Lao People's Democratic Republic - Armed forces

In 2002 the armed forces in Laos numbered 29,100. The army of 25,000 was equipped with 25 main battle tanks. The army marine section, equipped with 16 patrol crafts, had 600 personnel. The air force, with 3,500 personnel, was equipped with antiaircraft missiles and 24 combat aircraft. Militia selfdefense forces numbered approximately 100,000 organized for local defense. The armed forces faced about 2,000 rebels from the United Lao National Liberation Front (ULNLF). Defense expenditures in 1998 were $55 million.