| Benin Armed Forces | |
| Native Name: | French: Forces Armées Béninoises |
| Founded: | 1960 |
| Branches: | Army Benin Navy Benin Air Force National Gendarmerie |
| Commander-In-Chief: | Patrice Talon |
| Commander-In-Chief Title: | Commander-in-Chief |
| Minister: | Yarou Robert Theophile |
| Minister Title: | Minister of Defence |
| Commander: | Fructueux Gbaguidi |
| Commander Title: | Chief of the Defence Staff |
| Conscription: | No |
| Active: | 4,750 |
| Amount: | $US73 million (2011) |
| Percent Gdp: | 1% (2011) |
| Foreign Suppliers: |  United States Russia  France |
| Ranks: | Military ranks of Benin |
The Benin Armed Forces (fr|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.[1]
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.[2]
, 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. The army has the following units:
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.
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.
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.
| width=16% | Name | width=10% | Image | width=15% | Caliber | width=12% | Type | width=10% | Origin | width=28% | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | |||||||||||
| TT-33 | 7.62x25mm | Semi-automatic pistol | |||||||||
| Submachine guns | |||||||||||
| MAT-49 | 9×19mm | Submachine gun | |||||||||
| Rifles | |||||||||||
| SKS | 7.62×39mm | Semi-automatic rifle | |||||||||
| AK-47 | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | |||||||||
| AKM | 7.62×39mm | Assault rifle | |||||||||
| MAS-49/56 | 7.5×54mm | Semi-automatic rifle | |||||||||
| Machine guns | |||||||||||
| RPD | 7.62×39mm | Light machine gun | |||||||||
| RP-46 | 7.62×54mmR | Light machine gun | |||||||||
| FM 24/29 | 7.5×54mm | Light machine gun | |||||||||
| AA-52 | 7.62×51mm | General-purpose machine gun | |||||||||
| KPV | 14.5×114mm | Heavy machine gun | |||||||||
| Browning M2 | .50 BMG | Heavy machine gun | M2HB variant used. | ||||||||
| Rocket propelled grenade launchers | |||||||||||
| RPG-7 | 40mm | Rocket-propelled grenade | |||||||||
| width=14% | Name | width=20% | Image | width=14% | Type | width=12% | Origin | width=10% | Quantity | width=24% | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Field artillery | |||||||||||
| M101 | Howitzer | 4 | |||||||||
| L118 | Howitzer | 12 | |||||||||
| PP-87 | Mortar | 81 mm mortar | |||||||||
| W-86 | Mortar | 120 mm mortar | |||||||||
| width=14% | Name | width=20% | Image | width=14% | Type | width=12% | Origin | width=10% | Quantity | width=24% | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PT-76 | Light tank | 18 | Serviceability doubtful. |
| width=14% | Name | width=20% | Image | width=14% | Type | width=12% | Origin | width=10% | Quantity | width=24% | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRDM-2 | Scout car | 14 | |||||||||
| Panhard VBL | Scout car | 10 | |||||||||
| Eland armoured car | Armoured car | 3[4] [5] | |||||||||
| M8 Greyhound | Armoured car | 7 | |||||||||
| M113 | 22 | ||||||||||
| ACMAT Bastion | 2 | ||||||||||
| VAB | 15 | ||||||||||
| Casspir NG | 10 | ||||||||||
| Dongfeng Mengshi | MRAP | 9 | |||||||||