Oružane snage Mali-ja broje oko 7000 vojnika i nalaze se pod kontrolom Ministra oružanih snaga i veterana. Unutarnji red održavaju žandarmerija i lokalne policije. Šezdesetih i sedamdesetih oružane snage su uglavnom ovisile o sovjetskoj pomoći, u školovanju i opremanju vojske i avijacije. Nekoliko je Malijaca završilo i vojne škole u SAD, Francuskoj i Njemačkoj. KoV kontrolira i malu mornaricu, sa 130 mornara i tri patrolna broda. Nakon pada SSSR-a i prestanka Tuareške pobune, usprkos pomoći SAD-a vojska se bori da bi zadržala svoju brojnost. Organizirani su u jednu brigadu sa četiri motorizirana pješadijska bataljona te dva oklopna. Specijalne snage se sastoje od jednog padobranskog bataljona i dvije čete komandosa. Vojni rok traje dvije godine, a ljudstvo se odabire selektivnom regrutacijom.

      Mali's armed forces number some 7,000 and are under the control of the Minister of Armed Forces and Veterans. The Gendarmerie and local police forces (under the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Security) maintain internal security. In the sixties and seventies, Mali's army and air force relied primarily on the Soviet Union for materiel and training. A few Malians receive military training in the United States, France, and Germany. Military expenditures total about 13% of the national budget. The Army controls the small navy (approx. 130 sailors and 3 river patrol boats). Since the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Tuareg Rebellion, the Army has struggled to maintain its size, despite recent military aid from the United States. It is organized into a single brigade consisting of four motorized infantry battalions, an MBT battalion operating T-34/85s, and a light armoured battalion of Type 62s. An airborne battalion and two companies of commandos comprise the nation's special forces. Manpower is provided by two-year selective conscription.

AIR FORCE  AVIJACIJA

      Zrakoplovne snage Malija (Armée de l'air du Mali) su osnovane 1961. godine od vojne pomoći koju je dostavila Francuska. Sovjetska pomoć počinje 1962. godine i traje godinama. Isporučeno je na desetine aviona i helikoptera, od borbenih (MIG-ovi 17 i 21) do transportnih (Antonovi) i trenažnih. 1983. godine Sovjetski Savez dostavlja šest Aero L-29 mlaznih trenažnih aviona i formira pilotsku školu.

      The Mali Air Force (Armée de l'air du Mali) was founded in 1961 with French supplied military aid  until Soviet aid starting in 1962 with four Antonov AN-2 Colt biplane transports and four Mi-4 light helicopters. In the mid-1960s the Soviets delivered five MIG-17F fighters and a single MIG 15UTI fighter trainer to equip a squadron based at Bamako-Sénou initially with Soviet pilots. Two Ilyushin Il-14 transports and a Mil Mi-8 helicopter were delivered in 1971 followed by two Antonov AN-24 transports. In 1976 an AN-26 transport was acquired along with a second AN-26 in 1983. Also in the 1970s the first of 12 MIG-21MF fighter and two MIG 21UM trainers were delivered. In 1983 six Aero L-29 jet trainers were delivered to form an Ecole de Pilotage (pilots school).