Emessan Defence Forces
| Emessan Defence Forces | |
|---|---|
| 'Forzi tad-difiża Imisani' | |
| Founded | 11 March 1942 |
| Current form | 6 July 1984 |
| Service branches | Emessan Army Emessan Naval Forces Emessan Air Force Emessan Territorial Command |
| Headquarters | Ministry of Defence Building, Himera |
| Leadership | |
| Commander-in-Chief | Pawlu Vella |
| Minister of Defence | Armand Zaheer |
| Chief of the General Staff | Emanwel Abdilla |
| Personnel | |
| Military age | 18 |
| Conscription | 12–18 months (depending on branches) |
| Available for military service | 1,136,380 (2021), age 18–49 (2015) |
| Fit for military service | 613,645 (2021), age 18–49 (2015) |
| Reaching military age annually | 38,119 (2022) |
| Active personnel | 198,400 (2022) |
| Reserve personnel | 400,000 (2022) |
| Expenditure | |
| Budget | €4.1 billion |
| Percent of GDP | 3% (2022) |
| Related articles | |
| History |
|
The Emessan Defence Forces (EDF) (Emessan: Forzi tad-difiża Imisani [FDI]) are the military forces of Emessa. It consists of four service branches, the Emessan Army, Emessan Naval Forces, Emessan Air Force and the Emessan Territorial Command. Since its reform following the country's redemocratization process, the Emessan Defence Forces hold no civilian jurisdiction in Emessa, being subordinate to a civilian Minister of Defence.
History
Origins and Independence War Period
Government of National Salvation
Alban War
Post-1984 Armed Forces
Structure
Ministry of Defence
The ministry of defence is responsible for the civil oversight of the Emessan Defence Forces, responsible for the defence of Emessa against external military threats. Additionally, the Ministry of Defence is responsible for the oversight of state owned military-industrial enterprises and military procurement.
_02.jpg)
With the exception of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Ministry of Defence as of 1984 is established as a civilian-lead institution, limiting the position of minister of defence to civilian and reserve duty personnel exclusively. Emessa's incumbent Minister of Defence is Armand Zaheer, a retired army colonel turned politician.
The Minister of defence is subdivided in the following secretariats and organizations:
- Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Emessan Defence Forces
- Secretariat of Strategic Affairs
- Secretariat of Defence Foreign Affairs
- Directorate of Military Intelligance
- Secretariat of Human Rights and Justice
- Secretariat of Procurement
- Industrial Complex: Emessa Dynamics, Tarzni Konsolidati (TK Shipyards), Aerospazjali
Chief of the General Staff
The Chief of Staff is the most senior military officer of the Emessan Defence Forces, being the highest ranked and executive leader of the Joint Chiefs of Staff alongside the Minister of Defence. It is the military counterpart to the ministry of Defence and is responsible for advising the Emessan President and Minister of Defence on security matters. This advisory role is associated with the lack of command authority over the armed forces, which is instead held by the commander in chief of each of Emessa's military branches and the President.
The current Chief of Staff of the Emessan Defence Forces is Admiral Emanwel Abdilla, which has been serving in the position after being nominated by President Pawlu Vella in 2019.
Emessan Army
Main Articles: Emessan Army
The Emessan Army is the largest component of the Emessan Defence Forces by personnel, responsible for the defence of the Emessan islands. The Army also participates actively on CN peacekeeping missions. The army is organized into two corps and one rapid reaction force, alongside supporting elements. Whereas the majority of the two corps are composed of conscripted personnel, the rapid reaction force's three maneuver brigades feature a larger proportion of career soldiers. Emessa's army is predominantly composed by light infantry units, as well as a heavy emphasis on artillery and air mobility assets.
The army is supported by a a large cadre of combat and service support units organized in individual corps, as well as training brigades. The logistics brigade is responsible for rear line transport of supply, ammunition storage and maintenance of materiel, with dettached logistics brigades assigned to the Army's maneuver units responsible for forward logistics and medical support. The Army's ISTAR Command is responsible for Military and Signals Intelligence, as well as deep reconnaissance missions. Combat service support is done predominantly by the engineering and signals corps, while the army aviation command offers integrated air support and logistics with helicopters.
.jpg)
Main Articles: Emessan Naval Forces
The Emessan Naval Forces, consisting of the Emessan Naval Command and Emessan Marine Command, encompass the maritime military branch of Emessa. Since the Alban War, it has established itself as a key aspect on Emessan Sovereignty, with the Emessan Naval Forces playing a major role in defending the Alban Archipelago. The Naval Forces are composed of modern surface warships and submarines and amphibious elements, being regarded as a force capable of exerting regional projection despite the country's relatively small size. The Emessan Marine Command is the amphibious warfare element of the Emessan Defence Forces, consisting of a fully professional cadre of soldiers organized in two brigades and support elements.
While not part of the Emessan Defence Forces, the Emessan Maritime Gendarmerie works closely with the Naval Forces, with the component responsible for the patrol and policing of Emessa's oceanic borders and port authority under the oversight of the ministry of interior.
.JPG)
.png)
_May_18,_2012,_at_the_NATO_Maritime_120518-N-QD416-073.jpg)
Emessan Air Force
Main Articles: Emessan Air Force
The Emessan Air Force is responsible for the security and patrol of the country's airspace. It operates a fleet of modern 4th and 4.5th generation Fighter aircraft and support elements. Additionally, the Air Force maintains a network of airbases, ground radar sites and is jointly responsible for anti-aircraft batteries with the Emessan Army.
The Emessan Air Force is undergoing a modernization program, with the acquisition of new G-7M aircraft and the upgrading of its legacy fleet of Mirage 2000s to more modern standards. These upgrades feature the full digitalization of the latter platform, as well as the full integration of data-linking, radar networking and fire control system between its fighter aircraft, trainers and ground radars.
Emessan G-7M of the 114. Skwadra in formation with three Mirages at the Independence Parade, 2021
Air Force EC332 Super Puma supporting peacekeeping missions in Hacynia, 2019
A formation of three T-260 training aircraft of the 1. Skwadra in flight
.jpg)
Territorial Command
Main Articles: Emessan Territorial Command