| Slovenian Army and Navy division | |
|---|---|
Emblem of the Slovenian Army |
|
| Active | 1991-1993 Slovene Territorial Defense Forces |
| Country | Slovenia |
| Allegiance | NATO |
| Branch | Ground Army and Navy |
| Type | ground army and naval detachment |
| Role | Defending Slovenian territory |
| Size | about 9,000 personnel |
| Engagements | Slovenian War of Independence
War in Afghanistan and Operation Iraqi Freedom Note: For engagements of the navy detachment see: Slovenian Navy |
The Slovenian Ground Force is the primary component of Slovenian Armed forces.
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The current Slovenian Armed Forces are descended from the Territorial Defense of the Republic of Slovenia (Teritorialna Obramba Republike Slovenije; TORS), which was formed in 1968 as a paramilitary complement to the regular army of the former Yugoslav within the territory of Slovenia. The main objectives of TORS were to support the Yugoslav National Army (JNA) and conduct guerrilla operations in the event of an invasion.
When Slovenia declared independence at the onset of the Yugoslav Wars in 1991, the TORS and the Slovenian police comprised the majority of forces engaging the Yugoslav People's Army during the Ten-Day War. The Slovenian Armed Forces were formally established in 1993 as a reorganization of the TORS.
| Model | Type | Origin | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spike MR, LR | ATGM | Israel | / | |
| RGW 90 | RPG | Singapore / Israel | 2,300 | |
| Igla | MANPAD | Russia | / |
| Model | Type | Origin | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TN90 155 mm towed | Howitzer | Israel | 18 | |
| MN 9 120 mm | mortar | Israel | 36 |
| Model | Origin | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| M-84 | Yugoslavia | 54 (26 in active service) | |
| M-55 S | Soviet Union | 30 (in reserve) |
| Model | Origin | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| M-80A | Yugoslavia | 52 (13 in active service) | |
| Valuk 6x6 | Slovenia | 85 | |
| Patria AMV | Finland | 135 - negotioations for less vehicles started (30 delivered) | |
| Otokar Cobra LAV | Turkey | 10 |
| Model | Origin | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HMMWV | United States | 42 (30 in M1114 version, 12 in M1151 version) | |
| JVBT55 | Soviet Union | 7 | |
| VT55 | Soviet Union | 2 | |
| MT-55 | Soviet Union | 4 |
A major reorganization of the Slovenian Armed Forces is currently underway, with the goal of changing it from a territorial defense force into a deployable force primarily aimed at peacekeeping. After 1993, the Slovenian Armed Forces had relied on mandatory military service, with conscripts receiving 6–7 months of training. In 2003, the Slovenian Government abolished conscription and as of July 2004, the Slovenian Armed Forces had been almost completely reorganised into a professional army now based on volunteers. Currently there are approximately 7,600 active troops and approximately 1,700 in reserve, reduced from 55,000 personnel during conscription. The operational units now consist of three brigades, the 1st, 72nd and an Air Defense and Aviation Brigade; all three are subordinated to the Forces Command.