Saudi Arabia Military Parade 2014

The Saudi armed forces, alQuwwāt alMusallaḥah al Malakeeya asSuʿūdiyyah) consists of the Saudi Arabian Army, the Royal Saudi Air Force, the Royal Saudi Navy, the Royal Saudi Air Defense, the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG), and paramilitary forces, totaling over 200, 000 activeduty personnel. In 2005 the armed forces had the following personnel: the army, 75, 000; Royal Saudi Air Force, 18, 000; air defense, 16, 000; Royal Saudi Navy, 15, 500 (including 3, 000 marines); and the SANG had 75, 000 active soldiers and 25, 000 tribal levies. In addition, there is a military intelligence service, the General Intelligence Presidency (GIP). The Saudi Arabian National Guard is not a reserve but a fully operational frontline force, and originated out of Abdul Aziz s tribal militaryreligious force, the Ikhwan. Its modern existence, however, is attributable to it being effectively Abdullah s private army since the 1960s and, unlike the rest of the armed forces, is independent of the Ministry of Defense. The SANG has