Eritrean Defence Forces

Eritrean Defence Forces
ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ (Tigrinya) قوات البحرية الارترية
Eritrean Defence Force badge
Founded24 May 1991
Service branches
HeadquartersAsmara
Leadership
Commander-in-ChiefIsaias Afewerki
Minister of DefenceGeneral Filipos Woldeyohannes
Chief of StaffGeneral Filipos Woldeyohannes
Personnel
Military age18 years old
ConscriptionOpen-ended
Available for
military service
2,220,000, age 15–49
Fit for
military service
1,599,000, age 15–49
Active personnel120,000
Reserve personnel130,000
Expenditure
BudgetUS$ 598.7 million
Percent of GDP10% (2019 est.)
Industry
Foreign suppliersChina
Russia
Egypt
Japan
India
Israel
United States
Related articles
HistoryMilitary history of Eritrea
Hanish Islands Crisis
Second Sudanese Civil War
First Congo War
Eritrean–Ethiopian War
Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict
2013 Eritrean Army mutiny
Battle of Tsorona
Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)
Tigray War
RanksMilitary ranks of Eritrea

The Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) (Tigrinya: ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ قوات البحرية الارترية) are the combined military forces of Eritrea composed of three branches: Eritrean Army, Eritrean Air Force and Eritrean Navy. The Army is by far the largest, followed by the Air Force and Navy. The Commander-in-Chief of the EDF is the President of Eritrea. Their military role stems from Eritrea's strategic geographical location, located on the Red Sea with a foothold on the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.