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Maldives National Defense Force
Emblem
MottoDefending & safeguarding the Maldivian state, territory, exclusive economic zone & the people, with pride, sense of responsibility & professionalism
Founded21 April 1892; 132 years ago (1892-04-21)[1]
HeadquartersBandaara Koshi, Malé
Websitemndf.gov.mv
Leadership
Commander in Chief of Armed Forces President Mohamed Muizzu
Ministry of Defence Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon
Chief of Defence Force Major General Ibrahim Hilmy
Personnel
Military age18 to 60[a]
ConscriptionNone
Reaching military
age annually		35 males,
20 females
Active personnel9900+
Reserve personnel7800+
Expenditure
Budget$104.2 Million ] MVR 1.61 Billion) [2]
Percent of GDP24.6% (2023)[3]
Industry
Foreign suppliers China
 India
 Turkey
 United States
 Germany
 Japan
 Saudi Arabia
 Malaysia
 Russia
 Iran
 Canada
 United Arab Emirates
 France
 United Kingdom
 European Union
Related articles
RanksMilitary ranks of Maldives

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.

Equipment

Aircraft

HAL Dhruv of Maldives National Defense Force gifted by India
Aircraft Origin Type Variant In service Notes
Unmanned combat aerial vehicle
Bayraktar TB2  Turkey UCAV 6[5] Bought From  Turkey .[6]
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]

Vehicles

Howitzers & Rocket Launchers

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Radars

VIP Transport

Rank structure

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]

Officer corps

Rank group General / flag officers Senior officers Junior officers Officer cadet
Maldivian Marine Corps[13]
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

Warrant officer corps

Equivalent
NATO rank 		WO-5 WO-4 WO-3 WO-2 WO-1


Maldivian Marine Corps
Chief warrant officer Warrant officer grade 4 Warrant officer grade 3 Warrant officer grade 2 Warrant officer grade 1

Enlisted corps

Rank group Senior NCOs Junior NCOs Enlisted
Maldivian Marine Corps[13]
 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

Medals and ribbons

Medals

Ribbons

General officers

Serving general officers

Retired general officers

(Former Commandant, MNDF Service Corps)

(Former Commandant, MNDF Marine Corps)

Dismissed general officers

Notes

See also

References

  1. ^ "History of MNDF". mndf.gov.mv. Retrieved 11 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Budget 2023". Ministry of Finance, Maldives.
  3. ^ "Maldives Budget". Ministry of Finance, Maldives. Retrieved May 9, 2024.
  4. ^ "About Us". MNDF. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012.
  5. ^ "Türkiye-ABD Savunma Ticareti Diyaloğu için anlaşma sağlandı" (in Turkish). 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  6. ^ "Maldives receives renowned Turkish drones amid India tensions". Daily Sabah. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  7. ^ "World Air Forces 2023". Flightglobal Insight. 2023. Retrieved 24 December 2022.
  8. ^ "MNDF puts off disclosing info on Indian donated aircraft". en.sun.mv. 1 October 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  9. ^ "India Hands Over Surveillance Aircraft to Maldives Amid Strategic Tussle with China". xairforces.com. 30 September 2020. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  10. ^ "HAL workers may replace military staff in Maldives". The Times of India. 2024-02-09. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2024-05-14.
  11. ^ "India donates second naval Advanced Light Helicopter to Maldives". thehindu.com. 14 December 2013. Retrieved 28 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Ranks Used". MNDF. Archived from the original on February 11, 2012.
  13. ^ a b "ރޭންކް ސްޓްރަކްޗަރ". mndf.gov.mv (in Divehi). Maldives National Defence Force. Archived from the original on 29 February 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
  14. ^ a b "MNDF Structure | MNDF". Archived from the original on 2012-04-22. Retrieved 2014-11-14.

Notes

  1. ^ Voluntary service for individuals aged 18–28; no conscription; requires a 10th grade education or equivalent; political party membership is prohibited (2023)

External links

Security Forces of the Maldives
Militaries of Asia
Maldives articles
National intelligence agencies
Categories