Cameroonian Armed Forces

The Cameroonian armed forces (English " Cameroon Armed Forces ", French " Forces Armées Camerounaises " ) include a total of about 28,800 men. Of that, approximately 17,000 to the Army, 2,200 for the Navy (including Marines ), approx 600 on the air forces and about 9,000 on the paramilitary gendarmerie organized.

In 2003, the military spending amounted to approximately $ 166 million. This value is well above average compared to other countries in the region.

The military and the police are in all eight administrative regions, due to tensions with Nigeria because of the Bakassi peninsula but a greater presence on the Nigerian border. The supreme command of both organizations is under de facto directly to the President (Paul Biya ).

France has deployed 220 soldiers in Cameroon, which have an advisory function and are involved in the formation of the Cameroonian military.

Army

The Territorial Army with headquarters in Yaoundé divided into the following battalions:

  • A Guards Battalion of the President
  • Another Guard Battalion
  • Five infantry battalions
  • An armored reconnaissance battalion
  • An artillery battalion
  • An engineer battalion
  • A paratrooper battalion
  • An air defense battalion
  • A training battalion

The equipment of the Cameroonian army is predominantly French, American and Israeli origin. It has a total of 73 armored vehicles and about 30 unarmored units ( howitzers, mortars, guns).

Marine

Cameroon's navy consists of 2200 soldiers and the following three (former French ) patrol boats:

  • Bakassi (Grades P -48 )
  • L' Audacieux (Grades P -48 )
  • Quarters

It also exists a small Marine Corps Special Forces.

Air Force

The official name of the air forces of Cameroon 's Cameroonian Air Force or L ' Armée de l' Air du Cameroun. The equipment is mainly from the countries of the European Union (especially France and Italy) as well as from the USA and Canada.

Cameroon Air Force or Armée de l' Air has the following equipment:

  • 6 light attack and training aircraft of type Alpha Jet Ngea: (1982 bought ), stationed in Garoua
  • (Bought in 1997 ) 6 light attack and training aircraft of type Aermacchi MB 326 Impala in versions K and M
  • 6 training type aircraft Fouga Magister
  • 3 transport aircraft Lockheed C- 130H Hercules (bought in 1977 and 1982)
  • 3 transport aircraft Dornier Do 128 and a Dornier Do 228
  • 4 transport aircraft DHC -5 Buffalo
  • 1 transport aircraft of type DHC -4 Caribou
  • 4 Combat Helicopters Gazelle ( bought in 1982 )
  • 4 light helicopters Alouette II and
  • 4 Alouette III
  • 3 transport helicopter of type Bell 206 (1989 bought )
  • One copy of each helicopter Aérospatiale SA 315 Lama SA 365 Dauphin

Are each the use of the Government a copy of the types of IAI Arava, Piper PA 23 250 Aztec, Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma and Aérospatiale SA 332 Super Puma available. The President of Cameroon disposes also personally, a copy of the Boeing 727-200, Gulfstream III and Alouette III.

The structure of the Air Force was immediately after the country's independence in the 60s. The basis then constituted the types Dassault Flamant MD.315 (5 pcs ), Max Holste Broussard ( 7 pieces) and Dornier Do 28 (4 pieces), which are now out of service.

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