The Kuwait Land Forces (), established in 1949, is Land warfare and the oldest branch among the Armed Forces of Kuwait. 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.

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.

In 1990 and 1991, during the first Gulf War, most of the equipment was seized and or destroyed by invading Iraqi forces. At that time the Kuwait military was a lot smaller.

In early 2024, up to 149 M-84AB tanks were sent to the Djuro Djakovic factory in Croatia for refurbishment and repairs with the wide belief among military analysts they will be then sent to Ukraine.

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

Equipment

Armored fighting vehicles NamePhotoOriginTypeQuantityNotes M1A2 Abrams Main battle tank 218 (M1A2) 218 (M1A2K)218 ordered in the 1990s, followed by an order of 218 M1A1 hulls upgraded to M1A2K variant in 2017. M-84AB Main battle tank 149 200 Ordered 1989 and 15 in service by 1990. Desert Warrior Infantry fighting vehicle 254 236 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-3 Infantry fighting vehicle ~200 142 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-2 Infantry fighting vehicle 76 245 delivered between 1989–90 and 46 delivered between 1994–95, 76 in service as of 2005 M113A2 Armoured personnel carrier 260 230 M113A2, 30 M577 (CP) M577 Armoured personnel carrier 30 the Kuwait Army operates 30 M577 Command Post Vehicles, mostly M577A1s. Following the 1991 Gulf War a number of M577A3s were purchased from the U.S. to replace vehicles destroyed by Iraqis forces. Fahd 240 Armoured personnel carrier 60 Second largest operator in 1988. The Fahd was used by the Kuwaiti side during the invasion of Kuwait, when it lost most of them. Kuwait received more units in 1994, and had most of its captured units returned by Iraq in 1995. M88A2 Hercules Armoured recovery vehicle 14 14× M88A2 in service with the Kuwait Army, and 19 more ordered from the United States. M-84AI / Armoured recovery vehicle 15 Polish WZT-3 built under license by Yugoslavia as M-84AI Fuchs 2 NBC-RS NPC (Nuclear, biological, and chemical) reconnaissance 12 NBC vehicle

Logistics and utility vehicles NamePhotoOriginTypeQuantityNotes Humvee Multipurpose wheeled vehicle Unknown Vehicles sold via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales programSherpa Light ScoutFranceMultipurpose wheeled vehicleUnknownInitial order of 300 vehicles, for €270m in 2016, followed by further orders.

Multiple launch rocket systems NamePhotoOriginTypeQuantityNotesBM-30 Smerch / Multiple rocket launcher27Purchased 1995–96

Self-propelled field artillery NamePhotoOriginTypeQuantityNotesPLZ-45 Self-propelled howitzer 51 (51) 27 PLZ-45s (to form a training platoon and the first battalion) ordered in 1998 and delivered in 2000–2001. 24 more howitzers (to form the second battalion) were ordered in 2001 and delivered in 2002–2003.

Anti-tank Name Origin Type Quantity Notes RPG-7 Soviet Union Rocket-propelled grenade TOW M-901 United States Anti-tank guided missile 400 M966/M966A1United StatesTOW missile carrier900 TOW II United States Anti-tank guided missile 82 launchers 9M113 KonkursSoviet UnionAnti-tank guided missile2,402 missiles 9K111 Fagot Soviet Union Anti-tank guided missile 4,601 missiles AT-10 Russia Anti-tank guided missile 1,250 missiles 9M133 KornetRussiaAnti-tank guided missileCarl Gustav M3SwedenRecoilless rifle200

Firearms ModelImageOriginTypeCaliberNotesHandgunsBeretta 92Handgun9×19mm ParabellumSubmachine gunsMP5Submachine gun9×19mm NATORiflesBushmaster M4A3Carbine5.56×45mm NATOUsed by the 25th Commando Brigade.M4 carbineCarbine5.56×45mm NATOUS Directorate of Defense Trade Controls. Notifications to the 108th Congress (November 2004)M16A2Assault rifle5.56×45mm NATOMachine gunsM60 machine gun General-purpose machine gun7.62×51mm NATOM2 BrowningHeavy machine gun12.7×99mm NATOMostly as vehicle armament.Sniper rifles and designated marksman riflesM107/M107A1Anti-materiel rifle12.7×99mm NATOStandard issue sniper rifle.Grenade launcherM203 grenade launcherGrenade launcher40×46mm SRAnti-tank/Anti armor weapon9M133 KornetLaser-guided Anti-tank missile152 mmBGM-71 TOW Wire-guided Anti-tank missile152 mmRPG-7 Anti-tank rocket M3 MAAWSAnti-tank recoilless rifle84 mm

Kuwait Army Ranks

His Highness, the Emir of Kuwait: Commander-in-chief of the Military of Kuwait ()

His Highness, the Crown Prince of Kuwait: Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Military of Kuwait ()

Commissioned Officers

Enlisted

See also Chief of the General Staff (Kuwait)

References

Works cited

External links UNIKOM Kuwaiti Army Equipment