Armed forces - Chile (original) (raw)

The Chilean armed forces consisted of 80,500 active and 50,000 reserve personnel in 2002. Service will become voluntary beginning in 2005. The army numbered 45,000, the navy 23,000, and the air force 12,500. Equipment includes 40 main battle tanks, three destroyers, three frigates, and 89 combat aircraft. In addition, there is a paramilitary national police force, the carabiƱeros, of about 36,800. Chile participates in Peacekeeping missions in the Middle East and India/Pakistan, and is in the process of developing a peace-keeping training center for the region. Defense expenditures were $2.5 billion in 1999, or about3.1% of GDP.