Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea

Capital: Port Moresby

1989-1997 counter-insurgency against the Bougainville Revolutionary Army (BRA) on Bougainville and Buka. The government of Papua New Guinea hired mercenaries from a company called Sandline International based in London to combat the BRA and hurry to reopen a copper mine at Panguna. Sandline had ties with the notorious mercenary outfit Executive Outcomes. Sandline was discontinued in 2004, but most members went on to join or form new mercenary groups.

2013- An Australian government funded think tank called Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) proposed to the government of Papua New Guinea the the re-opening of an old World War 2 era U.S. and Australian military base on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea. This base includes the Momote airfield and Seeadler Harbour. It is suggested that Manus Island would be used as a possible detention area for illegal aliens trying to enter Australia. However, some believe that the plan is part of a larger U.S. led western effort to re-position military forces in the Pacific and Asia in an attempt to contain China's growing influence. 

16 November 2018- The US and Australia again announce plans to renovate the Lombrum military base and re-open other military facilities on Manus Island in Papua New Guinea for joint operations.

2023- US military forces to use the Lombrum Navy Base and Momote airport in northern Papua New Guinea in addition to ports and airports in Port Moresby and Lae in the center of the country.

Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF)

Approximately 2,100 personnel

Air Operations Element

CASA CN-235 transport aircraft (2)

GAF Nomad utility aircraft. Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) ability. (4)

IAI Arava utility aircraft. Short Take Off and Landing (STOL) ability. (3)

MBB Bo 105 helicopter (1)

UH-1 helicopters (4)

Maritime Operations Element

200 personnel

Pacific Class patrol boats (4)
P01 HMPNGS Rabaul
P02 HMPNGS Dreger
P03 HMPNGS Seeadler

 P04 HMPNGS Moresby

Balikpapan Class landing ships (2)

Guardian Class patrol boats (3). Donated by Australia.

 

 

 

 

Land Element

Pacific Islands Regiment
1st Battalion
2nd Battalion

81mm mortars

120mm mortars

FN MAG machine guns

FN Minimi machine guns

M16A2 assault rifles

FN FAL assault rifles

Sterling sub-machine guns

Browning Hi Power pistols

Equipment shortages and under funding throughout the entire military.






Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary (RPNGC)
Approximately 4,800 personnel

PNGDF pictures