Gabon has a small, professional military of about 5,000 personnel, divided into army, navy, air force, gendarmerie, and national police. Gabonese forces are oriented to the defense of the country and have not been trained for an offensive role. A well-trained, well-equipped 1,800-member guard provides security for the president.

Military branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Presidential (Republican) Guard (charged with protecting the president and other senior officials), National Gendarmerie, National Police

Military manpower - military age: 20 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 284,358 (2002 est.)^{citation needed}

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 146,908 (2002 est.)^{citation needed}

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 11,304 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $70.8 million (FY01)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 2% (FY01)^{citation needed}

Equipment

APC: 1x Pandur II 8X8 (in testing), EE-3 Jararaca, EE-11 Urutu

Aircraft Inventory

The Air Force operates 33 aircraft, including 9 combat jets and 5 helicopters. In addition to the Air Force, the Army operates its own fleet of 8 helicopters.

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service1	Notes
Aérospatiale SA 316 Alouette III	France	utility helicopter	SA 316B	3
ATR-42	France  Italy	passenger transport	ATR 42	1
Beechcraft T-34 Mentor	United States	trainer	T-34C	4
Bell 412	United States	transport helicopter	412SP	1
Douglas DC-8	United States	VIP transport	DC-8	1
CASA CN-235	Spain	tactical transport	CN-235-200M	1
Cessna 152	United States	utility		1
Dassault Falcon 900	France	VIP transport		1
Dassault Mirage F1	France	ground attack	F1AZ	8 2	ex SAAF
Dassault Mirage V	France	trainer fighter	>Mirage 5DG Mirage 5G	2 73	Might be withdrawn from use4
Embraer EMB 110 Bandeirante	Brazil	transport maritime patrol	EMB-110P1 EMB-111A	3 1
Eurocopter SA 332 Super Puma	France  Germany  Spain	transport helicopter	SA-332F	15
Fouga Magister	Finland	trainer	CM 170	4	built by Valmet
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical transport	C-130H L-100-20 L-100-30	1 1 1

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Versions	In service6	Notes
Aérospatiale SA 342 Gazelle	France	scout helicopter	SA-342L	5
Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma	France	transport helicopter	SA-330	3

References

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