Kuwaiti Defense

Peter Finnegan
Kuwait: Defense

From 1899 until 1961 Kuwait was a British possession, and therefore was protected by Britain’s mighty army. In the 1920’s and 1930’s, Britain helped protect Kuwait from Iraqi and Saudi ambitions to claim the land. By 1961, the year of Kuwaiti independence, the British had trained and equipped a combined arms force of about 2,500 men. A small air force and navy was started in 1961 by the British as well, giving the small country a good military base to build on later.
Kuwait is in a very precarious position. As a small country of immense wealth, located directly on the Persian Gulf, it is surrounded by many larger nations that they have never truly gotten along well with. One of its neighbors, Iran, only 40km away, has repeatedly stated it seeks to export its Islamic revolution ideals to its neighbors. In fact, in the Iran-Iraq War from 1980-1988, Kuwait sided with Iraq against Iran, providing Iraq with around US$6 billion. As a result, Iran sponsored terrorist attacks on Kuwait, which only helped further Kuwait’s resolve to help Iraq.
Nevertheless, Kuwait’s biggest threat comes from not from Iran, but from Iraq. Iraq, especially in the Saddam era, has repeatedly questioned Kuwait’s right to existence, and claimed the country as one of its own provinces. In fact, in 1991, Iraq invaded Kuwait and took over. This sparked the Gulf War in which the US-led coalition was forced to intervene and push back the Iraqis. This war was especially damaging to Kuwait’s military. Large number of personnel were killed, captured, or dispersed, and most Kuwaiti military equipment was destroyed or captured by the Iraqi Army. It is estimated that 90% of all military installations suffered major damage during this time. Kuwait expected to spend about US$9 billion, six times the prewar defense budget, in 1992 to replace destroyed equipment and installations.
As a result of the Gulf War, Kuwait entered into a ten-year defense cooperation agreement with the United States in September 1991. The agreement included United States port access, military equipment storage, and joint training and exercises. Similar but less extensive ten-year cooperation agreements were subsequently concluded with Britain and France.
Since liberation, Kuwait, with the help of the United States and other allies, has made significant efforts to increase the size and modernity of its armed forces. These efforts are succeeding. The government also continues to improve defense arrangements with other Arab states, as well as UN Security Council members. During Operation Iraqi Freedom, in 2003, Kuwaiti military elements successfully operated missile defense systems. The US currently stations 5,000 military personnel in the country, as part of their defense agreement.
Quick Facts according to CIA World Factbook:

Military Branches: Land Forces, Kuwaiti Navy, Kuwaiti Air Force (Al-Quwwat al-Jawwiya al-Kuwaitiya), National Guard (2007)
Military service age and obligation: 18 years of age for compulsory and voluntary military service; reserve obligation to age 40 with 1 month annual training; women have served in police forces since 1999 (2006)
Manpower available for military service: males age 16-49: 1,032,408
females age 16-49: 568,657 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service: males age 16-49: 892,816
females age 16-49: 500,540 (2008 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually: male: 17,737
female: 18,519 (2008 est.)
Military expenditures: 5.3% of GDP (2006)






Page last modified: 27-04-2005 18:10:47 Zulu
ARMY
SYSTEMS Inventory
1995 2000 2005
MBT
M-84 150 150(50% in store) 150(50% in store)
M-1A2 50 218 218
Chieftain 20 17(in store) -
AIFV
BMP-2 46 46 76
BMP-3 76 76 120
Desert Warrior 8 254 254
APC
M-113 153 60 -
M-113A2 - - 230
M-577 6 40 40
Fahd 40 40(in store) 40(in store)
TPz-1 Fuchs - - 11
SP Artillery
M-109-A2 20 23 23
GCT 18(in store) 18(in store) 18(in store)
F-3 16 18 18
PLZ 45 - - 54
Mortars
SP (81mm) 6 44 60
M-30 SP (107mm) 6 6 6
RT F-1 (120mm) - 12 12
ATGW
TOW M-901 8 8 8
TOW II 60 66 66
MRL
Smerch 9A52 (300m) - 27 27
Air Defence Guns
Oerlikon (35mm) - - n/a
SAM
Hawk Phase III - - 24
Aspide - - 12
Starburst - - 48
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/kuwait-army-equip.htm



Page last modified: 27-04-2005 18:10:58 Zulu
NAVY
SYSTEMS Inventory
1995 2000 2005
Missile Craft
Um al-Maradim - 6 8
Istiqlal 1 1 1
Al Sanbouk
Istiqlal 1 1 1
Patrol Craft
Al Shaheed PCC
Istiqlal - 2 n/a
Support and Misc.
LCM
Istiqlal - 2 2
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/kuwait-navy-equip.htm
Page last modified: 27-04-2005 18:10:44 Zulu
Air Force
SYSTEMS Inventory
1995 2000 2005
Fighters
FA/18-c 32 32 31
FA/18-D 8 8 8
Mirage F1-CK/BK 8 14 14
Training
Hawk 64 12 12 11
Shorts Tucano/TD> 16 16 16
Transport
L-100-300 3 3 3
DC-9 1 1 1
Helicopters
AS-332(Transport) 4 4 4
SA-330(Transport) 8 8 9
SA-342 16 16 16
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/kuwait-af-equip.htm



Text Sources:
https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/ku.html
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35876.htm#defense
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/gulf/kuwait-mil.htm