Benin Armed Forces

Last updated • 2 min readFrom Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia

Benin Armed Forces
Forces Armées Béninoises
Coat of arms of Benin.svg
Coat of arms of Benin
Founded1960
Service branches Army
Benin Navy
Roundel of Benin.svg Benin Air Force
National Gendarmerie
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief Patrice Talon
Minister of DefenceYarou Robert Theophile
Chief of the Defence Staff Fructueux Gbaguidi
Personnel
Conscription No
Active personnel4,750 [1]
Expenditure
Budget $US73 million (2011) [1]
Percent of GDP 1% (2011) [1]
Industry
Foreign suppliers Flag of the United States.svg United States
Flag of Russia.svg Russia
Flag of France.svg 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]

Contents

History

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

Army

As of 2012, 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:

Air Force

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]

Republican Guard

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

Small arms

NameImageCaliberTypeOriginNotes
Pistols
TT-33 [4] TT33.JPG 7.62x25mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Submachine guns
MAT-49 [4] MAT Submachine Gun.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of France.svg  France
Rifles
SKS [4] Simonov-SKS-45.JPG 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
AK-47 [4] AK-47 assault rifle.jpg 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
AKM [4] AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armemuseum rightside noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
MAS-49/56 [4] MAS 49 56.JPG 7.5×54mm Semi-automatic rifle Flag of France.svg  France
Machine guns
RPD [4] LMG-RPD-44 noBG.png 7.62×39mm Light machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
RP-46 [4] DM-ST-89-01130.JPEG 7.62×54mmR Light machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
FM 24/29 [4] LMG 24 29 2.JPG 7.5×54mm Light machine gun Flag of France.svg  France
AA-52 [4] Mitrailleuse-IMG 1728.jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun Flag of France.svg  France
KPV [4] Iraqi Police gun-carriage (cropped).jpg 14.5×114mm Heavy machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
Browning M2 PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg .50 BMG Heavy machine gun Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States M2HB variant used. [4]
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7 [4] Rpg-7.jpg 40mm Rocket-propelled grenade Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union

Artillery

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityNotes
Field artillery
M101 JGSDF 105mm Howitzer M2A1(Type 58 105mm Howitzer) left front view at Camp Nihonbara October 1, 2017.jpg Howitzer Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 4 [5]
L118 M119a trimmed.jpg Howitzer Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 12 [5]
PP-87 [5] Zagan 82 mm mozdzierz wz 37.jpg Mortar Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 81 mm mortar
W-86 [5] Mortar Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 120 mm mortar

Tanks

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityNotes
PT-76 ParkPatriot2015part2-40.jpg Light tank Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 18Serviceability doubtful. [5]

Armoured fighting vehicles

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityNotes
BRDM-2 BRDM-2 (1964) owned by James Stewart pic7.JPG Scout car Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 14 [5]
Panhard VBL Panhard VBL (Vehicule Blinde Leger), French army licence registration '6924 0057' pic2.JPG Scout car Flag of France.svg  France 10 [5]
Eland armoured car Noddymain.png Armoured car Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 3 [6] [7]
M8 Greyhound Light Armored Car M8 Greyhound, Army registration number USA 603332 pic2.JPG Armoured car Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 7 [5]
M113 US M113 in Samarra Iraq.jpg Armoured personnel carrier Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States 22 [5]
ACMAT Bastion MINUSMA Goundam 2015.jpg Armoured personnel carrier Flag of France.svg  France 2 [5]
VAB French VAB APC during Operation Desert Shield.JPEG Armoured personnel carrier Flag of France.svg  France 15 [5]
Casspir NG Mechem Casspir Mk II (9686200019).jpg MRAP Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa 10 [5]
Dongfeng Mengshi Dongfeng EQ2050 Xiamen 01 2019-10-25.jpg MRAP Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China 9 [5]

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

The BurundiNational Defence Force is the state military organisation responsible for the defence of Burundi.

The Cameroon Armed Forces are the military of the Republic of Cameroon. The armed forces number 40,000 personnel in ground, air, and naval forces. There are approximately 40,000 troops in the army across three military regions. Approximately 1,300 troops are part of the Cameroonian Navy, which is headquartered at Douala. Under 600 troops are part of the Air Force. There is an additional 12,500 paramilitary troops that serve as a gendarmerie or reconnaissance role.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces of the Republic of Ivory Coast</span> Combined military forces of Ivory Coast

The Armed Forces of Côte d'Ivoire are the armed forces of Ivory Coast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Djibouti Armed Forces</span> Military force of Djibouti

The Djibouti Armed Forces are the military forces of Djibouti. They consist of the Djiboutian National Army and its sub-branches the Djiboutian Air Force and Djiboutian Navy. As of 2018, the Djibouti Armed Forces consists of 20,470 ground troops, which are divided into several regiments and battalions garrisoned in various areas throughout the country. The Djibouti Armed Forces are an important player in the Bab-el-Mandeb and Red Sea.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">French Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of France

The French Armed Forces are the military forces of France. They consist of four military branches – the Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Force and the National Gendarmerie. The National Guard serves as the French Armed Forces' military reserve force. As stipulated by France's constitution, the president of France serves as commander-in-chief of the French military. France has the ninth largest defence budget in the world and the third largest in the European Union (EU). It also has the largest military by size in the EU. As of 2021, the total active personnel of the French Armed Forces is 270,000. While the reserve personnel is 63,700, for a total of 333,000 personnel. Including the active personnel of the National Gendarmerie, the total men power of all the French Armed Forces combined is 435,000 strong. A 2015 Credit Suisse report ranked the French Armed Forces as the world's sixth most powerful military.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Republic of Guinea Armed Forces</span> Combined armed forces of Guinea

The Guinean Armed Forces are the armed forces of Guinea. They are responsible for the territorial security of Guinea's border and the defence of the country against external attack and aggression.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Armed Forces of Mauritania</span>

The Armed Forces of Mauritania is the defense force of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, having an army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and presidential guard. Other services include the national guard and national police, though they both are subordinated to the Ministry of the Interior. As of 2018, the Mauritanian armed forces budget was 3.9% of the country's GDP.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Niger Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Niger

The Niger Armed Forces includes military armed force service branches, paramilitary services branches and the National Police of Niger. The Army, Air Force and the National Gendarmerie are under the Ministry of Defense whereas the National Guard and the National Police fall under the command of the Ministry of Interior. With the exception of the National Police, all military and paramilitary forces are trained in military fashion. The President of Niger is the supreme commander of the entire armed forces. The National Assembly of Niger passed a statute for the Army of Niger in November 2020, planning for the army's size to increase from 25,000 personnel in 2020, to 50,000 in 2025 and finally 100,000 in 2030.

The Armed Forces of Senegal consists of about 17,000 personnel in the army, air force, navy, and gendarmerie. The Senegal military force receives most of its training, equipment, and support from France and the United States. Germany also provides support but on a smaller scale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudanese Armed Forces</span> Combined military forces of Sudan

The Sudanese Armed Forces are the military forces of the Republic of the Sudan. In 2011, IISS estimated the forces' numbers at 109,300 personnel. The CIA estimates that, before the current war in Sudan broke out in 2023, the SAF may have had up to 200,000 personnel. In 2024, Al Jazeera reported that the SAF has around 300,000 personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brigade</span> Large military formation (3–6 battalions / 3–10 thousand troops)

A brigade is a major tactical military formation that typically comprises three to six battalions plus supporting elements. It is roughly equivalent to an enlarged or reinforced regiment. Two or more brigades may constitute a division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkish Land Forces</span> Turkish land armed forces

The Turkish Land Forces is the main branch of the Turkish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The army was formed on November 8, 1920, after the collapse of the Ottoman Empire. Significant campaigns since the foundation of the army include suppression of rebellions in Southeast Anatolia and East Anatolia from the 1920s to the present day, combat in the Korean War, the 1974 Turkish invasion of Cyprus and the current Turkish involvement in the Syrian civil war, as well as its NATO alliance against the USSR during the Cold War. The army holds the preeminent place within the armed forces. It is customary for the Chief of the General Staff of the Turkish Armed Forces to have been the Commander of the Turkish Land Forces prior to his appointment as Turkey's senior ranking officer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bastille Day military parade</span> Military parades held throughout France on 14 July

The Bastille Day military parade, also known as the 14 July military parade, translation of the French name of Défilé militaire du 14 juillet, is a French military parade that has been held on the morning of Bastille Day, 14 July, each year in Paris since 1880, almost without exception. The parade passes down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées from Place Charles de Gaulle, centred around the Arc de Triomphe, to the Place de la Concorde, where the President stands, along with members of the Government, figures from the legislative branch, the Mayor of Paris, as well as foreign ambassadors to France.

The Algerian Land Forces are the land forces of the Algerian People's National Army. The forces' equipment is mostly supplied by Russia and China.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moldovan Ground Forces</span> Military unit

The Moldovan Ground Forces, known officially as Land Forces Command is the land armed-forces branch of the National Army of the Moldovan Armed Forces. The Moldovan Ground Forces date back to the dissolution of the Soviet Union between 1991 and 1992. As of 2018 the Moldovan Ground Forces consists of around 4,000 personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Military beret</span> Berets as part of a military uniform

Troops began wearing berets as a part of the headgear of military uniforms in some European countries during the 19th century; since the mid-20th century, they have become a component of the uniforms of many armed forces throughout the world. Military berets are usually pushed to the right to free the shoulder that bears the rifle on most soldiers, but the armies of some countries, mostly within Europe, South America, and Asia, have influenced the push to the left.

Commandant is a military rank used in many - typically Francophone or Hispanophone - countries, where it is usually equivalent to the rank of major.

The Zambian Army is the land military branch of the Zambian Defence Force. Like all branches of the Zambian military, citizens of the nation are required to register at 16 years old, and citizens can join at 16 years old with parental consent or at 18 years old when they are classified as adults by Zambia. There is currently no conscription. Applicants must be Zambian citizens and must have a school Grade 12 certification. Applicants must also undergo a test for HIV on enlistment. Personnel can serve until age 55, when there is a mandatory retirement. Its first Commander Major General was Michael Grigg, appointed by Kenneth Kaunda. The first local Commander was Gen Kingsley Chinkuli. According to the 2014 CIA World Factbook: The current National Army Commander is Lieutenant General Geoffrey Choongo Zyeele and his deputy is Major General Luswepo Sinyinzawho who were both appointed by President Hakainder Hichilema on 12 September 2024.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 IISS (2012), p. 422
  2. Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.
  3. "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.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Jones & Ness 2010, p. 904.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 IISS 2024, p. 473.
  6. "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.
  7. Hounsou, Ludovic (June 2017). "Levée des indisponibilités de trois pelotons". Le Mirador. 1 (11): 23. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.