Compare armed forces

Military power of Israel & Iran

Israel vs Iran

Show map

Israel Iran

Israel is a country located in Middle East with an area of 20,770 km² (land boundries: 1,068 km and costline 273 km). The capital of Israel is Jerusalem but it is internationally unrecognized. The number of inhabitants is 9,353,610.

Israel has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the US. The majority of the IDF's inventory is comprised of weapons that are domestically-produced or imported from Europe and the United States. Israel has a broad defense industrial base that can develop, produce, support, and sustain a wide variety of weapons systems.

More about Israel 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

24 billion $

10 billion $

Percent of GDP

5.2 %

2.1 %

Manpower

Active personnel

169,500

587,000

Reserve personnel

465,000

200,000

Available for military

1,797,960

23,619,215

Land Forces

Tanks

1,300

2,842

Armoured fighting vehicles

6,190

3,555

Total artillery

621

4,873

Self-propelled artillery

352

1,030

Rocket artillery

98

1,755

Air Forces

Total aircraft

626

973

Fighter

41

112

Multirole

239

75

Attack

0

23

Helicopters

127

519

UCAV (combat drone)

15

83

Navy

Total naval

63

272

Aircraft carriers

0

Destroyers

0

Frigates

0

6

Corvettes

7

3

Submarines

6

19

Nuclear weapons

Israel

Although not certain, there is a rumour that Israel was the sixth country in the world that managed to research and develop their own nuclear arsenal. However, they did not confirm that fact. Still, a lot of sources claim that they managed to prepare fully working nuclear warheads in 1966. In spite of such early dates, Israel has not joined the NPT. Up to this day, they do not confirm nor deny the possibility of having nuclear arsenal. As a result of that, Israel is said to apply quite effective, yet affordable deterring policy.

According to many organizations, the estimated numbers of nuclear weapons that Israel possesses varies from 80 up to even 200 ready to be launched nuclear weapons. What is more, there are also rumours that Israel managed to prepare special missiles that can be operational from submarines.

Iran

Does not have nuclear weapons.

Military service

Israel

18 years of age for compulsory (Jews, Druzes) military service; 17 years of age for voluntary (Christians, Muslims, Circassians) military service; both sexes are obligated to military service; conscript service obligation - 36 months for enlisted men, 21 months for enlisted women, 48 months for officers; pilots commit to 9 years service; reserve obligation to age 41-51 (men), 24 (women).

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.