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Under Bahrain's Ministry of Defense, the Bahrain Defense Force (BDF) numbers about 9,000 personnel and consists of the Royal Bahraini Army, Royal Bahraini Navy, Royal Bahraini Air Force, as well as 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 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.

After the Gulf War, Bahrain received additional military support from the United States, including the sale of 54 M60A3 tanks, 12 F-16C/D aircraft, and 14 Cobra helicopters. Joint naval, 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. Since 2003 Bahrain has been granted over $100 million in Foreign Military Funding to pay for various high profile weapons systems, to include a AN/TPS-59(v)3B Early Warining Radar, Large Aircraft Counter-InfraRed Measures (LARCIM) Air-to-Air Missile Avoidance system for the Head of State's Plane (Boeing 747-400), as well an Avenger Air Defense Vehicle.

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)

U.S. Department of State

• Bahrain