Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force | |
---|---|
Founded | June 1979 |
Manpower | |
Military age | 18-30[note 1] |
Conscription | No |
Available for military service | 344,038, age 18–49 (2010 est.) |
Fit for military service |
201,853 males, age 18–49 (2010 est.), 175,477 females, age 18–49 (2010 est.) |
Reaching military age annually |
16,168 males (2010 est.), 15,763 females (2010 est.) |
Active personnel | 3000+ (ranked n/a) |
Reserve personnel | 0 |
Deployed personnel | 0 |
Expenditures | |
Budget | $115 million (2011 est.)[1] |
Percent of GDP | 3.0% of GDP (2011 est.)[1] |
The Military of Swaziland (Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force) is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties; the force has never been involved in a foreign conflict.[2] The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.[3]
The USDF 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 is the Commander-in-Chief of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), and the substantive Minister of the Ministry 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 inter alia advising the King on all matters pertaining to the USDF.[5] The USDF is commanded by Major General Stanley Dlamini; the deputy commander is Brigadier General Patrick Motsa,[6] and the formation commander is Brigadier General Jeffry S. Tshabalala.[7]
Equipment[]
Armoured Personnel Carriers[]
Vehicle | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RG-31 Nyala | South Africa | Armoured vehicles | Mk5E | 7[8] | 7 delivered in the 1990s |
Weapons[]
Weapon | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Armalite AR-18[9] | United States | Assault rifle | AR-180 | Unknown | |
IMI Galil[10] | Israel | Assault rifle | Unknown | Unknown | |
SIG SG 540[10] | Switzerland | Assault rifle | Unknown | Unknown | |
FN FAL[10] | Belgium | Battle rifle | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sterling submachine gun[10] | United Kingdom | Submachine gun | Unknown | Unknown | |
Uzi[10] | Israel | Submachine gun | Unknown | Unknown | |
FN MAG[10][11] | Belgium | General-purpose machine gun | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Branches[]
Air Force[]
Swaziland also maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF).[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 mobilizing in case of a national emergency.[13]
Both Arava 201 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 pilots to miss the runway and crash into a sugar cane field. Although no injuries were reported, the incident left the air force temporarily crippled.[2]
Aircraft | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAI Arava | Israel | Cargo plane | IAI 202 | 0[15] | 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004 |
Canadair Global Express | Canada | Passenger plane | BD-700-1A10 | 1[16] | 1 delivered, currently used as a troop transport |
Cessna 337 Super Skymaster | United States | Passenger plane | 1[16] | 1 delivered, currently used as a medical transport | |
Learjet 35 | United States | Passenger plane | 1[17] | 1 delivered, currently used as a troop transport | |
Piper PA-28 Cherokee | United States | Passenger plane | PA-28-140 | 1[16] | 1 delivered, currently used for land surveying |
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 | United States | Passenger plane | DC-87 | 1[18] | 1 delivered, currently used by government officials |
Aérospatiale Alouette III | France | Utility helicopter | SA-316B | 3[8] | 3 donated to Swaziland in 2000[19] |
Army[]
The army, called the Umbutfo Swaziland Defense Force (USDF), is the main component of Swaziland's military.[20]
Facilities[]
- Nsingizini Army Barracks
- Mbuluzi Barracks
- Mdzimba Mountain Barracks
- Phocweni Barracks
- Etjeni Barracks
- Zombodze Barracks
Units[]
- Ludlukhala Regiment
- Lindimpi Regiment (watchman/guard)
- Gcina Regiment
[]
Due to Swaziland being landlocked, the country does not maintain a navy.[20]
Commanders[]
- Prince Bhekimpi Dhlamini 1973-1977 (as commander of Royal Swaziland Defense Force)[21]
- Colonel Maphevu Dlamini 1977-1979 (died in office)[21]
- Colonel Jameson Ndizimande 1981 (appointment was later annulled)[21]
- Brigadier Gideon Dube 1983-2000?[21]
Sources[]
This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2010 edition".
Notes[]
- ↑ Compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "SIPRI military expenditure database". Milexdata.sipri.org. http://milexdata.sipri.org/. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Crash diminishes Swaziland's air force". Independent Online (South Africa). November 23, 2004. http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=qw1101220382909B224. Retrieved 2009-10-19.
- ↑ "allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Army Slowly Winning the HIV/Aids Battle". 2010-12-18. http://allafrica.com/stories/201012140720.html. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
- ↑ "Swaziland: Time for Democracy?". Africafocus.org. http://www.africafocus.org/docs11/swaz1104.php. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Security in Swaziland, Swaziland Security, Ministry of Defence, Swaziland welcome, Commonwealth". Commonwealth-of-nations.org. http://www.commonwealth-of-nations.org/Swaziland/Security/Ministry_of_Defence%60_Swaziland/welcome. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ "Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110613214553/http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=2244. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ↑ "Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. http://web.archive.org/web/20110613214925/http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=2245. Retrieved 2010-08-15.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
- ↑ Bishop, Chris. Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc (1998). ISBN 0-7858-0844-2.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ↑ "Military of Swaziland". eNotes. 2012-07-06. http://www.enotes.com/topic/Military_of_Swaziland. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ "Photo Search Results". Airliners.net. http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=3D-DAC&distinct_entry=true. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ↑ "Air force (Swaziland) - Sentinel Security Assessment - Southern Africa". Janes.com. 2011-04-12. http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Sentinel-Security-Assessment-Southern-Africa/Air-force-Swaziland.html. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ "ASN Aircraft accident IAI Arava 201 3D-DAB Zomba Air Base". Aviation-safety.net. 1980-01-15. http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19800115-0. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ "Swazi military aviation OrBat". Milaviapress.com. http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/swaziland/index.php. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 "UK blocks Swazi arms". DefenceWeb. 2011-03-23. http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14343:uk-blocks-swazi-arms&catid=47:Logistics&Itemid=110. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ "Aircraft 3D-BIS, Learjet 45 C/N 104". Airport-data.com. http://www.airport-data.com/aircraft/3D-BIS.html. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ "Times Of Swaziland". Times.co.sz. http://www.times.co.sz/News/75450.html. Retrieved 23 October 2014.
- ↑ "SAAF Alouettes for Swaziland". SAAF. http://www.saairforce.co.za/news-and-events/69/saaf-alouettes-for-swaziland. Retrieved 22 June 2012.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 "CIA - The World Factbook". Cia.gov. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wz.html. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 21.3 https://www.issafrica.org/uploads/EVOLUTCHAP10.PDF
Bibliography[]
- Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (January 27, 2009). ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
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The original article can be found at Military of Swaziland and the edit history here.