Introduction
How is the Military in Mongolia and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Mongolian Armed Forces (MAF): Mongolian Ground Force (aka General Purpose Troops), Mongolian Air/Air Defense Force, Cyber Security Forces, Special Forces, Civil Engineering Forces, Civil Defense Forces (2023).
In Mongolia, the MAF traditionally has focused on counterterrorism, disaster response, and international peacekeeping duties; the Ground Force is the military’s primary service and is centered on a motorized infantry brigade equipped largely with Soviet-era equipment; it also has a battalion devoted to peacekeeping duties and hosts an annual international peacekeeping exercise known as “Khaan Quest”; Mongolia’s primary military partner is Russia, and in addition to receiving Russian military equipment, the MAF participates in Russia’s large “Vostok” exercise, which is conducted every four years; the MAF has a growing relationship with the US military
Mongolia has been engaged in dialogue and cooperation with NATO since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; Mongolia supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from 2009-2014, as well as to the follow-on Resolute Support Mission that provided training, advice, and other assistance to the Afghan security forces (2015-2021) (2023)
Mongolia has been engaged in dialogue and cooperation with NATO since 2005 and is considered by NATO to be a global partner; Mongolia supported the NATO-led Kosovo Force from 2005-2007 and contributed troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan from 2009-2014, as well as to the follow-on Resolute Support Mission that provided training, advice, and other assistance to the Afghan security forces (2015-2021) (2023)
Security and military information of Mongolia
| Military and security service personnel strengths | information varies; estimated 10,000 active troops (2023) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the MAF's inventory is comprised largely of Soviet-era and Russian equipment (2024) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18-25 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service (can enter military schools at age 17); 12-month conscript service obligation for men in the army, air forces, or police (can be extended 3 months under special circumstances); conscription service can be exchanged for a 24‐month stint in the civil service or a cash payment determined by the Mongolian Government; after conscription, soldiers can contract into military service for 2 or 4 years; volunteer military service for men and women is 24 months, which can be extended for another two years up to the age of 31 (2024). |
| Military deployments | 875 South Sudan (UNMISS) (2024). note: since 2002, Mongolia has deployed more than 20,000 peacekeepers and observers to UN operations in more than a dozen countries |
| Military expenditures | |
| Military Expenditures 2023 | 0.6% of GDP (2023 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2022 | 0.6% of GDP (2022 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2021 | 0.8% of GDP (2021 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2020 | 0.8% of GDP (2020 est.) |
| Military Expenditures 2019 | 0.7% of GDP (2019 est.) |
All Important Facts about Mongolia
Want to know more about Mongolia? Check all different factbooks for Mongolia below.
