Benin Armed Forces
| Benin Armed Forces | |
|---|---|
| Forces Armées Béninoises | |
| File:Flag of Benin Armed Forces (obverse).svg Flag of the Benin Armed Forces | |
| Founded | 1960 |
| Service branches | Army Navy File:Roundel of Benin.svg Air Force Republican Guard |
| 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] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | $US73 million (2011)[1] |
| Percent of GDP | 1% (2011)[1] |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers |  United StatesFile:Flag of Russia.svg Russia File:Flag of France.svg France File:Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg China File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa File:Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom |
| Related articles | |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Benin |
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The Benin Armed Forces (French: Forces Armées Béninoises; FAB) constitutes the army, navy, air force, and national gendarmerie of the Republic of Benin. For several years, the Belgian Armed Forces have had an active programme of co-operation with Benin, offering training and coaching, donating surplus military equipment, and conducting limited military exercises in the country.[2]
History
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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 | edit source]Army
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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 | edit source]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.
Navy
[edit | edit source]As of 2012, the navy had approximately 200 personnel. It operates two ex-Chinese patrol boats, which are designated the Matelot Brice Kpomasse class.[1]
Republican Guard
[edit | edit source]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 | edit source]Small arms
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Artillery
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Tanks
[edit | edit source]| Name | Image | Type | Origin | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT-76 | File:ParkPatriot2015part2-40.jpg | Light tank | File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union | 18 | Serviceability doubtful.[6] |
Armoured fighting vehicles
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Bibliography
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- Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
References
[edit | edit source]- ^ a b c d e f IISS (2012), p. 422
- ^ Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Jones & Ness 2010, p. 904.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m IISS 2024, p. 473.
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
- ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
External links
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- Paris and EU to deliver new armoured vehicles to Beninese army, Africa Intelligence, 13 September 2024 (requires free registration)