The Benin Armed Forces (French: Forces Armées Béninoises; FAB) constitutes the army, navy, air force, and national gendarmerie of Benin. For a number of years, the Belgian Armed Forces have had an active programme of co-operation with Benin, offering training and coaching, donating redundant military equipment and using the country for limited military exercises.

[History]
The constitution of 11 December 1990 ordered the Benin Armed Forces to ensure effective, permanent and efficient security coverage of the territory, as well as border vigilance.

The national gendarmerie no longer exists since 2018. It has been merged with the national police.

Branches
Army
As of 2012, the Army had a strength of 4,300. It includes 1 armoured squadron, 3 infantry battalions, 1 commando/airborne battalion, 1 artillery battery, and 1 engineer battalion, and 1 National Fire Brigade. The army has the following units:

1st Parachute Commando Battalion
1st Motorized Intervention Battalion
1st Armoured Group
National Group of Firefighters
1st Combined Arms Battalion
2nd Combined Arms Battalion
3rd Combined Arms Battalion
7th Combined Arms Battalion
8th Combined Arms Battalion
1st Mixed Artillery Battalion
1st Engineer Battalion
1st Signal Battalion
1st Materiel Battalion
1st Train Battalion
Headquarters Group

[Air Force]
After achieving independence from France in 1960 the Benin Air Force was transport equipped with seven French-supplied Douglas C-47s, four MH.1521 Broussards and two Agusta-Bell 47Gs. Two F-27s entered service in 1978 for transport duties before being transferred to Air Benin. Also during the same era, two AN-26s were acquired. In late 1985 two Dornier Do-28s entered service to replace the C-47s. A single DHC-6 Twin Otter was acquired in 1989.

[Navy]
As of 2012, the navy has a strength of approximately 200 personnel. It operates two ex-Chinese patrol boats, which are designated the Matelot Brice Kpomasse class.

[Republican Guard]
The Republican Guard is responsible for the security of the President of the Republic, ministers, members of the government, institutions of the Republic and their leader.