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Saudi Arabia
NATIONAL SECURITY
Armed Forces: Consisted of army, navy, air force,
and air defense force, plus Saudi Arabian National Guard, although
latter primarily for internal security. Estimated strengths in
1992: army--73,000; navy--11,000, including 1,500 marines; air
force-- 18,000; air defense force--4,000; national guard--55,000
active, 20,000 tribal levies. Four regular armed forces recruited
volunteers; national guard used system of tribal levies.
Military Units: Army in 1992 included eight
brigades--two armored, five mechanized, one airborne. Field artillery
battalions and antiaircraft batteries (gun and missile) provided
fire support. Navy deployed vessels in Persian Gulf and Red Sea,
primarily from major bases at Al Jubayl and Jiddah. Air force
had six fighter/ground-attack, five air defense, one reconnaissance,
one early warning, three transport, and two helicopter squadrons.
Air defense force had surface-to-air missile batteries.
Equipment: Most armor and other weaponry in
army and national guard of United States manufacture. Naval vessels
primarily from United States, France, and Germany. Navy had four
Frenchmanufactured frigates and four United States-manufactured
corvettes, and attack craft (missile- and torpedo-armed). Combat
aircraft mostly United States F-15s and F-5s, plus British Tornadoes.
Foreign Military Relations: Member of GCC. Special
military relationship with United States since late 1940s. Many
foreign corporations, particularly British, French, and United
States, had contracts for supply of hardware, construction of
military facilities, maintenance of equipment, and training of
personnel.
Police: Police and security forces controlled
by central government through Ministry of Interior. Saudi Arabian
National Guard most prominent internal security force, subordinated
directly to king. Coast Guard, Investigation, Special Security
Force, and Public Security directorates operated under Ministry
of Interior. Public Security Police, nationwide police force,
and Frontier Force also under Ministry of Interior.
Paramilitary Forces: Saudi Arabian National
Guard, Coast Guard, Frontier Force, and Special Security Force
considered paramilitary.
Data as of December 1992
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