Tunisia is the country that initiated the process refered to as "Arab Spring". According to most sources, during the "revolution" Tunisian army sided with the Tunisian protestors resulting in the takedown of one of the most oppressive presidents of all time.
This army now has to face a multitude of new challenges. Not only is it required to support security forces until State of Emergency is lifted, but it also has to protect Tunisian borders from terrorist groups and illegal traficking. In pursuing these goals, the army is hindered by two weaknesses, lack of manpower and obsoleteness of equipment.
Tunisian Land Army, the main branch of the military and the one that carries most of the burden of the post-revolutionary situation comprises no more than 40.000 men at best. Such a number is hardly enough to maintain domestic security and prevent daily acts of vendalism and riots, let alone protect national borders from rather well equiped militia.
Lack of manpower can be easily compensated for with modern military equipment. This is not the case, however, with the Tunisian army. The air force still relies on American F-5 jets that are no longer reliable and require almost daily maintenance. Things are no better with helicopters as more and more men die on a nearly regular basis because of the accidents the army's obsolete choppers have. When searching for terrorists in hard-to-navigate areas such as the Chaanbi mountains, such equipment may even become a burden rather than a support.
Tunisian artillery and armoured divisions are in no better state. A quick look at WIKI's Tunisan Land Army article will show how bad the situation is with these branches . Many of the army's artillery cannons, armoured vehicles, and anti-armour equipment carry the note "possibly no longer in service".
The situation with the infantry adds insult to injury. Apart from Tunsian special forces and counter-terrorism units, Tunisian infantrymen use Steyr Aug, another obsolete piece of equipment that lacks precision and range and therefore causes more and more incidents of "friendly" fire.
With the described state of the Tunisian Army, it appears that unless an urgent plan to modernise the army's arsenal is carried out with as much expediency as possible, this military force will soon find itself unable to protect Tunisian borders. For it has to be kept in consideration that Al-Quaieda militias continuously develop their equipment and tactics, something unheard of when it comes to theTunisian military.
This army now has to face a multitude of new challenges. Not only is it required to support security forces until State of Emergency is lifted, but it also has to protect Tunisian borders from terrorist groups and illegal traficking. In pursuing these goals, the army is hindered by two weaknesses, lack of manpower and obsoleteness of equipment.
Tunisian Land Army, the main branch of the military and the one that carries most of the burden of the post-revolutionary situation comprises no more than 40.000 men at best. Such a number is hardly enough to maintain domestic security and prevent daily acts of vendalism and riots, let alone protect national borders from rather well equiped militia.
Lack of manpower can be easily compensated for with modern military equipment. This is not the case, however, with the Tunisian army. The air force still relies on American F-5 jets that are no longer reliable and require almost daily maintenance. Things are no better with helicopters as more and more men die on a nearly regular basis because of the accidents the army's obsolete choppers have. When searching for terrorists in hard-to-navigate areas such as the Chaanbi mountains, such equipment may even become a burden rather than a support.
A Tunisian F-5, even to the eye of someone who
lacks knowledge of military airpower, it seems
obsolete and cartoonish
Tunisian artillery and armoured divisions are in no better state. A quick look at WIKI's Tunisan Land Army article will show how bad the situation is with these branches . Many of the army's artillery cannons, armoured vehicles, and anti-armour equipment carry the note "possibly no longer in service".
The situation with the infantry adds insult to injury. Apart from Tunsian special forces and counter-terrorism units, Tunisian infantrymen use Steyr Aug, another obsolete piece of equipment that lacks precision and range and therefore causes more and more incidents of "friendly" fire.
With the described state of the Tunisian Army, it appears that unless an urgent plan to modernise the army's arsenal is carried out with as much expediency as possible, this military force will soon find itself unable to protect Tunisian borders. For it has to be kept in consideration that Al-Quaieda militias continuously develop their equipment and tactics, something unheard of when it comes to theTunisian military.
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