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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]
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]
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:
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.
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]
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.
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 | ![]() | |
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 | ||
Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
PT-76 | ![]() | Light tank | ![]() | 18 | Serviceability doubtful. [5] |
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] | |
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This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.