Defense Forces of Georgia

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GeorgiaGeorgia Defense Forces of Georgia
საქართველოს თავდაცვის ძალები / sak'art'welos tawdatswis dzalebi
Defense Forces of Georgia 2018 Emblem v 1 G2.png
guide
Commander in Chief : President (currently Salome Zurabishvili )
Defense Minister: Irakli Gharibashvili
Military Commander: Lieutenant General Vladimir Chachibaia
Military leadership: Defense staff
Headquarters: Tbilisi
Military strength
Active soldiers: 37,000
Reservists: 120,000
Conscription: Yes
Eligibility for military service: 18 years of age
household
Military budget: 400 million US dollars (2013)
history
Founding: 1991

The Defense Forces of Georgia ( Georgian საქართველოს თავდაცვის ძალები , sak'art'welos tawdatswis dsalebi) are the military defense forces of the Georgian Republic. They are divided into two autonomous military districts (East and West). There is compulsory military service from the age of 18.

history

The first republic, 1917–1921

Georgia's first republic, the Democratic Republic of Georgia , maintained the People's Guard as the country's official armed forces. It was founded on September 5, 1917, initially as the "Workers Guard" , then renamed the "Red Guard" and finally got its final name. Their organization was highly politicized and was directly under the control of the Georgian parliament. The Department of Defense had limited authority. The commanding officer of the guard from 1917 to 1921 was the Menshevik Waliko Jugheli .

The first republic also set up a regular army. Only part of her was under arms in peacetime. The majority of the soldiers were on leave from the front and were waiting for orders. If the republic were threatened, they should be called to arms by the General Staff . Although Georgia had close to 200,000 World War I veterans , including many trained generals and officers , the government failed to establish an effective defense system. In 1921 this contributed to the defeat of the first republic after the invasion by Red Army troops . Important representatives of the Georgian army at the time were Leo Kereselidze , Giorgi Kvinitadze and Kakuza Choloqashvili .

The Second Republic, 1921–1991

Georgian partisans, 1922–24

After the Soviet occupation of Georgia, its regular armed forces disbanded. Until 1924, parts of the Georgian army fought a partisan war against the Soviet Union. The most important partisan group was the oath of loyalty (Georgian შეფიცულები ) founded in March 1922 under the command of Kakuza Choloqashvili.

As part of the Transcaucasian Military District (ZakVO) of the Soviet Armed Forces , founded in 1923, there were divisions named after native nationalities. They included the 1st and 2nd Georgian Mountain Infantry Divisions. They were made up of former soldiers of the 11th Army of the Red Workers 'and Peasants' Army, the Caucasian Red Banner Army and units of Georgian, Armenian and Azerbaijani communists.

During World War II Georgians fought on both sides of the front: at least 30,000 in the ranks of the Eastern Legions of the Wehrmacht , the Georgian Legion , the North Caucasian Legion and other legions of ethnic Caucasians. However, they were not used on the Eastern Front. In April 1945 rose a Georgian battalion on the North Sea island of Texel against the Wehrmacht. The majority, over 700,000 Georgians, fought in the ranks of the Red Army. 2500 Georgian recruits defended the Brest fortress against the German attack.

The third republic, since 1991

Georgian armed forces abroad since 1991.

The armed forces of independent Georgia were formed from 1991 onwards from units of the Transcaucasian Military District of the Soviet Army , National Guard , irregular militias and returnees from army units in the other Soviet republics . In 1994 Georgia was one of the first countries of the former Soviet Union to participate in NATO's “ Partnership for Peace ” program.

The United States has supported Georgia's military through the Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program since 1997 . Between 1997 and 2005, 79,390,000 US dollars flowed into the Caucasus republic. Other sources cite an investment of $ 200 million by the US government and another two billion dollars by the Georgian government for the period up to 2007. From 2002 to 2004, US instructors trained the Georgian armed forces in the Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP) for operations against insurgents on the border with Chechnya .

In 2002 Georgia, the USA and Turkey signed a training agreement. It enables Georgian pilots to practice in Turkey, which is difficult because of the small national territory at home. Georgia is having its SU-25 frogfoot fighter jets converted in Israel . Moreover, the country imported assault rifles with the designation Tavor TAR-21 from the Israeli army . Other favorite products are the German G36 assault rifle and the American M4A1 .

While Georgia's defense budget was $ 18 million in 2003, it had risen to $ 900 million by 2008. The defense costs have thus reached a comparatively high proportion of the Georgian gross domestic product (almost 10 percent).

Soldiers of Light Infantry Brigade 1 simulated care for the wounded

Since April 2005, approximately 14,000 soldiers, including US military advisers , have been trained for missions in Iraq under the Georgia Sustainment and Stability Operations Program (GSSOP) and for multinational peacekeeping operations. In Iraq, about 2,500 soldiers of the 3rd Infantry Brigade stationed slight that were included as part of the US-led multinational forces. 5 Georgian soldiers were killed in Iraq. In cooperation with Germany , around 200 soldiers were assigned to Kosovo , the headquarters of the Bundeswehr there .

Georgian troops during the multinational maneuver "Combined Resolve II"

Georgian soldiers have also been participating in Afghanistan since 2001 . First, individual small units for medical purposes were set up under US leadership. Thereafter, the country actively participated in ISAF operations by sending individual infantry battalions . In 2010 the contingent was increased to 1,500 men by a further battalion. Thanks to a constant rotation system, all brigades go through a foreign deployment in Afghanistan, which increases the experience of the land forces. Since 2010, 29 soldiers, 31 according to other sources, have been killed in assaults, combat missions and booby traps, and around 435 wounded. The troops suffered the worst blow on June 6, 2013 when a truck fully loaded with explosives detonated in front of an outpost and an armed group tried to penetrate the base. All of the attackers died, as well as seven members of the armed forces. Nine others were injured.

Georgian contingents are also part of the EUFOR RCA stationed in Central Africa and Mali .

Basics

Around 37,000 men serve in the armed forces. Professional soldiers form the core . In Georgia , any citizen over the age of 18 can register for contract-based military service. The active reserve comprises around 120,000 men and can be increased to 250,000 men in an emergency.

Since 2004, Georgia's armed forces have been modernized at an accelerated rate in accordance with NATO standards. In 2006, Georgia spent 139 million lari ($ 78 million) on defense. In 2003 it was just 87 million lari ($ 24 million). In 2007 it was 22% of the national budget, or 7% of the gross national product, and thus more than 2.7 billion US dollars. Due to the high level of debt under the leadership of former President Mikheil Saakashvili , the new government had to severely cut spending on the military, which means that the current budget for 2016 is just under 350 million US dollars, the lowest level in years.

Armed forces

Structure of Defense Forces of Georgia
Georgian infantrymen in training with US Marines

The Georgian army has been able to fill the visible gap in its motorized formations since the last major fighting in 2008, largely through several negotiated arms deliveries from Ukraine.

army

The 36,553-strong army (1910 officers , 6,166 NCOs and 28,477 soldiers ) is divided into five infantry brigades , two artillery brigades , one command brigade and several independent battalions . These are independent battalions: two anti-tank battalions , a tank battalion , a medical supply battalion , a NBC battalion , a communications battalion, a communications battalion , an air defense battalion , a reconnaissance battalion and two engineer battalions.

Each infantry brigade basically consists of several light infantry battalions, reconnaissance and communication units, anti-aircraft and anti-tank battalions , as well as motorized and mechanized units.

Special forces

Georgian special forces after jumping from an American C-130
Georgian special forces during the Noble Partner 2018 maneuver

The Georgian special forces report directly to the Army High Command and act independently of the land forces. They specialize in unconventional warfare and are trained in this context in various NATO countries and Israel . The first international cooperation came into being in 2001 as part of the regional fight against terrorism. The Turkey played a key role in the establishment of this unit in 1999, as they guaranteed financial assistance and equipment. Before the establishment of the official military command forces, there were various similar associations, especially during the wars from 1991 to 1993, but they were a mixture of police and intelligence services that were trained by the Russian Spetsnaz and later actively participated in combat operations. During this period, the army itself only had infantry units that gained elite status through certain successes.

The unit of special forces in the formal strength of a brigade consists of two special operations battalions (east and west) and the training center. Bataillon West is responsible for the training of combat divers and the further development in the area. The candidate must have completed two years of military service in order to apply. Before anyone interested in the training is accepted, they must pass the health aptitude test and then undergo theoretical, physical and psychological tests. Depending on its success, the training can take several years. This is structured in stages and each candidate must successfully complete all schools in order to be admitted to the next one. At the end of each phase there is a new theoretical and physical test. If you fail, you have a second and last chance. Each candidate, after having met all the basic requirements, starts in the ranger school , an expanded and recognized analog of the American ally. The ranger course is divided into two phases: theoretical and practical survival training, house fighting, tactical training, mountain training, diver training, first aid training and topography. Unlike in the United States, each of these has different requirements depending on the level of difficulty. This is followed by the paratrooper course . Only up to or less than 30 percent of the candidates make it into the final phase. After a final and the most demanding evaluation of psychological and physical resilience, the remaining candidates are allowed to take part in command training. Extended survival training on different terrains, including alpine warfare and underwater warfare in one's own and other countries, is on the program. Further details are unknown. Experience has shown that at least 90 percent of applicants have dropped out before finishing this school. After successfully completing this, the members specialize in a uniform and individual manner in combating terrorism and continuously improving all skills they have learned. In the separate sniper school for special forces, only individual candidates from the ranks of this unit are accepted.

Distribution of combat units on Georgian soil

  • The first infantry brigade is stationed in Gori
  • The second infantry brigade is stationed in Senaki
  • The third infantry brigade is stationed in Kutaisi
  • The fourth infantry brigade is based on the Vaziani military base
  • The fifth infantry brigade is stationed in Chelvachauri and Khoni
  • The first artillery brigade is based on the Vaziani military base
  • The second artillery brigade is stationed in Khoni
  • The independent tank battalion is stationed in Gori and Muchrowani
  • The independent engineer battalion is stationed in Tbilisi
  • The independent light infantry battalion is stationed in Adlia
  • The independent anti-aircraft battalion is stationed in Kutaisi
  • The independent communications battalion is stationed in Saguramo
  • The independent mobile reconnaissance battalion is stationed in Kobuleti
  • The independent medical battalion is stationed in Saguramo

Paramilitary groups

In cooperation with the Interior Ministry, Georgia maintains a further 20,000 men in various defense and security organs. Various formations include the border guard service, anti-terror units, as well as regular combat units of the interior ministry and security forces to protect the government apparatus. The troops of the Interior Ministry usually wear the same uniform (with the exception of special forces) as those of the army. Both structures differ significantly in terms of armament and tasks. While the army carries out direct combat operations, the tasks of the internal troops are limited to securing important objects and strategically important areas. The special forces of both ministries work together in the event of war. The experience and effectiveness value is classified as the highest for anti-terror units of the Interior Ministry.

Military industry

The PDSHP anti- tank rifle
Georgian bulletproof helmet and vest of protection class 4

Georgia has been consistently operating its own military industry since 2009, which produces armored vehicles, armored personnel carriers, artillery systems, unmanned vehicles, various other weapons and uniforms, as well as equipment. The research facility STC Delta is responsible for experiments and development. It was already working on various projects in the late 1990s, including ballistic protective vests and mine clearance suits. The activity of this facility remained secret until the unveiling of the Didgori in 2010, the development of which was completed in 2009. Other projects such as the Lazika infantry fighting vehicle, unmanned aircraft and rocket launchers followed in a short time . The company responsible for the construction JSC Tbilaviamsheni (named after the aircraft designer Alexander Kartweli since September 9, 2013 ) also produces large-scale analogs and copies of reactive anti-tank rifles in addition to the aforementioned war equipment . At the end of 2013, the Defense Minister said it would be decided on December 27, 2013, based on test results and reports, whether the Lazika and some other objects still under development would go into series production or not. A total of 120 different objects are being worked on. Domestic production would have top priority, which is why the military industry will be coupled with the national economy. Since 2014, new types of ballistic vests and helmets have been produced for the military and in the future also for the civilian market. Compared to newer western products, these should be lighter, but just as resistant and, depending on the level, more resistant. According to the company, this is due to experience and innovations in aviation. After several tests and international assessments, several European and Arab countries are said to have shown interest in these products.

equipment

army

The motorized and tank formations of the Georgian Army consist of a mixture of Soviet, Western and self-made vehicles and artillery.

The Didgori series, produced in Georgia, is considered to be the first great success and a guide for its own military industry. Here Didgori-1 during a military parade in 2011
The Didgori-2 was originally designed as a reconnaissance vehicle for special forces.
The need for highly mine-resistant vehicles for use abroad resulted in the development of the Didgori-3
A DANA self-propelled gun of the Georgian Defense Forces

air force

The air force was a separate military force before the 2008 war, but became part of the land force after the conflict. It comprises 3,000 personnel, including maintenance and civilian employees, and is mainly responsible for supporting the associations operating on the ground. Your inventory consists of the following:

Status: end of 2013

Georgian Wed-24
Aircraft origin use version active Ordered Remarks
Planes
Sukhoi Su-25 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Soviet Union Ground attack aircraft 11 6 machines are to be sold in the near future.
Antonov An-28 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Soviet Union Transport plane 2
Aero L-29 Delfín CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Trainer aircraft 4th
Aero L-39 Albatross CzechoslovakiaCzechoslovakia Czechoslovakia Trainer aircraft 4th
helicopter
Mil Wed-24 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Soviet Union Attack helicopter 9
Mil Wed-14 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Soviet Union Transport helicopter 2
Mil Wed-8 Soviet UnionSoviet Union Soviet Union Multipurpose helicopter Wed-8
Wed-17
Wed-171 		15th
Bell UH-1 United StatesUnited States United States Light multipurpose helicopter UH-1H 12

Most of the military equipment comes from Soviet stocks, supplemented by Western technology and upgraded with Israeli hardware.

modernization

On December 27, 2013, Defense Minister Irakli Alassania announced on the occasion of a reform and modernization plan for the entire armed forces for the period 2014-2016 that the Soviet inventory of transport and combat helicopters would be completely removed within 2014 and replaced by a mixture of American and French would be replaced. The main reason is the purchase of replacement materials for the sometimes very outdated military equipment, which is associated with high costs and problems. In addition, the air force should function as a separate unit again. Immediately after the 2014 NATO summit in Wales, US Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced during his visit to Tbilisi that the US would ensure that the country would be supplied with the requested UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. This is an arrangement outside of the NATO military package that was promised to the country during the summit.

There are bases in Tbilisi and Marneuli .

Marine (disbanded)

The Navy (Georgian საქართველოს სამხედრო საზღვაო ძალები, sakartwelos samchedro-sasghwao dsalebi) had 18 speedboats . The most powerful of these boats were the missile speedboats Tbilisi with SS-N-2-Styx missiles and the Dioskura , which were delivered from Greece without Exocet missiles, as well as the former Minden , a German mine-hunting boat of the Lindau class . Two of the named units as well as several other boats were sunk by Russian forces in the port of Poti in 2008. The navy was disbanded after the war and the boats still operating were handed over to the coast guard.

There are bases in Batumi and Poti .

National Guard

The National Guard of Georgia (Georgian საქართველოს ეროვნული გვარდია, sakartwelos erownuli gwardia) was established on December 20, 1990. It formed the basis for building up the Georgian defense forces. It numbered more than 25,000 men. Today it has only 554 men. She is deployed as the part of the Georgian army in Abkhazia. She is also available for disaster relief efforts, mobilization support and for ceremonial purposes.

Separatist forces in Abkhazia and South Ossetia

In the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia , 5,000 soldiers are under the command of the secessionist government, who have 50 T-55 / T-72 tanks, several armored personnel carriers and artillery . The Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia also has a MiG-21 , a Su-25, three L-39, a Jak-52 and two Mi-8.

In South Ossetia there are around 3,000 local soldiers with almost 12 battle tanks under arms.

Flags

These are the Georgian military flags as of 2004.

  • Army flag

  • Naval flag

  • Air Force Flag

  • Standard of the Chief of General Staff

  • Defense Minister's Standard

swell

  • Robert E. Hamilton: Georgian Military Reform — An Alternative View, CSIS Report, January 2009

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ https://mod.gov.ge/en/page/9/minister-of-defense
  2. ↑ https://mod.gov.ge/en/page/14/chief-of-general-staff
  3. ↑ http://agenda.ge/news/70537/eng
  4. ↑ http://agenda.ge/news/65344/eng
  5. ↑ http://www.connection-ev.org/article-2372
  6. ↑ http://agenda.ge/news/74529/eng
  7. ↑ http://www.eurasiareview.com/16022017-georgia-reinstates-military-draft/
  8. ^ Cooperation with the United States , Ministry of Defense of Georgia
  9. ↑ Welt online: Russia wants UN arms embargo against Georgia , September 9, 2008.
  10. ↑ https://old.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=27498
  11. ↑ http://www.georgianassociation.org/georgias-contribution-to-the-international-security-assistance-force-in-afghanistan/
  12. ↑ http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=26154
  13. ↑ https://mod.gov.ge/en/mission
  14. ^ Spiegel Online: Weapons, drones, tanks: Who supports Georgia?
  15. ↑ http://mod.gov.ge/?page=-10&Id=25&lang=1
  16. ↑ https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/4428943?publication=0
  17. ↑ https://www.georgianjournal.ge/military/26023-irakli-alasania-attended-green-berets-military-training-in-vaziani.html
  18. ↑ http://rickrozoff.wordpress.com/2013/03/12/standardization-nato-representatives-inspect-georgian-arms-enterprise/
  19. ↑ http://www.mod.gov.ge/?newsid=2265&lang=en
  20. ↑ http://mod.gov.ge/?newsid=2580
  21. ↑ Грузинскими бронежилетами и касками заинтересовались несколько европейских стран ( Memento from September 11, 2014 in the Internet archive )
  22. ↑ http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=26893
  23. ↑ http://delta.gov.ge/en/product/medical-evacuation-vehicle/
  24. ↑ "დელტას" ახალი ჯავშანმანქანა ბრძოლის ველიდან დაჭრილების საევაკუაციოდ ... ( Memento from March 4, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  25. ↑ http://www.janes.com/news/defence/jdw/jdw090507_1_n.shtml
  26. ↑ EJDER 6x6 Tekerlekli Zırhlı Araç ( Memento from May 3, 2009 in the Internet Archive )
  27. ↑ http://www.military-today.com/apc/ejder.htm
  28. ↑ https://www.armyrecognition.com/october_2018_global_defense_security_army_news_industry/mbda_mistral_atlas_missiles_on_acmat_vlra_2_delivered_to_georgia.html
  29. ↑ World Air Forces 2014. (PDF; 3.9 MB) In: Flightglobal Insight. 2014, archived from the original on December 25, 2013 ; accessed on March 26, 2014 (English).
  30. ↑ http://guardian.ge/1086-thavdacvis-saministro-cy-25-tipis-moierishe-thvithmfrinavebis-gayidvas-gegmavs.html
  31. ^ Georgian Armed Forces Launch Renovation of Utility Helicopter Fleet . In: mod.gov.ge (Georgian Ministry of Defense). December 27, 2013 (English).
  32. ↑ http://time.com/3298956/putin-chuck-hagel-georgia-russia-ukraine-nato/?xid=newsletter-brief
  33. ↑ Flags Of The World: Georgian Military Flags , 2004
  34. ^ Commentary: Georgian Military Reform - An Alternative View . Archived from the original on June 11, 2009 ; accessed on March 23, 2020 .

Web links

Commons : Armed Forces of Georgia  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files