Military of Gabon

Military of Gabon
Coat of arms of Gabon
Founded	1960
Service branches	Land Forces[1] Air Force Navy
Manpower
Military age	20 years of age[1]
Expenditures
Budget	70.8 million (FY01)[1]
Percent of GDP	1.34% (FY12)
Industry
Foreign suppliers	France  United States
Related articles
History	1964 Gabon coup d'etat 2012–2013 Central African Republic conflict

Gabon has a small, professional military of about 5,000 personnel, divided into army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and national police. Gabonese forces are oriented to the defense of the country and have not been trained for an offensive role. A well-trained, well-equipped 1,800-member guard provides security for the president.

Army

Military members from the Gabonese Armed Forces stand in formation during the opening day ceremony for the June 2016 Central Accord Exercise in Libreville, Gabon

Order of battle

• 1 Republican Guard Battalion group – Libreville with:
  • 1 Light Armored Recon. Squad;
  • 3 Infantry Coys;
  • 1 Artillery Battery;
  • 1 Air Defense Battery.
• 1 Airborne Regiment with:
  • 3 Airborne Coys;
  • 1 Recon and Support Coy;
  • 1 Command Coy.
• 1 Light Armored Recon Battalion with:
  • 1 Logistic and Command Coy;
  • 2 Armored Sqds.
• 1 Support Command Regiment with:
  • 1 Artillery Battery;
  • 1 Mortar Battery;
  • 1 MRLS Battery;
  • 1 Engineer Coy;
  • Logistic Units.
• 7 × Military Regions with:
  • 1 Motorized Infantry Battalion or Coy-each.

Air Force

Order of battle

• Fighter Squadron 1-02 Leyou at BA02 Franceville with:
  • Mirage F-1AZ
  • MB-326M Impala I
• Heavy Transport Squadron at BA01 Libreville with:
  • C-130 Hercules
  • CN-235
• Ministerial Air Liaison Group (Groupe de Liaison Aérien Ministériel or GLAM) at BA01 Libreville with:
  • 1 Falcon-900EX
  • 1 Gulfstream-III

Facilities

• BA01 Libreville
• BA02 Franceville
• Tchibanga

Current inventory

A Gabonses ATR-42 on approach

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service[2]	Notes
Combat aircraft
Mirage 5	France	sea attack	Mirage 5G	3
Mirage F1	France	fighter		6[3]
Transport
ATR 42	France	VIP		1[4]
C-130	United States	transport	C-130H	1
CN-235	Spain / Indonesia	transport		1[5]
Helicopters
AS332	France	transport		1
SA330	France	transport / utility		5[3]
EC135	France	utility		2[3]
AS350	France	liaison		1[3]
EC120	France	light utility		2
Alouette III	France	light utility		2[3]
SA342 Gazelle	France	scout / attack	SA 319	2
Trainer Aircraft
T-34 Mentor	United States	trainer		4[3]
Mirage 5	France	conversion trainer	Mirage 5DG	2[3]

Retired aircraft

Previous aircraft operated by the Air Force consisted of the CM.170 Magister, C-130H Hercules, Embraer EMB 110, Fokker F28, Aérospatiale N 262, Reims C.337, and the Alouette II helicopter.^[6][7]

Navy

Equipment

The Gabonese Navy uses a P400-class patrol vessel similar to this one

Vessel	Origin	Type	In service	Notes
Kership	France	offshore patrol		1 on order[8]
P400	France	coastal patrol	3[9]
BATRAL	France	landing craft	1[9]	2 ordered only one received

References

1. "CIA World Fact 2015". cia.gov. 2015. Retrieved 4 June 2015.
2. World Air Forces 2016 (PDF). Flightglobal International. December 2015. p. 19. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
3. "World Air Forces 2015 pg. 16". Flightglobal Insight. 2015. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
4. "ATR42 Gabon TR-KJD". airport-data.com flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
5. World Air Forces 2014 "WAF 2014" Check |url= value (help) (PDF). Flightglobal Insight. 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
6. "World Air Forces 1987 pg. 56". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
7. "World Military Helicopter Markey 1971 pg. 577". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 1 June 2015.
8. http://www.naval-technology.com/news/newskership-to-deliver-two-offshore-patrol-vessels-to-gabonese-navy-4427093
9. Trade Registers. Armstrade.sipri.org. Retrieved on 29 May 2015