The Benin Armed Forces (; 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.Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.
History
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.
The national gendarmerie no longer exists since 2018. It has been merged with the national police.
Branches
Army
, the army had a strength of 4,300.IISS (2012), p. 422 It includes 1 armoured squadron, 3 infantry battalions, 1 commando/airborne battalion, 1 artillery battery, and 1 engineer battalion, and 1 National Fire Brigade. 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
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.
Navy As of 2012, the navy had approximately 200 personnel. It operates two ex-Chinese patrol boats, which are designated the Matelot Brice Kpomasse class.
Republican Guard 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 Small arms Name Image Caliber Type Origin Notes Pistols TT-30/33 7.62×25mm Semi-automatic pistol Submachine guns MAT-49 9×19mm SMG Rifles AK 7.62×39mm Assault rifle AKM 7.62×39mm Assault rifle Type 56 7.62x39mm Assault rifle Type 81 7.62×39mm Assault rifle M16 5.56×45mm Assault rifle SKS 7.62×39mm Semi-automatic rifle MAS-49/56 7.5×54mm Semi-automatic rifle Shotguns Remington Model 1100McManners, Hugh (2003). Ultimate Special Forces. DK Publishing, Inc. . .410 bore Semi-automatic shotgun Machine guns FM 24/29 7.5×54mm LMG RP-46 7.62×54mmR LMG RPD 7.62×39mm LMG AA-52 7.62×51mm GPMG M240G 7.62×51mm GPMG KPV 14.5×114mm HMG Browning M2 .50 BMG HMG Rocket propelled grenade launchers RPG-7 40mm RPG Grenade launchers LRAC F1 83mm Shoulder-launched missile weapon
Tanks Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes PT-76 Amphibious Light tank 18 Delivered by Soviet Union from 1982
Scout cars Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes BRDM-2 Amphibious Scout car 14 MBTS Cayman Scout car 9 Eland-90 Armored car Scout car 3 Panhard VBL Scout car 10 Delivered by France from 1986 M8 Greyhound Armored car Scout car 7
Armored personnel carriers Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes M113 Armoured personnel carrier 22 ACMAT Bastion Armoured personnel carrier 2 VAB Armoured personnel carrier 15
Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes Casspir NG MRAP 10
Artillery Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes Mortars MO-81-61 Mortar Unknown W-86 Mortar Unknown Field artillery L118 Howitzer 12 M101A1 Howitzer 4
Man-portable air-defense systems Name Image Type Origin Quantity Notes 9K32 Strela-2 MANPADS
Bibliography
References
External links
Paris and EU to deliver new armoured vehicles to Beninese army, Africa Intelligence, 13 September 2024 (requires free registration)