The Nicaraguan Armed Forces () are the military forces of Nicaragua. There are three branches: the Navy, the Army, and Air Force.

History

thumb|Nicaraguan military members train during a visit by the U.S. Navy

National Guard, 1925–1979

The long years of strife between the liberal and conservative political factions and the existence of private armies led the United States to sponsor the National Guard as an apolitical institution to assume all military and police functions in Nicaragua. The marines provided the training, but their efforts were complicated by a guerrilla movement led by Augusto César Sandino. These two groups, contrary to the original Puntarenas Pact were controlled by the Sandinistas and trained by personnel from Cuba, Eastern Europe, and the Soviet Union. This conscription system did not require women to enlist; however, they could do so voluntarily. These organizations were also unable to find any examples of state-sponsored death squads, use of physical torture propagated by the state, and very few disappearances/executions. By a law that took effect in April 1990, the EPS became subordinate to President Chamorro as commander in chief. As ties to the FSLN weakened, military leaders turned over power regularly without “fuss,” refrained from becoming involved in the political realm, and the overall size of the military significantly decreased. This change effectively erased the shift towards being an apolitical force from 1995 to 2006. Then in 2014, President Ortega supported a constitutional reform removing the defense and governance ministries “from the security forces’ chain of command, reducing oversight and leaving [President] Ortega in charge of appointing military and police commanders.” This action enhanced President Ortega’s political and personal control over the nation’s security forces and personnel.

President Ortega has also strengthened his ability to control the general population through two different national security initiatives. In 2015, the Sovereign Security Law, “erased barriers between internal and external security, and gave the Ortega government wide discretion to use coercion against any person or entity deemed a threat to the state, society, or economy.”

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| 9x19mm

| Semi-automatic pistol

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| M1911

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| .45 ACP

| Semi-automatic pistol

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| Smith & Wesson Model 10

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| .38 Special

| Revolver

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! colspan="6"| Submachine guns

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| Uzi

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| 9×19mm

| Submachine gun

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| Sa 23

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| 7.62×39mm

| Assault rifle

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| AKM

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| 7.62×39mm

| Assault rifle

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| PM md. 63

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| 5.45×39mm

| Assault rifle

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| IMI Galil

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| 7.62×51mm

| Battle rifle

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! colspan="6"| Sniper rifles

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| SVD

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| Recoilless rifle

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| 57mm

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| M40A1

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| Recoilless rifle

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| 105mm

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| B-10

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| Recoilless rifle

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| 82mm

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| 9M14 Malyutka

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| Anti-tank weapon

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Tanks

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|-

! width=14%| Name

! width=20%| Image

! width=14%| Type

! width=12%| Origin

! width=10%| Quantity

! width=24%| Notes

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| T-54/55

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| Main Battle Tank

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| 136

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  • 20 T-54
  • 116 T-55

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| T-72B1MS

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| Infantry Mobility Vehicle

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| Unknown

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Artillery tractors

{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%;"

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! width=14%| Name

! width=20%| Image

! width=14%| Type

! width=12%| Origin

! width=10%| Quantity

! width=24%| Notes

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| BTS-4

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| Armored tractor

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| Unknown

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|}

Command Post Vehicles

{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%;"

|-

! width=14%| Name

! width=20%| Image

! width=14%| Type

! width=12%| Origin

! width=10%| Quantity

! width=24%| Notes

|-

| BTR-50PU

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| Utility truck

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| Unknown

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Artillery

{| class="wikitable" style="width:90%;"

|-

! width=14%| Name

! width=20%| Image

! width=14%| Type

! width=12%| Origin

! width=10%| Quantity

! width=24%| Notes

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! colspan="7"| Rocket artillery

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| BM-21 Grad

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| Mortar

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| 579

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| PM-41

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| Mortar

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| Unknown

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| PM-43

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| Mortar

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| 24

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| M2

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| Mortar

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| 4

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! colspan="7"| Field artillery

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| ZiS-2

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| Anti-tank gun

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| 174

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| ZiS-3

  • FN M1924/30
  • vz. 24
  • vz. 33
  • M1903 Springfield
  • M1 Garand 6,500 units
  • M1 Carbine 66 units
  • Vz.52
  • Type 58
  • Type 68
  • FN CAL

Submachine gun

  • M1928A1 Thompson
  • PPSh-41

Machine guns

  • Maxim
  • Lewis
  • ZB vz. 30 5 units
  • M1918 BAR
  • FN MAG

Anti tank weapons

  • M67 recoilless rifle

Tanks

  • 10 M4A3E8 Sherman
  • 26 PT-76
  • 34 ZSU-23-4

SAM system

  • FIM-43 Redeye
  • 9K31 Strela-1

Personnel

Military careers

The Nicaraguan military, Fuerzas Armadas de Nicaragua, exists in a top-down hierarchy and is partitioned into multiple ranks. In order to become a Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel, a candidate must attend Staff College (ESEM). Alternatively, one may begin a military career as a Lieutenant, with the opportunity for advancement, by obtaining a bachelor's degree in military sciences. Individuals may also attend Officers School, to gain the rank of Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel, and General Staff or Army General.

Military size (manpower)

Nicaragua has a small military force with only 9,412 members as of 2010. This number includes 1,500 officers (16%), 302 non-commissioned officers (3%), and 7,610 troops (81%). This relatively small armed force is supported by an extremely small $41 million-dollar defense budget (2010). Such a small military budget has resulted in severe deficiencies in terms of manpower (i.e. cannot supply and employ) and modern weaponry. This budget represents approximately 2.84% of the country's overall expenditures.

References

Works cited

  • Official site