The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) have taken delivery of a sizeable amount of new military hardware, with more planned, as the country rejuvenates its defence capabilities. The GAF on 16 October announced that it had received 45 modern military vehicles, including 15 Kia KLTV utility vehicles and 15 4×4 and 15 6×6 KMTV troop carriers, advancing a massive national ‘retooling’ drive across all frontiers. The vehicles are expected to improve troop transportation, facilitate movement across difficult terrain and enhance the Army’s ability to respond swiftly to operational demands. The acquisition forms part of the government’s broader efforts to modernise the Ghana Armed Forces, strengthen national security and improve its capacity to safeguard Ghana’s territorial integrity. Earlier this year, the Ghana Navy acquired the Ghana Navy Ship (GNS) Pru, commissioning the vessel on 10 February 2026 at the Sekondi Naval Base. Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Defence Ernest Brogya Genfi said the ship would enhance maritime patrols, protect offshore resources, combat illicit maritime activities and contribute to regional and international maritime security. The Chief of the Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Godwin Livinus Bessing, said the commissioning of GNS Pru would strengthen the operational capacity of the Navy to respond to evolving and asymmetric maritime threats. This River class ship (P47) is a 42 metre Flex Fighter design acquired from Singapore’s Penguin Shipyard. Ghana previously commissioned four 40 metre Flex Fighter vessels in February 2022 (Ghana Navy Ships Volta, Densu, Pra and Ankobra). (The Nigerian Navy has also acquired three 40 metre long Flex Fighter Max patrol vessels from Penguin.) The Flex Fighter family derives from Penguin’s Flex series of crew boats, which are widely used for offshore resupply and support operations. Additional assets are expected to follow for the Ghana Navy, including a fisheries patrol vessel, 72 metre offshore patrol vessels, six fast attack craft, 11 interceptor boats, and numerous smaller patrol boats. In addition, the Ghana Navy is expected to integrated six V-BAT unmanned aerial systems, and 30 riverine boats to transform fisheries enforcement and offshore infrastructure protection, the Ghana Armed Forces said in mid-October. In December 2025, the Ghana Navy received its largest vessel: the 65 metre GNS Achimota (P46), which was acquired from Japan. It previously served as the Japanese Fisheries Agency patrol vessel Aratsu. The vessel was built by Kurinoura Shipbuilding in Japan in 1999 and has a complement of 20 people. It is employed in the Ghana Navy fleet among others for fisheries protection duties and as a training vessel for both Officers and Ratings. The Ghana Air Force also strengthened its capabilities with the delivery of an Airbus Helicopters H175 helicopter from France on 5 March 2026, directly fulfilling the strategic vision of Commander-in-Chief John Dramani Mahama to build a standard 21st-century defence force. Speaking in January, Mahama said “let me assure you that government remains fully committed. Plans are well advanced to procure armoured personnel carriers, offshore patrol vessels for the Ghana Navy, four brand new Eurocopter helicopters for the Ghana Air Force.” Ghana has ordered two H175Ms, one ACH175, and one ACH160 from Airbus Helicopters for transport, search and rescue, disaster relief, and other duties. The H175M is a military configured airframe to be used for missions such as personnel and cargo transport and civil support, while the ACH160 and ACH175 are corporate configured helicopters likely acquired for VIP duties. In December 2025, Ghana’s Parliament approved a €125 million agreement between the Ministry of Defence and Airbus Helicopters as well as a $60 million agreement with Dassault Aviation for the acquisition of a single Falcon 6X aircraft for the Ghana Air Force. One more helicopter and the Falcon 6X are expected to be del
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