No regular military forces; Ministry of Public Security, Government, and Police
Note: Costa Rica was the first country to formally abolish military forces. The constitution has forbidden a standing military since 1949. It does have a public security force, whose role includes law enforcement and internal security. For this reason Costa Rica is the headquarters for the Inter-American Court of Human Rights and also the United Nations' University for Peace. Paramilitary 9,800 Personnel ( Civil Guard 4,500;
Border Police 2,500;  Coast Guard Unit 400;  Air Surveillance Unit 400;  Rural Guard 2,000)

COSTA RICAN AIR SURVEILLANCE SEVICE •  Servicio de Vigilancia Aérea (SVA) - Fuerza Pública
Air Surveillance Unit 400 personnel.

Forces by Role & Equipment by Type
(Air Guard Role)

• AIRCRAFT No combat capable. Total 16 Aircraft.
  (1 Ac mix sqn with)

Reconnaissance 1 Recce Ac:
1 Cessna 337 / O-2A Super Skymaster (Ex-US; for Coast Guard; incl for MP);

Transport 11 Tpt Ac:
2 Harbin Y-12;
1 De Havilland Canada DHC-4 Caribou C-7A (Canada);
2 Piper PA-31-350T Navajo (US);
3 Cessna T210 Centurion (US); 
1 Piper PA-34-200T Seneca (US);
3 Cessna U-206G Stationair 6 (US Second-hand; modernized before delivery);
1 Cessna 207 (US);

1 Beech 350 Super King Air (on order);

Basic Trainer 2 Bsc Trg ac
2 Cessna-172 (T-41 Mascalero version; Ex-US; aid)


• HELICOPTER No Attack capable. Total 7 Helicopters.

Support & Utility 1 Hel sqn with 3 Spt/Utl Hel:
4 Bell UH-1H Iroquois (US; aid);
2 Hughes 500MD (MD Helicopters MD-500E; US; aid);
1 Fairchild Hiller FH-1100 (Light helicopter incl for VIP transport; US; aid);


• FACILITIES
  Direccion General Fuerza Publica: San Jose HQ
  Paramilitary 8 comd

  Air Surveillance Service (SVA) Airfield and Air Base Organisation:
  Juan Santamaria (MROC) Air Base in San José - Area Operativa
  Servicio de Vigilancia Aerea
  Escuadrilla de Comuncaciones: PA-31/34, Cessna U206G/207/T210
  Escuadrilla de Helicopteros: Hughes 500MD/E, FH-1100, UH-1H
  Golfito: Escuadrilla de Apoyo de Guardia
  Costera: O-2, DHC-4

Note: Costa Rica has 39 airports with paved runways (2,438 to 3,047 m: 2 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2 914 to 1,523 m: 23 under 914 m: 12 ) and 112 airports with unpaved runways (914 to 1,523 m: 18 under 914 m: 94)

Costa Rican Paramilitary 9,800 personnel.
Civil Guard 4,500 (Police 1 (tac) comisaria; Provincial 6 comisaria; Spec Ops 1 unit; Paramilitary 7 (Urban) comisaria (reinforced coy))
Border Police 2,500 (Sy 2 (Border) comd (8 comisaria))
Coast Guard Unit 400; Patrol and Coastal Combatants 20+ (PFC 1;PCC 1; PCI 8) FACILITIES:  Bases Located at Golfito, Punta Arenas, Cuajiniquil, Quepos, Limbe, Moin)