Editing Timor-Leste Defence Force (section)

=== Naval Component ===
[[File:Timor-Leste Fuzilierios board a simulated enemy vessel during Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training Marine Exercise Timor-Leste February 2023.jpg|thumb|alt=Colour photo of two men wearing military uniforms and carrying guns on the deck of a ship|Two East Timorese marines practising boarding a ship in 2023]]
The Naval Component of the F-FDTL was established in December 2001 when Portugal transferred two small {{sclass|Albatroz|patrol boat|0}} patrol boats from the [[Portuguese Navy]]. Its establishment was not supported by the King's College study team, the UN, or Timor-Leste's other donor countries on the grounds that Timor-Leste could not afford to operate a naval force.<ref name="Ref-1" /> The role of the naval component is to conduct fishery and border protection patrols and ensure that the maritime line of communication to the [[Oecussi]] enclave remains open.{{sfn|Saunders|2011|p=203}} This is comparable to the role of the [[Portuguese Navy]], which also undertakes military and [[coast guard]] functions.{{sfn|Bateman|Bergin|2011|p=53}} All of the force's warships are based at Hera Harbour, which is located a few kilometres east of Dili.{{sfn|Saunders|2011|p=203}} A small base is located at [[Atabae]] near the Indonesian border.{{sfn|Bateman|Bergin|2011|p=53}} Under the ''Force 2020'' plan the naval component may eventually be expanded to a light patrol force equipped with [[corvette]]-sized ships and [[landing craft]].<ref>
{{Cite news|last=Wertheim |first=Eric |year=2008 |title=World Navies in Review |periodical=[[Proceedings (magazine)|Proceedings]] |publisher=[[United States Naval Institute]] |volume=March 2008 |page=16}}</ref>
[[File:2010-05-22 New Patrols Vessels, Jaco Class, to the F-FDTL Naval Force 1.jpg|thumb|Both {{sclass|Jaco|patrol boat|1}}s in 2010]]

On 12 April 2008 Timor-Leste signed a contract for two new Chinese-built 43-metre [[Type 062 gunboat|Type 062]] gunboats. These ships were to replace the ''Albatroz''-class vessels and to be used to protect Timor-Leste's fisheries. The contract for the ships also involved 30 to 40 East Timorese personnel being trained in China.<ref>{{cite news |first=Mark |last=Dodd |title=Alarm at China's influence in Timor |url=http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23547135-31477,00.html |newspaper=The Australian |date=16 April 2008 |access-date=16 April 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080509002541/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23547135-31477,00.html |archive-date=9 May 2008 |url-status=dead  }}</ref><ref name="Storey_2009">{{cite journal|last=Storey|first=Ian|year=2009|title=China's Inroads into East Timor|journal=China Brief|publisher=The Jamestown Foundation|location=Washington DC|volume=9|issue=4|url=http://www.jamestown.org/programs/chinabrief/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=34724&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=414&no_cache=1|access-date=24 May 2012|archive-date=19 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130319233856/http://www.jamestown.org/programs/chinabrief/single/?tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=34724&tx_ttnews%5BbackPid%5D=414&no_cache=1|url-status=live}}</ref> The two new patrol boats arrived from China in June 2010, and were commissioned as the {{sclass|Jaco|patrol boat|4}} on the eleventh of the month.<ref>{{cite news|last=McGuirk|first=Rod|title=East Timorese president prefers 'fake Gucci' warships from China to Western military hardware|url=https://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gtnzj751wriH7DJBYAWyD4LSGfAQ|access-date=18 July 2010|date=23 June 2010|agency=The Canadian Press|archive-date=26 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100626123215/http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5gtnzj751wriH7DJBYAWyD4LSGfAQ|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ceremony for the Delivery of New Patrols Vessels, Jaco Class, to the F-FDTL Naval Force|url=http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=2865&lang=en|publisher=Government of Timor-Leste|access-date=6 August 2010|archive-date=8 June 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608230819/http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=2865&lang=en|url-status=live}}</ref> This acquisition was controversial in Timor-Leste due to a perceived lack of transparency regarding the purchase and concerns that the patrol boats were not suited to the rough sea conditions and tropical weather in which they would need to operate. The academic Ian Storey has written that "corruption may have played a part in the deal".{{sfn|Storey|2012|p=299}} The East Timorese government justified the purchase by arguing that the patrol boats were needed to safeguard the country's independence.{{sfn|Strating|2013|pp=197–198}}

The South Korean Government donated one ex-[[Republic of Korea Navy]] {{sclass2|Chamsuri|patrol boat|1}} and two smaller patrol boats in 2011, and these entered service with the naval component on 26 September 2011.<ref>{{cite news|last=Mazumdar|first=Mrityunjoy|title=East Timor commissions ex-South Korean patrol craft|newspaper=Jane's Navy International|date=4 October 2011}}</ref> The East Timorese government also ordered two fast patrol boats from the Indonesian company PT Pal in March 2011 for the price of $US40&nbsp;million.<ref name="Patrikainen_149">Patrikainen et al. (2011), p. 149</ref>

The 2020 edition of the IISS ''Military Balance'' listed the naval component's size as 80 personnel.{{sfn|International Institute for Strategic Studies|2020|p=317}} The 2011 edition of ''Jane's Sentinel'' put the strength of the naval component at 250; this source also stated that recruitment for an approximately 60-person strong [[Marine (military)|Marine]] unit began in 2011 from existing naval component personnel, members of the Army and civilians. The Marines were to serve as a [[special forces|Special Operations]] force.<ref name="Patrikainen_146">Patrikainen et al. (2011), p. 146</ref>

[[File:NRTL Aitana at Austal shipyards, Henderson, Western Australia, December 2023 03.jpg|thumb|240px|NRTL Aitana at Austal, Henderson, Western Australia, in December 2023]]
In 2017 Timor-Leste accepted an offer of two new {{sclass2|Guardian|patrol boat|1}}s and associated training and logistics assistance from the Australian Government. The vessels are scheduled to be delivered in 2023,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dominguez|first1=Gabriel|title=Timor-Leste to receive two Pacific Patrol Boats in 2023|url=http://www.janes.com/article/75469/timor-leste-to-receive-two-pacific-patrol-boats-in-2023|access-date=22 January 2018|work=Jane's Defence Weekly|date=6 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180110201022/http://www.janes.com/article/75469/timor-leste-to-receive-two-pacific-patrol-boats-in-2023|archive-date=10 January 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref> and will be named ''Aitana'' and ''Laline''.<ref name="t 2021-12-09">{{cite news |title=F-FDTL atribui naran Aitana no Laline ba ró patrollamentu rua hosi Austrália |url=http://www.tatoli.tl/2021/12/09/f-fdtl-atribui-naran-aitana-no-laline-ba-ro-patrollamentu-rua-hosi-australia/ |access-date=17 February 2022 |agency=[[Tatoli]] |date=9 December 2021 |language=tet |archive-date=24 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220124144710/http://www.tatoli.tl/2021/12/09/f-fdtl-atribui-naran-aitana-no-laline-ba-ro-patrollamentu-rua-hosi-australia/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="tl 2022-02-17">{{cite web |title=Timor-Leste and Australia Prime Ministers' Meeting |url=http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=30132&lang=en&n=1 |website=Government of Timor-Leste |access-date=17 February 2022 |language=en |archive-date=17 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220217094833/http://timor-leste.gov.tl/?p=30132&lang=en&n=1 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Australia is also funding a new wharf at Hera Harbour that will enable operations of the two Guardian-class patrol boats.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Aussies to revamp East Timor naval base|url=https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/08/30/aussies-to-revamp-east-timor-naval-base/|last=McGuirk|first=Rod|agency=The Associated Press|date=30 August 2019|website=Navy Times|language=en-US|access-date=18 May 2020|archive-date=27 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230327132648/https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/08/30/aussies-to-revamp-east-timor-naval-base/|url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Current vessels
!Origin
!Class
!Type
!Notes
|-
|{{ill|NRTL Jaco|de|Jaco (Schiff)|lt=NRTL ''Jaco''}}{{sfn|Bateman|Bergin|2011|p=54}}
|China
|[[Jaco-class patrol boat|Jaco]]
|Patrol boat
|Commissioned June 2010
|-
|{{ill|NRTL Betano|de|Betano (Schiff, 2010)|lt=NRTL ''Betano''}}{{sfn|Bateman|Bergin|2011|p=54}}
|China
|Jaco
|Patrol boat
|Commissioned June 2010
|-
|{{ship|NRTL|Dili}}
|South Korea
|40-ton
|Patrol boat
|Commissioned 26 September 2011
|-
|{{ship|NRTL|Hera}}
|South Korea
|40-ton
|Patrol boat
|Commissioned 26 September 2011
|-
!Former vessels
!Origin
!Class
!Type
!Notes
|-
|{{ship|NRTL|Oecusse|P101}}{{sfn|Bateman|Bergin|2011|p=54}}
|Portugal
|[[Albatroz-class patrol boat|Albatroz]]
|Patrol boat
|ex NRP ''Albatroz'' (P 1012), transferred in 2002
|-
|{{ship|NRTL|Atauro|P102}}{{sfn|Bateman|Bergin|2011|p=54}}
|Portugal
|Albatroz
|Patrol boat
|ex NRP ''Atauro'' (P 1163), transferred in 2002
|-
|{{ship|NRTL|Kamenassa}} (P217)
|South Korea
|[[Chamsuri-class patrol boat|Chamsuri]]<ref>{{Cite web|last=Defense|first=R. P.|title=East Timor Naval Force Receives Three Patrol Vessels from South Korea|url=http://rpdefense.over-blog.com/article-east-timor-naval-force-receives-three-patrol-vessels-from-south-korea-85362814.html|access-date=8 September 2020|website=RP Defense|language=fr|archive-date=10 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190910141421/http://rpdefense.over-blog.com/article-east-timor-naval-force-receives-three-patrol-vessels-from-south-korea-85362814.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|Patrol boat
|Commissioned 26 September 2011; [[Sinking ships for wreck diving sites|sunk as a dive wreck]] 15 July 2023<ref name="dtl kamanasa">{{cite web |title=Timor Leste's Newest Shipwreck |url=https://divetimor.com/timor-lestes-newest-shipwreck/ |website=Dive Timor Lorosae |date=18 July 2023 |access-date=13 September 2023}}</ref>
|-
!Future vessels
!Origin
!Class
!Type
!Notes
|-
|{{ship|NRTL|Aitana}}<ref name="austal.com">{{Cite web|date=18 April 2018|title=AUSTAL FINALISES CONTRACT WITH GOVERNMENT FOR TWO ADDITIONAL PACIFIC PATROL BOATS FOR TIMOR LESTE|url=https://www.austal.com/news/austal-finalises-contract-government-two-additional-pacific-patrol-boats-timor-leste|access-date=8 September 2020|website=Austal: Corporate|language=en|archive-date=13 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313162712/https://www.austal.com/news/austal-finalises-contract-government-two-additional-pacific-patrol-boats-timor-leste|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="t 2021-12-09"/><ref name="tl 2022-02-17"/>
|Australia
|[[Guardian-class patrol boat|Guardian]]
|Patrol boat
|Scheduled for delivery in 2023
|-
|{{ship|NRTL|Laline}}<ref name="austal.com"/><ref name="t 2021-12-09"/><ref name="tl 2022-02-17"/>
|Australia
|Guardian
|Patrol boat
|Scheduled for delivery in 2023
|}