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Suriname National Army

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Suriname National Army
Dutch: Nationaal Leger
Founded1975
Service branchesSurinamese Land Forces
Suriname Air Force
Suriname Coast Guard
HeadquartersParamaribo
Websitehttps://defense.gov.sr/
Leadership
Commander-in-chief Chan Santhokhi
Minister of Defense Krishna Mathoera
Commander of the Armed Forces Brigade general Werner Kioe A Sen[1]
Personnel
Military age18
Available for
military service		134,105, age 18–49 (2021)
Fit for
military service		79,122, age 18–49 (2021)
Reaching military
age annually		3,086 (2021)
Active personnel2,000
Expenditure
BudgetUS$60,000,000
Percent of GDP0.7%
Industry
Foreign suppliers
Related articles
History1980 Surinamese coup d'état
Surinamese Interior War
RanksMilitary ranks of Suriname

After the creation of the Statute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Army was entrusted with the defence of Suriname, while the defence of the Netherlands Antilles was the responsibility of the Royal Netherlands Navy. The army set up a separate Netherlands Armed Forces in Suriname (Dutch: Troepenmacht in Suriname, TRIS). Upon independence in 1975, this force was turned into the Surinamese Armed Forces (Surinaamse Krijgsmacht, SKM). On February 25, 1980, a group of 15 non-commissioned officers and one junior officer, under the leadership of sergeant major Dési Bouterse, staged a coup d'état and overthrew the Government. Subsequently, the SKM was rebranded as the National Army (Nationaal Leger, NL).

The Netherlands has provided limited military assistance to the Surinamese armed forces since the election of a democratic government in 1991. In recent years, the United States has provided training to military officers and policymakers to promote a better understanding of the role of the military in a civilian government. Also, since the mid-1990s, the People's Republic of China has been donating military equipment and logistical material to the Surinamese Armed Forces, as has Brazil.

Organization

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Suriname's National Armed Forces are composed of some 2,500 personnel, the majority of whom are deployed in the Army of Suriname.

Suriname soldiers in Brazil

Army

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Air Force

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Roundel of the Suriname Air Force

In 1982 a small air arm was formed within the Suriname defense force called "Surinaamse Luchtmacht" in short also called LUMA. The first military aircraft of the young air force was a Hughes 500 - Model 369D helicopter, simply registered SAF-100 and being used for light observation tasks. Unfortunately the aircraft was written off in March 1982 killing all five occupants (Major Henk Fernandes, second lieutenant Norman de Miranda, soldier Tjon a Kon and soldier Kowid and American pilot Foster Ford),[2] but from May of the same year the Suriname Air Force was being equipped with four (Pilatus) Britten Norman BN-2B Defenders. Registered with the numbers SAF-001, SAF-002, SAF-003 and SAF-004. Later on during the decade a Cessna 172 Skyhawk (SAF-007), a Cessna 206 (SAF-200) and in 1993 a Cessna T303 Crusader (SAF-008) was acquired. The first official Suriname Air Force Commander from 1983 until 1989 was air force pilot lieutenant Eddie Alenso Savalie Djoe. He was one of the passenger victims of the Surinam Airways Flight 764 accident in June 1989, by then he was already promoted to the rank of Major.

All aircraft of the Suriname Air Force undertake border patrols, utility transport and SAR (Search & Rescue) missions from the main base at Paramaribo - Zorg en Hoop and are occasionally detached to Zanderij - Johan Adolf Pengel International Airport, Nieuw Nickerie - Major Fernandes Airfield, Albina Airstrip and Moengo Airstrip. In 1986 anti-government guerrilla activity prompted the government to acquire a pair of Aérospatiale SA.316B Alouette III (SAF-400 & SAF-500) helicopters from the Portuguese Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa), formerly registered FAP9350 & FAP9386. In the same year also three Pilatus PC-7's (SAF-111, SAF-112 & SAF-113) were ordered in Switzerland for COIN (Counter-Insurgency) missions. One of the Alouettes crashed and both delivered PC-7s were returned to Switzerland but one was later re-delivered. In 1987 a Bell 205 Iroquois (SAF-300) was acquired from Venezuela and used as a gunship for five years prior to sale to the US as N6863S in 1991. It crashed in July 1987[3] due to a mechanical failure killing the American pilot Billy Pearson, seriously injuring the American mechanic and four other Surinamese crewmembers.[4] The helicopter was later repaired and back in action.

Two CASA 212-400s Aviocar transports (SAF-212 & SAF-214) Garret AiResearch TPE331-10HR turbo-prop engined aircraft were delivered in 1999. One of these two Spanish built CASA 212-400s is a Maritime Patrol Aircraft version (SAF-214) which was modified for the maritime patrol role with a Bendix RDR-1500 surveillance radar.[5] Lack of spares and funding has hampered maintenance and sometimes grounding much of the SAF fleet. In 2012 six experts from Venezuela made an assessment for the Suriname Air Force on the rehabilitation of the Casa 212 airplanes and now the Suriname Air Force has sold them to Fayard Enterprises in the USA.

Three single engined Indian HAL Chetak helicopters were ordered in 2009.[6] In a deal worth US$13.4 million with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited [HAL], facilitated through a line of credit from India. The deal was previous rumoured to include the more modern twin engined HAL Dhruv helicopters, but this proved to be wrong.[7] [8] On 26 December 2012 ten technical personnel of the Suriname Air Force left to India to be trained to become certified helicopter mechanics.[9] In 2014 eight helicopter pilots from the Suriname Air Force were trained on operating the HAL Chetak helicopters in Bangalore, India.[10] In 2014 it was announced that Suriname's order for helicopters from India was in fact for HAL Chetak and not the HAL Dhruv even as the Chetak production line was planned to be shut down. Rumours aside, by the end of January 2015 the three Indian Chetak helicopters were assembled and delivered in Suriname as SAF-H001 (c/n AH-350), SAF-H002 (c/n AH-351) & SAF-H003 (c/n AH-352).[11] These registrations later changed to SAF-153, SAF-303 and SAF-811 when operational training started. The plan is to have one helicopter each based at the city of Paramaribo (Zorg en Hoop Airport), Nickerie (Major Henk Fernandes Airport) and Albina (Albina Airstrip).[12] Finally on 13 March 2015 the helicopter fleet of three Chetaks was officially handed over by the Indian ambassador Subashini Murgesan to the Minister of Defence of Suriname Lamuré Latour in a ceremony at Zorg en Hoop.[13][14] On the same day and occasion the Minister announced that a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter was about to be added to the airfleet of the Suriname Air Force shortly, with pilots already in training. Because of the financial crisis in Suriname, the Air Force has had to decommission one of its Chetaks.

Current inventory

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Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Helicopters
HAL Chetak  India SAR/Utility 3 1 Chetak attached with a M2 Browning

Retired aircraft

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Previous aircraft operated by the Air Wing include the Cessna 206, Pilatus PC-7, and Britten-Norman Islander. Helicopters included the Bell 205 and Alouette III.[15]

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In 1977 the Navy (Marine) of Suriname received three large patrol vessels from the Dutch, built by De Vries Scheepsbouw. With a length of 32 meters each ship had two Paxman 12YHMC diesel engines of 1200HP performing a maximum speed of 20 knots. Delivery was between February 1977 and 1978 and the hull numbers were S-401, S-402 and S-403. Now all three are out of service, the last one S-401 later P-401 is still moored at the Marine Harbor. One was re-built as a luxurious yacht. All ships had their base at the Marine harbor on the Suriname river.

Today most of the fleet of the navy are based at Boxel, close to the resort town of Domburg in the Wanica District on the Suriname river.

In November 2012 The Ministry of Defense bought three patrol vessels for the Coast Guard. This order was worth 16 million euros. These patrol vessels will be used for fishery protection and to counterattack piracy in Surinamese waters. The first Fast Patrol Boat (P201), a 32 meters long, 6,3 meters wide FPB 98 type, was delivered in June 2013. The first boat arrived in Paramaribo with a container vessel from the port of Saint-Nazaire, France. The vessels can reach speeds of 30 knots. Delivery of the remaining two vessels (P101 & P102), FPB 72 types (24 meters long), occurred by the end of July, 2013.[16] The Surinamese Government ordered the three vessels, accelerating planning to set up a coast guard for Suriname that will be deployed to conduct patrol duties and fight maritime crime activities like illegal fishing, drug trafficking, and piracy.

The coast guard is a branch of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Soldiers were transferred from the Navy, to form the initial coast guard staff. The Maritime Authority of Suriname (MAS) is currently training 16 students from the Nature Technical Institute (NaTIn) and Technical Faculty of University of Suriname on how to conduct technical maintenance of the vessels. While the first three boats will barely be sufficient to patrol Suriname's territorial waters and combat maritime crime activities such piracy, rapid reaction is now possible.

The unit has its own base on the banks of the Suriname River in Paramaribo, with posts at the border with Guyana (in western District Nickerie) and French Guiana (in eastern District Marowijne). Legislation on which the coast guard will be founded is almost finished. It will soon be tabled in the Council of Ministers and the Council of State, after which it will head for the National Assembly for approval. The new unit is a civil organisation, with authority to enforce the law in Suriname territorial waters. The Surinamese government does not intend to make cuts to the Navy (Marine), once the Coast Guard is fully operational. The Navy will keep operating in the high seas outside the 100-nautical-mile (190-kilometre) zone.

Command structure

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Then president Dési Bouterse, the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces

The President of the Republic is the head of the armed forces, with the title of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces (Opperbevelhebber van de Strijdkrachten).The President is assisted by the Minister of Defence in his role over the armed forces.

Beneath the President and Minister of Defense is the Commander of the Armed Forces (Bevelhebber van de Strijdkrachten), Colonel Hedwig Gilaard, whose headquarters is in Paramaribo, was followed-up after three years by Colonel Ronni Benschop, who in turn was promoted to Brigade General in February 2014. This is the highest-ranked officer in the Armed Forces of Suriname ever.[17][18]

The Commander called "Bevelhebber", is the Military Chief, charged with command over the different Military Branches. The Military Branches and regional Military Commands report to the Commander.

Commanding officers of the Suriname Armed Forces at present

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[19]

Commanders of the Suriname Armed Forces

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Main article: Commander of the Armed Forces (Suriname)

The Armed Forces is headquartered in Paramaribo.

The task of the national army of Suriname is defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Suriname against foreign armed military aggression. That is, the defense of not only the territory but also the territorial waters and the airspace above it.

The Ministry of Defence consists of the Policy Centre and the operational part (the national army) that makes up the Defence Organization. The Ministry of Defence has no departments. There are various services and units. The Policy Centre is responsible for the care of the armed forces so that timely and adequate it can perform the duties or missions assigned to it by law in an efficient and effective manner. Providing assistance to international organizations, if and to the extent that command is given for that purpose by the relevant authority. This is e.g. for humanitarian operations of the United Nations. Also providing assistance in the preparation and implementation of projects related to the socio-economic development of Suriname

There are several military installations, barracks and detachments in the various districts including the Memre Boekoe barracks (Paramaribo), the Naval Marine base (Wanica District), the Air Force Luma base (Zorg en Hoop, Paramaribo), the training centre for recruits namely the Ayoko barracks [nl] and the detachment Zanderij, the eastern border post, the Akontoe Velantie Kazerne at Albina, in Nickerie the western border post, the Professor Dr. Ali Kazerne and on the Kennedy Highway to Concordia the 1st Sgt Martowidjojo Kazerne. There are also various detachments and the so-called small stations throughout Suriname in the districts Sipaliwini, Saramacca, Brokopondo and Para. But also the protection of important objects such as the Afobaka Dam or the bridge over the Coppename River in Bitagron belong to the protective task of the National Army of Suriname.

Conflicts

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Surinamese Interior War

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The Armed Forces of Suriname were engaged in a domestic war against a few hundred freedom fighters who named themselves "Jungle Commandos" led by Ronnie Brunswijk between 1986 and 1992.[20]

Surinamese armed forces also fought against the Resistance Amerindian groups who called themselves "Tucayana Amazonas" and were led by Alex Jubitana and Thomas Sabajo. These Amerindian insurgents fought from 1986 to 1989. They opposed the expropriation of land owned by indigenous people and discrimination by the military regime.[citation needed]

Role

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  • Defend the territorial integrity of Suriname.
  • Assist the civil power in the maintenance of law and order when required.
  • Contribute to the economic development of Suriname.

The Army also participated in the Multi-National Force in Haiti in the 90's and were redeployed in 2010.[21]

Army ranks

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Suriname shares a rank structure similar to that of the Netherlands.[22]

Commissioned officer ranks

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The rank insignia of commissioned officers.

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers
Suriname Army[23]
Brigadegeneraal Kolonel Luitenant-kolonel Majoor Kapitein/
Ritmeester 		Eerste luitenant Tweede luitenant

Other ranks

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The rank insignia of non-commissioned officers and enlisted personnel.

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Suriname Army[23]
Adjudant Sergeant-majoor Sergeant der 1e klasse Sergeant Korporaal der 1e klasse Korporaal Soldaat der 1e klasse Soldaat
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Future

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With latest procurement of three HAL Chetak helicopters from India for the Air Force and three patrol vessels from France for the new Coast Guard the Armed Forces of Suriname should be better equipped to fulfill its roles in the future.

On September 12, 2012. The Suriname defense minister, Lamouré Latour, discussed with the Brazilian defense minister the possibility of the Military of Suriname acquiring from two to four Brazilian Embraer AT-29B Super Tucano light attack (COIN) trainer planes, 500 ton light patrol ships and the revitalization of the armoured vehicles supplied from Brazil in 1983.[25]

Equipment

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Beretta 92- seen in use during training with U.S. Forces.

FN FAL- main rifle used by Army.

FN F2000- used by some units.

CETME Model L- seen in a parade.

FAMAS - France has donated several hundred FAMAS bullpup rifles to Suriname’s armed forces.[26]

EE-9 Cascavel Armoured car (45)

EE-11 Urutu Armoured personnel carrier (16)

DAF YP-408 Dutch made 6x8 armoured vehicle (5)

DAF YA440 trucks with M-55 anti-aircraft guns

ZPU-1 Towed anti-aircraft guns

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Bevelhebber Kioe A Sen bevorderd tot brigade-generaal". Starnieuws.com. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  2. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Hughes 500D (369D) SAF-100, 31 Mar 1982". aviation-safety.net. Archived from the original on 9 July 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  3. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Bell 205A-1 Iroquois SAF-300, 07 Jul 1987". aviation-safety.net. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  4. ^ "One Of Two Americans Reported Killed In Crash Of Army Helicopter". Apnewsarchive.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-02. Retrieved 2015-02-01.
  5. ^ "casa - 1999 - 2285 - Flight Archive". Flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  6. ^ "HAL Executes Export Order For Chetak Helicopters To Suriname - Hands Over 2 Of The 3 Contracted - AA Me, IN". Aame.in. Archived from the original on 17 May 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  7. ^ "India ready to deliver three Dhruv copters to Suriname army". Pakistan Defence. Archived from the original on 15 July 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  8. ^ "::Avianet.eu:: De luchtvaartsite van Nederland". Avianet.eu. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  9. ^ "Republiek Suriname - Overheid - TECHNICI LUCHTMACHT NAAR INDIA VOOR BIJSCHOLING". Gov.sr. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  10. ^ "Indian helicopters already being flown by Surinamese pilots - Times of Suriname – grootste landelijke dagblad van Suriname". Times of Suriname - grootste landelijke dagblad van Suriname. Archived from the original on 13 September 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  11. ^ "Starnieuws - Eerste Chetak helikopter in elkaar gezet op basis Luchtmacht". m.starnieuws.com. Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-01-30.
  12. ^ "Eerste van drie indiase Chetak helikopters gemonteerd". Archived from the original on 2015-02-03. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  13. ^ "Starnieuws - Luchtmacht weer operationeel met eigen heli's". Starnieuws.com. Archived from the original on 2018-12-23. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  14. ^ "Helikopters SNL ceremonieel overgedragen". Archived from the original on 2015-03-20. Retrieved 2015-03-15.
  15. ^ "World Air Forces pg. 57". Flightglobal.com. Archived from the original on 1 July 2015. Retrieved 7 June 2015.
  16. ^ "Kustwacht heeft nog geen personeel voor drie nieuwe Franse patrouilleboten – Laatste twee schepen nu ook in Suriname - Obsession Magazine". Obsession Magazine. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  17. ^ "Starnieuws - Benschop wordt officieel legerleider en brigade-generaal". Starnieuws.com. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  18. ^ "Ministerie van Defensie - Het Nationaal Leger". Gov.sr. Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  19. ^ "Minister en staf".
  20. ^ "Latin American Para-Military Groups". www.globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2021-05-15.
  21. ^ "Naharnet — Lebanon's leading news destination". Naharnet. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  22. ^ Dyer, Gwynne (1979). "Surinam". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 663. ISBN 9780871964076. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  23. ^ a b Dyer, Gwynne (1979). "Surinam". In Keegan, John (ed.). World armies. Sandhurst: Royal Military Academy. p. 663. LCCN 79-9217. Retrieved 9 March 2022.
  24. ^ "KARL HEINZ 1 - IMO 8872203 - Ship Photos and Ship Tracker". Shipspotting.com. Archived from the original on 2016-11-26. Retrieved 2016-11-26.
  25. ^ "Brasil moderniza estruturas de defesa da Guiana e do Suriname - Forças Terrestres - ForTe - Estratégia, Tecnologia Militar e Segurança". Forças Terrestres - ForTe - Estratégia, Tecnologia Militar e Segurança. 12 September 2012. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  26. ^ "Suriname armed forces receive French FAMAS assault rifles | Defense News September 2023 Global Security army industry | Defense Security global news industry army year 2023 | Archive News year". 25 September 2023.
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