Introduction
How is the Military in Bhutan and how does it work to maintain Sucity and fight terrorism? In terms of Military and security forces, we have the Royal Bhutan Army (RBA; includes Royal Bodyguard of Bhutan, or RBG, and an air wing); National Militia
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2024).
Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs: Royal Bhutan Police (2024).
In Bhutan, the Army is responsible for external threats but also has some internal security functions such as conducting counterinsurgency operations, guarding forests, and providing security for prominent persons; Bhutan relies on India for military training, arms supplies, and the country’s air defense (2024)
Security and military information of Bhutan
| Military and security service personnel strengths | estimated 7-8,000 active personnel (2024) |
|---|---|
| Military equipment inventories and acquisitions | the Royal Bhutan Army is lightly armed; it has a small amount of heavy equipment, such as armored cars and helicopters, originating from India and Thailand (2024) |
| Military service age and obligation | 18 years of age for voluntary military service for men and women; no conscription; militia training is compulsory for males aged 20-25, over a 3-year period (2023). note: in 2021, the Royal Bhutan Army graduated from a year-long training course the first batch of 150 women to be allowed to serve in combat roles; previously, women were allowed to serve in medical and other non-combat roles |
| Military deployments | 190 Central African Republic (MINUSCA) (2024). |
All Important Facts about Bhutan
Want to know more about Bhutan? Check all different factbooks for Bhutan below.
