Republic of Fiji Military Forces

The Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF, formerly the Royal Fiji Military Forces until 1987 when the Dominion of Fiji was overthrown) is the armed forces of the Pacific island nation of Fiji. With a total manpower of about 6,500 active soldiers and approximately 6,200 reservists, it is one of the smallest militaries in the world and the third largest in the South Pacific region. The Ground Force is organised into one engineer and six infantry battalions. The first two regular battalions of the Fiji Infantry Regiment are traditionally stationed overseas on peacekeeping duties; the 1st Battalion has been posted to Lebanon, Iraq, Syria, and East Timor under the command of the UN, while the 2nd Battalion is stationed in Sinai with the MFO. Peacekeepers income represents an important source of income for Fiji. The 3rd Battalion is stationed in the capital, Suva, and the remaining three are spread throughout the islands.

Organisation

Commander-in-Chief – The President of the Republic is ex officio Commander-in-Chief of the Military Forces. Commander RFMF – The Commander RFMF is of two-star rank. He is assisted by the Deputy Commander and the Chief of Staff, who are responsible for Strategic Command and Land Force Command. The current Commander is Major General Jone Kalouniwai who was preceded by Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto who was appointed following the resignation of Brigadier Mosese Tikoitoga on 2 August 2015. Tikoitoga succeeded the previous Commander and former Head of Government Commodore Voreqe (Frank) Bainimarama after fifteen years of service as Commander and a total of thirty-nine years of active military service. Strategic Command – Strategic Command is responsible for all of the long term and strategic concerns of the RFMF, including welfare, legal issues, sustainability issues etc. Land Force Command – Land Force Command is the operational organisation of the RFMF, and is responsible for all of the main units: HQ Land Force Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jone Kalouniwai Naval Unit Fiji Infantry Regiment Regular Force 1st Battalion 2nd Battalion 3rd Battalion Territorial Force 4th Battalion 5th Battalion 7th/8th Battalion Fiji Engineer Regiment Logistic Support Unit Force Training Group Presidential Palace Guards Fiji Military Forces Band

Equipment

=== Assault Rifles === SAR 21 AK-47

Daewoo Precision Industries K1

AK-74

AK-101

M4 carbine standard issue

M16A2 rifle

CAR-15

Daewoo K2

FN FAL

IWI Galil

=== Pistols === M45A1

Glock

Beretta M9 M1911

Makarov PM

=== Sniper Rifles === Pindad SPR-2 Parker Hale M85

=== Sub Machine Gun === Uzi

Heckler & Koch MP5

=== Machine Guns === Daewoo K3

RPK-201

PKM

M60 Machine Gun

Ultimax 100

M2 Browning

=== Grenade Rocket Launchers === RPG-7

RPO-A

M79 Grenade Launcher

=== Heavy Artillery === 6 x 105 mm KH178 howitzer

12 x mortar F2 (L16) 81 mm

Shaanxi SX2190- *8-ton class 6x6 special heavy duty truck

Ural-4320 – * Mobile Mechanical Workshop – 24 x refurbished Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle BJ2022- *3/4 ton 4×4 utility vehicle Patria Pasi-*six-wheeled armoured personnel carrier Iveco VM 90-* Multirole Military Vehicle

== Fiji Infantry Regiment == The Fiji Infantry Regiment is the main combat element of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. The regiment was formed with the foundation of the Fijian armed forces in 1920. The regiment, as it is today, goes back to 1978 following Fiji's independence.

Fijian Navy

The Republic of Fiji Navy was formed in 1975, following the government's ratification of the United Nations Law of the Sea convention. The Navy is responsible for maritime needs in border control, such as watching over Fiji's exclusive economic zone and organising task and rescue missions. It currently operates 9 patrol boats. Military aid is received from Australia, the People's Republic of China, and the United Kingdom (although the latter has suspended aid as a result of the 2006 military coup against the civilian government). Speaking at 30th anniversary celebrations on 26 July 2006, Commander Bradley Bower said that the greatest challenge facing the navy of a maritime country like Fiji was to maintain sovereignty and the maritime environment, to acquire, restore, and replace equipment, and to train officers to keep pace with changing situations. In January 2019 five of Fiji's naval vessels were operational. In 2020, Australia provided two new Guardian-class patrol vessels to replace the three vessels it provided over thirty years ago. In December 2019, Fiji took delivery of RFNS Volasiga, boosting the number of operational vessels to six. The Guardian-class patrol boat RFNS Savenaca was officially handed over to Fijian officials, in Henderson, Australia, on 6 March 2020. Northern Air operates search and rescue flights for the Navy.

Equipment

3 x Pacific-class patrol boat (Australia, displacement 162 t, length 31.5 metres (103 ft 4 in), width 8.1 metres (26 ft 7 in) draught 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in), power 2 x 1,050 kilowatts (1,410 shp), maximal speed 20 knots (37 km/h), crew 17-man, armament machine guns 1 x 12.7 mm). These boats replaced discharged Redwing-class minesweepers FNS Kula, Kikau and Kiro, gained 1975 – 1976 from the United States Navy. RFNS Kula (201) (May 1994) RFNS Kikau (202) (May 1995) RFNS Kiro (203) (October 1995) 2 x Guardian-class patrol boats (Australia, speed 20 knots, crew 23)

RFNS Savenaca (401) (2020) RFNS Puamau (402) (2024) 2 patrol boat (US, displacement 97 t, crew 11-man, armament machine guns 1 x 12.7 mm)