| Eritrean Defence Forces | |
|---|---|
| ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ (Tigrinya) | |
 Eritrean Defence Force badge | |
| Founded | 24 May 1991 |
| Service branches | |
| Headquarters | Asmara |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Isaias Afewerki |
| Minister of Defence | General Filipos Woldeyohannes |
| Chief of Staff | General Filipos Woldeyohannes |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 years old |
| Conscription | Open-ended |
| Available for military service | 1,985,023 males, age 18–40[3] (2004 est.), 1,980,987 females, age 18–40[3] (2004 est.) |
| Fit for military service | 1,599,979 males, age 18–40[3] (2004 est.), 1,590,899 females, age 18–40[3] (2004 est.) |
| Active personnel | 350,000[1] |
| Reserve personnel | 680,000 [2] |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | US$ 2.8 billion [4] |
| Percent of GDP | 10.9% (2019 est.)[4] |
| Industry | |
| Foreign suppliers | China Russia Egypt Japan India Israel United States |
| Related articles | |
| History | Military history of Eritrea Hanish Islands Crisis Second Sudanese Civil War First Congo War Eritrean–Ethiopian War Djiboutian–Eritrean border conflict 2013 Eritrean Army mutiny Battle of Tsorona Tigray War |
| Ranks | Military ranks of Eritrea |
The Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) (Tigrinya: ሓይልታት ምክልኻል ኤርትራ[pronunciation?]) are the combined military forces of Eritrea composed of three branches: Eritrean Army, Eritrean Air Force and Eritrean Navy. The Army is by far the largest, followed by the Air Force and Navy. The Commander-in-Chief of the EDF is the President of Eritrea. Their military role stems from Eritrea's strategic geographical location, located on the Red Sea with a foothold on the Bab-el-Mandeb strait.
- ^ "2021 Eritrea Military Strength".
- ^ "Eritrea | War Resisters' International". wri-irg.org. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
- ^ "CIA - World Factbook -- Eritrea". Central Intelligence Agency. 28 October 2009. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ a b "Eritrea". 14 December 2022.