Military of Mauritius


Mauritius does not have a military. All military, police, and security functions are carried out by 10,000 active-duty personnel under the command of the Commissioner of Police of the Mauritius Police Force. The 8,000-member National Police Force is responsible for domestic law enforcement. The 1,500-member Special Mobile Force and the 500-member National Coast Guard are the only two paramilitary units in Mauritius. Both units are composed of police officers on lengthy rotations to those services.

Organisation and training

The SMF is organized as a ground infantry unit, with six rifle companies, two mobilisable paramilitary companies, and one engineer company, according to the IISS Military Balance 2007. It engages extensively in civic works projects. The Coast Guard has four patrol craft for search-and-rescue missions and surveillance of territorial waters. A 100-member police helicopter squadron assists in search-and-rescue operations. There also is a special supporting unit of 270 members trained in riot control.
Military advisers from India and United Kingdom work with the SMF, the Coast Guard, and the Police Helicopter Unit, and Mauritian police officers are trained in India, United Kingdom and France. India and the United States provide training to Mauritian Coast Guard officers in such fields as seamanship and maritime law enforcement.

Equipment

Small arms

NameOriginTypeVariantNotes
Walther PPGermanySemi-automatic pistol
FN P90BelgiumPersonal defense weapon
M16 RifleUnited StatesAssault rifleM16A2
SIG SG 540SwitzerlandAssault rifle
Heckler & Koch G36GermanyAssault rifle
Heckler & Koch MP5GermanySubmachine gun-
FN FALBelgiumBattle rifle
FN MAGBelgiumMachine gun
FN SCARBelgiumAssault rifleSCAR-L

Aircraft

In March 1990 one radar equipped HAL Do 228 was ordered from India to form a maritime surveillance element by July 1991. This aircraft
was reinforced in 1992 by a single twin turbo prop BN-2T Maritime Defender for coastal patrol work. A second HAL Do 228 was added to the fleet in 2004 and a third in 2016.

Vessels

Ship inventory

ShipOriginTypeIn serviceClassNotes
CGS BarracudaIndiaPatrol boat1Kora-class corvette
CGS ValiantIndiaPatrol boat1Sarojini Naidu-class patrol vessel
CGS VictoryIndiaPatrol boat1Sarojini Naidu-class patrol vessel
CGS GuardianIndiaPatrol boat1Seaward-class patrol vessel
CGS VigilantChilePatrol boatSTXM PV75 Offshore Patrol VesselDecommissioned 2010
CGS AmarIndiaSeaward-class patrol vesselDecommissioned 1998
CGS RescuerUSSRZhuk-class patrol boatDecommissioned 2019
CGS RetrieverUSSRZhuk-class patrol boatDecommissioned 2019
CGS ObserverIndia1AMPL -class interceptor boat