Under Bahrain's Ministry of Defense, the Defense Force (BDF) numbers about 9,000 personnel and consists of army, navy, air force, air defense, and Amiri guard units. Separate from the BDF, the public security forces and the coast guard report to the Ministry of the Interior. Bahrain, in conjunction with its Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) partners--Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates--has moved to upgrade its defenses over the last 10 years in response to the threat posed by the Iran-Iraq and Gulf wars. In 1982, the GCC gave Bahrain $1.7 billion to help improve its defenses. Bahrain's defense spending since 1999 has been steady. The government spends around $320 million annually on their military. The Royal Bahraini Air Force (RBAF) was formerly known as Bahrain Ameri Air Force (BAAF) but since the elections of 14 February 2002, the oilstate became a Monarchy and the Armed Forces were renamed accordingly In 1987, the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) was reorganized into separate Army, Navy and Air... ... Combatants Iran Iraq Casualties Est. ... Combatants U.S.-led coalition Iraq Commanders George H. W. Bush, Norman Schwarzkopf, Colin Powell Saddam Hussein Strength 660,000 ~545,000 Casualties 345 dead, 1,000 wounded 25,000 - 100,000 dead, 100,000 - 300,000 wounded The 1991 Gulf War (also Persian Gulf War) was a conflict between... 1982 (MCMLXXXII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ...

After the Gulf War, Bahrain received additional military support from the United States, including the sale of eight AH-64 Apache helicopters and subsequent sales of 54 M60A3 tanks, 12 F-16C/D aircraft, and 14 Cobra helicopters. Joint air and ground exercises also have been planned and executed to increase readiness throughout the Gulf. Bahrain and the United States signed a Defense Cooperation Agreement in October 1991 granting U.S. forces access to Bahraini facilities and ensuring the right to pre-position material for future crises. In 2003, United States President George W. Bush designated Bahrain as a major non-NATO ally of the United States. Boeing AH-64 Apache The Boeing IDS AH-64 Apache Helicopter is the US Armys principal attack helicopter, the successor to the AH-1 Cobra. ... The M46, M47, M48 and M60 Patton were the U.S armys principal main battle tanks of the Korean and Vietnam Wars. ... The F-16 Fighting Falcon is a modern multi-role jet fighter aircraft built in the United States and used by dozens of countries all over the world. ... The AH-1 Cobra, called the Huey Cobra, Cobra, or Snake, is an attack helicopter, designed by Bell Helicopter Textron. ... For the pop band, see Presidents of the United States of America. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is the 43rd and current President of the United States and former governor of Texas. ... Major non-NATO ally (MNNA) is a designation given by the United States government to exceptionally close allies who have strong strategic working relationships with American forces but are not members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. ...

Military branches: Bahrain Defense Forces: Ground Force (including Air Defense), Navy, Air Force, National Guard.

Military manpower - military age: 18 years of age

Military manpower - availability:
males age 15-49: 202,106 (2005 est.)

Military manpower - fit for military service:
males age 15-49: 161,372 (2005 est.)

Military manpower - reaching military age annually:
males: 6,013 (2005 est.)

Military expenditures - dollar figure: $628.9 million (2004)

Military expenditures - percent of GDP: 6.3% (2004)

References and external links

 U.S. Department of State website. 

See also

• Bahrain