Armed forces - Latvia (original) (raw)

The Latvian armed forces total 5,500 active personnel with reserves numbering 14,050. The army of 4,300 is equipped with three main battle tanks. The air force of 270 operates 19 aircraft. The navy has 930 personnel including the 250-member coast guard. Paramilitary forces consist of a border guard numbering 3,200. Latvia assists in UN and peacekeeping operations in Bosnia and Yugoslavia. Defense expenditures in 2001 were $87 million or about 1.2% of GDP.