Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force | |
---|---|
Founded | June 1979 |
Leadership | |
Commander-in-Chief | King Mswati III |
Commander | Major General Stanley Dlamini |
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+ |
Reserve personnel | 0 |
Deployed personnel | 0 |
Expenditures | |
Budget | $115 million (2011 est.)[1] |
Percent of GDP | 3.0% of GDP (2011 est.)[1] |
The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the official armed national military of the Southern African Kingdom of Eswatini. 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[]

Swaziland Army officers.
Armoured Personnel Carriers[]
Vehicle | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
RG-31 Nyala | ![]() |
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] | ![]() |
Assault rifle | Unknown | Unknown | |
SIG SG 540[10] | ![]() |
Assault rifle | Unknown | Unknown | |
FN FAL[10] | ![]() |
Battle rifle | Unknown | Unknown | |
Sterling submachine gun[10] | Submachine gun | Unknown | Unknown | ||
Uzi[10] | ![]() |
Submachine gun | Unknown | Unknown | |
FN MAG[10][11] | ![]() |
General-purpose machine gun | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Branches[]
Air Force[]

An IAI Arava of the Swazi military air wing at Pretoria AFB Waterkloof (October 1995). This airframe was written off in the 2004 accident.
Swaziland 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 flight crew lead by pilot army colonel Micheal Ranft to miss unclocking the flight controls lock pin so they crashed into a sugar cane field after failing to rotate. 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 | ![]() |
Cargo plane | IAI 202 | 0[15] | 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004 | |
McDonnell Douglas MD-87 | United States | Passenger plane | DC-87 | 1[16] | 1 delivered, currently used by government officials | |
Aérospatiale Alouette III | Utility helicopter | SA-316B | 3[8] | 3 donated to Swaziland in 2000[17] |
Retired inventory[]
Aircraft | Country of origin | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
IAI Arava | ![]() |
Cargo plane | IAI 202 | 0[15] | 2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004 |
Douglas DC-3 | United States | Cargo plane | 0[18] |
Army[]
The army, called the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force (USDF), is the main component of Swaziland's military.[19]
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.[19]
Commanders[]
- 1973–1977: Prince Bhekimpi Dhlamini (as commander of Royal Swaziland Defence Force)[20]
- 1977–1979: Colonel Maphevu Dlamini (died in office)[20]
- 1981: Colonel Jameson Ndizimande (appointment was later annulled)[20]
- 1983–2000?: Brigadier Gideon Dube [20]
- 2000–present: Major General Stanley Dlamini
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. Archived from the original on 2010-03-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20100328072123/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". http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=2244. Retrieved 2010-08-15.[dead link]
- ↑ "Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland". http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=2245. Retrieved 2010-08-15.[dead link]
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Swazi military aviation OrBat". Milaviapress.com. http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/swaziland/index.php. 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.
- ↑ [co.za/dc-3-in-africa/swaziland.html "Error: no
|title=
specified when using {{Cite web}}"]. co.za/dc-3-in-africa/swaziland.html. - ↑ 19.0 19.1 "CIA - The World Factbook". Cia.gov. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/wz.html. Retrieved 2012-07-06.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 20.3 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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