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Venezuela1. Summary

1.1.1. STRENGTH

105,400 plus 17,100 conscripts1

1.1.2. INFANTRY

Brigade × 4

Jungle Infantry Brigade × 2

Ranger Brigade × 4 (one at cadre level)

Special Development Brigade × 1

Military Police Brigade x 1

1.1.3. ARMOUR

Armoured Brigade × 2

Light Armour Brigade x 1

Mechanised Cavalry Brigade × 1

Mechanised Infantry Brigade x 1

1.1.4. AIRBORNE

Parachute Brigade × 1

1.1.5. ARTILLERY

Group × 8

1.1.6. SUPPORT

Communications Brigade x 1

1 This is the total number of conscripts recruited in 2009 for 2009-10 national military servicem tehre are no disagregated figures and a large proportion of conscripts are in the army or otherwise enrusted to (none-air or embarked) land-related functions (security guards, perimeter patrol, etc).

Logistics Brigade x 1

Engineer regiment x 3

2. Assessment

Venezuela has not fought a foreign war since its independence. Since 1999, the army has been subjected to a modernisation and re-organisation process with changes made to the officer structure as well as the overall army role. The operational structure of the core army remains unchanged, although politics have seen a large number of senior officers to retire (some by force) and be replaced by more politically-oriented, recently promoted officers. In July 2007, the Chávez administration increased salaries by 30 per cent to boost morale.

The army’s reform has stretched beyond the procurement of new assault and sniper rifles and now comprises of a modernised doctrine too. New concepts include asymmetric warfare and reliance on the country’s communication and supply infrastructure as well as popular support to resist a large scale US invasion.

Most of the armyʼs equipment dates from the late 1980’s or early 1990s and is still fairly efficient, although there is little standardisation causing maintenance problems. Short term requirements include tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and air defence systems, at least some of which will be supplied by Russia following a September 2009 arms agreement.

The recent US embargo has been followed by Sweden’s refusal to supply spares or support of any kind. This will have a direct impact on the MANPADS and infantry anti-tank capabilities. Russian equipment is expected to become standard with an indigenous maintenance and support infrastructure slowly developing to support this.

2.1. Adaptability

The army is undertaking a large and expensive modernization and re-organization programme that seeks to improve its conventional and non-conventional fighting capabilities. At the same time, it has been undergoing a doctrinal transformation that has the goal of creating a politically conditioned military.

2.2. Sustainment

The Army has a Centre for Refresher training which is part of the 5 th Division and has three battalions dedicated to the refresher training role, they are denominated “replacements”. There is a fourth battalion of replacements assigned to the Second Division. There is also a Military olice Replacements battalion assigned to the 3rd Division. There is an Army reserve Command to coordinate sustainability, although it is unclear at this point weather it has been integrated into the National Bolivarian Militia, which took over control of the 48 reserve battalions.

2.3. Readiness

The 42nd Para Brigade’s rapid reaction and Para-commando units are the main rapid reaction units

in the Venezuelan army. Special Forces battalions are also assigned a rapid reaction role.

3. Deployments, tasks and operations

3.1. Role and Deployment

The army is tasked with ensuring land defence, contributing to the development of democratic institutions and respect for the laws of the republic, contributing to the development and national integration and to be prepared to participate in joint and international peacekeeping operations. Furthermore, President Chavez is promulgating an additional role, which is to support the development of the 21st Century Socialist State. Each soldier must now say the words 'Country, Socialism or Death!' before referring to a superior.

3.2. Recent and Current Operations

Venezuela has, in the past, contributed to the peacekeeping operations of both the Organisation of American States and the UN. It maintained a small observer group with UNPROFOR, in Croatia; and also in ONUSAL, in El Salvador; UNIKOM, in Iraq/Kuwait and MINURSO, in the Western Sahara. In late 2004, the Venezuelan military also contributed to hurricane emergency relief operations in several countries in the Caribbean.

4. Command and control

Table 1.

Minister of the Popular Powers of Defence: Vice-President Ramón Carrizales

Commander, Strategic Operations: General Carlos Mata Figueroa

Commandant General, Army: Major General Juan Vicente Paredes Torrealba

Chief of Staff, Army Division General Jesus del valle Morao Gardona

Inspector general, Army Division General Abdón Benito Matheus Pabón

Under both the Constitution and the Organic Law of the armed forces, the President is the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces. In this position he exercises control on a daily basis through the Minister of Popular Powers for Defence.

The Commandant General of the army, whose tenure of office is a maximum of two years, reports to the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the Minister of Defence. The Inspector General of the Army forms part of the chain of command and ranks second only to the Commandant General. Following in line is the Chief of Staff (Army), to whom the commanders of all units and formations report.

A unified command - CUFAN - was created to control all operations, particularly in Military Areas 1 and 2 on the border with Colombia. This evolved during 2007 into the Strategic Operational Command (Comando Estratégico Operacional: CEO) and under the command of General Jesus González González. The CEO formed the planning, co-ordination, direction and implementation command for Venezuela’s joint forces. The country has now been divided into five regions under the CEO, with each regional commander (either a General or Admiral) responsible for all of the forces in its territory.

In March 2009, further restructuring granted actual control of the armed forces completely to the CEO and General Carlos Mata Figueroa was appointed the new CEO commander. The Defence Ministry will now be transformed into a purely administrative organisation in charge of overseeing the development of the armed forces and directing the country's defence policy. Previously, through the combined General Staff, the Ministry of Popular Powers for Defence had directly controlled a number of multi-service command, security and logistic support units, which will likely now aggregate to the CEO. These include the Caracas Armed Forces HQ Security Battalion, the General Lino de Clemente Security and Service Battalion, the General Jose Trinidad Moran Production, Supply and Service Battalion and a Mixed Military Police Battalion embodying elements of the four armed forces, all at Caracas. Both the Clemente and Moran battalions are scheduled for transfer to the Army Command, at some unspecified future date.

Similarly, the tri-service (army, marines and air force) Air Defence Command was previously directly subordinate to the Ministry of Defence, and will likely now become the responsibility of the CEO. It comprises the air forceʼs 1st Air Defence Artillery Group (Base Aereo El Libertador, Palo Negro), the navyʼs 2nd Air Defence Artillery Group (Base Naval Mariscal Juan C. Falcon, Punto Fijo) and the armyʼs 3rd General de Division Ascension Barreras Air Defence Artillery Group (Fuerte Guraguao, El Gury).

Also directly subordinate to the Defence Ministry were: the multiservice Regimiento Guardia de Honor (which consists of the General Manuel Manrique Security Battalion equipped with V-150 Commando armoured fighting vehicles); the General Tomas Montilla Custodial Battalion; the General Jose de la Cruz Paredes Support Battalion; and a Commando Company.

the General Francisco Carabaño y Ponte Electronic Warfare Unit

5. Organisation

Venezuelan Army units are constantly being formed, stood down or re-deployed, changing their numerical designations in accordance with their parent formations - the only constant is the name, which all units of battalion size and above historically bear.

There are four “Great Commands” which include:

Logistics Command at Fort Tiuna del Valle

Army Aviation Command at La Carlota Airbase

Army Education Command at Fort Tiuna del Valle

6th Corps of Engineers at Fort Tiuna del Valle

There are six divisions headquartered as below, together with the 6th Corps of Engineers, which is also headquartered in Caracas. Directly subordinate to Army HQ Command are the General Daniel Florencio O'Leary Army HQ Battalion (Caracas DF); Army Aviation Command; Army Logistic Command; and Army Reserve Command.

% 1st Division (HQ Maracaibo)

% 2nd Division (HQ San Cristóbal)

% 3rd Division (HQ Caracas)

% 4th Division (HQ Maracay)

% 5th Jungle Infantry Division (HQ Ciudad Bolívar)

% 9th Mechanised Cavalry Division (HQ Apure)

5.1. Military Areas

In accordance with Venezuelaʼs new Organic Law, published 31 July 2008, the country is divided into five strategic defence regions:

% Central: Vargas, Caracas, Miranda, Aragua, Carabobo and Yaracuy - Commanded by (Army) Major General Juan Vicente Paredes Torrealba;

% Western: Falcón Lara, Trujillo, Mérida, Táchira and Zulia - Commanded by (National Guard) Major General Luis Motta Dominguez;

% Los Llanos: Apure, Portuguesa, Barinas, Cojedes and Guárico - Commanded by (Air Force) Major General Jorge Arevalo Oropeza Pernalete;

% Eastern: Delta Amacuro, Monagas, Sucre and Nueva Esparta - Commanded by (Navy) Admiral Pedro José González Díaz; and

% Guyana: Bolívar and Amazonas - Commanded by (Army) Major General Félix Antonio Velásquez.

5.2. Order of Battle

Units Directly Subordinate to Army HQ

Directly subordinate to Army HQ Command are the General Daniel Florencio O'Leary Army HQ Battalion (Caracas DF); the General Andrés Ibarra Intelligence Battalion;; the Army Aviation Command; the Army Logistic Command; and the Army Reserve Command.

Table 2. Army Logistics Command

Unit Base

Logistic Support Regiment 81 HQ Caracas

Command and Service Company 8201 Caracas

Maintenance and Communications Company 8202 Caracas

Medical Company 8203 Caracas

Supply Battalion 821 Caracas

Ordnance Battalion 822 Caracas

Transport Battalion 824 Caracas

Logistic Replacement Battalion 823 Maracay

Ordnance Battalion 825 Caracas

Supply Battalion 826 Caracas

Construction and Maintenance Regiment 83 HQ Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas

Command and Service Company 8301 Caracas

Construction and Maintenance Battalion 831 Caracas



Engineer Support Battalion 834 Caracas

Other units

Unit Base

Engineer, Signals, Supply and Transport services Caracas

Ordnance Service San Juan de los Morros

AFV maintenance centre Maracay

Medical Service Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas

Logistic Support Command 84 Fuerte Terepaima, Lara

Logistic Support Command 85 Maturín

Logistic Support Battalion 841 Caracas

Table 3. Army Reserve Command

Unit Base

Infantry Reserve Battalion 1 Batalla de la Victoria Caracas

Infantry Reserve Battalion 2 Maracaibo Maracaibo

Infantry Reserve Battalion 3 Los Horcones Barquisimeto

Infantry Reserve Battalion 7 Maturín Maturín

Infantry Reserve Battalion 8 Tachira San Cristóbal

Armoured Reserve Battalion 5 Batalla de Vigirima Valencia

Artillery Reserve Battalion 4 Batalla de Boca Chica Maracay

Reserve Support Services Battalion 6 Batalla Queseras del Medio

Caracas

Unit Base

Note:(1) Ultimately, the armed forces intend to raise at least one reserve unit in each of Venezuela's States and Federal Territories.

Table 4. 1st Division (HQ Maracaibo, Zulia)

Unit Base

11th Armoured Brigade HQ Maracaibo, Zulia

Commando Company 1101 Maracaibo

Sniper Company 11 Maracaibo

Armoured Battalion 111 Juan Guillermo Irribarren Coro

Mechanised Infantry Battalion 112 Francisco Aramendi

Maracaibo

Armoured Battalion 113 Leonardo Infante Maracaibo

Armoured Battalion 114 Pedro Camejo Maracaibo

Artillery Group 115 Pedro María Freites Maracaibo

Air Defence Group 116 Maracaibo

Logistic Support Battalion 115 Maracaibo

12th Caribes Brigade2 Machiques

Motorised Infantry Battalion 121 Venezuela Machiques

13th Infantry Brigade HQ Barquisimeto, Lara

2 In the process of formation; all “Cazador” (Ranger) units have changed denomination to Caribes as parto f the New Military Thinking doctrine.

Unit Base

Commando Company 1301 Barquisimeto

Motorised Infantry Battalion 131 Barquisimeto

Motorised Infantry Battalion 132 San Felipe, Yaracuy

Motorised Infantry Battalion 133 Barquisimeto

Field Artillery Group 134 El Tocuy

Field Artillery Group 135 Combate de Maracaibo

14th Mechanised Infantry Brigade HQ Barquisimento, Lara

Commando Company 1401 Barquisimento

Cavalry Squadron Barquisimento

Engineer Company Barquisimento

Sniper Company Barquisimento

Mechanised Infantry Battalion 141 Coronel Miguel María Lara

Barquisimento

Mechanised Infantry Battalion 143 Coronel Atanasio Girardot

Barquisimento

Artillery Group 145 Jose de la Cruz Carrillo Barquisimento

Division support units

HQ Battalion 101 Maracaibo

Motorised Cavalry Group 102 Maracaibo

Unit Base

S/P Missile Artillery Group 103 La Concepción

AAA Defence Group 104 Campo Mara

Combat Engineer Battalion 105 Maracaibo

HQ Company 1001 Maracaibo

Special Forces Battalion 107 Maracaibo

Note:(1) The Venezuela Infantry Battalion is earmarked for the 12th Brigade, which has yet to be formed.

Table 5. 2nd Division (HQ San Cristóbal, Tachira)

Unit Base

21st Infantry Brigade HQ San Cristóbal, Tachira

HQ and Service Company 2101 San Cristóbal

Air Defence Battery 2104 San Cristóbal

Mechanised Infantry Battalion 211 San Cristóbal

Infantry Battalion 212 Carabobo Valencia

Infantry Battalion 231 Barinas

Special Operations Unit 213 Fuerte Yaruro

Artillery Group 214 San Cristóbal

Anti-Tank Missile Company 2103 San Cristóbal

Air Defence Battery 2103 Uribante-Caparo, San Cristóbal

Unit Base

Combat Engineer Company 2106 San Cristóbal

Logistic Support Battalion 215 San Cristóbal

22nd Infantry Brigade HQ Mérida, Mérida

HQ and Service Company 2201 Mérida

Mountain Infantry Battalion 221 Mérida

Motorised Infantry Battalion 222 Trujillo

Motorised Cavalry Squadron 2204 Guasdualito

Artillery Group 224 Moruto, Táchira

Heavy Mortar Battery 2204 Mérida

Anti-Tank Missile Company 2204 Mérida

Military Police Company 2206 Mérida


HQ Battalion 2001 Mérida

Field Artillery Group 203 Mérida

Replacement Battalion 206 Mérida

Special Electronic Warfare Unit 207 Mérida

25th Caribes Brigade(1) HQ La Fría, Táchira

Unit Base

HQ and Service Company 2501 La Fría

Caribes Battalion 251 La Fría



Note:(1) In the process of being formed.

Table 6. 3rd Division (HQ Caracas)

Unit Base

31st Infantry Brigade HQ Caracas

HQ and Service Company 3101 Caracas

Infantry Battalion 311 Bolivar Caracas

Artillery Group 314 Ayacucho Caracas

Signals Company 3103 Caracas

Ordnance Company 3104 Caracas

32nd Caribes Brigade HQ Maturín

HQ and Service Company 3201 Maturín

Caribes Battalion 321 Maturín



Unit Base

Maintenance and Transport Company 3204 Maturín

Anti-aircraft missile Group 499 Maturin

34th Communications Brigade HQ Caracas


Tactical Signals Battalion 341 Caracas



35th Military Police Brigade HQ Caracas


Military Police Battalion 351 Caracas



Military Police Replacement Battalion 354 Caracas


HQ Battalion 301 Caracas

Motorised Cavalry Group 302 Valencia

S/P Air Defence Artillery Group 304 Caracas

Unit Base

Combat Engineer Battalion 205 Caracas

Table 7. 4th Division (HQ Maracay)

Unit Base

41st Armoured Brigade HQ Valencia

Commando Company 4101 Valencia

Mechanised Infantry Battalion 411 Carora

Armoured Battalion 412 Maracay

Armoured Battalion 413 Fuerte Paramacay, Valencia

Armoured Battalion 414 Bravos de Apure Fuerte Mara, Zulia

S/P Artillery Group 415 Valencia

Air Defence Battery 4103 Valencia

Combat Engineer Company 4104 Valencia

Signals Company 4105 Valencia

Heavy Mortar Company 4106 Veinticuatro de Junio

Valencia

Logistic Support Battalion 416 Valencia

42nd Parachute Infantry Brigade HQ Maracay

HQ and Service Company 4201 Maracay

Unit Base

Paratroop Battalion 421 Maracay

Paratroop Battalion 422 Maracay

Para-Commando Unit 423 Maracay

Signals Company 4203 Maracay

Logistic Support Battalion 424 Maracay

Rapid Deployment Unit 4205 Maracay

44th Light Armoured Brigade HQ San Juan de los Morros

HQ Battalion 4401 San Juan de los Morros

Light Armoured Battalion 441 San Juan de los Morros

Light Armoured Battalion 442 San Juan de los Morros

Other units

HQ Battalion 401 Maracay

Guard of Honour Battalion 4002 Veinticuatro de Junio

Maracay

Field Artillery Group 403 Maracay

Signals Company 4004 Maracay

Table 8. 5th Division (HQ Ciudad Bolívar)

Unit Base

51st Jungle Infantry Brigade HQ Guasipati

HQ Company 5101 Luepa

Jungle Infantry Battalion 511 Caicará

Jungle Infantry Battalion 512 Fuerte Tarabay

Jungle Infantry Battalion 513 Luepa

Motorised Cavalry Squadron 5102 Luepa

Heavy Mortar Battery 5104 Fuerte Cayaurima

52nd Jungle Infantry Brigade (HQ Puerto Ayacucho, Amazonas)

HQ Puerto Ayacucho, Amazonas

HQ Company 5201 Puerto Ayacucho

Jungle Infantry Battalion 521 Ciudad Bolívar

Jungle Infantry Battalion 522 Puerto Ayacucho

Jungle Infantry Battalion 523 Ciudad Bolívar

Heavy Mortar Battery 5204 Puerto Ayacucho

Combat Engineer Battalion 524 Puerto Ayacucho

Replacement Training Centre 53 HQ Ciudad Bolívar

Replacement Battalion 531 Ciudad Bolívar


Unit Base


Maintenance and Service Battalion 534 Ciudad Bolívar


HQ Battalion 5001 Ciudad Bolívar

Special Operations Battalion 507 “Coronel Domingo Montes”

Fuerte Guraguao, El Gury

Combat Engineer Battalion 505 Fuerte Tarabay

Signals Company 5002 Ciudad Bolívar

Military Police Company 5003 Ciudad Bolívar

Maintenance and Support Battalion 5006 El Gury

Table 9. 6th Engineer Corps

Unit Base

61st Construction and maintenance Engineer Regiment “Agustin Codazzi”

Fuerte Tiuna, Caracas

62nd Construction and maintenance Engineer Regiment “General de Brigada Luciano Urdaneta”

San Cristobal, Tachirá

621st Rail Road Engineers Battalion Barquisimento, Lara

Unit Base

622nd Construction and maintenance Engineer Battalion “Coronel Pedro Aldao”

San Fernando de Apure

63rd Construction and maintenance Engineer Regiment “General de Brigada Juan José Aguerrevere y Echenique”

Maturin, Monagas

Table 9. 9th Mechanised and Horse Cavalry Divison (HQ, Apure)

Unit Base

Motorised and Horse Cavalry Brigade 91 San Fernando de Apure

HQ Squadron 9101 San Fernando de Apure

Mortar Battery 9104 San Fernando de Apure

Motorised Cavalry Battalion 911 San Fernando de Apure

Motorised Cavalry Battalion 912 San Fernando de Apure

Caribes Brigade 92 Guadaualito

HQ Company 5201 Guadaualito

Caribes Battalion 921 Guadaualito



Heavy Mortar Battery 5204 Guadaualito

Unit Base

Combat Engineer Battalion 524 Guadaualito

Security and Special Development Brigade 93 “General en Jefe Ezequiel Zamora”

Barinas

HQ and Service Company 9301 Barinas

Mountain Infantry Battalion 931 Barinas

Caribes Battalion 932 “Coronel Vicente Campo Elías”

Barinas

Caribes Battalion 933 Barinas

Civil Affairs Battalion 934 Barinas

5.3. Army Aviation Order of Battle

Table 10.

Unit Base Type

Batallón de Helicópteros Multi-propósitos“General de Brigada Florencio Jiménez”

Tavacaré, Barinas Mi-17V-5

Tavacaré, Barinas Mi-26T2

Tavacaré, Barinas Mi-35M2

Batallón de Helicópteros “General de Brigada Florencio Jiménez”

San Felipe, Yaracui AS-61D

San Felipe, Yaracui B412EP

Batallón de Aviones “General Valle de la Pascua, Guárico Arava

Unit Base Type

de Brigada Tomás Montilla”

Valle de la Pascua, Guárico M28 Skytruck

Valle de la Pascua, Guárico Super King Air 200

Valle de la Pascua, Guárico King Air C90

Valle de la Pascua, Guárico Ce-206

Batallón Especial de Reconocimiento “General de Brigada Francisco Conde”

La Carlota, Caracas n/a

Centro de Mantenimiento de la Aviación del Ejército “General de Brigada Francisco de Paula Alcántara”

Charallave, Miranda n/a

Centro de Abastecimieto de la Aviación del Ejército "General en Jefe Juan Antonio Sotillo"

La Carlota, Caracas n/a

Escuela de Aviación del Ejército “General de Brigada Juan Gómez”

San Felipe, Yaracuy Ce-172L

B206B

San Felipe, Yaracuy Ce-182T

San Felipe, Yaracuy B206B

5.4. Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine

A new doctrine based on the concept of asymmetric warfare – a defensive response to a supposedly impending (but highly unlikely) invasion by the US military - is now in place. The original foreign influence on the Venezuelan Army during its formative years came from Germany. This was later consolidated by a Chilean military mission that functioned in the early 20th century.

Following the First World War, French, and later Belgian, influence became important and officers were also sent to study in Peru, from which further French influence was absorbed. During the Second World War, all other external influences were superseded by that of the US. Cuban influence is present in development of the current “socialist” doctrine has seen Venezuela looking towards adopting certain Cuban influences. Influences from Iran, China, Russia and Belarus are also present and these are likely to expand in the near future.

5.5. Bases

Table 11.

Base Location

Fort Tiuna Caracas

Fort Trepaima Lara

Maracay Maracay, Aragua

Puerto Ayacucho Amazonas

Maturín Maturín, Monagas

San Cristóbal San Cristobal, Tachirá

5.6. Garrisons

A military presence is maintained in most major population centres and at frontier crossing posts.

6. Personnel

6.1. Demographics

The force is composed of 8% of officers, 5% of NCO’s and 87% of troops. In 2009 the Venezuelan government announced that 17,100 conscripts would form the 2009-2010 national military service. Conscription is voluntary.

6.2. Recruitment

The National Bolivarian army has stepped up recruitment in recent years with its fore expanding from an estimated 63-65,000 in 2000 to over 100,000 by 2010. This has been made possible by more attractive salary and living conditions, as well as by a generational change in the officer corps, as force retirement of large numbers of them have opened the door to fast career

advancement by politically oriented principals.

6.3. Morale

Extensive financing has translated into pay increases throughout the ranks, but morale is considerably low. Crack units are being formed with politically-oriented appointments and leadership positions are being filled in the same way, which has had a negative impact on morale.

6.4. Professionalism

Despite extensive financing, professionalism in the Venezuelan army has descended considerably due to the retirement of a large number of officers, the elimination of a large cadre of NCO’s, calling them “Technical Officers” and assigning them “People’s” roles. New officer training has been cut from 5 to 4 years. Preference of political loyalty over professional talent has produced the biggest impact.

7. Training

Since 1988, all officer cadets of the army, navy, air force and National Guard have attended a two-year course at the Armed Forces Basic Training School at Maracay. The Military Academy, at El Valle, offers an additional four-year course for army officer cadets who may pursue a degree course at one of the civilian universities or at the Universidad Politecnica de las Fuerzas Armadas, after commissioning in the rank of second lieutenant. The Escuela Superior de Guerra Libertador Simon Bolívar is at Chorrillos and aspirants to promotion beyond the rank of lieutenant colonel must successfully complete either its command and staff course or a course at a recognised foreign military establishment of equivalent category. Most officers also pursue post-graduate studies abroad, usually in the US. The General Jose Felix Ribas NCO School and the General Rafael Urdaneta Infantry School, the General Rojas Special Forces School, the General Irribarren Armoured Forces School, the Colonel Diego Jalon Artillery School, the General Jacot Engineering School and the Transport School are all located at Maracay, which is the principal military centre in the country. The Signals School, the Negro Primero Equitation School and the General Flores Physical Education School are all located at Caracas. Conscripts receive their non-specialist training in the units to which they are assigned on induction.

7.1. Training Areas

Most training is carried out in the Caracas and Maracay areas.

7.2. Military Exercises

In 2005, the Venezuelan military carried out two main exercises in relation to the government’s preparation for ʼasymmetric warʼ:

% The first – called Operacion Armada Soberana 01-2005 (Operation ʼSovereign Navyʼ) – was carried out between June 2-5 2005 and took place near the towns of Caimancito and Guayacan

in the state of Sucre, on Venezuela’s eastern coast near the island of Margarita. The aim was to test the capability of reservists that had already been trained. Some 4,500 personnel took part in the exercise as well as 16 vessels and 14 aircraft, and it was commanded by Rear-Admiral Douglas Clemente. During the main amphibious landing, the armament used was: 10 coast guard vessels; six gun-boats; one logistics vessel; three frigates; three ducks; two riverine amphibious craft; eight helicopters, and four F-16 fighter jet aircraft. A battalion of army infantry and two battalions of marine infantry were included, as well as an unspecified number of National Guard combatants.

% A second exercise was carried out about one week later, near military Fort Los Caribes, in the state of Cojedes, west of Caracas. It was called Operacion Huracan 01-2005 (Operation ʼHurricaneʼ), but far less detail is available. One report stated that 1,273 army infantry were involved, as well as an unspecified number of reservists, 75 paratroopers, 6 helicopters, and an unspecified number of tanks. The personnel were divided into two armies, labelled ʼredʼ and ʼblueʼ, and the aim was for one army to fend off an invasion by the other army.

8. Army procurement

8.1. Armour

8.1.1. Main Battle Tanks (MBTs)

The Venezuelan Ministry of Defence confirmed in October 2008 that it was looking to acquire a new main battle tank to replace its ageing AMX-30V and the AMX-13C-90 and Scorpion light tank fleets, looking to acquire T-72M/T-90 tanks from Russia as well as reconnaissance light tanks .

During the September 2009 visit of President Hugo Chavez to Moscow, Russian defence officials confirmed that a contract worth USD500 million for the delivery of 92 T-72M and T-90 MBTs plus up to 200 other armoured vehicles was signed. Deliveries are slatted to commence by early 2010.

8.1.2. Armoured Personnel Carriers

In May 2004, the Defence Ministry issued a tender for the acquisition of approximately 200 new armoured personnel carriers and tactical vehicles in a contract estimated to be worth about USD80 million. Four European companies had pre-qualified by June 2004; Steyr-Daimler-Puch (Austria); Sabiex International (Belgium); Mowag (Switzerland), and Alvis-Vickers (UK). This requirement was then expanded to 600 armoured vehicles in 2007, with the BMP-3 becoming the most likely option, although this may only form part of the 600-vehicle requirement. In October 2008 a Rosoboronexport spokesman indicated that Venezuela would sign a contract for a large number of BMP-3 vehicles from Russia within the next month. Delivery of up to 200 BMP-3 and BTR APC’s were said to be imminent during a November 2009 speech by President Chavez.

8.1.3. All-Terrain Multi-Use Vehicles

The Venezuelan Army has developed its own model of all-terrain multi-use vehicle, the CENARECA UR-53AR50 Tiuna, locally referred to as the Tiuna. It is 4.92 m long and 2 m wide,

weighs 3.2 tonnes and has the capacity to carry nine fully-armed soldiers. It has a 5.3 litre, V-8 engine, with automatic transmission. There are six different versions of the Tiuna in service: The basic armed reconnaissance model has a mounted M-2 12.7 mm machine gun, two side-mounted MAG 7.62 mm machine guns and can be fitted with two AT-4 84 mm rocket-launchers; an ambulance version; one with a M-40A1 106 mm recoilless rifle; a utility transport; an anti-riot; and, an air defence versions with either a mounted RBS-70 launcher or twin Mistral missile launcher.

In mid 2005 the army signed a contract with CENARECA for 310 Tiunas in several versions. The first batch of 97 vehicles was delivered by early 2006, the next 100 by mid 2006 and 113 by early 2007.

8.2. Air Defence

It was announced in November 2008 that LOMO in St. Petersburg, through Rosoboroneksport, had sold the Igla-S system to Venezuela. No figures were provided, although deliveries reportedly commenced in April 2009 and are scheduled through to 2011.

The Igla-S weapons will likely replace the RBS 70, which was previously the army’s main short range air defence missile but will be increasingly difficult to maintain after Sweden, prompted by the US-imposed arms embargo, announced it would not provide Venezuela with any equipment, spares or replacements for any type of weapons.

There are plans for up to three self-propelled medium-range air defence batteries, with the Tor-M1 as the selected platform. A contract with Russia was finalised in mid-2007 while Belarus has been contracted to provide technical assistance. However, these will be operated by the Air Defence Command and the army is apparently in negotiations to acquire its own batch of Tor-M1’s.

8.3. Infantry

A contract was signed in October 2004 to buy 100,000 semi-automatic assault rifles from the Russian Federation. The USD54 million contract involves the delivery of AK-103 rifles, an updated version of the AK-47. The Russian rifles will eventually replace the Belgian-made FAL 7.62 rifle, which is standard issue in the Venezuelan military. The first 30,000 AK-103s were delivered to Venezuela in June 2006. It is not clear whether the Russian rifle will also be used to equip the army’s reserves (or territorial guard) which could number in excess of 100,000. The plan to acquire Russian Kalashnikovs would appear to partially supersede that of Army Plan 2000, which entailed the re-equipment of the infantry with the FN FNC assault rifle.

At the time of the delivery of the first batch of AK-103s, the Chávez government said that it will receive a licence from Russia to build the first Kalashnikov factory in Latin America. US defence officials have expressed concern that some of the Kalashnikovs, and decommissioned FALs, may fall into the hands of Colombian insurgent groups and other militant groups. The Kalashnikov plant is scheduled to begin production in late 2009.

The army also took delivery of a batch of 5,000 Dragunov SVD sniper rifles during 2008

8.4. Army Aviation

Under Project Pemon the army acquired a fleet of 33 new combat and transport helicopters during 2005 in three phases. Phase 1 was valued at USD120 million and included six Mi-17V-5 Panaera, a single Mi-26T2 Pemon heavy lift and three Mi-35M2 Caribe gunships. Phase two comprised five Mi-35M2 attack helicopters and was valued at USD81 million. The final phase comprised up to 14 Mi-17V-5, two Mi-26T2 and two Mi-35M2 is a USD200 million deal. All deliveries were completed by late 2007.

In December 2009, the Russian ambassador to Venezuela announced that it was at an advanced stage of negotiations to supply a further 53 helciopters to the Venezuelan armed forces. The details of the specific number or type of helicopters involved has not been revelade, but is thought to include a further 33 transport Mi-17 and Mi-26 and up to 20 combat helicopters with a mix of Mi-35M and Mi-28N.

8.5. Modernisation

A large number of off the shelf acquisitions in recent years has left little room for modernisation efforts.

The AMX-13/C-90 fleet was modernised before delivery with new 90-mm guns and engines. Up to six of the earlier AMX-13 fleet were modified with an M42 40-mm turret and known as AMX-13 Ráfaga. The AMX-30V fleet also received new night vision systems.

Four UH-1H Iroquois were subjected to the Huey 2 upgrade programme but by the time the US embargo was announced these were still in the US.The four machines have been impounded and are being offered for sale. The funds allocated by Venezuela were used to procure three Bell 206B, a Beech 200 and a number of Cessna lights on the US civil commercial market. Something similar seems to happen with the Agusta A-109 fleet and these machines appear to have been subjected to the embargo also. There is no available information on this.

9. Equipment in service

9.1. Armour

Table 12.

Type Manufacturer Role Original Total

In Service First Delivery

AMX-30V Nexter Main Battle Tank 81 60 1972

T-72M Main battle Tank 92 2010

AMX-13 Nexter Light Tank 36 36 1988



AMX-30D Nexter Recovery Vehicle 4 3 1972

Scorpion 90 BAE Systems Light Tank 80 78 1989

Dragoon 300 LFV2 General Dynamics Multi-Purpose Armoured Fighting Vehicle

40 40 1987

AMX VCI Nexter Armoured Personnel Carrier

25 25 1972

AMX VTT TB Nexter Armoured Personnel Carrier - Armoured Ambulance

8 8 1972

AMX VTT PC Nexter Armoured Personnel Carrier - Command Post

12 12 1972

AMX VTT PM Nexter Armoured Personnel Carrier - Mortar Carrier

20 20 1972

Transport-Panzer n/a Armoured Personnel Carrier

10 10 1984

Dragoon 300 General Dynamics Armoured Personnel Carrier

25 25 1987

Dragoon 300PM General Dynamics Mortar Carrier 21 21 1987

Dragoon 300RV General Dynamics Recovery Vehicle 2 2 1987

V-100 Commando Texton Marine and Land Systems

Armoured Personnel Carrier

30 30 1971



V-150 Commando Texton Marine and Land Systems

Armoured Personnel Carrier

100 100 1971

9.2. Artillery

Table 13.



155 mm Mk F3 Nexter Self-Propelled Howitzer

20 20(1) 1972

105 mm Model 56 Oto Melara SpA Pack Howitzer 40 40 1973

105 mm M101A1 Rock Island Arsenal

Towed Howitzer 40 40 1963

155 mm M-114 A1 n/a Towed Howitzer 18 12 1963

160 mm LAR SP 160 Israel Military Industries

Self-Propelled Multiple Rocket Launcher

25 20 1984

60 mm M-66 Cazador CAVIM Mortar n/a n/a n/a

60 mm M19 Watervliet Arsenal Mortar n/a n/a n/a

60 mm C-06/C-06A1 Soltam Systems Ltd

Long-Range Mortar n/a n/a n/a

81 mm M29 Watervliet Arsenal Mortar n/a n/a n/a

81 mm MO-81 Thompson-Brandt Mortar n/a n/a n/a

120 mm Thompson-Brandt Mortar 65 60 n/a



Note:(1) Some sources note that 10 are in service.

9.3. Anti-Tank Weapons

Table 14.



MAPATS-2 Israeli Military Industries

Anti-Tank Guided Weapon

24 24 1990

106 mm M40A1 n/a Recoilless Rifle 175 175 n/a

84 mm AT-4 n/a Anti-Armour Weapon n/a n/a n/a

84 mm Carl Gustav M3

n/a Anti-Armour Weapon 90 90 n/a

RPG-7V Anti-Armour Weapon 2006

9.4. Air Defence Weapons

Table 15.



9K388 Igla-S (SA-24 Grinch)

Konstruktorskoe Bjuro Mashinostroenia

Man-Portable Surface-to-Air Missile

200 200 2009

RBS 70 Saab Bofors Dynamics

Surface-to-Air Missile System

8 8 1990

Roland(1) MBDA Surface-to-Air Missile 6 6 1985



System

Barak 1(1) IAI Surface-to-Air Missile System

n/a n/a 2005

40 mm L/60(1) Bofors Defence AB Anti-Aircraft Gun (Tin)

60 30 n/a

40 mm Breda-Bofors L/70(1)

Bofors Defence AB Anti-Aircraft Gun (Twin)

18 12 n/a

20 mm AML S530(1) n/a Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun (Twin)

15 15 1973

Note:(1) Operated by the air force.

9.5. Infantry Weapons

Table 16.

Type Role

7.62 mm FN FAL Rifle

5.56 mm M16A2 Assault Rifle

7.62 mm AK-103 Assault Rifle

14.56 mm FN FNC Assault Rifle

7.62 mm SVD Dragunov Sniper Rifle

9 mm IMI Uzi Sub-Machine Gun

9 mm H&K MP5 Sub-Machine Gun

Type Role

9 mm FN P90 Sub-Machine Gun

9 mm Beretta Model 12 Sub-Machine Gun

5.56 mm Minimi General-Purpose Machine Gun

7.62 mm FN MAG General-Purpose Machine Gun

7.62 mm M60 General-Purpose Machine Gun

0.5 in Browning M2HB Heavy Machine Gun

9.6. Army Aviation

Table 17.

Type Manufacturer

Role Original Total


Mi-35M ‘Hindʼ Mil Helicopter - Attack 10 10 2005

412EP Bell Helicopter - Assault 10 8 1999

UH-1H Iroquois Bell Helicopter - Assault 6 2(1) 1977

Mi-17V-5 ‘Hip-Hʼ Mil Helicopter - Assault 20 18 2005

Arava IAI Transport 5 3 1980

M-28 Skytruck PZL Transport 12 10 1999

King Air E90 Beech Utility 1 1 1977

King Air 200 Beech Utility 1 1 1979

Type Manufacturer

Role Original Total


Super King Air 200 Beech Utility 3 3 2006

TU206G Turbo Stationair

Cessna Utility 2 2 1982

T207A Turbo Stationair Cessna Utility 2 2 1982

412 Agusta-Bell Helicopter - Utility 2 2 1988

AS-61D Agusta-Sikorsky

Helicopter - Utility 4 4 1984

172L Skyhawk Cessna Training 1 1 1980

182 Skylane Cessna Training 3 3 1982

182T Cessna Training 1 1 2006

172 Mescalero Cessna Training 3 3 2006

206B3 JetRanger Bell Helicopter - Training 3 3 2007

206B JetRanger Bell Helicopter - Training 2 1 1977

206L LongRanger Bell Helicopter - Training 1 1 1981

Note:(1) Believed to have been upgraded to Huey II standard, but impounded in the US and offered for sale to third party.

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