Mongolian Armed Forces

Mongolian Armed Forces Монгол Улсын Зэвсэгт Хүчин
Honor guards holding the White Banner of the Mongols
Service branches	Mongolian Air Force Mongolian General Purpose Force
Leadership
Commander in Chief	President Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj
Minister for Defense	Ts. Tsolmon
Chief of General Staff	Lieutenant General Tserendejidiin Byambajav
Manpower
Military age	18
Conscription	yes
Available for military service	1,098,546 males, age 16–49 (2014), 1,091,192 females, age 16–49 (2014)
Fit for military service	926,199 males, age 16–49 (2014), 956,628 females, age 16–49 (2014)
Reaching military age annually	50,829 males (2014), 49,648 females (2014)
Active personnel	20,000 (2015)
Reserve personnel	250,000 (2015)
Expenditures
Budget	$1.534 billion (2015)
Percent of GDP	1.1%
Industry
Foreign suppliers	Russia  Poland  Germany  France  United Kingdom  South Korea  China  Israel  Japan  North Korea  Ukraine  United States  Turkey
Related articles
History	Army of the Mongol Empire Mongolian People's Army

The Mongolian Armed Forces (Mongolian: Монгол улсын зэвсэгт хүчин, Mongol ulsyn zevsegt hüchin) is the collective name for the Mongolian army and the joint forces that comprise it. The army is tasked with protecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Mongolia. Defined as the peacetime configuration, its current structure consists of three branches: general purpose forces, border defense forces, and internal security forces. In case of war or a war-like situation, the structure could be modified and reorganized (if necessary).

As a unified state, Mongolia traces its origins to the Mongol Empire created by Genghis Khan in the 13th century. Genghis Khan unified the various tribes on the Mongol steppe, and his descendants eventually conquered almost the entirety of Asia, the Middle East, and parts of Eastern Europe. The military of the Mongol Empire is regarded to be the first modern military system.

The Mongol Army was organized into decimal units of tens, hundreds, thousands, and ten thousands. A notable feature of the army is that it was composed entirely of cavalry units, giving it the advantage of maneuverability. Siege weaponry was adapted from other cultures, with foreign experts integrated into the command structure.

The Mongols rarely used naval power, with a few exceptions. In the 1260s and 1270s they used seapower while conquering the Song dynasty of China, though they were unable to mount successful seaborne campaigns against Japan due to storms and rough battles. Around the Eastern Mediterranean, their campaigns were almost exclusively land-based, with the seas being controlled by the Crusader and Mamluk forces.

With the disintegration of the Mongol Empire in the late 13th century, the Mongol Army as a unified unit also crumbled. The Mongols retreated back to their homeland after the fall of the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, and once again delved into civil war. Although the Mongols became united once again during the reign of Queen Mandukhai and Batmongkhe Dayan Khan, in the 17th century they were annexed into the Qing Dynasty.

Once Mongolia was under the Qing, the Mongol Armies were used to defeat the Ming dynasty, helping to consolidate Manchu Rule. Mongols proved a useful ally in the war, lending their expertise as cavalry archers. During most of the Qing Dynasty time, the Mongols gave military assistance to the Manchus.