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Military power of Iran & Pakistan

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Iran vs Pakistan

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Iran Pakistan

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.

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Pakistan is a country located in Southern Asia with an area of 796,095 km2 (land boundries: 7,257 km and costline 1,046 km). The capital of Pakistan is Islamabad. The number of inhabitants is 225,199,937.

Pakistan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the USA. The Pakistan military inventory includes a broad mix of equipment, primarily from China, France, Russia, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Pakistan also has a large domestic defense industry. China is the leading foreign supplier of arms to Pakistan.

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

Military expenditures

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Military budget: 25 billion $ 10.4 billion $
Percent of GDP: 2.5% 4%

Military budget

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Highest value in the world: 816 billion $ (USA)
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Manpower

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Active personnel: 610,000 654,000
Reserve personnel: 350,000 550,000
Available for military: 23,619,215 48,453,305

Active

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Highest value in the world: 2,035,000 (China)
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Land Forces

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Tanks: 2,842 3,742
Armoured fighting vehicles: 3,555 8,710
Total artillery: 4,873 6,308
Self-propelled artillery: 1,030 1,225
Rocket artillery: 1,755 1,738

Tanks

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Highest value in the world: 12,267 (Russia)
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Air Forces

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Total aircraft: 973 1,531
Fighter aircraft: 112 60
Multirole aircraft: 75 275
Attack aircraft: 23 69
Helicopters: 519 400
UCAV (combat drone): 83 113

Total aircraft

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Highest value in the world: 12,930 (USA)
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Navy

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Total naval: 272 96
Aircraftcarriers: 0 0
Destroyers: 0 0
Frigates: 6 8
Corvettes: 3 0
Submarines: 19 6

Total naval

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Highest value in the world: 967 (North Korea)
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Nuclear weapons

Iran

Does not have nuclear weapons.

Pakistan

Pakistan is one of several nations that are not the part of Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Yet, the Pakistani government managed to acquire nuclear warheads, or at least it is believed so. The entire pursuit for nuclear power began at the beginning of 1970s. It was back then, when Western Powers heard about Pakistan efforts of developing nuclear weapons. At the beginning the government established first nuclear power plant. It was located near Karachi. Noteworthy is the fact that it was possible due to the help of Western nations, which provided Pakistan with necessary equipment and materials. Later on, the president of Pakistan said that the main goal of Pakistan is to construct nuclear weapons. It was a response to India’s claim that they are capable of building nuclear weapons.

Although throughout the 1970s and at the beginning of 1980s there were little facts regarding Pakistan’ nuclear capabilities, there were rumours that from the mid-1980s, Pakistan already had a few warheads. However, it was only in 1998 that Pakistan decided to conduct their first nuclear tests. There were 6 tests and they were the response to 5 tests that India conducted several weeks before Pakistan.

Military service

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.

Pakistan

16-23 years of age for voluntary military service; soldiers cannot be deployed for combat until age 18; the Pakistani Air Force and Pakistani Navy have inducted their first female pilots and sailors; the Pakistan Air Force recruits aviation technicians at age 15; service obligation (Navy) 10-18 years; retirement required after 18-30 years service or age 40-52.