Military of Malawi

Military of Malawi

Flag of Malawi
Service branches Army (includes Air Wing and Naval Detachment),
Police (includes paramilitary Mobile Force Unit)
Manpower
Military age 18
Reaching military
age annually
803,777 males (2002 est.),
801,789 females (2002 est.)
Active personnel 5,300 (ranked 140th)
Expenditures
Budget $9.5 million (FY00/01)
Percent of GDP 0.76% (FY00/01)

The Armed forces of Malawi are the state military organisation responsible for defending Malawi. They originated from British colonial units formed before independence in 1964.

Contents

Army structure

The Malawi Rifles was a unit in the Malawi army formed on the country's gaining independence from the United Kingdom in 1964. Its first battalion was formed from the 1st Battalion, King's African Rifles. On independence the battalion became 1st Battalion, The Malawi Rifles (King's African Rifles). They were based (and elements still may be based) at Cobbe Barracks, Zomba.

On 6 July 1966 Malawi became a Republic and His Excellency The Hon. Dr. H. Kamuzu Banda became the first President of the new Republic. After the swearing in Ceremony his first duty was to present the Battalion with his own Presidential Colour and the new Regimental Colour.[1]

The Malawi army is now made up of two rifle regiments and one parachute regiment. The military is organized under the purview of the Ministry of Defence. State Department IMET training documentation from FY 2003 indicates the United States trained army personnel from the 2nd Battalion, Malawi Rifles, 3rd Battalion, Malawi Rifles (Moyale Barracks), the Parachute Battalion, and the Combat Support Battalion (Mvera).[2]

Equipment

Air force

The Malawi Air Force was established with German help in 1976 with the delivery of six single engined Dornier Do 27's and eight Do 28 light twins in 1976-1980. Also in the same era the air force received an Alouette III, an AS 350 and a AS 355 Ecureuil, as well as three SA 330 H/L Puma Helicopters from France. A single BAE 125-800 was delivered in 1986. Four Dornier Do 228 light twin turbo props were acquired between 1986 and 1989 in part to dispose of the older Dornier products. In 1990 two Douglas C-47's and PT6A turboprops were delivered from the US.

The Malawi Army Air Wing operates the following aircraft:[3]

Aircraft inventory

Manufacturer Model Origin Type Service entry Number Notes
Dornier Dornier 228  Germany Tactical Transport  ? 2? Two confirmed in service 2006, possibly two more[3]
Hawker Siddeley Hawker Siddeley HS-125  United Kingdom VIP Transport  ? 1 dasault falcon jet 900 series vip confrimed in service 2009
Eurocopter SA 330 Puma  France Multi-purpose helicopter 1976–1980 2
Eurocopter Eurocopter Dauphin  France Multi-purpose helicopter 1976–1980 1
British Aerospace British Aerospace BAe 125  United Kingdom Corporate jet 1986 1
Basler Basler BT-67  United States Cargo aircraft 1990 2
Dornier Dornier Do 228  Germany Light transport aircraft 1986–1989 4
Eurocopter Eurocopter Ecureuil  France Light utility helicopter  ? 1 dasault falcon jet 900

Navy

Personnel year 2008: 225

Notes

References

External links