Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo

Not to be confused with Military of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo Forces Armées de la République du Congo
Flag of the Republic of the Congo
Founded	1960
Service branches	Army, Air Force, Navy, Gendarmerie, Presidential Guard
Manpower
Military age	20
Expenditures
Budget	$110 million (FY93)
Percent of GDP	3.8% (FY93)
Industry
Domestic suppliers	None

The Armed Forces of the Republic of the Congo include an Army, the Congolese Air Force, and a Navy (est. 800). Paramilitary organisations include 2,000 Gendarmerie in 20 companies, and a Presidential Guard, possibly organised into a battalion. (IISS 2007, p. 269)

On 5 February 2012, there were munitions explosions at a tank regiment (seemingly 'Regiment Blinde') barracks located in Brazzaville's fifth arrondissement, Ouenze. Some 206 people were initially reported killed. There are five military barracks in the city, and after the explosion officials said the government had promised to move all munitions out of the capital.

Army

Equipment

Tanks

Tanks are mostly older examples from the USSR.

• T-54/55 - 25
• Type 59 - 15
• Type 63 - 8
• PT-76 - 3 ordered in 1971 from the Soviet Union and delivered in 1972 (the vehicles were second hand)
• T-34/85

Infantry fighting vehicles

• Mamba APC
• BTR-152
• BTR-50
• BTR-60 - 30
• WZ551
• ZFB-05 - 14

Self Propelled guns

• ZSU-23-4 - 8
• BM-21 Grad - 6

Small Arms

• AKM
• AK-47
• FN FAL
• DShK
• RPK
• RPD
• RP-46
• MAT-49
• Walther PP
• TT pistol
• RPG-7

Anti-Aircraft guns

• 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939
• 57 mm AZP S-60

Navy

File:US Navy trains Congolese sailors.jpg

Congolese sailors aboard the USS Forrest Sherman.

The Navy has some 800 personnel. In October 2007, the US Navy provided some training to Congolese Navy personnel in Pointe Noire, a port city that is the second largest settlement in the country.

Air Force

Main article: Congolese Air Force

Roundel of the Congolese Air Force

After achieving independence from France in 1960, the Congolese air force (Force Aerienne Congolaise) was started with equipment such as the Douglas C-47s, Broussards and Bell 47Gs, these were followed by Nord Noratlas tactical transports and Sud Alouette helicopter. In the 1970s the air force switched to Soviet equipment. This included five Ilyushin IL-14 and six turboprop Antonov An-24 transports and an An-26 in return for providing bases for Cuban MiG-17 operations over Angola. These fighters and a few MiG-15UTI combat trainers were transferred to the FAC. In 1990 these fighter were replaced by 16 USSR supplied MiG-21MF/bis Fishbeds plus a couple of MiG-21US trainers. Together with a Soviet training mission which stayed until late 1991, during that time there were numerous accidents that involved both Soviet and Congolese personnel. After the Soviets left there was only limited funding for MiG operations and they were withdrawn. Six Mi-8 helicopters were delivered from Ukraine in mid-1997 before the Cobra rebel takeover.

In 1990, the Air Force was reformed into its present state. Most fighter aircraft it possessed were scrapped in 2001. France and China provided most training to the Air Force in recent times.

Aircraft Inventory

The Congo's 10 military aircraft, including 3 helicopters, are operated by the Air Force.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Aérospatiale SA 318 Alouette II	France	utility helicopter	SA 318C	1
Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III	France	utility helicopter	SA 316C	1
Antonov An-24	Soviet Union / Ukraine	transport	An-24	5
Antonov An-26	Soviet Union	transport	An-26	1
Eurocopter SA 365 Dauphin	France	utility helicopter	SA 365	1

References

•  This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2003 edition".