The Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) recently acquired military vehicles manufactured by a defence company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Adhadhu understands that the tankers were imported in early April to be used by the Maldivian military and a video showed the vehicles unloaded at Hulhule' island.

It appears that they were first taken to Sri Lanka and shipped to the Maldives by the Maldives State Shipping (MSS) on April 9.

The vehicles were taken to the MNDF headquarters in Hulhule' and transported to Male' on Friday. A video shows five tankers crossing the Sinamale' Bridge.

The AJBAN 442A armoured vehicles were officially unveiled during the MNDF's 133rd anniversary parade in Male' on Saturday.

Built by the UAE’s EDGE Group, the vehicles are designed for tactical operations and are estimated to be worth MVR 54 million.

EDGE Group and AJBAN Series

EDGE Group is a UAE-based state-owned defence conglomerate and advanced technology group. It was established in 2019 and comprises over 25 entities focused on developing and producing defence solutions.

EDGE Group's biggest customer is the UAE military. The country has awarded the company billions of dollars in contracts. In 2023 alone, the EDGE Group sold thousands of air and road vehicles to the UAE military.

Countries like Angola, Serbia, Kazakhstan, South Africa and Indonesia have also purchased weapons and military equipment from EDGE Group.

The most notable is Angola's 2023 deal with EDGE Group. Angola spent billions of dollars on weapons and vehicles under the deal, which included electronic warfare systems, missiles and other vehicles.

Characteristics of AJBAN 442A:

• Length: 5,815 mm
• Width: 2,510 mm
• Height: 2,430 mm
• Wheelbase: 3,500 mm
• Crew Capacity: 5 soldiers

Estimated cost is MVR 50 million

Modifications have been made to the vehicles imported into the Maldives. It includes a remote weapons station, additional armour plating, a roof hatch and additional weapons systems.

Based on analysis from experts and EDGE Group prices, each vehicle with the modifications is expected to cost USD 700,000.

Five vehicles have been imported for military use. The government did not say whether this was free aid or how the budget was arranged to purchase them. At market prices, the vehicles are expected to cost USD 3.5 million (MVR 54 million) from the state budget.

Last year, the government spent USD 37 million (MVR 570 million) from the state contingency budget to purchase military drones from Turkey.

Huge unexplained expenditures on the military

Earlier in April, it was reported that Turkey decided to donate a missile launcher vessel to the Maldives, with training underway for Maldivian soldiers to operate it.

The 44-year-old Dogan-class TCG Volkan is expected to be delivered to the Maldives before July, presumably before Independence Day on July 26.

Despite providing the vessel as a gift, Turkey has not provided the missiles needed for it. The Maldives government is now working to buy the missiles through a Turkish military company.

Turkey used the RGM-84 Harpoon anti-ship missile system on the Volkan. The ship was later equipped with Harpoon Block-2 missiles.

According to defence news outlets, Harpoon missile costs an average of USD 2 million or MVR 30 million.

Meanwhile, recent changes were announced to allow leasing of islands under the cross-subsidy principle in return for investment in national security projects.

The first presidential decree said the investment amount is USD 15 million, but it was later revised to USD 100 million.

This article was first written in Dhivehi by Ahmed Aaidh.