The Timor Leste Defence Forces (F-FDTL)
is the military body responsible for the defence of East Timor
The F-FDTL was established in February 2001 and comprises two infantry battalions
small naval and air components and several supporting units
The F-FDTL's primary role is to protect East Timor from external threats
It also has an internal security role
which overlaps with that of the Polícia Nacional de Timor-Leste (PNTL).
When initially established, the F-FDTL land forces comprised two light infantry battalions
each with an authorized strength of 600 personnel
As of 2004 each battalion had three rifle companies
a support company and a headquarters company
These units are located in separate bases
As of 2004, the 1st Battalion was based at Baucau
with a contingent in the seaside coastline village of Laga
As of 2020, the Army's main elements remained two light infantry battalions
The 2020 edition of The Military Balance stated that the Army had 2,200 personnel
The F-FDTL is armed only with small arms and does not have any crew-served weapons
The 2007 edition of Jane's Sentinel stated that the F-FDTL had the following equipment in service
1,560 M16 rifles and 75 M203 grenade launchers
75 FN Minimi squad automatic weapons
8 sniper rifles and 50 of 45 caliber M1911A1 pistols
A further 75 Minimis were to be ordered at that time
The majority of the F-FDTL's weapons were donated by other countries
An assessment of East Timor's security forces
published by the Centre for International Governance Innovation in 2010
stated that F-FDTL weapons management and control systems
while superior to that of PNTL, are underdeveloped
The Naval Component of the F-FDTL was established in December 2001
when Portugal transferred two small Albatroz-class patrol boats from the Portuguese Navy
Its establishment was not supported by the King's College study team
the UN, or East Timor's other donor countries on the grounds
that East Timor could not afford to operate a naval force
On 12 April 2008
East Timor signed a contract for two new Chinese-built 43-metre Type-62 class patrol boats
These ships were to replace the Albatroz-class vessels
and to be used to protect East Timor's fisheries
The South Korean Government donated three ex-Republic of Korea Navy
Chamsuri class patrol boats in 2011
and these entered service with the naval component on 26 September 2011
The East Timorese government also ordered two fast patrol boats
from the Indonesian company PT Pal in March 2011 for the price of USD 40 million
In 2017, Timor Leste accepted an offer of two new Guardian-class patrol boats
and associated training and logistics assistance from the Australian Government
The vessels are scheduled to be delivered in 2023
and will be named Aitana and Laline
Australia is also funding a new wharf at Hera Harbor
that will enable operations of the two Guardian-class patrol boats
As of 2020, the F-FDTL's Air Component operated a single Cessna 172P aircraft
In 2019, the East Timorese Government was considering purchasing
three Chinese variants of the Mil Mi-17 helicopter
and a small number of F-FDTL personnel were trained to operate the type in the Philippines