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 United States. In the early 21st century, Israeli companies (such as Soltam Systems) began selling arms to the United States.[1] Much 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]
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.
Some of the military equipment developed locally have been:
| Name | Image | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | ||||||
| Jericho 941[4] | Used by IDF and IDF Special Forces | |||||
| Glock 17[5] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | Used by IDF Special Forces | |||
| Glock 19[6] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | Used by IDF Special Forces | |||
| Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | |||||
| SIG Sauer P226 | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | Used by IDF Special Forces. | |||
| Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | |||||
| 7.62×36mm | ||||||
| Submachine guns | ||||||
| IMI Uzi[7] | Submachine gun | 9×19mm | Uzi, Mini-Uzi, Micro-Uzi, and Uzi-Pro used. | |||
| Submachine gun | 9×19mm | |||||
| 9×19mm variant | 9x19mm suppressed variant used by IDF Special Forces | |||||
| Semi-automatic rifle | ||||||
| Suppressed Ruger 10/22[8] | Adopted for non-lethal crowd control. | |||||
| Assault rifles | ||||||
| Improved version of the X95 with longer barrel. | ||||||
| Bullpup Assault rifle/Carbine | Compact version of the TAR-21. Standard Issue rifle since 2009 replacing the TAR-21. | |||||
| IWI Tavor TAR-21 | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Cut from service as of 2009 and replaced by the X95. | |||
| 5.56×45mm | Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with M16, CAR-15, and X95 and used by Special Forces | |||||
| M16A1[9] | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with the M4, CAR-15, M16A2 and X95. Most of the long-barreled rifles were modified to have short barrel and a telescoping stock, the rest are reserved for basic training and ceremonial issues | |||
| M16A2 | Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with the M4, CAR-15, M16A1 and X95. Most of the M16A2 is firing automatic, some to custom for DMR and rest are ceremonial issues. | |||
| Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with M4, M16A1, and X95 | ||||
| Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Used in limited numbers. Variants used are Galil AR and Galil SAR. Most Galil's have been replaced by the improved (Galil) IWI ACE. | ||||
| Assault rifle | 5.56×45mm | Used in limited numbers. Highly compact version of the Galil. Most Galil's have been replaced by the improved (Galil) IWI ACE. | ||||
| AKM[10] | Assault rifle | Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab–Israeli conflict and was used by Special Forces due to their high reliability. | ||||
| Assault rifle | Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab–Israeli conflict and was used by Special Forces due to their high reliability. | |||||
| Battle rifles | ||||||
| 7.62×51mm | Used in limited numbers by the IDF. | |||||
| Light machine gun | ||||||
| 5.56×45mm | Capable of firing semi-automatic or full-auto. The 5.56 variant features a unique dual feed system, it can accept 30 round STANAG magazines and an assault-box belt. | |||||
| Medium machine gun | ||||||
| .30-06 Springfield | ||||||
| General-purpose machine guns | ||||||
| FN MAG[11] | General-purpose machine gun | Former Standard Issue to IDF Since 1960s to 1990s as a Main Machine Gun. | ||||
| General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm | Capable of semi-automatic or full-automatic fire. | ||||
| Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab–Israeli conflict and used by Special Forces. | ||||||
| General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Limited use. | ||||
| Heavy machine guns | ||||||
| Browning M2 (Makach 0.5) | Upgraded to M2HB-QCB | |||||
| Shotguns | ||||||
| 12 Gauge | Used for riot control | |||||
| Designated marksman rifles | ||||||
| 5.56×45mm | Accurized M4A1, used by "kala sa'ar" marksmen. | |||||
| SR-25 Mk 11 | 7.62×51mm | Used by IDF Special Forces. Also employed as a sniper rifle. | ||||
| Tavor X-95L "Micro-Tavor Kala'im" | Designated marksman rifle | 5.56×45mm | Accurized Micro-Tavor X95 with longer barrel, used by "kala sa'ar" marksmen. | |||
| Sniper rifles | ||||||
| Standard-issued sniper rifle, achieves accuracy of 0.5 MOA with IMI ammo. | ||||||
| Standard-issued sniper rifle, achieves accuracy of 0.5 MOA with IMI ammo. | ||||||
| Mauser 86SR | Sniper rifle | Used for counter-terrorism operations. | ||||
| Long-range sniper rifle | An IDF modified H-S Precision Pro Series 2000 HTR rifle | |||||
| Barrett M82A1 | Used mainly by the Combat Engineering Corps and IDF Special Forces | |||||
| Long range sniper rifle/Anti-materiel rifle | Used by IDF Special Forces. | |||||
| Multi-role sniper rifle (field sniping / counter-terrorism / long-range) | Used by Special Forces and also by Israeli Police elite CT unit YAMAM. Achieves accuracy of 0.35-0.5 MOA (1.1 cm groups in 100 m). | |||||
| Barrett REC10 | Semi-automatic sniper rifle (counter-terrorism) | Use by the IDF special forces and also by Israeli Police. Achieves accuracy of around 0.75 MOA. | ||||
| Long-range sniper rifle | ||||||
| Hand grenades | ||||||
| n/a | Based on the American M26 grenade | |||||
| n/a | Based on the American M84 stun grenade | |||||
| Name | Image | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 96 mm | ||||||
| Shoulder-launched rocket | 66 mm | |||||
| Shoulder-launched rocket | 90 mm | |||||
| 40 mm | Usually mounted under an M16, M4, CAR-15, or X95. Mounted on X95's with longer barrels and large trigger guard instead of the standard pistol grip guard. | |||||
| 40 mm | ||||||
| Automatic grenade launcher | 40 mm |
| Name | Image | Type | Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used various models of the family, including Gil (Spike-MR) and Gil 2 (Spike-LR II), Spike-ER (I and II) and Tamouz (Spike NLOS). | |||||
| Anti-tank missile | |||||
| Anti-tank missile | |||||
| Anti-tank missile | |||||
| Long-range anti-tank missile |
| Name | Image | Type | Number | Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main battle tanks (400) | ||||||
| Main battle tank | ~400[12] | ~200 stored. | ||||
| Main battle tank | ||||||
| Main battle tank | ~700 stored. | |||||
| Armoured personnel carriers (1,360) | ||||||
| Armored personnel carrier | 500 active 5,000 in storage | Was used until the Battle of Shuja'iyya incident | ||||
| Heavy armored personnel carrier | ~100 | Based on the T-54 tank | ||||
| Heavy armored personnel carrier | N/A | Based on the Centurion tank | ||||
| Heavy armored personnel carrier | N/A | Based on the Centurion tank | ||||
| Nakpuma | Heavy combat engineering/Armored personnel carrier | N/A | Based on the Centurion tank | |||
| Heavy armored personnel carrier | ~290 | 531 planned to be in service by 2027. Based on the Merkava chassis. | ||||
| Eitan | Armored fighting vehicle/Armored personnel carrier | N/A | Equipped with Iron Fist APS | |||
| Utility vehicles | ||||||
| Armored vehicle | 300 | |||||
| Utility vehicle | 700 | |||||
| Utility vehicle | 2,000+ | |||||
| Utility vehicle | 400 | Based on the Land Rover Defender | ||||
| Utility vehicle | N/A | |||||
| Armored vehicle | 30 | [13] | ||||
| Trucks | ||||||
| 4×4 truck | N/A | |||||
| 8×12 truck | N/A | |||||
| Unimog 437 | Heavy truck | N/A | ||||
| 8×8 heavy truck | N/A | |||||
| Engineering vehicles | ||||||
| Puma | N/A | Based on the Centurion tank | ||||
| N/A | Based on the Merkava tank | |||||
| 175+ | Bulldozer manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel. | |||||
| IDF Caterpillar Excavator 330 | N/A | Excavators manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel. | ||||
| IDF Caterpillar 966 Wheeled Loader | N/A | Loaders manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel. | ||||
| Cargo and ammunition carrier | N/A | Based on the M113 | ||||
| N/A | ||||||
| N/A | Based on the Merkava | |||||
| Armored recovery vehicle | N/A | |||||
| Command and surveillance vehicle | N/A | Based on the Centurion tank | ||||
| N/A | ||||||
| Unmanned ground vehicle | N/A | |||||
| N/A | ||||||
| N/A | Based on the IDF Caterpillar D9N[14] | |||||
| N/A | Based on the IDF Caterpillar D9 | |||||
| Name | Image | Type | Number in service[15] | Origin | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-propelled howitzers | ||||||
| M109 Doher | 155mm self-propelled howitzer | 250 | Upgraded as the M109 Doher. Based on the M109A5. Replacement program initiated,[16] candidates include ATMOS 2000 and the Artillery Gun Module.[17] Used in limited numbers30 M109A2 in store | |||
| M107 | 175mm self-propelled howitzer | 36 in store | ||||
| M110 | 203mm self-propelled howitzer | 36 in store | ||||
| Towed howtizers | ||||||
| M-46 | 155mm howtizer | 40 modernized in store | ||||
| M-68/M-71 | 155mm howitzer | 50 in store | ||||
| M-839P/M845P | 155mm howitzer | 81 in store | ||||
| Mortars | ||||||
| Cardom SP | Khanit | |||||
| 650 in store | ||||||
| Soltam M-66 | 160mm mortar | 18 in store | ||||
| Anti-tank missile launcher | ||||||
| N/A | Spike missiles launched from an M113 chassis[18] | |||||
| Multiple launch rocket system/Ballistic missiles | ||||||
| LAR-160 | 160 mm MLRS | 50 in store | ||||
| M270 "Menatetz" | 270mm MLRS | 30 | 18 in store. | |||
| PULS | 306mm MLRS | N/A | ||||
| Extended Range Artillery Rocket (EXTRA) | Long-range artillery rocket | 150 km range[19] | ||||
| Name | Image | Type | Number in service | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIM-104 Patriot | Surface-to-air missile | N/A | was upgraded to the GM+ "Yahalom" standard | ||
| Iron Dome | Air defense missile battery/Anti-rockets missile | 9+ | Intercepted hundreds of artillery records since declared operational in 2011. | ||
| David's Sling | Medium- to long-range anti-ballistic missile/surface-to-air missile | N/A | Medium- to long-range anti-ballistic missile with surface-to-air missile capability | ||
| Arrow | Anti-ballistic missile | N/A | Out of the atmosphere anti-ballistic missile missile series | ||
| Aircraft | Origin | Type | Versions | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| By INSS | By FlightGlobal | By IISS | ||||
| Fighter aircraft | ||||||
| F-35I "Adir" | 9 | 39[20] | 39 | |||
| F-15A "Baz" | \ | |||||
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MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile
/ Arrow anti-ballistic missile PB500A1 laser-guided hard-target penetration bomb M-85 cluster bomb CBU-58 cluster bomb Mark 84 bomb MPR500 penetration bomb Spice glide bomb GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb Python air-to-air missile Popeye air-to-surface missile AKA AGM-142 Have Nap in US use Popeye Turbo SLCM suspected long range submarine-launched cruise missile, suspected nuclear weapon carrier Joint Direct Attack Munition guided bomb AGM-65 Maverick air-to-surface missile AGM-88 HARM air-to-surface anti-radiation missile AGM-114 Hellfire air-to-surface anti-tank missile AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missile AIM-9 Sidewinder heat seeking air-to-air missile MIM-72 Chaparral surface-to-air missile Delilah cruise missile Iron Dome anti-rocket and mortar defense missile David's Sling surface-to-air missile Jericho II intermediate range ballistic missile, suspected nuclear Jericho III intercontinental ballistic missile, suspected nuclearBelow are the IDF's active service watercraft. The year of service, speed, full load displacement, and crew members, are in parentheses.
Sa'ar 4 class missile boat (1970s; ; 450 tons; 45 crew members) Sa'ar 4.5 class missile boat (1980s; ; 488 tons; 53 crew members)/ Sa'ar 5-class corvette (1990s; ; 1,227 tons; 64 crew members)/
Sa'ar 6-class corvette (2020s; ; 1,900 tons; 70 crew members) Dabur (1970s; ; 39 tons; 9 crew members) Shaldag (1989; ?; ; 15 crew members) Super Dvora Mk II (1996; ; 54 tons; 10 crew members) Super Dvora Mk III (2004; ; 54 tons; 10 crew members)/ Dolphin I (1992;, underwater; 1,640 tons, 1,900 tons underwater; 30 crew members)/ Dolphin II (2014;, underwater; 2,050 tons, 2,400 tons underwater; 40 crew members) Dolphin type underwater craft Maiale type underwater craft Snunit boat Zaharon boat Moulit boat Morena rigid-hull inflatable boat AMOS communications satellite EROS earth observation satellite Ofeq reconnaissance satellite TecSAR reconnaissance satellite Shavit space launch vehicle