- Tunisian Armed Forces
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Tunisian Armed Forces seal
القوات المسلحة التونسيةFounded 1956 Service branches Land Army
Navy
Air ForceHeadquarters Ministry of National Defence Leadership Commander-in-Chief Pres. Fouad Mebazaa Minister of National Defense Abdelkarim Zbidi Chief of staff Rachid Ammar Manpower Active personnel 45,000 Deployed personnel Unknown number in UN Missions Expenditures Percent of GDP 1.6% The Tunisian Armed Forces (Arabic: القوات المسلحة التونسية) consist of the Army, Navy, and Air Force.
As of 2008, Tunisia had an army of 27,000 personnel equipped with 84 main battle tanks and 48 light tanks. The navy numbered 4,800 operating 25 patrol boats and 6 other craft. The air force had 4,000 personnel, 27 combat aircraft and 43 helicopters. Paramilitary forces consisted of a 12,000-member national guard.[1] Tunisia has participated in peacekeeping efforts in the DROC and Ethiopia/Eritrea.[2] Previous United Nations peacekeeping deployments for the Tunisian armed forces have included Cambodia (UNTAC), Namibia (UNTAG), Somalia, Rwanda, Burundi and the 1960s mission in the Congo, ONUC.
History
The modern Tunisian Army had its origins in the time of the French Protectorate (1881–1956). During this period, Tunisians were recruited in significant numbers into the French Army, serving as tirailleurs (infantry) and spahis (cavalry). These units saw active service in Europe during both World Wars, as well as in Indo-China prior to 1954. The only exclusively Tunisian military force permitted under French rule was the Beylical Guard.[3]
The Tunisian National Army was established in 1956, at the time of independence. It initially comprised about 1,300 officers and men transferred from French Army service, plus 850 former members of the Beylical Guard. Approximately 4,000 Tunisian soldiers continued in French Army service until 1958, when the majority transferred to the Tunisian Army, which reached a strength of over 6,000 that year. The Tunisian Navy was created in 1959 and the Tunisian Air Force in 1960.
In 1960 Tunisian troops served with the United National Peacekeeping Force in the Congo. In 1961 clashes occurred with French forces based at Bizerte. The French evacuated the base after subsequent negotiations with the Tunisian Government.
Tunisia has contributed military forces to United Nations peacekeeping missions, including an army company to UNAMIR during the Rwandan Genocide. In his book Shake Hands with the Devil, Canadian force commander Roméo Dallaire gave the Tunisian soldiers high credit for their work and effort in the conflict and referred to them as his "ace in the hole".
During the 2011 Libyan Civil War, Tunisian forces, mostly border guards, saw some limited action when fighting between Libyan rebels and loyalist soldiers spilled over the border and clashes ensued between the Libyan Army and the Tunisian Army, resulting in at least one Tunsian civilian being injured by a Libyan rocket. [4]
Army equipment
Small arms
- 9mm Browning Hi-Power pistol Belgium
- 9mm Beretta Model 38 SMG Italy
- 9mm IMI\FN Uzi SMG Israel Belgium
- 9mm Sterling submachine gun United Kingdom
- 9mm H&K MP-5A3 SMG Germany
- 7.62mm FN FAL50-00 SAR Belgium
- 5.56mm M4 carbine United States
- 5.56mm M16A2 Assault rifle United States
- 5.56mm Steyr AUG Assault rifle Austria
- 7.62mm FAC (FN) Squad automatic weapon Belgium
- 12.7mm M-82A-1 Barrett Sniper rifle United States
- 5.56mm FN Minimi LMG Belgium
- 7.62mm FN MAG General purpose machine gun Belgium
- 7.62mm SACO[disambiguation needed United States
- .30 caliber (7.62mm) Browning M1919A4 machine gun United States
- .50 caliber (12.7mm) Browning M2HB heavy machine gun United States
- Hotchkiss Brandt 60mm Commando light mortar France
- 81mm M29A1 medium mortar United States
- 82mm M1943[disambiguation needed Soviet Union (no longer in service)
- AK-47Assault rifle USSR
Artillery
- 19-20 M109A2 155mm self-propelled howitzer United States
- 48 M108 105mm self-propelled howitzer United States (possibly no longer in service)
- 57-60 M198A1 155mm towed howitzer United States
- 30 M114A1 155mm towed howitzer United States
- 30 Model-50 M-50 155mm towed howitzer France-status unknown.
- 45-50 M102 105mm towed howitzer United States
- 6-20 Ordnance QF 25 pounder 88mm towed gun/howitzer United Kingdom (no longer in service)
Heavy mortars
- 114 M30 4.2 inch/107mm heavy mortars United States 78 towed + 36 mounted in M106A2 mortar carriers as self-propelled heavy mortars
- 18 MO-120-RT-61 towed heavy mortar France
Anti-tank weapons
- 70-200 BGM-71C Improved TOW ATGM Launcher (on M901 TD) United States
- 100 BGM-71A Improved TOW ATGM Launcher United States
- 500 MILAN ATGM launcher France West Germany
- 80 SS.11 ATGM launcher France (possibly no longer in service)
- 300 LRAC F1 89mm Light ATRL France
- 300 M20 "Super Bazooka" 3.7 inch/94mm Light ATRL United States
- 70 M40 106mm recoilless rifle United States
- 140 M18 57mm recoilless rifle United States
Anti-aircraft weapons
- 24 Skyguard AD System\Ammon 24x4 Aspide SAMs Italy+24 Oerlikon GDF-002 2x35mm AAGs Swiss-orderd from Egypt Egypt
- 18 Sinai-23 AD System (with 4xStrela 2 MANPAD launchers and ZU-23-2 23mm twin-mounted AAG, on M113A2 APC) Egypt Soviet Union United States (on order)
- 62 MIM-72 Chaparral quad-mounted short-range SAM launcher,with some 600 missiles(300 C\300 E) United States
- 48 RBS 70 MANPAD Launcher \ 600 missiles Sweden
- 100 Strela 2 MANPAD Launcher Soviet Union
- 26 M163 PIVADS 20mm self-propelled AAG United States (on order)
- 18 M42 Duster twin-mounted Bofors 40 mm self-propelled AAG United States Sweden
- 15 Type 55 37mm Towed AAGs China
- 15 Type 65 37mm towed AAG China
- 100 M55 20mm towed AAG Yugoslavia
Tanks
- 53 KMW Leopard 2A4 120mm main gun MBT Germany – to be delivered.
- 59 M60A3 Patton 105mm main gun main battle tank United States
- 30 M60A1 Patton 105mm main gun main battle tank United States
- 26-30 M48A5 Patton 105mm main gun main battle tank United States
- 30 Giat AMX-30B-2 105mm MBT France-ordered from Saudia-TBD
- 55-80 SK-105 Kürassier 105mm main gun light tank/tank destroyer Austria
- 55 AMX-13 75mm main gun light tank France (no longer in service)
- 20 M41A1 Walker Bulldog 76mm main gun light tank United States (no longer in service)
ARVs
- 18-36 EE-9 Cascavel 90mm main gun 6x6 ARV Brazil
- 24 Alvis Saladin 76mm main gun 6x6 ARV United Kingdom
- 40 Panhard AML 90 90mm main gun 4x4 ARV France
- 10 Panhard AML 60 60mm mortar 4x4 ARV France
- 30 Panhard EBR-75 75mm Main Gun 8x8 ARV France (no longer in service)
- 18 EE-3 Jararaca 4x4 ARV Brazil
- 10 M8 Greyhound 37mm 6x6 ARV France\ United States-OUT OF SERVICE.
APC/IFVs
- 35-100 M901 ITV 2xBGM-71A\C Improved TOW ATGM launcher United States
- 140-334 M113A1/M113A2 APC United States
- 36 M106A2 M30 4.2 inch/107mm heavy mortar APC United States
- 36 M125A2 M29A1 81mm medium mortar APC United States
- 24 M577A2 APC United States
- 85 Humvee with Mk 19 40mm AGL 4x4 APC United States
- 120 Fiat 6614C 4x4 APC Italy
- 18-36 EE-11 Urutu 6x6 APC Brazil
- 110 Fahd 240/280 4x4 APC Egypt (on order)
- 20 Cadillac LAV V150 Commando 4x4 APC United States-Reported
- 10 VXB-170 4x4 APCs France
Logistics and engineering equipment
- Bailey bridges United Kingdom
- 26 M88A2 Hercules ARV United States
- 5 Greif ARV Austria
- 5 Pioner CEV Austria
- 4 M728 CEV United States
- D-9 Bulldozers United States
- Zodiak boats France
AFV transporters
Utility vehicles
- M151A2 MUTT 4x4 United States
- Land Rover Defender 4x4 United Kingdom
- Mercedes-Benz Unimog U-4000 Germany
- Mercedes-Benz Unimog U-5000 Germany
- M35A2 cargo truck United States
- M939 cargo truck United States
- 56 M49 tanker truck United States
Radar
- 2 RASIT DRPT ground surveillance radar France
Other equipment
- Global Positioning System United States
- Night vision goggles United States
- SPECTRA helmet France
- PASGT helmet United States
- Bose headphones United States
- Motorola radio systems United States
- Red dot sights United States United Kingdom France
- Optical sights United States United Kingdom France
- Interceptor body armor United States
Air Force equipment
Main article: Tunisian Air ForceCombat aircraft
- 10 Lockheed Martin F-16A MLU Block-40 Fighting Falcon United States Planned to be Ordered
- 2 Lockheed Martin F-16B MLU Block-40 Fighting Falcon United States Planned to be Ordered
- 15 Northrop F-5E Tiger II United States
- 4-6 Northrop F-5F Tiger II United States
- 22 McDonnell Douglas A-4M Skyhawk II United States (never entered service)
- 4 McDonnell Douglas TA-4M Skyhawk II United States (never entered service)
- 12-28 North American F-86F Sabre United States (no longer in service)
Jet training/light attack aircraft
- 12 Aero L-59T Czech Republic
- 8 Aermacchi MB-326B Italy
- 7-16 Aermacchi MB-326KT Italy
- 4 Aermacchi MB-326LT Italy
Training/COIN piston-engined aircraft
- 12 North-American T-28A Trojan/Sud-Aviation Fennec United States France (no longer in service)
- 12 SIAI Marchetti SF.260WC Warrior Italy
- 9 SIAI-Marchetti SF-260C Italy
- 10 Lockheed/Aermacchi AL-60B United States Italy (no longer in service)
- 12 North-American T-6G Texan United States (no longer in service)
Liaison aircraft
- 10 Piper Cub United States (no longer in service)
- 15 Saab 91D Safir Sweden (no longer in service)
- 4 SIAI-Marchetti S.208A/M Italy
- 1 Reims F406
Transport aircraft
- 1 Boeing 737-700/BBJ United States
- 2 Dassault Falcon 20 France
- 2 Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules United States (on order)
- 2 Lockheed C-130H Hercules United States
- 4 Lockheed C-130E Hercules United States
- 8 Lockheed C-130B Hercules United States
- 5 Aeritalia G.222 Italy
- 3 Nord N2051 Noratlas France (no longer in service)
- 5 Let L-410UVP Turbolet Czech Republic
- 2 Dassault MD 315 Flamant France (no longer in service)
- 2 Dassault MD 312 Flamant France (no longer in service)
Attack helicopters
- 4 Hughes MD-500 Defender United States
- 7-8 SNIAS SA-342 Gazelle France
- 2 Sikorsky HH-3E Pelican United States
- 16 Sikorsky S-61R Pelican United States
- 12 Sikorsky SH-60F Seahawk United States-ON ORDER TBD
- 1 SNIAS AS-365N Dauphin-II France
Medium transport helicopters
- 2 Sikorsky S-76 Spirit United States
- 4 Agusta Bell AB-412EP Italy
- 1 SNIAS SA-330C Puma France
- 4 Agusta-Bell AB-212 Italy
- 6 Bell UH-1N United States
- 18 Bell 205\UH-1H Iroquois United States
- 18 Agusta-Bell AB205B Italy
Light transport helicopters
- 2 SNIAS AS-355 Ecureuil-II France
- 12 SNIAS AS-350B Ecureuil France
- 8 SNIAS AS-316B Alouette-III France
- 7 SNIAS AS-313 Alouette-II France
UAVs
Main Topic Tunisian UAV
Missiles
- AIM-9J Sidewinder AAMs United States
- AGM-65A Maverick AGMs United States
- Raytheon BGM-71C Improved-Tow(for MD-500 Defender Helicopters) United States
- MBDA HOT (for SA-342 Helicopters France Germany
Radar
Military airfields
- Bizerte(Sidi-Ahmad)
- Gabes
- Gafsa
- Sfax
MFPBs
- 3 Combattante-III-M class(with 8xMM-40 SSMs,1x76mm Gun,2x40mm Guns,4x30mm Guns) France
- 6 Type-143 Lurssen Albatros class (with 4xMM-38 SSMs,1xRAM-21 SAM,1x76mm Gun,Mine Laying Capability) Germany
- 3-4 P-48 Bizerte class(with 8xSS-12M SSMs,4x37mm Guns) France
Gun frigates
- 1 Savage class(1200\1490ton,19 knots,2x3inch Guns,2x20mm Guns) United States-OUT OF SERVICE
ASW vessels
- 1 Le-Fougeux class Corvette(325\400ton,18.5 knots,2xAnti-Submarine Mortars,1x76mm Gun,2x40mm Guns) France (out of service)
Minesweepers
- 6 Kondor-II class(635ton,3x2x25mm Guns) Germany\ East Germany
- 2 Adjutant class(320\375ton,1x20mm Gun) United States-OUT OF SERVICE
Gun boats
- 3-5 Modified Hazhui\Shanghai-II class(128 ft,30 knots,4x37mm Guns,4x25mm Guns) China
- 4 Javier Quiroga(Barcleo)class(1x40mm,1x20mm,2x12.7mm HMG) Spain-ON ORDER TBD
Patrol boats
- 4 Ch.Navals De Lestrel 31.5m class(104 ft,30 knots,2x20mm Guns) France
- 6 Ch.Navals De Lestrel 25m(83 ft,23 knots,1x20mm) France
- 5 Bremse class (22.6m,2x14.5mm HMGs) Germany[5]
- 11 Socomena class(20.5m,1x12.7mm HMG)
- 4 Gabes class(12.9m,2x12.7mm HMGs)
- 4 Rodman-38 class(11.6m) Spain
- 1 Barcelo class(36.2m,1x40mm Gun,1x20mm Gun,2x12.7mm HMGs)
- 2 Lurssen(Type unknown) Germany-ON ORDER TBD
- 2 Vosper Thornycroft 103 ft class(27 knota,2x20mm Guns) United Kingdom-OUT OF SERVICE
- 4 Tazarka class(with 2x20mm Guns) France
Landing craft
- 1 LCT-3 class United States
Auxiliary vessels
- 3 USA Made 1370ton Survey United States-ON ORDER TBD
- 1 Robert Conard class 63.7m Survery United States
- 1 Wilkes class(T-AGS-33)87m Holland
- 2` El Jem class Training ships
- 1 Simeto class Tanker
- 2 White Sumac 40.5m class
- 1 AGS Salammbo class United States-OUT OF SERVICE
- 2 WLM Tabarka class United States
- 1 TRC Kheireddine class United States
Missiles
- Raytheon RAM-21\RIM-166 SAMs United States
- MBDA MM-40 Exocet SSMs France
- MBDA MM-38 Exocet SSMs France
- Nord SS-12M SSMs France
ASW Torpedo
- 25 MK-44 United States
Defense production
Tunisia has developed the ability to produce 20 meter-long patrol boats with assistance from South Korea.[citation needed]
Weapons of mass destruction
No known nuclear activity. Signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
No known chemical weapons activity. Party to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC).
No known biological weapons activity. Party to the Biological Weapons Convention (BWC).
References
- ^ The Military Balance 2008, Routledge ISBN 978-1-857-43461-3
- ^ Tunisia - Armed forces
- ^ "World Armies, John Keegan, ISBN 0-333-172366-1
- ^ http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE73S00320110429?pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel
- ^ Dienstschiffe Typ GSB 23
External links
- Republic of Tunisia Ministry of National Defense
- The CIA World Factbook
- This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2006 edition".
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