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.

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential (Republican) Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 284,358 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 146,908 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 11,304 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $70.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY01)

Aircraft inventory

The Air Force operates 33 aircraft, including 9 combat jets and 5 helicopters.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[1]	Notes
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France	utility helicopter	SA 316B	3
ATR	France  Italy	passenger transport	ATR 42	1
Beechcraft T-34 Mentor	United States	trainer	T-34C	4
Bell 412	United States	transport helicopter	412SP	1
CASA CN-235	Spain	tactical transport	CN-235-200M	1
Cessna 152	United States	utility		1
Dassault Falcon 900	France	VIP transport		1
Dassault Mirage 5	France	fighter trainer fighter fighter	total Mirage 5 Mirage 5DG Mirage 5G Mirage 5G-2	9 2 3 4
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante	Brazil	transport maritime patrol	EMB-110P1 EMB-111A	3 1
Eurocopter Cougar	France	transport helicopter	SA 332F	1
Fouga Magister	Finland	trainer	CM 170	4	built by Valmet
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical transport	C-130H L-100-20 L-100-30	1 1 1

In addition to the Air Force, the Army operates its own fleet of 8 helicopters. It has been suggested that IAR 316 be merged into this article or section. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... The Italian-French based aircraft manufacturer Aerei da Trasporto Regionale or Avions de Transport Régional (ATR) was formed in 1981, from the consortium formed by Aérospatiale of France (now EADS) and Aeritalia (now Alenia Aeronautica), of Italy. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Italy. ... The Beechcraft T-34 Mentor is a propeller-driven, single-engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... It has been suggested that CH-146 Griffon be merged into this article or section. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... CASA CN-235M-100 of the Spanish Air Force The CN-235 is a medium-range twin-turbo-prop aircraft developed jointly between CASA in Spain and IPTN in Indonesia as a regional airliner and military transport. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Spain. ... 1985 Cessna 152 Cessna 152 panel The Cessna 152 is a two-seat, fixed tricycle gear general aviation airplane, primarily used for flight training. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The Falcon 900 is a large corporate jet manufactured by Dassault, unique in the fact that it, along with its smaller sibling, the Falcon 50, and the Falcon 7X, an advanced development, are currently the only corporate jets offered with more than two engines (in both cases, three). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... Former South African Air Force Mirage IIICZ The Dassault Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed in France during the 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... EMB110 Bandeirante The Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante (pioneer in Portuguese) is a general purpose 15-21 passenger twin-turboprop light transport aircraft suitable for military and civil duties. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Brazil. ... AS 532 Cougar The Eurocopter Cougar is a twin-engined, medium-weight, multipurpose helicopter manufactured by Eurocopter. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... A two seat turbojet powered trainer aircraft, the first Magister prototype flew on 23 July 1952. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Finland_(bordered). ... The Lockheed C-130 Hercules, a four-engine turboprop aircraft, is the main tactical air transport aircraft of the United States and UK military forces. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ...

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service[1]	Notes
Aérospatiale Gazelle	France	scout helicopter	SA 342L	5
Aérospatiale Puma	France	transport helicopter	SA 330	3

This article is about the helicopter. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ... The Aerospatiale Puma is a medium-sized twin-engined transport/utility helicopter originally manufactured by Aerospatiale of France. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_France. ...

References

Aviation Week & Space Technology (often abbreviated as Aviation Week or AW&ST) is a weekly magazine which reports upon the state of the aerospace industry. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ...

See also

• Gabon