Saudi Arabian Military Forces
Saudi Arabian Military Forces | |
---|---|
القوات العسكرية العربية السعودية | |
Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud | |
Personnel | |
Military age | 17[2] |
Conscription | No[3] |
Active personnel | 480,700 |
Deployed personnel | |
Expenditures | |
Budget | |
Foreign suppliers | Australia Brazil Canada China Czech Republic France Germany Indonesia Italy Japan South Korea Netherlands Poland Russia Singapore South Africa Sweden Taiwan Turkey Ukraine United Kingdom United States |
Related articles | |
History |
|
Ranks | KSA military ranks |
The Saudi Arabian Military Forces (
The
History
The first steps towards building an institutionalised Military Forces for Saudi Arabia began in the 1940s, when Saudi regulars numbered perhaps 1,000–1,500, Gaub saying that officers mostly came from the Ottoman troops who had served the
In 1987, members of the air force, army, and navy used to be mainly recruits from groups of people without a strong identity from the
King Abdullah increasingly moved towards comprehensive military reform following what he considered a failed response by Saudi forces to Houthi incursions in 2009.[18]
In the early 2010s, after almost 20 years of relatively modest increases in military spending, the Saudi government embarked on an unprecedented expansion of the Kingdom's armed forces.[19][20] This shift in policy was spear-headed primarily by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who took over as Defense Minister in 2015.[21] It is believed the continued high level expansion of the Saudi Armed Forces was a response to not only short term threats (including incursions by Yemeni rebels and the rise of ISIS) but long term regional strategic concerns, namely the increasing strength of Iran and the uncertain future of America's role in the region.[22]
In 2019, the government of Saudi Arabia stated that women can start working in the military. In the past they could only work in police.[23]
Military services
The armed forces are mainly the responsibility of the
Defense spending
Spending on defense and security has increased significantly since the mid-1990s and was about US$67 billion in 2013. Saudi Arabia ranks among the top five nations in the world in government spending for its military, representing about 9% of GDP in 2013. Its modern, high-technology arsenal makes Saudi Arabia among the world's most densely armed nations, with its military equipment being supplied primarily by the United States, France, and Britain.
The United States sold more than $80 billion in military hardware between 1951 and 2006 to the Saudi military.
The United Kingdom has also been a major supplier of military equipment to Saudi Arabia since 1965.[31]
Canada recently won a contract worth at least US$10 billion to supply the Saudi Arabian army with armored military vehicles.[32]
Service branches
Armed Forces
The Saudi Arabian Armed Forces are affiliated with the Ministry of Defense and consist of five branches
Saudi Arabian Land Forces
The Royal Saudi Land Forces are composed of three armored brigades, five mechanized brigades, one airborne brigade, one Royal Guard brigade, and eight artillery battalions. The army also has one aviation command with two aviation brigades.[24]
The army's main equipment consists of a combination of French- and U.S.-made armored vehicles: 315 M–1A2 Abrams, 290 AMX–30, and 450 M60A3 main battle tanks; 300 reconnaissance vehicles; 570+ AMX–10P and 400 M–2 Bradley armored infantry fighting vehicles; 3,000+ M113 and 100 Al-Fahd armored personnel carriers, produced in Saudi Arabia; 200+ towed artillery pieces; 110 self-propelled artillery pieces; 60 multiple rocket launchers; 400 mortars; 10 surface-to-surface missiles; about 2,000 antitank guided weapons; about 200 rocket launchers; 450 recoilless launchers; 12 attack helicopters; 50+ transport helicopters; and 1,000 surface-to-air missiles.[24]
In 1996 Saudi Arabia had military cities in the northeast, the King Khalid Military City, at Tabuk, at Dharhran, and at Abha in the southwest. There was a 1996 report that construction of a military city at Jizan, orientated toward Yemen, had begun with Defense Minister Prince Sultan pouring the first concrete on 8 May 1996.[33]
The
Royal Saudi Air Force
The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) is the aviation branch of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces.
The RSAF has developed from a largely defensive military force into one with an advanced offensive capability, and maintains the third largest fleet of F-15s after the U.S. and Japanese air forces. The air force is organized in seven fighter/ground-attack squadrons, six fighter squadrons, and seven training squadrons. Saudi Arabia has at least 15 active military airfields.[24]
As of 2011, Saudi Arabia has around 300 combat aircraft. The kingdom's combat aircraft are newly acquired Typhoons and upgraded Tornado IDS, F-15 Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle fighter planes. Saudi Arabia has a further 80+ F-15 Eagles on order and an option to buy another 72 Typhoons.
The Royal Saudi Navy is the maritime arm of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces and one of the five service branches of the Ministry of Defense of Saudi Arabia. Its primary role is monitoring and defending the Saudi territorial waters against military or economic intrusion, and participating in international naval alliances.
The navy is divided into two fleets: the Western Fleet has bases in
The navy's inventory includes 11 principal
Royal Saudi Air Defense
The Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces (RSADF) is the
Air Defense was part of the Army until 1981 when it was made a separate service. It operates "Peace Shield" a state-of-the-art radar and air defense system consisting of a Command Operations Center at
The system equipment comprises 17 General Electric
Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Force
The Royal Saudi Strategic Missile Forces (RSSMF) is equipped with the Chinese DF-3A (CSS-2) Dongfeng missile sold to Saudi Arabia by China. A conventional high-explosive warhead (2150 kg) variant of the DongFeng 3A Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile was developed for an export order to Saudi Arabia in 1987. About 30+ missiles and 9~12 launchers were reportedly delivered in 1988, though no known test launch has ever been made in the country.[41][42] The Strategical Missile Forces is top secret, so there is no open information concerning the budget and personnel. Probably it is separate branch officially called Strategic Missile Forces (guessing by its website URL http://www.smf.gov.sa/).
But RSSMF certainly has one advanced
National Guard
The Saudi Arabian National Guard is independent of the Ministry of Defense and Aviation and is organized into three mechanized infantry brigades, five infantry brigades, and one ceremonial cavalry squadron.
The
Royal Guard
The Saudi Arabian Royal Guard Regiment is one of the more visible units . Originally an independent military force, the Royal Guards were incorporated into the Army in 1964. However, the Royal Guards still retained their unique mission of protecting the House of
The Royal Guards report directly to the king and for security reasons maintain a separate communications network from the regular Army.
Members of the Royal Guard Regiment often wear the flowing white
Border Guard
The General Directorate of Border Guard is a Saudi agency responsible for guarding land and sea borders of the Kingdom.[46] Awwad Eid Al-Aradi Al-Balawi is the Directorate general of Saudi Arabian Border Guards.[47]
State Security
Presidency of State Security is a Saudi Arabian security body created in 2017 by combining the counterterrorism and domestic
Intelligence Special Forces
The Special Security Unit or the Falcons Unit is a special forces affiliated with the General Intelligence. It was launched at the Intelligence Presidency Institute in Muzahmiyah in 2010, in the presence of the Head of General Intelligence, Prince Muqrin bin Abdulaziz, senior officials in the presidency, and senior military and security leaders.
Military industry
The vast majority of Saudi Arabia's military equipment is imported from European and North American suppliers.
Saudi Arabian Military Industries signed a Memorandum of Understanding with
Flags
-
Flag of the Royal Saudi Land Forces. (Ratio: 2:3)
-
Flag of the Royal Saudi Air Force (Seal). (Ratio: 2:3)
-
Ensign of the Royal Saudi Air Force (Roundel). (Ratio: 2:3)
-
Flag of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces. (Ratio: 2:3)
-
Flag of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Force(Ratio: 2:3)
-
Flag of the Royal Saudi Strategic Missile (Ratio: 2:3)
See also
Notes
- ^ Air Defense Ministry Building designed by Arthur Erickson Architects with Bing Thom
References
- ^ Sir James Norman Dalrymple Anderson. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Stacey International, 1983. p. 77.
- ^ "The World Factbook". Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 6 April 2016.
- ^ "Middle East: Saudi Arabia". The World Factbook. Langley, Virginia: Central Intelligence Agency. 17 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
- ^ Felicia Schwartz; Hakim Almasmari; Asa Fitch (26 March 2015). "Saudi Arabia Launches Military Operations in Yemen". The Wall Street Journal.
- ^ Henderson, Simon. "Bahrain's Crisis: Saudi Forces Intervene". Washington Institute. Archived from the original on 4 April 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2016.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia launches airstrikes in Yemen". CNN. 26 March 2015. Archived from the original on 26 March 2015. Retrieved 26 March 2015.
- ^ Shrivastava, Sanskar (15 March 2011). "Saudi Arabian Troops Enter Bahrain, Bahrain Opposition Calls It War". The World Reporter. Archived from the original on 18 March 2011. Retrieved 15 April 2011.
- ISBN 978-1032012278.
- ISBN 9781849046480.
- ^ Smith, Charles D. (2006), Palestine and the Arab–Israeli Conflict, New York: Bedford, p. 329.
- ^ Myre, Greg. “The 1973 Arab Oil Embargo: The Old Rules No Longer Apply“ (October 16, 2013). National Public Radio. www.npr.org/sections/parallels/2013/10/15/234771573/the-1973-arab-oil-embargo-the-old-rules-no-longer-apply Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Was the 'Oil Weapon' Effective in Achieving the Arab States' Goals in 1973–74?". 28 December 2014.
- ^ Daoudi, M. S.; Dajani, M. S. (January 1984). "The 1967 Oil Embargo Revisited". Journal of Palestine Studies. 13 (#2): 65–90. doi:10.2307/2536897. ISSN 0377-919X. JSTOR 2536897.
- ^ http://www.arabnews.com/node/1661431. "The Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan". Arab News (April 19, 2020). Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Annex D: Iraq Economic Data (1989–2003)". Comprehensive Report of the Special Advisor to the DCI [Director of Central Intelligence] on Iraq's WMD. 1 of 3. Central Intelligence Agency. 27 April 2007
- ^ Pike, John (ed.). "Iraq debt: Non-Paris Club Creditors". Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ISBN 9780393324174.
- ^ Abeer Allam (21 April 2013). "Saudi king sacks deputy defence minister". Financial Times. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Data for all countries from 1988–2018 in constant (2017) USD (pdf)" (PDF). SIPRI. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ Tian, Nan; Fleurant, Aude; Kuimova, Alexandra; Wezeman, Pieter D.; Wezeman, Siemon T. (27 April 2020). "Trends in World Military Expenditure, 2019" (PDF). Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Saudi King Abdullah passes away". Al Arabiya, (23 January 2015). Archived from the original on 23 January 2015. Retrieved January 20, 2021.
- ^ "Saudi Prince's Big Military Revamp Means Billions to Business". Bloomberg.com. March 2018.
- ^ "Saudi women can now join the armed forces". Khaleej Times. 3 October 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d e f g "Country Profile: Saudi Arabia" Archived 16 January 2011 at the Wayback Machine, September 2006, United States Library of Congress
- ^ "Trends in International Arms Transfer, 2014". Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Archived from the original on 19 March 2015. Retrieved 18 March 2015.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia" Archived 11 November 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Federation of American Scientists
- ^ Pierre Tristam Middle East Issues Expert. "U.S. Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia". Middleeast.about.com. Archived from the original on 12 January 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
- ^ "Arms for the King and His Family: The U.S. Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia". Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs. Archived from the original on 5 December 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
- Anthony H. Cordesman (17 September 2010). "US-Saudi Security Cooperation, Impact of Arms Sales". Saudi-U.S. Relations Information Service. Archivedfrom the original on 13 January 2011. Retrieved 16 November 2010.
- ^ "Saudi Arms Deal Advances" Archived 16 November 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Wall Street Journal
- ISBN 978-0-7134-3815-4.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia, Canada Sign Landmark US$10B Military Vehicle Deal". HuffPost. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ James Bruce, "Saudis building military city on Yemen border", Jane's Defence Weekly, 15 May 1996, p.3
- ISBN 9780844407913.
- ^ "Royal Saudi Land Forces History". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 1 February 2017.
- ^ Al Saud, K. Royal Saudi Air Defense Forces, al-Moqatel (in Arabic) online.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia spends 25% of its budget on its military — here's what it has for the money". Business Insider. Archived from the original on 2 January 2016. Retrieved 21 March 2016.
- ^ Anthony Cordesman (2009). Saudi Arabia: National Security in a Troubled Region. p. 387.
{{cite book}}
:|work=
ignored (help) - ^ "Royal Saudi Air Defence Force – Responsibilities".
- ^ a b "Peace Shield (Saudi Arabia), Systems" Archived 28 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine, Jane's Military Communications, 5 July 2005. Retrieved 23 January 2012
- ^ "Saudi Arabia unveils part of strategic missile force – a deterrent move against Iran?". 2 May 2014. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- sinodefence, 27 February 2009.
- ^ Sean O'Connor, "Saudi ballistic missile site revealed" Archived 14 July 2013 at the Wayback Machine, IHS Jane's Defence Weekly, 10 July 2013.
- ^ "Al Fahd – Wheeled Armoured Reconnaissance/Personnel Carrier". Army Technology. Archived from the original on 21 December 2010. Retrieved 30 August 2010.
- ^ Metz, Helen C. "Area Handbook Series: Saudi Arabia. A Country Study." Federal Research Division, Library of Congress, Washington DC., 1992, 254.
- ^ "General Directorate of Border Guard". General Directorate of Border Guard. 2019.
- ^ "FaceOf: Gen. Awwad Eid Al-Balawi, director-general of the Saudi Border Guards". Arab News. 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2019-01-05.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia forms new apparatus of state security". 21 July 2017.
- ^ "Presidency of State Security: A vision for development and prosperity". 23 July 2017.
- ^ Omran, Ahmed Al; Kerr, Simeon (21 July 2017). "Saudi Arabia security agencies revamp sparks further intrigue". Financial Times.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia: Royal order to establish a state security presidium". 21 July 2017.
- ^ admin. "Saudi Arabia unveils development of MRAP Tuwaiq 2 vehicle – Aljundi Journal – A Military & Cultural Monthly Magazine". Retrieved 2021-03-13.
- ^ "Saudi Arabia signs agreement to manufacture Russian weapons locally". Al Arabiya. 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 6 October 2017. Retrieved 6 October 2017.