Benin Armed Forces

From Wikipedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Infobox national military

The Benin Armed Forces (Template:Langx; FAB) constitutes the army, navy, air force, and republican guard 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.[1]

History

[edit | edit source]
File:Blue helmets from Benin, Bamako, 30 May 2018.jpg
Beninese peacekeepers, part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali, 2018

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.[2]

Branches

[edit | edit source]

Army

[edit | edit source]
File:3rd Company, Beninese Army soldier on range at Bembèrèkè 2009-06-12.JPG
Beninese Army soldier on range at Bembèrèkè, 2012
File:AFRICOM Commander visits Benin leaders (9330421).jpg
A Beninese military honor guard, 2025

As of 2012, the army had a strength of 4,300.[3] It includes 1 armoured squadron, 3 infantry battalions, 1 commando/airborne battalion, 1 artillery battery, and 1 engineer battalion, and 1 National Fire Brigade.[3] 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]
Main article: Benin Air Force

After achieving independence from France in 1960, the Benin Air Force was 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 | 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.[3]

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

[edit | edit source]
Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes
Pistols
TT-30/33[4] File:TT33.JPG 7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936–1955).svg Soviet Union
Submachine guns
MAT-49[5] File:MAT Submachine Gun.jpg 9×19mm SMG Template:Country data French Fourth Republic
Rifles
AK[6] File:AK-47 type II noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936–1955).svg Soviet Union
AKM[5] File:AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armémuseum rightside noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union
Type 56 File:Beninese Army soldier racks his AK-47 at Bembèrèkè 2009-06-16.jpg 7.62x39mm Assault rifle Error creating thumbnail:  China
Type 81[7] File:Canadian civilian version of Type 81 automatic rifle noBG.png 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Error creating thumbnail:  China
M16 File:2nd Company, Beninese Army soldier on range at Bembèrèkè 2009-06-13.JPG 5.56×45mm Assault rifle  United States
SKS[5] File:Simonov-SKS-45.JPG 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936–1955).svg Soviet Union
MAS-49/56[4] File:MAS 49 56.JPG 7.5×54mm Semi-automatic rifle Template:Country data French Fourth Republic
Shotguns
Remington Model 1100[8] File:Remington 1100 Tactical 8 Rounds.jpg .410 bore Semi-automatic shotgun  United States
Machine guns
FM 24/29[4] File:LMG 24 29 2.JPG 7.5×54mm LMG Template:Country data French Third Republic
RP-46[4] File:DM-ST-89-01130.JPEG 7.62×54mmR LMG File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936–1955).svg Soviet Union
RPD[5] File:LMG-RPD-44 noBG.png 7.62×39mm LMG File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936–1955).svg Soviet Union
AA-52[4] File:Porte ouverte 18RT-15 juin 2009 arme militaire03.jpg 7.62×51mm GPMG Template:Country data French Fourth Republic
M240G File:USMC-090616-M-3107S-0334.jpg 7.62×51mm GPMG  United States
KPV[9] File:Iraqi Police gun-carriage (cropped).jpg 14.5×114mm HMG File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936–1955).svg Soviet Union
Browning M2[5] File:PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg .50 BMG HMG File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7[5] File:RPG-7 detached.jpg 40mm RPG File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union
Grenade launchers
LRAC F1[10] File:LRAC F1-detoured-cropped.png 83mm Shoulder-launched missile weapon File:Flag of France.svg France

Tanks

[edit | edit source]
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes
PT-76[11] File:ParkPatriot2015part2-40.jpg Amphibious Light tank File:Flag of the Soviet Union (1936–1955).svg Soviet Union 18 Delivered by Soviet Union from 1982

Scout cars

[edit | edit source]
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes
BRDM-2[11] File:BRDM-2 (1964) owned by James Stewart pic8.JPG Amphibious Scout car File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union 14
MBTS Cayman[12][13] File:Предсерийный "Кайман".jpg Scout car Error creating thumbnail:  Belarus 9
Eland-90[14][15] File:Noddymain.png Armored car Scout car File:Flag of South Africa (1928–1994).svg South Africa 3
Panhard VBL[11] File:VBL, nouvelles couleurs Armée de Terre (14 juillet 2021) (1).jpg Scout car File:Flag of France.svg France 10 Delivered by France from 1986
M8 Greyhound[11] File:Izvidniško oklepno vozilo M8 Greyhound.JPG Armored car Scout car File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States 7

Armored personnel carriers

[edit | edit source]
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes
M113[11] File:Blindado M113 (Ejército brasileño) en.jpg Armoured personnel carrier  United States 22
ACMAT Bastion[11] File:MINUSMA Goundam 2015.jpg Armoured personnel carrier File:Flag of France.svg France 2
VAB[11] File:French VAB APC during Operation Desert Shield.JPEG Armoured personnel carrier File:Flag of France.svg France 15

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

[edit | edit source]
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes
Casspir NG[11] File:Mechem Casspir Mk II (9686200019).jpg MRAP File:Flag of South Africa.svg South Africa 10

Artillery

[edit | edit source]
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes
Mortars
MO-81-61[16] File:Mortier 81 LLR 01.jpg Mortar File:Flag of France.svg France Unknown
W-86[11] Mortar Error creating thumbnail:  China Unknown
Field artillery
L118[11] File:M119a trimmed.jpg Howitzer  United Kingdom 12
M101A1[11] File:JGSDF 105mm Howitzer M2A1(Type 58 105mm Howitzer) left front view at Camp Nihonbara October 1, 2017.jpg Howitzer File:Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States 4

Man-portable air-defense systems

[edit | edit source]
Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes
9K32 Strela-2 File:SA-7.jpg MANPADS File:Flag of the Soviet Union.svg Soviet Union

Bibliography

[edit | edit source]
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (2024). "Chapter Eight: Sub-Saharan Africa". The Military Balance. Taylor & Francis. 124 (1): 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 | edit source]
  1. ↑ Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.
  2. ↑ "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.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 IISS (2012), p. 422
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Jones & Ness 2010, p. 904.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 Jones, Richard D., ed. (27 January 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
  6. ↑ Jurado, Carlos Caballero (1990). Central American Wars 1959–89. Men-at-Arms 221. London: Osprey Publishing. pp. 20, 45. ISBN 9780850459456.
  7. ↑ "Benin Infantry Arms List (Current and Former Types)".
  8. ↑ McManners, Hugh (2003). Ultimate Special Forces. DK Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0-7894-9973-8.
  9. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Benin". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 948.
  10. ↑ Shea, Dan (February 2010). "LRAC F1: 89mm Shoulder Fired Launcher". Small Arms Review. Vol. 13 no. 5. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
  11. ↑ 11.00 11.01 11.02 11.03 11.04 11.05 11.06 11.07 11.08 11.09 11.10 IISS 2024, p. 473.
  12. ↑ "Санкции в действии: ремонтный завод в Борисове не может выпускать броневики «Кайман»". charter97.org (in Russian). Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  13. ↑ REFORM.news (14 August 2025). "На параде в Бенине показали беларусские бронемашины «Кайман»". REFORM.news (ранее REFORM.by) (in Russian). Retrieved 8 February 2026.
  14. ↑ "DIO blindé au Bénin". Cotonou: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. 7 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Hounsou, Ludovic (June 2017). "Levée des indisponibilités de trois pelotons". Le Mirador. 1 (11): 23. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.
  16. ↑ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Benin". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 949.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook website https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/.

[edit | edit source]

Template:Benin topics Template:Military of Africa

Retrieved from "https://wiki.tachyony.co.uk/w/index.php?title=Benin_Armed_Forces&oldid=63619"