| His Majesty's Armed Forces | |
| Motto: | ("Land and Sea") |
| Founded: | 1939 |
| Current Form: | 2013 |
| Branches: | Tongan Land Component Maritime Force Tongan Air Wing Tongan Training Command Tongan Support Unit |
| Headquarters: | Vilai Barracks, Nuku'alofa |
| Commander-In-Chief: | HM King Tupou VI |
| Commander-In-Chief Title: | Commander-in-Chief |
| Minister: | Siaosi Sovaleni |
| Minister Title: | Minister for HMAF |
| Commander: | Brigadier General Lord Fielakepa |
| Commander Title: | Chief of Defense Staff |
| Age: | 18 |
| Conscription: | None |
| Manpower Data: | 2010 est. |
| Manpower Age: | 16-49 |
| Available: | 34,254 |
| Available F: | 32,974 |
| Fit: | 27,404 |
| Fit F: | 28,509 |
| Reaching: | 1,448 |
| Reaching F: | 1,392 |
| Active: | 500[1] |
| Percent Gdp: | 0.9% GDP (2006 est.) |
| Ranks: | Military ranks of Tonga |
His Majesty's Armed Forces (HMAF) is the military of Tonga. It is composed of three operational components and two support elements (logistics and training groups).
The mission of HMAF is to: "Defend the sovereignty of the Kingdom of Tonga".
The HMAF is partially supported by defence co-operation agreements with Australia, the United States, China, India, and New Zealand. The co-operation aims at capacity development through training of HMAF personnel in leadership, academic and trades while support for infrastructure development is another part of the security co-operation.
Since 2001, members of HMAF have supported the coalition of the willing in Operation Iraqi Freedom, the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan, and the Regional Assistance Mission to Solomon Islands.
See main article: Military history of Tonga.
The military history of Tonga extends from World War I to the present day, with Tonga participating in World War I, World War II, and the Afghan war, among other conflicts.
The main elements of HMAF are:[2] [3]
See main article: Tongan Maritime Force. The Maritime Force is equipped with two Guardian-class patrol boats, a tanker, a Landing Craft Mechanised and a motor boat that is the royal yacht.[4] Tongan Maritime Force performs patrol missions, occasionally dealing with border violations, at the Minerva Reef and Tonga's restricted fishing zones.[5]
See main article: Royal Tongan Marines.
The Royal Tongan Marine Infantry is organized as a single Battalion size group with a HQ and 3 Light Infantry Companies, based at Fua'amotu.[6]
See main article: Tongan Royal Guards.
The Tongan Royal Guards are a company size unit that are responsible for the security of His Majesty. The Royal Guard maintains a musical unit known as the Tonga Royal Corps of Musicians that serves as a military band for different occasions.
See main article: Tongan Air Wing.
On 4 May 1996 the Air Wing was created. A Beech 18 was taken into service. In 1999 a Citabria was obtained to help with training of the Beech 18.[7]
The HMAF is a member of the following international defence organisations:
Tonga has an agreement to share "disaster response knowledge" with the United States Nevada National Guard.[8]
See main article: Military ranks of Tonga.
The ranks used by His Majesty's Armed Forces are similar to those used in other Commonwealth armed forces.[9]
See main article: Chief of the Defence Staff (Tonga).
Until 2013, commanders were called Commander of the Tongan Defence Services. After 2013, they are now called Chief of the Defence Staff of the HMAF.[10]
| Model | Image | Origin | Type | Calibre | Number | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handguns | ||||||
| Glock 17 | Pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | ||||
| Bolt-action rifles | ||||||
| Lee Enfield No.4 | Bolt-action rifle | .303 | Acquired from New Zealand; many remain unissued and in storage.[11] | |||
| Submachine guns | ||||||
| Uzi | Sub-machine gun | 9×19mm Parabellum | ||||
| Assault rifles | ||||||
| FN FNC | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Standard service rifle of Tonga. | |||
| IMI Galil | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Donated by Israel in 1988. | |||
| M4A1 | Carbine rifle | 5.56×45mm | ||||
| Machine guns | ||||||
| M2 Browning | Heavy machine gun | 12.7x99mm NATO | ||||