Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force#Air Force

{{Infobox national military

| name = Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force

| native_name =

| motto =

| founded = June 1979

| current_form =

| disbanded =

| branches = Army
Air Force

| headquarters =

| flying_hours =

| website =

| commander-in-chief = King Mswati III

| commander-in-chief_title = Commander-in-chief

| chief minister = Russell Dlamini

| chief minister_title = Prime Minister

| minister = Prince Sicalo Nkopolo Dlamini

| minister_title = Defense Principal Secretary

| commander = Lieutenant General Hulumende Mashikilisane Fakudze

| commander_title = Commander

| age = 18-30Compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted

| conscription = No

| manpower_data = 2010 est.

| manpower_age = 18–49

| available = 344,038

| available_f =

| fit = 201,853

| fit_f = 175,477

| reaching = 16,168

| reaching_f = 15,763

| active = 3,000+

| ranked =

| reserve = 0

| deployed = 0

| amount = $115 million (2011 est.){{cite web|url=http://milexdata.sipri.org/ |title=SIPRI military expenditure database |publisher=Milexdata.sipri.org |access-date=2012-07-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100328072123/http://milexdata.sipri.org/ |archive-date=2010-03-28 }}

| percent_GDP = 3.0% of GDP (2011 est.)

| domestic_suppliers =

| foreign_suppliers =

| imports =

| exports =

| history =

| ranks = Military ranks of Eswatini

}}

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) is the military of the Southern African Kingdom of Eswatini. It is used primarily during domestic protests, with some border and customs duties; the force has never been involved in a foreign conflict. The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.{{cite web|url=http://allafrica.com/stories/201012140720.html|access-date=2010-12-18|title=allAfrica.com: Swaziland: Army Slowly Winning the HIV/Aids Battle|date=2010-12-18}}

History and structure

File:US Army 51988 MEDFLAG 09, Partnership strengthens ties and friendships.jpg

The UEDF 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 of Eswatini is the commander-in-chief of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force, and the substantive minister of defence.{{cite web|url=http://www.africafocus.org/docs11/swaz1104.php |title=Swaziland: Time for Democracy? |publisher=Africafocus.org |access-date=2012-07-06}} However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government.{{cite web|url=http://www.commonwealth-of-nations.org/Swaziland/Security/Ministry_of_Defence%60_Swaziland/welcome |title=Security in Swaziland, Swaziland Security, Ministry of Defence, Swaziland welcome, Commonwealth |publisher=Commonwealth-of-nations.org |access-date=2012-07-06}}

There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for advising the King on all matters pertaining to the UEDF. The UEDF is commanded by Major General Hulumende M. Fakudze; the deputy commander is Brigadier General Khumalo,{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=2244 |access-date=2010-08-15 |title=Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} and the formation commander is General Hulumende M. Fakudze.{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=2245 |access-date=2010-08-15 |title=Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland }}{{dead link|date=June 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

Ranks

;Officers

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

;Enlisted

style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background-color:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin: 0px 12px 12px 0px;"

Equipment

=Armoured personnel carriers=

class="wikitable"

! Vehicle

! Country of origin

! Type

! Versions

! In service

! Notes

RG-31 Nyala

| {{flag|South Africa}}

| Armoured vehicles

| Mk5E

| 7{{cite web|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|title=Arms Trade Register|publisher=SIPRI|access-date=22 June 2012|archive-date=14 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414022558/http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|url-status=dead}}

| 7 delivered in the 1990s

=Weapons=

class="wikitable"

! Weapon

! Country of origin

! Type

! Versions

! In service

! Notes

Armalite AR-18Bishop, Chris. Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc (1998). {{ISBN|0-7858-0844-2}}.

| {{flag|United States}}

| Assault rifle

| AR-180

| Unknown

INSAS

| {{flag|India}}

|Assault rifle

| Unknown

|Yes

IMI Galil

| {{flag|Israel}}

| Assault rifle

| Unknown

| Yes

SIG SG 540

| {{flag|Switzerland}}

| Assault rifle

| Unknown

FN FALJones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). {{ISBN|978-0-7106-2869-5}}.

| {{flag|Belgium}}

| Battle rifle

| Unknown

| Yes

Sterling

| {{flag|United Kingdom}}

| Submachine gun

| Unknown

Uzi

| {{flag|Israel}}

| Submachine gun

| Unknown

| Yes

FN MAG{{cite web|url=http://www.enotes.com/topic/Military_of_Swaziland |title=Military of Swaziland |publisher=eNotes |date=2012-07-06 |access-date=2012-07-06}}

| {{flag|Belgium}}

| General-purpose machine gun

| Unknown

Branches

=Air Force=

File:Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing IAI Arava.jpg of the Swazi military air wing in 1995]]

Eswatini maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.{{cite web|url=http://www.airliners.net/search/photo.search?regsearch=3D-DAC&distinct_entry=true|title=Photo Search Results|publisher=Airliners.net|access-date=23 October 2014}} The air wing is mainly used for transporting the King as well as cargo, and personnel; surveying land with search and rescue functions, and mobilising in case of a national emergency.{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-Sentinel-Security-Assessment-Southern-Africa/Air-force-Swaziland.html|title=Air force (Swaziland) - Sentinel Security Assessment - Southern Africa|date=2011-04-12|publisher=Janes.com|access-date=2012-07-06}}

File:Swazi DF Arava 201 3D-DAA (6547913823).jpg

Both Arava 201s have crashed; the first was on a demo flight in the 1980s, leaving both pilots dead.{{cite web|url=http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19800115-0|title=ASN Aircraft accident IAI Arava 201 3D-DAB Zomba Air Base|date=1980-01-15|publisher=Aviation-safety.net|access-date=2012-07-06}} The second was lost in 2004, after bad weather caused the flight crew led by pilot army colonel Micheal Ranft to fail to unlock the flight controls lock pin, this was later proven untrue as the crew were cleared that plane's flight controls to not respond to the pilot's yoke. This caused the plane to crash into a sugar cane field after failing to rotate. Although no injuries were reported, the incident left the air force temporarily crippled.{{cite news|url=http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=84&art_id=qw1101220382909B224|title=Crash diminishes Swaziland's air force|date=November 23, 2004|access-date=2009-10-19|publisher=Independent Online (South Africa)}}

==Aircraft==

=== Current inventory ===

class="wikitable" ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"\|Aircraft ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"\|Origin ! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"\|Type ! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"\|Variant ! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"\|In service ! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"\|Notes
style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" \| Helicopter
Aérospatiale Alouette III \| France \| utility \| \| 3{{cite web \|last = \|first = \|url= https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-directory-2022/146695.article\|title = World Air Forces 2022\|publisher= Flightglobal \|year= 2022 \|doi = \|access-date= 11 April 2022\|url-access=registration}} \|
Bell UH-1 \| United States \| utility \| UH-1H \| 2 \| donated by the Government of Taiwan{{cite web \|url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/military-helicopters/eswatini-receives-two-hueys-donated-by-taiwan/ \|title=eSwatini receives two Hueys donated by Taiwan \|date=27 February 2020 \|access-date=11 April 2022 \|publisher=defenceWeb}}

class="wikitable"

! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft

! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin

! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type

! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant

! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service

! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes

style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="7" | Helicopter

Aérospatiale Alouette III

| France

| utility

| 3{{cite web |last = |first = |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/reports/world-air-forces-directory-2022/146695.article|title = World Air Forces 2022|publisher= Flightglobal |year= 2022 |doi = |access-date= 11 April 2022|url-access=registration}}

Bell UH-1

| United States

| utility

| UH-1H

| 2

| donated by the Government of Taiwan{{cite web |url=https://www.defenceweb.co.za/aerospace/military-helicopters/eswatini-receives-two-hueys-donated-by-taiwan/ |title=eSwatini receives two Hueys donated by Taiwan |date=27 February 2020 |access-date=11 April 2022 |publisher=defenceWeb}}

=== Retired inventory ===

class="wikitable"

! Aircraft

! Country of origin

! Type

! Versions

! Notes

IAI Arava

|{{flag|Israel}}

|Cargo plane

|IAI 202{{cite web|url=http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/swaziland/index.php|title=Swazi military aviation OrBat|publisher=Milaviapress.com|access-date=2012-07-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307190530/http://www.milaviapress.com/orbat/swaziland/index.php|archive-date=2012-03-07|url-status=dead}}

|2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004

Douglas DC-3

|{{flag|United States}}

|Cargo plane

=Army=

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/eswatini/ |title=CIA - The World Factbook |publisher=Cia.gov |access-date=2012-07-06}}

==Facilities==

Nsingizini Army Barracks
Mbuluzi Barracks
Mdzimba Mountain Barracks
Phocweni Barracks
Cebisa Barracks
Zombodze Barracks

==Units==

Ludlalukhala Regiment
Lindimpi Regiment (watchman/guard)
Gcina Regiment

=Navy=

Due to Eswatini being landlocked, the country does not maintain a navy.

Commanders

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" ! rowspan=2\| {{Abbr\|No.\|Number}} ! rowspan=2\| Photo ! rowspan=2\| Name {{small\|(birth–death)}} ! colspan=3\| Term of office ! rowspan=2\| {{Abbr\|Ref.\|Refences}}
Took office ! Left office ! Time in office
1 \| 60px \| Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini {{small\|(1924–1999)}} \| 15 March 1973 \| 10 October 1973 \| {{ayd\|1973\|03\|15\|1977\|10\|10}} \| {{cite book \|last1=Tshabalala \|first1=Jeffrey \|last2=Nhlengethwa \|first2=Cyprian \|last3=Rupiya \|first3=Martin \|editor1-last=Rupiya \|editor1-first=Martin \|title=Evolutions & Revolutions: A Contemporary History of Militaries in Southern Africa \|date=2005 \|publisher=Institute for Security Studies \|isbn=978-1919913827 \|url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/EVOLUTCHAP10.PDF \|access-date=12 October 2021 \|chapter=Caught between tradition and regional warfare: The Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force since 1968}}
2 \| 60px \| Major general Prince Maphevu Dlamini {{small\|(1922–1979)}} \| 10 October 1973 \| 25 October 1979 † \| {{ayd\|1977\|10\|10\|1979\|10\|25}} \| {{sfn\|Tshabalala\|Nhlengethwa\|Rupiya\|2005\|pp=284, 287}}
3 \| 60px \| Colonel Jameson Ndzimandze \| 12 February 1981 \| 8 June 1984 {{small\|annulled}} \| {{ayd\|1981\|02\|12\|1984\|06\|08}} \| {{cite magazine \|title=Appointment of Chief of Staff (Army) to the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force \|magazine=Supplement to the swaziland government gazette \|date=22 April 1983 \|volume=XXI \|number=218 \|page=S1 \|url=https://gazettes.africa/archive/sz/1983/sz-government-gazette-supplement-dated-1983-04-22-no-218.pdf \|access-date=12 October 2021 \|location=Mbabane}}{{cite magazine \|title=Part C: Legal Notices \|magazine=Supplement to the swaziland government gazette \|date=14 September 1984 \|volume=XXII \|number=312 \|page=S3-S4 \|url=https://gazettes.africa/archive/sz/1983/sz-government-gazette-supplement-dated-1983-04-22-no-218.pdf \|access-date=12 October 2021 \|location=Mbabane}}
4 \| 60px \| Brigadier Roy Gedion Fonono Dube {{small\|(?–2017)}} \| 8 June 1984 \| August 2000 \| {{age in years and months\|1984\|06\|08\|2000\|08\|1}} \|
5 \| 60px \| Lieutenant general Stanley Dlamini {{small\|(born 1953)}} \| August 2000 \| 29 June 2019 \| {{age in years and months\|2000\|08\|1\|2019\|06\|29}} \| {{cite web \|title=Former UEDF General Sobantu S. Dlamini \|url=http://uedf.mil.sz/site/index.php/uedf/former-uedf-commanders \|website=uedf.mil.sz \|publisher=Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force \|access-date=12 October 2021 \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209084025/http://uedf.mil.sz/site/index.php/uedf/former-uedf-commanders \|archive-date=9 February 2021}}{{cite web\|url=http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=59 \|access-date=2010-08-15 \|title=Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland \|url-status=dead \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523231429/http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=59 \|archive-date=May 23, 2010 }}
6 \| 60px \| Lieutenant general Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala {{small\|(born 1959)}} \| 29 June 2019 \| 26 August 2021 {{small\|resigned}} \| {{ayd\|2019\|06\|29\|2021\|08\|26}} \| {{Cite web\|url=http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=9491\|title=King Appoints New Army Commander\|last=Nhlabatsi\|first=Sifiso\|date=29 July 2019\|website=new.observer.org.sz\|access-date=2019-09-26}}{{Dead link\|date=June 2025 \|bot=InternetArchiveBot \|fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web \|last1=Mkhaliphi \|first1=Mthobisi \|title=Some political parties welcome resignation of Eswatini’s defence force commander \|url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/some-political-parties-welcome-resignation-of-eswatinis-defence-force-commander/ \|website=SABC News \|access-date=8 December 2024 \|date=26 August 2021}}
style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| – \| rowspan=2\| 60px \| rowspan=2\| General Moses Hulumende Mashikilisana Fakudze {{small\|(born {{circa\|1963}})}} \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| 26 August 2021 \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| 16 May 2022 \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| {{ayd\|2021\|08\|26\|2022\|05\|16}} \| style="background:#e6e6aa;"\| {{Cite web\|url=http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=16691\|title=King Appoints Acting Army Commander\|last=Shabangu\|first=Simon\|date=26 August 2021\|website=new.observer.org.sz\|access-date=8 December 2024\|archive-date=11 December 2024\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211150908/http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=16691\|url-status=dead}}
7 \| 16 May 2022 \| Incumbent \| {{ayd\|2022\|05\|16}} \| {{cite news \|last1=Zwane \|first1=Sibusiso \|title=King promotes Mashikilisana \|url=https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/times-of-eswatini/20220517/page/9/textview \|access-date=8 December 2024 \|work=Times of Eswatini \|date=17 May 2022 \|page=9}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|No.|Number}}

! rowspan=2| Photo

! rowspan=2| Name
{{small|(birth–death)}}

! colspan=3| Term of office

! rowspan=2| {{Abbr|Ref.|Refences}}

Took office

! Left office

! Time in office

| 60px

| Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini
{{small|(1924–1999)}}

| 15 March 1973

| 10 October 1973

| {{ayd|1973|03|15|1977|10|10}}

| {{cite book |last1=Tshabalala |first1=Jeffrey |last2=Nhlengethwa |first2=Cyprian |last3=Rupiya |first3=Martin |editor1-last=Rupiya |editor1-first=Martin |title=Evolutions & Revolutions: A Contemporary History of Militaries in Southern Africa |date=2005 |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |isbn=978-1919913827 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/EVOLUTCHAP10.PDF |access-date=12 October 2021 |chapter=Caught between tradition and regional warfare: The Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force since 1968}}

| 60px

| Major general
Prince Maphevu Dlamini
{{small|(1922–1979)}}

| 10 October 1973

| 25 October 1979 †

| {{ayd|1977|10|10|1979|10|25}}

| {{sfn|Tshabalala|Nhlengethwa|Rupiya|2005|pp=284, 287}}

| 60px

| Colonel
Jameson Ndzimandze

| 12 February 1981

| 8 June 1984
{{small|annulled}}

| {{ayd|1981|02|12|1984|06|08}}

| {{cite magazine |title=Appointment of Chief of Staff (Army) to the Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force |magazine=Supplement to the swaziland government gazette |date=22 April 1983 |volume=XXI |number=218 |page=S1 |url=https://gazettes.africa/archive/sz/1983/sz-government-gazette-supplement-dated-1983-04-22-no-218.pdf |access-date=12 October 2021 |location=Mbabane}}{{cite magazine |title=Part C: Legal Notices |magazine=Supplement to the swaziland government gazette |date=14 September 1984 |volume=XXII |number=312 |page=S3-S4 |url=https://gazettes.africa/archive/sz/1983/sz-government-gazette-supplement-dated-1983-04-22-no-218.pdf |access-date=12 October 2021 |location=Mbabane}}

| 60px

| Brigadier
Roy Gedion Fonono Dube
{{small|(?–2017)}}

| 8 June 1984

| August 2000

| {{age in years and months|1984|06|08|2000|08|1}}

| 60px

| Lieutenant general
Stanley Dlamini
{{small|(born 1953)}}

| August 2000

| 29 June 2019

| {{age in years and months|2000|08|1|2019|06|29}}

| {{cite web |title=Former UEDF General Sobantu S. Dlamini |url=http://uedf.mil.sz/site/index.php/uedf/former-uedf-commanders |website=uedf.mil.sz |publisher=Umbutfo Eswatini Defense Force |access-date=12 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209084025/http://uedf.mil.sz/site/index.php/uedf/former-uedf-commanders |archive-date=9 February 2021}}{{cite web|url=http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=59 |access-date=2010-08-15 |title=Welcome to the home page of the Government of Swaziland |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523231429/http://www.gov.sz/home.asp?pid=59 |archive-date=May 23, 2010 }}

| 60px

| Lieutenant general
Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala
{{small|(born 1959)}}

| 29 June 2019

| 26 August 2021
{{small|resigned}}

| {{ayd|2019|06|29|2021|08|26}}

| {{Cite web|url=http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=9491|title=King Appoints New Army Commander|last=Nhlabatsi|first=Sifiso|date=29 July 2019|website=new.observer.org.sz|access-date=2019-09-26}}{{Dead link|date=June 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}{{cite web |last1=Mkhaliphi |first1=Mthobisi |title=Some political parties welcome resignation of Eswatini’s defence force commander |url=https://www.sabcnews.com/sabcnews/some-political-parties-welcome-resignation-of-eswatinis-defence-force-commander/ |website=SABC News |access-date=8 December 2024 |date=26 August 2021}}

style="background:#e6e6aa;"| –

| rowspan=2| 60px

| rowspan=2| General
Moses Hulumende Mashikilisana Fakudze
{{small|(born {{circa|1963}})}}

| style="background:#e6e6aa;"| 26 August 2021

| style="background:#e6e6aa;"| 16 May 2022

| style="background:#e6e6aa;"| {{ayd|2021|08|26|2022|05|16}}

| style="background:#e6e6aa;"| {{Cite web|url=http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=16691|title=King Appoints Acting Army Commander|last=Shabangu|first=Simon|date=26 August 2021|website=new.observer.org.sz|access-date=8 December 2024|archive-date=11 December 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241211150908/http://new.observer.org.sz/details.php?id=16691|url-status=dead}}

| 16 May 2022

| Incumbent

| {{ayd|2022|05|16}}

| {{cite news |last1=Zwane |first1=Sibusiso |title=King promotes Mashikilisana |url=https://www.pressreader.com/eswatini/times-of-eswatini/20220517/page/9/textview |access-date=8 December 2024 |work=Times of Eswatini |date=17 May 2022 |page=9}}

Notes

References

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}}.
{{CIA World Factbook|year=2010}}

Eswatini

Category:Military in Africa

Category:Government of Eswatini