Benin Armed Forces
Benin Armed Forces | |
---|---|
Forces Armées Béninoises | |
Founded | 1960 |
Service branches | Army Benin Navy Benin Air Force National Gendarmerie |
Leadership | |
Commander-in-Chief | Patrice Talon |
Minister of Defence | Yarou Robert Theophile |
Chief of the Defence Staff | Fructueux Gbaguidi |
Personnel | |
Conscription | No |
Active personnel | 4,750[1] |
Expenditures | |
Budget | $US73 million (2011)[1] |
Percent of GDP | 1% (2011)[1] |
Industry | |
Foreign suppliers | United States Russia France |
Related articles | |
Ranks | Military ranks of Benin |
The Benin Armed Forces (French: Forces Armées Béninoises; FAB) constitutes the army, navy, air force, and national gendarmerie of Benin. For a number of years, the Belgian Armed Forces have had an active programme of co-operation with Benin, offering training and coaching, donating redundant military equipment and using the country for limited military exercises.[2]
History[edit]
The constitution of 11 December 1990 ordered the Benin Armed Forces to ensure effective, permanent and efficient security coverage of the territory, as well as border vigilance.[citation needed]
The national gendarmerie no longer exists since 2018. It has been merged with the national police.[3]
Branches[edit]
Army[edit]
As of 2012[update], the Army had a strength of 4,300.[1] It includes 1 armoured squadron, 3 infantry battalions, 1 commando/airborne battalion, 1 artillery battery, and 1 engineer battalion, and 1 National Fire Brigade.[1] The army has the following units:
- 1st Parachute Commando Battalion
- 1st Motorized Intervention Battalion
- 1st Armoured Group
- National Group of Firefighters
- 1st Combined Arms Battalion
- 2nd Combined Arms Battalion
- 3rd Combined Arms Battalion
- 7th Combined Arms Battalion
- 8th Combined Arms Battalion
- 1st Mixed Artillery Battalion
- 1st Engineer Battalion
- 1st Signal Battalion
- 1st Materiel Battalion
- 1st Train Battalion
- Headquarters Group
Air Force[edit]
After achieving independence from France in 1960 the Benin Air Force was transport equipped with seven French-supplied Douglas C-47s, four MH.1521 Broussards and two Agusta-Bell 47Gs. Two F-27s entered service in 1978 for transport duties before being transferred to Air Benin. Also during the same era, two AN-26s were acquired. In late 1985 two Dornier Do-28s entered service to replace the C-47s. A single DHC-6 Twin Otter was acquired in 1989.
[edit]
As of 2012, the navy has a strength of approximately 200 personnel. It operates two ex-Chinese patrol boats, which are designated the Matelot Brice Kpomasse class.[1]
Republican Guard[edit]
The Republican Guard is responsible for the security of the President of the Republic, ministers, members of the government, institutions of the Republic and their leader.
Equipment[edit]
Small arms[edit]
Artillery[edit]
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Field artillery | ||||||
M101[10] | Howitzer | United States | 4 | INS | ||
L118[10] | Howitzer | United Kingdom | 12 | INS | ||
MO-81-61[10] | Mortar | France | Unknown | INS |
Air defence systems[edit]
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ZPU-4 | Anti-aircraft gun | Soviet Union | Unknown | INS | ||
9K31 Strela-1[11] | Surface-to-air missile | Soviet Union | 4 | INS | ||
9K32 Strela-2[12] | MANPADS | Soviet Union | Unknown | INS |
Tanks[edit]
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PT-76[10] | Amphibious Light tank | Soviet Union | 18 | INS |
Armored vehicles[edit]
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Status | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRDM-2[10] | Amphibious armored scout car | Soviet Union | 14 | INS | ||
Eland-90[13] | Armoured car | South Africa | 3 | INS | ||
M8 Greyhound[10] | Armoured car | United States | 7 | INS | ||
Panhard VBL[10] | Scout car | France | 10 | INS | ||
Casspir[10] | MRAP | South Africa | 10 | INS | Casspir 2000 | |
VAB[14] | Armoured personnel carrier | France | 8/15 | INS | ||
M113[10] | Armored personnel carrier | United States | 22 | INS | ||
ACMAT Bastion[10] | Armoured personnel carrier | France | 2 | INS |
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f IISS (2012), p. 422
- ^ Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.
- ^ "Décret n° 2017-41 portant création de la Police républicaine en République du Bénin". Présidence de la République du Bénin (in French). 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Jane's Infantry Weapons 2007
- ^ Photo Details Archived 4 August 2012 at archive.today. Marines.mil (16 June 2009). Retrieved on 2012-05-20.
- ^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Benin". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 948.
- ^ Gander, Terry J.; Cutshaw, Charles Q., eds. (2001). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001/2002 (27th ed.). Coulsdon: Jane's Information Group. ISBN 9780710623171.
- ^ Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (27 January 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ^ Shea, Dan (February 2010). "LRAC F1: 89mm Shoulder Fired Launcher". Small Arms Review. Vol. 13, no. 5. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2023.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j International Institute for Strategic Studies (2021). The Military Balance. p. 450. ISBN 9781032012278.
- ^ "KB Tochmash 9K31 Strela-1 (SA-9 'Gaskin') low-altitude surface-to-air missile system". Jane's. 15 August 2007. Retrieved 31 July 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Michael Ashkenazi; Princess Mawuena Amuzu; Jan Grebe; Christof Kögler; Marc Kösling (February 2013). "MANPADS: A Terrorist Threat to Civilian Aviation?" (PDF). Bonn International Center of Conversion (BICC) – Internationales Konversionszentrum Bonn GmbH. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 August 2018. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
- ^ DIO blindé au Bénin
- ^ "Army of Benin receives VAB armored vehicles from France | Defense News March 2023 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2023 | Archive News year".
- Works consulted
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) (2012). The Military Balance 2012. London: IISS. ISSN 0459-7222.
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.