The Israeli Army: From Global Ranking to Weapon and Equipment Statistics
According to Iran Gate, Israel is one of the few countries where all citizens are required to complete military service. According to statistics published at the end of 2022, the Israeli army has over 170,000 active personnel and about 300,000 reservists. Therefore, it can be said that the Israeli army ranks 28th in the world in terms of the number of active forces.
The extensive military conflict between Israel and Hamas in recent days has led the Israeli army to launch unprecedented attacks on Gaza. Additionally, the entry of Israeli forces into the northern parts of Gaza is imminent. According to the Israeli army, this operation will be executed as soon as the government issues the order. This raises the question of what the real power of the Israeli army is and what military capacities exist in this Middle Eastern country.
Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
The Israeli Defense Forces or IDF is a combination of Israeli armed forces, including the army, navy, and air force. The mission of the IDF is to maintain Israel’s territorial integrity, protect the country’s independence, and neutralize enemy efforts to disrupt normal life within Israel.
In 2022, the Israeli army was introduced as the 28th largest army in the world. The total number of active personnel in the Israeli army is 169,500, but the total number of army personnel, including active and reserve forces, exceeds 465,000. Reserve forces are not stationed in barracks and military centers but join active forces when necessary. Israel’s military budget is a significant amount, around 25 billion dollars, which has made the IDF one of the most equipped military forces in the world.
All Israeli citizens over the age of 18 are obligated to serve in the country’s army for 24 to 32 months. However, some citizens, including religious scholars, the mentally ill, physically and mobility-impaired individuals, religious women, and non-Jews residing in Israel, are exempt from military service. Overall, it can be said that military service in Israel is mandatory for all men and women in the country. Military service for Israeli men is 32 months and for women is 24 months.
Weapons and Equipment of the Israeli Army
When it comes to military equipment, the Israeli army ranks among the top 10 most powerful armies in the world. Considering Israel’s population of 9.6 million, the country’s army comprises more than 5% of the population. However, as mentioned, the IDF is considered one of the strongest military forces in the world in terms of weaponry.
1. Ground Forces
About two-thirds of the IDF are members of the Israeli army’s ground forces. This section of the army is recognized as one of the most powerful ground forces in the world. The weapons available to these forces include tanks and motorized units. The motorized units in the Israeli army consist of over 53,000 armored vehicles, personnel carriers, and motorcycles. When it comes to Israeli tanks, the unique name Merkava stands out, which indicates the Israeli army’s capability in building military equipment.
Overall, the country’s army benefits from 2,700 tanks, including 615 heavy Merkava tanks for extensive artillery fire, and over 2,060 light Merkava tanks are available to the Israeli ground forces. It is also said that the Israeli ground forces have over 500 attack drones and about 300 reconnaissance drones. However, there is no certainty about the statistics related to drones, but experts’ estimates have a relative consensus on the numbers mentioned.
2. Air Force
The Israeli army’s air force is also one of the most equipped air forces in the world. In addition to having foreign equipment and weapons, the Israeli army operates highly advanced aircraft built by specialists employed by the country’s army.
The IDF air force has over 680 military aircraft, but of this number, 345 are military jets, and the rest are bomber, transport, cargo, and reconnaissance planes. The country’s military jets include 196 F16 aircraft, 83 F15 aircraft, and 36 advanced F35 jets, all manufactured by the United States.
A total of 142 military helicopters are also available to the Israeli army’s air force, 43 of which are Apache types. The remaining 99 consist of other models of military helicopters, most of which are said to be made in Israel. Additionally, the Israeli air force likely has around 400 drones, which are manufactured by the Israeli army.
3. Navy
Given that Israel is located on the eastern shores of the Mediterranean Sea, there is a pressing need for a well-equipped navy. Therefore, this section of the Israeli military forces also benefits from advanced equipment and weapons. Among these, there are 5 highly advanced submarines known as the Dolphin class. These diesel-electric submarines, built by the Israeli navy, are among the most destructive in their class worldwide.
The Israeli navy’s coast guard has a total of 49 patrol boats. This section of the army has over 65 warships and 15 support and auxiliary ships of various types, mainly made in the United States, Germany, Britain, and Israel. Israeli warships and auxiliary ships are also from the so-called Saar class, which includes generations 2, 3, 4, and 45. It is still unclear how many battleships the Israeli navy has, but it is said that Israel’s capability in building battleships is also noteworthy.
Missile Forces
It is said that Israel has the strongest missile power in the entire Middle East and West Asia. The diversity of the Israeli army’s missiles is not as extensive as compared to other competitors, leading experts to believe that the Israeli army’s missile force includes models such as Jericho 2 and Jericho 3, Patriot, Gabriel, Delilah, Tamir, and LORA, all of which are basic level. It should be noted that Jericho 2 and 3 missiles are specifically for carrying nuclear bombs, and it is estimated that Israel possesses 80 to 200 nuclear warheads ready to launch. However, there is no precise information about the number of other types of missiles in the Israeli army, and no accurate statistics have been published by any reliable sources.
