Military of Georgia

Infobox National Military
country=Georgia
name=Georgian Armed Forces
native_name= საქართველოს შეიარაღებული ძალები


caption=Georgian soldiers on a parade in Iraq
founded=Early 1990s
current_form=1991
branches=Georgia Ground Force
Georgian Air Force
Georgian Navy----
Georgian National Guard
headquarters=Tbilisi
commander-in-chief=Mikheil Saakashvili
commander-in-chief_title=President
minister=Davit Kezerashvili
minister_title=Defence Minister
commander=
commander_title=
age=18-35 years old
conscription=18 years of age, 18 months
manpower_data=2007 est.
manpower_age=18-49
available=1,038,736
available_f=
fit=827,281
fit_f=
reaching=38,857
reaching_f=
active=32,000
ranked=
reserve=240,000
deployed=
amount=$1.2 billion (2007) [Increase in the Defense Budget - 2008, http://civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=18784]
percent_GDP=15% (2007)
domestic_suppliers=
foreign_suppliers=USA
GER
CZE
UKR
TUR
ISR
imports=
exports=
history=
ranks=Georgian military ranksThe Georgian Armed Forces ( _ka. საქართველოს შეიარაღებული ძალები), is the name of the unified armed forces of the Georgia. The Georgian military is a defence force consisting of an Georgia Ground Force, Georgian Navy, Georgian Air Force and a paramilitary organization Georgian National Guard. The national defence policy aims which are based on based on the Constitution of Georgia are to guarantee the preservation of the independence and sovereignty of the state and the integrity of its land area, territorial waters and airspace and its constitutional order. The armed forces of Georgia are performed under the authority of the Georgian Ministry of Defence.

History

The GAF were established in the early 1990s from former Soviet Army units on Georgian soil, irregular militias, and Georgian personnel returning from other posts within the former Soviet Armed Forces. On March 23, 1994, Georgia was one of the first former Soviet Republics to join the Partnership for Peace. Among the Partners Georgia was the first country who could submit the special documentation (May 2004) and on October 29, 2004 the North Atlantic Council approved the first Individual Partnership Action Plan (IPAP) for Georgia. If the IPAP is successful, Georgia will have good opportunity to accede to the Membership Action Plan (MAP).The Georgia Train and Equip Program (GTEP) training was conducted using U.S. Special Operations Forces and U. S. Marine Corps forces from May 2002 to May 2004. During this time approximately 2,600 Georgian soldiers, including a headquarters staff element and 5 tactical units, received training. Another assistance program, the Georgia Security and Stability Operations Program (Georgia SSOP), was launched in January 2005 as a continuation of the (GTEP) of 2002-2004. Georgian contingents were involved in the Kosovo Force and continue to participate in the operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The GAF have been extensively reformed in the recent years to meet Georgia’s aspirations to join NATO and for better response to the existing challenges such as the ongoing tensions in the unresolved separatist conflict areas in Abkhazia and South Ossetia as well as to the threats of global terrorism. Georgia also views a large-scale foreign invasion and the spillover of conflicts from Russia’s North Caucasus as the worst potential near- and long-term scenarios, respectively. [The Strategic Defense Review (2007), p. 77.]

On August 8, 2008 the Georgian military started a military operation in South Ossetia (see 2008 South Ossetia War), a disputed region within the internationally recognized borders of Georgia. Subsequently Russian military forces crossed into Georgia in order to 'defend Russian citizens'. In response Georgian leader Mikheil Saakashvili announced the mobilization of reserve forces to resist the Russian invasion.

The military budget of Georgia increased 50 times over the period from 2002 (US$18 mln.) to 2007 (US$780 mln.), reaching over 7% of Georgia's GDP.

From January 2005 to January 2008 the number of tanks increased from 98 to 183, the number of armoured vehicles increased from 83 to 134. Artillery guns (with caliber greater than 100 mm) increased from 96 to 238. The number of attack helicopters has grown from 3 to 9, combat aircraft from 7 to 9.

Structure and subdivisions

The GAF consists of:
*Georgian Land Forces
*Georgian Air Force
*Georgian Navy
*Georgian Special Forces
*Georgian National Guard

The current authorized strength of the GAF structures is 32,650 personnel, including 18,993 in the Land Forces, 2,091 in the Air Force, 1350 in the Navy, 9,196 in administration staff and central structures. The Georgian Parliament aims to increase the strength of the ground forces. At the end of 2010 the GAF will consist of 75.000 men;forming 5th and 6th brigades. Reserves will be total 120.000 men.

The Land Forces form the largest component of the GAF responsible for providing land defense against any threat to the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, supporting Border Police in border protection and civil authorities in counter-terrorist operations as well as providing units for NATO-led and coalition operations abroad. They are organized into infantry brigades, artillery and other supporting capacities operating at a battalion level.The Strategic Defense Review (2007), p. 74.]

The Air Force consists of aviation and air defense assets and provides security to Georgia’s airspace, while the Georgian Navy protects Georgia’s territorial waters and contributes to the collective maritime defense in the Black Sea region. The Special Force Brigade is responsible for conducting reconnaissance, unconventional warfare, and counter-terrorism operations. The Georgian National Guard organizes trains reservists in the peacetime and mobilizes them during a crisis or wartime.

Georgian Land Force

Consists of the following units:

*1st Infantry Brigade, located in Gori
*2nd Infantry Brigade, located in Senaki
*3rd Infantry Brigade, located in Kutaisi
*4th Infantry Brigade, located in Vaziani
*5th Infantry Brigade, located in Khelvachauri (temporary distribution place) and Khoni
*Artillery Brigade, located in Gori and Khoni
*Military Engineering Brigade, located in Gori
*Separate Light Infantry Battalion, located in Adlia
*Separate Tank Battalion, located in Gori
*Separate Air Defense Battalion, located in Kutaisi
*Communication Battalion, located in Saguramo
*Technical Reconnaissance Battalion, located in Kobuleti
*Military Police Battalion, located in Tbilisi
*Medical Battalion, located in Saguramo

The strength of Land Forces is 26,739 from which 2,215 are officers, 24,508 NCOs (contracting) and 16 civilians.

Equipment

Main Battle Tank

* T-72B and T-72 SIM-1 (System Improvements and Modernization-1)

Tracked Amoured Vehicle

* MT-LB
* BMP-1U
* BMP-2

Wheeled APC

* BTR-80
* BTR-70ID
* Otokar Cobra
* HMMWV

MLRS

* RM-70
* BM-21
* LAR-160

elf-Propelled Artillery

* 2S3 Akatsiya
* 2S7 Pion
* 152mm SpGH DANA

Towed Artillery

* D-30
* 152 mm gun 2A36
* T-12 antitank gun

Georgian Air Force

The Georgian Air Force is made up by the air force and the air defense component. The air force is responsible over the control and air defense of the Georgian air space; conducting air intelligence and surveillance; providing support to the ground forces other services; conducting air evacuation and searching and rescuing operations; air movements of personnel and military cargo transportation. [http://www.mod.gov.ge/i.php?l=E&m=5&sm=7 Georgian Ministry of Defence]

The two major airfields are located near Tbilisi at Alekseevka and Marneuli. The Georgian Air Force is currently undergoing a process of modernization with the help of Georgia’s NATO partners, specifically the United States and Turkey.

Georgian Naval Force

.

The other, smaller naval base is in Batumi. Besides the naval force, the navy also includes a Special Counter-terrorist Detachment force. Georgia is also one of the founding members and a participant of the Black Sea Naval Co-operation Task Group.

National Guard of Georgia

Georgian National Guard was established on December 20, 1990 and was manned by volunteers. It represents the first Georgian armed formation, which became the base of the foundation for modern Georgian Armed Forces. The Guard actively participated in the conflicts existed on the Georgian territory (Samachablo, Abkhazia).

The National Guard consists of 20 554 personnel; the main missions of National Guard are:

#Support civil government in crisis situations (natural, technological, ecological);
#Register mobilization recourses, study and deliver;
#Convene, select and man of citizens on the basis of the agreement, for the units, subunits and bases of the Armed Forces;
#Provide ceremony activities.

Participation of Georgia in international peacekeeping missions

Georgian Armed Forces have been participating in peacekeeping missions (the Balkans, Persian Gulf) since 1999.

Units participating in peacekeeping missions are manned by professional soldiers, the duration of the mission is six months and participation is voluntary. The readiness assessment criteria are, as follows: health condition, physical fitness, professional skills and experience.

About 200 Georgian troops were deployed in the Kosovo (KFOR) in 1999-2008, 70 were deployed in Iraq (OIF) in 2003 and 50 in Afghanistan in 2004 (ISAF). From 2004 in Iraq were 300 Georgian troops. From 2005 approximately 850 troops were serving under Coalition Command (OIF and UNAMI). On July 2007 Georgia sent an extra 1,400 troops to Iraq; that brought the total number of troops in Iraq to 2,000 (Inf. Bde). On August 8th, 2008 Georgia announced it will withdraw 1,000 troops from Iraq due to rising hostilities with Russia. Their preparedness and training skills are evaluated on high level by international experts.

Hence, owing to participation in international peacekeeping missions the military members are able to obtain practical experience and to show readiness to cooperate with NATO and with other partner countries' forces.

Flags

These are the Georgian military flags as of 2004. [ [http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ge%5Emil.html Georgia: Military flags, 2004 ] ]

ee also

*Georgia and NATO

References

* [http://www.mod.gov.ge/2007/downloads/The_Strategic_Defence_Review(www.mod.gov.ge).pdf Ministry of Defense of Georgia: The Strategic Defence Review 2007.] "mod.gov.ge". Accessed on May 7, 2008.
*factbook, 2005
*StateDept, 2005
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/georgia/mod.htm GlobalSecurity.org on Georgia’s military]

Further reading

*Richard Woff, 'The Armed Forces of Georgia', Jane's Intelligence Review, July 1993

External links

* [http://www.mod.gov.ge/ Georgia Ministry of Defence website]
* [http://www.wri-irg.org/co/rtba/georgia.htm Conscription in Georgia]
* [http://www.tvsakartvelo.ge/ Georgian Armed Forces Network]
* [http://observer.guardian.co.uk/world/story/0,,1784602,00.html Georgian troops trained by US army and SAS veterans]