| Benin Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Forces Armées Béninoises | |
 Coat of arms of Benin | |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Service branches | Army Benin Navy  Benin Air Force 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] |
| Expenditures | |
| Budget | $US73 million (2011)[1] |
| Percent of GDP | 1% (2011)[1] |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |  United States  Russia  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]
History[edit]
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[edit]
Army[edit]
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:
- 1st Parachute Commando Battalion
- 1st Motorized Intervention Battalion
- 1st Armoured Group
- National Group of Firefighters
- 1st Combined Arms Battalion
- 2nd Combined Arms Battalion
- 3rd Combined Arms Battalion
- 7th Combined Arms Battalion
- 8th Combined Arms Battalion
- 1st Mixed Artillery Battalion
- 1st Engineer Battalion
- 1st Signal Battalion
- 1st Materiel Battalion
- 1st Train Battalion
- Headquarters Group
Air Force[edit]
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.
[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
Small arms[edit]
| Name | Image | Caliber | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | |||||
| TT-33[4] | 
|
9×19mm | Semi-automatic pistol |  Soviet Union
|
|
| Submachine guns | |||||
| MAT-49[4] | 
|
9×19mm | Submachine gun | France
|
|
| Rifles | |||||
| SKS[4] | 
|
7.62×39mm | Semi-automatic rifle | Soviet Union
|
|
| AK-47[4] | 
|
7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Soviet Union
| |
| AKM[4] | 
|
7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | Soviet Union
|
|
| MAS-49/56[4] | 
|
7.5×54mm | Semi-automatic rifle | France
|
|
| Machine guns | |||||
| RPD[4] | 
|
7.62×39mm | Light machine gun | Soviet Union
|
|
| RP-46[4] | 
|
7.62×54mmR | Light machine gun | Soviet Union
|
|
| FM 24/29[4] | 
|
7.5×54mm | Light machine gun | France
|
|
| AA-52[4] | 
|
7.62×51mm | General-purpose machine gun | France
|
|
| KPV[4] | 
|
14.5×114mm | Heavy machine gun | Soviet Union
|
|
| Browning M2 | 
|
.50 BMG | Heavy machine gun |  United States
|
M2HB variant used.[4] |
| Rocket propelled grenade launchers | |||||
| RPG-7[4] | 
|
40mm | Rocket-propelled grenade | Soviet Union
|
|
Artillery[edit]
| Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field artillery | |||||
| M101 | 
|
Howitzer | United States
|
4[5] | |
| L118 | 
|
Howitzer |  United Kingdom
|
12[5] | |
| PP-87[5] | 
|
Mortar |  China
|
81 mm mortar | |
| W-86[5] | Mortar | China
|
120 mm mortar | ||
Tanks[edit]
| Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT-76 | 
|
Light tank | Soviet Union
|
18 | Serviceability doubtful.[5] |
Armoured fighting vehicles[edit]
| Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRDM-2 | 
|
Scout car | Soviet Union
|
14[5] | |
| Panhard VBL | 
|
Scout car | France
|
10[5] | |
| Panhard AML-90 | 
|
Armoured car | France
|
3[5] | |
| M8 Greyhound | 
|
Armoured car | United States
|
7[5] | |
| M113 | 
|
Armoured personnel carrier | United States
|
22[5] | |
| ACMAT Bastion | 
|
Armoured personnel carrier | France
|
2[5] | |
| VAB | 
|
Armoured personnel carrier | France
|
15[5] | |
| Casspir NG | 
|
MRAP |  South Africa
|
10[5] | |
| Dongfeng Mengshi | 
|
MRAP | China
|
9[5] |
Bibliography[edit]
- International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). "Chapter Eight: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance. 124 (1). Taylor & Francis: 458–531. doi:10.1080/04597222.2024.2298597. ISSN 0459-7222. Retrieved 17 April 2024.
- Jones, Richard D.; Ness, Leland, eds. (2010). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2010-2011 (36th ed.). Janes Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2908-1.
References[edit]
- ^ a b c d e f IISS (2012), p. 422
- ^ Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Jones & Ness 2010, p. 904.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n IISS 2024, p. 473.
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.