Benin Armed Forces

The Benin Armed Forces (Template:Langx; 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.<ref>Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.</ref>

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.Template:Fact

The national gendarmerie no longer exists since 2018. It has been merged with the national police.<ref name="Dec41">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Branches

Army

Template:As of, the Army had a strength of 4,300.<ref name="IISS_2012_422">IISS (2012), p. 422</ref> It includes 1 armoured squadron, 3 infantry battalions, 1 commando/airborne battalion, 1 artillery battery, and 1 engineer battalion, and 1 National Fire Brigade.<ref name=IISS_2012_422 /> 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 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

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.<ref name="IISS_2012_422" />

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-33Template:Sfn	File:TT33.JPG	7.62x25mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Template:URS
Submachine guns
MAT-49Template:Sfn	File:MAT Submachine Gun.jpg	9×19mm	Submachine gun	Template:Flag
Rifles
SKSTemplate:Sfn	File:Simonov-SKS-45.JPG	7.62×39mm	Semi-automatic rifle	Template:Flag
AK-47Template:Sfn	File:AK-47 assault rifle.jpg	7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Template:URS
AKMTemplate:Sfn	File:AKM automatkarbin Ryssland - 7,62x39mm - Armémuseum rightside noBG.png	7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Template:Flag
MAS-49/56Template:Sfn	File:MAS 49 56.JPG	7.5×54mm	Semi-automatic rifle	Template:Flag
Machine guns
RPDTemplate:Sfn	File:LMG-RPD-44 noBG.png	7.62×39mm	Light machine gun	Template:URS
RP-46Template:Sfn	File:DM-ST-89-01130.JPEG	7.62×54mmR	Light machine gun	Template:URS
FM 24/29Template:Sfn	File:LMG 24 29 2.JPG	7.5×54mm	Light machine gun	Template:Flag
AA-52Template:Sfn	File:Mitrailleuse-IMG 1728.jpg	7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	Template:Flag
KPVTemplate:Sfn	File:Iraqi Police gun-carriage (cropped).jpg	14.5×114mm	Heavy machine gun	Template:URS
Browning M2	File:PEO Browning M2E2 QCB (c1).jpg	.50 BMG	Heavy machine gun	Template:US	M2HB variant used.Template:Sfn
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7Template:Sfn	File:Rpg-7.jpg	40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Template:Flag

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Field artillery
M101	File:JGSDF 105mm Howitzer M2A1(Type 58 105mm Howitzer) left front view at Camp Nihonbara October 1, 2017.jpg	Howitzer	Template:US	4Template:Sfn
L118	File:M119a trimmed.jpg	Howitzer	Template:Flag	12Template:Sfn
PP-87Template:Sfn	File:Zagan 82 mm moździerz wz 37.jpg	Mortar	Template:CHN		81 mm mortar
W-86Template:Sfn		Mortar	Template:CHN		120 mm mortar

Tanks

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
PT-76	File:ParkPatriot2015part2-40.jpg	Light tank	Template:URS	18	Serviceability doubtful.Template:Sfn

Armoured fighting vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
BRDM-2	File:BRDM-2 (1964) owned by James Stewart pic7.JPG	Scout car	Template:Flag	14Template:Sfn
Panhard VBL	File:Panhard VBL (Vèhicule Blindé Legér), French army licence registration '6924 0057' pic2.JPG	Scout car	{{#invoke:flag	France}}	10Template:Sfn
Eland armoured car	File:Noddymain.png	Armoured car	Template:Flag	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Mirador">Template:Cite journal</ref>
M8 Greyhound	File:Light Armored Car M8 Greyhound, Army registration number USA 603332 pic2.JPG	Armoured car	Template:US	7Template:Sfn
M113	File:US M113 in Samarra Iraq.jpg	Armoured personnel carrier	Template:US	22Template:Sfn
ACMAT Bastion	File:MINUSMA Goundam 2015.jpg	Armoured personnel carrier	Template:Flag	2Template:Sfn
VAB	File:French VAB APC during Operation Desert Shield.JPEG	Armoured personnel carrier	Template:Flag	15Template:Sfn
Casspir NG	File:Mechem Casspir Mk II (9686200019).jpg	MRAP	Template:Flag	10Template:Sfn
Dongfeng Mengshi	File:Dongfeng EQ2050 Xiamen 01 2019-10-25.jpg	MRAP	Template:CHN	9Template:Sfn

Bibliography

• Template:Cite journal
• Template:Cite book

External links

• Paris and EU to deliver new armoured vehicles to Beninese army, Africa Intelligence, 13 September 2024 (requires free registration)