Military of Swaziland

Last updated
Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force
Founded June 1979
Leadership
Commander-in-Chief King Mswati III
Commander Major General Stanley Dlamini
Manpower
Military age 18-30 [note 1]
Conscription No
Available for
military service
344,038, age 18–49 (2010 est.)
Fit for
military service
201,853 males, age 18–49 (2010 est.),
175,477 females, age 18–49 (2010 est.)
Reaching military
age annually
16,168 males (2010 est.),
15,763 females (2010 est.)
Active personnel 3000+
Reserve personnel 0
Deployed personnel 0
Expenditures
Budget $115 million (2011 est.) [1]
Percent of GDP 3.0% of GDP (2011 est.) [1]

The Military of Swaziland (Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force) is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties; the force has never been involved in a foreign conflict. [2] The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping. [3]

HIV human retrovirus, cause of AIDS

The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) are two species of Lentivirus that causes HIV infection and over time acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). AIDS is a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive. Without treatment, average survival time after infection with HIV is estimated to be 9 to 11 years, depending on the HIV subtype. In most cases, HIV is a sexually transmitted infection and occurs by contact with or transfer of blood, pre-ejaculate, semen, and vaginal fluids. Non-sexual transmission can occur from an infected mother to her infant during pregnancy, during childbirth by exposure to her blood or vaginal fluid, and through breast milk. Within these bodily fluids, HIV is present as both free virus particles and virus within infected immune cells.

Contents

The USDF replaced the Royal Swaziland Defence Force, which was created in 1973 to replace the role of the British Army following independence in 1968.

British Army land warfare branch of the British Armed Forces of the United Kingdom

The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of British Armed Forces. As of 2018, the British Army comprises just over 81,500 trained regular (full-time) personnel and just over 27,000 trained reserve (part-time) personnel.

The King is the Commander-in-Chief of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), and the substantive Minister of the Ministry of Defence. [4] However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government. [5]

There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for inter alia advising the King on all matters pertaining to the USDF. [5] The USDF is commanded by Major General Stanley Dlamini; the deputy commander is Brigadier General Patrick Motsa, [6] and the formation commander is Brigadier General Jeffry S. Tshabalala. [7]

Major-General Stanley S. Dlamini is the commander of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF). He has held this post since August 2000. He originally joined the USDF in the spring of 1977.

Patrick Motsa is the deputy commander of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF). He was appointed to this post in 2000; he was previously Director of Army Staff. He joined the USDF in 1973.

Equipment

Swaziland Army officers. Rangers in Action 22-African Land Forces Summit-US Army Africa-13 MAY 2010.jpg
Swaziland Army officers.

Armoured Personnel Carriers

VehicleCountry of originTypeVersionsIn serviceNotes
RG-31 Nyala Flag of South Africa.svg  South Africa Armoured vehicles Mk5E7 [8] 7 delivered in the 1990s

Weapons

WeaponCountry of originTypeVersionsIn serviceNotes
Armalite AR-18 [9] Flag of the United States.svg  United States Assault rifle AR-180Unknown
IMI Galil [10] Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Assault rifle UnknownUnknown
SIG SG 540 [10] Flag of Switzerland.svg   Switzerland Assault rifle UnknownUnknown
FN FAL [10] Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium Battle rifle UnknownUnknown
Sterling submachine gun [10] Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom Submachine gun UnknownUnknown
Uzi [10] Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Submachine gun UnknownUnknown
FN MAG [10] [11] Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium General-purpose machine gun UnknownUnknownUnknown

Branches

Air Force

An IAI Arava of the Swazi military air wing at Pretoria AFB Waterkloof (October 1995). This airframe was written off in the 2004 accident. Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing IAI Arava.jpg
An IAI Arava of the Swazi military air wing at Pretoria AFB Waterkloof (October 1995). This airframe was written off in the 2004 accident.

Swaziland maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF). [12] The air wing is mainly used for transporting the King as well as cargo, and personnel; surveying land with search and rescue functions, and mobilizing in case of a national emergency. [13]

Both Arava 201 have crashed; the first was on a demo flight in the 1980s, leaving both pilots dead. [14] The second was lost in 2004, after bad weather caused the pilots to miss the runway and crash into a sugar cane field. Although no injuries were reported, the incident left the air force temporarily crippled. [2]

AircraftCountry of originTypeVersionsIn serviceNotes
IAI Arava Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Cargo plane IAI 2020 [15] 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004
Canadair Global Express Flag of Canada.svg  Canada Passenger planeBD-700-1A101 [16] 1 delivered, currently used as a troop transport
Cessna 337 Super Skymaster Flag of the United States.svg  United States Passenger plane1 [16] 1 delivered, currently used as a medical transport
Learjet 35 Flag of the United States.svg  United States Passenger plane1 [17] 1 delivered, currently used as a troop transport
Piper PA-28 Cherokee Flag of the United States.svg  United States Passenger planePA-28-1401 [16] 1 delivered, currently used for land surveying
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 Flag of the United States.svg  United States Passenger planeDC-871 [18] 1 delivered, currently used by government officials
Aérospatiale Alouette III Flag of France.svg  France Utility helicopter SA-316B3 [8] 3 donated to Swaziland in 2000 [19]

Retired inventory

AircraftCountry of originTypeVersionsIn serviceNotes
IAI Arava Flag of Israel.svg  Israel Cargo plane IAI 2020 [15] 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004
Douglas DC-3 Flag of the United States.svg  United States Cargo plane 0 [20]

Army

The army, called the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), is the main component of Swaziland's military. [21]

Facilities

  • Nsingizini Army Barracks
  • Mbuluzi Barracks
  • Mdzimba Mountain Barracks
  • Phocweni Barracks
  • Etjeni Barracks
  • Zombodze Barracks

Units

  • Ludlukhala Regiment
  • Lindimpi Regiment (watchman/guard)
  • Gcina Regiment

Due to Swaziland being landlocked, the country does not maintain a navy. [21]

Commanders

Sources

PD-icon.svg This article incorporates  public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2010 edition" .

Notes

  1. Compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted

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