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.^[2] The army has struggled with high rates of HIV infection. Since measures were put in place the rate is dropping.^[3]

Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force
Founded	June 1979
Service branches	Army Air Force
Leadership
Commander-in-chief	King Mswati III
Prime Minister	Russell Dlamini
Defense Principal Secretary	Prince Sicalo Nkopolo Dlamini
Commander	Lieutenant General Hulumende Mashikilisane Fakudze
Personnel
Military age	18-30[note 1]
Conscription	No
Available for military service	344,038, age 18–49 (2010 est.)
Fit for military service	201,853 males, age 18–49 (2010 est.), 175,477 females, age 18–49 (2010 est.)
Reaching military age annually	16,168 males (2010 est.), 15,763 females (2010 est.)
Active personnel	3,000+
Reserve personnel	0
Deployed personnel	0
Expenditure
Budget	$115 million (2011 est.)[1]
Percent of GDP	3.0% of GDP (2011 est.)[1]
Related articles
Ranks	Military ranks of Eswatini

History and structure

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.^[4] However, he delegates the responsibilities of the day-to-day activities of the executive arm of the government.^[5]

There is a Defence Council, which is responsible for advising the King on all matters pertaining to the UEDF.^[5] The UEDF is commanded by Major General Hulumende M. Fakudze; the deputy commander is Brigadier General Khumalo,^[6] and the formation commander is General Hulumende M. Fakudze.^[7]

Ranks

Officers

Rank group	General / flag officers										Senior officers						Junior officers
Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force v t e
	Commander in Chief		General		Lieutenant general		Major general		Brigadier		Colonel		Lieutenant colonel		Major		Captain		Lieutenant			Second lieutenant

Enlisted

Rank group	Senior NCOs																						Junior NCOs						Enlisted
Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force v t e																																			No insignia
	Warrant officer I						Warrant officer II				Staff Sergeant						Sergeant						Corporal				Lance Corporal								Private

Equipment

Armoured personnel carriers

Vehicle	Country of origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
RG-31 Nyala	South Africa	Armoured vehicles	Mk5E	7[8]	7 delivered in the 1990s

Weapons

Weapon	Country of origin	Type	Versions	In service	Notes
Armalite AR-18[9]	United States	Assault rifle	AR-180	Unknown
INSAS	India	Assault rifle	Unknown	Yes
IMI Galil[10]	Israel	Assault rifle	Unknown	Yes
SIG SG 540[10]	Switzerland	Assault rifle	Unknown	Unknown
FN FAL[10]	Belgium	Battle rifle	Unknown	Yes
Sterling[10]	United Kingdom	Submachine gun	Unknown	Unknown
Uzi[10]	Israel	Submachine gun	Unknown	Yes
FN MAG[10][11]	Belgium	General-purpose machine gun	Unknown	Unknown

Branches

Air Force

IAI Arava of the Swazi military air wing in 1995

Eswatini maintains a relatively small air wing, part of the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force.^[12] 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.^[13]

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.^[14] 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.^[2]

Aircraft

Current inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Helicopter
Aérospatiale Alouette III	France	utility		3[15]
Bell UH-1	United States	utility	UH-1H	2[15]	donated by the Government of Taiwan[16]

Retired inventory

Aircraft	Country of origin	Type	Versions	Notes
IAI Arava	Israel	Cargo plane	IAI 202[17]	2 delivered, one crashed in the 1980s, and the other in 2004
Douglas DC-3	United States	Cargo plane

Army

The Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force is the main component of Eswatini's military.^[18]

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.^[18]

Commanders

No.	Photo	Name (birth–death)	Term of office			Ref.
			Took office	Left office	Time in office
1		Prince Bhekimpi Dlamini (1924–1999)	15 March 1973	10 October 1973	4 years, 209 days	[19]
2		Major general Prince Maphevu Dlamini (1922–1979)	10 October 1973	25 October 1979 †	2 years, 15 days	[20]
3		Colonel Jameson Ndzimandze	12 February 1981	8 June 1984 annulled	3 years, 117 days	[21][22]
4		Brigadier Roy Gedion Fonono Dube (?–2017)	8 June 1984	August 2000	16 years, 1 month	[22]
5		Lieutenant general Stanley Dlamini (born 1953)	August 2000	29 June 2019	18 years, 10 months	[23][24]
6		Lieutenant general Jeffrey Sipho Tshabalala (born 1959)	29 June 2019	26 August 2021 resigned	2 years, 58 days	[25][26]
–		General Moses Hulumende Mashikilisana Fakudze (born c. 1963)	26 August 2021	16 May 2022	263 days	[27]
7			16 May 2022	Incumbent	3 years, 27 days	[28]

Notes

1. Compulsory HIV testing required, only HIV-negative applicants accepted