| Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force | |
| Founded: | June 1979 |
| Branches: | Army Air Force |
| Commander-In-Chief: | King Mswati III |
| Commander-In-Chief Title: | Commander-in-chief |
| Chief Minister: | Russell Dlamini |
| Chief Minister Title: | Prime Minister |
| Minister: | Prince Sicalo Nkopolo Dlamini |
| Minister Title: | Defense Principal Secretary |
| Commander: | Lieutenant General Hulumende Mashikilisane Fakudze |
| Commander Title: | Commander |
| Age: | 18-30[1] |
| Conscription: | No |
| Manpower Data: | 2010 est. |
| Manpower Age: | 18–49 |
| Available: | 344,038 |
| Fit: | 201,853 |
| Fit F: | 175,477 |
| Reaching: | 16,168 |
| Reaching F: | 15,763 |
| Active: | 3,000+ |
| Reserve: | 0 |
| Deployed: | 0 |
| Amount: | $115 million (2011 est.)[2] |
| Percent Gdp: | 3.0% of GDP (2011 est.) |
| Ranks: | Military ranks of Eswatini |
The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) is the military of the Southern African Kingdom of Eswatini (Swaziland). It is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties; the force has never been involved in a foreign conflict. The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.[3]
The UEDF replaced the Royal Swaziland Defence Force, which was created in 1973 to replace the role of the British Army following independence in 1968.
The King of Eswatini is the commander-in-chief of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, and the substantive minister of defence.[4] However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government.[5]
There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for advising the King on all matters pertaining to the UEDF.[5] The UEDF is commanded by Major General Stanley Dlamini; the deputy commander is Brigadier General Patrick Motsa,[6] and the formation commander is Lieutenant General Hulumende M. Fakudze.[7]
| Weapon | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armalite AR-18[9] |  United States | Assault rifle | AR-180 | Unknown | ||
| INSAS rifle |  India | Assault rifle | Yes | |||
| IMI Galil |  Israel | Assault rifle | Unknown | Yes | ||
| SIG SG 540 |  Switzerland | Assault rifle | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| FN FAL[10] |  Belgium | Battle rifle | Unknown | Yes | ||
| Sterling submachine gun |  United Kingdom | Submachine gun | Unknown | Unknown | ||
| Uzi | Israel | Submachine gun | Unknown | Yes | ||
| FN MAG[11] | Belgium | General-purpose machine gun | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Eswatini maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.[12] The air wing is mainly used for transporting the King as well as cargo, and personnel; surveying land with search and rescue functions, and mobilising in case of a national emergency.[13] Both Arava 201s have crashed; the first was on a demo flight in the 1980s, leaving both pilots dead.[14] The second was lost in 2004, after bad weather caused the flight crew led by pilot army colonel Micheal Ranft to fail to unlock the flight controls lock pin. This caused the plane to crash into a sugar cane field after failing to rotate. Although no injuries were reported, the incident left the air force temporarily crippled.[15]
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopter | ||||||
| Aérospatiale Alouette III | France | utility | 3[16] | |||
| Bell UH-1 | United States | utility | UH-1H | 2 | donated by the Government of Taiwan[17] | |
| Aircraft | Country of origin | Type | Versions | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IAI Arava | Israel | Cargo plane | IAI 202[18] | 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004 | |
| Douglas DC-3 | United States | Cargo plane |
The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.[19]
Due to Eswatini being landlocked, the country does not maintain a navy.[19]
| Photo | Name | Term of office | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Took office | Left office | Time in office | |||||
| 1 | Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini | 15 March 1973 | 10 October 1973 | [20] | |||
| 2 | Major general Prince Maphevu Dlamini | 10 October 1973 | 25 October 1979 † | ||||
| 3 | Colonel Jameson Ndzimandze | 12 February 1981 | 8 June 1984 | [21] [22] | |||
| 4 | Brigadier Roy Gedion Fonono Dube | 8 June 1984 | August 2000 | ||||
| 5 | Lieutenant general Stanley Dlamini | August 2000 | 29 June 2019 | [23] [24] | |||
| 6 | Lieutenant general Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala | 29 June 2019 | 22 April 2022 | [25] | |||
| – | Lieutenant general Hulumende Mashikilisane Fakudze | 22 April 2022 | Incumbent | [26] | |||