Compare armed forces

Military power of France & Iran

France vs Iran

Show map

France Iran

France is a country located in Western Europe with an area of 640,679 km² (land boundries: 3,956 km and costline 4,853 km). The capital of France is Paris. The number of inhabitants is 67,413,000.

France was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, which created NATO in 1949. France and the UK signed in 2010 a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. The CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel. The French military's inventory consists mostly of domestically-produced weapons systems, including some jointly-produced with other European countries. France has a defense industry capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of military weapons systems.

More about France military

Iran is a country located in Middle East with an area of 1,648,195 km² (land boundries: 5,894 km and costline 2,440 km - note: Iran also borders the Caspian Sea (740 km)). The capital of Iran is Tehran. The number of inhabitants is 83,183,741.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was formed in May 1979. The IRGC was a highly institutionalized and parallel military force to Iran’s regular armed forces. The Iranian military's inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and mostly older foreign equipment largely of Chinese, Russian, Soviet, and US origin. Iran has a defense industry with the capacity to develop, produce, support, and sustain air, land, missile, and naval weapons programs.

More about Iran military

If you want to check the comparison in terms of economic ratios check out CompareEconomy.com

Military expenditures

Military budget

60 billion $

10 billion $

Percent of GDP

1.9 %

2.1 %

Manpower

Active personnel

270,000

587,000

Reserve personnel

141,050

200,000

Available for military

14,563,662

23,619,215

Land Forces

Tanks

406

2,842

Armoured fighting vehicles

6,748

3,555

Total artillery

119

4,873

Self-propelled artillery

96

1,030

Rocket artillery

11

1,755

Air Forces

Total aircraft

1,143

973

Fighter

26

112

Multirole

144

75

Attack

66

23

Helicopters

478

519

UCAV (combat drone)

16

83

Navy

Total naval

111

272

Aircraft carriers

4

0

Destroyers

10

0

Frigates

12

6

Corvettes

0

3

Submarines

10

19

Nuclear weapons

France

France managed to research and develop its own nuclear weapon in 1960. The test, known as, Gerboise Bleue, was the result of mostly French research. One of the main figures that played crucial role in the entire process of developing the bomb was General Pierre Marie Gallois. He was concerned that the Suez Crisis, which started in 1956, would show the world how insignificant France became, since out of all Great Powers in the world, they were the only one without possessing its own nuclear arsenal. The tests were conducted on the terrains of Sahara Desert.

At this moment France owns 300 nuclear warheads, out of which almost all are deployed. What is more, compared to Great Britain, they made more tests, approximately 210. Noteworthy is the fact that the development of the first nuclear bomb in France as well as its tests were a bit controversial. It was due to the fact that France allowed Israeli observers to attend the tests, providing them with almost unrestricted access to all the data. It was quite important, since Israel, together with United Kingdom and France, were trying to invade Egypt.

Iran

Does not have nuclear weapons.

Military service

France

18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; 1-year service obligation; women serve in noncombat post.

Iran

18 years of age for compulsory military service; 16 years of age for volunteers; 17 years of age for Law Enforcement Forces; 15 years of age for Basij Forces (Popular Mobilization Army); conscript military service obligation is 18 months; women exempt from military service.