
1 log gp Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 1,400 active
AIR DEFENCE
2 ADA bn Police Field Force 1,400
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE† 18 sub-units incl Police Marine Unit
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 46: 30 T-54/T-55; 15 Type-59G; 1+ VT-2 Air Wing
LT TK 57+: 30 FV101 Scorpion; 25 Type-62; 2+ Type-63A EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
RECCE 10 BRDM-2 AIRCRAFT • TPT • Light 1 Cessna U206 Stationair
APC • APC (W) 14: ε10 BTR-40/BTR-152; 4 Type-92 HELICOPTERS
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE TPT • Light 4: 2 Bell 206A Jet Ranger (AB-206A);
RCL 75mm Type-52 (M20) 2 Bell 206L Long Ranger
GUNS 85mm 75 Type-56 (D-44) TRG 2 Bell 47G (AB-47G)/Bell 47G2
ARTILLERY 344+
TOWED 130: 122mm 100: 20 D-30; 80 Type-54-1 (M-30); Marine Unit 100
130mm 30 Type-59-I EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
GUN/MOR 120mm 3+ Type-07PA PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
MRL 61+: 122mm 58 BM-21 Grad; 300mm 3+ A100 All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD
MOR 150: 82mm 100 M-43; 120mm 50 M-43

Navy ε1,000 DEPLOYMENT


EQUIPMENT BY TYPE CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 457; 1 inf
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 14 bn(-)
PCC 2 Mwitongo (ex-PRC Haiqing) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
PHT 2 Type-025 (Huchuan) each with 2 single 533mm MONUSCO 849; 1 spec ops coy; 1 inf bn
ASTT LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 124; 1 MP coy
PB 10: 2 Ngunguri; 2 Type-062 (PRC Shanghai II); 2 VT
23m; 4 Mambwe (Damen Fast Crew Supplier 3307) MOZAMBIQUE: SADC • SAMIM 290
AMPHIBIOUS 3 SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 8
LCT 1 Kasa SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2
LCM 2 Mbono (ex-PRC Yunnan)

Air Defence Command ε3,000


FORCES BY ROLE
FIGHTER
3 sqn with F-7/FT-7; FT-5; K-8 Karakorum*

Sub-Saharan
TRANSPORT

Africa
1 sqn with Cessna 404 Titan; DHC-5D Buffalo; F-28
Fellowship; F-50; Gulfstream G550; Y-12 (II)
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with Bell 205 (AB-205); Bell 412EP Twin Huey
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
AIRCRAFT 17 combat capable
FTR 11: 9 F-7 (F-7TN); 2 FT-7 (FT-7N)
ISR 1 SB7L-360 Seeker
TPT 12: Medium 2 Y-8; Light 7: 2 Cessna 404 Titan; 3
DHC-5D Buffalo; 2 Y-12(II); PAX 3: 1 F-28 Fellowship; 1
F-50; 1 Gulfstream G550
TRG 9: 3 FT-5 (JJ-5); 6 K-8 Karakorum*
HELICOPTERS
MRH 1 Bell 412EP Twin Huey
TPT 2: Medium 1+ H225; Light 1 Bell 205 (AB-205)
484 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Air Manoeuvre
Togo TGO 1 cdo/para regt (3 cdo/para coy)
Other
CFA Franc BCEAO XOF 2021 2022 2023
1 (Presidential Guard) gd regt (1 gd bn, 1 cdo bn, 2
GDP XOF 4.67tr 5.09tr indep gd coy)
USD 8.43bn 8.36bn COMBAT SUPPORT
per capita USD 993 961 1 cbt spt regt (1 fd arty bty, 2 ADA bty, 1 engr/log/tpt bn)
Growth % 5.3 5.4 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Inflation % 4.3 5.6 ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Def bdgt XOF 65.6bn 106bn MBT 2 T-54/T-55
USD 118m 173m LT TK 18 FV101 Scorpion
USD1=XOF 554.27 608.60 RECCE 55: 3 AML-60; 7 AML-90; 36 EE-9 Cascavel; 6 M8;
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) 3 M20
161 IFV 20 BMP-2
APC 86
47 APC (T) 4 M3A1 half-track
2008 2015 2022 APC (W) 32: 2 Mbombe 4; 30 UR-416
PPV 50 Mamba Mk7
Population 8,492,333
AUV 32: 29 Bastion Patsas; 1 FV103 Spartan; 2 VBL
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
RCL 75mm Type-52 (M20)/Type-56; 82mm Type-65
Male 19.9% 5.0% 4.2% 3.7% 14.7% 1.7%
(B-10)
Female 19.4% 5.0% 4.2% 3.8% 16.0% 2.5% GUNS 57mm 5 ZIS-2
ARTILLERY 30+
Capabilities SP 122mm 6
Defence authorities are increasingly concerned by the chal- TOWED 105mm 4 HM-2
lenge from piracy and other illicit maritime activities in the Gulf MRL 122mm PHL-81 mod (SC6 chassis)
of Guinea as well as jihadist activity in the north. As a result,
regional cooperation is now being strengthened. In 2020 Togo
MOR 82mm 20 M-43
adopted a new military-programming law, leading to the creation AIR DEFENCE • GUNS • TOWED 43 14.5mm 38 ZPU-4;
of a special-forces group. Togo plans to increase its force strength 37mm 5 M-1939
and recently acquired modern APCs while there have been uncon-
firmed reports of interest in armed UAVs. France continues to Navy ε200 (incl Marine Infantry unit)
deliver military training, including for Togolese peacekeeping
contingents. There is also a peacekeeping training centre in Lomé. EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
The United States’ Africa Contingency Operations Training and PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS 3
Assistance programme has provided assistance with training. The PBF 1 Agou (RPB 33)
armed forces have taken part in multilateral exercises, including PB 2 Kara (FRA Esterel)
the US-led Obangame Express. Togo’s deployment capabilities are
limited without external support, while financial challenges limit
capability development more broadly. There are some mainte- Air Force 250
nance facilities but there is no defence-manufacturing sector. FORCES BY ROLE
TRANSPORT
ACTIVE 13,450 (Army 13,000 Navy 200 Air 250)
1 sqn with Beech 200 King Air
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 3,000
1 VIP unit with DC-8; F-28-1000
Conscript liability Selective conscription, 2 years
TRAINING
1 sqn with TB-30 Epsilon*
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
1 sqn with SA315 Lama; SA316 Alouette III; SA319
Army ε13,000 Alouette III; SA342L1 Gazelle
FORCES BY ROLE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
MANOEUVRE
AIRCRAFT 3 combat capable
Reconnaissance
TPT 5: Light 2 Beech 200 King Air; PAX 3: 1 DC-8; 2
1 armd recce regt
Mechanised F-28-1000 (VIP)
1 armd bn TRG 3 TB-30 Epsilon* (3 Alpha Jet*; 4 EMB-326G* in store)
Light HELICOPTERS
2 cbd arms regt MRH 6: 2 SA315 Lama; 1 SA316 Alouette III; 1 SA319
2 inf regt Alouette III; 2 SA342L1 Gazelle
1 rapid reaction force TPT • Medium 2 Mi-8T Hip C (1 SA330 Puma in store)
Sub-Saharan Africa 485

Special Forces Group largest contributors to the East Africa Standby Force and in 2014
signed a Mutual Defence Treaty with Kenya and Rwanda. Train-
FORCES BY ROLE ing levels are adequate, particularly for the special forces, and are
SPECIAL FORCES improving after recent experiences. There is regular training with
1 SF unit international partners, including at Uganda’s own facilities. Airlift is
limited, though rotary-wing aviation has improved in recent years,
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 3,000 partly due to US assistance. Motorised infantry formations still
lack sufficient transport and logistics capacity. Mechanised forces
Gendarmerie ε3,000 are relatively well equipped, though equipment is disparate and
Ministry of Interior ageing. Improvements include the arrival of MRAP and other pro-
tected vehicles. There is limited defence-industrial capacity, and a
FORCES BY ROLE new armoured vehicle plant was opened in July. Uganda’s 2015–19
2 reg sections Security Sector Development plan included the establishment of
SPECIAL FORCES an engineering centre and a defence-research facility.
1 SF unit
MANOEUVRE ACTIVE 45,000 (Ugandan People’s Defence Force
Other 45,000) Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 1,400
1 (mobile) paramilitary sqn
RESERVE 10,000
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
APC • PPV Mamba Mk7
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE
DEPLOYMENT
Ugandan People’s Defence Force ε40,000–
CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 10 45,000
MALI: UN • MINUSMA 733; 1 mech inf bn; 1 fd hospital FORCES BY ROLE
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2 MANOEUVRE
Armoured
WESTERN SAHARA: UN • MINURSO 3
1 armd bde
Light
Uganda UGA 1 cdo bn
5 inf div (total: 16 inf bde)
Ugandan Shilling UGX 2021 2022 2023 1 mtn div
GDP UGX 153tr 171tr Other
USD 43.0bn 48.4bn 1 (Special Forces Command) mot bde
COMBAT SUPPORT
per capita USD 1,012 1,106
1 arty bde
Growth % 6.7 4.4
AIR DEFENCE
Inflation % 2.2 6.4 2 AD bn
Def bdgt UGX 4.35tr 3.87tr 3.76tr EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
USD 1.22bn 1.09bn ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
USD1=UGX 3562.19 3544.40 MBT 279+: 140 T-54/T-55; 45 T-55AM2; 40 T-72A; 10
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015) T-72B1; 44 T-90S; ZTZ-85-IIM
1007 LT TK ε20 PT-76

Sub-Saharan
RECCE 46: 40 Eland-20; 6 FV701 Ferret

Africa
183 IFV 39: 37 BMP-2; 2+ VN2C
2008 2015 2022 APC 185
APC (W) 58: 15 BTR-60; 20 Buffel; 4 OT-64; 19 Bastion APC
Population 46,205,893 PPV 127+: 42 Casspir; some Chui; 35 Hizir; 40 Mamba;
10 RG-33L
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus AUV 15 Cougar
Male 24.1% 5.7% 4.3% 3.3% 10.2% 1.0% ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Female 23.5% 5.8% 4.7% 4.0% 12.0% 1.4% ARV 1 BTS-4; T-54/T-55 reported
VLB MTU reported
Capabilities MW Husky
ARTILLERY 337+
Uganda’s armed forces are well equipped and are important con-
SP 155mm 6 ATMOS 2000
tributors to East African security. Operational experience and
training have led to improvements in administration and planning,
TOWED 243+: 122mm M-30; 130mm 221; 155mm 22:
as well as in military skills including counter-IED and urban patrol- 4 G-5; 18 M-839
ling. The years spent targeting the Lord’s Resistance Army has also MRL 6+: 107mm (12-tube); 122mm 6+: BM-21 Grad; 6 RM-70
given the military counter-insurgency experience. There are plans MOR 82+: 81mm L16; 82mm M-43; 120mm 78 Soltam;
to establish a National Defence College. Uganda is one of the SP 120mm 4+ SandCat with Spear
486 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

AIR DEFENCE
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡; Zambia ZMB
9K310 Igla-1 (RS-SA-16 Gimlet) Zambian Kwacha ZMW 2021 2022 2023
GUNS • TOWED 20+: 14.5mm ZPU-1/ZPU-2/ZPU-4;
GDP ZMW 427bn 465bn
37mm 20 M-1939
USD 21.3bn 27.0bn

Marines ε400 per capita USD 1,095 1,348


Growth % 4.6 2.9
All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD
Inflation % 22.0 12.5
FORCES BY ROLE
Def bdgt ZMW 5.64bn 7.63bn 8.15bn
MANOEUVRE
USD 282m 444m
Amphibious
USD1=ZMW 20.02 17.19
1 mne bn
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
463
Air Wing
FORCES BY ROLE 201
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK 2008 2015 2022
1 sqn with Su-30MK2 Flanker
Population 19,642,123
TRANSPORT
1 unit with Y-12 Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus
1 VIP unit with Gulfstream 550; L-100-30 Male 21.6% 5.7% 4.6% 3.8% 13.1% 1.2%
TRAINING Female 21.3% 5.6% 4.6% 3.9% 13.2% 1.5%
1 unit with L-39ZA/ZO Albatros*
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER Capabilities
1 sqn with Bell 412 Twin Huey; Mi-Mi-17/171E Hip; The principal tasks for Zambia’s armed forces are ensuring
Mi-24V/P Hind E/F; Mi-17A1 (VIP) territorial integrity and border security, and there is also a com-
mitment to international peacekeeping operations, though
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE effectively addressing these tasks could be complicated by equip-
AIRCRAFT 13 combat capable ment obsolescence and a comparatively small establishment
FGA 6 Su-30MK2 Flanker (3+ MiG-21bis Fishbed; strength. Zambia faces no immediate external threat, though there
is a border dispute with the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
1 MiG-21UM Mongol B in store)
Ties have developed with China over the past decade, includ-
TPT 10: Medium 1 L-100-30; Light 8: 4 Cessna 172; ing in military training and weapons sales and some equipment
2 Cessna 208B; 2 Y-12; PAX 1 Gulfstream 550 has been procured from Israeli firms. Zambia is a member of the
TRG 7 L-39ZA/ZO Albatros* AU and SADC and the services have participated in exercises
with international and regional partners, including for the SADC
HELICOPTERS
Standby Force. Zambia’s largest peacekeeping contribution is to
ATK 10: ε7 Mi-24V/P Hind E/F; 3+ Mi-28N/UB Havoc the MINUSCA operation in the Central African Republic (CAR). In
MRH 7: 2 Bell 412 Twin Huey; 5 Mi-17/171E Hip April 2017, Zambia signed a defence deal with Russia for spare-
TPT • Medium 1 Mi-171A1 (VIP) parts support. The armed forces are all-volunteer. The US has
provided funding and material support for army and air-force
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES pre-deployment training for the CAR peacekeeping mission as well
AAM • IR R-73 (RS-AA-11A Archer); SARH R-27 as general military training. The armed forces have limited capac-
(RS-AA-10 Alamo); ARH R-77 (RS-AA-12 Adder) ity to independently deploy and sustain forces beyond national
borders. While there is a need to modernise the inventory, funds
ARM Kh-31P (RS-AS-17A Krypton) (reported)
remain limited. The country has no defence-industrial base, apart
from limited ammunition production.
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary ε600 active
ACTIVE 15,100 (Army 13,500 Air 1,600)
Border Defence Unit ε600 Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 1,400
Equipped with small arms only
RESERVE 3,000 (Army 3,000)

DEPLOYMENT ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE


SOMALIA: AU • ATMIS 5,800; 7 inf bn; UN • UNSOM
627; 1 sy bn; UN • UNSOS 1 Army 13,500
FORCES BY ROLE
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 2
COMMAND
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 2 3 bde HQ
Sub-Saharan Africa 487

SPECIAL FORCES
AIR DEFENCE
1 cdo bn
MANOEUVRE 2 bty with S-125M Pechora-M (RS-SA-3 Goa)
Armoured EQUIPMENT BY TYPE†
1 armd regt (1 tk bn, 1 armd recce regt) Very low serviceability
Light
AIRCRAFT 21 combat capable
6 inf bn
COMBAT SUPPORT TPT 19: Medium 2 C-27J Spartan; Light 15: 1 Cessna 208B
1 arty regt (2 fd arty bn, 1 MRL bn) Grand Caravan; 5 Do-28; 2 MA60; 3 Y-12(II); 4 Y-12(IV);
1 engr regt PAX 2: 1 Gulfstream G650ER; 1 HS-748
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE TRG 40: 15 K-8 Karakorum*; 6 L-15*; 8 MFI-15 Safari; 11
Some equipment†
SF-260TW
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
MBT 30: 10 T-55; 20 ZTZ-59 HELICOPTERS
LT TK 30 PT-76 MRH 9: 1 AW139; 4 Mi-17 Hip H; 4 Z-9
RECCE 70 BRDM-1/BRDM-2 (ε30 serviceable) TPT • Light 12: 9 Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois/AB-205);
IFV 23 Ratel-20 3 Bell 212
APC • APC (W) 47+: 13 BTR-60; 20 BTR-70; 10 BTR-80;
UNINHABITED AERIAL VEHICLES 3+
4+ WZ-551
AUV 22 Tigr ISR • Medium 3+ Hermes 450
ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES AIR DEFENCE
ARV T-54/T-55 reported SAM • Short-range 6 S-125M Pechora-M (RS-SA-3 Goa)
ANTI-TANK/ANTI-INFRASTRUCTURE AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES
MSL • MANPATS 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger)
AAM • IR PL-5E-II
RCL 12+: 57mm 12 M18; 75mm M20; 84mm Carl Gustaf
ARTILLERY 194 ASM 9K11 Malyutka (RS-AT-3 Sagger)
SP 6 Atmos M-46
TOWED 61: 105mm 18 Model 56 pack howitzer; Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 1,400
122mm 25 D-30; 130mm 18 M-46
MRL 122mm 30 BM-21 Grad (ε12 serviceable) Police Mobile Unit 700
MOR 917: 81mm 55; 82mm 24; 120mm 12 SP 120mm 6+
FORCES BY ROLE
Elbit Spear Mk2
AIR DEFENCE MANOEUVRE
SAM • MANPAD 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡ Other
GUNS 1 police bn (4 police coy)
SP 23mm 4 ZSU-23-4 Shilka
TOWED 136: 14.5mm ZPU-4; 20mm 50 M-55 (triple); Police Paramilitary Unit 700
23mm ZU-23; 37mm 40 M-1939; PG-65; 40mm L/70;
FORCES BY ROLE
57mm ε30 S-60; 85mm 16 M-1939 KS-12
MANOEUVRE
Reserve 3,000 Other
FORCES BY ROLE 1 paramilitary bn (3 paramilitary coy)

Sub-Saharan
MANOEUVRE
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE

Africa
Light
3 inf bn ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
APC • PPV 9+: 3+ Marauder; 6 CS/VP3
Air Force 1,600
FORCES BY ROLE DEPLOYMENT
FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
1 sqn with K-8 Karakorum* CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 930;
1 sqn with L-15* 1 inf bn
TRANSPORT
1 sqn with MA60; Y-12(II); Y-12(IV) DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
1 (VIP) unit with AW139; HS-748 MONUSCO 7
1 (liaison) sqn with Do-28
LEBANON: UN • UNIFIL 2
TRAINING
1 sqn with MFI-15 Safari MIDDLE EAST: UN • UNTSO 1
TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 9
1 sqn with Mi-17 Hip H
1 (liaison) sqn with Bell 205 (UH-1H Iroquois/AB-205) SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 5
488 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

MANOEUVRE
Zimbabwe ZWE Armoured
1 armd sqn
Zimbabwe Dollar ZWL 2021 2022 2023 Mechanised
GDP ZWL 2.91tr 14.4tr 1 mech inf bn
USD 32.9bn 38.3bn Light
15 inf bn
per capita USD 2,122 2,420
1 cdo bn
Growth % 7.2 3.0
Air Manoeuvre
Inflation % 98.5 284.9 1 para bn
Def bdgt USD 23.3bn 61.6bn Other
ZWL 287m 751m 3 gd bn
USD1=ZWL 81.00 82.00 1 (Presidential Guard) gd gp
COMBAT SUPPORT
Real-terms defence budget trend (USDm, constant 2015)
1 arty bde
393
1 fd arty regt
2 engr regt
1
AIR DEFENCE
2008 2015 2022
1 AD regt
Population 15,121,004 EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
ARMOURED FIGHTING VEHICLES
Age 0–14 15–19 20–24 25–29 30–64 65 plus MBT 40: 30 Type-59†; 10 Type-69†
Male 18.9% 5.1% 4.7% 4.3% 14.6% 1.8% RECCE 115: 20 Eland-60/90; 15 FV701 Ferret†; 80 EE-9
Female 19.2% 5.3% 4.9% 4.3% 14.3% 2.8%
Cascavel (90mm)
IFV 2+ YW307
APC • APC (T) 30: 8 ZSD-85 (incl CP); 22 VTT-323
Capabilities ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE VEHICLES
Zimbabwe’s political instability and weak economy remain key ARV T-54/T-55 reported; ZJX-93 ARV
challenges for the government. Principal tasks for the Zimbabwe VLB MTU reported
Defence Forces include ensuring sovereignty, territorial integrity ARTILLERY 254
and border security, as well as providing internal-security support SP 122mm 12 2S1 Gvozdika
to the police. The armed forces take an active political role. TOWED 122mm 20: 4 D-30; 16 Type-60 (D-74)
Zimbabwe is a member of the AU and the SADC and takes part in MRL 76: 107mm 16 Type-63; 122mm 60 RM-70
SADC Standby Force exercises. Zimbabwe has also sent military
MOR 146: 81mm/82mm ε140; 120mm 6 M-43
forces as part of the SADC deployment to Mozambique. There are
AIR DEFENCE
defence ties with China and an emergent defence relationship
SAM • Point-defence 9K32 Strela-2 (RS-SA-7 Grail)‡
with Belarus, while Russia in mid-2019 reportedly said it would
GUNS • TOWED 116: 14.5mm 36 ZPU-1/ZPU-2/ZPU-4;
consider alternative payment means for military cooperation.
Military leaders have identified training as a development priority.
23mm 45 ZU-23-2; 37mm 35 M-1939
Small numbers of personnel have deployed on peacekeeping
operations but there is no capacity to sustain a force far beyond Air Force 4,000
national borders. Equipment recapitalisation is also a priority, FORCES BY ROLE
though much will depend on domestic economic health and FIGHTER
perhaps the extent to which China and Russia provide support. 1 sqn with F-7 II†; FT-7†
There are plans to revive state-owned small-arms and munitions FIGHTER/GROUND ATTACK
manufacturer Zimbabwe Defence Industries, although these may 1 sqn with K-8 Karakorum*
be hindered by continuing UK, US and EU sanctions. GROUND ATTACK/ISR
ACTIVE 29,000 (Army 25,000 Air 4,000) 1 sqn with Cessna 337/O-2A Skymaster*
ISR/TRAINING
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 21,800
1 sqn with SF-260F/M; SF-260TP*; SF-260W Warrior*
TRANSPORT
ORGANISATIONS BY SERVICE 1 sqn with BN-2 Islander; CASA 212-200 Aviocar (VIP)
ATTACK/TRANSPORT HELICOPTER
Army ε25,000 1 sqn with Mi-35 Hind; Mi-35P Hind (liaison); SA316
Alouette III; AS532UL Cougar (VIP)
FORCES BY ROLE
1 trg sqn with Bell 412 Twin Huey, SA316 Alouette III
COMMAND
AIR DEFENCE
1 SF bde HQ
1 sqn
1 mech bde HQ
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
5 inf bde HQ
AIRCRAFT 45 combat capable
SPECIAL FORCES
FTR 9: 7 F-7 II†; 2 FT-7†
1 SF regt
Sub-Saharan Africa 489

ISR 2 O-2A Skymaster Police Support Unit 2,300


TPT • Light 25: 5 BN-2 Islander; 7 C-212-200 Aviocar; 13
EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Cessna 337 Skymaster*; (10 C-47 Skytrain in store)
PATROL AND COASTAL COMBATANTS
TRG 33: 10 K-8 Karakorum*; 5 SF-260M; 8 SF-260TP*; 5
All operational patrol vessels under 10t FLD
SF-260W Warrior*; 5 SF-260F
HELICOPTERS
ATK 6: 4 Mi-35 Hind; 2 Mi-35P Hind DEPLOYMENT
MRH 8: 7 Bell 412 Twin Huey; 1 SA316 Alouette III CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: UN • MINUSCA 3
TPT • Medium 2 AS532UL Cougar (VIP)
AIR-LAUNCHED MISSILES • AAM • IR PL-2; PL-5 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: UN •
(reported) MONUSCO 3
AD • GUNS 100mm (not deployed); 37mm (not MOZAMBIQUE: SADC • SAMIM 1
deployed); 57mm (not deployed) SOUTH SUDAN: UN • UNMISS 14
SUDAN: UN • UNISFA 9
Gendarmerie & Paramilitary 21,800
Zimbabwe Republic Police Force 19,500
incl air wg

Sub-Saharan
Africa
490 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Explanatory notes

The Military Balance provides an assessment of the armed


Abbreviations and definitions
forces and defence economics of 173 countries and territo-
Qualifier
ries. Each edition contributes to the provision of a unique
‘Up to’ Total is at most the number given, but could
compilation of data and information, enabling the reader be lower
to discern trends by studying editions as far back as 1959. ‘Some’ Precise inventory is unavailable at time of press
The data in the current edition is accurate according to IISS ‘In store’ Equipment held away from front-line units;
assessments as of November 2022, unless specified. Inclusion readiness and maintenance varies
of a territory, country or state in The Military Balance, or Billion (bn) 1,000 million (m)
terminology or boundaries used in graphics or mapping, Trillion (tr) 1,000 billion
does not imply legal recognition or indicate support for any $ US dollars unless otherwise stated
government or administration. ε Estimated
* Aircraft counted by the IISS as combat capable
General arrangement and contents (-) Unit understrength or detached
The introduction is an assessment of key themes and content + Unit reinforced/total is no less than the
number given
in the 2023 edition. An opening analytical essay examines
† IISS assesses that the serviceability of
important defence topics in 2022, such as issues around equipment is in doubta
military capability assessment in light of the ongoing war ‡ Missiles whose basic design is more than
in Ukraine and the performance of the armed forces of both four decades old and which have not been
significantly upgraded within the past decade)a
Russia and Ukraine, and the effect of military asssistance to [a]
Not to be taken to imply that such equipment cannot be used
both from abroad. Regional chapters begin with analysis of
the military and security issues that drive national defence-
policy developments, and key trends in regional defence
economics. In some cases there is focused text content in
Using The Military Balance
the form of textboxes or longer articles relating to impor-
The country entries assess personnel strengths, organisa-
tant defence policy and capability issues, and defence
tion and equipment holdings of the world’s armed forces.
economics, and then a section assessing important regional
Force-strength and equipment-inventory data is based on
arms procurements and deliveries. Next, detailed data on
the most accurate data available, or on the best estimate
regional states’ military forces and equipment, and defence
that can be made. In estimating a country’s total capabili-
economics, is presented in alphabetical order. The book ties, old equipment may be counted where it is considered
closes with a reference section containing comparisons of that it may still be deployable. The data presented reflects
defence economics and personnel statistics. judgements based on information available to the IISS at the
time the book is compiled. Where information differs from
The Military Balance wall chart previous editions, it is mainly because of changes in national
The Military Balance 2023 wall chart is an assessment of forces, but it is sometimes because the IISS has reassessed
important military space assets operated by China, Russia the evidence supporting past entries.
and the US. Using text, data and graphics, the chart assesses
key military and military-related spacecraft for these nations. Country entries
Moreover, it includes information on the military relevance Information on each country is shown in a standard
of select orbits. It also contains assessments of developments format, although the differing availability of information
in military space technology and counterspace capabilities and differences in nomenclature result in some variations.
and includes data on selected launch vehicles, map based Country entries include economic, demographic
information on selected space launch locations, and a time- and military data. Population figures are based on
line of recent international developments related to the mili- demographic statistics taken from the US Census Bureau.
tary use of space. Military data includes personnel numbers, conscript
Explanatory Notes 491

liability where relevant, outline organisation, number conversions are less suitable when assessing the spending
of formations and units, and an inventory of the major of countries such as India and Saudi Arabia, which rely
equipment of each service. Details of national forces heavily on imports of military equipment from relatively
stationed abroad and of foreign forces stationed within high-cost producers. For those countries it would be neces-
the given country are also provided. sary to adopt a hybrid approach to determine defence
expenditure in dollars, with the market exchange rate used
Arms procurements and deliveries for converting defence procurement and the PPP conversion
A series of thematic tables, graphics and text follow the rate applied to all other defence expenditure (personnel,
regional data. These are designed to illustrate key trends, operations, etc.). As such, to produce standardised inter-
principal programmes and significant events in regional national comparisons, PPP conversions would have to be
defence procurements. More detailed information on applied to all countries. In the absence of defence-based PPP
defence procurements, organised by country, equipment rates, analysts would have to use the GDP-based PPP rates
type and manufacturing company, can be found on the that are available for all countries. However, these are also
IISS Military Balance+ database (https://www.iiss.org/mili- statistical estimates and, as such, difficult to apply to mili-
tarybalanceplus). The information in this section meets the tary expenditure because they reflect the purchasing power
threshold for a Military Balance country entry and as such of the wider economy, primarily civilian goods and services.
does not feature information on sales of small arms and
light weapons. Definitions of terms
Despite efforts by NATO and the UN to develop a stan-
Defence economics dardised definition of military expenditure, many coun-
Country entries include annual defence budgets (and expen- tries prefer to use their own definitions (which are often not
diture where applicable), selected economic-performance made public). In order to present a comprehensive picture,
indicators and demographic aggregates. All country entries The Military Balance lists three different measures of military-
are subject to revision each year as new information, partic- related spending data.
ularly regarding actual defence expenditure, becomes
available. On p. 500, there are also international compari- • For most countries, an official defence-budget
sons of defence expenditure and military personnel, giving figure is provided.
expenditure figures for the past three years in per capita • For those countries where other military-
terms and as a % of gross domestic product (GDP). The aim related outlays, over and above the defence
is to provide a measure of military expenditure and the allo- budget, are known or can be reasonably esti-
cation of economic resources to defence. mated, an additional measurement referred to as
Individual country entries show economic performance defence expenditure is also provided. Defence-
over the past two years and current demographic data. expenditure figures will naturally be higher than
Where this data is unavailable, information from the last official budget figures, depending on the range of
available year is provided. All financial data in the country additional factors included.
entries is shown in both national currency and US dollars • For NATO countries, a defence-budget figure, as
at current – not constant – prices. US-dollar conversions are well as defence expenditure reported by NATO
calculated from the exchange rates listed in the entry. in local-currency terms and converted using IMF
The use of market exchange rates has limitations, partic- exchange rates, is quoted.
ularly because it does not consider the varying levels of
development or the differing cost of inputs (principally NATO’s military-expenditure definition (the most
personnel, equipment and investment, factors that help comprehensive) is cash outlays of central or federal govern-
determine a country’s military capability) specific to each ments to meet the costs of national armed forces. The term
country’s national context. An alternative approach is to ‘armed forces’ includes strategic, land, naval, air, command,
make conversions using purchasing power parity (PPP) administration and support forces. It also includes other
exchange rates, which at least partially takes these cost forces if they are trained, structured and equipped to
differentials into account. support defence forces and are realistically deployable.
However, the suitability of PPP conversions depends on Defence expenditures are reported in four categories:
the extent to which a country is self-sufficient in developing Operating Costs, Procurement and Construction, Research
Reference

and producing the armaments required by its armed forces. and Development (R&D) and Other Expenditure. Operating
For Russia and China they are appropriate, as imported Costs include salaries and pensions for military and civilian
systems play almost no role in Russia’s case and only a personnel; the cost of maintaining and training units, service
small and decreasing one in that of China. However, PPP organisations, headquarters and support elements; and the
492 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

cost of servicing and repairing military equipment and


infrastructure. Procurement and Construction expenditure
Units and formation strength
covers national equipment and infrastructure spending, as Company 100–200
well as common infrastructure programmes. R&D is defence Battalion 500–1,000
expenditure up to the point at which new equipment can be
Brigade 3,000–5,000
put in service, regardless of whether new equipment is actu-
Division 15,000–20,000
ally procured. Foreign Military Assistance (FMA) contri-
butions are also noted – primarily the IISS tracks Foreign Corps or Army 50,000–100,000
Military Financing (FMF) allocations from the US.
For many non-NATO countries the issue of transpar-
ency in reporting military budgets is fundamental. Not General defence data
every UN member state reports defence-budget data (even Personnel
fewer report real defence expenditures) to their electorates, The ‘Active’ total comprises all servicemen and women on
the UN, the IMF or other multinational organisations. In full-time duty (including conscripts and long-term assign-
the case of governments with a proven record of transpar- ments from the Reserves). When a gendarmerie or equiva-
ency, official figures generally conform to the standardised lent is under control of the defence ministry, they may be
definition of defence budgeting, as adopted by the UN, and included in the active total. Only the length of conscript
consistency problems are not usually a major issue. The IISS liability is shown; where service is voluntary there is no
cites official defence budgets as reported by either national entry. ‘Reserve’ describes formations and units not fully
governments, the UN, the OSCE or the IMF. manned or operational in peacetime, but which can be
For those countries where the official defence-budget mobilised by recalling reservists in an emergency. Some
figure is considered to be an incomplete measure of total countries have more than one category of reserves, often
military-related spending, and appropriate additional data kept at varying degrees of readiness. Where possible, these
is available, the IISS will use data from a variety of sources differences are denoted using the national descriptive title,
to arrive at a more accurate estimate of true defence but always under the heading of ‘Reserves’ to distinguish
expenditure. The most frequent instances of budgetary them from full-time active forces. All personnel figures are
manipulation or falsification typically involve equip- rounded to the nearest 50, except for organisations with
ment procurement, R&D, defence-industrial investment, under 500 personnel, where figures are rounded to the
covert weapons programmes, pensions for retired mili- nearest ten.
tary and civilian personnel, paramilitary forces and non-
budgetary sources of revenue for the military arising from Other forces
ownership of industrial, property and land assets. There Many countries maintain forces whose training, organisa-
will be several countries listed in The Military Balance for tion, equipment and control suggest that they may be used
which only an official defence-budget figure is provided to support or replace regular military forces or be used more
but where, in reality, true defence-related expenditure is broadly by states to deliver militarily relevant effect. They
almost certainly higher. include some forces that may have a constabulary role or
Percentage changes in defence spending are referred to are classed as gendarmerie forces, with more formal law-
in either nominal or real terms. Nominal terms relate to the enforcement responsibilities. These are called ‘Gendarmerie
percentage change in numerical spending figures, and do & Paramilitary’ and are detailed after the military forces of
not account for the impact of price changes (i.e., inflation) each country. Their personnel numbers are not normally
on defence spending. By contrast, real terms account for included in the totals at the start of each entry.
inflationary effects, and may therefore be considered a more
accurate representation of change over time. Forces by role and equipment by type
The principal sources for national economic statistics Quantities are shown by function (according to each nation’s
cited in the country entries are the IMF, the OECD, the employment) and type, and represent what are believed to
World Bank and three regional banks (the Inter-American, be total holdings, including active and reserve operational
Asian and African Development banks). For some coun- and training units. Inventory totals for missile systems relate
tries, basic economic data is difficult to obtain. GDP figures to launchers and not to missiles. Equipment held ‘in store’ is
are nominal (current) values at market prices. GDP growth not counted in the main inventory totals.
is real, not nominal growth, and inflation is the year-on- The IISS Military Balance+ assesses the relative level
year change in consumer prices. When real-terms defence- of capability of certain equipment platform types based
spending figures are mentioned, these are measured in on their technical characteristics. For land domain equip-
constant 2015 US dollars. ment, these characteristics include the level of protection,
Explanatory Notes 493

main armament, and fire control and optics. For maritime The definition includes aircraft designated by type as
domain equipment, they include crew-to-displacement bomber, fighter, fighter/ground attack, ground attack
ratio, primary missile armament, sensor suites, signature and anti-submarine warfare. Other aircraft considered
reduction, and propulsion. For air domain equipment, to be combat capable are marked with an asterisk (*).
they include avionics, weapons, signature management, Operational groupings of air forces are shown where
and upgrades. known. Typical squadron aircraft strengths can vary both
Platform types assessed in this fashion are described as between aircraft types and from country to country. When
having either an ‘obsolete’, ‘obsolescent’, ‘ageing’, ‘modern’ assessing missile ranges, The Military Balance uses the
or ‘advanced’ level of capability when compared with following range indicators:
other designs within the same category of equipment. This • Short-range ballistic missile (SRBM): less than 1,000 km;
should not be taken as an assessment of the physical age or • Medium-range ballistic missile (MRBM): 1,000–3,000 km;
remaining service life of a given platform or whether it can • Intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM): 3,000–5,000 km;
actually be employed offensively. Examples of these assess- • Intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM): over 5,000 km.
ments appear in certain graphics within The Military Balance.
Other IISS defence data
Deployments The Military Balance+ database is integrating information
The Military Balance mainly lists permanent bases and opera- on military-owned cyber capacities. The research taxonomy
tional deployments abroad, including peacekeeping opera- focuses on enablers, including indicators of capability from
tions. Domestic deployments are not included, with the the armed forces. The Military Balance+ also contains data
exception of overseas territories. Information in the country- on bilateral, multilateral and notable large or important
data sections details troop deployments and, where avail- military exercises held on a national basis. More broadly,
able, the role and equipment of deployed units. Personnel the Military Balance+ enables subscribers to view multiple
figures are not generally included for embassy staff or years of Military Balance data, and conduct searches
standing multinational headquarters. for complex queries more rapidly than is possible by
consulting the print book.
Land forces
To make international comparison easier and more consis- Attribution and acknowledgements
tent, The Military Balance categorises forces by role and The International Institute for Strategic Studies owes no
translates national military terminology for unit and forma- allegiance to any government, group of governments, or
tion sizes. Typical personnel strength, equipment holdings any political or other organisation. Its assessments are its
and organisation of formations such as brigades and divi- own, based on the material available to it from a wide
sions vary from country to country. In addition, some unit variety of sources. The cooperation of governments of
terms, such as ‘regiment’, ‘squadron’, ‘battery’ and ‘troop’, all listed countries has been sought and, in many cases,
can refer to significantly different unit sizes in different received. However, some data in The Military Balance is
countries. Unless otherwise stated, these terms should be estimated. Care is taken to ensure that this data is as accu-
assumed to reflect standard British usage where they occur. rate and free from bias as possible. The Institute owes a
considerable debt to a number of its own members, consul-
Naval forces tants and all those who help compile and check material.
Classifying naval vessels according to role is complex. The Director-General and Chief Executive and staff of the
A post-war consensus on primary surface combatants Institute assume full responsibility for the data and judge-
revolved around a distinction between independently ments in this book. Comments and suggestions on the data
operating cruisers, air-defence escorts (destroyers) and anti- and textual material contained within the book, as well as
submarine-warfare escorts (frigates). However, ships are on the style and presentation of data, are welcomed and
increasingly performing a range of roles. Also, modern ship should be communicated to the Editor of The Military
design has meant that the full-load displacement (FLD) of Balance at: The International Institute for Strategic Studies,
different warship types has evolved and in some cases over- Arundel House, 6 Temple Place, London, WC2R 2PG, UK,
laps. For these reasons, The Military Balance now classifies email: milbal@iiss.org. Copyright on all information in The
vessels by an assessed combination of role, equipment fit Military Balance belongs strictly to the IISS. Application to
and displacement. reproduce limited amounts of data may be made to the
Reference

publisher: Taylor & Francis, 4 Park Square, Milton Park,


Air forces Abingdon, Oxon, OX14 4RN. Email: society.permissions@
Aircraft listed as combat capable are assessed as being tandf.co.uk. Unauthorised use of data from The Military
equipped to deliver air-to-air or air-to-surface ordnance. Balance will be subject to legal action.
494 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Principal land definitions

FORCES BY ROLE
Command: free-standing, deployable formation headquarters (HQs).
Special Forces (SF): elite units specially trained and equipped for unconventional warfare and operations in
enemy-controlled territory. Many are employed in counter-terrorist roles.
Manoeuvre: combat units and formations capable of manoeuvring. These are subdivided as follows:
Reconnaissance: combat units and formations whose primary purpose is to gain information.
Armoured: units and formations principally equipped with main battle tanks (MBTs) and infantry
fighting vehicles (IFVs) to provide heavy mounted close-combat capability. Units and
formations intended to provide mounted close-combat capability with lighter armoured
vehicles, such as light tanks or wheeled assault guns, are classified as light armoured.
Mechanised: units and formations primarily equipped with lighter armoured vehicles such as
armoured personnel carriers (APCs). They have less mounted firepower and protection
than their armoured equivalents, but can usually deploy more infantry.
Light: units and formations whose principal combat capability is dismounted infantry, with
few, if any, organic armoured vehicles. Some may be motorised and equipped with soft-
skinned vehicles.
Air Manoeuvre: units and formations trained and equipped for delivery by transport aircraft and/
or helicopters.
Amphibious: amphibious forces are trained and equipped to project force from the sea.
Other Forces: includes security units such as Presidential Guards, paramilitary units such as border
guards and combat formations permanently employed in training or demonstration tasks.
Combat Support: combat support units and formations not integral to manoeuvre formations. Includes
artillery, engineers, military intelligence, nuclear, biological and chemical defence, signals
and information operations.
Combat Service includes logistics, maintenance, medical, supply and transport units and formations.
Support (CSS):

EQUIPMENT BY TYPE
Light Weapons: small arms, machine guns, grenades and grenade launchers and unguided man-portable
anti-armour and support weapons have proliferated so much and are sufficiently easy to
manufacture or copy that listing them would be impractical.
Crew-Served crew-served recoilless rifles, man-portable ATGW, MANPADs and mortars of greater than
Weapons: 80mm calibre are listed, but the high degree of proliferation and local manufacture of
many of these weapons means that estimates of numbers held may not be reliable.
Armoured Fighting armoured combat vehicles with a combat weight of at least six metric tonnes, further
Vehicles (AFVs): subdivided as below:
Main Battle Tank armoured, tracked combat vehicles, armed with a turret-mounted gun of at least 100mm
(MBT): calibre and with a combat weight of between 35 and 75 metric tonnes.
Light Tank (LT TK): armoured, tracked combat vehicles, armed with a turret-mounted gun of at least 75mm
calibre and with a combat weight of between 15 and 40 metric tonnes.
Wheeled Assault armoured, wheeled combat vehicles, armed with a turret-mounted gun of at least 75mm
Gun (ASLT): calibre and with a combat weight of at least 15 metric tonnes.
Armoured armoured vehicles primarily designed for reconnaissance tasks with no significant
Reconnaissance transport capability and either a main gun of less than 75mm calibre or a combat weight
(RECCE): of less than 15 metric tonnes, or both.
Infantry Fighting armoured combat vehicles designed and equipped to transport an infantry squad and
Vehicle (IFV): armed with a cannon of at least 20mm calibre.
Explanatory Notes 495

Armoured lightly armoured combat vehicles designed and equipped to transport an infantry squad
Personnel Carrier but either unarmed or armed with a cannon of less than 20mm calibre.
(APC):
Airborne Combat armoured vehicles designed to be deployable by parachute alongside airborne forces.
Vehicle (ABCV):
Amphibious Assault armoured vehicles designed to have an amphibious ship-to-shore capability.
Vehicle (AAV):
Armoured Utility armoured vehicles not designed to transport an infantry squad, but capable of
Vehicle (AUV): undertaking a variety of other utility battlefield tasks, including light reconnaissance
and light transport.
Specialist Variants: variants of armoured vehicles listed above that are designed to fill a specialised role, such
as command posts (CP), artillery observation posts (OP), signals (sigs) and ambulances
(amb), are categorised with their parent vehicles.
Engineering and includes armoured engineer vehicles (AEV), armoured repair and recovery vehicles (ARV),
Maintenance Vehicles: assault bridging (VLB) and mine-warfare vehicles (MW).
Nuclear, Biological armoured vehicles principally designed to operate in potentially contaminated terrain.
and Chemical Defence
Vehicles (NBC):
Anti-Tank/Anti- guns, guided weapons and recoilless rifles designed to engage armoured vehicles and
Infrastructure (AT): battlefield hardened targets.
Surface-to-Surface launch vehicles for transporting and firing surface-to-surface ballistic and cruise missiles.
Missile Launchers (SSM):
Artillery: weapons (including guns, howitzers, gun/howitzers, multiple-rocket launchers, mortars
and gun/mortars) with a calibre greater than 100mm for artillery pieces and 80mm and
above for mortars, capable of engaging ground targets with indirect fire.
Coastal Defence: land-based coastal artillery pieces and anti-ship-missile launchers.
Air Defence (AD): guns, directed-energy (DE) weapons and surface-to-air missile (SAM) launchers designed to
engage fixed-wing, rotary-wing and uninhabited aircraft. Missiles are further classified by
maximum notional engagement range: point-defence (up to 10 km); short-range (10–30
km); medium-range (30–75 km); and long-range (75 km+). Systems primarily intended to
intercept missiles rather than aircraft are categorised separately as Missile Defence.

Principal naval definitions


To aid comparison between fleets, the following definitions, which do not always conform to national definitions, are used as guidance:
Submarines: all vessels designed to operate primarily under water. Submarines with a dived
displacement below 250 tonnes are classified as midget submarines (SSW); those below
500 tonnes are coastal submarines (SSC).
Principal Surface all surface ships designed for combat operations on the high seas, with an FLD above 2,200
Combatants: tonnes. Aircraft carriers (CV), including smaller support carriers (CVS) embarking STOVL aircraft
and helicopter carriers (CVH), are vessels with a flat deck primarily designed to carry fixed-
and/or rotary-wing aircraft, without specialised amphibious capability. Other principal surface
combatants include cruisers (C) (FLD above 9,750 tonnes), destroyers (DD) (FLD 4,500–9,749
tonnes with a primary area air-defence weapons fit and role) and frigates (FF) (FLD 2,200–
9,000 tonnes and a primary anti-submarine/general-purpose weapons fit and role).
Patrol and Coastal surface vessels designed for coastal or inshore operations. These include corvettes
Combatants: (FS), which usually have an FLD between 500 and 2,199 tonnes and are distinguished
from other patrol vessels by their heavier armaments. Also included in this category are
Reference

offshore-patrol ships (PSO), with an FLD greater than 1,500 tonnes; patrol craft (PC), which
have an FLD between 250 and 1,499 tonnes; and patrol boats (PB) with an FLD between
ten and 250 tonnes. Vessels with a top speed greater than 35 knots are designated as ‘fast’ .
496 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Mine warfare vessels: all surface vessels configured primarily for mine laying (ML) or countermeasures.
Countermeasures vessels are either: sweepers (MS), which are designed to locate and
destroy mines in an area; hunters (MH), which are designed to locate and destroy
individual mines; or countermeasures vessels (MC), which combine both roles.
Amphibious vessels: vessels designed to transport combat personnel and/or equipment onto shore.
These include aviation-capable amphibious assault ships (LHA), which can embark
rotary-wing or STOVL air assets and may have a well deck for LCACs and landing craft;
aviation-capable amphibious assault ships with a well dock for LCACs and landing craft
(LHD), which can embark rotary-wing or STOVL assets; landing platform helicopters
(LPH), which have a primary role of launch and recovery platform for rotary-wing or
STOVL assets; landing platform docks (LPD), which do not have a through deck but
do have a well dock and carry both combat personnel and equipment; and land ships
docks (LSD) with a well dock but focused more on equipment transport. Landing
ships (LS) are amphibious vessels capable of ocean passage and landing craft (LC) are
smaller vessels designed to transport personnel and equipment from a larger vessel
to land or across small stretches of water. Landing ships have a hold; landing craft are
open vessels. Landing craft air cushioned (LCAC) are differentiated from utility craft
air cushioned (UCAC) in that the former have a bow ramp for the disembarkation of
vehicles and personnel.
Auxiliary vessels: ocean-going surface vessels performing an auxiliary military role, supporting combat
ships or operations. These generally fulfil five roles: replenishment (such as oilers (AO)
and solid stores (AKS)); logistics (such as cargo ships (AK) and logistics ships (AFS));
maintenance (such as cable-repair ships (ARC) or buoy tenders (ABU)); research (such as
survey ships (AFS)); and special purpose (such as intelligence-collection ships (AGI) and
ocean-going tugs (ATF)).
Weapons systems: weapons are listed in the following order: land-attack cruise missiles (LACM), anti-ship
missiles (AShM), surface-to-air missiles (SAM), heavy (HWT) and lightweight (LWT)
torpedoes, anti-submarine weapons (A/S), CIWS, guns and aircraft. Missiles with a range
less than 5 km and guns with a calibre less than 57mm are generally not included.
Organisations: naval groupings such as fleets and squadrons frequently change and are shown only
where doing so would aid qualitative judgements.
Legacy platforms: legacy-generation platforms, unless specifically modified for a new role, may be listed
with their original designations although they may not conform fully with current
guidance criteria.

Principal aviation definitions


Bomber (Bbr): comparatively large platforms intended for the delivery of air-to-surface ordnance. Bbr
units are units equipped with bomber aircraft for the air-to-surface role.
Fighter (Ftr): aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat, which may also have a limited
air-to-surface capability. Ftr units are equipped with aircraft intended to provide air
superiority, which may have a secondary and limited air-to-surface capability.
Fighter/Ground multi-role fighter-size platforms with significant air-to-surface capability, potentially
Attack (FGA): including maritime attack, and at least some air-to-air capacity. FGA units are multi-role
units equipped with aircraft capable of air-to-air and air-to-surface attack.
Ground Attack (Atk): aircraft designed solely for the air-to-surface task, with limited or no air-to-air capability.
Atk units are equipped with fixed-wing aircraft.
Attack Helicopter rotary-wing platforms designed for delivery of air-to-surface weapons, and fitted with an
(Atk hel): integrated fire-control system.
Anti-Submarine fixed- and rotary-wing platforms designed to locate and engage submarines, many
Warfare (ASW): with a secondary anti-surface-warfare capability. ASW units are equipped with fixed- or
rotary-wing aircraft.
Explanatory Notes 497

Anti-Surface Warfare ASuW units are equipped with fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft intended for
(ASuW): anti-surface-warfare missions.
Maritime Patrol (MP): fixed-wing aircraft and uninhabited aerial vehicles (UAVs) intended for maritime
surface surveillance, which may possess an anti-surface-warfare capability. MP units
are equipped with fixed-wing aircraft or UAVs.
Electronic Warfare fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and UAVs intended for electronic warfare. EW units are
(EW): equipped with fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft or UAVs.
Intelligence/ fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft and UAVs intended to provide radar, visible-light or
Surveillance/ infrared imagery, or a mix thereof. ISR units are equipped with fixed- or rotary-wing
Reconnaissance (ISR): aircraft or UAVs.
Combat/Intelligence/ aircraft and UAVs that have the capability to deliver air-to-surface weapons, as well as
Surveillance/ undertake ISR tasks. CISR units are equipped with armed aircraft and/or UAVs for ISR and
Reconnaissance (CISR): air-to-surface missions.
COMINT/ELINT/ fixed- and rotary-wing platforms and UAVs capable of gathering electronic (ELINT),
SIGINT: communications (COMINT) or signals intelligence (SIGINT). COMINT units are equipped
with fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft or UAVs intended for the communications-intelligence
task. ELINT units are equipped with fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft or UAVs used for
gathering electronic intelligence. SIGINT units are equipped with fixed- or rotary-wing
aircraft or UAVs used to collect signals intelligence.
Airborne Early fixed- and rotary-wing platforms capable of providing airborne early warning, with a
Warning (& Control) varying degree of onboard command and control depending on the
(AEW (&C)): platform. AEW(&C) units are equipped with fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft.
Search and Rescue units are equipped with fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft used to recover military personnel
(SAR): or civilians.
Combat Search and units are equipped with armed fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft for recovery of personnel
Rescue (CSAR): from hostile territory.
Tanker (Tkr): fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft designed for air-to-air refuelling. Tkr units are equipped
with fixed- or rotary-wing aircraft used for air-to-air refuelling.
Tanker Transport platforms capable of both air-to-air refuelling and military airlift.
(Tkr/Tpt):
Transport (Tpt): fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft intended for military airlift. Light transport aircraft are
categorised as having a maximum payload of up to 11,340 kg; medium up to 27,215 kg;
and heavy above 27,215 kg. Light transport helicopters have an internal payload of up
to 2,000 kg; medium transport helicopters up to 4,535 kg; heavy transport helicopters
greater than 4,535 kg. PAX aircraft are platforms generally unsuited for transporting
cargo on the main deck. Tpt units are equipped with fixed- or rotary-wing platforms to
transport personnel or cargo.
Trainer (Trg): fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft designed primarily for the training role; some also have
the capacity to carry light to medium ordnance. Trg units are equipped with fixed- or
rotary-wing training aircraft intended for pilot or other aircrew training.
Multi-Role Helicopter rotary-wing platforms designed to carry out a variety of military tasks including light
(MRH): transport, armed reconnaissance and battlefield support.
Uninhabited Aerial remotely piloted or controlled uninhabited fixed- or rotary-wing systems. Light UAVs are
Vehicles (UAVs): those weighing 20–150 kg; medium: 150–600 kg; and large: more than 600 kg.
Loitering & Direct air vehicles with an integral warhead that share some characteristics with both UAVs and
Attack Munitions: cruise missiles. They are designed to either fly directly to their target (Direct Attack), or in
a search or holding pattern (Loitering).
Reference
498 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Reference
Table 17 List of abbreviations for data sections
AAM air-to-air missile ARV armoured recovery vehicle DD/G/H/M
AAR search-and-rescue vessel AS anti-submarine/submarine tender destroyer/with surface-to-surface
AAV amphibious assault vehicle ASAT anti-satellite missile/with hangar/with SAM
AB airborne ASBM anti-ship ballistic missile DDR disarmament, demobilisation and
ABM anti-ballistic missile ASCM anti-ship cruise missile reintegration
ABU/H sea-going buoy tender/with hangar AShM anti-ship missile DE directed energy
ABCV airborne combat vehicle aslt assault def defence
ac aircraft ASM air-to-surface missile det detachment
ACS crane ship ASR submarine rescue craft div division
AD air defence ASTT anti-submarine torpedo tube ECM electronic countermeasures
ADA air-defence artillery ASW anti-submarine warfare ELINT electronic intelligence
adj adjusted ASuW anti-surface warfare elm element/s
AE auxiliary, ammunition carrier AT anti-tank engr engineer
AEM missile support ship ATF ocean going tug EOD explosive ordnance disposal
AEV armoured engineer vehicle ATGW anti-tank guided weapon EPF expeditionary fast transport vessel
AEW(&C) airborne early warning (and control) Atk attack/ground attack eqpt equipment
AFD/L auxiliary floating dry dock/small ATS tug, salvage and rescue ship ESB expeditionary sea base
AFS/H logistics ship/with hangar AUV armoured utility vehicle ESD expeditionary transport dock
AFSB afloat forward staging base avn aviation EW electronic warfare
AFV armoured fighting vehicle AWT water tanker excl excludes/excluding
AG misc auxiliary AX/L/S training craft/light/sail exp expenditure/expeditionary
AGB/H icebreaker/with hangar BA Budget Authority (US) FAC forward air control
AGE/H experimental auxiliary ship/with Bbr bomber fd field
hangar BCT brigade combat team FF/G/H/M frigate/with surface-to-surface
AGF/H command ship/with hangar missile/with hangar/with SAM
bde brigade
AGHS hydrographic survey vessel FGA fighter/ground attack
bdgt budget
AGI intelligence collection vessel FLD full-load displacement
BG battlegroup
AGM space tracking vessel flt flight
BMD ballistic-missile defence
AGOR oceanographic research vessel FMA Foreign Military Assistance
bn battalion/billion
AGOS oceanographic surveillance vessel FRS fleet replacement squadron
bty battery
AGS/H survey ship/with hangar FS/G/H/M corvette/with surface-to-surface
C2 command and control
AH hospital ship missile/with hangar/with SAM
C4 command, control,
AIP air-independent propulsion Ftr fighter
communications, and computers
AK/L cargo ship/light FTX field training exercise
casevac casualty evacuation
aka also known as FY fiscal year
cav cavalry
AKEH dry cargo/ammunition ship gd guard
cbt combat
AKR/H roll-on/roll-off cargo ship/with GDP gross domestic product
CBRN chemical, biological, radiological,
hangar nuclear, explosive GLCM ground-launched cruise missile
AKS/L stores ship/light cdo commando GMLS Guided Missile Launching System
ALBM air-launched ballistic missile C/G/H/M/N cruiser/with surface-to-surface gp group
ALCM air-launched cruise missile missile/with hangar/with SAM/ GPS Global Positioning System
amb ambulance nuclear-powered HA/DR humanitarian assistance/
amph amphibious/amphibian CISR combat ISR disaster relief
AO/S oiler/small CIMIC civil–military cooperation hel helicopter
AOE fast combat support ship CIWS close-in weapons system HQ headquarters
AOR/L/H fleet replenishment oiler with RAS COIN counter-insurgency HUMINT human intelligence
capability/light/with hangar comd command HWT heavyweight torpedo
AOT/L oiler transport/light COMINT communications intelligence hy heavy
AP transport ship comms communications ICBM intercontinental ballistic missile
APB barracks ship coy company IFV infantry fighting vehicle
APC armoured personnel carrier CP command post IIR imaging infrared
AR/C/D/L repair ship/cable/dry dock/light CS combat support IMINT imagery intelligence
ARG amphibious ready group CSAR combat search and rescue imp improved
ARH active radar homing CSS combat service support indep independent
ARM anti-radiation missile CT counter-terrorism inf infantry
armd armoured CV/H/L/N/S info ops information operations
ARS/H rescue and salvage ship/with aircraft carrier/helicopter/light/ INS inertial navigation system
hangar nuclear powered/STOVL int intelligence
arty artillery CW chemical warfare/weapons IOC Initial operating capability
Reference 499

IR infrared MS/C/D/I/O/R SATCOM satellite communications


IRBM intermediate-range ballistic mine sweeper/coastal/drone/ SEAD suppression of enemy air defence
missile inshore/ocean/river SF special forces
ISD in-service date msl missile SHORAD short-range air defence
ISR intelligence, surveillance and mtn mountain
SIGINT signals intelligence
reconnaissance MW mine warfare
sigs signals
ISTAR intelligence, surveillance, target n.a. not applicable
SLBM submarine-launched ballistic missile
acquisition and reconnaissance n.k. not known
SLCM submarine-launched cruise missile
LACM land-attack cruise missile NBC nuclear, biological, chemical
LC/A/AC/H/M/P/T/U/VP SLEP service-life-extension programme
NCO non-commissioned officer
landing craft/assault/air cushion/ SP self-propelled
O & M operations and maintenance
heavy/medium/personnel/tank/ Spec Opsspecial operations
obs observation/observer
utility/vehicles and personnel SPAAGM self-propelled anti-aircraft gun
OCU operational conversion unit
LCC amphibious command ship and missile system
OP observation post
LGB laser-guided bomb spt support
op/ops operational/operations
LHA aviation-capable amphibious sqn squadron
OPFOR opposition training force
assault ship SRBM short-range ballistic missile
org organised/organisation
LHD aviation-capable amphibious SS submarine
assault ship with well dock OPV offshore patrol vessel
para paratroop/parachute SSA/N auxiliary support submarine/
LIFT lead-in ftr trainer
nuclear-powered
LKA amphibious cargo ship PAX passenger/passenger transport
aircraft SSB/N ballistic missile submarine/
lnchr launcher nuclear-powered
PB/F/G/I/M/R/T
LoA letter of offer and acceptance SSC coastal submarine
patrol boat/fast/with surface-to-
log logistic
surface missile/inshore/with SAM/ SSG conventionally-powered attack
LoI letter of intent riverine/with torpedo submarine with dedicated launch
LP/D/H landing platform/dock/helicopter PC/C/F/G/H/I/M/O/R/T tubes for guided missiles
LRIP low-rate initial production patrol craft/coastal/fast/with SSGN nuclear-powered submarine
LS/D/L/H/M/T surface-to-surface missile/with with dedicated launch tubes for
landing ship/dock/logistic/with hangar/inshore/with CIWS missile or guided missiles
hangar/medium/tank SAM/offshore/riverine/with torpedo SSK conventionally-powered attack
lt light pdr pounder submarine
LWT lightweight torpedo PGM precision-guided munitions SSM surface-to-surface missile
maint maintenance PH/G/M/T patrol hydrofoil/with surface-to- SSN nuclear-powered attack
MANPAD man-portable air-defence system surface missile/with SAM/with submarine
MANPATS man-portable anti-tank system torpedo
SSR security-sector reform
MBT main battle tank pl platoon
SSW midget submarine
MC/C/CS/D/I/O PKO peacekeeping operations
strat strategic
mine countermeasure coastal/ PNT positioning, navigation, timing
STOVL short take-off and vertical landing
command and support/diving PoR programme of record
support/inshore/ocean PPP purchasing-power parity surv surveillance
MCM mine countermeasures PPV protected patrol vehicle sy security
MCMV mine countermeasures vessel PRH passive radar-homing t tonnes
MD military district PSO/H peace support operations or tac tactical
mech mechanised offshore patrol ship/with hangar tch technical
med medium/medical psyops psychological operations tk tank
medevac medical evacuation ptn br pontoon bridging tkr tanker
MH/C/D/I/O quad quadruple TMD theatre missile defence
mine hunter/coastal/drone/ R&D research and development torp torpedo
inshore/ocean RCL recoilless launcher tpt transport
mil military RDT&E research, development, test tr trillion
MIRV multiple independently targetable and evaluation trg training
re-entry vehicle recce reconnaissance TSV tank support vehicle
mk mark (model number) regt regiment TT torpedo tube
ML minelayer RFI request for information
MLU mid-life update UAV uninhabited aerial vehicle
RFP request for proposals
mne marine UCAC utility craft air cushioned
RL rocket launcher
mnv enh manoeuvre enhancement UCAV uninhabited combat air vehicle
ro-ro roll-on, roll-off
mod modified/modification UGV uninhabited ground vehicle
RPO rendezvous and proximity
mor mortar operations utl utility
mot motorised/motor RV re-entry vehicle UUV uninhabited underwater vehicle
MoU memorandum of understanding rvn riverine veh vehicle
Reference

MP maritime patrol/military police SAM surface-to-air missile VLB vehicle launched bridge
MR motor rifle SAR search and rescue/synthetic VLS vertical launch system
MRBM medium-range ballistic missile aperture radar VSHORAD very short-range air defence
MRH multi-role helicopter SARH semi-active radar homing WFU withdrawn from use
MRL multiple rocket launcher sat satellite wg wing
Defence spending Defence spending Defence spending Active armed Estimated Active
(current USDm) per capita (current USD) % of GDP forces (000) reservists (000) paramilitary (000)
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022
North America
Canada 20,144 23,178 24,617 534 611 644 1.22 1.17 1.12 67 34 5
United States 774,527 759,645 766,606 2,328 2,268 2,272 3.71 3.30 3.06 1,360 817 0
Total 794,671 782,823 791,223 1,431 1,439 1,458 2.47 2.24 2.09 1,426 852 5
Europe
Albania 222 245 286 72 79 92 1.47 1.34 1.57 8 0 0
Austria 3,466 4,200 3,643 391 473 409 0.80 0.88 0.78 23 112 0
500 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Belgium 5,323 5,520 5,663 454 469 478 1.02 0.92 0.96 23 6 0
Bosnia-Herzegovina 168 192 169 44 50 44 0.84 0.82 0.71 11 6 0
Bulgaria 1,249 1,270 1,341 179 184 195 1.79 1.58 1.58 37 3 0
Croatia 997 1,413 1,273 236 336 304 1.74 2.09 1.84 17 21 0
Cyprus 419 571 497 331 445 384 1.70 2.06 1.86 12 50 0
Czech Republic 3,253 3,938 3,826 304 368 357 1.32 1.40 1.29 27 0 0
Denmark 4,919 5,371 5,064 838 911 855 1.38 1.35 1.31 15 44 0
Estonia 716 779 830 583 638 685 2.31 2.12 2.15 7 18 0
Finland 4,153 5,913 5,819 745 1,058 1,039 1.53 1.99 2.07 19 238 3
France 54,943 58,812 54,417 810 864 797 2.08 1.99 1.96 203 41 101
Germany 52,094 55,543 53,371 650 695 633 1.34 1.30 1.32 183 33 0
Greece 4,976 7,688 7,869 469 727 747 2.64 3.55 3.54 132 289 4
Hungary 2,175 2,620 2,992 223 269 308 1.39 1.44 1.62 32 20 0
Iceland 52 44 42 149 123 117 0.24 0.17 0.15 0 0 0
Ireland 1,187 1,269 1,170 229 243 222 0.28 0.25 0.23 8 2 0
Table 18 International comparisons of defence expenditure and military personnel

Italy 29,696 33,479 31,120 476 537 509 1.57 1.59 1.56 161 18 176
Latvia 757 824 852 402 442 462 2.27 2.14 2.12 7 16 0
Lithuania 1,161 1,308 1,585 425 482 590 2.07 2.01 2.34 23 7 14
Luxembourg 390 412 444 620 644 683 0.53 0.47 0.54 0 0 1
Macedonia, North 188 207 229 88 97 108 1.59 1.49 1.63 8 5 8
Malta 81 85 87 177 184 188 0.54 0.49 0.51 2 0 0
Montenegro 74 91 100 121 150 166 1.65 1.55 1.63 2 3 4
Netherlands 12,594 13,883 15,228 729 801 875 1.39 1.37 1.54 34 6 7
Norway 6,476 7,503 7,433 1,184 1,362 1,338 1.79 1.56 1.47 25 40 0
Poland 12,780 13,424 13,396 334 352 352 2.13 1.98 1.87 114 0 14
Portugal 2,853 2,932 2,591 277 286 253 1.25 1.17 1.01 27 24 25
Romania 5,182 5,557 5,188 243 262 280 2.08 1.96 1.73 72 55 57
Serbia 896 1,032 1,221 128 148 181 1.68 1.64 1.95 28 50 4
Defence spending Defence spending Defence spending Active armed Estimated Active
(current USDm) per capita (current USD) % of GDP forces (000) reservists (000) paramilitary (000)
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022
Slovakia 1,847 1,992 2,008 339 366 370 1.76 1.73 1.79 18 0 0
Slovenia 605 836 883 288 397 420 1.13 1.35 1.42 6 1 0
Spain 13,744 15,126 14,669 275 320 311 1.07 1.06 1.06 124 15 76
Sweden 7,036 8,296 8,074 690 808 770 1.29 1.31 1.34 15 10 0
Switzerland 5,723 5,689 5,554 681 673 653 0.77 0.71 0.69 20 123 0
Turkey 10,885 9,547 6,188 133 116 75 1.51 1.17 0.73 355 379 157
United Kingdom* 61,473 70,870 70,029 935 1,073 1,033 2.23 2.22 2.19 150 72 0
Total 314,753 348,476 335,152 412 471 467 1.46 1.47 1.46 1,948 1,705 649
Russia and Eurasia
Armenia 628 622 749 208 206 250 4.97 4.46 4.23 43 210 4
Azerbaijan 2,267 2,698 2,641 222 262 255 5.31 4.94 3.77 64 300 15
Belarus 601 640 818 63 68 87 0.98 0.94 1.03 48 290 110
Georgia 283 279 314 57 57 64 2.04 1.68 1.35 21 0 5
Kazakhstan 1,430 1,538 1,876 75 80 97 0.84 0.78 0.84 39 0 32
Kyrgyzstan n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 11 0 10
Moldova 44 52 46 13 16 14 0.39 0.38 0.32 5 58 1
Russia [a] 42,671 48,531 66,857 301 341 471 2.87 2.73 3.13 1,190 1,500 559
Tajikistan 89 94 107 10 10 12 1.09 1.07 1.07 9 0 8
Turkmenistan* n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 37 0 20
Ukraine [b] 4,353 4,298 3,547 99 98 81 2.86 2.21 n.k. 688 400 250
Uzbekistan n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 48 0 20
Total** 52,367 58,751 76,955 117 126 148 2.37 2.13 1.97 2,202 2,758 1,033
Table 18 International comparisons of defence expenditure and military personnel

Asia
Afghanistan 2,014 n.k. n.k. 55 n.k. n.k. 10.00 n.k. n.k. 100 0 0
Australia 31,418 34,185 33,841 1,234 1,324 1,295 2.31 2.09 1.96 60 30 0
Bangladesh 3,786 4,059 4,320 23 25 26 1.01 0.98 0.94 163 0 64
Brunei 439 454 435 946 964 910 3.66 3.24 2.36 7 1 1
Cambodia* 1,032 1,024 1,003 61 59 60 4.10 3.89 3.54 124 0 67
China 187,208 213,923 242,409 134 152 171 1.26 1.21 1.20 2,035 510 500
Fiji 52 46 44 55 49 46 1.16 1.07 0.90 4 6 0
India 65,307 67,498 66,645 49 50 48 2.45 2.13 1.92 1,468 1,155 1,608
Indonesia 8,116 8,407 9,059 30 31 33 0.77 0.71 0.70 396 400 280
Reference 501

Reference
Defence spending Defence spending Defence spending Active armed Estimated Active
(current USDm) per capita (current USD) % of GDP forces (000) reservists (000) paramilitary (000)
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022
Japan 53,758 52,198 48,079 428 419 387 1.07 1.06 1.12 247 56 14
Korea, DPR of n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 1,280 600 189
Korea, Republic of 40,999 46,258 42,991 791 894 829 2.49 2.55 2.48 555 3,100 14
Laos n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 29 0 100
Malaysia 3,709 3,829 4,148 114 114 122 1.10 1.03 0.96 113 52 23
Maldives 82 92 101 210 236 258 2.20 1.78 1.71 4 0 0
Mongolia 105 100 90 33 31 28 0.81 0.67 0.59 10 137 8
502 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Myanmar 2,390 3,409 1,876 42 60 33 2.94 5.23 3.15 356 0 107


Nepal 435 413 421 14 14 14 1.29 1.15 1.08 97 0 15
New Zealand 3,287 3,269 3,353 667 655 664 1.56 1.32 1.38 9 3 0
Pakistan 9,363 10,300 9,768 40 43 40 3.12 2.96 2.59 652 0 291
Papua New Guinea 95 88 99 13 12 10 0.39 0.32 0.32 4 0 0
Philippines 5,269 5,660 5,462 48 51 48 1.47 1.45 1.37 145 131 12
Singapore 9,879 11,433 11,919 1,591 1,949 2,013 2.86 2.88 2.81 51 253 7
Sri Lanka 1,683 1,548 1,154 74 67 50 1.97 1.74 1.56 255 6 62
Taiwan 13,903 16,179 16,164 589 686 685 2.08 2.09 1.95 169 1,657 12
Thailand 6,839 6,708 6,171 99 97 89 1.37 1.33 1.16 361 200 94
Timor-Leste 42 39 44 30 28 31 2.19 1.66 1.80 2 0 0
Tonga 10 5 8 94 48 77 2.04 1.08 1.63 1 0 0
Vietnam* 5,724 6,308 6,030 58 61 58 1.67 1.73 1.46 482 5,000 40
Total ** 456,944 497,432 515,635 279 312 309 2.20 1.82 1.64 9,178 13,295 3,507
Middle East and North Africa
Table 18 International comparisons of defence expenditure and military personnel

Algeria 9,699 9,088 8,945 226 209 202 6.69 5.59 4.78 139 150 187
Bahrain 1,405 1,399 1,399 934 916 908 4.05 3.61 3.22 8 0 11
Egypt 4,106 4,839 5,211 39 45 48 1.41 1.45 1.39 439 479 397
Iran 16,549 28,102 44,011 195 327 507 1.70 1.77 2.23 610 350 40
Iraq 10,191 7,423 8,690 262 187 215 6.01 3.71 3.16 193 0 266
Israel 17,234 20,408 19,350 1,987 2,323 2,171 4.97 4.85 4.30 170 465 8
Jordan 1,719 1,801 1,933 159 165 176 4.90 4.91 4.75 101 65 15
Kuwait 6,823 9,635 9,172 2,279 3,178 2,989 6.44 7.10 5.00 18 24 7
Lebanon 741 n.k. n.k. 136 n.k. n.k. 3.03 n.k. n.k. 60 0 20
Libya n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k.
Mauritania 207 213 229 52 52 55 2.41 2.15 2.27 16 0 5
Morocco 5,961 6,521 6,413 168 182 175 4.92 4.57 4.50 196 150 50
Oman 7,483 6,431 6,431 2,059 1,741 1,709 10.12 7.49 5.90 43 0 4
Defence spending Defence spending Defence spending Active armed Estimated Active
(current USDm) per capita (current USD) % of GDP forces (000) reservists (000) paramilitary (000)
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022
Palestinian Territories n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 0 0 n.k.
Qatar 6,466 6,258 8,419 2,645 2,523 3,357 4.48 3.48 3.80 17 0 5
Saudi Arabia 52,000 50,667 45,600 1,522 1,457 1,290 7.39 6.08 4.51 257 0 25
Syria n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 169 0 100
Tunisia 1,153 1,231 1,283 98 104 108 2.91 2.81 2.95 36 0 12
United Arab Emirates 19,826 19,159 20,356 1,984 1,944 2,053 5.52 4.56 4.04 63 0 0
Yemen n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 40 0 0
Total** 161,564 173,176 187,442 921 1024 1064 4.81 4.28 3.79 2,572 1,683 1,152
Latin America and the Caribbean
Antigua and Barbuda 8 7 8 80 75 76 0.57 0.50 0.45 0 0 0
Argentina 2,904 2,588 3,380 64 56 73 0.75 0.53 0.54 72 0 31
Bahamas 86 95 95 254 270 266 0.88 0.85 0.74 2 0 0
Barbados 41 40 42 138 132 140 0.87 0.82 0.73 1 0 0
Belize 25 20 23 61 49 57 1.26 0.86 0.87 2 1 0
Bolivia 479 476 481 41 40 40 1.30 1.17 1.11 34 0 37
Brazil 22,234 21,293 22,951 105 100 106 1.53 1.32 1.21 367 1,340 395
Chile 4,049 4,041 3,758 223 221 204 1.60 1.28 1.21 69 19 45
Colombia 5,480 6,078 6,307 112 121 129 2.04 1.95 1.85 256 35 172
Costa Rica 457 430 423 90 84 81 0.75 0.68 0.62 0 0 10
Cuba n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 49 39 27
Dominican Republic 589 582 761 56 55 71 0.75 0.61 0.68 56 0 15
Ecuador 1,545 1,593 1,581 91 93 91 1.56 1.51 1.37 41 118 1
Table 18 International comparisons of defence expenditure and military personnel

El Salvador 172 248 257 27 38 39 0.71 0.86 0.80 25 10 26


Guatemala 366 340 400 21 20 23 0.47 0.40 0.44 18 64 25
Guyana 66 71 85 88 90 107 1.20 0.92 0.57 3 1 0
Haiti 10 37 14 1 3 1 0.07 0.18 0.07 1 0 0
Honduras 345 352 371 37 38 39 1.45 1.24 1.21 15 60 8
Jamaica 238 207 204 85 73 72 1.71 1.34 1.27 6 3 0
Mexico 5,352 6,713 5,743 42 52 44 0.49 0.52 0.40 216 82 137
Nicaragua 79 81 85 13 13 13 0.63 0.58 0.54 12 0 0
Panama 753 830 870 193 211 201 1.40 1.31 1.22 0 0 28
Paraguay 278 278 276 39 38 37 0.78 0.72 0.66 14 165 15
Reference 503

Reference
Defence spending Defence spending Defence spending Active armed Estimated Active
(current USDm) per capita (current USD) % of GDP forces (000) reservists (000) paramilitary (000)
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022
Peru 2,132 1,818 1,746 67 56 54 1.04 0.80 0.73 81 188 77
Suriname n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 2 0 0
Trinidad and Tobago 954 773 838 789 633 596 4.46 3.22 2.86 5 1 0
Uruguay 509 516 546 150 152 160 0.95 0.87 0.77 21 0 1
Venezuela n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 123 8 220
Total** 49,150 49,508 51,245 115 109 109 1.17 1.00 0.92 1,488 2,132 1,269
Sub-Saharan Africa
504 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Angola 1,014 993 1,760 31 30 51 1.74 1.32 1.41 107 0 10


Benin 56 226 394 4 17 29 0.36 1.27 2.24 12 0 5
Botswana 560 520 495 242 221 208 3.75 2.95 2.75 9 0 0
Burkina Faso 388 459 469 19 21 21 2.23 2.40 2.57 7 0 4
Burundi 62 65 67 5 5 5 2.02 1.95 1.81 30 0 1
Cabo Verde 12 12 12 20 20 19 0.62 0.57 0.56 1 0 0
Cameroon 407 444 419 15 16 14 1.00 0.98 0.95 25 0 9
Central African Rep 41 43 39 7 8 7 1.73 1.67 1.56 9 0 1
Chad 274 286 259 16 16 14 2.55 2.43 2.00 33 0 12
Congo 311 313 264 59 58 48 3.01 2.48 1.82 10 0 2
Côte d'Ivoire 608 638 610 22 23 6 0.99 0.91 0.89 27 0 n.k.
Dem Republic of the Congo 346 291 372 3 3 13 0.71 0.52 0.58 134 0 0
Djibouti n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 8 0 5
Equatorial Guinea n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 1 0 0
Eritrea n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 302 n.k. 0
Table 18 International comparisons of defence expenditure and military personnel

Ethiopia 429 377 1,576 4 3 14 0.44 0.38 1.42 503 0 0


Gabon 272 312 280 122 136 119 1.77 1.54 1.26 5 0 2
Gambia 15 16 14 7 7 6 0.82 0.79 0.65 4 0 0
Ghana 276 362 262 9 11 8 0.39 0.46 0.34 16 0 0
Guinea 211 247 327 17 19 25 1.49 1.53 1.66 10 0 3
Guinea-Bissau n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 4 0 0
Kenya 1,102 1,099 1,346 21 20 24 1.09 0.99 1.17 24 0 5
Lesotho 38 35 40 19 16 18 1.84 1.42 1.58 2 0 0
Liberia 12 20 19 2 4 3 0.40 0.56 0.48 2 0 0
Madagascar 107 102 102 4 4 4 0.82 0.71 0.68 14 0 8
Malawi 69 82 75 3 4 4 0.58 0.69 0.65 11 0 4
Mali 787 855 831 40 42 40 4.50 4.47 4.51 21 0 20
Mauritius 225 202 230 163 146 176 2.06 1.81 2.00 0 0 3
Defence spending Defence spending Defence spending Active armed Estimated Active
(current USDm) per capita (current USD) % of GDP forces (000) reservists (000) paramilitary (000)
2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2020 2021 2022 2022 2022 2022
Mozambique 131 143 145 4 5 5 0.93 0.91 0.81 11 0 0
Namibia 378 367 363 144 137 133 3.58 2.98 2.91 10 0 6
Niger 211 203 244 9 9 10 1.53 1.35 1.66 33 0 25
Nigeria 2,505 2,423 2,778 12 11 12 0.58 0.55 0.55 143 0 80
Rwanda 128 152 169 10 12 13 1.26 1.38 1.40 33 0 2
Senegal 346 474 423 22 29 24 1.41 1.72 1.54 14 0 5
Seychelles n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 0 0 0
Sierra Leone 24 33 26 4 5 3 0.58 0.79 0.63 9 0 0
Somalia n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 14 0 0
South Africa 3,321 3,342 3,090 59 59 54 0.98 0.80 0.75 74 0 15
South Sudan 92 43 64 9 4 6 1.37 0.84 1.33 53 0 0
Sudan n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. n.k. 104 0 40
Tanzania 803 903 943 14 15 15 1.25 1.28 1.23 27 80 1
Togo 116 118 173 13 14 20 1.53 1.40 2.07 13 0 3
Uganda 960 1,222 1,091 22 27 24 2.56 2.84 2.26 45 10 1
Zambia 358 282 444 21 15 23 1.98 1.32 1.64 15 3 1
Zimbabwe 39 287 751 3 19 50 0.17 0.87 1.96 29 0 22
Total** 17,034 17,992 20,965 32 32 33 1.49 1.42 1.48 1,960 93 295
Summary
North America 794,671 782,823 791,223 1,431 1,439 1,458 2.47 2.24 2.09 1,426 852 5
Europe 314,753 348,476 335,152 412 471 467 1.46 1.47 1.46 1,948 1,705 649
Russia and Eurasia 52,367 58,751 76,955 117 126 148 2.37 2.13 1.97 2,202 2,758 1,033
Table 18 International comparisons of defence expenditure and military personnel

Asia 456,944 497,432 515,635 279 312 309 2.20 1.82 1.64 9,178 13,295 3,507
Middle East and North Africa 161,564 173,176 187,442 921 1,024 1,064 4.81 4.28 3.79 2,572 1,683 1,152
Latin America and the
49,150 49,508 51,245 115 109 109 1.17 1.00 0.92 1,488 2,132 1,269
Caribbean
Sub-Saharan Africa 17,034 17,992 20,965 32 32 33 1.49 1.42 1.48 1,960 93 295
Global totals 1,846,484 1,928,158 1,978,617 295 321 326 1.96 1.76 1.67 20,774 22,517 7,911

Totals may not sum precisely due to rounding. * Estimates. **Totals exclude defence-spending estimates for states where insufficient official information is available in order to enable approximate comparisons of
regional defence-spending between years. Defence Spending per capita (current US$) and Defence Spending % of GDP totals are regional averages. [a] ‘National Defence’ budget chapter. Excludes other defence-
related expenditures included under other budget lines (e.g. pensions) - see Table 5, p.191 [b] Official budget (including military pensions). Actual spending expected to be much higher in 2022 following Russian
invasion in February. Significant depreciation of the Ukrainian hryvnia against the US dollar in 2022. Defence Spending as % of GDP includes US foreign military financing programmes - other figures do not.
Reference 505

Reference
506 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023

Table 19 Index of country/territory abbreviations

AFG.......................................................Afghanistan GEO .............................................................. Georgia NOR ...............................................................Norway


ALB ................................................................Albania GER .............................................................Germany NPL ................................................................... Nepal
ALG .................................................................Algeria GF ..................................................... French Guiana NZL .....................................................New Zealand
ANG ................................................................Angola GHA ................................................................. Ghana OMN.................................................................Oman
ARG .......................................................... Argentina GIB ...............................................................Gibraltar PT ....................................... Palestinian Territories
ARM ............................................................ Armenia GNB ..................................................Guinea-Bissau PAN............................................................... Panama
ATG .................................... Antigua and Barbuda GRC................................................................. Greece PAK .............................................................. Pakistan
AUS..............................................................Australia GRL .......................................................... Greenland PER ...................................................................... Peru
AUT................................................................. Austria GUA ........................................................ Guatemala PHL .........................................................Philippines
AZE ..........................................................Azerbaijan GUI..................................................................Guinea POL ................................................................. Poland
BDI ................................................................ Burundi GUY ...............................................................Guyana PNG ........................................ Papua New Guinea
BEL................................................................Belgium HND...........................................................Honduras PRC ..........................China, People’s Republic of
BEN ....................................................................Benin HTI .......................................................................Haiti PRT ..............................................................Portugal
BFA ......................................................Burkina Faso HUN.............................................................Hungary PRY .............................................................Paraguay
BGD .......................................................Bangladesh IDN ........................................................... Indonesia PYF ............................................. French Polynesia
BHR ...............................................................Bahrain IND ..................................................................... India QTR ....................................................................Qatar
BHS.............................................................Bahamas IRL ................................................................... Ireland ROC .........................Taiwan (Republic of China)
BIH ........................................Bosnia-Herzegovina IRN ........................................................................ Iran ROK ..........................................Korea, Republic of
BIOT ...................British Indian Ocean Territory IRQ ........................................................................ Iraq ROM ........................................................... Romania
BLG ...............................................................Bulgaria ISL ...................................................................Iceland RSA .......................................................South Africa
BLR .................................................................Belarus ISR .......................................................................Israel RUS ...................................................................Russia
BLZ ................................................................... Belize ITA .........................................................................Italy RWA..............................................................Rwanda
BOL ..................................................................Bolivia JAM .............................................................. Jamaica SAU......................................................Saudi Arabia
BRB ............................................................ Barbados JOR ................................................................. Jordan SDN ................................................................. Sudan
BRN ................................................................. Brunei JPN ................................................................... Japan SEN ............................................................... Senegal
BRZ .................................................................... Brazil KAZ........................................................ Kazakhstan SER....................................................................Serbia
BWA...........................................................Botswana KEN...................................................................Kenya SGP ...........................................................Singapore
CAM ........................................................ Cambodia KGZ......................................................... Kyrgyzstan SLB............................................... Solomon Islands
CAN ...............................................................Canada KWT................................................................ Kuwait SLE ....................................................... Sierra Leone
CAR...............................Central African Republic LAO......................................................................Laos SLV .......................................................... El Salvador
CHA ....................................................................Chad LBN ............................................................. Lebanon SOM ............................................................. Somalia
CHE ........................................................Switzerland LBR ..................................................................Liberia SSD ..................................................... South Sudan
CHL .....................................................................Chile LBY .................................................................... Libya STP...................................São Tomé and Príncipe
CIV .......................................................Côte d’Ivoire LKA ............................................................. Sri Lanka SUR ............................................................Suriname
CMR ......................................................... Cameroon LSO ............................................................... Lesotho SVK ...............................................................Slovakia
COG .........................................Republic of Congo LTU............................................................. Lithuania SVN.............................................................. Slovenia
COL ............................................................Colombia LUX ..................................................... Luxembourg SWE .............................................................. Sweden
CPV ........................................................ Cabo Verde LVA ................................................................... Latvia SYC .......................................................... Seychelles
CRI ............................................................Costa Rica MDA ............................................................Moldova SYR ......................................................................Syria
CRO ................................................................Croatia MDG .....................................................Madagascar TGO .................................................................... Togo
CUB ....................................................................Cuba MDV ........................................................... Maldives THA .............................................................Thailand
CYP ................................................................ Cyprus MEX ................................................................Mexico TJK ............................................................. Tajikistan
CZE ............................................... Czech Republic MHL.............................................. Marshall Islands TKM ...................................................Turkmenistan
DJB ...............................................................Djibouti MKD ..........................................Macedonia, North TLS ........................................................ Timor-Leste
DNK ............................................................Denmark MLI........................................................................Mali TON ..................................................................Tonga
DOM.....................................Dominican Republic MLT ....................................................................Malta TTO ......................................Trinidad and Tobago
DPRK Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of MMR.......................................................... Myanmar TUN ................................................................ Tunisia
DRC .........Democratic Republic of the Congo MNE ................................................... Montenegro TUR ..................................................................Turkey
ECU ...............................................................Ecuador MNG ..........................................................Mongolia TZA ..............................................................Tanzania
EGY ....................................................................Egypt MOR ............................................................Morocco UAE.....................................United Arab Emirates
EQG ............................................Equitorial Guinea MOZ ...................................................Mozambique UGA .............................................................. Uganda
ERI .................................................................... Eritrea MRT ........................................................ Mauritania UK ................................................United Kingdom
ESP.....................................................................Spain MUS........................................................... Mauritius UKR ...............................................................Ukraine
EST ..................................................................Estonia MWI ................................................................Malawi URY..............................................................Uruguay
ETH ...............................................................Ethiopia MYS .............................................................Malaysia US....................................................... United States
FIN ................................................................. Finland NAM ............................................................ Namibia UZB.........................................................Uzbekistan
FJI .............................................................................Fiji NCL .................................................New Caledonia VEN...........................................................Venezuela
FLK................................................ Falkland Islands NER .................................................................... Niger VNM ............................................................ Vietnam
FRA ..................................................................France NGA ................................................................Nigeria YEM ........................................Yemen, Republic of
GAB .................................................................Gabon NIC ............................................................Nicaragua ZMB ...............................................................Zambia
GAM ............................................................. Gambia NLD ......................................................Netherlands ZWE .........................................................Zimbabwe
Reference 507

Table 20 Index of countries and territories

Afghanistan AFG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 Georgia GEO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .177 Nigeria NGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .469


Albania ALB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72 Germany GER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94 Niger NER. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .468
Algeria ALG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .315 Ghana GHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .455 Norway NOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118
Angola ANG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .433 Greece GRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97 Oman OMN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .346
Antigua and Barbuda ATG . . . . . . . . . . . . .376 Guatemala GUA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .400 Pakistan PAK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .279
Argentina ARG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .376 Guinea GUI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .456 Palestinian Territories PT . . . . . . . . . . . . . .348
Armenia ARM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .171 Guinea-Bissau GNB. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .457 Panama PAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .408
Australia AUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .229 Guyana GUY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .401 Papua New Guinea PNG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .283
Austria AUT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73 Haiti HTI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .402 Paraguay PRY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .409
Azerbaijan AZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .172 Honduras HND. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .402 Peru PER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .411
Bahamas BHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .379 Hungary HUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101 Philippines PHL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .284
Bahrain BHR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318 Iceland ISL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .102 Poland POL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .120
Bangladesh BGD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .232 India IND . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .247 Portugal PRT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .123
Barbados BRB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380 Indonesia IDN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .253 Qatar QTR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349
Belarus BLR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .175 Iran IRN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .324 Romania ROM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .125
Belgium BEL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74 Iraq IRQ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .328 Russia RUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .183
Belize BLZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380 Ireland IRL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Rwanda RWA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .471
Benin BEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .434 Israel ISR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .330 Saudi Arabia SAU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .351
Bolivia BOL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .381 Italy ITA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104 Senegal SEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .472
Bosnia-Herzegovina BIH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76 Jamaica JAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .404 Serbia SER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .128
Botswana BWA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .435 Japan JPN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .257 Seychelles SYC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .474
Brazil BRZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .383 Jordan JOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .334 Sierra Leone SLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .474
Brunei BRN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .234 Kazakhstan KAZ. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .178 Singapore SGP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .286
Bulgaria BLG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 Kenya KEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .458 Slovakia SVK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .130
Burkina Faso BFA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .437 Korea, Democratic People’s Slovenia SVN. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .132
Burundi BDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .438 Republic of DPRK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .262 Somalia SOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .475
Cabo Verde CPV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .439 Korea, Republic of ROK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .265 South Africa RSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .476
Cambodia CAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .235 Kuwait KWT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .336 South Sudan SSD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .479
Cameroon CMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .439 Kyrgyzstan KGZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .180 Spain ESP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .133
Canada CAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Laos LAO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .269 Sri Lanka LKA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .289
Central African Republic CAR . . . . . . . . . .441 Latvia LVA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108 Sudan SDN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .480
Chad CHA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .442 Lebanon LBN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .338 Suriname SUR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .414
Chile CHL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .387 Lesotho LSO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .459 Sweden SWE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .137
China, People’s Republic of PRC. . . . . . . .237 Liberia LBR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .460 Switzerland CHE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .139
Colombia COL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .390 Libya LBY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .340 Syria SYR. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .354
Congo, Republic of COG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .444 Lithuania LTU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Taiwan (Republic of China) ROC . . . . . . .291
Costa Rica CRI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .393 Luxembourg LUX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Tajikistan TJK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .198
Côte d’Ivoire CIV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .445 Macedonia, North MKD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Tanzania TZA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .482
Croatia CRO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79 Madagascar MDG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .461 Thailand THA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .294
Cuba CUB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .393 Malawi MWI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .462 Timor-Leste TLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .297
Cyprus CYP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80 Malaysia MYS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .270 Togo TGO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .484
Czech Republic CZE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82 Maldives MDV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .273 Tonga TON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .298
Democratic Republic of the Mali MLI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .463 Trinidad and Tobago TTO . . . . . . . . . . . . . .414
Congo DRC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .446 Malta MLT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Tunisia TUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .357
Denmark DNK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 Mauritania MRT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .342 Turkey TUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .141
Djibouti DJB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .448 Mauritius MUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465 Turkmenistan TKM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .199
Dominican Republic DOM . . . . . . . . . . . . .395 Mexico MEX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .405 Uganda UGA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .485
Ecuador ECU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .396 Moldova MDA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .181 Ukraine UKR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .201
Egypt EGY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .320 Mongolia MNG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274 United Arab Emirates UAE . . . . . . . . . . . . .359
El Salvador SLV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .398 Montenegro MNE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 United Kingdom UK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .145
Equatorial Guinea EQG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .449 Morocco MOR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .343 United States US . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Eritrea ERI. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .450 Mozambique MOZ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .465 Uruguay URY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .415
Estonia EST . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 Multinational Organisations . . . . . . . . . . .115 Uzbekistan UZB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .205
Ethiopia ETH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .451 Myanmar MMR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .275 Venezuela VEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .417
Reference

Fiji FJI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .246 Namibia NAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .467 Vietnam VNM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .298


Finland FIN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Nepal NPL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .277 Yemen, Republic of YEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .362
France FRA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89 Netherlands NLD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116 Zambia ZMB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .486
Gabon GAB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .453 New Zealand NZL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .278 Zimbabwe ZWE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .488
Gambia GAM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .454 Nicaragua NIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .407
508 THE MILITARY BALANCE 2023
Space is increasingly important to defence Australia was the latest country to establish a
Military space technology developments China, Russia, US Counterspace capabilities
The International Institute for Strategic Studies operations. It is central to early warning, space command. However, the US and China Orbital space has become an increasingly hostile environment which is intended to provide more rapid access to space. China and The United States’ position as the pre-eminent military space power is now challenged by increasing invest- Space-operating nations have for decades looked to deny others’ space-based a satellite by targeting optical sensors. To be effective, a laser need only be
military communications, navigation services remain the two leading space-operating to operate in as the result of deliberate and inadvertent actions. the US also benefit from the ability to access domestic commercial ments in space and counterspace systems by other states, principally China. In response, Washington has capabilities. As more nations use space to enable and boost their military powerful enough to trigger any protective mechanism on a satellite window.
(including targeting), and intelligence, surveil- nations, followed by Russia. Several nations have either deployed or are working to introduce space-launch capacity, an option not available to Russia. created a number of new military space-related organisations, such as the US Space Force and the Space capability there has been a resulting increase in the search for counterspace Co-orbital systems represent a further threat. A number of close-proximity
lance, and reconnaissance, and no longer for As the value of military space has grown,

THE 2023 MILITARY


into service hard- and soft-kill anti-satellite capabilities, while Along with the capacity to replace space assets there are also Development Agency, and is looking to technologies and operating concepts, such as proliferated low earth systems. At the same time, greater use of space increases the risk of unintended fly-bys by rival nations of each other’s satellites is indicative of such a capability.
just a handful of nations. At the same time, so too has interest in developing and deploying there is also growing concern over orbital debris. Commercial efforts to make space-based systems and architectures more resil- orbits, that could improve the future resilience of its space systems. Washington is also considering how it consequences from the use of counterspace capabilities. It is also possible that such systems could effectively be dual-use, with systems
access to space and the use of space systems the capacity to deny an adversary the use activity is also greatly increasing the number of satellites in low ient. Small satellite constellations, for example, could offer greater can further utilise US commercial satellites to augment government-owned capabilities. There are numerous ways to either temporarily or permanently degrade, used for on-orbit repair and recovery potentially useful for offensive activities.
underpin economic and social activity. of space, or reliable access to it, through Earth orbit (LEO). redundancy than a smaller number of larger platforms. They would Having identified space capabilities as a crucial component of modern military power at the end of the Cold War, deny, degrade, disable or spoof on-orbit capabilities. Counterspace systems Electronic warfare provides the opportunity to try to degrade or deny satellite

BALANCE CHART
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, counter-space activities. The Assured Access China, Russia, and the US already have offensive and defensive also present a more difficult target set to attack physically. China, China has devoted considerable resources to building up its own space capabilities. Beijing has launched a greater can be divided in part by which element of the space-based architecture they communications, and can be used against uplinks, downlinks, or both. Precision
which began on 24 February 2022, has under- To Space organisation is the largest within counter-space space systems in service and are continuing to Russia and the US are also developing rendezvous and proximity number of militarily-relevant satellites over the past decade than either Moscow or Washington, with a particular are intended to affect, and partly by whether the desired effect is short-term navigation and timing signals are a target for electronic warfare.
scored the importance of space for military US Space Command, in part a reflection of pursue further developments. Concern over the vulnerability of operations that have benign and potentially malign applications. focus on intelligence gathering systems, and has commissioned its own Beidou global satellite navigation system. or permanent. China, India, Russia and the US have tested one or more Ground infrastructure, and personnel, are also potentially vulnerable to
operations. Space has proven to be an enabler the increased importance of this area, while military systems has also spurred activity aimed at more rapidly The proliferation of satellites, particularly in LEO, combined with Russia inherited a substantial, if ageing, set of space capabilities and supporting industries from the Soviet counterspace capabilities. attack. Satellite services could be denied by damaging or destroying elements
for Ukraine through external commercial and China is working on improving its capacity to replacing in-orbit systems. US Space Command in 2023 intends to concern over the space debris hazard, also underpins increasing Union. However, despite a recapitalisation effort in the 2010s, Moscow is unable to match either Beijing or Washing- Kinetic weapons, such as direct-ascent interceptors or air-launched of the ground architecture required to control or communicate with orbital

MILITARY SPACE ASSETS:


military support, while Russian limitations in the more rapidly launch systems. In turn, this has carry out the Victus Nox mission to test whether a small satellite efforts to improve space domain awareness. The ability to identify ton in terms of the funding or resources allocated to the military space realm. Russia has far fewer intelligence anti-satellite missiles, are intended to provide a means of destroying orbital systems. Offensive cyber activity offers a further means of attacking satellite
domain have become apparent. The availability prompted renewed interest in how to manage can be launched in 24 hours from launch authorisation, a far shorter threats, deliberate or inadvertent, and in the case of the former to gathering satellite constellations in orbit than either China or the US; some analysts think this imbalance could push assets. Ground-based lasers, depending on the power of the laser, can also capabilities. Software-driven digital systems are now central to satellite
of comparatively high-resolution commercial tensions and inadvertent escalation with period than is the norm. China is developing the Long March 11 have the capacity for attribution, is becoming only more important. Moscow further towards a space denial strategy in future, with more emphasis placed on counterspace systems. be used to permanently damage or temporarily deny an adversary the use of operations, and are vulnerable, for example, to the insertion of corrupt data.

CHINA, RUSSIA AND satellite imagery has also played a role in how
the war has been portrayed and perceived.
Near-Earth space is more congested than
discussion in the United Nations on ‘reducing
space threats through norms, rules and princi-
ples of behaviour.’ This chart shows principal

THE UNITED STATES before and risks being increasingly contested


as a growing number of nations develop
and deploy military space systems. In 2022,
satellite systems, by role, for China, Russia and
the US, as well as informationLorem
and a timeline of selected events.
on launchipsum
sites

Communications Signals Intelligence


Highly Elliptical Orbit (HEO)
EO)
The curvature of the Earth can significantly
t (H restrict the utility of GEO satellites in extreme
bi
9 7
l Or northerly or southerly latitudes. Satellites primarily
HEO ic
a intended to focus on polar or near-polar regions
O) therefore often use highly elliptical orbits, as opposed
GS

t
3 (

ip
bit to the standard circular orbit path. This results in

Ell
s Or an orbit that spends most of its time over either the

hly
u
no Northern or Southern Hemisphere (usually the

Hig
hr
o O)
(ME
Northern), with much longer visibility of the higher
Signals Intelligence Early Warning ≈40,000km (at apogee) i t latitudes in these respective regions. Also
Orb
Communications

c
yn
Positioning, Navigation and Timing termed Molniya orbits. Used for tasks
tr h

os
Ea including communications and

Ge
m O) remote sensing.
11 10
≈36,000km
b it (LE

u
Or

di
th

Me
Space Surveillence r
43 18
3 5 ≈2,000km to 36,000km Ea

w
Lo
6 Rendezvous and
GSO 5 Proximity Operations
<2,000km
11
Geosynchronous Orbit (GSO)
2 At around 36,000km from the Earth’s
8 surface, satellites can enter an orbit with
1 a period matching the rotation of the Earth,
allowing them to effectively remain permanently
at the same longitude. A geosynchronous orbit
over the equator will remain overhead a single spot
Positioning, Navigation and Timing on the Earth’s surface for its entire orbit, known as
a geostationary or geosynchronous equatorial
orbit (GEO). This predictable positioning is
important for missile early warning, commu-
nications and some signals intelligence
Medium Earth Orbit (MEO) satellites, which frequently use
Between 2,000km and 20,000km above this orbit type.
31 Remote Sensing the Earth’s surface. MEO is not frequently
Communications (Meteorology) used by military satellites due to the risk of
Remote Sensing (Radar)
Rendezvous and radiation from the Van Allen belts damaging
28
Proximity Operations inadequately protected components. However,
8 one particular semi-synchronous MEO has a
MEO 27 Remote Sensing (EO) Space 12-hour orbit period, which makes it ideal for
15 Surveillence positioning, navigation and timing (PNT)
19 6 Remote Sensing
4 (Other) satellites. For this reason, PNT systems Low Earth Orbit (LEO)
2 Reusable spacecraft such as GPS, GLONASS and Beidou Up to 2,000km above the Earth’s
5 2 are usually placed in MEO. surface. Remote-sensing satellites,
36 X-37B CSSHQ including electro-optical and radar imaging,
and most signals intelligence satellites use
1 Andøya Spaceport Nordmela LEO due to the proximity requirements of their
Signals Intelligence
9 sensors. Using an inclined polar LEO, known as a
SaxaVord Spaceport, Plesetsk Cosmodrome,  sun-synchronous orbit, a satellite will cross any
Shetland Isles Arkhangelsk Oblast point on the Earth’s surface at the same local time
Spaceport Cornwall, on each orbit, and the relative angle of sunlight
7
Cornwall Newquay Airport
(Air-launch to orbit)
at each point will be consistent for each orbit.
This is important for imaging satellites
Canso, Nova Scotia Baikonur Cosmodrome, Baikonur (Tyuratam) since it makes temporal comparison
78 of images much easier; it also
has battery-charging
Palmachim Air Force Base Semnan Space Center, Semnan advantages.
Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport (MARS), Virginia
13 Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center
LEO Kennedy Space Center, Florida
Vostochny Cosmodrome, Amur Oblast

Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center


8 Pacific Spaceport Complex (Kodiak), Vandenberg Space Force Base, Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida
Alaska California Sohae Satellite Launching Station
Xichang Satellite Launch Center
SpaceX Starbase, Boca Chica,
Mojave Air and Space Port, Naro Space Center, South Jeolla
Texas
California Spaceport Kii, Wakayama
(Air-launch to orbit)
Satish Dhawan Space Centre Tanegashima Space Center
Wenchang Satellite
(SDSC) SHAR, Andhra Pradesh Uchinoura Space Center
Guiana Space Center (CSG), Kourou, Launch Center
French Guiana

Launch vehicles Andersen Air Force Base


(Air-launch to orbit)

Legend
• US Minotaur-1 550 (L) Electron Photon Antares-230+ Atlas V 18,500 Astra Rocket-3.3 Falcon 9 22,800 Launcher ONE Launch site status
Minotaur-4 1735 (L) 100 (L) 8,200 (L) (L) / 3,960 (G) N/A (L) / 5,300 (G) 500 (L)
Planned
Minotaur-5 678 (G) Electron 225 (L) Delta IV Heavy Falcon Heavy
23,040 (L) / 6,275 (G) 26,700 (L) Operational; has achieved orbital launch
Minotaur-C 1,275 (L)
Firefly Alpha
1,000 (L)
Launch Vehicle Fuel Type (inc boosters)
Liquid
• RUSSIA Angara-1 3,700 (L) Angara-A5 Soyuz-2 (Core) Soyuz-2 Soyuz-2 FG 5,000 Proton-M Blok-DM-03
24,500 (L) 2,100 (L) (IK VG Upper (L) / 2100 (G) 3,200 (G) Puerto Belgrano Solid
stage) 00 (L) Proton-M Briz-M
Abbot Point,
3,300 (G) (L) = Launch Vehicle Payload Mass to LEO kg
Queensland
Zenit-3F N/A (G) = Launch Vehicle Payload Mass to GEO kg
Whaler's Way Orbital Launch Complex,
South Australia
• CHINA CZ-3 11,500 (L) CZ-5 23,000 (L) CZ-6 1,500 (L) CZ-11 700 (L) Jielong-1 150 (L) CZ-2 3,300 (L) Kuaizhou-1 Ceres-1 Shian Quxian-1
/ 5,500 (G) /4,500 (G) CZ-7 10,000 CZ-4 4,200 (L) 400 (L) 350 (L) 300 (L)
(L) / 7,200 (G) / 1,500 (G)
CZ-8 7,600
(L) / ,500 (G)

Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1

Timeline: selected events, 1995–2022


France establishes Space Command Japan establishes Space UK establishes Space Command Australia establishes
India conducts direct-ascent ASAT test Operations Squadron South Korea establishes Space Space Command
• US: X-37 reusable
Operations Center
spacecraft conducts first
orbital mission
• US • US: Mid-Infrared • US: Reported • First Counter • US: Reported • US: Reported • US: reported RPO • US: SM-3 missile • First AEHF • First SBIRS • US: Reported RPO • US: Reported • US: Reported RPO • US: Reported RPO • US: CCS Block • US: Space Development
Advanced Chemical RPO activity Communications RPO activity RPO activity activity in LEO ASAT test; Reported communications satellite early-warning activity in GEO RPO activity activity in GEO activity in GEO 10.2 SATCOM Agency awards Tranche 1
Laser (MIRACL) test • US: Space Command System (CCS) satellite • US: First Meridian RPO activity in GEO launched satellite launched in GEO jammer reaches small satellite contracts for
• US: First GPS Block III
against a satellite is merged into communications communications • First FIA SAR imaging • US: Space Force IOC with Space both 'Transport Layer' and
PNT satellite launched
Strategic Command jammer delivered to satellite launched as satellite launched created as Force 'Tracking Layer' programmes
US Air Force part of ESSS system independent service
1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020
• Russia: Reported • Russia: Air-launched
• Russia: Test launch of • Russia: Air Force and
ASAT first seen
Nudol (PL-19) Aerospace Defence Troops Nudol ASAT
• RUSSIA • Russia: • Russia: GLONASS • Russia: Space rocket test • Russia: Reported Nudol • Russia: Reported Nudol • Russia: Reported • Russia: Direct-ascent • Russia: Launch of the
direct-ascent system merged to become
GLONASS PNT system restored to Troops merged test, possibly deploying test, possibly deploying Nudol test Nudol test destroys a first Neitron project
Aerospace Forces
constellation full orbital with Aerospace Kinetic Kill Vehicle Kinetic Kill Vehicle Russian satellite satellite, reportedly with
• First successful test of its
completed constellation Defence Command Nudol direct-ascent ASAT • China: Reported • Russia: Peresvet a SAR imaging payload
to form Aerospace system RPO activity in GEO directed-energy (possibly
Defence Troops • China: Reported RPO laser-dazzle) system
• First EKS early-warning
activity in LEO reportedly enters service
satellite launched
• CHINA • China: First successful test • China: SC-19 system used • China: reported • China: Reported RPO • China: First Fenghuo-2 • China: Beidou-2 • China: First reported • China: PLA Strategic Support Force created • China: Reported DN-3 • China: reported RPO • China: Reported RPO • China: Beidou-3 global PNT • China: Reported RPO
of SC-19 direct-ascent in ASAT test to destroy RPO activity activity communications regional PNT test of a GSO-range • Launch of the first TJSW satellite, reportedly ASAT test against activity in GEO activity in GEO constellation completed activity in GEO
ASAT system decommissioned Chinese • China: Reported SC-19 satellite reportedly constellation direct-ascent ASAT part of the Qianshao/Huoyan signals missile target • China: Reported DN-3 • First launch of CSSHQ
Sources: IISS; US National Snow and Ice Data Center; NASA; SecureWorld Foundation; Jonathan McDowell (planet4589 website); Bart Hendrickx (spacereview website); FY-1C weather satellite ASAT test against launched completed system intelligence and early-warning programmes ASAT test against reusable spacecraft
NATO; Ministries and Departments of Defence from Canada, Finland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, UK, US. Photo: Michael Runkel/robertharding/Getty. missile target missile target

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