Guyana Defence Force

Twentieth century

The GDF was formed on 1 November 1965. Members of the new Defence Force were drawn from the British Guiana Volunteer Force (BGVF), Special Service Unit (SSU), British Guiana Police Force (BGPF) and civilians. Training assistance was provided by British instructors.

A survey party sent by the Surinamese government, which at the time was still under Dutch colonial rule, was sent to the Tigri Area in late 1967 as part of Suriname's "Operation Grasshopper", prompting the GDF to confiscate their weapons and expel them from the territory on December 12.^[8]

On January 2, 1969, the Rupununi uprising by native Pemon and Wapishana led by Valerie Hart, with reported support from Venezuela,^[4] began with an attack against Lethem, the capital of the Upper Takutu–Upper Essequibo region, resulting in the deaths of five police officers and two civilians and the destruction of Guyanese government buildings.^[9] The rebels locked townsfolk in their homes, blocked airstrips in the area, and took Guyanese government officials into their custody.^[10][9] Guyanese forces mobilized from the nearest unblocked airstrip and in two days the insurrection was quelled, with many rebels fleeing into Venezuela and Brazil, with Hart fleeing to the former.^[10][11] Accusations of massacres by Guyanese forces of native Amerindians have been put forth, which the Guyanese government denied and the Guyanese government accused the rebels of being backed by Venezuela and attempting to cede themselves to Venezuela.^[12][9]

In mid–August 1969, patrolling GDF forces discovered a Surinamese camp and partially completed airstrip in the Tigri Area. This discovery prompted the GDF to launch an operation on August 19 against the camp and airstrip, resulting in the expulsion of Surinamese forces from the area.^[8]

A platoon of GDF soldiers, part of a contingent of Caribbean Community troops, were involved in the 1994 US-led intervention Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti.^[13]

Twenty-first century

On 28 November 2023, the U.S. Embassy in Guyana announced that the United States military (1st SFAB) and the Guyana Defence Force would strengthen their military partnership.^[14] This occurred during the 2023 Guyana–Venezuela crisis when its neighboring country, Venezuela, announced the annexation of the majority of Guyana's western territories via the 2023 Venezuelan referendum.^[15] The GDF is multiple factors smaller than the National Bolivarian Armed Forces of Venezuela and would have great difficulty defending itself from Venezuela without foreign support.^[4]

Three main roles exist for the GDF:

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

The GDF is an integral part of the Guyanese nation. Resources and equipment of the GDF are used to help other Guyanese; examples include medical mercy flights and the construction of roads and airstrips by the Engineering Corps.

Enlistment into the force is voluntary for officers and soldiers. Basic training is done within GDF training schools, which has also trained officers and soldiers from Commonwealth Caribbean territories. However, officers are trained at one of two British officer training schools: Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (Infantry Training) and Britannia Royal Naval College (Coast Guard Training).

The training and skills gained by the members of the GDF have been used when they move either into civilian life or into the sister military organizations, the Guyana National Reserve (now the Second Infantry Battalion Group Reserve) and formerly the Guyana National Service (disbanded in 2000) and the Guyana People's Militia.

• 1st Infantry Battalion Group
• 3rd Infantry Battalion
• 2nd Infantry Battalion Group Reserve (formerly the Guyana People's Militia)
• 31 Special Forces Squadron
• 21st Artillery Company
• Engineer Battalion
• Signals Corps
• Defence Headquarters
• Training Corps
• Intelligence Corps
• Coast Guard
• Band Corps
• Medical Corps
• Air Corps

1st Infantry Battalion Group

In the 1980s, the Guyana Defence Force manned the Amawai, Roraima, Ireng, and Takutu sectors, while the Kutari Sector was manned by the then Guyana National Service. In 1988, these GDF battalions were merged to create the 1st Infantry Battalion, later known as the 1st Infantry Battalion Group. At that time, the Force had more resources, including human, financial, and materiel, compared to its current state. However, today, the amalgamated battalion faces significant challenges as it is now required to carry out the tasks previously handled by multiple units. This poses a considerable challenge, especially given the changing dynamics in the global environment, which are impacting the nation's security.^[16]

31 Special Forces Squadron

The 31 Special Forces Squadron is a special forces group that is specialized in airborne, jungle and river warfare operations.^[4]

GDF Band Corps

The Guyana Defence Force Band Corps is the official musical unit of the GDF whose role is to provide musical accompaniment for ceremonial functions of the GDF.^[17] The members were drawn from the Rifle Companies and the defunct Volunteer Force and were brought out during regimental military parades. The Guyana Defence Force Steel Band would soon follow the main band's lead after its own establishment in 1970, three years after the original band was founded.^[18]

Medical Corps

The Medical Corps provides medical and dental care to all the members of the GDF and their immediate families. It often liaises with the Health ministry for medical procedures and protocol to be carried out effectively. The corps is situated in Base Camp Ayanganna which includes facilities such as a medical laboratory and a dental lab.^[19]

Chief of Staff

Much of the equipment belonging to Guyana are Cold War era weapons, with some World War II armaments still supplied.^[4] Guyana is a member of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative. It maintains strong military relations with Brazil, with which it collaborates on border security through yearly regional military exchange gatherings. Moreover, the nation has bilateral pacts with China, France, and the USA. The GDF engages in regular training and participates in bilateral activities. Equipment is mostly composed of ex-Soviet and British weapons and vehicles. The air force has enhanced its limited air-transport capabilities with second-hand aircraft primarily from Brazilian and North American origins. With the exception of maintenance facilities, a defence-industrial sector does not exist.^[20]

Armoured fighting vehicles

Model	Image	Origin	Quantity	Details
Reconnaissance
EE-9 Cascavel		Brazil	~6	only reported.[20]
EE-11 Urutu		Brazil	24[4]	MkIII variant, unknown if functional[4]

Armoured transport vehicles

Model	Image	Origin	Quantity	Details
Shorland S52		United Kingdom	5[21]	[4]

Artillery

Model	Image	Origin	Calibre	Quantity	Details
Towed
M-46		Soviet Union	130mm	~6	[20]
Multiple rocket systems
Type 63		China	107mm	6	[4]
Mortars
L16A1		United Kingdom	81mm	~12	[20]
M-43		Soviet Union	82mm	~18	[20]
			120mm	~18	[20]

Patrol and coastal combatants

Model	Image	Origin	Variant	Quantity	Acquired	Details
PCO
GDFS Essequibo		United Kingdom	River-class minesweeper[20]	~1	2001[22]	Ship in poor condition[4][23][24]
Patrol boats
Barracuda		United States	44-foot motor lifeboat	~4	2001[25]	ex-US Type-44.[20]
GDFS Berbice		United States	115 Defiant-class patrol vessels	1	2023	Incorporated in November 2023.[26]

Small arms

Name	Image	Caliber	Type	Origin	Notes
Pistols
Walther PPK[27]		.32 ACP	Semi-automatic pistol	Germany
Submachine guns
Sten[27]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	United Kingdom
Sterling[27]		9×19mm	Submachine gun	United Kingdom
Rifles
SKS[27]		7.62×39mm	Semi-automatic rifle	Soviet Union
AKM[27]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	Soviet Union
Type 63[27]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	China
Type 56[27]		7.62×39mm	Assault rifle	China
M16[27]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	United States
FAMAS[28]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	France
Heckler & Koch G36[27]		5.56×45mm	Assault rifle	Germany
FN FAL[27]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	Belgium
Heckler & Koch G3[27]		7.62×51mm	Battle rifle	West Germany
Machine guns
Bren[27]		7.62×51mm	Light machine gun	United Kingdom
FN Minimi[28]		5.56×45mm	Light machine gun	Belgium
FN MAG[27]		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	Belgium
AA-52[27]		7.62×51mm	General-purpose machine gun	France
Surface-to-air missiles
9K32 Strela-2		72mm	Surface-to-air missile	Soviet Union	18[4]
Rocket propelled grenade launchers
RPG-7[27]		40mm	Rocket-propelled grenade	Soviet Union

The Defence force air wing was formed in 1968 and was then renamed the Guyana Defence force air command in 1973. Seven Britten-Norman BN-2A Islander were delivered over a five-year period in the 1970s and then were supplemented by Short Skyvans series 3Ms in 1979. In 1986 3 Mil Mi-8 were delivered. The GDF currently operates 24 fixed-wing aircraft and 24 helicopters. Recently, the GDF had ordered two Dornier Do-228 aircraft from Indian Manufacturer Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, which were delivered on 1 April 2024.^[29][30]

Current inventory

Aircraft	Origin	Type	Variant	In service	Notes
Transport
BN-2 Islander	United Kingdom	utility		1[31]
Cessna 206	United States	utility		1[4]
HAL 228	India	utility	HAL 228	2[32][33]	Delivery aboard IAF C-17 aircraft.
Short Skyvan	United States	utility		2[31]
Super King Air	United States	VIP transport	350	1[34]
Harbin Y-12	China	utility		1[4]
Helicopters
Bell 206	United States	utility		1[31]
Bell 412	United States	utility		2	1 unit crashed on 6 December 2023 in the Esequibo region

Retired aircraft

Previous notable aircraft operated by the Air Wing were the Cessna 182, Cessna 206, Embraer EMB 110, Helio Courier, Aérospatiale Alouette III, Bell 212, and the Mil Mi-8.^[35]

• Metal Shark Boats patrol boats — (5) 28-foot Relentless, and (2) 38-foot Defiant.^[36] The first three of the aluminum-hulled 28-foot boats were donated by the United States in March 2014.^[37][38] In March 2017, two of the 38-foot boats were acquired.^[36][39]
• Metal Shark Boats offshore patrol vessel — one on order, scheduled for delivery in 2022.^[40][23]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Military of Guyana.

• Official website