Seychelles People's Defence Force
 | This article needs to be updated. (February 2021) |
| Seychelles People's Defence Force | |
|---|---|
 Flag of the SPDF | |
| Motto | Service before self |
| Founded | 1977 |
| Service branches |
|
| Website | Official website |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief & Minister of Defence | Wavel Ramkalawan |
| Chief of Defence Forces | Colonel Michael Rosette[1] |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 years of age |
| Conscription | Voluntary |
| Available for military service | 23,210 (2002 est.), age 15–49 |
| Fit for military service | 11,560 (2002 est.), age 15–49 |
| Active personnel | 650 (2012) |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | €9.7 million (2012) |
| Percent of GDP | 1% (2012) |
| Related articles | |
| History | 1981 Seychelles coup d'état attempt |
| Ranks | Military ranks of the Seychelles |
The Seychelles People's Defence Force is the national military of Seychelles. It consists of a number of distinct branches: the Infantry Unit, Coast Guard, Air Force and a Presidential Protection Unit.
Branches
[edit]Infantry Unit
[edit]The 200-strong army consists of a small infantry unit, a special unit, a formation of military policemen and a presidential guard. The land force has the following equipment, which according to IISS is probably hardly operational [2]
| Type | Origin | Function | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| BRDM-2 | Soviet Union | Reconnaissance vehicle | 6 |
| 82mm M-43 | Mortar | 6 | |
| ZPU-2 | Heavy machine gun | ||
| ZPU-4 | Heavy machine gun | ||
| 37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K) | Anti-aircraft gun |
Coast Guard
[edit]The Seychelles Coast Guard is the maritime arm of the Seychelles People's Defence Force. Some of the ships they currently have include:
- 1 42m patrol boat - 268 tons full load - commissioned 1983[3]
- 2 Rodman 101 crafts - Donated by UAE[4]
- 2 Type 062-class gunboats - Donated by China[5]
- 2 SDB Mk5 patrol vessels - PS Constant and PS Topaz built by GRSE of India to Seychelles defence as INS Tarasa and INS Tarmugli and donated by India in 2014 and 2015.[6]
- 2 Wave Rider Class inshore patrol vessels - Donated by Sri Lanka in 2019.[7]
Air Force
[edit]
The Seychelles Air Force was originally formed in 1978 as the Air Wing and has the following aircraft:[8]
Current inventory
[edit]| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | |||||
| Dornier 228 | Germany | SAR / Utility | 2[9] | Donated by India[10] | |
| Harbin Y-12 | China | Medevac / Patrol | 1[11] | ||
| DHC-6 Twin Otter | Canada | Patrol / SAR | 1[9] | STOL capable aircraft | |
Presidential Security Unit (PSU)
[edit]The Presidential Security Unit (PSU) was created in 1977 alongside the Infantry Unit to engage in protection duties for the President of Seychelles and their residence. It also provides support during transit, and social gatherings.
Various instructors from foreign nations conduct training with the PSU. It is one of the most elite units in the SPDF. The PSU is located at State House and is administratively attached to the Special Forces Unit.[12]
Other components
[edit]National Brass Band
[edit]The National Brass Band is the official military band of the SPDF. Its origins date back to 1925 as the Brass Ensemble. It began when the Mariste Brothers of the Roman Catholic Mission training musicians to play the various instruments. The band was disbanded in 1943 as instruments were being delivered by the British Army. The band was reformed only to be disbanded after World War II, with its instruments being acquired by the Seychelles Scout Association.
A new brass band known as LAFANSA came into being, with a police band also being augmented. With the establishment of the Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 1981, the Police Band was reorganised into the National Brass Band under the patronage of the Ministry of Education.
Antoinc Azcmia became its first conductor, leading a unit which was from 1981 to 1996, a voluntary band (a unit in which musicians are employed on a part-time basis). Full-time musicians were recruited in 1996, and three years later, it was transferred to the Ministry of Defence and based at the Seychelles Defence Academy. Azcmia retired in 2001, being replaced by Thomas Busanya.[13]
Educational institutions
[edit]Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA)
[edit]The Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA) was established on 2 June 1990 by President France-Albert René. SDA is the premier training institute of the SPDF. The first training camp of the SDA was at Point Larue. The first training was conducted with the help of advisors from the Tanzania People's Defence Force as well as former British Army personnel. It was later decided to shift the camp to Perseverance Island.[14]
Military Training Centre (MTC)
[edit]The Military Training Centre (MTC) is located at Barbarons on the West Coast of Mahe. It is tasked to train all new recruits who join SPDF. Recruits undertake 90 days of extensive training at the MTC that covers a variety of military/civil subjects. After graduation, the new privates are posted to their unit of choice.[15]
Defence Forces Day
[edit]Defence Forces Day has been celebrated annually since 25 November 1982 to celebrate the victory of the SPDF over a group of foreign mercenaries who attacked the country in 1981.[16] A commemorative parade is held at a Coast Guard Base.[17]
References
[edit]- ^ "President Ramkalawan appoints New Command, Promotes and Commissions new Officers on New Year's Day". Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021.
- ^ International Institute for Strategic Studies (Hrsg.): The Military Balance 2021. 121. Auflage. Taylor & Francis, 2021, ISBN 978-1-03-201227-8, S. 486–487.
- ^ "Arms Trade Register". SIPRI. Retrieved 24 June 2012.
- ^ "Seychelles takes delivery of new Chinese patrol boat - IHS Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 23 March 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
- ^ "Nation Home". Nation.sc. Retrieved 26 August 2018.
- ^ "Seychelles receives another donated patrol boat - IHS Jane's 360". Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
- ^ "Sri Lanka donates two "Wave Rider" craft produced by Navy to Seychelles". colombopage.com. Retrieved 1 February 2019.
- ^ Martin, Guy. "India donates Do 228 surveillance aircraft to Seychelles". Defenceweb.co.za.
- ^ a b "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
- ^ "About Seychelles Air Force". Seychelles People Defence Force. 2019. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
- ^ "Seychelles air force". spdf.sc. Retrieved 20 May 2021.
- ^ "Presidential Security Unit – Seychelles People Defence Force". Spdf.sc. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "National Brass Band".
- ^ "About Seychelles Defence Academy".
- ^ "About Military Training Centre".
- ^ "Defence Forces Day -Archive -Seychelles Nation". www.nation.sc.
- ^ "President Faure attends Defence Forces Day Parade". Seychelles: State House. 25 November 2019. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
External links
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