United Arab Emirates Army
United Arab Emirates Army | |
---|---|
Founded | 1971 |
Country | United Arab Emirates |
Branch | Army |
Role | Ground warfare |
Part of | Union Defence Force |
Garrison/HQ | Abu Dhabi |
As part of the military of the United Arab Emirates, the United Arab Emirates Army is responsible for land operations.
UDF Deployments
The Union Defence Force were used on two occasions in Sharjah They exist to further the foreign and domestic policies of their governing body and to defend that body and the nation it represents from external and internal agusage, the terms "armed forces" and "military" are often treated synonymously, although in technical usage a distinction is sometimes made in which a country's armed forces may include both its military and other paramilitary forces. Armed force is the use of armed forces to achieve political objectives.
The study of the use of armed forces is called military science. Broadly speaking, this involves considering offense and defense at three "levels": strategy, operational art, and tactics. All three levels study the application of the use of force in order to achieve a desired objective.
Sharjah-Fujairah Border war
In February 1973 following a brief Border War between armed Bedouin tribesmen from both Sharjah Emirate and Fujairah Emirate over a disputed area of land which covered a quarter of an acre and included water wells and date palm trees. 22 people were killed and another 12 were wounded before UDF troops were able to impose a ceasefire.
First Gulf War
During the Gulf War, UAE troops, reportedly numbering several thousands, participated in the conflict as part of the GCC Peninsula Shield force that advanced into the city of Kuwait. United States aircraft bombed Iraqi positions from the UAE, and United States ships operated out of UAE ports along the coast of the Persian Gulf. The UAE Air Force also carried out strikes against Iraqi forces. A total of six UAE combat deaths were reported as a result of the fighting.
Yemeni Civil War (2015)
During the 2015 Yemeni Civil War the United Arab Emirates Army intervened in support of fighters loyal to the ousted regime of Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi against Houthi militants. UAE troops assisted anti-Houthi fighters in the re-taking of the strategic southern Yemeni port city of Aden and also Al Anad Air Base, the largest airbase in Yemen.
On 4 September 2015 the army suffered its heaviest loss in modern history, losing 52 soldiers in war in Yemen to a tactical ballistic missile strike. The UAE has since deployed an entire Armoured brigade to Yemen.[1]
Army Equipment
MBT
- Leclerc - 388 (delivered between 1995-2001)
Reconnaissance
- FV101 Scorpion - 76
Tracked APCs
- 135 to be upgraded to BMP-3M[2]
Wheeled APCs
- / Patria AMV - 40 on order
- EE-11 Urutu - 120
- Panhard AML - 50
- Panhard M3 - 370
- Fuchs NBC Recce
- RG 31 Mk5 MRAP
- Ferret armoured car - 30
- Alvis Saracen - 30
- Alvis Saladin - 90
- BTR-3 - 90 (Marines)
- Nimr
- M1114
- M-ATV - 750, 44 on order[3]
- Navistar MaxxPro - 3,375 on order[3]
- BAE Caiman - 1,150 on order[3]
- Enigma APC
Artillery
- G6 SPG - 72
- M109 A3 SPG - 87
- AMX-13 Mk F3 SPG - 18
- BM-21 Grad MLRS - 48
- L118 105mm Light Gun - 55
- Norinco Type 59-1 FG
- / Jobaria Defense Systems Multiple Cradle Launcher - On Order
- TR-122 Sakarya[4]
Anti-Aircraft Artillery
- Bofors 40 mm gun
- Rapier towed SPAAM
- Panhard M3-VDA w/ Dual 20mm Cannon - 42
- Terminal High Altitude Area Defense - On order
Personal Weapons
- Browning Hi-Power
- Caracal pistol
- Heckler & Koch P7M13
- SIG Sauer P228
- SIG Sauer SIG516
- Heckler & Koch MP5
- FAMAS
- FN FAL
- FN FNC
- Heckler & Koch G3
- Heckler & Koch G36
- M4 Carbine
- M16 rifle
- Steyr AUG
- T91 assault rifle
- M203 grenade launcher
- / Lobaev Sniper Rifle
- Blaser R93 Tactical
- Heckler & Koch MSG90
- Barrett M82
- FN Minimi
- Heckler & Koch HK23E
- M60 machine gun
- Browning M2
Finnish manufacturer Patria has announced the sale of their AMV 8×8 vehicle to the United Arab Emirates. The size of the order and delivery schedule have not been made public but some sources say 600 (400 with BMP-3 turrets).
June 2016, United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ordered 40 Patria AMV 8×8 armoured vehicles produced by Polish Rosomak S.A. company.[5]
Former Army Equipment
- AMX-30S - 45 (ordered 1977, no longer in service)
- OF-40 Mk.2 - 36 (no longer in service)
References and links
- ↑ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-34335104
- ↑ "UAE To Upgrade 135 BMP-3 Armored Infantry Vehicles". Defense-Update.com. Retrieved 25 February 2011.
- 1 2 3 United States approved major contract of MRAP vehicles for UAE - Armyrecognition.com, 27 September 2014
- ↑ http://theasiandefence.blogspot.com/2009/02/roketsan-t-300-kasirga-hurricane.html
- ↑ http://defence-blog.com/army/united-arab-emirates-has-ordered-40-polish-rosomak-armoured-vehicles.html
- Ministry of Defence Web Site Arabic and English
- Official government.ae page
- This article incorporates public domain material from the CIA World Factbook document "2003 edition".