SORC Defence
Client Force Profile

UAE Ministry of Defence

وزارة الدفاع — United Arab Emirates

The UAE Armed Forces are among the most technologically advanced in the Middle East, comprising the UAE Army, Air Force and Air Defence, Navy, and Presidential Guard. The UAE is a major importer of Western defence equipment and a growing defence manufacturer through the EDGE Group conglomerate, with a $22.8B defence budget representing approximately 4.5% of GDP.

Key Metrics
63,000
Total Armed Forces
All branches combined
~200
Combat Aircraft
UAEAF fixed-wing fleet
~600
Main Battle Tanks
Leclerc + Ariete
~75
Naval Vessels
Corvettes, patrol, landing
$22.8B
Defence Budget
FY 2024 (est.)
~4.5%
GDP on Defence
2024 estimate

Sources: IISS Military Balance 2024; UAE Ministry of Finance; SIPRI Military Expenditure Database 2024.

UAE Air Force & Air Defence (UAEAF) Inventory
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
F-16E/F Block 60 Desert FalconMulti-role strike fighter79USA
Dassault Mirage 2000-9Multi-role fighter62France
Dassault Rafale F4Multi-role fighter (on order)80France
C-17A Globemaster IIIStrategic transport8USA
C-130J Super HerculesTactical transport4USA
AH-64D ApacheAttack helicopter30USA
CH-47F ChinookHeavy lift helicopter10USA
Airbus H225M CaracalMedium transport helicopter26France
UAE Army — Key Land Systems
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
Leclerc MBTMain battle tank~388France
Ariete MBTMain battle tank~45Italy
BMP-3Infantry fighting vehicle~415Russia
NIMR Ajban 4×4Light protected vehicle1,000+UAE (NIMR)
G6 Rhino155mm self-propelled howitzer~78South Africa
UAE Navy — Principal Vessels
Platform / SystemRoleQty (est.)Origin
Baynunah-classCorvette (missile)6UAE / CMN France
Abu Dhabi-classGuided missile corvette2Netherlands
Muray Jib-classOffshore patrol vessel2Australia
Ghannatha-classLanding craft4UAE
Active Modernisation Programmes
Rafale F4 Acquisition
80 Rafale F4 fighters contracted with Dassault in 2021 — deliveries ongoing through 2031; most advanced Rafale variant
EDGE Group Localisation
UAE state defence conglomerate targeting 60% domestic content by 2030; 25+ subsidiaries across munitions, electronics, and cyber
Integrated Air Defence
Patriot PAC-3, THAAD, and Hawk XXI layered network; SHORAD expansion with Crotale NG and Mistral
Naval Expansion
Follow-on corvette and OPV procurement under evaluation; Falaj-2-class patrol vessels in service
UAS / Drone Fleet
Wing Loong II, Yabhon United 40, and MALE UAV expansion for ISR and strike; Harop loitering munitions
SORC Engagement

SORC supports UAE procurement offices with export licensing for US and European-origin platforms, NSN parts sourcing for F-16 and Apache fleets, and compliance advisory for transactions subject to ITAR, EAR, and French CIEEMG export control requirements.

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