Country Arabian Kingdom Role Ground-based warfare | ||
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Branch Saudi Military Forces (as of 1902) Size 300,000+ full-time personnel (2012 est.)325,000 reserve and National Guard625,000+ total personnel (2015 est.) Part of MODA (as of 1933)JSP (as of 1926)MOWA (1823– 1891) Founded 13 January 1902, Saudi Arabia Allegiance Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Similar Royal Saudi Air Force, Armed Forces of Saudi Ara, Royal Saudi Navy, Saudi Arabian National, Royal Saudi Air Defense |
Saudi arabian army armed forces of saudi arabia 2016 2017
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.
Contents
- Saudi arabian army armed forces of saudi arabia 2016 2017
- History
- First Saudi State 17451818
- Saudi State 18181891
- The Unification of Saudi Arabia 19021933
- Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 1933present
- Structure
- Main equipment
- Army aviation
- References

History

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.

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.
First Saudi State (1745–1818)

Saudi State (1818–1891)
The Unification of Saudi Arabia (1902–1933)

Battle of Kinzaan (1915)
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (1933–present)

Structure

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