|
Thailand NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces: Total personnel strength about 273,000 in
mid-1987; components were Royal Thai Army (190,000), Royal Thai
Navy (40,000, including 20,000 marines), and Royal Thai Air Force
(43,000). Conscription law required 2 years' military service by
male citizens between ages of 21 and 30, except those granted
exemptions for variety of reasons; about 30,000 inducted
annually. Reserves totaled approximately 500,000, most having
served in army.
Combat Units and Major Equipment: Army organized into
seven infantry divisions (including five tank battalions), one
armored division, one cavalry division (with an armor
capability), eight independent infantry battalions, two special
forces divisions, one field artillery division, and one air
defense artillery division. Naval combat forces included Royal
Fleet of some 150 vessels and brigade of Royal Thai Marine Corps
composed of one artillery battalion, six infantry battalions, and
one amphibious assault battalion. Air force consisted of one
forward ground attack squadron, two fighter-interceptor
squadrons, one armed reconnaissance squadron, three transport
squadrons, one utility squadron, two helicopter squadrons, one
training squadron, seven counterinsurgency squadrons, and four
battalions of airfield defense troops. Equipment inventory
included about 150 combat and 100 support aircraft. Combat
aircraft included thirty-eight F-5E and F-5F fighter-bombers;
twelve F-16 fighters scheduled for delivery in 1988. In 1987 bulk
of armored fighting vehicles, artillery, missiles, aircraft, and
naval vessels provided by United States; additional sources
included Britain, Italy, Israel, Canada, France, Indonesia,
Japan, and New Zealand. Domestic arms industry growing rapidly.
Military Budget: In the mid-1980s, outlays for national
defense, including internal security costs, averaged about 30
percent of total annual government expenditures and about 4.2
percent of GNP.
Police Agencies and Paramilitary Forces: Thailand
National Police Department total personnel strength about 110,000
in 1987; major operational components included Provincial Police,
Metropolitan Police, Border Patrol Police (BPP), and Central
Investigation Bureau. Paramilitary forces included BPP and
civilian militia-like Volunteer Defense Corps; both used in
suppressing armed insurgency supported by Communist Party of
Thailand.
Foreign Military Alliances: United States remained
committed to Thai security under Rusk-Thanat agreement of 1962
between United States and Thailand.
Data as of September 1987
|
