Saudi Arabian Army - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

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

Military of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia's armed forces are mainly the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense and Aviation. 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 estimated to be 233,500
The current Chief of the Saudi General Staff is Field Marshal Saleh Al-Muhaya

Saleh Al-Muhaya

Field Marshal Saleh Al-Muhaya , is the former Chief of the General Staff of the Saudi Arabian Army and the Vice-Commander of the Saudi Armed Forces. Beside the Field Marshal-Prince Khalid bin Sultan, Al-Muhaya led the Saudi Arabian Army in the Gulf War with the Allied Forces...

History

1923 is considered to be the birth year of the Saudi Army, as the modern Saudi Arabia have been Unified and founded as a single state.
After the discovery of oil and the meeting between King Abdulaziz

Abdülâziz

Abdülaziz I or Abd Al-Aziz, His Imperial Majesty was the 32nd Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and reigned between 25 June 1861 and 30 May 1876...

and the American President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...

on February 14, 1945, the Americans became the new major ally of Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...

.

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

Shah

Shāh is the title of the ruler of certain Southwest Asian and Central Asian countries, especially Persia , and derives from the Persian word shah, meaning "king".-History:...

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi

Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...

in the Iranian Revolution

Iranian Revolution

The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...

in 1979 and the subsequent fears of possible Shia's actions and in the last years the first Gulf War

Gulf War

The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

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 modern state of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932 with the union of the kingdoms of the Hejaz and Nejd. Although the territory within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's boundaries is largely arid desert or rocky infertile terrain – home for much of its history to tribal nomadic societies with...

(1902–1933).
1948 Arab-Israeli War
1948 Arab-Israeli War
The 1948 Arab–Israeli War, known to Israelis as the War of Independence or War of Liberation The war commenced after the termination of the British Mandate for Palestine and the creation of an independent Israel at midnight on 14 May 1948 when, following a period of civil war, Arab armies invaded...

more than 3,000 Saudi Troops participated in combat against Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

.
1967 RSLF deployed over 20,000 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 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...

Saudi Arabia, along with other Gulf nations, protested American intervention by raising oil prices
1973 oil crisis
The 1973 oil crisis started in October 1973, when the members of Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries or the OAPEC proclaimed an oil embargo. This was "in response to the U.S. decision to re-supply the Israeli military" during the Yom Kippur war. It lasted until March 1974. With the...

and sent over 3,000 Saudi soldiers from the troops stationed in Jordan to fight on the Syrian frontline.
Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...

(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's air campaign over Kuwait and Iraq, which had begun on 17 January 1991.Iraqi...

and the Liberation of Kuwait
Opération Daguet
Opération Daguet was the codename for French operations during the 1991 Gulf War...

.
2009 November and December, War Anti-Houthis in South of Jizan in Saudi ARabia (Jabal Dukhan and Al-Jaberi).

Structure

The combat strength of the Saudi Army consists of 4 armoured 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
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.

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) Armoured Brigade
8th Armoured Brigade
12th Armoured Brigade
45th Armoured Brigade

the four armoured brigades, 8 mechanized

A typical Saudi armoured brigade has an armoured 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
17th Mechanized Brigade
18th Mechanized Brigade
19th Mechanized Brigade
20th Mechanized Brigade

The eight 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 armoured 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
- 10th Infantry Brigade

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

Saudi Arabian National Guard

The Saudi Arabian National Guard is a separate military force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is not part of the Saudi Arabian Defence Forces, due to its specific role as a counterbalance to the regular military. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force...

brigades, of which there are the 1st Brigade (1/2/3/4 Combined Arms Battalions) and the 2nd Brigade (5/6/7/8 Combined Arms Battalions).

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. However, the Royal Guards still retained their unique mission of protecting the House of Saud...

consists of three light infantry battalions.

Main equipment

The Saudi government spends billions of dollars on military armament and usually buys equipment from its main ally the US. However the army is set to purchase 150 T-90S MBT and 250 BMP-3 IFV from Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

Grenade, rocket, and missile systems

Model	Type	Quantity	Acquired	Notes
M203 M203 grenade launcher The M203 is a single shot 40 mm grenade launcher designed to attach to a rifle. It uses the same rounds as the older M79 break-action grenade launcher, which utilize the High-Low Propulsion System to keep recoil forces low. Though versatile, and compatible with many rifle models, the M203 was...	Single shot grenade launcher Grenade launcher A grenade launcher or grenade discharger is a weapon that launches a grenade with more accuracy, higher velocity, and to greater distances than a soldier could throw it by hand....
FGM-148 Javelin FGM-148 Javelin The FGM-148 Javelin is a United States-made man-portable third generation anti-tank missile fielded to replace the Dragon antitank missile.-Overview:Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile with lock-on before launch and automatic self-guidance...	Anti-tank guided missile Anti-tank guided missile An anti-tank missile , anti-tank guided missile , anti-tank guided weapon or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored military vehicles....
BGM-71 TOW BGM-71 TOW The BGM-71 TOW is an anti-tank missile. "BGM" is a weapon classification that stands for "Multiple Environment , Surface-Attack , Missile ". "TOW" is an acronym that stands for "Tube-launched, Optically-tracked, Wire command data link, guided missile"...	Anti-tank guided missile	N/A	N/A	Long-range anti-tank missile

Logistics, support and engineering vehicles

Model	Type	Quantity	Acquired	Origin	Notes
HMMWV	Light utility vehicle Light Utility Vehicle Light utility vehicle is a general term for small, jeep-like military trucks for tactical use. They are generally short, relatively light compared to other trucks and cars, unarmored with 4-wheel drive and short body overhangs for all-terrain mobility and at least 4 passenger capacity...	15,000+

Armoured fighting vehicles

Model	Type	Quantity	Notes
M1A2 Abrams M1 Abrams The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...	Main battle tank Main battle tank A main battle tank , also known as a battle tank or universal tank, is a tank that fills the heavy direct fire role of many modern armies. They were originally conceived to replace the light, medium, heavy and super-heavy tanks. Development was spurred onwards in the Cold War with the development...	315	Will be upgraded to M1A2S standard.
M1A2S Abrams M1 Abrams The M1 Abrams is a third-generation main battle tank produced in the United States. It is named after General Creighton Abrams, former Army Chief of Staff and Commander of US military forces in Vietnam from 1968 to 1972. The M1 is a well armed, heavily armored, and highly mobile tank designed for...	Main battle tank	58
M60A1/A3 Patton M60 Patton The 105 mm Gun Full Tracked Combat Tank, M60, also known unofficially as the M60 Patton, is a first-generation main battle tank introduced in December 1960. It was widely used by the U.S. and its Cold War allies, especially those in NATO, and remains in service throughout the world today...	Main battle tank	460
Leopard 2A7+	Main battle tank	200
T-90 T-90 The T-90 is a Russian third-generation main battle tank that is a modernisation of the T-72 . It is currently the most modern tank in service with the Russian Ground Forces and Naval Infantry...	Main battle tank	152	Under negotiation
AMX-30	Main battle tank	320
Al-Fahd Al-Fahd Infantry fighting vehicle The Al-Fahd is an armoured fighting vehicle used by the Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia. It was the first armoured fighting vehicle developed and built in Saudi Arabia...	Infantry fighting vehicle Infantry fighting vehicle An infantry fighting vehicle , also known as a mechanized infantry combat vehicle , is a type of armoured fighting vehicle used to carry infantry into battle and provide fire support for them...	100
AMX-10P AMX-10P The AMX-10P 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. It has NBC protection and amphibious capabilities, with hydro jets to swim in water...	Infantry fighting vehicle	570
M2A2 Bradley M2 Bradley The Bradley Fighting Vehicle is an American fighting vehicle platform manufactured by BAE Systems Land and Armaments, formerly United Defense.As with other infantry fighting vehicles, the Bradley is designed to transport infantry with armor protection while providing covering fire to suppress enemy...	Infantry fighting vehicle	400
BMP-3 BMP-3 The BMP-3 is a Russian amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, successor to the BMP-1 and BMP-2. BMP stands for Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty .- Production history :...	Infantry fighting vehicle	250	Under negotiation
M113	Armoured personnel carrier Armoured personnel carrier An armoured personnel carrier is an armoured fighting vehicle designed to transport infantry to the battlefield.APCs are usually armed with only a machine gun although variants carry recoilless rifles, anti-tank guided missiles , or mortars...	3,000	364 had been upgraded
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. It also shares many components with the EE-9 Cascavel Armoured fighting vehicle. The suspension includes Engesa's Boomerang double-axle rear...	Armoured personnel carrier	20
Panhard M3 Panhard M3 The Panhard M3 VTT , armoured personnel carrier was designed as a private venture with the first prototype completed in 1969. The prototype had a single door in each side of the hull and twin doors in the hull rear...	Armoured personnel carrier	300
Panhard AML-60/90 Panhard AML -Former Operators:: unknown number of AML-60s and AML-90s in service between 1960-1975.: 34 Eland 90s and Eland 60s in service with the Rhodesian Security Forces in 1979, passed on to successor state.-Trivia:...	Armoured car	300

Field artillery

Model	Type	Quantity	Acquired
M224 Mortar M224 Mortar The M224 60 mm Lightweight Mortar is a smooth bore, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for close-in support of ground troops.-Description:The M224 system is composed of theM225 Cannon M170 Bipod...	Mortar	N/A	N/A
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.-Description:The French-made...	Mortar	N/A	N/A
M30 107 mm Mortar M30 107 mm Mortar The M30 107 mm heavy mortar is an American rifled, muzzle-loading, high-angle-of-fire weapon used for long-range indirect fire support to infantry units.-Design:...	Mortar	N/A
Swingfire Swingfire Swingfire was a British wire-guided anti-tank missile developed in the 1960s and produced from 1966 until 1993.-Development:Swingfire was developed by Fairey Engineering Ltd and the British Aircraft Corporation. It replaced the Vickers Vigilant missile in British service...	Anti-tank guided missile Anti-tank guided missile An anti-tank missile , anti-tank guided missile , anti-tank guided weapon or anti-armor guided weapon is a guided missile primarily designed to hit and destroy heavily-armored military vehicles....	N/A	N/A
PLZ-45 PLZ-45 The PLZ-45 is a 155 mm self-propelled howitzer used by the People's Liberation Army of China, the Bangladesh Army, the Kuwaiti Army, the Saudi Arabian Army, and possibly the Pakistani Army....	Self-propelled artillery Self-propelled artillery Self-propelled artillery vehicles are combat vehicles armed with artillery. Within the term are covered self-propelled guns and rocket artillery...	54
M109A2 M109 howitzer The M109 is an American-made self-propelled 155 mm howitzer, first introduced in the early 1960s. It was upgraded a number of times to today's M109A6 Paladin...	Self-propelled artillery	280
AMX-GCT	Self-propelled artillery	90
M198 howitzer M198 howitzer The M198 howitzer is a medium-sized, towed artillery piece, developed for service with the United States Army and Marine Corps. It was commissioned to be a lightweight replacement for the WWII era M114 155mm howitzer. It was designed and prototyped at the Rock Island Arsenal in 1969 with firing...	Howitzer Howitzer A howitzer is a type of artillery piece characterized by a relatively short barrel and the use of comparatively small propellant charges to propel projectiles at relatively high trajectories, with a steep angle of descent...	120+
FH-70 FH-70 The FH-70 is a towed howitzer in use with several nations.-History:In 1963 NATO agreed a NATO Basic Military Requirement 39 for close support artillery, either towed or tracked. Subsequently Germany and UK started discussions and design studies and in 1968 established Agreed Operational...	Howitzer	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, the First Gulf War, and most recently in the Iraq War.- An Air Mobile Howitzer for the Vietnam War :...	Howitzer	140
Astros II MLRS Astros II MLRS ASTROS II is a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher produced in Brazil by the Avibrás company. It features modular design and employs rockets with calibers ranging from 127 mm to 300 mm...	Rocket artillery	60 +

Strategic missile systems

Model	Type	Quantity	Acquired	Origin	Notes
DF-3 DF-3A The DF-3A is a Chinese liquid-fueled, single-stage, medium-range nuclear ballistic missile that entered service in 1971. DF-3A is the oldest missile in China's inventory and is nearing retirement after four decades of service....	Intermediate-range ballistic missile Intermediate-range ballistic missile An intermediate-range ballistic missile is a ballistic missile with a range of 3,000–5,500 km , between a medium-range ballistic missile and an intercontinental ballistic missile...	80			Numbers and warheads are under great secrecy; both have never been declared by the two governments.

Army aviation

Model	Type	Quantity	Notes
Bell 406CS Combat Scout	Attack Helicopter	13
AH-64D Apache	Attack Helicopter	70
Sikorsky S-70A1/A1L Black Hawk	Transport Helicopter	12
Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk The UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-bladed, twin-engine, medium-lift utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted the S-70 design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System competition in 1972...	Transport Helicopter	90	A further 24 UH-60L requested for $350m.
Ka-50	Attack Helicopter	30	Under negotiation

(Anti-Air systems belong to Air Defense Force)