Military equipment of Israel

The military equipment of Israel includes a wide array of arms, armored vehicles, artillery, missiles, planes, helicopters, and warships. Many of these are purchased overseas and many are indigenous designs. Until the Six-Day War of 1967, the Israel Defense Forces' principal supplier was France; since then, it has been the United States government and defense companies. In the early 21st century, Israeli companies such as Soltam Systems began selling arms to the United States.[1] Much of the military equipment undergoes improvements in Israeli workshops. In addition to weapons purchased overseas and indigenous products, Israel also operates and maintains large stockpiles of Soviet-made equipment captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab-Israeli Conflict.[2]

History

During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, the military equipment in the IDF was very diverse and inconsistent. This was due to the severe limitation in obtaining war materiel (the British Mandate and the Arab embargo). During the 1950s, the IDF began the process of standardization, relying primarily on French military equipment.

During the Six Day War, the military cooperation with France ceased (the French Weapons Embargo of 1967) and Israel began to rely on American weaponry and on local research and development. During the 1980s and 1990s, the IDF increased its supplies of American arms, armor and aircraft, aiming for technological superiority over Arab countries, toward "a smaller, smarter army".

The reliance on locally manufactured military equipment has also greatly increased. Today, the overwhelming majority of Israel's military equipment is either manufactured in the United States (and often modified in Israeli workshops), or is developed and manufactured locally, with an increasing emphasis on advanced technology, including aerospace and electronics.

Local military development

Some of the military equipment developed locally have been:

Ground forces equipment

Small arms

Name Image Type Caliber Origin Notes
Pistols
Jericho 941[4] Semi-Automatic Pistol 9×19mm  Israel
Glock 17[5] Semi-Automatic Pistol 9×19mm  Austria
Glock 19[6] Semi-Automatic Pistol 9×19mm  Austria
Browning Hi-Power[6] Semi-Automatic Pistol 9×19mm  Belgium
Beretta M1951[4] Semi-Automatic Pistol 9×19mm  Italy
Heckler & Koch P11[4] Underwater pistol 7.62×36mm  Germany
Submachine guns
IMI Uzi[7] Submachine Gun 9×19mm  Israel Uzi, Mini-Uzi and Micro-Uzi used.
Ingram MAC-10[4] Submachine Gun 9×19mm  United States
IMI Micro Tavor MTAR-21[4] Submachine Gun and Bullpup Assault Rifle 9×19mm
5.56×45mm
 Israel Variant of the Tavor Assault Rifle, replacing the Uzi, and becoming the standard issue assault rifle
Semi-automatic rifle
Suppressed Ruger 10/22[6][8]
Semiautomatic rifle .22 LR  United States Adopted for non-lethal crowd control.
Assault rifles
IMI Tavor TAR-21[4] Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm  Israel Variants used are MTAR-21 (X95), TAR-21, GTAR-21, STAR-21 and CTAR-21
M4 Carbine[4] Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm  United States
M16A1[9] Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm  United States
CAR-15[6] Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm  United States
IMI Galil[4][7] Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm  Israel Variants used are Galil AR and Galil SAR
IMI Micro Galil Assault Rifle 5.56×45mm  Israel Highly compact version of the Galil
AKM[4][7][10] Assault Rifle 7.62×39mm  Soviet Union Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab-Israeli Conflict and used by Special Forces.
AK-47[4][7][11] Assault Rifle 7.62×39mm  Soviet Union Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab-Israeli Conflict and used by Special Forces.
Battle rifles
M14[4] Battle Rifle 7.62×51mm  United States
Light machine gun
IMI Negev[4] Light Machine Gun 5.56×45mm  Israel
Medium machine gun
M1919 Browning Medium Machine Gun .30-06 Springfield  United States
General purpose machine guns
FN MAG[12] General Purpose Machine Gun 7.62×51mm  Belgium
Negev NG7 General Purpose Machine Gun 7.62×51mm  Israel
PKM[6] General Purpose Machine Gun 7.62×54mmR  Soviet Union Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab-Israeli Conflict and used by Special Forces.
Heavy machine guns
Browning M2[4] Heavy Machine Gun 12.7×99mm  United States Upgraded to M2HB-QCB
Shotguns
Remington 870[6] Shotgun 12 Gauge  United States
Mossberg 500 Shotgun 12 Gauge  United States
Armsel Striker Revolving Shotgun 12 Gauge  South Africa Used for riot control
Designated marksman rifles
SR-25[6] Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm  United States
IMI Galatz Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm  Israel Sniper variant of the Galil
M89SR[6] Designated marksman rifle 7.62×51mm  Israel
Sniper rifles
M24[6] Sniper Rifle 7.62×51mm  United States
HTR 2000 Sniper Rifle .338 Lapua  United States
Barrett M82 Anti-materiel rifle 12.7×99mm  United States
Hand grenades
M26A2 Fragmentation Grenade n/a  Israel Based on the American M26 grenade
IDF M48 Stun grenade n/a  Israel Based on the American M84 stun grenade

Rocket and grenade launchers

Name Image Type Caliber Origin Notes
B-300 Shoulder-launched Rocket 82mm  Israel
RPG-7 Shoulder-launched Rocket 85mm  Soviet Union
Shipon Shoulder-launched Rocket 83mm  Israel
M72 LAW Shoulder-launched Rocket 66mm  United States
MATADOR Shoulder-launched Rocket 90mm  Israel
 Singapore
M79[4] Stand-alone Grenade Launcher 40mm  United States
M203[4] Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher 40mm  United States
Mk 19[4] Automatic Grenade Launcher 40mm  United States
Mk 47 Striker Automatic Grenade Launcher 40mm  United States

Missiles

Name Image Type Origin Notes
Spike Anti-Tank Missile  Israel
BGM-71 TOW Anti-Tank Missile  United States
LAHAT Anti-Tank Missile  Israel
MAPATS Anti-Tank Missile  Israel
Nimrod Long-range anti-tank missile  Israel
M47 Dragon Anti-Tank Missile  United States

Vehicles

Name Image Type Number in Service[13] Origin Notes
Main battle tanks
Merkava Mark IV Main Battle Tank 660  Israel In active service
Merkava Mark III Main Battle Tank 781  Israel In active service
Merkava Mark II Main Battle Tank 400  Israel Some in active service/some in reserve [14]
Merkava Mark I Main Battle Tank 180  Israel In reserve, to be retired[14]
Magach 7 Main Battle Tank 1,600  United States
 Israel
Retired, based on the American M60 Patton, to be sold or scrapped[14]
Armoured personnel carriers
M113 Armored Personnel Carrier 6,131  United States
 Israel
IDF Achzarit Heavy Armored Personnel Carrier 215  Israel Based on the T-54 Tank
Nagmachon Heavy Armored Personnel Carrier N/A  United Kingdom
 Israel
Based on the Centurion Tank
Nakpadon Heavy Armored Personnel Carrier N/A  United Kingdom
 Israel
Based on the Centurion Tank
Nakpuma Heavy Combat Engineering/Armored Personnel Carrier N/A  United Kingdom
 Israel
Based on the Centurion Tank
Namer Heavy Armored Personnel Carrier 120  Israel 531 planned to be in service by 2027. Based on the Merkava chassis.
Utility vehicles
Wolf Armored Vehicle 300  Israel
AIL Storm Utility vehicle 700  Israel
HMMWV Utility vehicle 2,000+  United States
MDT David Utility vehicle 400  United Kingdom
 Israel
Based on the Land Rover Defender
Plasan Sand Cat Utility Vehicle 79  Israel
Otokar Akrep Armored Vehicle 30  Turkey [15]
Trucks
AIL Abir 4×4 Truck N/A  Israel
M35 8×12 Truck N/A  United States
Unimog 437 Heavy Truck N/A  Germany
HEMTT 8×8 Heavy Truck N/A  United States
Engineering vehicles
Puma Heavy Combat Engineering Vehicle N/A  United Kingdom
 Israel
Based on the Centurion Tank
CAT D9 Combat Armored Bulldozer 175  United States
 Israel
Bulldozer manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel.
M548 Alfa Cargo & Ammunition Carrier N/A  United States
 Israel
Based on the M113
M60 AVLB Armored Bridge Layer 10  United States
Nemmera Armored Recovery Vehicle N/A  Israel Based on the Merkava
M88 Armored Recovery Vehicle 25  United States
Nagmapop Command & Surveillance vehicle N/A  United Kingdom
 Israel
Based on the Centurion Tank
AIL Desert Raider Dune Buggy N/A  Israel
VIPeR Unmanned Ground Vehicle N/A  Israel
Guardium Unmanned Ground Vehicle N/A  Israel
Black Thunder Unmanned Bulldozer N/A  United States
 Israel
Based on the Caterpillar D9[16]

Artillery

Name Image Type Number in Service[13] Origin Notes
M109 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer 600  United States
 Israel
Upgraded as the M109 Doher. Based on the M109A5. Replacement program initiated,[17] candidates include ATMOS 2000 and the Artillery Gun Module.[18]
Soltam M-71 155mm Towed Howitzer 300  Israel
Soltam M-68 155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer 50  Israel In reserve
Pereh Guided Missile Carrier ?  Israel Declassified June 2015
M270 Multiple Rocket Launcher 48  United States
Cardom SP 120mm Self-Propelled Mortar 64  Israel
Soltam M-65 120mm Mortar 250  Israel
M113 Tamuz Missile Launching Vehicle N/A  Israel Spike Missiles launched from an M113 chassis[19]
LAR-160 160mm artillery rocket  Israel
Extended Range Artillery Rocket (EXTRA) Long-range artillery rocket  Israel 150km range[20]

Air defense

Name Image Type Number in Service[13] Origin Notes
Machbet Air Defense Vehicle 400  United States
 Israel
Based on the M163 VADS
FIM-92 Stinger Shoulder-launched Surface-to-air missile 500  United States
FIM-43 Redeye Shoulder-launched Surface-to-air missile N/A  United States
ZSU-23-4 Air Defense Vehicle 60[21]  Soviet Union
Bofors L/70 40mm Anti-Aircraft Gun N/A  Sweden
ZU-23-2 23mm Anti-Aircraft Gun N/A  Soviet Union
TCM-20 20mm Anti-Aircraft Gun N/A  France
  Switzerland
 Israel

Air forces equipment

Note there are multiple sources and these provide different figures:
Aircraft Origin Type Versions
In Service
By INSS By FlightGlobal By IISS
Fighter aircraft
Boeing F-15 Eagle  United States air superiority fighter F-15A "Baz" 52[22] 42[23] 16[24]
F-15C "Baz" 17[24]
F-15B "Baz" 16[23] 6[24]
F-15D "Baz" 11[24]
Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle  United States strike fighter F-15I "Ra'am" 25[22] 25[23] 25[24]
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon  United States multirole fighter F-16A "Netz" 107[22] 63[23][25] 77[24]
F-16B "Netz" 16[24]
F-16C "Barak" 136[22] 77[23][25] 78[24]
F-16D "Barak" 49[23][25] 49[24]
F-16I "Sufa" 100[22] 99[23] 99[24]
Trainer aircraft
Grob G-120  Germany trainer aircraft G-120AI "Snunit" 27[22] 17[23] 17[24]
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II  United States trainer aircraft T-6A "Efroni" 19[22] 20[23] 20[24]
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk  United States ground attack / trainer A-4N, TA-4H/J "Ayit" 20[22] 20[26] 46[24]
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master  Italy transonic jet trainer M-346 "Lavi" 2 (30)[27]
Transport / Aerial refueling / Aerial firefighting / Utility / Signals intelligence / Maritime patrol / AEW
Air Tractor AT-802  United States aerial firefighting AT-802F 8[22] 7[23] 3[24]
Beechcraft Bonanza  United States utility A-36 "Khofit" 22[22] 22[24]
Beechcraft Super King Air (C-12 Huron)  United States utility / transport / trainer B-200/T/CT "Tzofit" 29[22] 29[23] 22[24]
EW / ELINT / SIGINT RC-12D/K "Kookiya" 6[24]
IAI SeaScan  Israel maritime patrol 1124N "Shahaf" 3[22] 3[23] 3[24]
Gulfstream G550  United States SEMA G500 "Nahshon-Shavit" 3[22] 3[23] 3[24]
CAEW G550 "Nahshon-Eitam" 2[22] 2[23] 2[24]
Lockheed C-130 Hercules  United States tactical transport C-130E "Qarnaf" 12[22] 12[23] 5[24]
C-130H "Qarnaf" 6[24]
aerial refueling KC-130H "Qarnaf" 3[22] 4[23] 4[24]
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules  United States tactical transport C-130J "Shimshon" - 1 (4)[28] -
Boeing 707  United States heavy transport / EW 707 "Re'em" 8[22] 1[23]3[24]
aerial refueling KC-707 "Saknai" 5[22] 8[23] 7[24]
Helicopters
Bell AH-1 Cobra  United States attack helicopter AH-1"Tzefa" 33[22] 49[23] 47[24]
Eurocopter Panther  France maritime patrol AS-565SA "Atalef" 5[22] 6[23] 7[24]
Boeing AH-64 Apache  United States attack helicopter AH-64A "Peten" 30[22] 26[29] 27[24]
AH-64D "Saraph" 17[22] 22[29] 17[24]
Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion  United States heavy transport CH-53 "Yas'ur 2000" 37[22] 18[30] 26[24]
CH-53 "Yas'ur 2025" 5[30]
Sikorsky S-70 (UH-60 Black Hawk)  United States tactical transport S-70A / UH-60A/L "Yanshuf" 49[22] 48[23] 49[24]
Bell 206 (OH-58 Kiowa)  United States light transport / trainer 206B "Saifan" 18[23] 6[24]

Unmanned aerial vehicles

Weaponry

Naval forces equipment

Below are the IDF's active service watercraft. The year of service, speed, full load displacement, and crew members, are in parentheses.

Missile boats

Corvettes

Patrol boats

Unmanned naval vehicles

Submarines

Commando boats

Remote weapon systems

Space systems

Gallery

See also

References

  1. http://www.defenseindustrydaily.com/US-Army-Wants-120mm-GPS-Guided-Mortars-to-Fight-Afghan-Insurgents-05990/
  2. Matthew M. Aid (10 September 2013). "Exclusive: Does Israel Have Chemical Weapons Too?". Foreign Policy. Its sensitivities were galvanized by the capture of large quantities of Soviet CW-related equipment during both the 1967 Arab-Israeli and the 1973 Yom Kippur wars.
  3. http://tankandafvnews.com/2015/07/17/israeli-pereh-tank-officially-revealed/
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Jones, Richard (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. pp. 36, 380, 897. ISBN 0-7106-2869-2.
  5. Valpolini, Paolo (June 2009). "There are Two Types of Men in this World...". Armada International (Online). Archived from the original (PDF) on June 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-13.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Israeli Special Forces Weapons Guide". Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Katz, Sam (1986). Israeli Defence Forces since 1973. Osprey Publishing. pp. 22, 56, 49. ISBN 0-85045-687-8.
  8. "Ruger 10/22 Suppressed Sniper Rifle" at ruger1022.com
  9. John Pike (2003-12-17). "Israel's army phases out country's iconic Uzi submachine gun". Globalsecurity.org. Retrieved 2010-08-22.
  10. Sweeney, Patrick (2005). The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15. Gun Digest Books. p. 131. ISBN 0-87349-947-6.
  11. Sweeney, Patrick (2005). The Gun Digest Book of the AR-15. Gun Digest Books. p. 131. ISBN 0-87349-947-6.
  12. Katz, Sam (1988). Israeli Elite Units since 1948. Osprey Publishing. p. 55. ISBN 0-85045-837-4.
  13. 1 2 3 "The Institute for National Security Studies", chapter Israel, 2010, September 20, 2010.
  14. 1 2 3 Israeli army is planning to sell second-hands Merkava main battle tanks and F-16 fighter aircraft - Armyrecognition.com, 16 July 2013
  15. "Israel", Studies (PDF), The Institute for National Security, November 20, 2014.
  16. Page, Lewis (31 March 2009). "Israelis' invulnerable, 60-tonne robot bulldozer force to double". The Register. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
  17. BARBARA OPALL-ROME. "Gun Makers Gear Up for $1B Israeli Contest" DefenseNews, October 19, 2013. Accessed: 20 October 2013.
  18. Israel Army wants to replace old 155mm howitzer M109 with Soltam or AGM artillery system - Armyrecognition.com, 30 October 2013
  19. http://www.jpost.com/VideoArticles/Video/Article.aspx?id=231945
  20. http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/israeli-air-force-acquires-long-range-imi-extra-rocket/2016/06/28/
  21. "Jane's". IHS (Global) Limited. Retrieved 7 August 2010. (subscription required (help)).
  22. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 "Israel", Studies (PDF), The Institute for National Security, May 8, 2012.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 "World Air Forces 2014". Flight International. Flight global. December 5, 2013. Retrieved December 6, 2013.
  24. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 The Military Balance 2014, International Institute for Strategic Studies, February 5, 2014, p. 326.
  25. 1 2 3 "MiliCAS". Flight International (database). Flight global. July 27, 2012. Retrieved July 27, 2012. Shows the Israeli air force has an active fleet of 325 F-16s, including 126 General Electric F110-100-powered C/D examples.
  26. Arie Egozi (March 12, 2012). "Israel's M-346 selection fires up TOR joint venture". Flight International. Retrieved March 12, 2012.
  27. Israel receives first two Lavi trainers - 7/9/2014 - Flight Global
  28. Israel welcomes arrival of first C-130J transport - 4/9/2014 - Flight Global
  29. 1 2 "Israeli Apache upgrade adds avionics pod". October 8, 2013. Retrieved October 8, 2013.
  30. 1 2 "Israel acquires surplus CH-53 helicopters for spares". January 25, 2013. Retrieved January 26, 2013.
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