Military of Brazil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Brazilian Armed Forces |
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| Service branches |  Brazilian Air Force Brazilian Army Brazilian Navy |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva |
| Minister of Defense | Nelson Jobim |
| Military age | 19-45 years of age for compulsory military service |
| Conscription | Compulsory military service |
| Available for military service |
Males age 19-49: 45,586,036 (2005 est.), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service |
Males age 19-49: 33,119,098 (2005 est.), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
Males: 1,785,930 (2005 est.) |
| Active personnel | 287,000 (2006) ranked 18th |
| Reserve personnel | 1,115,000 (2006) |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | USD $24,4 billion (2008)[1] (ranked 11th) |
| Percent of GDP | 2.6% (2008)[2] |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers | Embraer Avibrás Mectron |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Brazil |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Brazil |
The Brazilian Armed Forces (Portuguese: Forças Armadas Brasileiras) comprise the Brazilian Army, the Brazilian Navy (including the Brazilian Marine Corps and Brazilian Naval Aviation) and the Brazilian Air Force.[3]
Contents |
[edit] Overview
The Armed forces of Brazil comprise the Brazilian Army, the Brazilian Navy, and the Brazilian Air Force.[4] The Military Police (State's Military Police) is described as an ancillary force of the Army.[4] Brazilian armed forces are the largest in Latin America.[5][6] All military branches are part of the Ministry of Defence.[7]
The Brazilian Air Force is the aerial warfare branch of the Brazilian armed forces. Força Aérea Brasileira was formed when the air divisions of the Army and Navy were merged into a single military force, initially called "National Air Force".[citation needed] Both air divisions transferred their equipments, installations and personnel to the new armed force. The FAB is the largest air force in Latin America, with about 700 manned aircraft in service, and as of March 23, 2007, had 65,610 personnel on active duty.[8] An additional 7,500 civilian personnel are employed by the Air Force.[9] The Brazilian Navy is responsible for naval operations and for guarding Brazilian territorial waters. It is the oldest of the Brazilian Armed forces and the largest navy in Latin America,[10] with a 27,307-ton aircraft carrier, the NAeL São Paulo (formerly FS Foch of the French Navy), some American and British-built frigates, a few locally-built corvettes, coastal diesel-electric submarines and many other river and coastal patrol craft. Finally, the Brazilian Army is responsible for land-based military operations, with a strength of approximately 190,000 soldiers.[citation needed]
The Escola Superior de Guerra (ESG), or Higher War School, located in Rio de Janeiro, is the school where upper ranks, those of colonel and above, study and are selected for promotion if appropriate.
[edit] Service obligation and manpower
The CIA World Factbook reports that the military age is 19-45 years for compulsory military service and the service obligation is for nine to 12 months. The age for voluntary service is 17-45 years, and an increasing percentage of the ranks are "long-service" volunteer professionals. Brazil's military manpower as of a 2005 estimate is 45,586,036 males age 19-49 and 45,728,704 females age 19-49 available for military service, and 33,119,098 males age 19-49 and 38,079,722 females age 19-49 fit for military service. A 2005 estimate found 1,785,930 males age 18-49 and 1,731,648 females age 19-49 reach military service age annually.
Males in Brazil are required to enlist for serving 12 months (24 months in the air force, 36 in the navy) of military service upon their 18th birthday.[citation needed] However, most enlisted are dismissed, and do not serve at all.[citation needed] Most often, the service is performed in military bases as close as possible to the person's home. The government does not require those planning to attend college or holding a permanent job to serve. There are also several other exemptions to compulsory service, including health reasons.
Women were allowed to serve in the armed forces beginning in early 1980s, when the Brazilian Army became the first army in South America to accept women into career ranks;[citation needed] women serve in the Navy and Air Force only in Women's Reserve Corps. In 2006, the first class of female Air Force pilots graduated.[citation needed]
[edit] Insufficient investments
Payments for personnel and pensions absorb most of the Defense budget, limiting the amount of investments in maintenance and new equipment.[11] Between 2001 and 2007 just R$11.1 billion, roughly US$6.1 billion, were invested in the military. [11] For 2008, USD $5.6 billion (of a total Defense budget of USD $24.4 billion[12]) are expected to be invested in new equipments. [13]
Only 267 or 37% of the Air Force's aircraft are operational, lack of maintenance and spare parts have grounded 452 aircraft.[14] Compounding this problem is the fact that 60% of the aircraft are 20 years old or older. [11]
The Navy is also facing difficulties. Not only the Navy has only 21 combat surface ships to patrol more than 7,000 km of coastline but also only 10 of those ships are operational.[11][15] Additionally, most operational ships are plagued with operating restrictions.[16] Of the Navy's 5 submarines, only one is fully operational, two others operate with restrictions and 27 or 46% of the Navy's 58 helicopters are inoperable.[11][17][18]
The Army is also facing challenges, 78% of all Army vehicles are 34 years or older and some trucks date from World War II.[11][19] General Enzo Martins Peri added the fact that most of the Army's artillery guns are also from World War II.[11][20] Of the Army's 1,437 armored vehicles over 40% are not combat ready and 40% or 2,670 of the Army's vehicles are not operational.[11] Lastly, the amount of ammunition stock is only 15% of what is recommended.[11]
[edit] Troop relocation
Brazil has the necessity to patrol its 15,735 km (9,777 mi) of land borders[21]. Since the 1990's Brazil has been relocating its forces in accordance to this national security requirement.
Between 2003 and 2008, the 2nd Jungle Infantry Brigade[22], the 3rd Infantry Battalion, the 19th Logistics Battalion, and the 22nd Army Police Platoon were transferred by the Army from the state of Rio de Janeiro to the Amazon region[23]. In addition, the 1st and 3rd Combat Cars Regiment were also relocated from the state of Rio de Janeiro to city of Santa Maria in the state of Rio Grande Do Sul[24].
Despite those efforts, the states of Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais and Espirito Santo still concentrate over 49,000 soldiers[25]. On May 2008, the Navy announced plans to reposition its forces throughout Brazil[26].
[edit] References
- ^ National Congress of Brazil. Brazilian Federal Budget (2008) - Ministry of Defense (Ministério da Defesa).
- ^ CIA - The World Factbook. [1]
- ^ According to article 144 of the 1988 Brazilian Constitution, the para-military Polícia Militar is constitutionally considered an auxiliary and potential reserve to the federal military forces, though subordinate to the state governors. They can, however, be compelled to federal service under a statute similar to posse comitatus[2].
- ^ a b Brazilian Federal Constitution. Brazilian Government (official text). Retrieved on 2007-05-17. See also: "Brazilian Federal Constitution in English", text translated to English (unofficial). Retrieved on 2007-05-17.
- ^ See List of countries and federations by military expenditures
- ^ See List of countries by number of active troops
- ^ Ministry of Defence Structure "Defence" Ministério da Defesa. Accessed June 22, 2007.
- ^ :: Sala De Imprensa - Fab ::
- ^ Sala de imprensa - FAB em números
- ^ El Universal
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Pais Gigante Defesa Pobre", O Dia newspaper, November 10, 2007.
- ^ National Congress of Brazil. Brazilian Federal Budget (2008) - Ministry of Defense (Ministério da Defesa).
- ^ A South American Arms Race? - TIME
- ^ http://ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/brasil/2007/10/18/sinopse_da_imprensa_apenas_37_dos_avioes_da_fab_tem_condicoes_de_uso_diz_saito_1049201.html
- ^ http://www.defesa.ufjf.br/fts/CBINFOR.pdf
- ^ Marinha tem frota insuficiente para patrulhar a costa Terra - Brasil
- ^ http://www.defesa.ufjf.br/fts/CBINFOR.pdf
- ^ Marinha tem frota insuficiente para patrulhar a costa Terra - Brasil
- ^ Governo do Estado da Paraíba - A União
- ^ Governo do Estado da Paraíba - A União
- ^ Jornal da Globo
- ^ http://www.fazenda.gov.br/resenhaeletronica/MostraMateria.asp?page=&cod=372337
- ^ O DIA Online - União cortará tropa do Rio
- ^ O DIA Online - União cortará tropa do Rio
- ^ O DIA Online - União cortará tropa do Rio
- ^ O DIA Online - União cortará tropa do Rio
[edit] See also
- Brazil and weapons of mass destruction
- Policing in Brazil
- Military Police of Brazilian States
- BOPE: Special Police Operations Battalion of the Military Police of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
[edit] External links
- Brazilian Ministry of Defence
- Brazil military profile from the CIA World Factbook
- Brazil military guide from GlobalSecurity.org
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