Algeria

RELIABILITY INDEX 4 (POOR)

PERSONNEL

Active 125,000
Reserves 150,000 (nominal)

BUDGET 2009 Estimated $4-

billion

ORGANIZATION

6 Military Areas
I (Blida) near Algiers
II (Oran) Eastern Morocco border
III (Bechar) Southern Morocco, Western Sahara, Mali borders
IV (Ouargla) Southern Tunisia, Libya borders
V (Constantine) Northern Tunisian border
VI (Tamanrasset) Mali and Niger borders

2 Armored Divisions (4 combat regiments each)

3 Mechanized Divisions (4 combat regiments each)
1 SF Division (5 regiments)
1 independent armored brigade
1 independent mechanized brigade
2 independent motorized brigades
7 artillery brigades
4 air defense brigades
4 engineer battalions

FIELD FORCES

I Military Area (Blida, near Algiers)

One Armored Division (3 tank and 1 mechanized regiments)

One Mechanized Division (3 mechanized and 1 tank regiments)
One Special Forces/Airborne Division (5 Airborne Regiments)
One Independent Mechanized Infantry Brigade
Seven Independent Infantry Battalions
Two Air Defense Battalions
One Internal Security Group (Brigade sized)
18th Elite Para-Commando Regiment ('The Ninjas')

II Military Area (Western area -- Morocco border) HQ Oran

8th Mechanized Division – 3 mechanized & I tank regiment (Siddi

bel Abbes)
One Independent Mechanized Infantry Brigade
Three Independent Infantry Battalions
One Air Defense Battalions
Two Desert Border Guard Companies
One Internal Security Group (Brigade Sized)

III Military Area (Southwestern area – Morocco and Mauritania) HQ Bechar

One Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade

Two Independent Infantry Battalions
Four Desert Border Guard Companies

IV Military Area (Eastern area – Libya) HQ Ouargla

One Independent Armored Brigade

One Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade
Three Independent Infantry Battalions
One Air Defense Battalions
Four Desert Border Guard Companies

V Military Area (Northern area -- Mediterranean coastline and Tunisia) HQ Constantine

 One Armored Division (3 tank and 1 mechanized regiments)
One Mechanized Division (3 mechanized and 1 tank regiments)
One Independent Motorized Infantry Brigade
Two Independent Infantry Battalions
One Air Defense Battalions

VI Military Area (Southeastern area - Mali and Niger borders) HQ Tamanrasset

Three Independent Infantry Battalions

Two Desert Border Guard Companies

• Most rebel activity has occurred in this MA

• Desert companies: 400 men

TRAINING

Military Academy (Cherchell, near Algiers)

Military Staff College (Cherchell)
Technical, Administrative, Logistical (El Harrach, near Algiers)
Armor School (Batna)
Artillery School (Telerghma)
Signals (Bougara, near Algiers)
Desert Cavalry (Ouargla)
NCO School (Ksar el Boukhari)
Paracommando School (Biskra)

PARAMILITARY

Gendarmerie ~24,000 (police)

~20 helicopters
~100 wheeled APC
National security Force (Under Ministry of Interior) ~16,000 riot/urban control
Republican Guard Brigade ~1300

HELICOPTERS (Air Force)

3 x squadron Mi-24/35 (~35, upgraded Superhind)
5 x squadron Mi-8/17 (~100)
1 x squadron AS335
1 x squadron KA-27/32
3 x training squadrons
INSURGENTS
Estimated ~2,000
Surrenders under amnesties have greatly reduced the number of insurgents. For example,
the 8,000 AIS members surrendered in 2000.

Islamic Salvation Army (AIS)

Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC)
Armed Islamic Group (GIA)

EQUIPMENT

MBT 900+
320 T-90 (many under delivery)
250 T-72AG upgraded, 250 more upgrading
350 modernized T-55/62
RECON 100
AFIV 900 (BMP-1/2/3)
APC 750
RFV 200
ARTY (T) 440
ARTY (SP) 180 (2S1, 2S3)
MRL 120
20 Smerch 300mm
30 240mm BM40
AD GUNS 350 (including 30 Tunguska M-1)
ATGM (includes AT-13/14)
SAM 8 batteries 300MPU2 (Air Force) (under delivery)
10 batteries SAM-2/3 (to be withdrawn)
10 batteries SAM-6 including some SAM-8