|
Qatar's defense expenditures accounted for approximately 4.2% of gross national product in 1993. Qatar maintains a modest military force of approximately 11,800 men, including an army (8,500), navy (1,800) and air force (1,500). In August 1994, Qatar signed a defense agreement with France in which it agreed to purchase several Mirage 2000-5 aircraft. Qatar has also recently signed defense pacts with the United States and United Kingdom Qatar plays an active role in the collective defense efforts of the Gulf Cooperation Council (the regional organization of the Arab states in the Gulf; the other five members are Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, and Oman). Qatari forces played a disproportionately important role in the Gulf War.
Military branches: |
Qatari Amiri Land Force (QALF), Qatari Amiri Navy (QAN), Qatari Amiri Air Force (QAAF) |
Military service age and obligation: |
18 years of age for voluntary military service; land forces enlisted personnel are largely unprofessional foreign nationals (2005) |
Manpower available for military service: |
males age 18-49: 302,873
females age 18-49: 137,856 (2005 est.) |
Manpower fit for military service: |
males age 18-49: 238,566
females age 18-49: 116,595 (2005 est.) |
Manpower reaching military service age annually: |
males age 18-49: 7,851
females age 18-49: 7,040 (2005 est.) |
Military expenditures - dollar figure: |
$723 million (FY00) |
Military expenditures - percent of GDP: |
10% (FY00) |
Source: The World Factbook, Wikipedia
|
