Military of Saudi Arabia
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|+<big><big>'''[[Military of Saudi Arabia|Armed Forces of Saudi Arabia]]'''
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! style="background:#798050; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #EEDD82; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | <font color=f9f9f9>'''Information''' <sub>[http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Template:Saudi_military&action=edit Edit]</sub></font>
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| '''age:''' 18
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| '''availability:''' 8,240,714 (2004 est.)
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| '''service:''' 4,725,514 (2004 est.)
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| '''reaching age:''' 246,343 (2004 est.)
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| '''active:''' 199,500 ([[List of countries by number of active troops|Ranked 25th]])
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| '''amount:''' [[USD|$]]31.255 billion (2006)
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| '''percent GDP:''' 10%(2002)
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! style="background:#798050; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #EEDD82; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | <font color=f9f9f9>'''Ministry of Defence'''</font>
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| style="background=#FFFFFF" | [[Image:Roundel of the Royal Saudi Air Force.svg|40px|Air Force]] [[Royal Saudi Air Force]]
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| [[Image:Flag of the Saudi Arabian Army.svg|40px|Land Forces]] [[Saudi Arabian Army]]
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| [[Image:Naval Jack of Saudi Arabia.svg|40px|Navy]] [[Saudi Navy]]
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| [[Royal Saudi Air Defense]]
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! style="background:#798050; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #EEDD82; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | <font color=f9f9f9>'''Independent troops'''</font>
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| [[Saudi Arabian National Guard]]
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| [[Saudi Royal Guard Regiment]]
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| [[Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah|General Intelligence Directorate]]
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! style="background:#798050; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #EEDD82; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | <font color=f9f9f9>'''Ministry of Interior'''</font>
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| [[Saudi Arabian Police Force]]
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| [[Saudi Border Guard]]
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| [[Saudi Coast Guard]]
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| [[Al-Mujahidoon]]
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| [[Special Emergency Force|Saudi Emergency Force]] (C.T. / A.R.)
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! style="background:#798050; font-size: 95%; border-top: 1px solid #aaaaaa; border-bottom: 1px solid #EEDD82; padding: 0 5px 0 5px;" | <font color=f9f9f9>'''Ranks of the Saudi Military'''</font>
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| [[Image:US Army E-4.svg|30px]][[Saudi Arabian military ranks]]
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The [[Saudi Ministry of Defence and Aviation]] is responsible for the direction of the '''military of [[Saudi Arabia]]'''. The Ministry also has responsibility for the construction of civilian airports as well as military bases, and for [[Meteorology]] departments.
[[Sultan bin Abdul Aziz|Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz]] has held the portfolio of Saudi Arabia's Minister of Defence Aviation since 1962. The Vice Minister, [[Abd al-Rahman bin Abdul Aziz|Abdulrahman bin Abdulaziz]], is his full brother. His oldest son, [[Khalid bin Sultan]], was appointed Assistant Minister of Defence for Military Affairs in 2001.
==Military situation==
{{Essay-like|date=July 2008}}
With the collapse of the [[Iraq]]i Ba'athist regime in mid-2003, the greatest conventional threat to the Saudi Kingdom was eliminated. The military situation became both less threatening and more complex.
The most important threats now are from tribesmen in [[Yemen]] who cross the frontier at will (as they have for centuries) and whose presence threatens Saudi territorial integrity.
The Islamic Republic of [[Iran]] is another potential threat. Its behavior since the fall of the [[Shah]] has generally been introverted, but also unpredictable and therefore worrying, however recent meetings between King [[Abdullah of Saudi Arabia]] and President [[Ahmadinejad]] of Iran seem to be showing improved relations between the two nations. Iranian air or sea action could threaten the free flow of oil, critical both to the industrial world and to the oil-producing countries. [[Shia]]s of Iran could extend its reach (perhaps through [[Bahrain]]) to subvert the Shiite minority in Saudi Arabia.
Internal subversion is now the major threat. This is heightened by a growing population of young men who are facing daunting challenges to simply find work. Although Saudi Arabia is exceptionally religious and defers to religious authorities on many issues, the legitimacy of the Kingdom is threatened from both liberal and conservative groups.
The rise of internal threats coincided with the beginning of the [[Iraq war]]. Car bombs and other attacks have been organized by cells based within the Kingdom. The police and intelligence communities have stepped up their activities to deal with unrest.
Despite its at times anti-Western rhetoric, Saudi Arabia has been very dependent on Western military assistance for its security needs. When President [[Saddam Hussein]] of Iraq invaded Saudi Arabia's northern neighbor [[Kuwait]] in 1990 during the [[Gulf War|Persian Gulf War]], [[Saudi Arabia]] immediately requested the deployment of US troops within the country to deter further aggression. Additionally, the country's oil exports through the shipping lanes of the [[Persian Gulf]] are protected by the [[US Fifth Fleet]], based in [[Bahrain]]. In 2005, Saudi Arabia was the foremost purchaser of US armaments in the world, with over $1.1 billion in purchases.<ref>WorldPolicy.org - [http://www.worldpolicy.org/projects/arms/reports/WatWTable1.html - Saudi arms reports]</ref>
However, it seems that [[Saudi Arabia]] will start purchasing military equipment from other suppliers, including [[Russia]]. In October 2007, a memorandum of understanding was signed between these two countries which may result in a purchase of up to 150 new [[Mi-17]] and [[Mi-35]] helicopters in a deal worth 2.2 billion USD. Even [[T-90]] tanks and anti-aircraft systems are rumoured.
[[Image:Worldwide military spending 2005 (horizontal).svg|thumb|right|300px|Budget comparison]]
The military is a major employer, and so it provides some relief to the nation's huge unemployment problem by bringing many young men into the defence of the country.
==Military branches==
'''Military branches of Ministry of Defence:'''
:::* [[Saudi Arabian Army]]
:::* [[Saudi Navy|Royal Saudi Naval Forces]] (including a Naval Air Wing and Marines)
:::* [[Royal Saudi Air Force]]
:::* [[Royal Saudi Air Defense]]
::::* Strategic Missiles Force
'''Independent military branches'''
:::* [[Saudi Arabian National Guard]]
:::* [[Saudi Royal Guard Regiment]]
:::* [[Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah|General Intelligence Directorate]] (''Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah'')
:::* Military Police Force
:::* Lightning Force (''Qowwat Al-Sa'eqah'' - Commandos)
'''Military branches of Ministry of Interior'''
:::*General Security Forces
::::* Saudi Arabian Police Force
::::* Saudi Arabian Traffic Police Force
::::* [[Special Emergency Force|Saudi Special Emergency Force]] (Counter-Terrorists / Anti-Riot)
::::* Mission-Security Force (''Amn Al-Mahammaat'')
::::* [[Mabahith|Secret Service]] (''Al Mabaahith Al Jena'eyah'')
::::* Immigration Dept.
:::* Saudi Arabian Border Guard
::::* Saudi Border Guard
::::* Saudi Coast Guard
::::* Al-Mujahidoon (support force for Border Guards)
:::* Civil Defense of Saudi Arabia
==Military industry==
:::*'''Armored Vehicles'''
::::#[[Der' Al-Jazeerah-1 AFV]]
::::#[[Der' Al-Jazeerah-2 AFV]]
::::#[[Al-Faris 8-400]]
::::#[[Al-Fahd Infantry fighting vehicle]]
::::#[[Al-Kasir IFV for Counter-Terrorism]]
::::#[[Al-Mansoor APC]]
::::#[[Al-Faisal AFV]]
::::#[[Al-Shibl 1]]
::::#[[Al-Shibl 2]]
<ref>GlobalSecurity.com - [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/weapons.htm Weapons made in Saudi Arabia]</ref>
==Military ranks==
{{main|Saudi Arabian military ranks}}
==See also==
*[[King Khalid Military City]]
*[[United States Military Training Mission]]
==Notes==
{{reflist}}
==References==
*"Foreign Military Sales, Foreign Military Construction Sales and Military Assistance Facts as of September 2003," Published by Deputy for Operations and Administration, Business Operations/Comptroller, DSCA, Department of Defense
==External links==
*[http://www.moda.gov.sa Ministry of Defense and Aviation Official Website]
*[http://www.bariah.gov.sa/ Royal Saudi Land Forces Official Website]
*[http://www.sang.gov.sa/ Saudi Arabian National Guard Official Website]
*[http://www.smf.gov.sa/index.htm Strategic Missiles Force Official Website]
*[http://www.gip.gov.sa/ General Intelligence Presidency Official Website]
{{Saudi Arabia topics}}
{{Asia topic|Military of}}
[[Category:Military of Saudi Arabia| ]]
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