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Military of Burkina Faso;
Service branches	Army; Air Force; National Gendarmerie; National Police; People's Militia
Leadership
Minister of Defense	Yero Boly
Manpower
Available for; military service	2,688,072 (2002 est.), age 15–49
Fit for; military service	1,379,010 (2002 est.), age 15–49
Expenditures
Percent of GDP	1.4% (FY01)

The branches of Burkina Faso's military include its Army, Air Force, National Gendarmerie, National Police, and People's Militia. Being a landlocked country, Burkina Faso has no navy.

[edit] Military Statistics

Army Forces:
5,800 - 6,000 men (volunteer)

People's Militia
45,000 men and women (conscript)

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 2,688,072 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 1,379,010 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $40.1 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 1.4% (FY01)

[edit] Ground Forces

The Army of Burkina Faso (L'Armée de Terre - Ground Forces or LAT) is a skeletonized force structure of some 5,800-6,000 officers and men, augmented by a conscript force or People's Militia of some 45,000 men and women. Unlike the police and security forces, the Army and the People's Militia is organized along Soviet/Chinese models and precepts. The Army is equipped with light wheeled armored cars, some mounting cannon.

In recent years, the United States has begun providing military assistance and training to Burkina Faso's ground forces. It has trained three 750-man battalions for peace support operations in Darfur. During a recent UN inspection, the U.S. DOD evaluation team found Burkina's Laafi battalion fit to deploy to Sudan. Using a small Department of Defense International Military Education and Training (IMET) budget, the Embassy has established English-language courses at an LAT military base, and has brought LAT officers to attended officer basic training courses in the U.S. The government of Burkina Faso has also accepted additional U.S. training assistance in counter-terrorism tactics and humanitarian assistance. Burkina Faso has recently become a member of the Trans-Sahara Counterterrorism Partnership (TSCTP).^[1]

[edit] Armor

[edit] Artillery, Self Propelled Guns/Rocket launchers

BM-21 Grad (10)
M101 howitzer

[edit] Anti-Aircraft

ZPU
Strela 2

[edit] Other

ACMAT

[edit] Small arms

[edit] Airforce History

The Burkina Faso airforce was founded with French aid in 1964 formed with Douglas C-47's and MH.1521M Broussards. These were later followed by two Alouette III helicopters and two Nord 262 twin turboprop transport aircraft. In mid 1984 soviet aid included eight MiG 21s and two MiG-21U combat trainers. In mid 1986 six SF.260WP Warrior armed trainers were acquired but were brought by a Belgian dealer in March 1993.

Until 1994, some ex-Libyan Air Force Soviet MiG-21 'Fishbed' fighters operated from Ouagadougou, although opinion is divided over whether these were owned and operated by the FABF or simply provided on loan by Libya. A single MiG-17F Fresco that was also operated by the FABF is believed to have been retired in 1994, but may still be in storage. Most of the light aircraft acquired by the FABF in the 1970s have also now been retired, but some recent acquisitions have been made, including a Beechcraft King Air, a Piper PA-34 Seneca, a CEAPR Robin light training aircraft, and a single Air Tractor AT-802 aerial sprayer aircraft for spraying insecticides, purchased after the northern part of the country suffered heavy crop damage from a 2004 invasion of swarming locusts.

In late 2005, the FABF acquired two Mil Mi-35 'Hind' attack helicopters from Russia in apparent response by moves by neighbouring Côte d'Ivoire to bolster its own air attack capabilities during the Ivorian Civil War.

[edit] Aircraft Inventory

Burkina Faso's military aircraft, operated by the Burkina Faso Air Force (Force Aerienne de Burkina Faso - FABF) totals 19 aircraft of 12 different models, including 11 helicopters. Currently, the FABF does not appear to have any fixed-wing combat aircraft in operational condition.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service^[2]	Notes
Air Tractor AT-802	United States	agricultural sprayer	AT802 XT-MBB locust-sprayer	1
CASA CN-235-220	Spain	transport Cargo	CASA CN-235-220 M	1
Xenon (Gyroplane)	France		Xenon (Gyroplane)	2
Avro 748	United Kingdom	transport	HS.748 2A	1
Beechcraft Super King Air	United States	transport	Super King Air 200	1
Eurocopter SA 365Dauphin	France Germany Spain	utility helicopter	SA 365 N	2
Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil	France Germany Spain	utility helicopter	AS 350 B2	1
Mil Mi-8 Hip	Soviet Union	transport helicopter	Mi-8 V Mi-17 Mi-8 S	2 2 1
Mil Mi-35 Hind-E	Russia	attack helicopter	Mi-35	2
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-17	Soviet Union	fighter	MiG-17	1	(believed to be in storage)
Nord 262	France	transport	Nord 262 C	2
Piper PA-34 Seneca	United States	transport	Piper PA-34	1
Reims 172 Skyhawk	France	liaison	F172 N	1
Reims 337 Skymaster	France	liaison	F337 D	1