Saudi Arabia Military Power Ranking 2025
MPR Rank: 17th
MPR SCORE: 1119
MPR Index: 0.5060 (1.0000 is perfect)
Reverse MPR Index: 0.4682 (0.0000 is perfect)
Z Score: +1.764 (standard deviations above the mean)
Overview
Saudi Arabia ranks 17th globally in the 2025 Military Power Rankings (MPR), reflecting its position as the most heavily equipped Arab military and a key power in the Middle East security architecture. Backed by some of the highest defense expenditures in the world, Saudi Arabia’s armed forces are equipped with cutting-edge Western military technology, particularly from the United States and Europe.
The Royal Saudi Armed Forces are structured to safeguard strategic oil infrastructure, deterrence against Iran, and provide regional intervention capabilities. Saudi Arabia is rapidly developing its domestic defense industry under Vision 2030, while expanding joint training, cyber warfare, and air defense systems.
Strengths: High-Tech Force and Strategic Alliances
1. Advanced Air Power and Precision Strike Capacity
The Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) is the most capable in the Arab world, operating:
F-15SA, F-15C/D, Eurofighter Typhoon, and Tornado IDS multirole aircraft
Precision munitions including Paveway, JDAM, and Storm Shadow
Long-range strike capacity and integration with U.S. and British systems provide unmatched regional air dominance
2. Modernized Armored and Mechanized Ground Forces
The Saudi Army fields:
M1A2 Abrams tanks, LAV-25, and BMP-3 IFVs
Advanced self-propelled artillery and MRAPs
Elite units include:
Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) – independently structured for regime protection and internal defense
Royal Guard Brigade and Special Security Forces
3. Multi-Layered Air and Missile Defense Network
Saudi Arabia operates a robust missile shield, including:
Patriot PAC-3, THAAD, Skyguard, and Shahine
Radar and missile warning networks integrated with CENTCOM
Capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and UAVs—especially critical against Houthi and Iranian threats
4. Defense Industry Expansion and Foreign Procurement
Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia seeks to localize 50% of military procurement by 2030
Major projects include:
Missile development with China and South Africa
Naval shipbuilding and armored vehicle co-production (e.g. with GDLS and Rheinmetall)
Hosts joint training with U.S., U.K., France, and Pakistan
Why Saudi Arabia Is Ranked 17th
Saudi Arabia ranks highly due to its elite platforms, air defense capability, and strategic spending, but is limited by operational dependency and structural fragmentation.
1. Reliance on Foreign Personnel and Contractors
A large portion of technical maintenance and system integration is handled by:
U.S. and British contractors
Pakistani and Jordanian trainers
Reduces autonomous wartime sustainment and combat readiness in long-duration conflicts
2. No Strategic Deterrent or Indigenous Strike Capability
Saudi Arabia lacks:
Ballistic or nuclear weapons
Long-range domestic missile production
Precision strike is limited to air-launched Western systems and imported drones
3. Mixed Combat Performance in Yemen
Despite overwhelming firepower, Saudi forces have faced difficulties in:
Counterinsurgency, urban combat, and border security
Logistics and inter-service coordination in prolonged campaigns
Conclusion
Saudi Arabia maintains one of the best-equipped, air-dominant, and financially supported militaries in the world. Its strength lies in air superiority, missile defense, and rapid procurement, backed by powerful allies and a growing domestic industry.
In the MPR system—where force quality, combat scalability, and autonomous execution are core—Saudi Arabia ranks 17th, held back by its lack of combat-tested cohesion, strategic deterrents, and overdependence on foreign enablers. Nonetheless, it remains the most potent Arab force and a central actor in Gulf security.
Military Strength and Force Projection
Active Military Personnel: 227,000 (IISS 2023)
Reserve Personnel: 25,000 (CIA World Factbook)
Paramilitary Forces: 24,500 (IISS 2023)
Saudi Arabia’s military readiness is reinforced by its vast financial resources and strategic focus on maintaining stability in the region.
Ground Forces
Main Battle Tanks (MBTs): 1,062 (IISS 2023)
Armored Fighting Vehicles (AFVs): 5,500+ (Jane’s Defence 2023)
Artillery Pieces (Self-Propelled and Towed): 1,000+ (IISS 2023)
Rocket Artillery: 72 (SIPRI 2023)
Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in main battle tanks such as the M1 Abrams, along with advanced AFVs and artillery. This provides the country with considerable ground force capabilities.
Air Force
Combat Aircraft: 396 (IISS 2023)
Attack Helicopters: 83 (Jane’s Defence 2023)
Saudi Arabia’s air force is equipped with some of the world’s most advanced fighter jets, including F-15s, Typhoons, and F-35s. These assets provide strong air superiority and enhance the kingdom’s military firepower index.
Aircraft Breakdown:
F-15SA: 84 (most advanced variant with AESA radar and digital flight systems)
F-15C/D: 70 (air superiority, legacy fleet still in service)
Eurofighter Typhoon: 72 (multirole platform with precision strike capability)
Tornado IDS: 80 (strike aircraft nearing retirement)
AH-64E Apache: 60+ (attack helicopter force)
CH-47 Chinook and UH-60 Black Hawk: 60+ (transport and utility helicopters)
C-130 Hercules: 30+ (tactical airlift)
A330 MRTT: 6 (aerial refueling and strategic transport)
Wing Loong and CH-4 UCAVs: 30+ (imported Chinese drones for ISR and strike)
BAE Hawk & Pilatus PC-21: 50+ (jet trainers)
Naval Forces
Total Naval Assets: 55 (IISS 2023)
Submarines: 0 (IISS 2023)
Frigates and Destroyers: 7 (Jane’s Defence 2023)
Though Saudi Arabia’s naval power is modest, it is equipped with advanced frigates and corvettes, playing a crucial role in securing the Red Sea and the Persian Gulf.
Missile Capabilities
Saudi Arabia has developed a strong missile defense system, largely due to its acquisition of the THAAD and Patriot missile systems from the United States, aimed at countering regional threats from Iran and others.
Military Technology and Modernization
With its vast wealth, Saudi Arabia continues to modernize its military equipment through the purchase of advanced military technology from Western allies. This includes a focus on drones, missile defense systems, and cyber capabilities, positioning the kingdom among the world’s top military forces.
Alliances and Strategic Partnerships
Saudi Arabia’s close military ties with the United States, along with its significant role in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), enhance its military force capability and allow it to engage in regional security efforts.
Military History & Combat Experience
Saudi Arabia’s military history is characterized by a shift from internal consolidation and tribal pacification to regional interventionism, especially in the past two decades. Its combat experience spans border wars, counterinsurgency, and coalition warfare, though it has rarely operated without external technical or advisory support.
Unification and Early Conflicts (1920s–1930s): The Saudi military evolved under Ibn Saud during the conquest of Hejaz, Nejd, and other regions, using tribal irregulars (the Ikhwan) and establishing centralized control by the 1930s.
North Yemen Civil War (1962–1970): Saudi Arabia supported royalist forces against Egyptian-backed republicans, supplying arms and funding but not engaging directly in major combat. This marked the beginning of Riyadh’s long-standing interest in Yemeni affairs.
Gulf War (1991): Saudi Arabia played a key role in Operation Desert Storm, hosting over 500,000 U.S.-led coalition troops. While the Saudi military participated in operations near Khafji, its primary role was as a logistics and staging hub.
Yemen Intervention (2015–Present): Saudi Arabia launched Operation Decisive Storm against Houthi rebels in Yemen, deploying airpower, ground forces, and coalition partners. While initial strikes were successful, the campaign devolved into a prolonged war of attrition, exposing weaknesses in ground operations, urban warfare, and supply chains.
Border Skirmishes and Missile Interceptions (2015–2024): Saudi forces have defended against hundreds of Houthi missile and drone attacks, using Patriot and THAAD systems. The military has also reinforced border zones with armor, artillery, and air support, engaging in intermittent combat in Jizan and Asir.
Training and Foreign Deployments: Saudi officers regularly train in U.S., U.K., and Pakistan, while the military sends units to multinational exercises such as Bright Star, Red Flag, and Gulf Shield.
Saudi Arabia’s combat experience reveals a technology-heavy, externally supported force with operational gaps in sustained ground warfare. Nonetheless, its emphasis on air defense, coalition interoperability, and rapid force generation make it a formidable regional actor.
General Information
Demographics and Geography
Population: ~37.6 million (2024 est.)
Population Available for Military Service: ~15 million (males and females aged 18–49)
Geographic Area: 2,149,690 km²
Land Boundaries: 4,272 km
Bordering Countries: Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Yemen
Coastline: 2,640 km (Red Sea and Persian Gulf)
Climate: Harsh, dry desert with extreme heat; minimal rainfall
Terrain: Vast desert plateau, mountains in the southwest, coastal plains in the east and west
Natural Resources: Petroleum, natural gas, iron ore, gold, copper, bauxite, phosphates
Proven Oil Reserves: ~266.5 billion barrels
Proven Natural Gas Reserves: ~9.2 trillion cubic meters
Economic Indicators
Defense Budget (2025): ~$82 billion USD
Defense Budget as % of GDP: ~6.9%
GDP (PPP): ~$2.19 trillion USD
GDP per Capita (PPP): ~$58,200
External Debt: ~$263 billion USD
Military Expenditure Trend (last 5 years): High but stabilizing; massive investment in foreign procurement and defense industrialization
Military Infrastructure and Readiness
Military Service Obligation: No conscription; professional volunteer force
Primary Defense Focus: Territorial defense, regime security, air and missile defense, strategic deterrence against Iran
Military Industry Base: Rapidly expanding under Vision 2030; led by SAMI (Saudi Arabian Military Industries)
Cyber/Electronic Warfare Capability: Advanced and growing; under Presidency of State Security and MoD cyber units
Nuclear Warhead Inventory: None (non-nuclear state); alleged interest in future deterrent capability
Major Military Districts / Commands: Divided among Northern, Eastern, Southern, Western, and Central commands
Missile Inventory Highlights: DF-3 and DF-21 ballistic missiles (Chinese origin), THAAD, Patriot PAC-3, locally developed drones and missiles
Reservist Call-up Readiness / Timeline: No formal mass reservist system; National Guard acts as a parallel mobilization force
Reservist Force Size: Estimated ~150,000 through National Guard structure
Space, Intelligence, and Strategic Infrastructure
Space or Satellite Programs: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) oversees national space efforts
Military Satellite Inventory: Limited; dual-use satellites for ISR and communications with foreign partnerships
Intelligence Infrastructure: General Intelligence Presidency (GIP), Presidency of State Security, and MoD military intelligence branches
Intelligence Sharing Partnerships: Strong ties with U.S., UAE, UK, France, and Egypt
Airports (Total): ~210 (civilian and military)
Major Military Airports: King Khalid AB, King Abdulaziz AB, King Faisal AB, King Fahad AB
Naval Power and Maritime Logistics
Merchant Marine Fleet: ~300 vessels
Major Ports: Jeddah, Dammam, Jubail, Yanbu
Naval Infrastructure: Expanding; includes Eastern and Western Fleets, naval bases in Jeddah, Jubail, and Ras al-Ghar
Naval Replenishment Capability: Regional; operates supply ships and support vessels for Red Sea and Gulf missions
Domestic Mobility and Infrastructure
Railway Network: ~5,000 km (expanding high-speed and military freight links)
Roadways: ~240,000 km
Energy and Fuel Logistics
Oil Production: ~10.5 million barrels per day
Energy Imports: None; major global exporter of crude oil and refined products
Strategic Petroleum Reserves: Vast domestic reserves; state control via Aramco enables full wartime sustainment
Defense Production and Strategic Forces
Domestic Defense Production: Rapidly growing; focuses on drones, armored vehicles, ammunition, and joint ventures with U.S., China, and Europe
Military Installations (Domestic): Extensive bases throughout all regions, including missile fields, airbases, and naval complexes
Military Installations (Overseas): None officially; supports coalition operations in Yemen and Horn of Africa
Foreign Military Personnel Presence: U.S. forces at Prince Sultan AB and other strategic facilities; British and French trainers present
Defense Alliances: GCC defense pact, strong U.S. strategic partnership, cooperation with Egypt, Pakistan, UAE
Strategic Airlift Capability: Operates C-130, C-295, A330 MRTT; expanding capacity with new acquisitions
Wartime Industrial Surge Capacity: Moderate but improving; Vision 2030 mandates 50% localization of defense spending
Research and Industry Support
Defense R&D Investment: Increasing; focused on UAVs, EW, AI, missile development, and space applications under SAMI and KACST
Key Wartime Industries Beyond Defense: Saudi Aramco (energy), SABIC (chemicals), Saudi Railways, Ma’aden (mining), Saudi Electricity Co.
Political and Administrative Structure
Capital: Riyadh
Founding Date: September 23, 1932 (unification under Ibn Saud)
System of Government: Absolute monarchy with centralized executive authority
