Benin Armed Forces
Benin Armed Forces | |
---|---|
Forces Armées Béninoises | |
![]() Coat of arms of Benin | |
Founded | 1960 |
Service branches | Army Benin Navy ![]() 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] |
Expenditure | |
Budget | $US73 million (2011)[1] |
Percent of GDP | 1% (2011)[1] |
Industry | |
Foreign suppliers | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
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.
Navy
[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]Name | Image | Caliber | Type | Origin | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pistols | |||||
TT-33[4] | 7.62x25mm | Semi-automatic pistol | ![]() |
||
Submachine guns | |||||
MAT-49[4] | ![]() |
9×19mm | Submachine gun | ![]() |
|
Rifles | |||||
SKS[4] | 7.62×39mm | Semi-automatic rifle | ![]() |
||
AK-47[4] | ![]() |
7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | ![]() | |
AKM[4] | ![]() |
7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | ![]() |
|
MAS-49/56[4] | 7.5×54mm | Semi-automatic rifle | ![]() |
||
Machine guns | |||||
RPD[4] | ![]() |
7.62×39mm | Light machine gun | ![]() |
|
RP-46[4] | 7.62×54mmR | Light machine gun | ![]() |
||
FM 24/29[4] | 7.5×54mm | Light machine gun | ![]() |
||
AA-52[4] | ![]() |
7.62×51mm | General-purpose machine gun | ![]() |
|
KPV[4] | ![]() |
14.5×114mm | Heavy machine gun | ![]() |
|
Browning M2 | ![]() |
.50 BMG | Heavy machine gun | ![]() |
M2HB variant used.[4] |
Rocket propelled grenade launchers | |||||
RPG-7[4] | ![]() |
40mm | Rocket-propelled grenade | ![]() |
Artillery
[edit]Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Field artillery | |||||
M101 | ![]() |
Howitzer | ![]() |
4[5] | |
L118 | ![]() |
Howitzer | ![]() |
12[5] | |
PP-87[5] | ![]() |
Mortar | ![]() |
81 mm mortar | |
W-86[5] | Mortar | ![]() |
120 mm mortar |
Tanks
[edit]Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PT-76 | ![]() |
Light tank | ![]() |
18 | Serviceability doubtful.[5] |
Armoured fighting vehicles
[edit]Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BRDM-2 | Scout car | ![]() |
14[5] | ||
Panhard VBL | Scout car | ![]() |
10[5] | ||
Eland armoured car | ![]() |
Armoured car | ![]() |
3[6][7] | |
M8 Greyhound | Armoured car | ![]() |
7[5] | ||
M113 | ![]() |
Armoured personnel carrier | ![]() |
22[5] | |
ACMAT Bastion | ![]() |
Armoured personnel carrier | ![]() |
2[5] | |
VAB | Armoured personnel carrier | ![]() |
15[5] | ||
Casspir NG | ![]() |
MRAP | ![]() |
10[5] | |
Dongfeng Mengshi | ![]() |
MRAP | ![]() |
9[5] |
Bibliography
[edit]- International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). "Chapter Eight: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance. 124 (1). Taylor & Francis: 458–531. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298597. ISSN 0459-7222. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland, eds. (2010). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010-2011 (36th ed.). Janes Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2908-1.
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 m Jones & Ness 2010, p. 904.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m IISS 2024, p. 473.
- ^ "DIO blindé au Bénin". Cotonou: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. 7 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
- ^ Hounsou, Ludovic (June 2017). "Levée des indisponibilités de trois pelotons". Le Mirador. 1 (11): 23. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.
External links
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