Saudi Arabian Army

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Saudi Arabian Army

Saudi Arabian Army , also called Royal Saudi Land Force .

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Military manpower
Conscription age	18 years of age
Availability	males age 18-49: 7,648,999
Active troops	199,500 (Ranked 23rd List of countries by number of active troops This is a list of countries sorted by the total number of active troops where the military manpower of a country is measured by the total number of active troops within the command of that country.... )
Military expenditures
USD figure	$31.255 billion (2006)

Saudi Arabian Army , also called Royal Saudi Land Force . Is a branch of the Saudi Armed Forces

Military of Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Ministry of Defence and Aviation is responsible for the direction of the military of Saudi Arabia. The Ministry also has responsibility for the construction of civilian airports as well as military bases, and for Meteorology departments....
. The total number of active troops is around 75,000, and there are another 100,000 land forces personnel in the Saudi Arabian National Guard

Saudi Arabian National Guard

The Saudi Arabian National Guard is one of five branches of the Saudi Arabian Military of Saudi Arabia. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force against internal threats....
.

The current Chief of the Saudi General Staff is Field Marshal Saleh Al-Muhaya

Saleh Al-Muhaya

Field Marshal Saleh Al-Muhaya , is the Chief of Generals staff of the Saudi Arabian Army and the Vice-Commander of the Military of Saudi Arabia....
.

History

1902 is considered to be the birth year of the Saudi Army, when 63 men led by King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud supported by the Kuwaiti Prince Mubarak Al-Sabah

Mubarak Al-Sabah

Sheikh Mubarak bin Sabah Al-Sabah, Order of the Star of India, Order of the Indian Empire "the Great" was the Emir of Kuwait of Kuwait from May 18, 1896 to his death on November 28, 1915....
, who had armed the men with weapons and horses, conquered the city of Riyadh

Riyadh

Riyadh is the Capital of Saudi Arabia and its largest city. It is also the capital of Riyadh Province, and belongs to the historical regions of Nejd and Al-Yamama....
. During World War I

World War I

World War I, or the First World War , was a global military conflict which involved the Great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War I and the Central Powers....
, the British supported King Abdulaziz's army in his fight against the Ottoman Empire

Ottoman Empire

The Ottoman Empire , also known by its contemporaries as the Turkish Empire or Turkey , was an empire that lasted from 1299?1923. It was Treaty of Lausanne by the Republic of Turkey, which was officially proclaimed on October 29, 1923....
s Army. Britain remained the major ally of the Saudis until the Saudi conquest of the Hejaz

Hejaz

al-Hejaz is a region in the west of present-day Saudi Arabia. Defined mostly by the Red Sea, it extends from Haql on the Gulf of Aqaba to Jizan....
region in 1935. After the discovery of oil and the meeting between King Ibn Saud and the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt , often referred to by his initials FDR, was the List of Presidents of the United States President of the United States....
on February 14th, 1945, the Americans became the new major ally of House of Saud

House of Saud

House of Saud is the royal family of the Saudi Arabia. The modern nation of Saudi Arabia was established in 1932, though the roots and influence for the House of Saud had been planted in the Arabian Peninsula several centuries earlier....
.

Other events that led to an expansion of the Saudi Army were the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948, the fall of Shah

Shah

Shah is a Persian language term for a monarch that has been adopted in many other languages.Shah used as a last name by Jains and Hindus is unrelated....
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi, List of kings of Persia, , styled His Imperial Majesty, and holding the imperial titles of Shahanshah , and Aryamehr , was the monarchy of Iran from September 16, 1941, until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on February 11, 1979....
in the Iranian Revolution

Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution was the revolution that transformed Iran from a Iranian monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi to an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the revolution and founder of the Islamic Republic....
in 1979 and the subsequent fears of possible Shia's actions and in the last years the first Gulf War

Gulf War

"Persian Gulf War" and "First Gulf War" redirect here. For other uses, see Persian Gulf War .The Persian Gulf War was a United Nations-authorized military conflict between Iraq and a Coalition of Gulf War from 34 nations commissioned with expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait of Kuwait in August 1990....
in 1990. In the year 2000, Saudi Arabia's government spent billions of dollars to expand the Saudi Forces including the Saudi Army.

Wars involving Saudi Army:

The Unification of Saudi Arabia
History of Saudi Arabia

The rise of Islam in the 620s Anno Domini, the subsequent religious importance of the Arabian cities of Makkah , and Medina , and the discovery of large Petroleum reserves in the early twentieth century, have given the rulers of this territory significant influence beyond the peninsula....
(1902-1933).
1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War

The 1948 Arab-Israeli War, known by the Israelis predominantly as War of Independence and War of Liberation , and by Palestinians as the Catastrophe , was the first in a series of wars fought between the Declaration of Independence State of Israel and its Arab neighbours in the long-running Arab-Israeli conflict....
more than 3000 Saudi Troops participated in combat in Palestine.
1967 RSLF deployed over 20000 troops in Jordan.
1969 Al-Wadiah War. South Yemeni Forces invaded Al-Wadiah, a Saudi Town, but later were defeated by the Saudi Army.
1973 during the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War

The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to October 26, 1973 by a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria against Israel....
Saudi Arabia masterminded the 1973 Oil Crisis
1973 oil crisis

The 1973 oil crisis started on October 15, 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo "in response to the U.S....
and sent over 3,000 Saudi soldiers from the troops in Jordan to fight on the Syrian frontline.
Gulf War
Gulf War

"Persian Gulf War" and "First Gulf War" redirect here. For other uses, see Persian Gulf War .The Persian Gulf War was a United Nations-authorized military conflict between Iraq and a Coalition of Gulf War from 34 nations commissioned with expelling Iraqi forces from Kuwait after Iraq's Invasion of Kuwait of Kuwait in August 1990....
(1990-1991) Together with the allied forces, Saudi Armed Forces and SANG took a major part in the Battle of Khafji
Battle of Khafji

The Battle of Khafji was the first major ground engagement of the Gulf War. It took place in and around the Saudi Arabian city of Khafji, from 29 January to 1 February 1991 and marked the culmination of the Coalition of the Gulf War's air campaign over Kuwait and Iraq, which had begun on 17 January 1991....
and the Liberation of Kuwait
Opération Daguet

Op?ration Daguet was the codename for French operations during the 1991 Gulf War . The conflict was between Iraq and a coalition force of approximately 30 nations led by the United States and mandated by the United Nations in order to liberate Kuwait....
.

Structure

The combat strength of the Saudi Army consists of 4 armored brigades, 17 mechanized infantry brigades, three light motorized rifle brigades, and one airborne brigade. It also has five independent artillery brigades and an aviation command. The Saudi Army deployed the 12th Armored Brigade and 6th Mechanized Brigade at King Faisal Military City in the Tabuk area. It deployed the 4th Armored Brigade, and 11th Mechanized Brigade at King Abdul Aziz Military City in the Khamis Mushayt area. It deployed the 20th Mechanized Brigade and 8th Mechanized Brigade at King Khalid Military City near Hafr al Batin. The 10th Mechanized Brigade is deployed at Sharawrah, which is near the border with Yemen and about 150 kilometers from Zamak.

Despite the addition of a number of units and increased mobility achieved during the 1970s and 1980s, the army's personnel complement has expanded only moderately since a major buildup was launched in the late 1960s. The army has been chronically understrength, in the case of some units by an estimated 30 to 50 percent. These shortages have been aggravated by a relaxed policy that permitted considerable absenteeism and by a serious problem of retaining experienced technicians and noncommissioned officers (NCOs). The continued existence of a separate national guard also limited the pool of potential army recruits.

Armor

4th (King Fah’d) Armored Brigade
8th Armored Brigade
12th Armored Brigade
45th Armored Brigade

the four armored brigades, 17 mechanized

A typical Saudi armored brigade has an armored reconnaissance company, three tank battalions with 42 tanks each, two tank companies with 30 tanks, three tank troops with 12 tanks, a mechanized infantry battalion with 54 AIFVs/ APCs, and an artillery battalion with 18 self-propelled guns. It also has an army aviation company, an engineer company, a logistic battalion, a field workshop, and a medical company.

Mechanized

6th Mechanized Brigade
8th Mechanized Brigade
10th Mechanized Brigade
11th Mechanized Brigade
20th Mechanized Brigade
Imam Muhammad bin Saud Mechanized Brigade (IMBS)(SANG)
Prince Saad Abdulrahman Mechanized Brigade (PSAR) (SANG)
Turki Mechanized Brigade was reported to be in formation in 2002 (SANG)
King Khalid Light Infantry Brigade’s strength is unknown (SANG)
King Abdulaziz Mechanized Brigade, was in information in 2002 still unknown (SANG)
Prince Mohammad bin Abdulrahman al-Saud Light Infantry Brigade (SANG)
One light infantry brigade based in Jeddah (SANG)
One light infantry brigade based in Medina ( SANG )
Omar bin Kattab light infantry brigade based in Taif( SANG )

17th Mechanized Brigade
18th Mechanized Brigade
19th Mechanized Brigade

Five mechanized brigades consists of one tank battalion, three mechanized infantry battalions, an artillery battalion, and a support battalion.

A typical Saudi mechanized brigade has an armored reconnaissance company, one tank battalion with 37-42, three mechanized infantry battalion with 54 AIFVs/APCs each, two infantry companies with a total of 33 APCs, three infantry platoons with a total of 12 APCs, and an artillery battalion with 18 self-propelled guns. It also has an army aviation company, an engineer company, a logistic battalion, a field workshop, and a medical company. It has 24 anti-tank guided weapons launchers and four mortar sections with a total of eight 81mm mortars.

Infantry

unknown number of infantry brigades

2nd Motorized Infantry Brigade

5th Combined Arms Battalion
6th Combined Arms Battalion
7th Combined Arms Battalion
8th Combined Arms Battalion

10th Infantry Brigade

Each infantry brigade consists of three motorized battalions, an artillery battalion, and a support battalion.

Airborne

The Airborne Brigade

4th Airborne Battalion
5th Airborne Battalion

The Airborne Brigade is normally deployed near Tabuk. The Airborne Brigade has two parachute battalions and three Special Forces companies. The three light motorized brigades include the 17th, 18th, and 19th. Saudi Arabia is expanding its Special Forces and improving their equipment and training to help deal with the threat of terrorism. The Special Forces have been turned into independent fighting units to help deal with terrorists, and report directly to Prince Sultan..

Artillery Battalions

five artillery battalions

14th FA (Towed, 155) Battalion
15th FA (MLRS) Battalion
18th Missile (MLRS) Battalion

The separate Royal Guard Regiment

Saudi Royal Guard Regiment

The Saudi Arabian Royal Guard Regiment is one of the more visible units in the Saudi Arabian Army. Originally an independent military force, the Royal Guards were incorporated into the Army in 1964....
consists of three light infantry battalions.

Ranks

Main equipment

The Saudi government spends billions of dollars to arm the military forces and usually buys the military equipment from the main allies US and UK

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe....
.

Saudi Army
Main battle tanks
M1A2 Abrams M1 Abrams The M1 Abrams is a Tank classification#Main battle tank produced in the United States. The M1 is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff of the United States Army and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972....	315 eventually to be upgraded to M1A2S
M1A1 Abrams M1 Abrams The M1 Abrams is a Tank classification#Main battle tank produced in the United States. The M1 is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff of the United States Army and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972....	58 eventually to be upgraded to M1A2S
AMX-30	290
M60A1/A3 Patton M60 Patton The M60 Series was an all-purpose main battle tank designed to have the firepower and armor of a heavy tank and the mobility of a medium tank....	460
Recons and Inf. Transporters
AMX-10P AMX-10P The AMX 10 P is a French infantry fighting vehicle. It was developed after 1965 to replace the AMX-VCI in French service, and the first prototypes were completed in 1968.... IFV	570
M2A2 Bradley M2 Bradley The M2 Bradley IFV and M3 Bradley CFV are United States infantry fighting vehicles manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, .As with other infantry fighting vehicles, the Bradley is designed to transport infantry offering at least some armored protection while providing fire cover to dismounted troops and suppressing enemy ta... IFV	400
Al-Fahd Al-Fahd Infantry fighting vehicle Al Fahd armoured vehicle has been developed by the Abdallah Al Faris Company for Heavy Industries, which is based in Saudi Arabia at Dammam. It is based on the LAV-25.... APC	100
M113 APC	1750-2000 364 modernised by Turkey
EE-11 Urutu EE-11 Urutu The EE-11 Urutu is a 6x6 armored personnel carrier developed in the seventies by Engesa of Brazil. It used as many commercially available parts as possible.... APC	20
Panhard M3 APC	300
LAV III LAV III The LAV III armoured vehicle is the latest in the Generation III Light Armoured Vehicle series built by General Dynamics Land Systems, entering service in 1999 .... AFV (National Guard Saudi Arabian National Guard The Saudi Arabian National Guard is one of five branches of the Saudi Arabian Military of Saudi Arabia. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force against internal threats.... )	1950
Cadillac Gage Commando AFV (N. G. Saudi Arabian National Guard The Saudi Arabian National Guard is one of five branches of the Saudi Arabian Military of Saudi Arabia. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force against internal threats.... )	1100
Piranha Mowag Piranha The MOWAG Piranha is a family of armoured fighting vehicles designed and manufactured by the Switzerland MOWAG corporation . Four generations of vehicles have been produced, and variants include the Light Armoured Vehicle in service with many militaries.... AFV (N. G. Saudi Arabian National Guard The Saudi Arabian National Guard is one of five branches of the Saudi Arabian Military of Saudi Arabia. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force against internal threats.... )	440
HMMWV (Humvee)	1200+
Panhard AML-60/90 Panhard AML The Panhard AML 60/90 is a light Armored car with permanent 4x4 drive for mobility. It can carry either a 90 mm quick firing low pressure gun, or a 60 mm breech loading Mortar as main weapons.... Armoured Car	300
Howitzers & Artillery Artillery Artillery is a military Combat Arms which employs any apparatus, machine, an assortment of tools or instruments, a system or systems used as weapons for the discharge of large projectiles in combat as a major contribution of fire power within the overall military capability of an armed force....
M109A2 M109 howitzer The M109 is an United States-made Self-propelled artillery 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. It has been continually upgraded and improved to today's current version, the M109A6 Paladin, currently only used by the United States Army.... SP 155 mm Howitzer	280
AMX-GCT AMX 30 AuF1 The AMX 30 AuF1 is a self-propelled artillery vehicle using the AMX 30 tank hull.It is now in service in the French Army, which operates 134 units.... SP 155 mm Howitzer	90
M198 howitzer M198 howitzer The M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece. It can be dropped by parachute or transported by a CH-53E Super Stallion or CH-47 Chinook.... 155mm	120
FH-70 FH-70 The FH-70 is a towed howitzer in use with several nations.... 155mm	72
M102 howitzer M102 howitzer First introduced during the Vietnam War, the M102 was the light-towed 105 mm howitzer used by the United States Army in the Vietnam war, Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.... 105mm	140
Rocket artillery Rocket artillery Rocket artillery is a type of artillery equipped with rocket launchers instead of conventional guns or mortar .Types of rocket artillery pieces include multiple rocket launchers.... & Surface-to-air missile Surface-to-air missile A surface to air missile or ground-to-air missile is a missile designed to be launched from the ground to destroy aircraft. It is a type of anti-aircraft....
Astros II MLRS Astros II MLRS ASTROS II is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher produced in Brazil by the Avibr?s company. It features modular design and employs rockets with calibers ranging from 127 mm to 300 mm....	60
Mortars
M224 Mortar M224 Mortar \|}The M224 60 mm Lightweight Mortar is a Smoothbore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for close-in support of ground troops....
Brandt 60mm LR Gun-mortar Brandt 60mm LR Gun-mortar \|}The Brandt 60 mm Long Range gun-mortar is a breech loading Mortar capable of flat-trajectory firing like a gun. It is used solely for the armament of light armoured vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers or IFVs to give them a useful anti-armour capability....
M30 107 mm Mortar M30 107 mm Mortar The M30 107 mm heavy Mortar is an USA rifled, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for long-range indirect fire support to infantry units....
Unmanned aerial vehicle Unmanned aerial vehicle File:MQ-9 Reaper in flight .jpgAn unmanned aerial vehicle is an unpiloted aircraft. UAVs come in two varieties: some are controlled from a remote location, and others fly autonomously based on pre-programmed flight plans using more complex dynamic automation systems.... s
SAGEM Sperwer SAGEM Sperwer The Sperwer is a 3-meter-long unmanned aerial vehicle manufactured by the France firm SAGEM. The aircraft is piloted remotely and can cruise at altitudes of over 16,000 feet for as long as five hours....
Anti-tank missiles
Baktar-Shikan
Brimstone missile Brimstone missile Brimstone is an advanced air-launched anti-tank guided missile developed by MBDA....
Swingfire Swingfire Swingfire is a United Kingdom wire-guided missile anti-tank guided missile....
FGM-148 Javelin FGM-148 Javelin The FGM-148 Javelin is an United States-made man-portable anti-tank guided missile fielded to replace the Dragon antitank missile....
BGM-71 TOW BGM-71 TOW The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank guided missile. "TOW" stands for "Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-to-command-Link" guided Missile Set. The TOW was first produced in 1970 and is the most widely used anti-tank guided missile in the world....
Automatic grenade launchers Grenade launcher A grenade launcher is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
M203 grenade launcher M203 grenade launcher The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade grenade launcher that attaches to a number of popular assault rifles, but was originally designed for the U.S....
XM320 XM320 M320 Grenade Launcher Module is the U.S. Military's designation for a new single-shot 40mm grenade grenade launcher system to replace the M203 grenade launcher....

(Anti-Air systems belong to Air Defense Force)

External links

[https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/sa.html#Military CIA World Factbook]

Saudi Arabian Army

History

Structure

Ranks

Main equipment

External links

See also