Kuwait Army

Kuwait Land Forces
Country  Kuwait
Branch Military of Kuwait
Type Land force
Size 30,000 personnel approximately
Garrison/HQ Desert of Kuwait
Nickname(s) His Highness Land Force
Motto(s) الله والوطن والامير
God, Country & The Emir
Colors Green & Red
Anniversaries National and Liberation Day (25 and 26 February)
Engagements
Decorations Arab and non-Arab Military awards and decorations
Commanders
Assistant Chief Combat Commander of Kuwait Land Force Land Force Commander

The Kuwait Army, established in 1949, is the oldest armed branch among the military of Kuwait.[1] Its cavalry and infantry predecessors operated in desert and metropolitan areas in 1919, 1920 and 1928 to 1938, tracing their roots directly to the cavalrymen and infantrymen that defended Al-Kout Fortress since the 19th century along with various mounted defensive forces. The "Kuwait Army" was later established as the Kuwait Land Force, which became the principal land force of the Kuwait Armed Forces.

History

The Kuwait Army was created in 1949 by Field Marshal Sheikh Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah (1949–1961) during the time when its partnership was included part of the Directorate of Public Security Force in 1938 prior to splitting in 1953. As Sheikh Abdullah Mubarak Al-Sabah headed the Directorate of Public Security Force which included the Kuwait Army; the later, was headed by deputy commander Colonel Mubarak Abdullah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Structure and organization

  • Kuwait 6th Liberation Mechanized Brigade
  • Kuwait 15th Mubarak Armored Brigade
  • Kuwait 26th Al-Soor Mechanized Brigade
  • Kuwait 35th Shahid (Martyr) Armored Brigade
  • Kuwait 94th Saleh Al-Mohammed Mechanized Brigade
  • Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade (Independent)
  • Kuwait Emiri Guard Authority (Independent)
  • Kuwait Military Police Authority (Independent)
  • Kuwait Military Fire Service Directorate

Part of equipment

Kuwaiti M-84AB tanks parading on 25 and 26 February 2011 with members of the 34 nations coalition force partners; celebrations that marked the 50th anniversary of the Independence, the 20th anniversary of Liberation and the 5th anniversary of the ascendance of His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah to the leadership of the State of Kuwait.

Armored fighting vehicles

Name Type Quantity Country of origin Notes
M1A2 Abrams Main Battle Tank418United StatesDelivered between 1994–97, to be upgraded
M-84ABMain Battle Tank149Yugoslavia200 Ordered 1989 and 15 in service by 1990
Desert WarriorInfantry Fighting Vehicle254United Kingdom236 with 25 mm gun, 18 APC. in 2009 Kuwait Upgraded the fire control system, (GITS II) hardware, Improved Thermal Sight System and 2nd Generation Forward-Looking Infrared Radar
BMP-3Infantry Fighting Vehicle245Soviet Union142 delivered in 1994–1997. A new contract was signed in 2009 for 70 BMP-3M delivered in 2010-2011. another Contract was signed in 2014 for 33 more, Executed on 30 September 2015.
BMP-2Infantry Fighting Vehicle76Soviet Union245 delivered between 1989–90 and 46 delivered between 1994–95, 76 in service as of 2005
M113A2Armoured Personnel Carrier80United StatesActive
M577Armoured Personnel Carrier30United StatesCommand post vehicle
Fahd 240Armoured Personnel Carrier60EgyptFirst delivered in 1988. not clear how many are in service =>[2]
M88A2 HerculesArmoured Recovery Vehicle14United States—
M-84AIArmoured Recovery Vehicle15Poland, YugoslaviaPolish WZT-3 built under license by Yugoslavia as M-84AI
Fuchs 2 NBC-RSArmoured Personnel Carrier0GermanyNBC vehicle, 12 on order[3]

Logistics and utility vehicles

Name Type Quantity Country of origin Notes
HumveeMultipurpose Wheeled Vehicle2300United States—

Self-propelled field artillery

Name Type Quantity Country of origin Notes
PLZ-45Self-propelled howitzer75China27 delivered 2000–01, 24 between 2002–03 and 24 ordered 2003
M-109A1BSelf-propelled howitzer23United StatesWithdrawn from service

Multiple launch rocket systems

Name Type Quantity Country of

Origin

Notes
BM-30 Smerch Multiple rocket launcher 27 Russia Purchased 1995–96

Anti-tank

Name Type Quantity Country of origin Notes
RPG-7Rocket-propelled grenadeSoviet Union—
TOW M-901Anti-tank guided weapon8United States—
M966/M966A1 TOW Missile Carrier 66 United States TOW Missile Carrier
TOW IIAnti-tank guided weapon82 launchersUnited States—
AT-5 Spandrel Anti-tank guided weapon 2402 Missiles Soviet Union
AT-4 SpigotAnti-tank guided weapon4601 MissilesSoviet Union—
AT-10Anti-tank guided weapon1250 MissilesRussia—
9M133 Kornet Anti-tank guided weapon Russia
Carl Gustav M3 Recoilless rifle 200 Sweden

Kuwait Army Ranks

His Highness, the Emir of Kuwait: Commander-in-chief of the Military of Kuwait (Arabic: القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة الكويتية‎)

His Highness, the Crown Prince of Kuwait: Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Military of Kuwait (Arabic: نائب القائد الأعلى للقوات المسلحة الكويتية‎)

Commissioned Officers

Equivalent
NATO code		OF-10OF-9OF-8OF-7OF-6OF-5OF-4OF-3OF-2OF-1OF(D) and student officer
Kuwait Kuwait
(Edit)		 No equivalent No equivalent
General
(فريق أول)		 Lieutenant General
(فريق)		 Major General
(لواء)		 Brigadier General
(عميد)		 Colonel
(عقيد)		 Lieutenant Colonel
(مقدم)		 Major
(رائد)		 Captain
(نقيب)		 First Lieutenant
(ملازم أول)		 Second Lieutenant
(ملازم)

Enlisted

Equivalent
NATO Code		OR-9OR-8OR-7OR-6OR-5OR-4OR-3OR-2OR-1
Kuwait Kuwait
(Edit)		 No equivalent No equivalent No insignia
Chief Warrant Officer
وکیل اول		 Warrant Officer
وکیل		 Sergeant First Class
رقیب اول		 Sergeant
رقیب		 Corporal
عریف		 Private 1st Class
وکیل عریف		 Private
جندي‎‎

See also

References

  1. ↑ "A History of the Kuwaiti Armed Forces". Military Review. 84 (3). May–June 2004. Retrieved 12 October 2013. |first1= missing |last1= in Authors list (help)  – via Questia (subscription required)
  2. ↑ John Pike (2013-04-22). "Kuwait – Army Equipment". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2014-03-24.
  3. ↑ Army Recognition. "World Defence News: Rheinmetall of Germany contract to supply 12 Fuchs 2 NBC 6x6 reconnaissance vehicles to Kuwait". worlddefencenews.blogspot.com.
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