Cuban Army

Cuban Army. The Cuban Army, officially the Ejército de Cuba, is the land warfare branch of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Cuba (FAR). It traces its modern origins to the rebel forces of the 26th of July Movement that fought in the Cuban Revolution under Fidel Castro. As the largest component of the FAR, it is headquartered in Havana and operates under the command of the MINFAR.

History

The army's lineage is tied to the Ten Years' War and the Cuban War of Independence, where figures like Carlos Manuel de Céspedes and Antonio Maceo led insurgencies against Spanish rule. Following the Spanish–American War and the establishment of the Republic, the army was often politicized under presidents like Gerardo Machado and Fulgencio Batista. Its modern form was forged during the revolutionary struggle in the Sierra Maestra, culminating in the Battle of Santa Clara led by Che Guevara. After 1959, it was radically reformed and became a key instrument of state power, projecting force abroad in conflicts like the Angolan Civil War, where it fought at the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale, and the Ogaden War supporting Ethiopia. It also faced combat during the United States invasion of Grenada in 1983.

Organization

The army is divided into three regional armies: the Western Army in Pinar del Río, the Central Army in Santa Clara, and the Eastern Army in Santiago de Cuba. Its structure includes approximately 15 combined-arms divisions, alongside independent brigades for armoured warfare, artillery, and special forces. Key formations include the Moscow-trained Avispas Special Brigade and the Border Brigade guarding the U.S. Naval Base at Guantánamo Bay. The army is integrated with the Territorial Troops Militia, a large reserve force, and falls under the operational control of the General Staff of the FAR.

Equipment

The army's inventory primarily consists of Soviet-era and Russian-designed systems, maintained through upgrades and limited imports. Its main battle tank force is built around the T-55 and T-62, supported by BMP-1 infantry fighting vehicles. Artillery includes the D-30 and BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launchers. Anti-tank capabilities are provided by Malyutka and Fagot guided missiles, while air defense relies on ZSU-23-4 Shilkas and S-75 Dvina systems. Small arms are dominated by the AKM and RPK.

Role and missions

The army's primary role is the territorial defense of Cuba against external aggression, a doctrine shaped by the perceived threat from the United States since the Bay of Pigs Invasion and the Cuban Missile Crisis. It maintains a significant focus on counter-insurgency and internal security, often working with the Ministry of Interior and the National Revolutionary Police Force. A historic mission was internationalist solidarity, deploying combat troops to support allied governments in Africa and Latin America. It also plays a major role in national civil defense and disaster relief, frequently mobilizing for recovery from hurricanes.

Personnel and training

Active personnel number approximately 39,000, supplemented by tens of thousands of reservists in the Territorial Troops Militia. Conscription is mandatory for males over age 17, with a two-year service term. Officer education is centered at the prestigious General Máximo Gómez Military Academy and the University of Havana's military faculties. Training emphasizes political indoctrination alongside conventional warfare, with specialized instruction often provided by advisors from Russia and Venezuela. Senior officers, such as Leopoldo Cintra Frías and Álvaro López Miera, are typically veterans of the Angolan Civil War and hold high positions within the Communist Party of Cuba.