| Guyana Defence Force | |
| Motto: | "SERVICE"[1] |
| Founded: | 1 November 1965 (de facto) 22 May 1966 (de jure)[2] |
| Commander-In-Chief: | Mohamed Irfaan Ali |
| Commander-In-Chief Title: | Commander-in-Chief |
| Commander: | Omar Khan[3] |
| Commander Title: | Chief of Staff |
| Age: | 18 years of age |
| Conscription: | No |
| Active: | 3,400 (2023)[4] |
| Reserve: | 670 (2023) |
| Percent Gdp: | 1.69% (2018)[5] |
| History: | Rupununi Uprising Operation Uphold Democracy 2023 Guayana Esequiba crisis |
| Ranks: | Military ranks of Guyana |
The Guyana Defence Force (GDF) is the military of Guyana, established in 1965. It has military bases across the nation.[6] The Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Force is always the incumbent President of Guyana.[7] The branches include the Army, Air Force, and Coast Guard.
Although a small nation, recent petro wealth has destabilized the region, re-igniting border disputes inherited from the colonial period.
The nation of Guyana became independent in the 1960s, before that defense was the responsibility of the United Kingdom. A modest defense force for small country, is back-dropped by alliances with major regional players including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. Guyanese forces participated in the multinational 1994 mission to Hati.
The GDF was formed on 1 November 1965. Members of the new Defence Force were drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF), Special Service Unit (SSU), British Guiana Police Force (BGPF) and civilians. Training assistance was provided by British instructors.
A survey party sent by the Surinamese government, which at the time was still under Dutch colonial rule, was sent to the Tigri Area in late 1967 as part of Suriname's "Operation Grasshopper", prompting the GDF to confiscate their weapons and expel them from the territory on December 12.[8]
On January 2, 1969, the Rupununi uprising by native Pemon and Wapishana led by Valerie Hart, with reported support from Venezuela,[4] began with an attack against Lethem, the capital of the Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo region, resulting in the deaths of five police officers and two civilians and the destruction of Guyanese government buildings.[9] The rebels locked townsfolk in their homes, blocked airstrips in the area, and took Guyanese government officials into their custody.[10] [9] Guyanese forces mobilized from the nearest unblocked airstrip and in two days the insurrection was quelled, with many rebels fleeing into Venezuela and Brazil, with Hart fleeing to the former.[10] [11] Accusations of massacres by Guyanese forces of native Amerindians have been put forth, which the Guyanese government denied and the Guyanese government accused the rebels of being backed by Venezuela and attempting to cede themselves to Venezuela.[12] [9] In mid–August 1969, patrolling GDF forces discovered a Surinamese camp and partially completed airstrip in the Tigri Area. This discovery prompted the GDF to launch an operation on August 19, 1969 against the camp and airstrip, resulting in the expulsion of Surinamese forces from the area.
A platoon of GDF soldiers, part of a contingent of Caribbean Community troops, were involved in the 1994 US-led intervention Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.[13]
On 28 November 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Guyana announced that the United States military (1st SFAB) and the Guyana Defence Force would strengthen their military partnership.[14] This occurred during the 2023 Guyana–Venezuela crisis when its neighboring country, Venezuela, announced the annexation of the majority of Guyana's western territories via the 2023 Venezuelan referendum.[15] The GDF is multiple factors smaller than the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela and would have great difficulty defending itself from Venezuela without foreign support.
In the 2020s a major shift took place, the percent of GDP of defense decreased but there was a big increase in overall budget due to changes GDP.[16] From 1990 to 2020, non-inflation adjusted currency the defense increased went from 142 thousand to 16 billion.[17]
In early 2024, a plan was announced to procure more helicopters, a maritime defense vessel, and a drone.[18]
Three main roles exist for the GDF:
The GDF is an integral part of the Guyanese nation. Resources and equipment of the GDF are used to help other Guyanese; examples include medical mercy flights and the construction of roads and airstrips by the Engineering Corps.
Enlistment into the force is voluntary for officers and soldiers. Basic training is done within GDF training schools, which has also trained officers and soldiers from Commonwealth Caribbean territories. However, officers are trained at one of two British officer training schools: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Infantry Training) and Britannia Royal Naval College (Coast Guard Training).
The training and skills gained by the members of the GDF have been used when they move either into civilian life or into the sister military organizations, the Guyana National Reserve (now the Second Infantry Battalion Group Reserve) and formerly the Guyana National Service (disbanded in 2000) and the Guyana People's Militia.
In the 1980s, the Guyana Defence Force manned the Amawai, Roraima, Ireng, and Takutu sectors, while the Kutari Sector was manned by the then Guyana National Service. In 1988, these GDF battalions were merged to create the 1st Infantry Battalion, later known as the 1st Infantry Battalion Group. At that time, the Force had more resources, including human, financial, and materiel, compared to its current state. However, today, the amalgamated battalion faces significant challenges as it is now required to carry out the tasks previously handled by multiple units. This poses a considerable challenge, especially given the changing dynamics in the global environment, which are impacting the nation's security.[19]
The 31 Special Forces Squadron is a special forces group that is specialized in airborne, jungle and river warfare operations.
The Guyana Defence Force Band Corps is the official musical unit of the GDF whose role is to provide musical accompaniment for ceremonial functions of the GDF.[20] The members were drawn from the Rifle Companies and the defunct Volunteer Force and were brought out during regimental military parades. The Guyana Defence Force Steel Band would soon follow the main band's lead after its own establishment in 1970, three years after the original band was founded.[21]
The Medical Corps provides medical and dental care to all the members of the GDF and their immediate families. It often liaises with the Health ministry for medical procedures and protocol to be carried out effectively. The corps is situated in Base Camp Ayanganna which includes facilities such as a medical laboratory and a dental lab.[22]
See main article: Chief of Defence Staff (Guyana).
Much of the equipment belonging to Guyana are Cold War era weapons, with some World War II armaments still supplied. Guyana is a member of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. It maintains strong military relations with Brazil, with which it collaborates on border security through yearly regional military exchange gatherings. Moreover, the nation has bilateral pacts with China, France, and the USA. The GDF engages in regular training and participates in bilateral activities. Equipment is mostly composed of ex-Soviet and British weapons and vehicles. The air force has enhanced its limited air-transport capabilities with second-hand aircraft primarily from Brazilian and North American origins. With the exception of maintenance facilities, a defence-industrial sector does not exist.[23]
| Model | Image | Origin | Quantity | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reconnaissance | |||||
| EE-9 Cascavel | ~6 | only reported. | |||
| EE-11 Urutu | 24 | MkIII variant, unknown if functional | |||
| Model | Image | Origin | Calibre | Quantity | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Towed | |||||
| M-46 | 130mm | ~6 | |||
| Multiple rocket systems | |||||
| Type 63 | 107mm | 6 | |||
| Mortars | |||||
| L16A1 | 81mm | ~12 | |||
| M-43 | 82mm | ~18 | |||
| 120mm | ~18 | ||||
| Model | Image | Origin | Variant | Quantity | Acquired | Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCO | |||||||
| GDFS Essequibo | River-class minesweeper | ~1 | 2001 | Ship in poor condition[25] | |||
| Patrol boats | |||||||
| Barracuda | 44-foot motor lifeboat | ~4 | 2001 | ex-US Type-44. | |||
| GDFS 1033 & GDFS 1034 | 38 Defiant-class patrol vessels | 2 | 2017 | Commissioned in March, 2017.[26] [27] [28] | |||
| GDFS Berbice | 115 Defiant-class patrol vessels | 1 | 2023 | Incorporated in November 2023.[29] | |||
| GDFS Shahoud | 115 Defiant-class patrol vessels | 1 | 2024 | Commissioned in June, 2024.[30] | |||
| width=16% | Name | width=10% | Image | width=15% | Caliber | width=12% | Type | width=10% | Origin | width=28% | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | |||||||||||
| Walther PPK[31] | .32 ACP | Semi-automatic pistol | |||||||||
| Submachine guns | |||||||||||
| Sten | 9×19mm | Submachine gun | |||||||||
| Sterling | 9×19mm | Submachine gun | |||||||||
| Rifles | |||||||||||
| SKS | 7.62×39mm | Semi-automatic rifle | |||||||||
| AKM | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | |||||||||
| Type 63 | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | |||||||||
| Type 56 | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | |||||||||
| M16 | 5.56×45mm | Assault rifle | |||||||||
| FAMAS[32] | 5.56×45mm | Assault rifle | |||||||||
| Heckler & Koch G36 | 5.56×45mm | Assault rifle | |||||||||
| FN FAL | 7.62×51mm | Battle rifle | |||||||||
| Heckler & Koch G3 | 7.62×51mm | Battle rifle | |||||||||
| Machine guns | |||||||||||
| Bren | 7.62×51mm | Light machine gun | |||||||||
| FN Minimi | 5.56×45mm | Light machine gun | |||||||||
| FN MAG | 7.62×51mm | General-purpose machine gun | |||||||||
| AA-52 | General-purpose machine gun | ||||||||||
| Surface-to-air missiles | |||||||||||
| 9K32 Strela-2 | 72mm | Surface-to-air missile | 18 | ||||||||
| Rocket propelled grenade launchers | |||||||||||
| RPG-7 | 40mm | Rocket-propelled grenade | |||||||||
The Defence force air wing was formed in 1968 and was then renamed the Guyana Defence force air command in 1973. Seven Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander were delivered over a five-year period in the 1970s and then were supplemented by Short Skyvans series 3Ms in 1979. In 1986 3 Mil Mi-8 were delivered. The GDF currently operates 24 fixed-wing aircraft and 24 helicopters. Recently, the GDF had ordered two Dornier Do-228 aircraft from Indian Manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, which were delivered on 1 April 2024.[33] [34]
In early 2024, a plan was announced to among other things to buy some new helicopters.[35] One crashed in 2023, which, because only a few helicopters are operated represented a significant loss.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | ||||||
| utility | 1 | |||||
| Cessna 206 | utility | 1 | ||||
| HAL 228 | utility | HAL 228 | 2[36] [37] | Delivery aboard IAF C-17 aircraft. | ||
| Short Skyvan | utility | 2[38] | ||||
| VIP transport | 350 | 1[39] | ||||
| Harbin Y-12 | utility | 1 | ||||
| Helicopters | ||||||
| Bell 206 | utility | 1 | ||||
| Bell 412 | utility | 2 | 1 unit crashed on 6 December 2023 in the Esequibo region | |||
Previous notable aircraft operated by the Air Wing were the Cessna 182, Cessna 206, Embraer EMB 110, Helio Courier, Aérospatiale Alouette III, Bell 212, and the Mil Mi-8.[40]
The maritime branch was founded January 9, 1967, with the Guyanese Coast Guard founded in 1990, before this they were called the Buccaneers. Various light vessels were built or used through the 1970s and 80s, especially for customs, maritime, fisheries, and river patrol.[41]