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WEEKLY NEWSLETTER
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Saudi Arabia
Index
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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