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]

Current equipment and weapons of the Israel Defense Forces, 2017

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	Used by IDF and IDF Special Forces
Glock 17[5]		Semi-Automatic Pistol	9×19mm	Austria	Used by IDF Special Forces
Glock 19[6]		Semi-Automatic Pistol	9×19mm	Austria	Used by IDF Special Forces
Browning Hi-Power[6]		Semi-Automatic Pistol	9×19mm	Belgium
SIG Sauer P226[6]		Semi-automatic pistol	9×19mm Parabellum	Switzerland	Used by IDF Special Forces.
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, Micro-Uzi, and Uzi-Pro used.
Ingram MAC-10[4]		Submachine Gun	9×19mm	United States
IWI X95[4]		Submachine Gun and Bullpup Assault Rifle	9×19mm variant	Israel	9x19mm suppressed variant used by IDF Special Forces
Semi-automatic rifle
Suppressed Ruger 10/22[6][8]		Semi-automatic rifle	.22 LR	United States	Adopted for non-lethal crowd control.
Assault rifles
IWI X95 (Micro-Tavor)[4]		Bullpup Assault Rifle / Carbine	5.56x45mm	Israel	Compact version of the TAR-21. Standard Issue rifle since 2009 replacing the TAR-21.
IWI Tavor TAR-21[4]		Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm	Israel	Cut from service as of 2009 and replaced by the X95.
M4A1 Carbine[4]		Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm	United States	Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with M16, CAR-15, and X95 and used by Special Forces
M16A1[9]		Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm	United States	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	United States	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.
CAR-15[6]		Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm	United States	Standard Issue Assault Rifle along with M4, M16A1, and X95
IMI Galil[4][7]		Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm	Israel	Used in limited numbers. Variants used are Galil AR and Galil SAR. Most Galil's have been replaced by the improved (Galil) IWI ACE.
IMI Micro Galil		Assault Rifle	5.56×45mm	Israel	Used in limited numbers. Highly compact version of the Galil. Most Galil's have been replaced by the improved (Galil) IWI ACE.
AKM[4][7][10]		Assault Rifle	7.62×39mm	Soviet Union	Captured from Arab armies over the course of the Arab-Israeli Conflict and was used by Special Forces due to their high reliability.
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 was used by Special Forces due to their high reliability.
Battle rifles
M14[4]		Battle Rifle	7.62×51mm	United States	Used in limited numbers by the IDF.
Light machine gun
IMI Negev[4]		Light Machine Gun	5.56×45mm	Israel	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.
FN Minimi		Light machine gun	5.56×45mm NATO	Belgium	Limited use in 1990-1997,replaced by Negev.
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	Former Standard Issue to IDF Since 1960s to 1990s as a Main Machine Gun.
Negev NG7		General Purpose Machine Gun	7.62×51mm	Israel	Capable of semi-automatic or full-automatic fire.
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.
M60		General-purpose machine gun	7.62×51mm NATO	United States	Limited use.
Heavy machine guns
Browning M2 (Makach 0.5)[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
M4A1 Kala Sa'ar		Designated marksman rifle	5.56×45mm	United States	Accurized M4A1, used by "kala sa'ar" marksmen.
M16A2-E3[6]		Designated marksman rifle	5.56×45mm	United States	Accurized M16A2,disbanded.
SR-25[6]		Designated marksman rifle / Sniper rifle	7.62×51mm	United States	Used by IDF Special Forces. Also employed as a sniper rifle.
IMI Galatz		Designated marksman rifle	7.62×51mm	Israel	Sniper variant of the Galil. Disbanded.
M89SR[6]		Designated marksman rifle	7.62×51mm	Israel	Bullpup accurized M14. Disbanded.
Tavor X-95L "Micro-Tavor Kala'im"		Designated marksman rifle	5.56×45mm	Israel	Accurized Micro-Tavor X95 with longer barrel, used by "kala sa'ar" marksmen.
Sniper rifles
M24 SWS[6]		Sniper Rifle	7.62×51mm	United States	Standard-issued sniper rifle, achieves accuracy of 0.5 MOA with IMI ammo.
Mauser 86SR[6]		Sniper Rifle	7.62×51mm	Germany	Used for counter-terrorism operations.
Barak (HTR 2000)		Long range Sniper Rifle	.338 Lapua Magnum	United States	An IDF modified H-S Precision Pro Series 2000 HTR rifle
Barrett M82A1		Anti-materiel rifle	12.7×99mm	United States	Used mainly by the Combat Engineering Corps and IDF Special Forces
McMillan TAC-50		Long range Sniper Rifle / Anti-materiel rifle	12.7×99mm	United States	Used by IDF Special Forces.
Barrett MRAD		Multi-role Sniper Rifle	7.62×51mm .338 Lapua Magnum	United States	Used by Special Forces and also by Israeli Police elite CT unit YAMAM.
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
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	Out of service
M203[4]		Under-Barrel Grenade Launcher	40mm	United States	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.
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	Out of service

Vehicles

Name	Image	Type	Number in Service[13][14]	Origin	Notes
Main battle tanks
Merkava Mark IV		Main Battle Tank	460	Israel	160 in storage[13]
Merkava Mark III		Main Battle Tank	730	Israel	570 in storage[13]
Merkava Mark II		Main Battle Tank	370	Israel	330 in storage[13]
Merkava Mark I		Main Battle Tank	1,200	Israel	[13]
Guided missile carrier
Pereh		Guided Missile Carrier		United States  Israel	Tank destroyer, retired from service in 2017
Armoured personnel carriers
M113		Armored Personnel Carrier	6131	United States  Israel	Was used until the Battle of Shuja'iyya incident
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
Namer CEV		Heavy Combat Engineering Vehicle	N/A	Israel	Based on the Merkava Tank
IDF Caterpillar D9		Combat Armored Bulldozer	175+	United States  Israel	Bulldozer manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel.
IDF Caterpillar Excavators		Armored tracked excavator	N/A	United States  Israel	Excavators manufactured by Caterpillar Inc., military conversion and armor by Israel.
IDF Caterpillar 966 Wheeled Loader		Armored wheeled loader	N/A	United States  Israel	Loaders 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
Dawn Thunder / Black Thunder		Unmanned Armored Bulldozer	N/A	United States  Israel	Based on the IDF Caterpillar D9N[16]

Artillery

Name	Image	Type	Number in Service[14]	Origin	Notes
M109 Doher		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] Used in limited numbers
Soltam M-71		155mm Towed Howitzer	300	Israel
Soltam M-68		155mm Self-Propelled Howitzer	50	Israel	In reserve
Pereh		Guided Missile Carrier / Tank Destroyer	N/A	Israel	Declassified June 2015, to be retired by the end of 2017.
M270 "Menatetz"		Multiple Rocket Launcher	48	United States  Israel	Armed with several types of Israeli rockets: RAMAM, Ra'am Eithan (Strong Thunder) and Romach ("Lance", a guided rocket).
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
Romach		M270 MLRS Menatetz GPS-guided Artillery Rocket		Israel
Extended Range Artillery Rocket (EXTRA)		Long-Range Artillery Rocket		Israel	150 km range[20]
LORA		Ballistic Missile		Israel

Air defense

Name	Image	Type	Number in Service[14]	Origin	Notes
FIM-43 Redeye		Shoulder-launched Surface-to-air missile	N/A	United States	Out of service
FIM-92 Stinger		Shoulder-launched Surface-to-air missile	500	United States
ZSU-23-4		Air Defense Vehicle	60[21]	Soviet Union	Captured from the Arab–Israeli conflict and out of service
Bofors L/70		40mm Anti-Aircraft Gun	N/A	Sweden	Out of service
ZU-23-2		23mm Anti-Aircraft Gun	N/A	Soviet Union	Captured from the Arab–Israeli conflict and out of service
TCM-20		20mm Anti-Aircraft Gun	N/A	France   Switzerland  Israel	Out of service
MIM-23 Hawk		Surface-to-air missile	N/A	United States	Out of service
MIM-104 Patriot		Surface-to-air missile	N/A	United States	was upgraded to the GM+ "Yahalom" standard
Iron Dome		Air Defense Missile Battery / Anti-Rockets Missile	9+	Israel	Intercepted hundreds of artillery records since declared operational in 2011.
David's Sling		Medium to Long Range ABM/SAM	N/A	Israel	Medium to Long range ABM with SAM capability
Arrow (Israeli missile)		Anti-ballistic missile	N/A	Israel	Out of the atmosphere Anti-ballistic missile missile series

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
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II	United States	stealth multirole fighter	F-35I "Adir"	9	50 order	75 total.[22]
Boeing F-15 Eagle	United States	air superiority fighter	F-15A "Baz"	52[23]	42[24]	16[25]
			F-15C "Baz"			17[25]
			F-15B "Baz"		16[24]	6[25]
			F-15D "Baz"			11[25]
Boeing F-15E Strike Eagle	United States	strike fighter	F-15I "Ra'am"	25[23]	25[24]	25[25]
General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon	United States	multirole fighter	F-16A "Netz"	107[23]	63[24][26]	77[25]
			F-16B "Netz"			16[25]
			F-16C "Barak"	136[23]	77[24][26]	78[25]
			F-16D "Barak"		49[24][26]	49[25]
			F-16I "Sufa"	100[23]	99[24]	99[25]
Trainer aircraft
Grob G-120	Germany	trainer aircraft	G-120AI "Snunit"	27[23]	17[24]	17[25]
Beechcraft T-6 Texan II	United States	trainer aircraft	T-6A "Efroni"	19[23]	20[24]	20[25]
McDonnell Douglas A-4 Skyhawk	United States	ground attack / trainer	A-4N, TA-4H/J "Ayit"	20[23]	20[27]	46[25]
Alenia Aermacchi M-346 Master	Italy	transonic jet trainer	M-346 "Lavi"		2 (30)[28]
Transport / Aerial refueling / Aerial firefighting / Utility / Signals intelligence / Maritime patrol / AEW
Air Tractor AT-802	United States	aerial firefighting	AT-802F	8[23]	7[24]	3[25]
Beechcraft Bonanza	United States	utility	A-36 "Khofit"	22[23]	–	22[25]
Beechcraft Super King Air (C-12 Huron)	United States	utility / transport / trainer	B-200/T/CT "Tzofit"	29[23]	29[24]	22[25]
		EW / ELINT / SIGINT	RC-12D/K "Kookiya"			6[25]
IAI SeaScan	Israel	maritime patrol	1124N "Shahaf"	3[23]	3[24]	3[25]
Gulfstream G550	United States	SEMA	G500 "Nahshon-Shavit"	3[23]	3[24]	3[25]
		CAEW	G550 "Nahshon-Eitam"	2[23]	2[24]	2[25]
Lockheed C-130 Hercules	United States	tactical transport	C-130E "Qarnaf"	12[23]	12[24]	5[25]
			C-130H "Qarnaf"			6[25]
		aerial refueling	KC-130H "Qarnaf"	3[23]	4[24]	4[25]
Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules	United States	tactical transport	C-130J "Shimshon"	-	1 (4)[29]	-
Boeing 707	United States	heavy transport / EW	707 "Re'em"	8[23]	1[24]	3[25]
		aerial refueling	KC-707 "Saknai"	5[23]	8[24]	7[25]
Helicopters
Bell AH-1 Cobra	United States	attack helicopter	AH-1"Tzefa"	33[23]	49[24]	47[25]
Eurocopter Panther	France	maritime patrol	AS-565SA "Atalef"	5[23]	6[24]	7[25]
Boeing AH-64 Apache	United States	attack helicopter	AH-64A "Peten"	30[23]	26[30]	27[25]
			AH-64D "Saraph"	17[23]	22[30]	17[25]
Sikorsky CH-53 Sea Stallion	United States	heavy transport	CH-53 "Yas'ur 2000"	37[23]	18[31]	26[25]
			CH-53 "Yas'ur 2025"		5[31]
Sikorsky S-70 (UH-60 Black Hawk)	United States	tactical transport	S-70A / UH-60A/L "Yanshuf"	49[23]	48[24]	49[25]
Bell 206 (OH-58 Kiowa)	United States	light transport / trainer	206B "Saifan"	–	18[24]	6[25]

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.

Remote weapon systems

• Typhoon Weapon System
• Rafael Overhead Weapon Station
• Samson Remote Controlled Weapon Station

Space systems

• AMOS communications satellite
• EROS earth observation satellite
• Ofeq reconnaissance satellite
• TecSAR reconnaissance satellite
• Shavit space launch vehicle

Gallery

See also

• Defense industry of Israel
• Nuclear weapons and Israel

References

Bibliography

• IISS (2017). The Military Balance 2017. Routledge. ISSN 0459-7222.