Benin Armed Forces

Benin Armed Forces
Benin Armed Forces
Forces Armées Béninoises
	Flag of the Benin Armed Forces
Founded	1960
Service branches	Army; Navy; Air Force; Republican Guard
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; China; South Africa; United Kingdom
Related articles
Ranks	Military ranks of Benin

The Benin Armed Forces (French: Forces Armées Béninoises; FAB) constitutes the army, navy, air force, and republican guard of the Republic of Benin. For several years, the Belgian Armed Forces have had an active programme of co-operation with Benin, offering training and coaching, donating surplus military equipment, and conducting limited military exercises in the country.^[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.

The national gendarmerie no longer exists since 2018. It has been merged with the national police.^[3]

Branches

Army

As of 2012, 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 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 had 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
Pistols
TT-30/33^[4]	7.62×25mm	Semi-automatic pistol	Soviet Union
Submachine guns
MAT-49^[5]	9×19mm	SMG	France
Rifles
AK^[6]	7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
AKM^[5]	7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
Type 56	7.62x39mm	Assault rifle	China
Type 81^[7]	7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	China
M16	5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	United States
SKS^[5]	7.62×39mm	Semi-automatic rifle	Soviet Union
MAS-49/56^[4]	7.5×54mm	Semi-automatic rifle	France
Shotguns
Remington Model 1100^[8]	.410 bore	Semi-automatic shotgun	United States
Machine guns
FM 24/29^[4]	7.5×54mm	LMG	France
RP-46^[4]	7.62×54mmR	LMG	Soviet Union
RPD^[5]	7.62×39mm	LMG	Soviet Union
AA-52^[4]	7.62×51mm	GPMG	France
M240G	7.62×51mm	GPMG	United States
KPV^[9]	14.5×114mm	HMG	Soviet Union
Browning M2^[5]	.50 BMG	HMG	United States
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7^[5]	40mm	RPG	Soviet Union
Grenade launchers
LRAC F1^[10]	83mm	Shoulder-launched missile weapon	France

Tanks

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
PT-76^[11]		Amphibious Light tank	Soviet Union	18	Delivered by Soviet Union from 1982

Scout cars

Name	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
BRDM-2^[11]	Amphibious Scout car	Soviet Union	14
MBTS Cayman^[12]^[13]	Scout car	Belarus	9
Eland-90^[14]^[15]	Armored car Scout car	South Africa	3
Panhard VBL^[11]	Scout car	France	10	Delivered by France from 1986
M8 Greyhound^[11]	Armored car Scout car	United States	7

Armored personnel carriers

Name	Type	Origin	Quantity
M113^[11]	Armoured personnel carrier	United States	22
ACMAT Bastion^[11]	Armoured personnel carrier	France	2
VAB^[11]	Armoured personnel carrier	France	15

Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
Casspir NG^[11]		MRAP	South Africa	10

Artillery

Name	Type	Origin	Quantity
Mortars
MO-81-61^[16]	Mortar	France	Unknown
W-86^[11]	Mortar	China	Unknown
Field artillery
L118^[11]	Howitzer	United Kingdom	12
M101A1^[11]	Howitzer	United States	4

Man-portable air-defense systems

Name	Image	Type	Origin	Quantity	Notes
9K32 Strela-2		MANPADS	Soviet Union

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.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f IISS (2012), p. 422
^ Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.
^ "Décret n° 2017-41 portant création de la Police républicaine en République du Bénin". Présidence de la République du Bénin (in French). 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Jones & Ness 2010, p. 904.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Jones, Richard D., ed. (27 January 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
^ Jurado, Carlos Caballero (1990). Central American Wars 1959–89. Men-at-Arms 221. London: Osprey Publishing. pp. 20, 45. ISBN 9780850459456.
^ "Benin Infantry Arms List (Current and Former Types)".
^ McManners, Hugh (2003). Ultimate Special Forces. DK Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0-7894-9973-8.
^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Benin". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 948.
^ Shea, Dan (February 2010). "LRAC F1: 89mm Shoulder Fired Launcher". Small Arms Review. Vol. 13, no. 5. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k IISS 2024, p. 473.
^ "Санкции в действии: ремонтный завод в Борисове не может выпускать броневики «Кайман»". charter97.org (in Russian). Retrieved 8 February 2026.
^ REFORM.news (14 August 2025). "На параде в Бенине показали беларусские бронемашины «Кайман»". REFORM.news (ранее REFORM.by) (in Russian). Retrieved 8 February 2026.
^ "DIO blindé au Bénin". Cotonou: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. 7 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^ Hounsou, Ludovic (June 2017). "Levée des indisponibilités de trois pelotons". Le Mirador. 1 (11): 23. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.
^ Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Benin". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 949.

This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook (2025 ed.). CIA.

External links

Paris and EU to deliver new armoured vehicles to Beninese army, Africa Intelligence, 13 September 2024 (requires free registration)

[IISS_2012_422-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f IISS (2012), p. 422

[2] Mathurin C. Houngnikpo, Samuel Decalo, Historical Dictionary of Benin, 78.

[Dec41-3] "Décret n° 2017-41 portant création de la Police républicaine en République du Bénin". Présidence de la République du Bénin (in French). 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 June 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2022.

[FOOTNOTEJonesNess2010904-4] Jones & Ness 2010, p. 904.

[jones2009-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Jones, Richard D., ed. (27 January 2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010 (35th ed.). Jane's Information Group. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.

[6] Jurado, Carlos Caballero (1990). Central American Wars 1959–89. Men-at-Arms 221. London: Osprey Publishing. pp. 20, 45. ISBN 9780850459456.

[7] "Benin Infantry Arms List (Current and Former Types)".

[mcmanners20032-8] McManners, Hugh (2003). Ultimate Special Forces. DK Publishing, Inc. ISBN 0-7894-9973-8.

[9] Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Benin". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 948.

[Shea2010-10] Shea, Dan (February 2010). "LRAC F1: 89mm Shoulder Fired Launcher". Small Arms Review. Vol. 13, no. 5. Archived from the original on 18 October 2019. Retrieved 12 December 2018.

[FOOTNOTEIISS2024473-11] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k IISS 2024, p. 473.

[12] "Санкции в действии: ремонтный завод в Борисове не может выпускать броневики «Кайман»". charter97.org (in Russian). Retrieved 8 February 2026.

[:3-13] REFORM.news (14 August 2025). "На параде в Бенине показали беларусские бронемашины «Кайман»". REFORM.news (ранее REFORM.by) (in Russian). Retrieved 8 February 2026.

[DIO-14] "DIO blindé au Bénin". Cotonou: Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. 7 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2024.

[Mirador-15] Hounsou, Ludovic (June 2017). "Levée des indisponibilités de trois pelotons". Le Mirador. 1 (11): 23. Archived from the original on 23 May 2024.

[16] Gander, Terry J. (22 November 2000). "National inventories, Benin". Jane's Infantry Weapons 2001-2002. p. 949.

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