The Kuwait Land Forces (), established in 1949, are land forces and the oldest armed branch among the

Armed Forces A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. Militaries are typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with their members identifiable by a ...

Kuwait Kuwait, officially the State of Kuwait, is a country in West Asia and the geopolitical region known as the Middle East. It is situated in the northern edge of the Arabian Peninsula at the head of the Persian Gulf, bordering Iraq to Iraq–Kuwait ...

. Its

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from ''cheval'' meaning "horse") are groups of soldiers or warriors who Horses in warfare, fight mounted on horseback. Until the 20th century, cavalry were the most mob ...

and

infantry Infantry, or infantryman are a type of soldier who specialize in ground combat, typically fighting dismounted. Historically the term was used to describe foot soldiers, i.e. those who march and fight on foot. In modern usage, the term broadl ...

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. The "Kuwait Army" was later established as the Kuwait Land Force, which became the principal land force of the Kuwait Armed Forces.

History

The Kuwait Army was created in 1949 by

Field Marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army (in countries without the rank of Generalissimo), and as such, few persons a ...

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 Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

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 Croatia, officially the Republic of Croatia, is a country in Central Europe, Central and Southeast Europe, on the coast of the Adriatic Sea. It borders Slovenia to the northwest, Hungary to the northeast, Serbia to the east, Bosnia and Herze ...

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 ''Shahid'' ( , , ) denotes a martyr in Islam. The word is used frequently in the Quran in the generic sense of "witness" but only once in the sense of "martyr" (i.e. one who dies for his faith); the latter sense acq ...

(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

Logistics and utility vehicles

Self-propelled field artillery

Multiple launch rocket systems

Anti-tank

Firearms

Kuwait Army Ranks

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

Crown Prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent. ''Crown prince ...

of Kuwait: Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Military of Kuwait ()

Commissioned Officers

Enlisted

References

Works cited

* * *

External links

UNIKOM

{{Asia topic, Army of, title=Armies of Asia, VN=People's Army of Vietnam Military units and formations established in 1948 Military of Kuwait Armies by country