Military of Nicaragua

Nicaraguan Armed Forces Fuerzas Armadas de Nicaragua
Seal of the Army of Nicaragua
Service branches	Army Air Force Navy
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief	Daniel Ortega
Manpower
Military age	17-49
Conscription	no
Available for military service	1,309,970 males, age 15–49, 1,315,186[2] females, age 15–49
Fit for military service	1,051,425 males, age 15–49, 1,129,649 females, age 15–49
Reaching military age annually	65,170 males, 63,133 females
Active personnel	14,000 (Ranked 105th)[1]
Expenditures
Percent of GDP	0.7% (2006 est.) (Ranked 150th) Dollar Figure (per capita) $0.06[3]
Related articles
History	Nicaraguan Revolution National Guard (Nicaragua)

The Nicaraguan Armed Forces are the military forces of Nicaragua.

History

National Guard 1927-1979

Main article: National Guard (Nicaragua)

The long years of strife between the liberal and conservative political factions and the existence of private armies led the United States to sponsor the National Guard as an apolitical institution to assume all military and police functions in Nicaragua. The marines provided the training, but their efforts were complicated by a guerrilla movement led by Augusto César Sandino that continued to resist the marines and the fledgling National Guard from a stronghold in the mountainous areas of northern Nicaragua.

Upon the advent of the United States Good Neighbor Policy in 1933, the marines withdrew. Having reached a strength of about 3,000 by the mid-1930s, the guard was organized into company units, although the Presidential Guard component approached battalion size. Expanded to no more than 9,000 during the civil war of 1978-79, the guard consisted of a reinforced battalion as its primary tactical unit, a Presidential Guard battalion, a mechanized company, an engineer battalion, artillery and antiaircraft batteries, and one security company in each of the country's sixteen departments.

The National Guard's main arms were M1 Garands and Israeli Galils, later augmented by antiaircraft guns and mortars. Nicaragua declared war on the Axis powers in 1941, immediately after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. Although Nicaragua was not actively involved in World War II, it qualified for United States Lend-Lease military aid in exchange for U.S. base facilities at Corinto. Additional shipments of small arms and transportation and communication equipment followed, as well as some training and light transport aircraft. United States military aid to the National Guard continued under the Rio de Janeiro Treaty of Mutual Defense (1947), but stopped in 1976 after relations with the administration of Anastasio Somoza Debayle (1967–72, 1974–79) worsened. Some United States equipment of World War II vintage was also purchased from other countries—Staghound armored cars and M4 Sherman medium tanks from Israel and F-51 Mustang fighter aircraft from Sweden. Except for minor frontier skirmishes with Honduras in 1957 over a border dispute, the National Guard was not involved in any conflict with its neighbors. The guard's domestic power, however, gradually broadened to embrace not only its original internal security and police functions but also control over customs, telecommunications, port facilities, radio broadcasting, the merchant marine, and civil aviation.

Military under Sandinista government 1979-1990

See also: FSLN

To replace the National Guard, the Sandinistas established a new national army, the Sandinista People's Army (Ejército Popular Sandinista—EPS), and a police force, the Sandinista Police (Policía Sandinista). These two groups, contrary to the original Puntarenas Pact were controlled by the Sandinistas and trained by personnel from Cuba, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union. Opposition to the overwhelming FSLN influence in the security forces did not surface until 1980. Meanwhile, the EPS developed, with support from Cuba and the Soviet Union, into the largest and best equipped military force in Central America. Compulsory military service, introduced during 1983, brought the EPS forces to about 80,000 by the mid-1980s. However, the conscription law was abolished in 1990.^[4]

Nicaraguan Armed Forces 1990-1995

Under an agreement between President-elect Chamorro of the National Opposition Union (Unión Nacional Oppositora - UNO) and the defeated FSLN party, General Humberto Ortega, former defense minister and commander in chief of the EPS under the Sandinistas, remained at the head of the armed forces. By a law that took effect in April 1990, the EPS became subordinate to President Chamorro as commander in chief. Chamorro also retained the Ministry of Defense portfolio. Chamorro's authority over the EPS was, however, very limited. There were no Ministry of Defense offices and no vice ministers to shape national defense policies or exercise civilian control over the armed forces. Under the Law of Military Organization of the Sandinista Popular Army enacted just before Chamorro's election victory, Humberto Ortega retained authority over promotions, military construction, and force deployments. He contracted for weapons procurement and drafted the military budget presented to the government. Only an overall budget had to be submitted to the legislature, thus avoiding a line-item review by the National Assembly.

Sandinista officers remained at the head of all general staff directorates and military regions. The chief of the army, Major General Joaquín Cuadra Lacayo, continued in his pre-Chamorro position. Facing domestic pressure to remove Humberto Ortega and the risk of curtailment of United States aid as long as Sandinistas remained in control of the armed forces, Chamorro announced that Ortega would be replaced in 1994. Ortega challenged her authority to relieve him and reiterated his intention to remain at the head of the EPS until the army reform program was completed in 1997.

The army reform measures were launched with deep cuts in personnel strengths, the abolition of conscription, and disbanding of the militia. The size of the army declined from a peak strength of 97,000 troops to an estimated 15,200 in 1993, accomplished by voluntary discharges and forced retirements. Under the Sandinistas, the army general staff embodied numerous branches and directorates artillery, combat readiness, communications, Frontier Guards, military construction, intelligence, counterintelligence, training, operations, organization and mobilization, personnel, and logistics. Most of these bodies appear to have been retained, although they have been trimmed and reorganized. The Nicaraguan Air Force and Navy were also subordinate to the army general staff.

Since 1990 the mission of the EPS has been to ensure the security of the national borders and to deal with internal disturbances. Its primary task has been to prevent disorder and violence wrought by armed bands of former Contra and Sandinista soldiers.

In November and December 1992, the EPS was deployed alongside the National Police to prevent violence during demonstrations by the National Workers' Front for improved pay and benefits. The EPS and the Frontier Guards also assist the police in narcotics control. A small EPS contingent works alongside demobilized Contras in a Special Disarmament Brigade to reduce the arsenal of weapons in civilian hands.

National Army of Nicaragua 1995-present

With the constitutional reforms made in 1995, the EPS got its current apolitical nature, turning into a professional, national military institution newly named "Ejército de Nicaragua" (National Army of Nicaragua).

Army Equipment

Light equipment

Nicaraguan military members train during a visit by the U.S. Navy

• Makarov PM
•  United States M67 Hand grenade
•  United States AN-M14 Hand grenade
•  United States M59 grenade
•  United States M26A-1 grenade
•  United States M-34 grenade
•  United States M18 grenade
•  United States Browning M1911
•  United States\ Belgium FN HP-35
•  Austria Glock-17
•  Israel Jericho 941-467
•  United States S&W Model-10 .38
•  Chile SAF Silenciada
•  Israel IMI Uzi SMGs
•  Israel IMI Mini Uzi-100
•  Soviet Union PPsh-41
•  Czech Republic SA-25\ SA-23
•  Germany MP-5 SMGs
•  United States Remington-700 shutgun
•  United States Ithaca model-37
•  Belgium FN FAL SARs
•  Swiss SIG SG 540
•  Czech RepublicVz 52\57
•  Russia AKMS \  East Germany MPiKSM-72 Assault Rifle
•  Soviet Union SKS Rifle
• AK-47 Assault Rifle
• AKM Assault Rifle
• RPD Light machine gun
•  Belgium FN MAG Ligth machine gun
•  United States SACO M60 GPMG
• M16A-1\2 Assault Rifle-6,000
• IMI Galil AR\MR Assault Rifle-10,000
• G3 Battle Rifle
• RPK Light Machine Gun
• PK \PKT Machine Gun
•  Soviet Union PKM machine gun
•  Soviet Union SGMT machine gun for T-55 MBTs.
• DShK Heavy Machine Gun
•  United States Browning M2HB HMGs
•  United States M40A1 Sniper Rifle
• Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle
• RPG-7V-400
• \ Russia AGS-17
•  Germany H&K HK-69A-1\ MZP-1
•  United States M79-64
•  United States M72 LAW
•  Soviet Union M43 82mm mortar-500
•  United States M29 \M1 81mm mortar-579
•  United States M19\M-2 60mm mor

Armoured Vehicles

• T-54/55 100mm MBTs - 62 operational\156 delivered (20 T-54+136 T-55 delivered) some via  Libya\ Bulgaria
• PT-76B 76mm LTs - 22
•  United States M4 Sherman medium tank (M4A3E 76mm\ M4A3E8 105mm - 10 out of service ex- Philippines Army.
• BTR-60PB 8x8 APCs - 82
• BRDM-1 4x4 ARVs - 80
• BRDM-2 4x4 ARVs - 90
•  Soviet Union BRDM-2 with AT-3 Sagger ATGM 4x4 ARVs\ TDs-12
•  United States T1E1 Staghound 4x4 37mm ARV via  Israel - 45 out of service
• BTR-152 - 6x6 APCs - 120
•  Soviet Union BTR-40 - 4x4 APCs - 20
• BTR-50U CP Version- 1
•  France AMX-VCI (reported) - 30
•  United States M2 Half Track Car APC - out of service

Vehicles

•  United Kingdom Landrover Defender
•  United States Jeep M38A - 1 MD
•  United States M37
•  Germany Mercedes Benz Unimog 406
•  Japan Toyota Land Cruiser
•  Spain Pegaso-3045
•  Israel AIL M325 Command-car "Nun-Nun"
•  United States Reo M35A2
•  Soviet Union Ural trucks
•  Czech Republic Tatra trucks
•  Spain Santana 88 Ligero Militar
•  United States Caterpillar wheeled Bulldozers

Anti tank weapons

• AT-3 Sagger 9K-11 Malyutka anti tank missiles-500  Soviet Union
• BGM71C TOW-some  United States
• B-11 107mm RCL  Soviet Union
• M40A1C1 106mm RCL  United States
• M67 90mm RCL  United States
• B-10 82mm RCL  Soviet Union
• M20 75mm RCL  United States
• M18 57mm RCL  United States

Artillery

• D-30 2A18 122mm towed howitzer - 67
•  Soviet Union M1938 122mm towed howitzer - 24
• D-20 M-1955 152mm towed howitzer - 60
• ZiS-2 \ M-1943 57mm anti tank gun - 354
•  United States M101A 105mm towed howitzer - 12
• ZiS-3\ M-1942 76mm divisional gun - 85
•  Soviet Union M-1944\BS-3 100mm filed gun - 24
•  Soviet Union M-160 160mm heavy mortar - 4
•  Soviet Union M-43 120mm heavy mortar - 24
•  Israel Soltam M-65 120mm heavy mortar - some

Multiple rocket launchers

• Type 63 - 33
• BM-21 - 30
•  Soviet Union BM-21 Grad-1P - 100

Anti-Aircraft

•  Soviet Union ZSU-23-4 Shilka \ Gundish - 44 sold to Ecuador
•  Soviet Union ZSU-57-2 - 10
•  United States FIM-92 Stinger
•  United States FIM-43 Redeye
• ZU-23-2 - 20
• SA-7B 9K32 Strela 2 Grail - 1,600
•  Soviet Union SA-14 9K34 Strela 3 Gremlin - 117
•  Russia SA-16 9K38 Igla Gimlet TOTAL: - 360 MANPAD launchers.
• 9K31 Strela-1 - SA-9 Gaskin
•  Soviet Union SA-8 9K33 Osa - 8 launchers \ 60 missiles via  Libya
•  Soviet Union KS-19 100mm AAGs - 18
•  Swiss\ Israel Hispano Suiza HS404\TCM-20 2x20mm AAGs
•  United States M45 Quadmount 4x12,7mm Browning M-2HB
•  Soviet Union ZPU - 1\2\4
•  Soviet Union S-60 57mm AAGs - 24

EW Radars

•  Soviet Union P-37 Bar-Lock - 2
•  Soviet Union P-12 Spoon-Rest - 6
•  Soviet Union Son-9 - 7

NAVY

•  North Korea FPBs SinHung type - 3
•  Soviet Union Zhuk class PCs - 3
•  Israel Dabur class PCs - 10 status unknown
•  Soviet Union Yevgenya class minesweepers - 8
•  France Vedette^{[clarification needed]} class PCs - 2
•  United States PCs - status unknown
•  Poland K-8 class minesweepers - 2
•  France Zodiac

Air Force

Aircraft inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[5]
Mil Mi-8 Hip	Russia	transport helicopter	Mi-8 Mil Mi-17 Hip-H	5 15.	A total of 60 delivered. some sold to Peru (12 Mil Mi-8 Hip-E & 48 Mil Mi-17 Hip-H delivered).
Mil Mi-25 Hind	Soviet Union\ Russia	attack helicopter	28 (12 Mil Mi-25 Hind-E + 16 Mil Mi-24 Hind D)
AT-33A	United States	jet training\CAS	7-10 delivered out of service
Mirage M50	France	FGA	24 Mirage M50E\D\R ordered,not delivered
MiG-21 Fishbed	Soviet Union	FGA	24 Mig-21 Bis\ Mig-21U ordered-not delivered.
MiG-17 Fresco D	Soviet Union	FGA	15 out of service/reported
Ilyushin IL-28 Beagle	Soviet Union	LB	6 reported. out of service.
C-47 Dakota	United States	transport	13 out of service.
C-123K Provider	United States	transport	5 delivered
DHC-4 Caribou	Canada	transport	3 delivered
Fokker F-27	Holland	transport	2 delivered
Cessna 185	United States	trainer	7 out of service.
Cessna 401 Titan	United States	transport	1 delivered.
Cessna 172 Skyhawk	United States	trainer	T-41D	1 (7 delivered).
Cessna 210 Centurion	United States	utility		2
Cessna 337 Skymaster	United States	liaison	O-2A O-2B	8 1 (10 delivered).
AT-28D Trojan	United States	training\COIN	18 (11 AT-28D\ 7 AT-28A) out of service.
SIAI SF-260W Warior	Italy	liaison\ligth attack	6 deilverd	4
Huges OH-6A Defender	United States	attack helicopter	12 out of service.
Antonov An-26 Curl	Russia	transport	An-26C	2 (7 delivered).
Antonov An-2 Colt	Soviet Union	transport	11 delivered. out of service.
Mil Mi -2 Hoplite	Poland	trainer	Mi-2	3 (10 delivered).
Piper PA-23 Aztec	United States	utility	PA-23-250	1 (2 delivered)
Piper PA-34 Senaoa	United States	utility	8 delivered.out of service.(PA-34-200)
Piper PA28-235	United States	transport	2 delivered.
Piper PA-18 Cub	United States	training	10 delivered	2
Beechcraft B-200 Super King Air	United States	transport		1
C-212 Aviocar	Spain	transport	5 delivered.out of service
Bell UH-1H	United States	hlicopter	2 delivered. out of service.
Alouette-III	France	attack helicopter	2 delivered.out of service.
Sikorsky S-58	United States	helicopter	11 delivered.out of service.
Dassault Falcon 20	France	VIP jet	1 delivered. out of service,
HS125	United Kingdom	VIP jet	1 delivered. out of service.
DHC-3 Otter	Canada	transport	6 delivered. out of service.
IAI-201 Arava	Israel	transporter	2 delivered. out of service.

See also

• T-54/T-55 operators and variants

References

1 http://www.country-data.com/frd/cs/nicaragua/ni_appen.html#table12

1. ^ "Nicaragua Armed Forces". 2006-07-25. http://www.nationsencyclopedia.com/Americas/Nicaragua.html. 
2. ^ "World Factbook Redirect — Central Intelligence Agency". http://cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/nu.html. 
3. ^ "NationMaster - Nicaraguan Military statistics". http://www.nationmaster.com/country/nu-nicaragua/mil-military. 
4. ^ "Nicaragua: CONCODOC 1998 report". http://www.wri-irg.org/co/rtba/nicaragua.htm. 
5. ^ "World Military Aircraft Inventory", Aerospace Source Book 2007, Aviation Week & Space Technology, January 15, 2007.

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the Library of Congress Country Studies.http: http://

External links

• Ejercito.mil.ni Ejercito de Nicaragua (Spanish)