Military of Albania 40207 223142274 2008-07-02T19:26:39Z Marc pasquin 259827 corrected web link <table border=1 width=300 cellpadding=2 cellspacing=0 align=right style="margin-left:1em"> <tr><th colspan=2 align=center bgcolor=#CC3300>'''Albanian Armed Forces''' <tr><th colspan=2 align=center> '''Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë''' <tr><td colspan=2 align=center>[[Image:AAF.JPG|center|200px|]] <tr><td>Minister of Defence<td> Mr. [[Gazmend Oketa]] <tr><td>Military age<td>18 years of age required for military service (2006) <tr><td>Major international suppliers<td>[[USA]], [[Italy]], [[Switzerland]] and [[Turkey]] <tr><td>Availability<td> age 18-49: 78,800 (2005 est.) <tr><td colspan=2 align=center>'''Military expenditures''' <tr><td>Dollar figure<td> Euro 174 million (2008 est.) <tr><td>Percent of GDP<td> 2.01% <ref>Albanian Government, [http://www.mod.gov.al/botime/html/ushtria/2008/20080111/faqe3.htm], 2008</ref>(by 2008) </table> The '''Albanian Armed Forces''' (AAF) {[[Albanian language|Albanian]]: ''Forcat e Armatosura të Shqipërisë'' (FASH)} is the [[armed forces]] of [[Albania]], first formed after independence in 1912. Today it is made up of the [[General Staff]] Headquarters, the [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]], the [[Albanian Support Command]] and the [[Albanian Training and Doctrine Command]]. The [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]] Headquarter is situated in [[Durrës]]. This Command includes all the Operational Forces of the [[Albanian Navy Brigade]], the [[Albanian Air Brigade]], an [[Infantry]] [[Rapid Reaction Brigade]] plus a [[Commando Regiment]], and the [[Area Support Brigade]]. The Albanian Army is mostly supported by the [[United States]], [[Germany]], [[The Netherlands]], [[Italy]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Turkey]], [[Switzerland]], [[Denmark]] and [[Belgium]]. Since the last years and after several major re-equipment programs, the Albanian Armed Forces launched a 10-year reform program sponsored and supervised by the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Department of Defense]] to become technologically advanced and fully professional by 2010. ==Basic pillars== * Development of a Full Professional Force by the end of 2010 with professional values and qualities; * Focus on [[NATO]] Integration. Implementation of a Roadmap for [[NATO]] Integration and fulfillment of [[NATO]] requirements for possible invitation. * Restructuring of the [[Armed Forces]] in a smaller, but a better quality force with more operational capabilities. Main focus to Joint, Usable, Deployable, and Sustainable force. ==Missions and Duties== According to the Albanian Constitution, the Albanian Armed Forces are charged to: *Protect the territorial integrity of the country in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Order. *Always be present in areas incurring menace. *Assist the population in case of natural and industrial disasters and warn the dangers of military and non military nature. *Protect the constitutional order as it is determined by law. *Participate in international operations in composition of multinational forces. == Albanian participation in Peacekeeping Operations/Missions == * ''Southeast European Brigade'' ''SEEBRIG'' - [http://www.seebrig.org/] created in 1998 and consisting of [[Albania]], [[Bulgaria]], [[Croatia]], the [[Republic of Macedonia]], [[Greece]], [[Italy]], [[Slovenia]], [[Romania]], [[Turkey]] and the [[United States]]. [[NATO]] has already declared the force fully operational. * [[EU]] Mission ''"ALTHEA"'' in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]] under [[Germany|German]] Command. * [[NATO]]/''PfP'' led Mission [[ISAF]] in [[Afghanistan]] under [[Italy|Italian]] and [[Turkey|Turkish]] Command. * Coalition Forces led - [[Iraqi Freedom]] under [[United States|American]] command. * [[NATO]] Operation in the [[Mediterranean Sea]] ''"Active Endeavour"''.<ref>[[NATO]], [http://www.nato.int/issues/active_endeavour/index.html Operation Active Endeavour]</ref> ==Post [[World War II]] history== After [[World War II]], [[Albania]] became part of the [[Eastern Block]] and a satellite country of the [[Soviet Union]]. The ranks and the structure of the Albanian Armed Forces were organized based on the [[Soviet]] concepts, thus increasing the political control of the State-Party over the [[Armed Forces]]. [[Image:T54-55.JPG‎|left|thumb|70's. Albanian T-54/55 tanks]] [[Image:T-54 12.7 mm.JPG‎|left|thumb|A 12.7 mm [[DShK]] Heavy Machine Gun on tank]] [[Image:14.5 mm.JPG|left|thumb|Late [[70's]]. Training with a Chinese [[ZPU-4]] 14.5 mm, short Air Defence]] [[Image:Albanian Volunteers Forces.jpg|right|thumb|Albania People's Army]] [[Image:People's Army AL.jpg‎|right|thumb|[[60s]]. Albanian militaries of the ''People's communist army'' train with a [[SG-43 Goryunov]] machine gun]] [[Image:People's Army Al 2.jpg‎|right|thumb|Late [[70s]]. An Forward [[Artillery]] Observer in the Albanian ''People's Army'']] One of the defining characteristics of civilian-military relations during this period was the effort of the civilian leadership to ensure the loyalty of the military to the communist system's values and institutions. Like all other branches of the state, the military was subjugated to [[Communist Party]] control. All high-ranking military officers and most of the lower and middle ranks were members of the [[Communist Party]] - and had loyalties to it. The system was re-enforced by the establishment of Party cells within the military and extensive communist political education alongside soldiers’ military training, by the [[Commissars]]. To further increase its political control, the Albanian Communist Party enlarged the conscription system, thus enlisting in the Armed Forces personnel dedicated to the military career from the [[Albanian]] [[rural]] areas, a category of people easily manipulated and subjected to political brainwashing. The State-Party went even further, starting from the 1<small>st</small> of May 1966, the [[military ranks]] were abolished following the example of the [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] [[People's Liberation Army]], heavily influenced by [[Maoism]] during the years of the [[cultural revolution]], and thus adopting strategic concepts related to forms of [[guerilla war]] ([[Vietnam War]] doctrine). The military were still organized during this period into their basic structure forms, but the role of the military commander was insignificant with respect to the commanding role of the political [[commissars]]. During all these years, the [[Sigurimi]] which was the [[Albanian]] secret service during that period and was formed upon the [[KGB]] structure, was responsible for the execution, the imprisonment and deportation of more than 600 Officers from the Armed Forces, by completely neutralizing the Armed Forces future approach to a possible future democratic system. Initially the communist purge concentrated on the military personnel graduated by the Western Military Academies (mainly from [[Italy]] 1927&ndash;1939), extended later on to the officers graduated in [[Soviet Union]] (after the Albanian abandon of the [[Warsaw Pact]] in 1961). As the [[communist regime]] collapsed in [[Albania]] during 1990, there was a real fear that the armed forces might intervene to halt the collapse of communism by force. In the event, the armed forces stood by as the regime of which they had been a part disintegrated. Further, during the civilian riots in 1997, the political attempts by the government to use the Armed Forces to crush the rebellion were soon demonstrated to be a failure, following a total disintegration of the Armed Forces and the looting of the military facilities by the civilian population.<ref>UNDP Albania, [http://www.undp.org.al/index.php?page=projects/project&id=111&lng=en]</ref> The long communist purge, the elimination of the ''professional military leadership'' in years, and the dominion of a rural mentality in the Armed Forces were the corrosive factors which leaded to the disintegration of the Albanian Armed Forces in 1997.<ref>[http://balkansnet.org/albania1.html Balkansnet]</ref> ==Post 1991 history== Politically, since the fall of the communism in [[Albania]] in 1991, the country has played a constructive role in resolving several of the inter-ethnic conflicts in Southern East Europe, promoting peaceful dispute resolution and discouraging ethnic Albanian extremists. [[Albania]] sheltered many thousands of Kosovar refugees during the 1999 conflict, and provided through a [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]] (NATO) Operational HQ in [[Durrës]] (operational until 2006, see [[NATO Headquarter Tirana]]), logistical assistance for [[Kosovo Force]], [[KFOR]] troops. Albania was part of the International Stabilization Force ([[SFOR]]) serving in [[Bosnia and Herzegovina|Bosnia]] (then [[EU]] mission ''ALTheA''), and Albanian peacekeepers are part of the International Security Assistance Force in [[Afghanistan]], [[ISAF]] and the international stabilization force in [[Iraq]]. Albania has been a steadfast supporter of U.S. policy in [[Iraq]], and one of only four nations to contribute troops to the combat phase of Operation [[Enduring Freedom]].<ref>[[United States Department of State]], Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs/May 2007.</ref> == Modernization == Since 1999, [[Albania]] has spent approximately $108&nbsp;million annually on military expenditures, roughly 1.35% of its GDP One of the most important conditions to fulfill due to NATO integration, was the increasing of the military budget. According to Government of Albania plans, military expenditure will reach 2% of [[GDP]] in 2008 (already approved by the parliament on the budget of 2008 - for the defense 2.01% of [[GDP]]). [[Image:Albania Military Forces.png|thumb|right|The new structure of the Albanian military]] [[Image:Scraping.JPG‎|right|thumb|Scraping old AAF equipment]] [[Image:SALW Destruction.jpg‎|right|thumb|[[SALW]] destruction in Albania]] [[Image:SALW Ammo destruction.JPG‎|left|thumb|[[SALW]] Ammunition destruction at ''Mjekes'' Military Factory]] [[Image:Sea Mines destruction.JPG‎|left|thumb|Sea Mines destruction programme managed by the [[US]] company [[SAIC]]]] [[Image:Opened Detonation Destruction.JPG‎|left|thumb|Often the surplus/old ammunition is destroyed by Open Detonation Process]] In 2002, Albania's armed forces,<ref>http://www.mod.gov.al/eng/</ref> launched a 10-year reform program sponsored and supervised by the [[United States Department of Defense|U.S. Defense Department]] in order to trim down and thoroughly modernize the standing force of the time of more than 30,000 troops. The same radical reform is being implemented on surplus equipment, including [[airplanes]], [[tanks]], [[helicopters]], [[artillery]] pieces, navy vessels, [[SALW]] and [[ammunition]]. Albania started an ambitious destruction program. However, Albania is still dealing with a huge amount of surplus and obsolete ammunition, a direct result of the country's long isolation and ethnic tensions in the area. The [[Albanian Ministry of Defense]] estimates such quantity up to 111,000 ''Tons'', but it is expected to increase up to 150,000 ''Tons'' due to the on-going downsizing process of the [[AAF]]. In March 2008 the problem of massive amounts of excess ammunition stockpiled in Albania was underlined with the explosion of an ammunition depot (the [[2008 Tirana explosions]]).<ref>[http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i_cGtcfLDRa76mRV27XYdLsVGn6w The Canadian Press: Albanian army ammunition depot explodes, killing 5 and injuring 215<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> It is worth noting that Albania's notoriously fractious politics have not obstructed any of the reforms undertaken by the [[Armed Forces]]. In May 2003, [[Albania]], [[Croatia]], and the [[Republic of Macedonia]] with the direct support of the [[USA]], created the [[Adriatic Charter]], modeled on the [[Baltic states|Baltic]] Charter, as a mechanism for promoting regional cooperation to advance each country's [[NATO]] candidacy. In spite of strong [[European Union]] (EU) objections, Albania also signed in May 2003 a bilateral agreement with the [[USA]] on non-extradition of US citizens to the [[EU]], based on Article 98 of the statute of [[International Criminal Court]]. In 2004 [[US]] President [[George W. Bush]] authorized the use of [[Nunn-Lugar Cooperative Threat Reduction]] program funds for projects in [[Albania]], marking the first time such funds are used outside the former [[Soviet Union]]. With this funding the US assisted the Government of Albania within the destruction of a stockpile of war chemical agents left over from the communist regime (''Category&nbsp;1, Total amount 16,7'' [[Tons]]).<ref>Armscontrol.org, [http://www.armscontrol.org/factsheets/cwcglance.asp]</ref> The final cost of the project was US$48&nbsp;million . The project was officially completed on [[10 July]] [[2007]]. On [[April 3]], [[2006]], the final contract for the delivery of 12 ''Bölkow-Blom MBB'' [[BO-105]] lightweight twin-engine multi-role [[helicopters]] to the [[Republic of Albania]] was signed in [[Tirana]] between the Albanian Ministry of Defense and [[Eurocopter]] ''Deutschland GmbH''. According to the Albanian Government<ref>Germany will supply Albania with 12 [[BO-105]] Helicopters</ref>, six of the [[BO-105]] helicopters are designated for the [[Albanian Air Brigade]], four for the [[Ministry of Interior]] and the remaining two for the [[Albanian Ministry of Health]]. On [[14 November]] [[2006]], the new structure of the [[Albanian Armed Forces]] was officially introduced with the sign of the President of the Republic. The new structure, based on the "Joint" concept, has three main Commands. The AL JFC ([[Albanian Joint Forces Command]]) includes the RRB [[Rapid Reaction Brigade]] (the RRB is basically a ''Mechanized Infantry Brigade''), the [[Commando Regiment]], the [[Albanian Navy Brigade]], the [[Albanian Air Brigade]] and the [[Albanian Area Support Brigade]]. The [[Support Command]] provides support and logistical functions for the all army units and the [[Albanian Training and Doctrine Command]] which is the main educational and training provider for the Albanian Armed Forces. The final number of personnel will be 13,800 (including 2,000 civilians). The [[Albanian Navy Brigade]] performs mainly Coast Guard duties, and recently the Albanian parliament has approved some amendments to the articles of the actual Law on the Coast Guard in Albania, in order to improve the necessary legal framework due to efforts at [[European Union]]-NATO integration. Since February 2008, [[Albania]] participates officially in [[NATO]]'s [[Operation Active Endeavor]] in the [[Mediterranean Sea]]<ref>[[NATO]], [http://www.nato.int/issues/active_endeavour/index.html]</ref> and received a [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization|NATO]] membership invitation on [[3 April]] [[2008]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Albania membership Nato|publisher=NATO|url=http://www.nato.int/issues/nato_albania/evolution.html}}</ref> '''Note''' The AAF has no reserve units, although it does maintain a reserve personnel roster of up to 10,000 personnel that can be called in if required to augment or fill active units. == Gallery == <gallery> Image:Young Officers at the Military Academy.JPG‎|Young Officers at a ceremony at the ''Skanderbeg'' [[Military Academy]]. Image:RRB COY.jpg‎|Military personnel from the 1st [[Infantry]] Company of the [[Rapid Reaction Brigade]] Image:Experience exchange.JPG‎|[[Albanian]] military personnel exchange experience with [[US]] soldiers during exercise ''Longbow Lancer'' on the use of portable radios. Image:Exercise Longbow Lancer.JPG‎|Joint teams perform [[urban combat]] training at [[NATO]] Exercise in [[Albania]] ''Longbow Lancer 2007'' Image:T 59 Training.JPG|‎The [[Rapid Reaction Brigade]] was the last [[Albanian]] military unit to include a [[Tank Battalion]]. In here [[Type 59]]'s tanks during military exercises. The [[Battalion]] was deactivated with the new [[AAF]] structure. Image:Albanian_Minesweeper_M-111.JPG|The [[Soviet]] built Albanian [[Minesweeper (ship)|minesweeper]] M-111 in use with the [[Albanian Navy Brigade]] Image:Albanian Mig-19 firing.JPG|One of the last flights of one [[MiG-19|Shenyang J-6C]] of the [[Albanian Air Force]] back in 2003. Firing the 57mm rocket pod. Image:Albanian MANPAD's.JPG|[[HN-5]] [[MANPAD]] in use with ''Albanian Air Defence Battalion'' Image:Basic Training.JPG‎|Basic [[Infantry]] Training. Image:Commando Regiment.jpg|[[Commando]] members training in [[Special Operations]] tactics. Image:Combat patrol training.JPG‎|Combat patrol training. Image:PARADA 20.jpg‎ | [[HJ-8]] Antitank Missiles during the 2007 Military Parade. </gallery> ==See also== * [[Albanian Air Force]] * [[Albanian Naval Defense Forces]] * [[Albanian Joint Forces Command]] * [[Albanian Logistic Support Command]] ==Picture gallery of [[AAF]] equipment and vehicles== <gallery> Image:Army Chevrolet.jpg‎|An ex-[[US Army]] [[Chevrolet]] in use with the AAF. Image:Land Rover 110 Tdi.jpg‎|A [[Turkey|Turkish]] made [[Land Rover]] ''110 TdI'' in use with the AAF. Image:Mercedes G, 001.jpg‎|[[Mercedes]] ''G'' class in use with the AAF. Image:Pinzgauer 4x4.jpg‎|A [[Swiss]] [[Pinzgauer]] 72. Still some remain in service with the [[Albanian Air Force]] Image:FBW Autobot.JPG‎|[[Swiss]] built [[FBW]] fuel transporters trucks donated to AAF. Image:Iveco VM 90.jpg‎|[[Italy|Italian]] [[Iveco]] ''VM 90'' ''Pick-up'' in use with the AAF. Image:Iveco 40 10.jpg‎|An [[Italy|Italian]] [[Iveco]] ''VM 90 40.10'' in use with the ''Military Police Battalion'' Image:MP Escort car.jpg‎|The [[Honda]] 4x4 is used by the [[Albanian]] [[Military Police]] [[Battalion]] for [[Very Important Person|VIP]] escorts. Image:Astra.JPG‎|An [[Italy|Italian]] [[Astra]] truck in use by the AAF. Image:DAF 4x4.jpg‎|A [[Netherlands|Dutch]] [[DAF]] truck in use with the AAF. Image:IFA 4x4.jpg‎|The [[DDR]] classic military truck [[IFA]] still in use with the AAF. Image:Fiat 6x6.jpg‎|An [[Italy|Italian]] [[Fiat]] ''TM 69'', in use with the ''Albanian Artillery Battalion'' Image:Iveco ACP 90.JPG‎|[[Iveco]] ''ACP 90'' for heavy transport in use by the AAF. Image:Magirus.jpg‎|A [[Magirus]] truck in use with the AAF. Image:Man Transporter.JPG‎|[[MAN]] 7 Tons medium transporter truck in use with the AAF. Image:MAN 4x4.jpg‎|[[Germany|German]] trucks [[MAN]] in use with the AAF. The trucks were part of the [[Desert Storm]] Operation in [[Iraq]] and then donated from the [[US Army]] to the AAF. Image:Mercedes 6x6.jpg‎|[[Chinese]] ''XC2030'' truck, a copy of the 6x6 Mercedes Benz 2026 series in use with the AAF. Image:Saurer 2DM.JPG‎|''Berna/Saurer'' ''2DM'' in use with the AAF. Donation of the [[Swiss Army]], are used mainly to transport amunition for destruction. Image:Steyr A680.JPG‎|[[Steyr]] ''A680'' Light Transporter (3T) in use with the AAF. Used for the transport of [[ammunition]] planned for destruction. Image:Scania APC Carrier.jpg|[[Scania]] truck used as [[Tank]] and [[APC]]'s transporter. Image:Fiat AR 75.JPG‎|An [[Italy|Italian]] [[Fiat]] ''AR 75'' used as auto-school by the AAF. Image:M35A2 Autoschool.JPG‎|A [[US]] [[M35A2]] used as an Auto-school truck by the AAF. Image:Fiat Ducato Ambulances.JPG‎|[[Fiat Ducato]] ambulances in use with the AAF. Image:Mercedes Ambulance.JPG‎|[[Mercedes]] ambulances in use with the [[Rapid Reaction Brigade]]. Image:Iveco 370.JPG‎|The [[Italy|Italian]] [[Iveco]] ''370'' is the standard bus used by the AAF. </gallery> ==Picture gallery of retired [[AAF]] equipment and weaponry== <gallery> Image:BJ 212.jpg‎|A [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] ''BJ 2121''. Retired from service. Image:Aro.jpg‎|A [[Rumenian]] ''Aro'' Jeep used massively during the 80's by the AAF. Image:Army GAZ.JPG‎|An old [[Soviet]] [[GAZ-69]]. Retired from service in the early [[90s]] Image:GAZ 69.JPG‎|Close up details of the [[Soviet]] [[GAZ 69]] Image:Army M-72.JPG‎|Once used masively from the [[AAF]]. The [[Soviet]] [[M-72 Motorcycle]] sidecar. Image:M-72 & GAZ 69.JPG‎|Two [[Soviet]] old vehicles in use with the [[AAF]] until the early [[90s]], the [[GAZ 69]] and the [[M-72 Motorcycle]] Image:Chinese rocket launcher Type 63 107 mm mounted in a Jueczin-134.jpg‎|An old [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] [[Multiple Rocket Launcher]] ''Type 63 107 mm'' mounted in a ''Jueczin 134''. This weaponry was in use with the [[AAF]] until 1996. Image:Old Chinese and Soviet trucks ready for scrap.jpg|The trucks used once in large number on the [[AAF]] [[Logistics]]. [[Soviet]] [[Zavod Imeni Likhacheva|Zil]]'s and respective [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] copies. All retired from service. Image:Zil 157 - Jiefang CA-30.jpg‎|[[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] ''Jiefang CA-30'', copy of the [[Soviet]] ''Zil 157'' Image:Close up of a Jiefang CA-30 with old army plates.jpg‎|Close up of a ''Jiefang CA-30'' with old [[AAF]] plates. Image:ZiS-151 base with P-3 radio-location station.jpg‎|An old [[Soviet]] ''ZiS-151'' base with P-3 radio-location station. Image:ZIL 157 Mechanical support.jpg‎|A [[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] ''Jiefang CA 30'', used as a mobile mechanical supporter. Retired. Image:Tatra 813.jpg‎|A [[Czechoslovakian]] [[Tatra]] ''813''. Used by the [[AAF]] as a tank mover. Will be retired. Image:ZIL-157 NBC.jpg‎|[[People's Republic of China|Chinese]] ''Jiefang CA-30'', copy of the [[Soviet]] ''Zil-157'' used for [[WMD]] threats. Will be retired. Image:M35 A2 6x6.jpg‎|An ex-[[US Army]] [[M35A2]] truck in use with [[AAF]]. Will be retired. Image:Military Tunnel.JPG‎|A classic [[Albanian]] [[ammunition]] [[tunnel]]. There are more than 150 tunnels left all over the country, built during the [[communist]] regime as part of a wider conflict propaganda ideology. [[Albanian]] MoD plans to close most part of them thanks to ambitious ammunition destruction programmes. </gallery> ==External links== * [http://www.mod.gov.al Ministry of Defence of Albania (official site)] * [http://www.aaf.mil.al Albanian Armed Forces (official site)] * [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/2098705.stm BBC Article about the Albanian Bunker System] * [http://www.csees.net/?page=country_section&country_id=1&sec=8 Centre for SouthEast European Studies: Albanias Armed Forces] * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y1D5rNvnbo Video of Albanian army in Iraq] * [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VswAkOJaY3Y Video footage of Albanian Comandos] ==Ranks and insignia== * http://www.uniforminsignia.net/index.php?p=state&id=80 == References == {{reflist}} {{Military of Europe}} [[Category:Military of Albania| ]] [[Category:Conscript militaries|Albania]] [[de:Albanische Streitkräfte]] [[hu:Albánia hadereje]] [[ru:Вооружённые силы Албании]] [[sq:Forcat e Armatosura të Republikës së Shqipërisë]] [[sr:Албанска војска]] [[zh:阿尔巴尼亚军事]]