Chilean Armed Forces
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Military of Chile |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-chief | President Michelle Bachelet |
| Minister of Defense | José Antonio Gómez |
| Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff | Lieutenant General Arturo Merino |
| Manpower | |
| Military age | 18 years of age |
| Available for military service |
Males age 15-49: 3,815,761 (2005 est), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service |
Males age 15-49: 3,123,281 (2005 est), age 15–49 |
| Reaching military age annually |
Males: 150,084 (2005 est) |
| Active personnel | 80,560 (ranked 59th) |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | CL$7.392 billion (2011 est) |
| Percent of GDP | 3.0% of GDP (2011 est) |
| Industry | |
| Domestic suppliers |
FAMAE ENAER ASMAR DTS SISDEF DESA LINKTRONIC Detroit Chile |
| Foreign suppliers |
 United States Italy Brazil Israel Colombia Australia Germany Canada United Kingdom Taiwan France Sweden Spain
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The Armed Forces of Chile (Fuerzas Armadas de Chile) are subject to civilian control exercised by the president through the Minister of Defense. This conscription service can be postponed for educational or religious reasons. In recent years and after several major reequipment programs, the Chilean Armed Forces have become one of the most technologically advanced and professional armed forces of South America.
The current commander-in-chief of the Chilean Army is General de Ejército Sr. Humberto Oviedo Arriagada. The 80,000-person army is organized in seven divisions and one air brigade. The army operates German Leopard 1 and 2 tanks as its main battle tanks. The recent purchase of 200 second-hand Leopard 2A4CHL from the German army is now being delivered.
Admiral Edmundo González Robles directs the 25,000-person Chilean Navy, including 4,800 Marines. Of the fleet of 66 surface vessels, eight are major combatant ships and they are based in Valparaíso. The navy operates its own aircraft for transport and patrol; there are no fighters or bomber aircraft but they have attack helicopters. The Navy also operates four submarines based in Talcahuano.
Gen. Jorge Rojas Avila heads 11,000 strong Chilean Air Force. Air assets are distributed among five air brigades headquartered in Iquique, Antofagasta, Santiago, Puerto Montt, and Punta Arenas. The Air Force also operates an airbase on King George Island, Antarctica.
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