# Maldives National Defence Force

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. Its branches include the Maldivian Coast Guard, the MNDF Marine Corps, and MNDF Air Corps.

## Organizational structure
### Equipment
#### Small Arms

* Browning Hi-Power
* M1911 pistol
* MP5
* AK-47
* AK-103
* M16A1/M16A2
* FN FAL
* M24 sniper weapon system
* FN MAG
* PK machine gun
* PKP machine gun
* M2 Browning
* RPG-7
* Carl Gustaf 8.4 cm recoilless rifle

### Others

Apart from the combat and maneuver forces, the MNDF also consists of:
* Support services
** Service corps
** Defence intelligence service
** Medical corps
** Adjutant general's corps
* Functional commands
** Special Forces
** Special protection service
** Ordnance service
** MNDF Marine Corps Special Operations Group
** MNDF Coast Guard Special Boat Squadron

## Rank structure

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.

### Serving general officers

* Major General Ibrahim Hilmy - Chief of Defence Force
* Brigadier General Ahmed Ghiyas Vice Chief of Defence Force
* Brigadier General Ismail Shareef - Commander, MNDF Northern Area Command
* Brigadier General Abdulla Zuhury - Commandant, MNDF Fire and Rescue Service
* Brigadier General Dr. Ali Shahid Mohamed - Surgeon General, MNDF Medical Corps
* Brigadier General Abdul Rauf - Commandant, MNDF Air Corps
* Brigadier General Ibrahim Rasheed - Commander, MNDF Male' Area Command
* Brigadier General Mohamed Ibrahim - Defence Advisor, High Commission of Maldives - India
* Brigadier General Abdulla Ibrahim - Adjutant General
* Brigadier General Hassan Shahid - Director General, J3 IHQ
* Brigadier General Mohamed Saleem - Commandant, Coast Guard
* Brigadier General Hussain Ibrahim - Director General, DIDC

### Retired general officers

* Lieutenant General Ambaree Abdul Sattar (Deputy Commander in Chief of Armed Forces from 21 April 1992 – 1 January 1996)
* Major General Mohamed Zahir (Chief of Defence Force from 1 January 1996 – 18 Nov 2008)
* Major General Moosa Ali Jaleel (Chief of Defence Force from 18 Nov 2008 – 7 February 2012 )
* Major General Adam Zahir (Commissioner of Police)
* Major General Ahmed Shiyam (Former Chief of Defence Force)
* Brigadier General Ahmed Shahid (Former Vice Chief of Defence Force)
* Brigadier General Farhath Shaheer (Former Vice Chief of Defence Force)
* Brigadier General Ahmed Shahid (Former Vice Chief of Defence Force)
* Brigadier General Ahmed Naeem Mohamed
* Brigadier General Zakariyya Mansoor - Director General of Counter-Terrorism, Ministry of Defence
* Brigadier General Ibrahim Mohamed Didi
* Brigadier General Ahmed Mohamed (former Vice Chief of Defence Force )
* Brigadier General Ali Zuhair (former commander of Coast Guard)
* Lieutenant General Abdulla Shamaal ( Former Chief of Defence Force)
* Major General Hamid Shafeeq
(Former Commandant, MNDF Service Corps)
* Major General Wais Waheed
(Former Commandant, MNDF Marine Corps)
* Lieutenant General Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef (Former Chief of Defence Force)
* Brigadier General Mohamed Shareef (Former Commandant of MNDF fire and rescue)

### Dismissed general officers

* Colonel Ahmed Nilam