Armed Forces of Bhutan
| Armed Forces of Bhutan | |
|---|---|
| འབྲུག་དམག་མི་ཚོགས་པ། | |
 Flag of the Royal Bhutan Army | |
| Founded | 1951 |
| Headquarters | Thimphu, Bhutan |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck (King of Bhutan) |
| Chief of Staff | Lieutenant General Batoo Tshering |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18–25 years |
| Conscription | No |
| Available for military service | 200,000 (approx.), age 15–49 (2024 est.) |
| Fit for military service | 150,000 (approx.), age 15–49 (2024 est.) |
| Reaching military age annually | (2024 est.) |
| Active personnel | ~8,000 (est.) |
| Reserve personnel | classified |
| Expenditure | |
| Percent of GDP | ~1.3% |
| Related articles | |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Bhutan |
The branches of the armed forces of Bhutan are the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA), Royal Bodyguards, and Royal Bhutan Police. Bhutan does not have an air force, nor (being a landlocked country) a navy. India is responsible for military training, arms supplies and the air defense of Bhutan. Bhutan's army is trained by the Indian Armed Forces.
Air support
[edit]The RBA relies on the Eastern Air Command of the Indian Air Force for air assistance. In recent years India has helped Bhutan start to develop its military in all areas through military donations and training. Total 8,000 Army personnel.[1] Historically, on 1 of January 1971 the Government of Bhutan decided to increase military personnel to 4,850 by recruiting additional 600-700 recruits and stricter regulations on liberation from service.[2] Indian Air Force helicopters evacuated RBA casualties to India for treatment during Operation All Clear in 2003.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ Dorji, Kinley. "Eastern air command chief visits Bhutan". Kuensel. Archived from the original on 5 November 2006. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
- ^ Milutin Tomanović, ed. (1972). Hronika međunarodnih događaja 1971 [The Chronicle of International Events in 1971] (in Serbo-Croatian). Belgrade: Institute of International Politics and Economics. p. 2553.
- ^ "A nation pays tribute". Kuensel. 15 August 2004. Archived from the original on 10 June 2011. Retrieved 22 October 2008.
- CIA World Factbook (2010)