Military of Lesotho

The Lesotho Defence Force is the state military organisation of Lesotho.

Lesotho's security forces are composed of the Lesotho Defence Force (LDF) and the Lesotho Mounted Police Service. The LDF consists of an army, an air wing, and a newly formed paramilitary wing. The LDF is answerable to the Prime Minister through the Ministry of Defence.

Lesotho Defense Force in 2009

The Lesotho Government in 1999 began an open debate on the future structure, size, and role of the armed forces, especially considering the Lesotho Defence Force's (LDF) history of intervening in political affairs.

Army units

• 7 x Infantry Companies
• 1 x Support Company (81mm mortars)
• 1 x Armoured Recon. Company
• 1 x Artillery Battery (L-118 Light-gun 105mm towed howitzer)
• 1 x Logistic Support Group

Equipment

T-55 Main Battle Tank ( Soviet Union) (QTY-3)

BRDM-2 Scout Car (Soviet Union) (QTY-4)

Panhard AML-90 Armoured Car (France) (QTY-10)

RAMTA RAM-2-V Scout Car (Israel) (QTY-6)

RAMTA RBY Mk-2 Scout Car (Israel (QTY-10)

Shorland S-52 Armoured Car (UK) (QTY-8)

M-40 105mm RR (USA) (QTY-6)

RPG-7 Anti tank rocket launchers (Russia)

L118Light-gun 105mm Howitzer (UK) (QTY-2)

L-16 81mm Medium mortar (UK (QTY-10)

Land roverDefender (UK)

Enfild No.2 Revolver (UK

Beretta AR-70\90 5.56mm Automatic Rifle (Italy)

Colt M-16 A2 5.56mm Automatic Rifle (USA)

IMI Galil ARM \ SAR 5.56mm Automatic Rifle (Israel)

Kalashnikov AK-47 \ AKM \ AKM-S 7.62mm Automatic Rifle (Soviet Union)

FN MAG 7.62mm Light MG (Belgium)

SMG Goryunov 7.62mm MG (Soviet Union)

Browning M-2 12.7mm Heavy MG (USA)

Statistics

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 526,332 (2002 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 283,203 (2002 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $34 million (1999)

Other security forces

The Lesotho Mounted Police report to the Prime Minister through the ministry of Defense, Police and National Security Service. There also is a National Security Service, Intelligence, which is directly accountable to the Prime Minister. Relations between the police and the army have been tense, and in 1997 the army was called upon to put down a serious police mutiny.