Maldives National Defense Force | |
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Motto | Defending & safeguarding the Maldivian state, territory, exclusive economic zone & the people, with pride, sense of responsibility & professionalism |
Founded | 21 April 1892[1] |
Headquarters | Bandaara Koshi, Malé |
Website | mndf |
Leadership | |
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces | ![]() |
Ministry of Defence | ![]() |
Chief of Defence Force | ![]() |
Personnel | |
Military age | 18 to 28[a] |
Reaching military age annually | 35 males, 20 females |
Active personnel | 4000+ |
Expenditure | |
Budget | $104.2 Million ] MVR 1.61 Billion) [2] |
Percent of GDP | 24.6% (2023)[3] |
Industry | |
Foreign suppliers | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Related articles | |
Ranks | List |
The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF; Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ދިފާއީ ބާރު, romanized: Dhivehi Raajjeyge Qaumee Dhifaaee Baaru) is the national military responsible for defending the security and sovereignty of the Maldives. It is primarily responsible per the constitution to defend and protect the Republic, its territorial integrity, its exclusive economic zone (EEZ) and the people.[4] Its branches include the Maldivian Coast Guard, the MNDF Marine Corps, and the Special Forces.
Aircraft | Origin | Type | Variant | In service | Notes | |
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Unmanned combat aerial vehicle | ||||||
Bayraktar TB2 | ![]() |
UCAV | 6[5] | Bought From ![]() | ||
Transport | ||||||
Dornier 228 | Germany/India | maritime patrol | 1[7] | Gifted by India[8][9] | ||
Helicopters | ||||||
HAL Dhruv | India | SAR / utility | Mk.3 | 2[10] | Gifted by India[11] |
Main article: Military ranks of Maldives |
The ranking system of the MNDF is based on the traditional British military system and U.S. military system. The highest flag rank ever awarded was that of lieutenant general, in a non-military capacity to the previous Defence Minister Abdul Sattar, although the president being the commander in chief also holds the rank of general in a non-military capacity.[12]
Rank group | General / flag officers | Senior officers | Junior officers | Officer cadet | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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ޖެނެރަލް Jeneral |
ލެފްޓިނަންޓް ޖެނެރަލް Leftinant jeneral |
މޭޖަރ ޖެނެރަލް Meyjar jeneral |
ބްރިގޭޑިއަރ ޖެނެރަލް Brigeydiar jeneral |
ކާނަލް Kaanal |
ލެފްޓިނަންޓް ކާނަލް Leftinant kaanal |
މޭޖަރ Meyjar |
ކެޕްޓަން Keptan |
ފަސްޓް ލެފްޓިނަންޓް Fast leftinant |
ލެފްޓިނަންޓް Leftinant |
Equivalent NATO rank |
WO-5 | WO-4 | WO-3 | WO-2 | WO-1
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Chief warrant officer | Warrant officer grade 4 | Warrant officer grade 3 | Warrant officer grade 2 | Warrant officer grade 1 |
Rank group | Senior NCOs | Junior NCOs | Enlisted | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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No insignia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ސާރޖަންޓް މޭޖަރ އޮފް އެމްއެންޑީއެފް Saarjant meyjar of emendeeef |
ކޮމާންޑް ސާރޖަންޓް މޭޖަރ Komaand saarjant meyjar |
ސާރޖަންޓް މޭޖަރ Saarjant meyjar |
ފަސްޓް ސާރޖަންޓް Fast saarjant |
ސާރޖަންޓް ފަސްޓް ކްލާސް Saarjant fast klaas |
ސްޓާފް ސާރޖަންޓް Staaf saarjant |
ސާރޖަންޓް Saarjant |
ކޯޕްރަލް Koapral |
ލާންސް ކޯޕްރަލް Laans koapral |
ޕްރައިވެޓް Praivet |
(Former Commandant, MNDF Service Corps)
(Former Commandant, MNDF Marine Corps)