View source for Seychelles People's Defence Force

{{Short description|National military of Seychelles}}
{{EngvarB|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Update|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox national military
| name               = Seychelles People's Defence Force
| native_name = {{unbulleted list|{{native name|fr|Force de défense populaire des Seychelles}}|{{native name|crs|Lafors Defans Pep Sesel}}}}
| image              = Flag of the Seychelles People's Defence Force.svg
| alt                = 
| caption            = Flag of the SPDF
| image2             = 
| alt2               = 
| caption2           = 
| motto              = Service before self
| founded            = 1977
| current_form       = 
| disbanded          = 
| branches           = {{ubl|Land Force Command|Seychelles Air Force|[[Seychelles Coast Guard]]}}
| headquarters       = 
| flying_hours       = 
| website            = {{Official website|spdf.sc}}
<!-- Leadership -->
| commander-in-chief = [[Wavel Ramkalawan]]
| commander-in-chief_title = [[List of presidents of Seychelles|Commander-in-Chief]] & Minister of Defence
| chief minister     = 
| chief minister_title = 
| minister           = 
| minister_title     = 
| chief_of_staff     = 
| chief_of_staff_title = 
| commander          = [[Major General]] Michael Rosette<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statehouse.gov.sc/news/5062/president-ramkalawan-appoints-new-command-promotes-and-commissions-new-officers-on-new-years-day|title=President Ramkalawan appoints New Command, Promotes and Commissions new Officers on New Year's Day|date=1 January 2021|access-date=2021-11-06|website=Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles}}</ref>
| commander_title    = Chief of Defence Forces
<!-- Manpower -->
| age                = 18 years of age
| conscription       = Voluntary
| manpower_data      = 
| manpower_age       = 
| available          = 23,210 (2002 est.)
| available_f        = 
| fit                = 11,560 (2002 est.)
| fit_f              = 
| reaching           = 
| reaching_f         = 
| active             = 650 (2012)
| ranked             = 
| reserve            = 
| deployed           = 
<!-- Financial -->
| amount             = €9.7&nbsp;million (2012)
| percent_GDP        = 1% (2012)
<!-- Industrial -->
| domestic_suppliers = 
| foreign_suppliers  = 
| imports            = 
| exports            = 
<!-- Related articles -->
| history            = [[1981 Seychelles coup d'état attempt]]
| ranks              = [[Military ranks of the Seychelles]]
}}

The '''Seychelles People's Defence Force''' ({{langx|fr|Force de défense populaire des Seychelles}}; {{langx|crs|Lafors Defans Pepel Ses}}) is the national military of [[Seychelles]]. It consists of a number of distinct branches: the Infantry Unit, Coast Guard, Air Force and a Presidential Protection Unit.

==Branches==
===Land Force Command===
The 200-strong army consists of a small infantry unit, a special unit, a formation of military policemen and a presidential guard. The land force has the following equipment, which according to IISS is probably hardly operational <ref> International Institute for Strategic Studies (Hrsg.): The Military Balance 2021. 121. Auflage. Taylor & Francis, 2021, ISBN 978-1-03-201227-8, S. 486–487.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|+
! Type
! Origin
! Function
! Amount
|-
| [[BRDM-2]]
| rowspan="5" | [[Soviet Union]]
| [[Reconnaissance vehicle]]
| align="center" |6
|-
| [[82-PM-41 |82mm M-43]]
| [[Mortar (weapon)|Mortar]]
| align="center" |6
|-
| [[ZPU-2]]
| [[Heavy machine gun]]
|
|-
| [[ZPU-4]]
| Heavy machine gun
|
|-
| [[37 mm automatic air defense gun M1939 (61-K)]]
| [[Anti-aircraft gun]]
|
|}

===Coast Guard===
The [[Seychelles Coast Guard]] is the maritime arm of the Seychelles People's Defence Force. Some of the ships they currently have include:
* 1 42m [[patrol boat]] – 268 tons full load – commissioned 1983<ref>{{cite web|url=http://armstrade.sipri.org/armstrade/page/trade_register.php|title=Arms Trade Register|publisher=SIPRI|access-date=24 June 2012}}</ref>
* 2  Rodman 101 crafts – Donated by [[UAE]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/40327/seychelles-takes-delivery-of-new-chinese-patrol-boat# |title=Seychelles takes delivery of new Chinese patrol boat – IHS Jane's 360 |access-date=12 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323070053/http://www.janes.com/article/40327/seychelles-takes-delivery-of-new-chinese-patrol-boat# |archive-date=23 March 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
* 2 Type 062-class gunboats – Donated by China<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=242046|title=Nation Home|website=Nation.sc|access-date=26 August 2018}}</ref>
* 2 [[Trinkat-class patrol vessel|SDB Mk5 patrol vessels]] – [[PS Constant|PS ''Constant'']] and [[PS Topaz|PS ''Topaz'']] built by [[GRSE]] of India to [[Seychelles]] defence as INS ''Tarasa'' and INS ''Tarmugli'' and donated by India in 2014 and 2015.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.janes.com/article/45515/seychelles-receives-another-donated-patrol-boat# |title=Seychelles receives another donated patrol boat – IHS Jane's 360 |access-date=11 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402112534/http://www.janes.com/article/45515/seychelles-receives-another-donated-patrol-boat# |archive-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>
* 2 Wave Rider Class inshore patrol vessels – Donated by [[Sri Lanka]] in 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_19A/Feb01_1549034979CH.php|title=Sri Lanka donates two "Wave Rider" craft produced by Navy to Seychelles|publisher=colombopage.com|access-date=1 February 2019}}</ref>

===Air Force===
[[File:Roundel of Seychelles.svg|thumb| Roundel of the Seychelles Air Force]]

The '''Seychelles Air Force''' was originally formed in 1978 as the Air Wing and has the following aircraft:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=29310:india-donates-do-228-surveillance-aircraft-to-seychelles&catid=35:Aerospace&Itemid=107|title=India donates Do 228 surveillance aircraft to Seychelles|first=Guy|last=Martin|website=Defenceweb.co.za}}</ref>
====Current inventory====
{| class="wikitable"
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|Aircraft
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Origin
! style="text-align:l center; background:#acc;"|Type
! style="text-align:left; background:#acc;"|Variant
! style="text-align:center; background:#acc;"|In service
! style="text-align: center; background:#acc;"|Notes
|-
! style="align: center; background: lavender;" colspan="6" | [[Military transport aircraft|Transport]]
|-
| [[Dornier 228]]
| Germany
| |[[Search and rescue|SAR]] / [[Utility aircraft|Utility]]
| 
| 2<ref name="World Air Forces 2023">{{cite web |url= https://www.flightglobal.com/download?ac=90688|title = World Air Forces 2023|publisher= Flightglobal Insight|year= 2023 |accessdate= 14 February 2023|url-access=registration}}</ref>
| Donated by India<ref name=" About Seychelles Air Force ">{{cite web |url= http://www.spdf.sc/about-air-force/|title = About Seychelles Air Force |publisher= Seychelles People Defence Force |year= 2019 |access-date= 9 July 2019}}</ref> 
|-
| [[Harbin Y-12]]
| China
| |[[Medical evacuation|Medevac]] / [[Maritime patrol aircraft|Patrol]]
| 
| 1<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spdf.sc/our-mission-5/ |title= Seychelles air force |publisher= spdf.sc |accessdate=20 May 2021}}</ref>
|
|-
| [[de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter|DHC-6 Twin Otter]]
| Canada
| |Patrol / SAR
| 
| 1<ref name="World Air Forces 2023"/> 
| [[STOL]] capable aircraft
|}

===Presidential Security Unit (PSU)===
The Presidential Security Unit (PSU) was created in 1977 alongside the Infantry Unit to engage in protection duties for the [[List of presidents of Seychelles|President of Seychelles]] and their residence. It also provides support during transit, and social gatherings. 

Various instructors from foreign nations conduct training with the PSU. It is one of the most elite units in the SPDF. The PSU is located at State House and is administratively attached to the Special Forces Unit.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spdf.sc/presidential-security/#:~:text=Presidential%20Security%20Unit%20%E2%80%93%20Seychelles%20People%20Defence%20Force&text=The%20Presidential%20Security%20Unit%20(PSU,and%20to%20include%20social%20gatherings |title=Presidential Security Unit – Seychelles People Defence Force |publisher=Spdf.sc |accessdate=2021-11-25}}</ref>

==Other components==

===National Brass Band===
The National Brass Band is the official [[military band]] of the SPDF. Its origins date back to 1925 as the Brass Ensemble. It began when the Mariste Brothers of the Roman Catholic Mission training musicians to play the various instruments. The band was disbanded in 1943 as instruments were being delivered by the [[British Army]]. The band was reformed only to be disbanded after [[World War II]], with its instruments being acquired by the [[Seychelles Scout Association]]. 

A new brass band known as LAFANSA came into being, with a police band also being augmented. With the establishment of the Conservatoire of Music and Dance in 1981, the Police Band was reorganised into the National Brass Band under the patronage of the Ministry of Education. 

Antoinc Azcmia became its first conductor, leading a unit which was from 1981 to 1996, a voluntary band (a unit in which musicians are employed on a part-time basis). Full-time musicians were recruited in 1996, and three years later, it was transferred to the Ministry of Defence and based at the Seychelles Defence Academy. Azcmia retired in 2001, being replaced by Thomas Busanya.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spdf.sc/career-opprtunities/|title=National Brass Band}}</ref>

===Educational institutions===

====Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA)====
The Seychelles Defence Academy (SDA) was established on 2 June 1990 by President [[France-Albert René]]. SDA is the premier training institute of the SPDF. The first training camp of the SDA was at Point Larue. The first training was conducted with the help of advisors from the [[Tanzania People's Defence Force]] as well as former [[British Army]] personnel. It was later decided to shift the camp to [[Perseverance Island, Seychelles|Perseverance Island]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spdf.sc/about-the-defence-academy/|title=About Seychelles Defence Academy}}</ref>

====Military Training Centre (MTC)====
The Military Training Centre (MTC) is located at Barbarons on the West Coast of [[Mahé, Seychelles|Mahe]]. It is tasked to train all new recruits who join SPDF. Recruits undertake 90 days of extensive training at the MTC that covers a variety of military/civil subjects. After graduation, the new [[Private (rank)|privates]] are posted to their unit of choice.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spdf.sc/training-and-education-5/|title=About Military Training Centre}}</ref>

==Defence Forces Day==
Defence Forces Day has been celebrated annually since 25 November 1982 to celebrate the victory of the SPDF over a group of foreign mercenaries who [[1981 Seychelles coup d'état attempt|attacked the country in 1981]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nation.sc/archive/247617/-defence-forces-day|title=Defence Forces Day -Archive -Seychelles Nation|website=nation.sc}}</ref> A commemorative parade is held at a Coast Guard Base.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.statehouse.gov.sc/news/4670/president-faure-attends-defence-forces-day-parade | title=President Faure attends Defence Forces Day Parade | date=25 November 2019 | publisher=State House | location=Seychelles | access-date=17 October 2020}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Military of Seychelles}}
*[http://www.spdf.sc/ Seychelles People's Defence Force – official site]

{{Seychelles topics}}
{{Military of Africa}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Military Of Seychelles}}
[[Category:Military of Seychelles| ]]