Military of Latvia

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The Latvian National Armed Forces (Latvian: Latvijas Nacionālie bruņotie spēki or NBS) consist of 5910 personnel.

Latvian National Armed Forces
Military manpower
Military age 18 years of age
Availability males age 15-49: 594,596 (2004 est.)
Fit for military service males age 15-49: 466,659 (2004 est.)
Reaching military age annually males: 19,209 (2004 est.)
Military expenditures
Dollar figure $493 million (FY07)
Percent of GDP 2.00% (FY07)

Latvia's defense concept is based upon the Swedish-Finnish model of a rapid response force composed of a mobilization base and a small group of career professionals. The armed forces consists of mobile riflemen, an air force, and a navy. The army, navy, and air force comprise 5,864 personnel. The "Zemessardze", or home guard, is an autonomous 11,646 man-strong volunteer paramilitary organization which also performs traditional national guard duties. Latvia has switched to a professional army—the last draft was in 2005, with the last 84 drafted soldiers leaving mandatory service in November 23, 2006. From January 1st, 2007, the Latvian army is fully contract-based. Defense spending has risen in recent years, and in 2006 comprised 1.65% of budget spending.

Latvia cooperates with Estonia and Lithuania in the joint infantry battalion BALTBAT and naval squadron BALTRON which are available for peacekeeping operations.

As of March 29, 2004, Latvia officially joined NATO. Currently, NATO is involved in the patrolling and protection of the Latvian air space as the Latvian army does not have the means to do so effectively. For this goal a rotating force of four NATO fighters, which comes from different nations and switches at two or three month intervals, is based in Lithuania to cover all three Baltic states (see Baltic Air Policing).

Contents

[edit] Organization

  • Latvian Army
    • National Guard (Zemessardze)
  • Latvian Navy
  • Latvian Air Force
  • Border Guards

[edit] Latvian Army

Latvian Army soldier in Diwaniyah during the Iraq war
Latvian Army soldier in Diwaniyah during the Iraq war

The Army has 2134 personnel including 305 civilians. The regular component of the Army consists of the LATBAT light infantry battalion and training centers. The reserve component consists of the National Guard and is made up of 32 light infantry battalions. The armed forces have recently made a contract with weapons manufacturers Heckler & Koch to arm the Latvian military.

[edit] Latvian armed forces uniform

In 2006 the whole of the Latvian armed forces received new uniforms. According to the Latvian Ministry of Defence the new uniforms will be able to withstand temperatures of -30C to +50C. The uniforms incorporate a unique kind of digital camouflage.

[edit] Equipment

[edit] Latvian Navy

The Navy has 797 personnel and consists of a combat ship flotilla in Liepāja and a coast guard flotilla in Riga. The fleet flagship is the minelayer Virsaitis (ex-HNoMS Vale).

[edit] Latvian Air Force

Main article: Latvian Air Force

The Air Force has 247 personnel and operates three Mi-2 Hoplites, four Mi-8 Hips and a L-410UVP Turbolet transport airplane. The defence of Latvian air space is maintained by NATO, which rotates detachments of four aircraft from its member states to Lithuania at four-monthly intervals (see Baltic Air Policing).

[edit] External links and Further Reading


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