Togolese Armed Forces

Last updated
Togolese Armed Forces
Forces Armées Togolaises
Emblem of Togo.svg
Togolese Coat of Arms
Service branchesTogolese Army
Togolese Air Force
Togolese Navy
Togolese National Gendarmerie
Leadership
Commander-in-chief President Faure Gnassingbé
Minister of Defense Essozimna Marguerite Gnakade
Chief of Defence StaffBrigadier General Dadja Maganawe
Personnel
Military age18 [1]
Available for
military service
1,577,572 [1] , age 15–49
Fit for
military service
1,104,536 [1] , age 15–49
Reaching military
age annually
74,036 [1]
Expenditures
Percent of GDP1.6% [1]
Industry
Foreign suppliers France
Russia
Related articles
Ranks Military ranks of Togo

The Togolese Armed Forces (French: Forces Armées Togolaises, FAT) is the national military of the Republic of Togo which consists of the Army, Navy, Air Force, and the National Gendarmerie. The total military expenditure during the fiscal year of 2005 was 1.6% of the country's GDP. [2] Military bases exist in Lomé, Temedja, Kara, Niamtougou, and Dapaong. [3] The current Chief of the General Staff is Brigadier General Dadja Maganawe, who took office on December 6, 2020. [4]

Contents

Army

The current chief of staff of the army is Colonel Blakimwé Wiyao Balli. [5] The elite presidential bodyguards of the Republic of Togo Armed Forces are reportedly trained by Benjamin Yeaten, an internationally wanted Liberian military commander and war criminal. [6] [7]

Equipment

Small arms

NameImageCaliberTypeOriginNotes
Pistols
TT-33 TT33.JPG 7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
MAC 50 [8] MAC-50 detoured.jpg 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of France.svg  France
Walther PP [8] 1972 Walther PP.jpg .25 ACP Semi-automatic pistol Flag of Germany.svg  Germany
Browning Hi-Power [8] FN Hi Power.jpg 9×19mm Semi-automatic pistol Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Manurhin MR 73 [9] Manurhin-MR-73.jpg .357 Magnum Revolver Flag of France.svg  France
Smith & Wesson Model 10 M&Prevolver.jpg .38 Special Revolver Flag of the United States (1896-1908).svg  United States
Sub-machine guns
Uzi [8] Uzi of the israeli armed forces.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of Israel.svg  Israel
MAT-49 [8] MAT Submachine Gun.jpg 9×19mm Submachine gun Flag of France.svg  France
Rifles
SKS [8] Simonov-SKS-45.JPG 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
AKM [8] AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armemuseum rightside noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
PM md. 63 [8] PMmd.1963.jpg 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Socialist Republic of Romania
Type 56 [8] Norinco sks-1 1.jpg 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Type 63 [8] Rifle Type 63 noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Type 56 [8] Type 56 mod02 noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg  China
Type 58 [8] North korea T58 ATF.jpg 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
Type 68 [8] AK-47.jpg 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Flag of North Korea.svg  North Korea
FAMAS [8] FAMAS dsc06877.jpg 5.56×45mm Bullpup
Assault rifle
Flag of France.svg  France
FN FAL [8] FN-FAL belgian.jpeg 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3 [8] H&K G3FS.jpg 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
SIG SG 540 [8] SG 540 Manurhin noBG.png 7.62×51mm Battle rifle Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
MAS-49/56 [10] MAS 49 56.JPG 7.5×54mm Semi-automatic rifle Flag of France.svg  France
MAS-36 [11] MAS Modele 36 right side.jpg 7.5×54mm Bolt-action rifle Flag of France.svg  France
Sniper rifles
PSL [8] Psl sniper rifle.jpeg 7.62×54mmR Designated marksman rifle Flag of Romania (1965-1989).svg  Socialist Republic of Romania
Steyr SSG 69 [8] Steyr SSG 69.jpg 7.62×51mm Sniper rifle Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
Machine guns
DShK [8] 12,7-mm stankovyi pulemiot DShK obraztsa 1938 goda.jpg 12.7×108mm Heavy machine gun Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
RP-46 [8] DM-ST-89-01130.JPEG 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
RPD [8] LMG-RPD-44 noBG.png 7.62×39mm Squad automatic weapon Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
PKM [8] 7,62 KK PKM Helsinki 2012 no background.JPG 7.62×54mmR General-purpose machine gun Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
KPV [12] Iraqi Police gun-carriage (cropped).jpg 14.5×114mm Heavy machine gun Flag of the USSR (1936-1955).svg  Soviet Union
FM 24/29 [8] LMG 24 29 2.JPG 7.5×54mm Light machine gun Flag of France.svg  France
FN MAG [8] FN MAG white background.jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun Flag of Belgium (civil).svg  Belgium
MG-3 [8] BundeswehrMG3.jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany
AA-52 [8] Mitrailleuse-IMG 1728.jpg 7.62×51mm General-purpose machine gun Flag of France.svg  France
Browning M2 [8] PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg .50 BMG Heavy machine gun Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Grenade launchers
RPG-7 [8] Rpg-7.jpg 40mm Rocket-propelled grenade Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union
LRAC F1 [13] LRAC F1-detoured-cropped.png 89mm Shoulder-launched missile weapon Flag of France.svg  France

Tanks

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
T-54/55 6765 - Moscow - Poklonnaya Hill - Tank.JPG Medium tank Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 4 [14] INS
FV101 Scorpion Alvis Scorpion Light Tank.jpg Light tank Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 12 [15] INS

Scout cars

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
Panhard VBL VBL, nouvelles couleurs Armee de Terre (14 juillet 2021) (1).jpg Scout car Flag of France.svg  France 2 [16] INS

Infantry fighting vehicles

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
BMP-2 Army2016demo-007.jpg Infantry fighting vehicle Flag of the Soviet Union.svg  Soviet Union 20 [14] INS

Armored personnel carriers

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
UR-416 UR-416 Policia Nacional.JPG Armored personnel carrier Flag of Germany.svg  West Germany 30 [14] INS
Panhard M3 PanhardM3.png Armored personnel carrier Flag of France.svg  France 5 [15] INS
FV104 Samaritan CVRT Samaritan ambulance van het Belgische leger, Erfgoeddag 2017 foto 5.JPG Armored ambulance Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1 [15] INS
FV105 Sultan Royal Army FV105 Sultan IFOR.jpg Armored personnel carrier Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1 [15] INS

Reconnaissance

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
Panhard AML AML-90 DM-SC-91-12078.JPEG Armored car Flag of France.svg  France 10 [14] INS7 AML-90 and 3 AML-60

Recovery vehicles

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
FV106 Samson Samson CVR(T) ARV.jpg Armoured recovery vehicle Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom 1 [15] INS

Utility vehicles

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
Panhard TC-54 Salon du Bourget 20090619 043.jpg Heavy truck Flag of France.svg  France 110 [14] INS

Artillery

NameImageTypeOriginQuantityStatusNotes
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 (1912-1959).svg  United States 4 [14] INS

Air Force

Air Force roundel Roundel of Togo.svg
Air Force roundel

The Republic of Togo Air Force (French: Armée de l'Air Republic of Togo) was established in 1964, and French influence remains in the choice of aircraft used. Since 2020, the air force's chief of staff is Colonel Tassounti Djato. [17] The C-47 Skytrain was the first aircraft used; it was part of the force from 1960 to 1976. Replacing the C-47s were two DHC-5D Buffalo STOL transports in 1976. Also in the same year, Togo acquired five ex-German Air Force Fouga Magister armed jet trainers and seven EMB.326GBs from Brazil to form the Escadrille de Chasse. Togo's armed jet trainer fleet was upgraded in 1981 by the deliveries of five Alpha jets and by three piston engine Aerospatiale TB-30 Epsilons in 1986. The Fouga Magisters were returned to France in 1985.


During its existence the official name changed from Section Air der Forces armées in 1964 to Escadrille Nationale D Togolaise (ENT) in 1973, to Groupement Aerienne Togolais (GAT) in 1980, and finally to Armée de l'Air Togolaise in 1997. [18]

At present its operations are concentrated in the Lomé Transport Base at Lomé Tokoin Airport, where the transport aircraft are based, and the Niamtougou Fighter Base at Niamtougou International Airport, where the combat units are located. [19] [20]

It acquired the Bayraktar TB2 UCAV from Turkish company Baykar in August 2022.

Aircraft

Current inventory

An Alouette III with the national flag beneath Aerospatiale Alouette II 5V-MCK.jpg
An Alouette III with the national flag beneath
AircraftOriginTypeVariantIn serviceNotes
Transport
Super King Air United States utility / transport 200 2 [21]
Helicopters
Aérospatiale Gazelle France scout / anti-armor SA341 2 [21]
Trainer aircraft
Alpha Jet France trainer / light attack5 [21]
Socata TB 30 France basic trainer2 [21]
Aermacchi MB-326 Italy trainer / light attack6 [21]

The National Navy was created on May 1, 1976, to guard the roughly 34 miles (55 km) of Republic of Togo coast and the seaport of Lomé. It currently has 2 wooden-hulled patrol boats, the Kara (P 761), and the Mono (P 762), which have both been in service since 1976. [22] [23] On 7 July 2014, the Republic of Togo navy received a RPB 33 patrol boat that was named Agou (P 763). [24] Currently, the navy's chief of staff is ship captain Atiogbé Ametsipe. [25]

Equipment

VesselOriginTypeIn serviceNotes
Kara (P 761) France Patrol boat 1Kara Patrol class
Mono (P 762)France Patrol boat 1Kara Patrol class
Agou (P 763)France Patrol boat 1RPB 33 class [26]
unknown nameFrance Patrol boat 1RPB 33 class [26]
unknown names United States Patrol boat 3 Defender-class boat [27]

Related Research Articles

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