Army of Georgia

Yesterday in the Georgian-Abkhazian conflict was another incident in which Russian peacekeepers were involved. Georgian Interior Ministry reported a shootout between members of law enforcement bodies of the republic and the Russian military, which took place in the Zugdidi district, near the Inguri River.
What is it like to Georgian army?

In 2002-2004. under the "Train and Equip" Georgia received 64 million. dollars, and in the program of "maintaining stability operations" only the fourth stage spent 60 million. dollars. The third American program "Financing of arms purchases from foreign countries" will provide the 11, 9 million. Dollars. But there is also a free aid of the United States, which carried out the program "Financing of arms purchases by foreign states (FMF)» and "Training of foreign specialists (IMET)». As FMF and IMET programs in 2005, the United States allocated 11, 9 and 1, 4 million. Dollars, respectively (in 2006 and 2007, funding maintained at the 2005 level).

Surprisingly, according to some experts, the US trainers and advisers, even taking a direct part in the Georgian aggression against South Ossetia in the summer of 2004. So, as part of the Joint Staff, which is led by Georgian troops, operated 11 CIA and US Army officers. It was also found that the composition of the Georgian helicopter unit were two American crew trained to fly at night and having a carrying equipment for night flying. In addition, the combat units directly participating in hostilities, were 25 more military trainers and advisers from across the ocean.

Not far behind Washington and Kiev. Start development of Ukrainian-Georgian military-technical cooperation was given in March 2005, the signing of a bilateral agreement between the state company "Ukrspetsexport" and the Defense Ministry of Georgia. It was declared as the fulfillment of the agreements between Presidents Viktor Yushchenko and Saakashvili. In particular, the agreement provided for the training of officers of the Georgian Armed Forces in the Ukrainian military academies, the creation of tank repair production in Georgia. Since then, Ukraine has supplied ally complex radar 36D6M, anti-aircraft missile complexes "Osa" and "Beech", small arms and ammunition, self-propelled guns, helicopters Mi-8 and Mi-24, T-72 tanks, BTR-80, combat BMP-2. On the military enterprises of Ukraine repairs and modernization of the Georgian armament.

In October last year the sale of Ukrainian weapons Tbilisi confirmed the deputies of the Verkhovna Rada. Thus, the parliamentarian Georgy Kryuchkov said he was ready to be sent in Tbilisi further SAM "Wasp" missiles "ground-to-air" and Su-27. According to him, put tanks (40 units) paid, and "other future delivery" Americans pay.



Czech Republic has supplied small arms to Georgia, T-72 tanks, SAU SPH-77 Dana, mortars, multiple rocket launchers RM-70, as well as shells, mines and rockets to them. Currently, Tbilisi is in talks with Prague to sell ten combat aircraft L-159. This is reported even Czech media, referring to the words of the first deputy defense minister of the Czech Republic Martin Bartak. There are indications that the Czech factory Ceska Zbrojovka reached a preliminary agreement with the Georgian leadership on the 4000 sale of firearms.

Lithuania gave Georgia small arms and both his frigate - "Zemaitis" and "Aukshtaytis" received once from Russia. Latvia - small arms and communications equipment of Soviet manufacture. Greece - Three boats, including one missile "Dioscuria." Israel - the latest machines TAR-21 Tavor, devices and night vision sights. And the Israeli company Elbit Systems Ltd has upgraded the Georgian Su-25.

Attacking force

Official data of military-technical potential of Georgia can not reflect the real picture. The information presented in Tbilisi international organizations and abundance of AME sun does not always correspond to reality. This is due primarily to the fact that under the existing conflicts, Georgia is trying to distort something.

Today, its armed forces consist of the Ground Forces, Air Force and Air Defense, Navy and National Guard. The total number - about 25 thousand. People (according to other sources - up to 31 ths.). Mobilization reserve - 100 thousand. In 2007 the number of trained reservists should amount to 20 battalions. The official number: 19 411 officers, corporals and privates, 6843 inductee, 618 civilian personnel. Total about 27 thousand. According to the agreement on partnership with NATO, the number should not exceed 25 000, but Georgia refers to these same recruits 6000, which, according to official Tbilisi until constitute "ballast". In addition, Saakashvili recently said: "The whole country is ready to ensure that Georgia will soon have to end equipped, trained armed forces in the composition of at least 100 thousand people».



Ground troops - about 12, 5 thousand. Soldiers (according to other sources - to 16, 5 thousand.). At the beginning of 2007 they comprised:

 - 1st Infantry Brigade (Vaziani) numbering 2500 people.

It includes: 11th Telavi Battalion Light Infantry (560 pers.), 13th Shavnabadsky Battalion Light Infantry (560 pers.), 16th Sachkhere mountain-infantry battalion (560 pers.), A battalion of commandos (560 pers. ) Tank Battalion (T-72), logistics battalion, reconnaissance and engineering-sapper company;

 - 2nd Infantry Brigade (Kutaisi): 21, 22 minutes (Batumi), 23, 24th infantry battalions, a tank battalion (on the T-72), artillery battalion, logistics battalion, reconnaissance and engineering-sapper company < br />
 - 3rd Infantry Brigade (Gori): 31, 32, 33, 34th infantry battalions, a tank battalion (on the T-72), artillery battalion, a battalion logistics, intelligence and an engineering company. The brigade was trained by American instructors since August 2004 .;

 - The 4th Infantry Brigade (Tbilisi), two infantry divisions and one mechanized battalion (1, 5 thousand people.)., A tank battalion (T-72), artillery battalion, a battalion logistics, intelligence and an engineering company. This is one of the most accomplished pieces - there still have soldiers, remembering the Abkhaz war;

 - A separate brigade of special purpose (place of dislocation - village Kojori near Tbilisi). It really is equipped with a so-called "Iraqi" battalion Kodzhorskogo center of low intensity conflict, based at Kodzhorskogo Rapid Action Battalion (400 pers.). Real and most capable special forces. However, most of the time is used for the protection of sensitive sites and top officials. Mainly because of the personnel of the "Iraqi" battalion formed raiding parties from Tskhinvali;

 - Separate Artillery Brigade (Akhaltsikhe): four divisions, including one jet.

In service Land Forces 146 tanks (40 - T-55, T-54 and 106 - T-72); 230 armored combat vehicles (40 - BMP-1, 55 - BMP-2, 11 - BRDM-1, 37 - 70 and BTR-33 - BTR-80, 50 - MTLB); 373 units of artillery systems: 3 - 152 mm cannon "Hyacinth-B", 11 - 152 mm howitzers "MSTA-B", 67 - 122 mm howitzer D-30, 62 - ACS (1 - 203-mm self-propelled guns, "Peony "1 - 152-mm self-propelled guns," MSTA-S ", 12 Czech 152-mm self-propelled guns" Dana ", 13 - 152 mm self-propelled guns," Acacia ", 35 - 122 mm self-propelled guns" Carnation "), 21 - MLRS BM- 21 "Grad", 6 - MLRS RM-70, 2 - MLRS "Hurricane." Plus mortars, LNG ATGM "Baby", "Fagot", "Competition».

Air Force and Air Defense (2 thousand. Soldiers.) Separate the air defense division (Kutaisi); airbase in Marneuli and Kopitnari airfield Alekseevka. Aviation consists of 10-12 Su-25 (T modification and UB, including 1 Su-25KM Scorpion), according to other sources - 16 Su-25T (manufactured by the Soviet Union) and 5 of the Su-25 Scorpion (modernization the Israeli company Elbit system); 2 - the MiG-23, 4 - Yak-52, 4 (10) of light training ground attack aircraft L-29 "Dolphin", 6 - landing An-2; 2 - Yak-40; 4 - the front-line MiG-23; 4 - light attack aircraft L-159 ALCA. There are helicopters Mi-24, Mi-8; UH-1H Iroquos (separate squadron) and others. Air defenses include 40 SAM "Strela-10", ZU-23-4 "Shilka", ZU-23-2, S-125 "Neva" MANPADS "Igla" and "Strela". There are 2 complex radar 36D6-M (Ukraine).

Navy - is 3, 1 thousand. servicemen. Command Headquarters and the main base - in Poti. There naval base in Batumi. The Navy also includes the Maritime Squadron, Marine Corps (Poti), a unit of the Coast Guard. The Naval Forces:

 - Missile boat "Dioscuria" - former Greek P 17 Ipoploiarchos Batsis (French construction type La Combattante II Release 1971). The ship was renovated in Greece in early 2003. Displacement - 255 tons, armament - four RCC PU Exocet MM.38, two 35-mm twin SU Oerlikon, two 533-mm TA;

 - Missile boat "Tbilisi" Project 206MR;

 - Draft gunboats 205P ("Batumi") and 368T Project ("Akmeta»);

 - Patrol boats "Iveria", "place", "Kutaisi", "Bofors", "Tskhaltubo", "Gali" gunboat "Gantiadi." There is a small landing craft and support vessels.

Some of the boats - a former P-139 and P-518 Frontier troops of the USSR left in Georgia in a state of disrepair and is now renovated. Two patrol boats of type Point passed the US Coast Guard. This P-210 "Tsotne Dadiani" (formerly WPB 82335 Point Countess, in service since 1962, passed in June 2000) and the P-211 "General Mazniashvili" (formerly WPB 82342 Point Baker, in service since 1963 , passed in 2002).

The Ministry of Internal Affairs and 23 thousand. Bayonets. Special State Protection Service employs 3,300 people (this service applies to personal security of the president, other high-ranking officials).

Solid increase

The socio-economic situation in Georgia is still not the best. According drawn up last year's report by the US Agency for Promoting Development (USAID) 61% of Georgians still living below the poverty level, and 23% were forced to emigrate out of the country. The average salary is about 80-100 USD., And the average pension, according to various sources, is in the range of 30 to 45 dollars.

But the military is not a loser: from 1 January 2008, all categories of contract servicemen will receive 100 lari ($ 59.) More than now. As the president of Minister of Defense D. Kezerashvili, now 'salary is 500 GEL Soldier "(about 296 USD.). In general, the military budget of Georgia, during the presidency of Mikhail Saakashvili has grown by 10 times. In 2006 the country became an absolute leader among the CIS countries, increasing the military budget just five times (with 77 million. To 341 mln. Dollars.). The share of military expenditure in GDP amounted to 4, 9%. In this regard, the Commission for External Relations of the European Union last fall demanded from Tbilisi to stop escalating the military budget.



Nevertheless, this year's military budget increased to 955 million. 870 thousand. Laris (600 million. Dollars), despite the fact that the unemployment rate in Georgia amounted to 13, 6%, while the poverty line is about 20% of the population. Characteristically, according to the approved last December by the state budget-2007 for the needs of the Defense Ministry allocated 513 million. 270 thousand. Laris (307 million. Dollars.), But by the decision of Parliament on June 8, the military this year allocated an additional 442, 1 million . laris (264 million. dollars.). According to a recent report of the MO 442, 1 million. GEL about 22 million. (13, 1 million. Dollars.) Will be spent on increasing salaries of servicemen and their social security; 21, 1 million. Lari (12, 6 mln. Dollars.) - To travel the additional military contingent in Iraq (Georgia in August it increased the number of troops from 850 to 2,000); 85 million. Lari (60 million. Dollars.) - For training, equipping, and training of military personnel, who will serve in Iraq; about 24 million. lari (14, 3 mln. dollars.) - units of reservists for training the Georgian armed forces; 13 mln. Lari (7, 8 million. USD.) - On the development of information technology systems. Record over the past few years the amount of - 40 million. Lari (24 million. Dollars.) Is allocated for the construction of apartments for military personnel in Tbilisi and Gori; 50 million. Lari (30 million. Dollars.) - In the construction of several training camps of reservists, the reconstruction and construction of infrastructure parts of the Georgian Armed Forces. The development of air defense forces and re-allocated 50 million. Lari (30 million. Dollars.) for the purchase of night vision devices - 2 million. 700 thousand. lari (16 million. dollars.) for the purchase of portable radios that are compatible with NATO standards - about 24 million. lari (14, 3 mln. dollars.). 90 mln. Lari (42 million. Dollars.) Provides for the modernization of machinery, equipment and spare parts for machinery.

The modernization of the Georgian army under the leadership of the American trainers can not but cause concern for the Russian military, says head of foreign military information Leningrad Military District (Leningrad Military District) Nikolai Berzeytis.
"Fighting that is international observers wishing to see the exercises of the Georgian army, can serve as a very disturbing factor," - said Berzeytis at a press conference.
According to him, currently "under the direct supervision of US instructors have extensive powers," there is a modernization of the Georgian army and increase its fighting capacity while reducing the size. This conclusion Brezeytis made based on the analysis of information on the teachings of the Georgian Army in Kodori teaching. "It worked out entirely new ways of conducting military operations", - said Russian military analyst.

Istochnik