Angola - Armed forces

Defense responsibilities are vested in the Armed Popular Forces for the Liberation of Angola (Forças Amadas Populares de Libertação de Angola—FAPLA), now divided into an army, navy, air and air defense force, and territorial troops (a militia). In 2002, the army had a total of 90,000 active personnel armed with 400 main battle tanks; the navy had 4,000 personnel and 7 vessels; and the air defense forces had 6,000 personnel and 104 combat aircraft and 40 armed helicopters. The defense budget for 1997, the last year reported, was $1.2 billion, or 22% of GDP. The UNITA (Union for the Total Independence of Angola) opposition forces leader was killed in February 2002, ending a 40 year conflict.