Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force

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.<ref name="crash" /> The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

History and structure

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

UEDF Lt. Col. Moses Swane speaks with U.S. Army Africa Commander Maj. Gen. William Garrett III during a 2009 medical training exercise

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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government.<ref name="commonwealth-of-nations1">Template:Cite web</ref>

There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for advising the King on all matters pertaining to the UEDF.<ref name="commonwealth-of-nations1"/> The UEDF is commanded by Major General Sipho Tshabalala; the deputy commander is Brigadier General Patrick Motsa,<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref> and the formation commander is Lieutenant General Hulumende M. Fakudze.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead linkTemplate:Cbignore</ref>

Ranks

Officers

Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armed Forces/OF/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OF/Eswatini

Enlisted

Template:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/BlankTemplate:Ranks and Insignia of Non NATO Armies/OR/Eswatini

Equipment

Armoured personnel carriers

Vehicle	Country of origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
RG-31 Nyala	Template:Flag	Armoured vehicles	Mk5E	7<ref name="sipri2">Template:Cite web</ref>	7 delivered in the 1990s

Weapons

Weapon	Country of origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Armalite AR-18<ref name="bishop1998">Bishop, Chris. Guns in Combat. Chartwell Books, Inc (1998). Template:ISBN.</ref>	Template:Flag	Assault rifle	AR-180	Unknown
INSAS	Template:Flag	Assault rifle	Unknown	Yes
IMI Galil<ref name="jones2009"/>	Template:Flag	Assault rifle	Unknown	Yes
SIG SG 540<ref name="jones2009"/>	Template:Flag	Assault rifle	Unknown	Unknown
FN FAL<ref name="jones2009">Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35 edition (January 27, 2009). Template:ISBN.</ref>	Template:Flag	Battle rifle	Unknown	Yes
Sterling<ref name="jones2009"/>	Template:Flag	Submachine gun	Unknown	Unknown
Uzi<ref name="jones2009"/>	Template:Flag	Submachine gun	Unknown	Yes
FN MAG<ref name="jones2009"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Template:Flag	General-purpose machine gun	Unknown	Unknown

Branches

Air Force

File:Umbutfo Swaziland Defence Force Air Wing IAI Arava.jpg

IAI Arava of the Swazi military air wing in 1995

Eswatini maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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

IAI Arava of the Swazi Air Force

Both Arava 201s have crashed; the first was on a demo flight in the 1980s, leaving both pilots dead.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="crash">Template:Cite news</ref>

Aircraft

Current inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Helicopter
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France	utility		3<ref name="World Air Forces 2022">Template:Cite web</ref>
Bell UH-1	United States	utility	UH-1H	2<ref name="World Air Forces 2022"/>	donated by the Government of Taiwan<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Retired inventory

Aircraft	Country of origin	Type	Versions	Notes
IAI Arava	Template:Flag	Cargo plane	IAI 202<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref>	2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004
Douglas DC-3	Template:Flag	Cargo plane

Army

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.<ref name="autogenerated1">Template:Cite web</ref>

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.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>

Commanders

Template:Abbr	Photo	Name Template:Small	Term of office			Template:Abbr
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1	File:Noimage.png	Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini Template:Small	15 March 1973	10 October 1973	Template:Ayd	<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
2	File:Noimage.png	Major general Prince Maphevu Dlamini Template:Small	10 October 1973	25 October 1979 †	Template:Ayd	Template:Sfn
3	File:Noimage.png	Colonel Jameson Ndzimandze	12 February 1981	8 June 1984 Template:Small	Template:Ayd	<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="gazette">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
4	File:Noimage.png	Brigadier Roy Gedion Fonono Dube Template:Small	8 June 1984	August 2000	Template:Age in years and months	<ref name="gazette" />
5	File:MEDFLAG 2009 - Mass Casualty Scenario - United States Army Africa - 090806-F-8133W329.jpg	Lieutenant general Stanley Dlamini Template:Small	August 2000	29 June 2019	Template:Age in years and months	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
6	File:Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala (4605161645) (cropped).jpg	Lieutenant general Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala Template:Small	29 June 2019	26 August 2021 Template:Small	Template:Ayd	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
–	File:No image.png	General Moses Hulumende Mashikilisana Fakudze Template:Small	26 August 2021	16 May 2022	Template:Ayd	<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
7			16 May 2022	Incumbent	Template:Ayd	<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Bibliography

• Jones, Richard D. Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009/2010. Jane's Information Group; 35th edition (January 27, 2009). Template:ISBN.
• Template:CIA World Factbook