Military of Laos

Infobox National Military
country=Lao People's Democratic Republic
name=Lao People's Army


caption=The Flag of Laos


caption2=
founded=1975
current_form=
branches=Lao People's Army includes the Riverine Force
Lao People's Liberation Army Air Force

headquarters=Vientiane
commander-in-chief=
minister=Major General Phichit Douangcaai
minister_title=Minister for Defence
commander=
commander_title=
chief_of_staff=
age=15 years of age for compulsory military service; conscript service obligation - minimum 18 months (2004)
manpower_data=2005 est.
manpower_age=15–49
available=1,500,625
available_f=1,521,116
fit=954,816
fit_f=1,006,082
reaching=
reaching_f=
active=29,100
ranked=89
reserve=
deployed=
amount=$55 million (1996-97)
percent_GDP=0.5% (2006)
domestic_suppliers=
foreign_suppliers=
imports=
exports=
history=
ranks=

The Lao People's Army, is the name of the armed forces of Laos, who are charged with protecting the country. Until 1975, the Royal Laos Army were the armed forces of the Laos, along with the Royal Lao Air Force and the Royal Lao Navy.Laos is one of the world's least developed countries and the Lao People's Armed Forces are small, poorly funded, and ineffectively resourced. Most of their equipment date back to the Soviet era. There is little political will to allocate sparse funding to the military, and the armed forces' gradual degradation is likely to continue. The massive drug production and trafficking industry centered in the Golden Triangle makes Laos an important narcotics transit country, and armed Wa and Chinese smugglers are active on the Lao-Burma border.

History

Tanks

* PT-76 - 25 in operation
* T-54/-55 - 30 operating

Weapons

* AK-47
* SKS
* Type 56
* MAT-49
* RPG-2
* Type 69 RPG
* Strela 2
* M16
* M60
* RPD

References