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# Timor Leste Defence Force

## Forcas Defesa Timor Lorosae, Forças de Defesa de Timor Leste

Last modified: 2026-04-11 by zachary harden
Keywords: falintil | forças armadas de libertação nacional de timor leste | patria povo | star: 5 points (yellow) | wheat | machete | provisional | fdtl |
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image by Zachary Harden, 31 July 2024

- Description and origin of the flag
- Land Component
- Naval Component

- Marine Corps

- Air Component
- Air Craft Marking
- Military Police

See also:

- East Timor

## Description and origin of the flag

Flag of Armed Forces has been presented here https://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/, but [might have been altered] based on photos I found. Please note that there are only photos with inscription in the white stripe.
Zoltan Horvath, 27 May 2024

Here my article about the FALINTIL/army flag on German Wikipedia, which became flag of the military forces: The FALINTIL flag was designed in 1987 at the Ai-Dila-Okir base by FALINTIL leader Xanana Gusmão. The former hideout is now part of the Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão National Park in the municipalities of Ainaro and Manufahi. Blue symbolises the island of Timor between the sea and the sky, the identity of the East Timorese on a spiritual level as a people, with all their longings. White symbolises the longing for lasting peace, the need for social justice and general tolerance. Green symbolises East Timor as a land of farmers, the need for progress, but always with consideration for the environment and eternal hope. Yellow, red and black are the traditional colours of the struggle for independence. The golden star, the actual symbol of the war of independence, rises from the red of the spilt blood. It is the hope of a glorious new day, just as the morning star symbolises the dawn of day. The hilts of the two suriks (Timorese swords) are divided into four parts, resulting in the number eight. Ten goat hairs hang from each handle, making a total of 20. The three bird feathers have a total of 75 hairs. FALINTIL was founded on 20 August 1975[8]. "Patria Povo" (English: Patria People) is the motto of the FALINTIL. The CNRT used a similar flag, but with a slightly different coat of arms and the words "CNRT". The FALINTIL relatively soon adopted this version of the coat of arms for its flag, which is still the flag of the East Timor Defence Forces today. In the FALINTIL camps, it was strictly forbidden to walk through the shadow of the flag. It is said that this rule dates back to colonial times, when Timorese were beaten up if they walked through the shadow of the Portuguese flag. Many photos of the FALINTIL flag and other military flags of East Timor on Wikimedia Commons can be seen here.
J. Patrick Fischer, 28 May 2024

## Land Component

image by Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

The Land Component (Componente Terrestres), when initially established, comprised two light infantry battalions, each with an authorized strength of 600 personnel. Later each battalion had three rifle companies, a support company and a headquarters company. The flag of Land Component is red with its emblem placed in the center of the flag. Image of flag: Facebook.
Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

## Naval Component

image by Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

The Naval Component (Componente Força Naval Ligeira) was established in December 2001 when Portugal transferred two small patrol boats from the Portuguese Navy. Images of flag: Facebook and Facebook.
Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

### Marine Corps

image by Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

The Marine Corps (Fuzileiros) is part of the Naval Component, and also have a flag which is blue with its emblem placed in the center of the flag. Image of flag: Facebook.
Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

## Air Component

source; image by Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

The Air Component (Componente Aérea Ligeira) was established in May 2018.
Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

## Air Craft Marking

image by Zachary Harden, 23 July 2024

This 2018 article shows a plane operated by the Air Force (F-FDTL) shows two different markings on the aircraft. By the aircraft's nose, there is an image of the national flag; on the fin there is the badge of the Armed Forces. I am not sure when this was first used or if there is an outline around the black badge.
Zachary Harden, 1 September 2020

There is a gold outline used on the aircraft marking. The national flag is still used on the nose of the aircraft.
Nozomi Kariyasu, 27 May 2024

## Military Police

source; image by Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026

The flag of Military Police (Polícia Militar) is light blue with its badge placed in the center of the flag. Its name is written above and under the shield..
Zoltan Horvath, 05 March 2026