Venezuela Summary 1 strength
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Venezuela 1. Summary 1.1.1. STRENGTH 17,500
1.1.2. SUBMARINES 2
6
9
The Venezuelan National Bolivarian Navy (ANB) is undergoing a large expansion and modernisation programme. The navy is currently mainly a coastal surveillance and maritime enforcement organisation with a limited amphibious capability, but this is to change dramatically over the next few years. The submarine force will be considerably enlarged, with selection of the Russian Kilo and Amur boats as well as an amphibious projection capability with up to three LPD’s or helicopter carriers. The frigate patrol fleet will also soon be joined by a new class of Spanish hybrid frigate/corvette-type patrol vessels equipped with modern (non-US) combat systems. Smaller patrol ships, of the Offshore Patrol Vessel (OPV) type are also being sought in the form of littoral patrol and coastal patrol vessel. Naval aviation is receiving a small modernisation boost, however, the planned procurement of long range maritime patrol aircraft from Spain has been hampered by US-content export control laws. Russia and Spain are currently the main sources of modern material. The marine infantry and the newly created Engineer Corps have seen an increasing role in naval operations, specifically in accordance to its new role of collaborating in the development of the socialist republic. Engineer units have been actively used in social infrastructure construction.
The Navy has shown a more than adequate capability to adapt to the changing threat perceptions in Venezuela. It is strengthening its brown water capabilities as well as its land component. 2.2. Sustainment In June 2005, a naval reserve force was reported to have been created at the Falcon base, with an initial force of 500 personnel, tasked with monitoring the countryʼs oil installation security and participating in national development projects. Reserves are mainly concentrated in either former national servicemen (conscripts) that perform security duties or retired officers that may be called back to duty. There are regular annual refresher training drills for the latter.
There is no single rapid reaction force available, the Navy usually has up to four frigates, several patrol vessels and one submarine as its main blue water response force, however, the force can be designed according to the nature of the threat, with the inter-service Strategic Operations Command (CEO) being responsible for its composition. Once delivered, the PVOZEE and BVL-class vessels are likely to become the main reaction elñement of the Navy. The latest inter-service reaction force included three naval infantrymen companies totaling 270 troops supported by six helicopters from the naval aviation command. 3. Deployments, tasks and operations 3.1. Role and Deployment The navy consists of the Fleet Squadron Command, the Marine Corps, a naval aviation command, an engineer corps, a coast guard command and a river command. The role of the navy includes the defence of national sovereignty over its territorial seas, rivers and lakes and fulfilment of the constitution and its laws; protection the coastline against attack; keeping up-to-date charts of the nation's territorial waters; carrying out oceanographic research; and collaboration with other official agencies whenever necessary. The Marine Corps have taken a lead role in securing the border with Colombia and cooperating with the anti-drug office ONA in detection and dismantling of organized crime in the mainly fluvial border area. 3.2. Recent and Current Operations The navy's contribution to Venezuela's UN peacekeeping operations has been largely secondary. In November 2009 Venezuelan marines took up positions on the border with Colombia. 4. Command and control Table 1.
The naval commander-in-chief reports to the minister of defence. The chief of staff of the navy is effectively also second-in-command and, additionally, currently functions as the Inspector General. The inspector general has a solely advisory role. The commanders of naval operations, personnel, training and logistics report to the naval commander-in-chief via the chief of staff. The commander of naval operations ranks third in seniority, and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the fleet, the marines, naval aviation and the coast guard. 5. Organisation As part of the Naval Reorganisation Programme, complementary to the army's Plan Carabobo and subsequent Plan Ejercito de Tierra 2000, the Venezuelan Navy carried out a partial modernisation of its fleet units. This has broadly involved grouping its major combat, amphibious and auxiliary units under the existing fleet command and the transfer of its patrol, hydrographic and support units to the coast guard. 5.1. Fleet Squadron Command
5.2. Marines The Marine Infantry Division is organised into two infantry brigades, supported by units for communications, artillery, special operations, and a replacement regiment. There are also two river frontier brigades included as part of the Marines and a fifth major unit, the Special Operations Brigade. Together, these forces represent approximately 35 per cent of total navy manpower. Their personal and support weapons are essentially the same as those of the infantry units of the army. The 2010 budget has signaled that the Navy will expand its marine forces by two brigades, comprising a marine infantry and a river frontier brigade.
Venezuela has two marine infantry brigades, the 1st Marine Infantry Brigade “General Carlos Soublette” (HQ Puerto Cabello, Carabobo) and the 2nd Marine Infantry Brigade “CA José Eugenio Hernández” (HQ carupano, Sucre). These brigades comprise seven infantry battalions:
Marine support elements consist of:
The Artillery Group is equipped with two batteries of Oto Melara Model 56 105 mm howitzers and two of Thompson-Brandt 120 mm mortars and one each of M-42A1 S/P A/A guns and of Seacat SAMs, the latter used for base defence at Puerto Cabello. The 4th Marine Infantry Brigade “Almirante Alejandro Peitón” is in the process of formation and will be activated during 2010. 5.2.2. Marine River Frontier Forces Venezuelaʼs riverine forces are comprised of:
Some minor craft, including a tug, four patrol launches, about 60 small and largely undecked patrol craft (including 28 Piranha river boats), two LCUs and a single LCVPs are subordinate to the “General Franz Risquez Irribaren” Brigade. They will be joined during 2010 by the 5th River Frontier Brigade “Cap. Jose Tomas Machado”. 5.2.3. Special Operations Forces The Marine Infantry Special Operations Brigade “Generalisimo Francisco de Miranda” is a regiment sized unit based at Turiamo, Aragua state. 5.3. Coast Guard The Coast Guard Squadron consists of:
Additionally, the Coast Guard maintains a maritime rescue squadron and several boarding party groups. 5.4. River Patrol The River Command (Comando Fluvial - CFL), created in 1984 and reformed in 2005, is composed of:
5.5. Engineering Corps In 2005 the Engineer brigade was enlarged into a full corps and relegated directly under the Navy General Command. This re-organisation was to allow fulfilment of the navy’s new role in the construction and development of a socialist Venezuela, as drawn up by the 1999 Constitution. The Engineer Corps is composed of two brigades:
Each brigade comprises one combat engineering brigade and three maintenance and construction battalions. 5.6. Naval Aviation Order of Battle Table 2.
5.7. Operational Art and Tactical Doctrine Like most other South American services, Venezuela derived its original inspiration from the UK Royal Navy. Current tactical and operational doctrines owe more to the US Navy and the US Coast Guard. US influence has been particularly strong in the marines and naval aviation however, it is now in decline although not as fast as in the army. Doctrine in the marine infantry is likely to transform dramatically, but Western-style operating procedures are likely to remain in the fleet for a few more years. Publication of the “New Military Thinking” doctrine, in which professional military forces are instructed to cooperate in the building of a 21st Century Socialist State will be the benchmark for years to come. 5.8. Bases Table 3.
6. Personnel 6.1. Demographics The Navy is composed by 20% officers, 26% NCO’s and the rest are enlisted. A proportion of national conscripts are also assigned to the Navy, but this figure is unavailable. The service has been completely gender equal since 2002 and females may aspire to the rank of admiral. 6.2. Recruitment Recruitment into the Venezuelan Naval Academy is limited to Venezuelan citizens by birth, they should be between the ages of 16 and 21 and have a high school diploma. They are to be single and with no children, physically capable and with a minimum height of 1.65 m for males and 1.56 m for females. They must have good social standing and morals (there is no indication on how to prove this). Selection into the Naval Academy is very competitive, with only 5% of aspirants being admitted. Recruitment requirements into the enlisted ranks differ slightly, with the age range being between 18 and 30 years, primary school education (6th grade) as a minimum, no piercings on male recruits and no tattoos. Females should not be pregnant at the time of enlistment. Introduction into the Naval Police School is also considerably different, with age restricted to 18 to 23 year olds, secondary school education (9th grade) and test results for HIV and other viral diseases. 6.3. Morale Morale in the Venezuelan Navy is still high when compared to the other armed services, as the degree of politisation is not in the same levels as in the Army or National Guard. 6.4. Professionalism The Navy’s professional standards remain high, and personnel levels are increasing at a steady pace. It has absorbed some of the equipment it needs to have a professional blue water force and plans to expand considerably. It maintains contact with other Western Navies and this has had a positive effect on the ranks. 7. Training Since 1988, all officer cadets of the Army, Navy, Air Force and National Guard attend a common course of two years’ duration at the Armed Forces Basic Training School in Maracay. The Naval Academy Almirante Sebatsian Francisco de Miranda Rodriguez, at Mamón, La Guaira, offers an additional five-year course for naval officer cadets which leads to a commission with the rank of ensign. Since 1995, post-graduate training is provided by the Escuela de Posgrado de la Armada (EPAR). The Escuela Superior de Guerra Naval (Naval Warfare Higher Education Staff School) is at Caracas and offers three specialized command-staff training courses. The navy’s specialist schools grouped and located at the Centro de Adiestramiento Naval Especilaizado (CANES) CN Felipe Santiago Esteves in the State of Vargas. They include the Naval Police School, Technical School and the NCO School. The marines have their own school system and, despite the recent formation of a training unit within the Aviación Naval, most of the training of the naval air arm is still undertaken by the air force. The Aviación Naval was recently negotiating a training arrangement with Ecuador’s naval air arm, which, although smaller than that of Venezuela, has its own functioning training facility. 7.1. Training Areas Most training takes place in the vicinities of Puerto Cabello and La Guaira. 7.2. Military Exercises Warships of the Russian Federation Navy's Northern Fleet arrived in La Guaira, Venezuela in November 2008. The deployment of the Kirov-class battlecruiser RFS Pyotr Velikiy , Udaloy II-class destroyer RFS Admiral Chabanenko, replenishment tankers RFS Ivan Bunbnov and the Sliva-class salvage tug SB 406 is the first by Russian naval assets to the Caribbean region since the Cold War ended in 1990. According to Russia's state-run news service, RIA Novosti, the two navies will participate in joint exercises from 1 December that may include Venezuelan Air Forceʼs Su-30MK2 fighter aircraft and 12 Venezuelan Navy warships. During November 2009 the frigate F21 Mariscal Sucre and the T-62 Esequibo LST participated in the annual bi-national naval exercise VENBRAS 2009, performing ASW, anti-surface, AA, EW and other exercises with Brazilian Naval units. In December 2009 the Navy took part in Operation Naval Fire Support La Orchilla 2009, a combined forces exercise that brought together two frigates, an LST, the marine infantry division, army artillery units and air force F-16’s and helicopters. 8. Navy procurement 8.1. Requirements President Chavez has announced the launch of an ambitious naval expansion programme, with Russia and Spain as its main suppliers, however, local production will be encouraged as much as possible. Spanish shipbuilder Navantia has received a EUR1.14 billion contract for the construction of four Ocean Patrol Vessels and four littoral patrol ships. 8.2. Submarines At the core of the programme is the establishment of a large submarine attack force, comprising from eight to 11 boats. Initially the French-built Scorpenne was the preferred choice, however negotiations with France were called off. Russia was then approached for the acquisition of the Amur class. However, development of the Amur is running behind schedule and Russia has persuaded the Venezuelan Navy to acquire a number of Improved Kilo-class boats while waiting for the other four submarines to be completed. Venezuela has announced its intention to buy three Russian-built Project 636 Kilo-class submarines. Rosoboronexport announced in late October 2008 that it had not yet signed a contract with Venezuela for the subs, but in November 2008, Janeʼs reported that officials were finalising a deal. The boats are expected to be delivered by 2014 in a contract worth approximately USD1.4 billion. As of December 2009 it has not been clear if Venezuela has concluded negotiations for the submarines. 8.3. Patrol Forces 8.3.1. Littoral Patrol Ships In order to replace the old Clemente-class patrol vessels the ARBV ordered four new littoral surveillance vessels (BVL – Buque de Vigilancia Litoral) from the Spanish shipbuilder Navantia in November 2005. These 1,500-ton patrol ships will have a 76 mm OTO Melara and Millenium 35 mm gun, provision for a helicopter platform and a Thales 2-D radar. The first three ships are being built at the port of Cadiz, in Spain and the fourth is being built by DIANCA. The first ship, GC-21 Guaicamacuto was launched in October 2008 and entered service in August 2009, replacing the 53-year old GC-12 General Moran with the remainder, GC-22 Yaviré, GC-23 Cacique Naiguatá and GC-24 Tamanaco in service by 2010. The BVL is intended for fishery protection, counter-narcotic missions and maritime defence in the littoral areas off the Venezuelan coast. It has a range of 4,000 miles at 12 kt, a 76 mm gun, provision for a helicopter and a 2-D radar and is supported by a crew of 34. State-run shipbuilder Dianca initiated the construction of the fourth – but first indigenously built – coastal patrol ship (Buque de Vigilancia de Litoral – BVL) for the Venezuelan Navy on 26 May 2009. According to local reports, the steel cutting process at the Puerto Cabello yard was supervised by Spanish shipbuilder Navantia, which is to deliver the first three ships of the class. Dianca was able to begin production of the fourth unit, Tamanaco (GC 24), following a technology transfer agreement with Navantia, which saw Venezuelan engineers undergo training in Spain in warship construction techniques. The first of the 79.9 m, 1,500-ton BVLs was launched at Navantia’s San Fernando yard in Spain on 16 October 2008. Guaicamacuto (GC 21) is expected to commission in September 2009 and will be employed on maritime security operations in Venezuela’s exclusive economic zone. Ship two, Yavire (GC 22), was launched on 11 March 2009 and is expected to commission in December 2009 or in January 2010; while steel has been cut for the third vessel, Naiguata (GC 23). Deliveries of all four BVLs are scheduled to be completed by July 2011. 8.3.2. Offshore Patrol Vessels In November 2005, Venezuela signed a contract with Navantia for the construction of four off-shore patrol vessels dubbed the PVZEE (Patrullero Oceanico de Vigilancia de la Zona Económica Exclusiva). These 2,400-ton vessels have been identified as the F-30 series and will have a 76-mm OTO Melara gun, a 40-mm AA, 3-D SMART-S Mk.2 E/F radar, Sting-EO Mk.2 fire control radar, twin Exocet launchers and a VL Mica ShAM system. Navantia calls them project 438A. Construction of the first vessel started in November 2007 with the launch of the first PC-21 Caribe taking place in 2009 and in service projected for May 2010. The second of the class, PC-22 was launched on October 26, 2009 and will also join the fleet in 2010. By December 2008, work had started on two more vessels; all of them are due for delivery by June 2011. Operational availability may be determined by local integration of combat systems after delivery by the shipyard. Local press is reporting each vessel will cost approximately EUR178 million, which appears consistent with costs for comparable light-frigate type programmes.
The navy announced in 2005 a requirement for a total of 106 coastal patrol craft. The first 66 are to be built by Spanish Company Rodman and the other 40 are to be built by the navy’s UCOCAR shipyards at Puerto Cabello. Details of the order have not yet been confirmed, but the first batch is said to include 20 Rodman 55s, eight Rodman 66s and 12 Rodman 101s. Negotiations stalled until late 2009, when they re-started and may be finished during 2010. Dutch company Damen was contracted for the technology transfer to allow the Venezuelan shipyard UCOCAR the local construction of a single Stan Patrol 2606 patrol craft, for delivery by October 2008. The Pagalo was delivered to the Venezuelan Navy in September 2008. Reports indicate Venezuela now plans to produce a further three craft, to be delivered by 2011. There have been reports of interest in the Russian Mirach-class (Project 14310) patrol vessels, but these have not been converted into an order so far. 8.4. Amphibious Forces The ARBV has outlined a requirement for up to three amphibious assault ships / helicopter carriers in the LPD-type class. The three ships will be able to transport a full marine brigade and will give Venezuela an amphibious projection capability. This programme is likely to be halted as it would require considerable financing. 8.5 Support Vessels In December 2009 the Venezuelan Navy announced it was conducting negotiations with Factorias Vulcano, a Spanish shipyard for the construction of two Oceanographic Vessels, two Research Vessels and an icebreaker to be operated in support of Petroleos de Venezuela (PdVSA) oil company. The contract has been mentioned at US 995 million. 8.6. Naval Aviation The navy has had a long term requirement for a naval attack fighter jet. Several types have been reported as reviewed and even selected during the past decade, from the Sea Eagle- equipped Chilean A-36M Halcón to the AMX-T. However the current favourite is the Sukhoi Su-39 Scorpion, with up to eight aircraft required. There have been no further mentions of this project. The navy selected the CN-235MPA Perusader to complement its ageing C-212AS Patrullero maritime surveillance aircraft and asked for two examples as part of a 6 aircraft order with EADS-CASA. The transport squadron was to acquire the similar C-295M, with a requirement for four aircraft. However this deal was blocked by US-content export restrictions. The navy is currently considering the An-74 as an alternative. The navy has selected the Mi-17V-5 in tune with the army, air force, civilian SAR service and national guard requirements. The tactical support squadron received six Kazan-built helicopters during 2009 and they are being used in supporting the marines and river forces on the border with Colombia. This will allow the squadron to pass on its Bell 412 to the embarked ASW Helicopter Squadron. 8.7 Marines The Marine Infantry force is scheduled to expand with a further two brigades during 2010. Equipment for these in the form of infantry weapons and support equipment will be required. It has also been announced that the expansion will include at least two mechanized battalions , with an unspecified number of BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles scheduled to be delivered during 2010. 8.6. Modernisation Venezuela is completing an upgrade and modernization of two of its Lupo-class frigates with Elbit ENTCS 2000 naval combat management systems. The work on two vessels,Mariscal Sucre and Almirante Brion, carried out by Northrop Grumman Ingalls in the US, began in early 2001 and the Mariscal Sucre returned to Venezuela’s La Guaira port in June 2002. The upgrade included new command, fire-control, communications, sonar and electronic warfare systems, as well as an upgrade of the LM 2500 gas turbines and new MTU diesels. The remaining four vessels are receiving a more limited refit carried out locally at Puerto Cabello. Work reportedly included a modernisation of the main machinery, air-conditioning and weapon systems. They may also have received the Elbit ENTCS 2000 systems. The DIANCA shipyards completed a 5-year mid life refit of the S-31 Sabalo Type 209 submarine in November 2009 with support provided by HDW. The S-32 Caribe will be ext and should be back in service by 2011. The work included a upgrades to the propulsion system and a new command and control system. One of the Navy’s LST’s, T-61 Capana, received a refit at the Cuban Caribbean Drydock Inc during 2007 and this led the order of further work to be carried out under a $28 million contract for the refit of another two LST’s, T-63 Goajira and T-64 Los llanos. 9. Equipment in service 9.1. Submarines Table 4.
9.2. Surface Fleet Table 5.
9.3. Naval Aviation Table 6.
9.4. Naval Aviation - Missiles Table 7.
9.5. Coast Guard Table 8.
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