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Benin Armed Forces
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
Expenditure
Budget	$US73 million (2011)
Percent of GDP	1% (2011)
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

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

Army

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

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.^[1]

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	Caliber	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistols
TT-33^[4]	7.62x25mm	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

Name	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

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
PT-76		Light tank	Soviet Union	18	Serviceability doubtful.^[5]

Armoured fighting vehicles

Name	Type	Origin	Quantity
BRDM-2	Scout car	Soviet Union	14^[5]
Panhard VBL	Scout car	France	10^[5]
Eland armoured car	Armoured car	South Africa	3^[6]^[7]
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

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.