22 April New Delhi: The Maldives is ramping up its military capabilities with new acquisitions of drones, missile launcher ships, and armoured vehicles—moves that come amid increasingly strained relations with India under President Mohamed Muizzu’s leadership.
The latest addition to its defense arsenal includes five AJBAN 442A armoured vehicles from the United Arab Emirates. Although the deal was kept under wraps, the vehicles were spotted being unloaded at Hulhulé Island earlier this month and later unveiled during the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF)’s 133rd anniversary parade on April 19.
According to local news outlet Adhadhu, the vehicles were first transported from the UAE to Sri Lanka before being shipped to the Maldives on April 9 via Maldives State Shipping (MSS). Designed for tactical operations, each vehicle, produced by UAE-based EDGE Group, has been customized with a remote weapons station, roof hatch, added armour, and other enhancements. Each vehicle is estimated to cost around $700,000, putting the total bill for the five at roughly $3.5 million.
This isn’t an isolated purchase—it’s part of a broader push to modernize the country’s military. Over the past two years, the Maldives has also added Bayraktar TB2 drones from Turkey to its arsenal in a deal worth $37 million. A missile launcher-equipped naval ship from Ankara followed soon after, adding more weight to its defense capabilities.
While Maldivian authorities haven’t officially tied these upgrades to any specific geopolitical situation, the timing hasn’t gone unnoticed—especially as tensions with India continue to simmer. Since taking office, President Muizzu has taken a more assertive stance on defense and foreign policy, signaling a shift from previous alignments.
Behind the latest hardware is EDGE Group, a major UAE defense company owned by the state. The group has quickly become a prominent partner in the Maldives’ growing list of defense suppliers.
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