The Kuwait Land Forces (Arabic: القوات البرية الكويتية), 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

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

NamePhotoOriginTypeQuantityNotes
M1A2 AbramsUnited StatesMain battle tank218 (M1A2) 218 (M1A2K)218 ordered in the 1990s, followed by an order of 218 M1A1 hulls upgraded to M1A2K variant in 2017.
M-84ABYugoslaviaMain battle tank149200 Ordered 1989 and 15 in service by 1990.
Desert WarriorUnited KingdomInfantry fighting vehicle254236 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-3Soviet UnionInfantry fighting vehicle~200142 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-2Soviet UnionInfantry fighting vehicle76245 delivered between 1989–90 and 46 delivered between 1994–95, 76 in service as of 2005
M113A2United StatesArmoured personnel carrier260230 M113A2, 30 M577 (CP)
M577United StatesArmoured personnel carrier30the 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 240EgyptArmoured personnel carrier60Second 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 HerculesUnited StatesArmoured recovery vehicle1414× M88A2 in service with the Kuwait Army, and 19 more ordered from the United States.
M-84AIPoland / YugoslaviaArmoured recovery vehicle15Polish WZT-3 built under license by Yugoslavia as M-84AI
Fuchs 2 NBC-RSGermanyNPC (Nuclear, biological, and chemical) reconnaissance12NBC vehicle

Logistics and utility vehicles

NamePhotoOriginTypeQuantityNotes
HumveeUnited StatesMultipurpose wheeled vehicleUnknownVehicles sold via the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program
Sherpa Light ScoutFranceMultipurpose wheeled vehicleUnknownInitial order of 300 vehicles, for €270m in 2016, followed by further orders.

Multiple launch rocket systems

NamePhotoOriginTypeQuantityNotes
BM-30 SmerchSoviet Union / RussiaMultiple rocket launcher27Purchased 1995–96

Self-propelled field artillery

NamePhotoOriginTypeQuantityNotes
PLZ-45ChinaSelf-propelled howitzer51(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

NameOriginTypeQuantityNotes
RPG-7Soviet UnionRocket-propelled grenade
TOW M-901United StatesAnti-tank guided missile400
M966/M966A1United StatesTOW missile carrier900
TOW IIUnited StatesAnti-tank guided missile82 launchers
9M113 KonkursSoviet UnionAnti-tank guided missile2,402 missiles
9K111 FagotSoviet UnionAnti-tank guided missile4,601 missiles
AT-10RussiaAnti-tank guided missile1,250 missiles
9M133 KornetRussiaAnti-tank guided missile
Carl Gustav M3SwedenRecoilless rifle200

Firearms

ModelImageOriginTypeCaliberNotes
Handguns
Beretta 92ItalyHandgun9×19mm Parabellum
Submachine guns
MP5GermanySubmachine gun9×19mm NATO
Rifles
Bushmaster M4A3United StatesCarbine5.56×45mm NATOUsed by the 25th Commando Brigade.
M4 carbineUnited StatesCarbine5.56×45mm NATO
M16A2United StatesAssault rifle5.56×45mm NATO
Machine guns
M60 machine gunUnited StatesGeneral-purpose machine gun7.62×51mm NATO
M2 BrowningUnited StatesHeavy machine gun12.7×99mm NATOMostly as vehicle armament.
Sniper rifles and designated marksman rifles
M107/M107A1United StatesAnti-materiel rifle12.7×99mm NATOStandard issue sniper rifle.
Grenade launcher
M203 grenade launcherUnited StatesGrenade launcher40×46mm SR
Anti-tank/Anti armor weapon
9M133 KornetRussiaLaser-guided Anti-tank missile152 mm
BGM-71 TOWUnited StatesWire-guided Anti-tank missile152 mm
RPG-7Soviet UnionAnti-tank rocket
M3 MAAWSSwedenAnti-tank recoilless rifle84 mm

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

Rank groupGeneral / flag officersSenior officersJunior officers
Kuwait Army vte
فريق أول‎‎ Fariq 'awalفريق Fariqلواء Liwaعميد Amidعقيد Aqidمقدم Muqaddamرائد Ra'idنقيب Naqibملازم أول Mulazim awwalملازم Mulazim

Enlisted

Rank groupSenior NCOsJunior NCOsEnlisted
Kuwait Army vteNo insignia
وكيل أول Wakil 'awalوكيل Wakilرقيب أول Raqib 'awalرقیب Raqibعريف Earifجندي أول Jundiun awwalجندي Jundiun‎‎‎‎

See also

Works cited

  • IISS (2024). The Military Balance 2024. London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-032-78004-7.
  • International Institute for Strategic Studies (12 February 2025). . London: Routledge. ISBN 978-1-003-63076-0.
  • Neville, Leigh (2019). The Elite: The A–Z of Modern Special Operations Forces. Oxford: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1472824295.
  • Rottman, Gordon L. (1993). . Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-277-6.

External links