Mauritius does not have a standing army. All military, police, and security functions are carried out by 10,000 active-duty personnel under the command of the Commissioner of Police. The 8,000-member National Police Force is responsible for domestic law enforcement. The 1,500-member Special Mobile Force (SMF) and the 500-member National Coast Guard are the only two paramilitary units in Mauritius. Both units are composed of police officers on lengthy rotations to those services.
The SMF is organized as a ground infantry unit, with six rifle companies, two mobilisable paramilitary companies, and one engineer company, according to the IISS Military Balance 2007. It engages extensively in civic works projects. The Coast Guard has four patrol craft for search-and-rescue missions and surveillance of territorial waters. A 100-member police helicopter squadron assists in search-and-rescue operations. There also is a special supporting unit of 270 members trained in riot control.
Military advisers from the United Kingdom and India work with the SMF, the Coast Guard, and the Police Helicopter Unit, and Mauritian police officers are trained in the United Kingdom, India, and France. The United States provides training to Mauritian Coast Guard officers in such fields as seamanship and maritime law enforcement.
Military branches: National Police Force (includes the paramilitary Special Mobile Force or SMF, and National Coast Guard)
Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 340,050 (2002 est.)
Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 171,239 (2002 est.)
Military expenditures - dollar figure: $9.1 million (FY01)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 0.2% (FY01)
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In March 1990 two radar equipped Dornier/HAL Do 228-101s were ordered to form a maritime surveillance element by July 1991. These aircraft were reinforced in 1992 by a single twin turbo prop Pliatus/BN BN-2T Maritime Defender for coastal patrol work.
| Aircraft | Type | Versions | In service | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Britten-Norman BN-2T Islander | Light utility aircraft | 1 | ||
| Dornier Do 228 | Light utility transport | 2 | ||
| Eurocopter AS555 SN Fennec | Light utility helicopter | 1 | ||
| Eurocopter AS350 B1 | Light transport helicopter | 1 | ||
| Aérospatiale Lama/HAL Cheetah AS315B | Light transport | ? | ||
| Aérospatiale Alouette III SA 316B/HAL Chetak | Utility Helicopter | 4 | ||
| HAL Dhruv | Utility Helicopter | 1 |
'World aircraft information files brightstar publishing File 331 sheet 4
This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2003 edition".