Mexico Army

The Mexican Army operates under the Secretariat of National Defense, led by the Secretary of National Defense. Territorial organization divides the national territory into 12 military regions, which are further divided into subordinate military zones tailored to regional requirements. Operational formations include mechanized infantry brigades, motorized cavalry regiments, artillery regiments, and specialized units. Specialized commands include the Corps of Special Forces and the Parachute Rifle Brigade, alongside mechanized formations headquartered at facilities such as Military Camp No. 1 in Mexico City. The National Guard functions as a national security force under the operational control of the Secretariat of National Defense, conducting joint operations with regular army units.

Mexico fields no main battle tanks, utilizing light armored vehicles, wheeled reconnaissance platforms, and high-mobility utility trucks. Armored and reconnaissance units field platforms such as the ERC-90 Lynx, Panhard VBL, and domestically produced DN-XI and Cimarrón armored vehicles. Infantry forces operate Streit Group Cobra 4 light armored vehicles, Humvee variants, and AMX-VCI armored personnel carriers. Small arms center on the indigenously produced FX-05 Xiuhcoatl assault rifle, alongside Heckler & Koch G3 and Colt M4 rifles. Field artillery units deploy towed howitzers including M101 and M102 105mm models, GIAT LG1 light guns, Oto Melara Mod 56 pack howitzers, and Brandt 120mm mortars. Air defense assets consist of short-range systems such as RBS 70 surface-to-air missiles and towed anti-aircraft guns. Rotary-wing support, operated in coordination with the Mexican Air Force under the same cabinet ministry, includes UH-60M Black Hawk, Mi-17, Bell 407, Eurocopter EC725, and MD 530F helicopters.

Primary missions comprise internal security, counter-narcotics operations against criminal organizations, border security, and disaster response under the PLAN DN-III-E framework. Army units execute security patrols, border interdiction, and direct engagements against armed cartel groups in states such as Sinaloa, Michoacán, Tamaulipas, and Sonora. Modernization programs emphasize domestic defense manufacturing through the General Directorate of Military Industry. Local production handles the manufacturing of small arms, ammunition, light armor components, and armored tactical vehicles. Foreign acquisitions supplement local industry, including recent acquisitions of Cobra 4 tactical vehicles to replace aging Humvee inventory. Defense development initiatives also include indigenous programs to build tactical unmanned aerial vehicle prototypes for reconnaissance applications.