Defense
The defense is based on general military duty with an
initial service of seven months, followed by either
immediate continuation of emergency preparedness units for
another month or rehearsal training for a total of 30 days
over eight years. The alert force in Austria (2007) amounts
to about 40,000 men and consists of two mechanized brigades
and three infantry brigades, etc., and a fighter jet with 40
fighter aircraft, of which 12 currently leased F5-E Tiger II
and 28 SAAB 105Ö (light attack aircraft). From 2007, the 12
F5 plan will be phased out against 18 Eurofighter Typhoon. A
fleet of 80 helicopters is used extensively not only for
military purposes in the Alpine landscape. Normally about
66,000 people are trained for rehearsals annually. The
reserves amount to about 100,000 people. The material is
(semi) modern and of Western origin.
Defense costs fell from 1.2% to 0.5% of GDP in 1985-2007.
Austria's total defense has many similarities with Swedish,
and contacts with Sweden have been extensive since 1955. The
armament of the modern Eurofighter is a new development.
Austria participates in UN peacekeeping operations with
allies in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR), in Serbia/Kosovo
(KFOR), in Syria/Israel (UNDOF) and with observers in
another seven countries.To see related acronyms about this country, please check ABBREVIATIONFINDER where you can see that AUS stands for Austria.
Austria defense overview
Austria has general military duty, with a first-time
service of six months. The country is neutral, but joined
the NATO Partnership for Peace program in 1995. According to
IISS figures, in 2018, the total force numbers included
21,200 active personnel, and a reserve of 157,900 personnel.
The Army and the Air Force are not separate arms
branches, but components of a common force. Army personnel
strength was in 2018 about 11 550. Heavier materials
included the 56 tanks of a Leopard 2, 112 armored vehicles,
and 78 armored personnel. The Air Force had a personnel
force of 2700 in 2018. Materials included 15 Eurofighter
Typhoon fighter jets, 66 helicopters, 32 training aircraft
(of which 18 Saab 105 which can and can be used as light
attack aircraft), and 11 transport aircraft.
Austria has not had any kind of navy since the Danube
flotilla disbanded in 2006.
Forces abroad
Austria participated in 2018 in UN operations in Cyprus (UNFICYP)
with five personnel, in Lebanon (UNIFIL) with 182 personnel,
in the Middle East (UNTSO) with four observers, and in
Western Sahara (MINURSO) with seven observers.
In addition, in 2018, Austria participated, among others,
in the EU operation in Bosnia and Herzegovina (EUFOR) with
344 personnel, in the NATO operation in Serbia (KFOR) with a
personnel force of 508, and in the NATO operation in
Afghanistan (Operation Resolute Support). with 17
personnel.
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