Today, the United Arab Emirates impress with their idyll and luxury. Very strict laws apply here. Police rides in luxury cars. And the term of service in the UAE army depends on whether a person graduated from school or not. But not always in this country everything was so smooth. In the early 70s of the last century, she was shocked by armed conflicts. In this connection, I had to create my own army.
Historical reports
The UAE Army was established in 1976. Two years later, a geographical split occurred in the country - its composition left Dubai and Ras al-Khaimah. The second city indicated subsequently returned. And Dubai to this day retains substantial sovereignty in the military sphere.
The history of the UAE Armed Forces is specific in that they were not united until the designated year. Each represented its own emirate. After the formation of the union, their unity was only theoretical. In practice, each was controlled by the emirate.
The forces represented the following territories:
- Abu Dhabi. Year of foundation - 1965. By 1975, the number of soldiers was 15,000. At the disposal of the army were two squadrons of fighters, 135 armored cars and the same number of combat helicopters. In 1996, she transformed into the eastern UDF team.
- Dubai Year of appearance - 1971. By 1975, the army consisted of 3,000 soldiers. After 20 years, the composition has expanded significantly - up to 20,000 fighters. The technical equipment includes armored vehicles, 105 helicopters, and a special attacking aircraft. In 1996, she was transformed into the UDF Central Team.
- Ras al Kaimah. The year of foundation is 1969. The initial strength of the army is 30 soldiers. In the process of development, the composition increased to 9,000 soldiers. In the arsenal there are armored cars and two groups of infantry. In 1996, the UDF Northern Team was created on the basis of these forces.
Call issue
In the UAE army, according to the law of 2014, all males who are in the age range of 18-30 years should serve.
There are two variations in the length of compulsory service:
- Minimum 9 months. It is held by citizens who have graduated from high school and have produced documentary evidence of this.
- 2 years maximum. It is assigned to citizens who do not have basic secondary education.
There is a third option for being in the UAE army. It is provided for girls. The service for them is voluntary and lasts 9 months.
About weapons
Its lion's share is produced in the west. And in the 90s of the last century, the country concluded several key agreements with Russia. They concerned the supply of equipment such as infantry fighting vehicles, MLRS and air defense systems.
Between 1998 and 2000, the UAE entered into two solid agreements with France and the United States. Both relate to the supply of aircraft. In the first case, it is a Mirage-2000-9 aircraft, in the second - F-16C / D Block 60. Suppliers created these special orders according to the criteria set by the emirates.
The subtleties of contracts
The armament of the UAE was significantly replenished in the 90s, thanks to cooperation with some European countries, as well as Indonesia and the United States. This process is presented in chronological order.
Year | Partner Country | Equipment | Number of units | Contract period | Amount (in dollars) |
1993 | France | Tanks Leclerc | 436 | 1994-2003 | 3.6-4.6 billion |
1994 | Czech | Trucks "Tatra" | 1100 | | 180 million |
1994 | Holland | Frigates "Cortener" | 2 | 1996-1998 | 350 million |
1998 ... | France⦠| Aircraft Mirage-2000-9 | thirty | | 5.5 billion |
Upgraded modifications "Mirage-2000-5" | 33 | |
1999 | Indonesia | Patrol aircraft CN-235-200MPA | 4 | | 150 million |
2000 | USA | Aircraft F-16C / D; | 80 | | 6.4 billion |
2000 | Russia | SAM 96K6 "Shell S-1" | fifty | 2003-2005 | 734 million |
UAE Ground Forces
Without them, it is difficult to imagine the army of a given country. They involved about 45,000 fighters.
The ground forces of the United Arab Emirates are formed by nine brigades. They are reflected in this table:
Type of brigade | Number |
King's Guard | 1 |
Armored | 2 |
Infantry with special equipment | 3 |
Infantry | 2 |
Artillery | 1 |
There are also two special Dubai brigades. They are infantry, mechanized.
Artillery form three regiments. They are formed by three batteries of 8 self-propelled guns M109 / L47.
Brigades with special equipment have divisions, each of which is equipped with 24 G-6 self-propelled guns.
In the arsenal of infantry formations there are howitzers with a parameter of 10.5 cm.
Armament of the land structures of the UAE
Their combat and technical capabilities are presented in the tables below. They also reflect partner countries.
The review begins with tanks. Here the leader in procurement is the Leclerc model.
About her and other modifications below:
Name | Production | Appointment | Number of units |
Leclerc | French | Combat | 390 |
AMX-30 | 45 |
OF-40 Mk.II Lyon | Italian | 36 |
Scorpio | British | Easy | 76 |
Further, in the military potential of the UAE army, such types of equipment as infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers and armored personnel carriers are presented:
Name | Production | Appointment | Number of units |
AML-90 | French | BRM | fifty |
Vbl | Armored car | 25 |
AMX-10P | BMP | 16 |
M3 panhard | Armored personnel carrier | 370 |
Vcr | 80 |
Ferret | British | BRM | 37 |
Saladin | BRM | 20 |
TPz 1 Fuchs | German | Chemical and biological intelligence | 16 |
BMP-3 | Russian | BMP | 415 |
FNSS ACV | Turkish | Armored personnel carrier | 136 |
RG-31 Nyala | Canadian | Armored car | 76 |
EE-11 Urutu | Brazilian | Armored personnel carrier | 120 |
Weapons are not without autonomous artillery for field tasks. This technique is featured here:
Name | Production | View | Number of units |
G6 | South African | Howitzer 15.5 cm | 78 |
M109A3 | American | Howitzer 15.5 cm | 125 |
AMX-13 F3 AM | French | Howitzer 15.5 cm | 18 |
There is also a towed analogue of the indicated artillery. Only two modifications appear here:
- L-118. This is a light gun with a parameter of 10.5 cm. Supplier - England. The number of units is 73.
- 59-1 - howitzer with a parameter of 13 cm. Country - China. The number of units is 20.
The UAEβs armed potential contains multiple launch rocket technologies:
Name | Production | View | Parameter (cm) | Number of units |
LAU-97 | Belgian | MLRS | 7 | 18 |
Firos 25 | Italian | MLRS | 12,2 | 48 |
BM9A52 "Tornado" | Russian | MLRS | thirty | 6 |
There are mortars in the arsenal. The statistics for them are as follows:
Name | Production | Parameter (cm) | Number of units |
Brandt | French | 8.1 | 20 |
Brandt | 12 | 21 |
L16 | English | 8.1 | 114 |
Anti-tank weapons
The UAE Armed Forces provide at their forefront and funds against tanks. A substantial number of devices are purchased in Europe and the USA. Their list is displayed below:
View | Production | Model | Number of units |
HOT | German | heavy | fifty |
Milan | French | mobile | 230 |
BGM-71 TOW | American | mobile | 25 |
Karl Gustaf M2 | Swedish | 8.4 cm RPG | 250 |
Air defense and ballistics
Here, the armed forces of the United Arab Emirates have more modest indicators. And in this regard, they only cooperate with European partners:
View | Production | Option | Number of units |
Mistral | French | mobile MANPADS | 20 |
M-3VDA | ZSU | 42 |
Gcf-bm2 | ZSU | 20 |
Blowpipe | English | mobile MANPADS | 20 |
As for ballistic weapons, the UAE army has only one Soviet-made missile, the SS-1C Scud-B. The number of launchers is 6.
About the Air Force
Today it is one of the key sectors of the UAE Armed Forces. Its staff includes nearly 4,000 employees and about 368 units of aircraft. The pride are the Mirage 2000 models.
Also loved in the Emirates, the brainchild of American-made - F-16 Fighting Falcon. It is often abbreviated as F-16 FF.
As you know, the country is formed by seven emirates. And the Air Force is only in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
To date, only citizens with a UAE passport are allowed to drive combat vehicles. Foreigners maintain bases and are involved in training programs.
The history of the Air Force in the Emirates started in 1968. Then the first forces appeared in Abu Dhabi. Their work was supervised by British services. In 1972, funding here improved significantly, and tangible progress began.
In 1999, the two emirates combined with military aircraft. But, despite this, their certain autonomy remained. And Abu Dhabi became the location of the Western Command, and Dubai - Central.
Combat potential
As already noted, the basis of the country's military aviation is the fighters of American and French production. There are tankers, patrol, reconnaissance and training equipment.
The table below includes only models of the indicated purpose. Modifications to the transport and general profile are not taken into account.
Designation | Production | Functions | Number of units |
F-16 FF | American | A fighter for many tasks | 79 |
Mirage 2000 | French | A fighter for many tasks | 68 |
Airbus A330 MRTT | The European Union | Tanker | 3 |
AH-64 Apache | American | For percussion tasks | 28 |
Pilatus PC-7 Turbo Trainer | Swiss | For educational purposes | thirty |
Air Tractor AT-802 | American | 24 |
Grob G 115 | German | 12 |
Eurocopter AS 350 Ecureuil | French | 14 |
Bombardier dash 8 | Canadian | For patrolling | 2 |
Viking air |
MQ-1 Predator | American | For intelligence |
Denel Dynamics Seeker | South African |
About UAE Police
There are two categories of workers:
- Officers and privates.
- Service staff.
Key positions are entitled to occupy only the citizens of this country. The leader and all instructors must have a higher education.
Police officers are trained at different levels of training:
- Protection of objects.
- Work in general departments.
- Service in the police departments.
Private and senior sergeants are trained at the police college. Duration of study - 2 years. Graduates are licensed in the field of "science of law." They can also improve their skills through one-year courses.
In the UAE police, the army is distinguished by rank. So police officers may have such ranks as:
- General There are three variations: army, division and brigade.
- Colonel
- Lieutenant colonel.
- Major.
- Captain.
- Lieutenant. 2 levels: regular and senior.
Privates and sergeants may have the following ranks:
- Foreman. 3 levels: normal, first and main.
- Sergeant.
- Private.
Junior officers are trained at the Police Academy. The study period is 4 years. Graduates receive a bachelor's degree.