Chilean Armed Forces: Difference between revisions

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Since year [[2000]], the Military of Chile is undergoing several major reequipment programs that put the country at the top of the military expenses of [[Latin America]] [http://independent.typepad.com/elindependent/2006/04/chile_encabeza_.html]
Since year [[2000]], the Military of Chile is undergoing several major reequipment programs that put the country at the top of the military expenses of [[Latin America]] [http://independent.typepad.com/elindependent/2006/04/chile_encabeza_.html]


* 2 [[Karel Doorman class frigate|Class M frigates]] ex [[Dutch Navy]]
* 2 [[Karel Doorman class frigate|Class M frigates]] ex [[Netherlands Navy]]
* 2 [[Dutch Navy|Class L]] (Jacob van Heemskerck) frigates ex Dutch Navy
* 2 [[Dutch Navy|Class L]] (Jacob van Heemskerck) frigates ex Netherlands Navy
* 3 [[Type 23 frigate|Type 23]] frigates ex Royal Navy
* 3 [[Type 23 frigate|Type 23]] frigates ex Royal Navy
* 2 New built [[Scorpène class submarine|Scorpene]] class submarines
* 2 New built [[Scorpène class submarine|Scorpene]] class submarines
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* 18 F-16MLU Fighting Falcon ex [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]]
* 18 F-16MLU Fighting Falcon ex [[Royal Netherlands Air Force]]
* Latest [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] and [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] AAM missiles (under Peace Puma program)
* Latest [[AIM-9 Sidewinder]] and [[AIM-120 AMRAAM]] AAM missiles (under Peace Puma program)
* 118 [[Leopard 2|Leopard II]] A4 Tanks
* 140 [[Leopard 2|Leopard II]] A4CHL Main Battle Tanks
* 202 [[Leopard tank|Leopard I]]
* 202 [[Leopard tank|Leopard I]] V Main Battle Tanks
* 136[[YPR-765]] [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
* 136[[YPR-765]] [[Armoured personnel carrier]]
* 5 [[Eurocopter Dauphin]] helicopters for naval aviation
* 5 [[Eurocopter Dauphin]] helicopters for naval aviation

Revision as of 02:37, 18 December 2007

{{country data {{{1}}} | Military/core | variant = | size = | name = }} Chile's armed forces are subject to civilian control exercised by the president through the Minister of Defense. Military service of 12 to 24 months is mandatory for all male citizens upon turning 18. This conscription service can be postponed for educational or religious reasons.

Structure

Army

The current Commander-in-Chief of the Chilean Army is Gen. Óscar Izurieta Ferrer. The 55,000-person army is organized into six divisions and an air brigade.The army operates Leopard 1V as main battle tank. In the next months the purchase of 136 second hand Leopard 2A4 from the German army is going to be announced. It must be noted that the Chilean Army has never lost a war. This is stated in their main statement "siempre vencedor y jamas vencido" english translation of "always victorious and never defeated".

Navy

Capitan Prat on the North Sea

Admiral Rodolfo Codina Díaz directs the 25,000-person Chilean Navy, including 5,200 marines. Of the fleet of 66 surface vessels, eight are major combatant ships and they are based in Valparaíso. The navy operates its own aircraft for transport and patrol; there are no fighter or bomber aircraft but they have attack helicopters. The Navy also operates four submarines based in Talcahuano.

Air Force

Gen. Ricardo Ortega Perrier heads 12,500 strong Chilean Air Force. Air assets are distributed among five air brigades headquartered in Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. The Air Force also operates an airbase on King George Island, Antarctica.

Police

The Chilean police are a national, uniformed force, the Carabiniers, in Spanish Carabineros, and a smaller, plainclothes investigations force, called Investigaciones de Chile. After the military coup in September 1973, the Chilean national police were incorporated into the Defense Ministry. With the return of democratic government, the police were placed under the operational control of the Interior Ministry but remain under the nominal control of the Defense Ministry. Gen. José Bernales, who directs the national police force of 40,000, is responsible for law enforcement, traffic management, narcotics suppression, border control, and counter-terrorism throughout Chile.

Military Expenditures

Chilean military expenditures represent approximately 3.9% of GDP. This figure includes the revenues of state owned copper mines which, according to Chilean Law, are used to support the Chilean military. For the purpose of comparison, in the first 9 months of 2006, state owned copper revenue was USD $971 million. [1]

Major reequipment programs

Since year 2000, the Military of Chile is undergoing several major reequipment programs that put the country at the top of the military expenses of Latin America [2]

External links