Saudi Arabian Army

Royal Saudi Arabian Army
Arabic: القُوّات البَرِيَة المَلَكيَّة السُّـعُوديَّة

Seal
Active As early as January 1745;[1]
Country  Saudi Arabia [nb 1]
Allegiance Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques
Branch Saudi Armed Forces (as of 1902)
Type Army
Role Ground-based warfare
Size 300,000+[2] full-time personnel (2012 est.)
325,000[3] reserve and National Guard
625,000+ total personnel (2015 est.)
Part of
Headquarters King Rd, Al Wazarat, Riyadh
Anniversaries January 13; (115 years ago)
Decorations
Website Official Website
Commanders
Minister of Defense Crown Prince Mohammad Al Saud
Chief of Joint Staff General Abdul Rahman Al Banyan
Commander of Royal Land Forces Lt. General Prince Fahd Al Saud
Insignia
Battle flag
Flag
A column of M-113 APCs and other military vehicles of the Royal Saudi Land Forces travel along a channel cleared of mines during Operation Desert Storm., Kuwait - 1 March 1991.

The Royal Saudi Land Forces (KSA) (Arabic: القوات البرية الملكية السعودية‎‎), also called Saudi Arabian Army (Arabic: الجيش العربي السعودي‎‎ Al-Jai? al-?Arab?yat al-Su??d?yah), are the largest branch of the Saudi Arabia Armed Forces. The Saudi Arabia Ground Armed Forces (SAAF) divide its manpower between two main entities, the National Guard (SANG) and the Army [RSLF]. The Chief of the Saudi General Staff until 2011 was Field Marshal Saleh Al-Muhaya.[4]

History

The 20th Brigade of the Royal Saudi Land Forces display a 155 mm (6 in) GCT self-propelled gun, left, and AMX-10P infantry combat vehicles

The modern Saudi Army has its roots in the first Saudi State, which was formed as early as 1745, and is considered to be the birth year of the Saudi Army. As of 13 January 1902 was founded as the Royal Saudi Land Forces, and is the oldest branch of the KSA military.[1]

Other events that led to an expansion of the Saudi Army were the Arab–Israeli conflict in 1948, the fall of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi in the Iranian Revolution in 1979 and the subsequent fears of possible Shia's actions, and in the last years the first Gulf War in 1990. In the year 2000, Saudi Arabia's government spent billions of dollars to expand the Saudi Forces including the Saudi Army.

A Saudi M60A3 tank being transferred

Fahad Al-Eissa, Director general of the defense minister’s office stated that “We are the fourth-largest military spender in the world, yet when it comes to the quality of our arms, we are barely in the top 20,”. Mohammad bin Salman was appointed Defense Minister to correct these defficiencies.[5]

Wars involved

Saudi Arabian army UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter during Operation Desert Shield.

First Saudi State (1745–1818)

Saudi State (1818–1891)

The Unification of Saudi Arabia (1902–1933)

A Saudi Arabian (HMMWV) with a QCB machine gun mounted on top depart for the seaport of Mogadishu in Somalia

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1933–present)

Structure

US Marines training members of the Saudi Arabian Army

The combat strength of the Saudi Army consists of 4 Armoured, 5 Mechanized, 2 Light Infantry (1 Royal Guards, 1 Special Forces) Brigades. The Saudi Army deployed the 12th Armoured Brigade and 6th Mechanized Brigade at King Faisal Military City in the Tabuk area. It deployed the 4th Armoured 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.[7]

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.[7]

Armor

A typical Saudi armoured brigade has an armoured reconnaissance company, three tank battalions with 35 tanks each, a mechanized infantry battalion with 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.[8]

Mechanized

A typical Saudi mechanized brigade has an armoured reconnaissance company, one tank battalion with 40 tanks, three mechanized infantry battalions with 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. It has 24 anti-tank guided weapons launchers and four mortar sections with a total of eight 81 mm (3 in) mortars.[8]

Infantry

Each infantry brigade consists of three motorized battalions, an artillery battalion, and a support battalion. Army brigades should not be confused with Saudi Arabian National Guard brigades.

Airborne

The Airborne Brigade is normally deployed near Tabuk. The Airborne Brigade has two parachute battalions and three Special Forces companies. 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

Aviation

The separate Royal Guard Regiment consists of four light infantry battalions.

Saudi Arabian Army Structure (click to enlarge).

Main equipment

Note that figures below do not include war losses due to the ongoing conflict in Yemen.

Infantry weapons

Small arms

Model Image Type Quantity Acquired Origin Notes
Browning Hi-Power Semi-automatic pistol  Belgium
Glock 17 Semi-automatic pistol  Austria
FN P90 Submachine gun  Belgium
HK33A2 Assault rifle  West Germany
H&K MP5 Submachine gun  West Germany Manufactured by Military Industries Corporation. MP5A2, MP5A3 & MP5K variants.[9]
Heckler & Koch G3 Battle Rifle  West Germany Manufactured by Military Industries Corporation[10]
Heckler & Koch G36 Assault Rifle  Germany Manufactured by Military Industries Corporation[11]
M4 carbine Assault Rifle  United States
Steyr AUG Assault Rifle  Austria
AK-103 Assault Rifle  Russia
AUG A1 HBAR Squad automatic weapon  Austria
FN MAG General purpose machine gun  Belgium
M2 Browning Heavy machine gun  United States

Grenade, rocket, anti-tank, and missile systems

Model Type Quantity Acquired Origin Notes
M203 Single shot grenade launcher  United States
FGM-148 Javelin Anti-tank guided missile  United States
MBT LAW Anti-tank guided missile  United Kingdom
Swingfire Anti-tank guided missile  United Kingdom
Vickers Vigilant Anti-tank missile 500  United Kingdom
M47 Dragon Anti-tank missile 4,692  United States
AGM-114 Hellfire Anti-tank guided missile 2,954  United States
MILAN Anti-tank guided missile  France
Germany West Germany
HOT Anti-tank guided missile 3,500  France
Germany West Germany
HOT 2 Anti-tank guided missile 249  France
Germany West Germany
Bill 2 SACLOS Anti-tank missile 200  Sweden
SS.11 Anti-tank guided missile 2,000  France
BGM-71 TOW Anti-tank guided missile 10,738  United States
BGM-71C ITOW Anti-tank guided missile 2,538  United States
BGM-71D TOW-2 Anti-tank guided missile 6,210  United States
BGM-71E TOW-2A Anti-tank guided missile 5,131  United States

Mortars

Model Type Quantity Acquired Origin Notes
M224 Mortar Mortar N/A N/A  United States
Brandt Mle CM60A1 Mortar N/A N/A  France
MO-120-RT-61 120mm Mortar 200 200  France
2R2M 120MM Mortar 28 28  France
M30 107 mm Mortar Mortar N/A  United States

Vehicles

Tanks

ModelImageOriginVariantQuantityDetails
M1 Abrams  United States M1A2S 442

+ 153 on order

 Saudi Arabia bought 373 M1A2 tanks,[12] with further 69 more M1A2S tanks ordered on 8 January 2013 and delivered by 31 July 2014.[13] Later Saudi Arabia decided to upgrade all of M1A2 variants to M1A2S configuration. 153 M1A2S on order since Aug 9, 2016[12]
M60 Patton  United States M60A3 450[14] 485 were acquired, currently in reserve.
AMX-30  France AMX-30SA 250 in reserve

Infantry fighting vehicles

ModelImageOriginVariantQuantityDetails
M2 Bradley  United States M2A2 400[14] Principal IFV of the Saudi Army.[15]
AMX-10P  France 500[14] 500[16] were bought from France in 1974; most are now stored as a reserve.

Armored personnel carriers

ModelImageOriginVariantQuantityDetails
M113  United States /  Turkey Many 1,112 364 had been upgraded in Turkey.[15]
Al-Masmak  Saudi Arabia 2,750 x[17][18]

Utility vehicles

ModelImageOriginVariantQuantityDetails
HMMWV  United States various configurations 15,000+
Oshkosh M-ATV  United States Many 1859 Saudi Arabia began negotiations for an order for an undisclosed number of M-ATVs Saudi Arabia received an estimated 1859
URO VAMTAC  Spain 300 [19]
CUCV II[20]  United States 2,000+

Artillery and missile systems

ModelImageOriginTypeVariantQuantityDetails
M270  United States MRL 270mm 50
Astros II MLRS  Brazil MRL 127mm SS-30 72
PLZ-45  People's Republic of China Self-propelled howitzer 155mm 54[21]
M109 howitzer  United States Self-propelled howitzer 155mm M109A5
M109A2 		48
110
AMX-GCT  France Self-propelled howitzer 155mm 51
M198 howitzer  United States Towed Howitzer 155mm 42
FH-70  United Kingdom Towed Howitzer 155mm 40
M114 howitzer  United States Towed Howitzer 155mm M114A1 50 All are stored in reserve.
M102 howitzer  United States Towed Howitzer 105mm 140[15]
M101 howitzer  United States Towed Howitzer 105mm M101A1 100 All are stored in reserve.

Army aviation

ModelImageOriginTypeVariantQuantityDetails
AH-64 Apache  United States Attack Helicopter AH-64D 94 A further 29 AH-64D Longbow III requested for more than $1.2bn.
Boeing AH-6  United States Armed Scout Helicopter 0 36 on order for Saudi Arabian National Guard
Bell 406  United States Scout Helicopter Bell 406CS 13
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk  United States Transport Helicopter UH-60L 37 A further 24 UH-60L requested for $350m.
Sikorsky S-70  United States Medevac Helicopter S-70A1L 8
Boeing CH-47F Chinook  United States Cargo Helicopter CH-47F 48 Ordered in December 2016.
Aeryon Scout[22]  Canada Miniature UAV 10
Saqr,2,3,4[23]  Saudi Arabia Unmanned aerial vehicle ? ?
CAIG Wing Loong [24][25]  People's Republic of China MALE
UCAV 		Pterodactyl
Wing Loong II 		300[26]
Denel Dynamics Seeker [27][28]  South Africa
 Saudi Arabia[29] 		UCAV Seeker 400 ?
EMT Luna X-2000[30]  Federal Republic of Germany
 Saudi Arabia[31] 		Unmanned aerial vehicle ? ?
Selex ES Falco[32]  Italian RepublicUnmanned aerial vehicle ? ?

Royal Saudi Land Forces Ranks

Land Officer Corps

Equivalent
NATO Code 		OF-10 OF-9 OF-8 OF-7 OF-6 OF-5 OF-4 OF-3 OF-2 OF-1 OF(D) & Student officer
Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia
(Edit)		 No equivalent
Unknown
Fariq Awwal
(فريق أول‎‎)		 Fariq
(فريق)		 Liwa
(لواء)		 Amid
(عميد)		 Aqid
(عقيد)		 Muqaddam
(مقدم)		 Raid
(رائد)		 Naqib
(نقيب)		 Mulazim Awwal
(ملازم أول)		 Mulazim
(ملازم)

Land Enlisted Corps

Junior enlisted Non-commissioned Officers (NCOs) Warrant Officers (WOs)
Private
(PVT)		 First Class Private
(FCS)		 Corporal
(CPL)		 Vice Sergeant
(VS)		 Sergeant
(S)		 First Class sergeant
(FCS)		 Sergeant Major
(SGM)
E-1 E-2 E-3 E-4/5 E-7 E-8 E-9
No Chevron
(Arabic: جندي Jundi‎‎)		 One Chevron
(Arabic: جندي أول Jundi Awaal‎‎)		 Two Chevrons
(Arabic: عريف Areef‎‎)		 Three Chevrons
(Arabic: وكيل رقيب Wakil Raqib‎‎)		 Four Chevrons
(Arabic: رقيب Raqib‎‎)		 Four Chevrons with stripe
(Arabic: رقيب أول Raqib Awaal ‎‎)		 stripe
(Arabic: رئيس رقباء Rais Ruquba‎‎)

See also

Notes

  1. ↑

References

  1. 1 2 Wynbrandt, James (2004). A Brief History of Saudi Arabia (1st ed.). p. 353. Retrieved Oct 10, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Political Regimes in the Arab World: Society and the Exercise of Power". September 4, 2012.
  3. ↑ "Saudi King Salman cements hold on power". aljazeera.net. 30 January 2015. Retrieved 30 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Royal Saudi Land Forces.
  5. ↑ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2016-04-21/the-2-trillion-project-to-get-saudi-arabia-s-economy-off-oil
  6. ↑
  7. 1 2 Royal Saudi Land Forces
  8. 1 2 Accéder Google Francais
  9. ↑ "MP5 Sub Machine Gun". mic.org.sa. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  10. ↑ "G3 Semi-Automatic Rifle". mic.org.sa. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  11. ↑ "Rifle G36". mic.org.sa. Retrieved 2017-04-25.
  12. 1 2 "The 2006 Saudi Shopping Spree: $2.9B to Upgrade M1 Abrams Tank Fleet". DefenseIndustryDaily.com. 4 January 2011. Archived from the original on October 25, 2006. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
  13. ↑ "Saudi Arabia Orders 69 More M1A2S Abrams Heavy Tanks". Deagel.com, 8 January 2013.
  14. 1 2 3 "Royal Saudi Land Forces Equipment". Global Security. Retrieved 2015-04-09.
  15. 1 2 3 Military Balance 2005- page 135
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ "Al-Masmak Masmak Nyoka Mk2 MRAP Mine Resistant Armored Personnel Carrier technical data sheet - Army Recognition - Army Recognition". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  18. ↑ "Saudi Al-Masmak Achieves the Highest Protection Level Recorded for MRAP". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  19. ↑ Administrator. "30 VAMTAC's to Saudi Arabia". Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  20. ↑ "Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle: CUCV II". Olive-drab.com. Retrieved 2013-03-15.
  21. ↑ Chinese Guns Conquer Arabia
  22. ↑ "picture of Saudi Army with Aeryon Scout".
  23. ↑
  24. ↑ Fischer Junior, Richard. "Kazakhstan purchases two Chinese Wing-Loong UCAVs" (7 June 2016). IHS Jane's 360. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  25. ↑ Atherton, Kelsey (22 June 2016). "Chinese-made drone crashes in Pakistan". Popular Science. Retrieved 7 November 2016.
  26. ↑ "??300?????????????????".
  27. ↑ "After Obama snub, Saudis tap up South Africa for armed drone" (2 April 2013). the Commentator.
  28. ↑ Gertz, Bill (2 April 2013). "Saudi Arabia buying South African armed drone". Free Beacon.
  29. ↑ "Riyadh's secret armed drone programme". Intelligence Online. 2013-03-27.
  30. ↑ Amnesty International. "Der Kunde ist K?nig" (in German). Retrieved 2012-04-05.
  31. ↑ Lake, Jon. "Saudi Arabia shows Luna [IDX15D4]" (26 February 2015). janes.
  32. ↑ http://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/farnborough-air-show/2012-07-13/falco-gains-mystery-customer-evo-prepped-flight
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.