Maldives National Defence Force

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Maldives National Defense Force
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 28[a]
Reaching military
age annually
35 males,
20 females
Active personnel4000+
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
Related articles
RanksList

The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF; Dhivehi: ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޤައުމީ ދިފާއީ ބާރު, romanizedDhivehi 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[edit]

Aircraft[edit]

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[edit]

Howitzers & Rocket Launchers[edit]

Air Defence & Radars[edit]

VIP Transport[edit]

Rank structure[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

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[edit]

Medals[edit]

  • Medal of Honor
  • Presidential Medal
  • MNDF Medal
  • Distinguished Service Medal
  • Good Conduct Medal
  • Medal for Exceptional Bravery
  • Dedicated Service Medal
  • Medal of Bravery
  • Purple Heart
  • Long Service Medal
  • Gold Life Saving Medal
  • Silver Life Saving Medal
  • 3 November Medal
  • Centenary Medal
  • Saarc Summit Medal
  • Minivan 50 Medal
  • Minivan 60 Medal

Ribbons[edit]

  • Presidential Ribbon
  • MNDF Ribbon
  • Long Service Ribbon
  • Ribbon of Skill
  • Dedicated Service Ribbon
  • Special Duty Ribbon
  • Achievement Ribbon
  • Marksmanship Ribbon
  • Ribbon for Bravery
  • Good Conduct Ribbon

General officers[edit]

Serving general officers[edit]

Retired general officers[edit]

(Former Commandant, MNDF Service Corps)

(Former Commandant, MNDF Marine Corps)

Dismissed general officers[edit]

Notes[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  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[edit]

  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[edit]