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]
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.
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.
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.
Vehicle | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RG-31 Nyala | Armoured vehicles | Mk5E | 7 [8] | 7 delivered in the 1990s |
Weapon | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armalite AR-18 [9] | Assault rifle | AR-180 | Unknown | ||
IMI Galil [10] | Assault rifle | Unknown | Unknown | ||
SIG SG 540 [10] | Assault rifle | Unknown | Unknown | ||
FN FAL [10] | Battle rifle | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Sterling submachine gun [10] | Submachine gun | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Uzi [10] | Submachine gun | Unknown | Unknown | ||
FN MAG [10] [11] | General-purpose machine gun | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
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]
Aircraft | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAI Arava | Cargo plane | IAI 202 | 0 [15] | 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004 | |
Canadair Global Express | Passenger plane | BD-700-1A10 | 1 [16] | 1 delivered, currently used as a troop transport | |
Cessna 337 Super Skymaster | Passenger plane | 1 [16] | 1 delivered, currently used as a medical transport | ||
Learjet 35 | Passenger plane | 1 [17] | 1 delivered, currently used as a troop transport | ||
Piper PA-28 Cherokee | Passenger plane | PA-28-140 | 1 [16] | 1 delivered, currently used for land surveying | |
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 | Passenger plane | DC-87 | 1 [18] | 1 delivered, currently used by government officials | |
Aérospatiale Alouette III | Utility helicopter | SA-316B | 3 [8] | 3 donated to Swaziland in 2000 [19] |
Aircraft | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAI Arava | Cargo plane | IAI 202 | 0 [15] | 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004 | |
Douglas DC-3 | Cargo plane | 0 [20] |
The army, called the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), is the main component of Swaziland's military. [21]
Due to Swaziland being landlocked, the country does not maintain a navy. [21]
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