|
Czechoslovakia NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces: Czechoslovak People's Army comprised
ground forces, numbering 145,000, and air forces, numbering
56,000, in 1987. Conscripts made up slightly less than 70 percent
of ground forces and about 32 percent of air force.
Military Units: Five tank divisions and five motorized
rifle divisions formed nucleus of ground forces in 1987. Combat
support provided by one airborne regiment, two antitank
regiments, three surface-to-surface missile brigades and two
artillery brigades. Air force's 465 combat aircraft and 40 armed
helicopters deployed in ground attack, interceptor, and
reconnaissance squadrons. Five Soviet ground divisions stationed
in Czechoslovakia; total strength about 85,000.
Equipment: Thriving armaments industry produced small
arms, heavy weapons, armored vehicles, tanks, and jet aircraft.
Some also imported from Soviet Union. Tanks produced under Soviet
license; most other armaments of Czechoslovak design.
Police: National Security Corps included uniformed
police (Public Security) and plainclothes police (State
Security); both nationwide and subordinate to Ministry of
Interior. Border Guard, 11,000 strong, deployed on country's
frontiers trained and equipped like military force but
subordinate to Ministry of Interior rather than to Ministry of
National Defense.
Paramilitary: Part-time People's Militia (about
120,000) received some military training and participated in
civil defense. Association for Cooperation with the Army (about 1
million) popularized defense training mostly through sports.
Foreign Military Treaties: Member of Warsaw Pact; also
has bilateral defense treaty with Soviet Union.
Data as of August 1987
|
