Gabon military
Index
1. Order of battle
2. Overview
3. Defence economics
4. State of military forces
5. Country threat report
6. External deployments
1. Order of Battle
| Total force strength | Army: 3 100 Army Light Aviation: 250 Air Force: 600 Navy: 500 Paramilitary: 2 000 |
| Army | |
| Reconnaissance | 24: AML-60/90 10: EE-3 Jararaca 14: EE-9 Cascavel 6: ERC-90F4 Sagaie 8: M-11 VBL |
| AIFV | 12: EE-11 Urutu |
| APC | 8: LAV-150 Commando 6: Type-92 (reported) 10: VXB-170 24: Matador 3: WZ-523/Type-05P 3: ZFB-05 |
| Towed artillery | 4: M-101 105 mm |
| Multiple Rocket Launcher | 8: Teruel 140 mm 16: Type 63 107 mm 4: Type 90 122 mm |
| Mortar | 35: 81 mm 4: Brandt 120 mm |
| Anti-armour | 4: Milan Armbrust HOT |
| Recoilless rifle | M-40A1 106 mm LRAC 89 mm |
| Air defence gun | 4: ERC-20 24: ZU-23-2 23 mm 10: M-1939 37 mm 3: L-70 40 mm |
| Air defence missile | Mistral |
| Structure | 1 Presidential Guard 8 infantry companies 1 paratroop/commando company 1 engineer company |
| Army Light Aviation | |
| Helicopters | 3: SA 330 Puma 2: SA 350 Ecureuil 5: SA 342 Gazelle 2: AB 412 3: Alouette III 2: EC-135/EC-635 1: Bell 412 Twin Huey |
| Air Force | |
| Combat aircraft | 7: Mirage 5 E/G/DG 6: Mirage F1AZ (Ex South African) |
| Trainer aircraft | 4: CM-170 Magister 3: T-34 Turbo Mentor |
| Maritime/EW/RECCE aircraft | 1: EMB-111 |
| Transport aircraft | 2: C-130 Hercules 1: CN235 1: Reims-Cessna F-152 2: YS-11A |
| VIP aircraft (Presidential Guard Air Wing) | 1: Falcon 900 1: EMB-110 Bandeirante 1: AS 332 Super Puma 1: Gulfstream III 1: ATR 42F |
| Navy | |
| Patrol/Strike boat (Gun/Missile/OPV/IPV) | 2: P-400 Class (OPV) 1: Patra Class (Missile) 1: Esterel type fast attack craft (missile) 6: Rodman |
| Amphibious/Transport/Supply | 1: Batral Class |
2. Overview
Head of State and Supreme Commander of Armed Forces: president Ali Bongo Ondimba
Minister of National Defence: Ernest Mpouho Epigat
Chief of General Staff: General Jean Claude Ella-ekogha
Chief of Staff of the Army: Colonel Paul Ophera
Chief of Staff of the Navy: Rear Admiral Herve Nambo Ndouany
Chief of Staff of the Air Force: General Augustin Dende
Commander of the Gendarmerie: General Abel Sougou
Commander of the Republican Guard: General Gregoire Nkouna
Member of: UN, AU, OPEC, ICAO, IAEA, AfDB
3. Defence economics
Defence budget percentage per GDP (2000-2010)
Defence budget per US$ Mil (2000-2011)
Defence budget percentage growth (2000-2011)
4. State of military forces
Gabon has traditionally been a stable, relatively wealthy country and this is reflected in its armed forces. Although Gabon’s military is fairly small, it is a professional and well organized force. As Gabon faces few external threats, it is orientated towards the defence of the country.
The President is in charge of the armed forces as well as the Republican Guard. The Gendarmerie is also under the President’s authority.
France has a permanent military presence in Gabon with nearly 1 000 troops and an air detachment. This has helped maintain internal stability.
5. Country threat report
| Threat type | Overview |
| External | • Gabon is currently facing no external military threat. • Tensions persist between Gabon and Equatorial Guinea concerning ownership of three small islands in oil rich waters. |
| Internal | • Gabon is currently facing no internal security threat and France maintains a military base in the country and a battalion sized contingent of troops. |
| Regional | • Stability in Congo Brazzaville and Equatorial Guinea may affect Gabon’s foreign security policy making. |
| Political | • Gabon is considered to be politically stable. |
| Economic | • Gabon economy is highly dependent on oil exports and this has made the country’s economy highly vulnerable to fluctuations in international oil prices. |
6. External deployments
| Operation | Country | Personnel/assets |
| Peace keeping | Central African Republic (CAR) | 120 |
Contact:
Ministry of National Defence
BP 13493
Libreville
Gabon
Tel +241762595
Armed Forces HQ
PO Box 2126
Libreville
Gabon
Tel +242764243
