Editing United Arab Emirates (section)

=== Military ===
{{Main|United Arab Emirates Armed Forces}}
{{Multiple image
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| image1            = Baynunah-class corvette Al Dhafra P-173 at NAVDEX.JPG
| caption1          = [[Baynunah-class corvette|''Baynunah''-class corvette]] of the [[United Arab Emirates Navy]]
| image2            = F-16e block60.jpg
| caption2          = [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16E/F Block 60|F-16 Desert Falcon]] of the [[United Arab Emirates Air Force]]
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The armed forces of the United Arab Emirates consist of 44,000 active personnel in the [[United Arab Emirates Army|Army]], 2,500 personnel and 46 ships in the [[United Arab Emirates Navy|Navy]], 4,500 personnel and 386 aircraft in the [[United Arab Emirates Air Force|Air Force]], and 12,000 personnel in the [[United Arab Emirates Presidential Guard|Presidential Guard]]. In 2022 the country spent US$20.4 billion on defense, which is 4% of its GDP. The UAE is considered to have the most capable military among the Gulf states.<ref name="iiss2023">{{Cite book |author=IISS |author-link=International Institute for Strategic Studies |date=2023 |title=The Military Balance 2023 |publisher=International Institute for Strategic Studies |pages=351–354 }}</ref><ref name="WorldFactbook" />

Although initially small in number, the UAE armed forces have grown significantly over the years and are presently equipped with some of the most modern weapon systems, purchased from a variety of western military advanced countries, mainly France, the US, and the UK. Most officers are graduates of the United Kingdom's [[Royal Military Academy Sandhurst|Royal Military Academy]] at [[Sandhurst, Berkshire|Sandhurst]], with others having attended the [[United States Military Academy]] at [[West Point, New York|West Point]], the [[Royal Military College, Duntroon]] in Australia, and [[École spéciale militaire de Saint-Cyr|St Cyr]], the military academy of France. France and the United States have played the most strategically significant roles with defence cooperation agreements and military material provision.<ref>{{cite news|title=UAE confirms discussions with France on purchase of Rafale aircraft|url=http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1200074664706&p=1135099400124&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews|agency=Emirates News Agency|date=5 June 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509014605/http://www.wam.org.ae/servlet/Satellite?c=WamLocEnews&cid=1200074664706&p=1135099400124&pagename=WAM%2FWamLocEnews%2FW-T-LEN-FullNews|archive-date=9 May 2013}}</ref>

Some of the UAE military deployments include an infantry battalion to the United Nations [[UNOSOM II]] force in [[Somalia]] in 1993, the 35th Mechanised Infantry Battalion to [[Kosovo]], a regiment to Kuwait during the [[Iraq War]], [[demining]] operations in [[Lebanon]], [[Operation Enduring Freedom]] in [[Afghanistan]], [[2011 military intervention in Libya|American-led intervention in Libya]], [[American-led intervention in the Syrian Civil War|American-led intervention in Syria]], and the [[Saudi-led intervention in Yemen]]. The active and effective military role, despite its small active personnel, has led the UAE military to be nicknamed as "Little Sparta" by [[United States Armed Forces]] Generals and former US defense secretary [[James Mattis]].<ref>{{cite news|title=In the UAE, the United States has a quiet, potent ally nicknamed 'Little Sparta'|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-the-uae-the-united-states-has-a-quiet-potent-ally-nicknamed-little-sparta/2014/11/08/3fc6a50c-643a-11e4-836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=15 September 2018|archive-date=18 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818041917/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/in-the-uae-the-united-states-has-a-quiet-potent-ally-nicknamed-little-sparta/2014/11/08/3fc6a50c-643a-11e4-836c-83bc4f26eb67_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The UAE intervened in the [[Libyan Civil War (2014–present)|Libyan Civil War]] in support of General [[Khalifa Haftar]]'s [[Libyan National Army]] in its conflict with the internationally recognised [[Government of National Accord]] (GNA).<ref>{{cite news |title=UAE and Egypt behind bombing raids against Libyan militias, say US officials |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/26/united-arab-emirates-bombing-raids-libyan-militias |work=The Guardian |date=26 August 2014 |access-date=28 March 2024 |archive-date=17 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201117223306/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/aug/26/united-arab-emirates-bombing-raids-libyan-militias |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Libya migrant attack: UN investigators suspect foreign jet bombed centre |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50302602 |work=BBC News |date=6 November 2019 |access-date=28 March 2024 |archive-date=4 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304005920/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-50302602 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=UAE implicated in lethal drone strike in Libya |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53917791 |work=BBC News |date=27 August 2020 |access-date=29 August 2020 |archive-date=11 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201211090852/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-53917791 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Examples of the military assets deployed include the enforcement of the [[Operation Odyssey Dawn|no-fly-zone over Libya]] by sending six [[UAEAF]] [[F-16]] and six [[Dassault Mirage 2000|Mirage 2000]] [[Multirole combat aircraft|multi-role fighter aircraft]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12806112|title=Libya no-fly zone: Coalition firepower|newspaper=BBC News|access-date=25 December 2014|date=21 October 2011|archive-date=9 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209222012/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-12806112|url-status=live}}</ref> ground troop deployment in Afghanistan,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/nato-officially-initiates-uae-into-afghan-mission-1.749833|title=Nato officially initiates UAE into Afghan mission|author=The National|date=12 July 2018|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411030210/https://www.thenational.ae/world/europe/nato-officially-initiates-uae-into-afghan-mission-1.749833|url-status=live}}</ref> 30 UAEAF F-16s and ground troops deployment in Southern Yemen,<ref name="repel">{{cite news|url=http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/03/26/GCC-states-to-repel-Houthi-aggression-in-Yemen-statement-.html|publisher=Al Arabiya|title=Saudi warplanes bomb Houthi positions in Yemen|date=25 March 2015|access-date=25 March 2015|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402125058/http://english.alarabiya.net/en/News/middle-east/2015/03/26/GCC-states-to-repel-Houthi-aggression-in-Yemen-statement-.html |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> and helping the US launch its first airstrikes against [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant|ISIL]] targets in Syria.<ref>{{cite news|title=US launches air strikes against Isil in Syria|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11114991/US-launches-air-strikes-against-Isil-in-Syria-live.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220110/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/syria/11114991/US-launches-air-strikes-against-Isil-in-Syria-live.html |archive-date=10 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|work=The Telegraph|date=24 September 2014|last1=Winch|first1=Jessica}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The UAE has begun production of a greater amount of military equipment, in a bid to reduce foreign dependence and help with national industrialisation. Example of national military development include the Abu Dhabi Shipbuilding company (ADSB), which produces a range of ships and is a prime contractor in the [[Baynunah-class corvette|Baynunah Programme]], a programme to design, develop, and produce corvettes customised for operation in the shallow waters of the [[Persian Gulf]]. The UAE is also producing weapons and ammunition through [[Caracal International]], military transport vehicles through [[NIMR (vehicle manufacturer)|Nimr LLC]], and unmanned aerial vehicles collectively through [[Emirates Defence Industries Company]]. The UAE operates the [[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon]] F-16E Block 60 unique variant unofficially called "[[General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon variants#F-16E/F Block 60|Desert Falcon]]", developed by [[General Dynamics]] in collaboration with the UAE and specifically for the [[United Arab Emirates Air Force]].<ref name=fg1>{{cite web |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219363/dubai-2007-uae-shows-off-its-most-advanced-falcons.html |title=Dubai 2007: UAE shows off its most advanced Falcons |website=[[Flightglobal]] |date=11 November 2007 |access-date=11 April 2019 |archive-date=2 April 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090402230254/http://www.flightglobal.com/articles/2007/11/11/219363/dubai-2007-uae-shows-off-its-most-advanced-falcons.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[United Arab Emirates Army]] operates a customized [[Leclerc tank]] and is the only other operator of the tank aside from the French Army.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/one-tough-tank-why-frances-leclerc-one-best-planet-44577|title=One Tough Tank: Why France's Leclerc Is One of the Best on the Planet|publisher=nationalinterest.org|date=19 February 2019|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-date=11 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411035552/https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/one-tough-tank-why-frances-leclerc-one-best-planet-44577|url-status=live}}</ref> The largest defence exhibition and conference in the Middle East, [[International Defence Exhibition]], takes place biennially in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE introduced a [[Mandatory National Service in United Arab Emirates|mandatory military service]] for adult males, since 2014, for 16 months to expand its reserve force.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-emirates-military/uae-extends-compulsory-military-service-to-16-months-idUSKBN1JY093|title=UAE extends compulsory military service to 16 months|work=Reuters|date=8 July 2018|access-date=11 April 2019|archive-date=29 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230329100921/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-emirates-military/uae-extends-compulsory-military-service-to-16-months-idUSKBN1JY093|url-status=live}}</ref> The highest loss of life in the history of UAE military occurred on Friday 4 September 2015, in which 52 soldiers were killed in [[Ma'rib|Marib]] area of central Yemen by a [[OTR-21 Tochka|Tochka]] missile which targeted a weapons cache and caused a large explosion.<ref name=":0">{{cite news|title = UAE, Bahrain say 50 soldiers killed in Yemen attack|url = http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security-idUKKCN0R40V120150904|access-date = 17 September 2015|newspaper = Reuters|date = 4 September 2015|archive-date = 26 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160126010335/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-yemen-security-idUKKCN0R40V120150904|url-status = dead}}</ref>