| Suriname National Army | |
|---|---|
| Dutch:Nationaal Leger | |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Service branches | Surinamese Land Forces Suriname Air ForceSuriname Coast Guard |
| Headquarters | Paramaribo |
| Website | [1] |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-chief |  Jennifer Geerlings-Simons |
| Minister of Defense |  Uraiqit Ramsaram |
| Commander of the Armed Forces | Brigade generalWerner Kioe A Sen[1] |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Active personnel | 2,500 |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | US$60,000,000 |
| Percent of GDP | 0.7% |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers | |
| Related articles | |
| History | 1980 Surinamese coup d'état Surinamese Interior War |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Suriname |
After the creation of theStatute of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, theRoyal Netherlands Army was entrusted with the defence ofSuriname, while the defence of theNetherlands Antilles was the responsibility of theRoyal Netherlands Navy. The army set up a separateNetherlands Armed Forces in Suriname (Dutch:Troepenmacht in Suriname, TRIS). Upon independence in 1975, this force was turned into theSurinamese Armed Forces (Surinaamse Krijgsmacht, SKM). On February 25, 1980, a group of 15non-commissioned officers and one juniorofficer, under the leadership ofsergeant majorDési Bouterse, staged acoup d'état and overthrew the Government. Subsequently, the SKM was rebranded as theNational Army (Nationaal Leger, NL).
TheNetherlands has provided limited military assistance to the Surinamese armed forces since the election of a democratic government in 1991. In recent years, theUnited States has provided training to military officers andpolicymakers to promote a better understanding of the role of the military in a civilian government. Also, since the mid-1990s, thePeople's Republic of China has been donating military equipment and logistical material to the Surinamese Armed Forces, as hasBrazil.
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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.
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 aHughes 500 - Model 369D helicopter, simply registered SAF-100 and being used for light observation tasks. However the aircraft crashed 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 theSuriname 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 aCessna 172 Skyhawk(SAF-007), aCessna 206(SAF-200) and in 1993 aCessna T303 Crusader(SAF-008) was acquired. The first officialSuriname Air Force Commander from 1983 until 1989 was air forcepilotlieutenant Eddie Alenso Savalie Djoe. He was one of the passenger victims of theSurinam Airways Flight 764 accident in June 1989, by then he was already promoted to the rank ofMajor.
All aircraft of theSuriname 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 andMoengo Airstrip. In 1986 anti-government guerrilla activity prompted the government to acquire a pair ofAérospatiale SA.316B Alouette III(SAF-400 & SAF-500) helicopters from thePortuguese Air Force (Portuguese: Força Aérea Portuguesa), formerly registeredFAP9350 &FAP9386. In the same year also threePilatus 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 deliveredPC-7s were returned to Switzerland but one was later re-delivered. In 1987 aBell 205 Iroquois(SAF-300) was acquired from Venezuela and used as a gunship for five years prior to sale to the US as N6594S 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.
TwoCASA 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 IndianHAL 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 theSuriname 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.
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helicopters | ||||||
| HAL Chetak |  India | SAR/Utility | 3 | 1 Chetak equipped with anM2 Browning | ||
Previous aircraft operated by the Air Wing include theCessna 206,Pilatus PC-7, andBritten-Norman Islander. Helicopters included theBell 205 andAlouette III.[15]
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 ofDomburg in theWanica District on the Suriname river.
In November 2012 The Ministry of Defense bought three patrol vessels for theCoast 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 firstFast 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 likeillegal 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 ofUniversity 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 theSuriname River inParamaribo, with posts at the border withGuyana (in western District Nickerie) andFrench 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.
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 byColonel Ronni Benschop, who in turn was promoted toBrigade 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.
The Armed Forces is headquartered in Paramaribo.[citation needed]
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.[citation needed]
There are several military installations, barracks and detachments in the various districts including theMemre Boekoe barracks (Paramaribo), the Naval Marine base (Wanica District), the Air Force Luma base (Zorg en Hoop, Paramaribo), the training centre for recruits namely theAyoko barracks [nl] and the detachment Zanderij, the eastern border post, the Akontoe Velantie Kazerne atAlbina, inNickerie 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 districtsSipaliwini,Saramacca,Brokopondo andPara. But also the protection of important objects such as theAfobaka Dam or the bridge over theCoppename River inBitagron belong to the protective task of the National Army of Suriname.[citation needed]
The Armed Forces of Suriname were engaged ina domestic war against a few hundredrebels who named themselves "Jungle Commandos" led byRonnie 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.[21]
The Army also participated in the Multi-National Force in Haiti in the 90's and were redeployed in 2010.[22]
Suriname shares a rank structure similar to that of theNetherlands.[23]
The rank insignia ofcommissioned officers.
| Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suriname Army[24] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | |||||||||||||||||
| Brigadegeneraal | Kolonel | Luitenant-kolonel | Majoor | Kapitein/ Ritmeester | Eerste luitenant | Tweede luitenant | ||||||||||||||||||
The rank insignia ofnon-commissioned officers andenlisted personnel.
| Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suriname Army[24] |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Adjudant | Sergeant-majoor | Sergeant der 1e klasse | Sergeant | Korporaal der 1e klasse | Korporaal | Soldaat der 1e klasse | Soldaat | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 12 September 2012, Surinamese 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-29BSuper Tucano light attack (COIN) trainer planes, 500 ton light patrol ships and the revitalization of the armoured vehicles supplied from Brazil in 1983.[26]
| Type | Origin | Caliber | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beretta 92 |  Italy | 9x19mm | Seen in use during training with U.S. Forces. |
| IMI Uzi[27] |  Israel | 9x19mm | |
| AKM[28] |  Soviet Union | 7.62x39mm | |
| FN FAL[29] |  Belgium | 7.62x51mm | Main rifle used by Army. |
| FN F2000 | Belgium | 5.56x45mm | Used by some units. |
| CETME Model L |  Spain | 5.56x45mm | Seen in a parade. |
| FAMAS |  France | 5.56x45mm | France has donated several hundred FAMAS bullpup rifles to Suriname’s armed forces.[30] |
| ZPU-1 | Soviet Union |
| Type | Origin | Quantity | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE-9 Cascavel |  Brazil | 45 | |
| EE-11 Urutu | Brazil | 16 | |
| DAF YP-408 |  Netherlands | 50+ | |
| DAF YA440 trucks | Netherlands | With M-55 anti-aircraft guns. |
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