Army of the Republic of Macedonia

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Army of the Republic of Macedonia Армија на Република Македонија
Emblem of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia
Current form	1991
Headquarters	Skopje
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	President Gjorge Ivanov
Minister of Defense	Fatmir Besimi
Chief of staff	BG [[]]
Manpower
Military age	18[1]
Available for military service	532,856 males, age 16-49[1], 513,684 females, age 16-49[1]
Fit for military service	444,247 males, age 16-49[1], 427,556 females, age 16-49[1]
Reaching military age annually	16,144[1] males, 14,920[1] females
Active personnel	10,000
Reserve personnel	20,000[citation needed]
Expenditures
Budget	230,000,000 $ (2010 est.)[2]
Percent of GDP	2,5% (2010 est.) [1]
Industry
Foreign suppliers	Ukraine Serbia Bulgaria  United States
Related articles
History	Military history of Macedonia
Ranks	Military ranks of Macedonia

The Army of the Republic of Macedonia (Macedonian: Армија на Република Македонија, Armija na Republika Makedonija) is the name of the unified armed forces of the Republic of Macedonia. The Macedonian military is a defence force consisting of an army (Армија, Armija); an air force (Воено Воздухопловство, Voeno vozduhoplovstvo); and a professional military unit, the Macedonian Special Forces (Волци, Volci).

Objectives

The national defence policy aims to guarantee:

• the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the republic;
• the integrity of its land area, territorial waters and airspace; and
• to defend the country's constitution.

Its main interests remain the development and maintenance of a credible capability to defend the nation's vital interests and development of the Macedonia Army in such a way that ensures their interoperability with the armed forces of NATO and the European Union member states and their capability to participate in the full range of Alliance missions.^[3]

NATO accession

Main article: Accession of Macedonia to NATO

Military history

Main article: Military history of the Republic of Macedonia

Military ranks

Main article: Macedonian Army ranks

Conscription

The Republic of Macedonia abolished the compulsory military service as of October 2006. The Macedonian Army is the first in the region to consist fully of professional soldiers.^[4]

Engagements

Insurgency in the Republic of Macedonia

The Army was heavily involved in trying to maintain order when the ethnic Albanian National Liberation Army (NLA) militant group attacked the security forces of the Republic of Macedonia at the beginning of January 2001. The conflict lasted throughout most of the year, although overall casualties remained limited to several dozen for either side, according to the sources from both of the sides in the conflict. The conflict was resolved by the adoption of the Ohrid Framework agreement in August 2001.

War in Afghanistan

Macedonia has deployed 244 troops to Afghanistan as part of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan.^[5] On 13 September 2011, Macedonian forces were filmed fighting alongside U.S troops as they successfully repelled a Taliban attack on the ISAF headquarters in Kabul.^[6][7]

Organization

The primary arm of the military in Macedonia is the Army of the Republic of Macedonia (ARM). The ARM is commanded by the Minister of Defense through the Chief of the General Staff (CGS) of the ARM. Two Deputy CGS positions include the Deputy CGS for planning, operations and readiness, under whom operates the General Staff of the ARM, and the Deputy CGS for civil-military cooperation.

Land Force

The army is the main arm of the Macedonian ground forces. It plays the key role in securing the safety and unity of the territory of the Macedonian republic. The army is divided into the rapid reaction forces, strategic reserve forces and support forces. The rapid reaction forces represent the main active combat capability of the military and consist of the 1st Brigade, 2nd Brigade and the Armour Battalion. The strategic reserve forces provide reserve brigades that can be called up in times of emergency. The 3rd Brigade and 4th Brigade are considered priority reserve units, while a further six units, numbered five through ten, also are maintained. The support forces include a number of units to support the rapid reaction and reserve forces in operation.

Army Air Wing

Main article: Macedonian Air Force

The Macedonian Air Force is the main arm of the Macedonian aviation forces. It has an important role in enhancing flight safety of the Macedonian airspace. One of the main goals of the air force is to build up an air surveillance system, which will be the cornerstone of the air traffic safety and airspace control. The air component is made up by the Aviation Force and the Air Defense Forces.

The Aviation Force is located in Petrovec (near Skopje) and has a combat squadron of Mi-24 attack helicopters, a transport squadron and an Air Defense Battalion along with the Securing and Logistics Support Company.

Army of Macedonia

Branches

Macedonian Air Force

Macedonian Ground Force

Strategic Reserve Forces

Timeline

History Wars | 2001 Macedonia conflict

Personnel

Notable officers | Senior officers Rank insignia Awards | Flags Oaths

Equipment

Equipment of the Army of Macedonia

Special Forces Command

Special Forces Command controls operations of Ranger Battalion, as well as the Special Force Battalions – Wolves.

Training Command

Training Command consists of the educational centers in RM, and is responsible for ensuring training and readiness standards, in particular for meeting NATO requirements.

Logistics Command

Formed in 2001, the Logistics Command oversees all combat service support operations, and controls the Land Forces Logistic Base, the Military Hospital, and the Facility for Building and Maintenance.

Other commands

Other commands under the CGS include an electronic warfare unit, the Honor Guard Unit, the Lake Service and an engineer regiment and signal regiment.

Organization of the Military of the Republic of Macedonia

Equipment

Vehicles

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Logistics and Utility Vehicles
HMMWV[8]	Light Utility Vehicle	56	United States	15 Civilian versions Purchased 41 received as military aid from USA in 1998
TAM-110[8]	Light utility truck	?	Yugoslavia/ Slovenia	Unknown number left by JNA
TAM-150[8]	Medium utility truck	?	Yugoslavia/ Slovenia	Unknown number left by JNA
Iveco[8]	Medium utility truck	44	Italy	Military aid from Italy
M35/44 truck[8]	Medium utility truck	?	United States	Unknown number received as part of US as military aid
Armoured Fighting Vehicles
BRDM-2[8]	Armoured amphibious scout car	10	Soviet Union
BTR-70[8]	Armoured personnel carrier	58	Soviet Union	Military aid from Germany, GDR stock 1998
BTR-80[8]	Armoured personnel carrier	12	Soviet Union	Acquired from Kazakhstan for Special Forces 1998
M113A1[8]	Armoured personnel carrier	28	United States	Military aid from Italy 1999
TM-170[8]	Armoured personnel carrier	114	Germany
Leonidas 1[8]	Armoured personnel carrier	10	Greece	Greek copy of the Saurer 4K 4FA produced by ELBO
MT-LB[8]	Armoured personnel carrier	10	Soviet Union
BMP-2[8]	Infantry fighting vehicle	11	Soviet Union
T-72M1[8][9]	Main battle tank	31	Soviet Union	Acquired from Ukraine 2001
Boats
Botica class (Type 16)	Patrol boat	5	Yugoslavia	5 Ex-Yugoslavian patrol boats, 2 reported operational.[10]

Artillery

^[11]

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
60, 81/82 & 120mm	Mortar	78	Yugoslavia	Various caliber mortars from old JNA stock
M2A1[11]	Howitzer	36	United States	105 mm US Military aid 1998-1999
M-30[11]	Howitzer	108	Soviet Union	122 mm military aid from Bulgaria 1999
M-63 "Plamen"[11]	Multiple rocket launcher	12	Yugoslavia	128 mm rocket
BM-21 Grad[11]	Multiple rocket launcher	12	Soviet Union	122mm

Air defense

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
SA-7 Grail[12]	MANPADS	200	Soviet Union	inherited from JNA
SA-18 Grouse[12]	MANPADS	10	Soviet Union
SA-13 Gopher[12][13]	SAM	1	Soviet Union

Small arms

Name	Type	Quantity	Origin	Notes
Makarov pistol	Pistol		Soviet Union
Heckler & Koch MP5	Submachine gun		Germany
M4	Assault rifle		United States	M4s sold by the USA as a 2008 Foreign Military Sales package.
Zastava M21	Assault rifle		Serbia
M60	Assault rifle		Yugoslavia	Yugoslavian made AK-47 clone
Zastava M70	Assault rifle		Yugoslavia
Zastava M93	Sniper rifle		Serbia
Zastava M84	General purpose machine gun		Yugoslavia
NSV	Heavy machine gun		Soviet Union
M80 Zolja	Shoulder-launched missile weapon	400+	Yugoslavia/ Macedonia
M79 Osa	Shoulder-launched missile weapon		Yugoslavia/ Serbia
M90 Stršljen	Shoulder-launched missile weapon		Serbia /  Macedonia
M57	Shoulder-launched missile weapon	1,800	Yugoslavia	In reserve

Retired Equipment

T-34/85 x4 Inherited from JNA turned into museum pieces
T-55 x31 Inherited from JNA, all scarped
T-55A x94 Military aid from Bulgaria all retired
BTR-60P x31 Retired

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "CIA - The World Factbook -- Macedonia". Central Intelligence Agency. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/mk.html. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
2. ^ "NationMaster - Macedonian Military statistics". NationMaster. http://www.nationmaster.com/red/country/mk-macedonia-republic-of/mil-military&b_cite=1&all=1. Retrieved 2009-11-21. 
3. ^ Basis of the National Defence Policy And Doctrine Macedonian Ministry of Defence (English)
4. ^ [1]
5. ^ "MIKO: A place at the table for Macedonia". The Washington Times. 3 September 2010. http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/sep/3/a-place-at-the-table-for-macedonia/. 
6. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZtYM7ZRIE0&feature=player_embedded
7. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6AM8VpwMJc&feature=player_embedded
8. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m n} "Armed forces of Macedonia - Armored Fighting Vehicles". vojska.net. http://www.vojska.net/eng/armed-forces/macedonia/equipment/armor/. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
9. ^ http://en.valka.cz/viewtopic.php/t/3764
10. ^ Jane's Fighting Ships
11. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Artillery weapons of Macedonian Army". vojska.net. http://www.vojska.net/eng/armed-forces/macedonia/equipment/artillery/. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
12. ^ ^{a b c} "Armed Forces of Macedonia - Air defence systems". vojska.net. http://www.vojska.net/eng/armed-forces/macedonia/equipment/air-defense/. Retrieved 2009-11-18. 
13. ^ http://www.ausairpower.net/APA-9K35-Strela-10.html#mozTocId178145

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2003 edition".

External links

• Ministry of Defense official site in English
• VV i PVO ARM (Air Force and Air Defence of the Army of the Republic of Macedonia)
• U.S. Embassy Skope assessment of progress towards NATO membership, February 2006, via United States diplomatic cables leak