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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
Construction and Maintenance Battalion 832 Caracas
Construction and Maintenance Battalion 833 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
Division support units
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
Caribes Battalion 252 La Fría
Caribes Battalion 253 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
Caribes Battalion 322 Maturín
Caribes Battalion 3203 Maturín
Unit Base
Maintenance and Transport Company 3204 Maturín
Anti-aircraft missile Group 499 Maturin
34th Communications Brigade HQ Caracas
HQ and Service Company 3401 Caracas
Tactical Signals Battalion 341 Caracas
Tactical Signals Battalion 342 Caracas
Tactical Signals Battalion 343 Caracas
35th Military Police Brigade HQ Caracas
HQ and Service Company 3501 Caracas
Military Police Battalion 351 Caracas
Military Police Battalion 352 Caracas
Military Police Battalion 353 Caracas
Military Police Replacement Battalion 354 Caracas
Division support units
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
Replacement Battalion 532 Ciudad Bolívar
Unit Base
Replacement Battalion 533 Ciudad Bolívar
Maintenance and Service Battalion 534 Ciudad Bolívar
Division support units
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
Caribes Battalion 922 Guadaualito
Caribes Battalion 923 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
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total
In Service First Delivery
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
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total
In Service First Delivery
V-150 Commando Texton Marine and Land Systems
Armoured Personnel Carrier
100 100 1971
9.2. Artillery
Table 13.
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total
In Service First Delivery
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
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total
In Service First Delivery
Note:(1) Some sources note that 10 are in service.
9.3. Anti-Tank Weapons
Table 14.
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total
In Service First Delivery
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.
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total
In Service First Delivery
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
Type Manufacturer Role Original Total
In Service First Delivery
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
In Service First Delivery
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
In Service First Delivery
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.