
The military equipment ofIsrael 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 theSix-Day War of 1967, theIsrael Defense Forces' principal supplier wasFrance; since then, it has been theUnited States government and defense companies in theUnited States. In the early 21st century, Israeli companies (such asSoltam 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 ofSoviet-made equipment, captured from Arab armies over the course of theArab–Israeli conflict.[2]
During the1948 Arab–Israeli War, the military equipment in the IDF was very diverse and inconsistent. This was due to the severe limitation in obtaining warmateriel (theBritish Mandate and theArab embargo). During the 1950s, the IDF began the process of standardization, relying primarily onFrench military equipment.
During the Six-Day War, the military cooperation with France ceased (theFrench 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 Americanarms,armor andaircraft, 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 isdeveloped andmanufactured locally, with an increasing emphasis on advanced technology, includingaerospace andelectronics.
Some of the military equipment developed locally have been:
| Name | Image | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pistols | |||||
| Jericho 941[4] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | 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 | ||
| Browning Hi-Power[6] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | |||
| SIG Sauer P226[6] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm Parabellum | Used by IDF Special Forces. | ||
| Beretta M1951[4] | Semi-automatic pistol | 9×19mm | |||
| Heckler & Koch P11[4] | Underwater pistol | 7.62×36mm | |||
| Submachine guns | |||||
| IMI Uzi[7] | Submachine gun | 9×19mm | Uzi, Mini-Uzi, Micro-Uzi, and Uzi-Pro used. | ||
| Ingram MAC-10[4] | Submachine gun | 9×19mm | United States | ||
| IWI X95[4] | Submachine gun andbullpupassault rifle | 9×19mm variant | 9x19mm suppressed variant used by IDF Special Forces | ||
| Semi-automatic rifle | |||||
| SuppressedRuger 10/22[6][8] | Semi-automatic rifle | .22 LR | United States | Adopted for non-lethal crowd control. | |
| Assault rifles | |||||
| Tavor X95 (Micro-Tavor Dor Gimel)[citation needed] | Bullpupassault rifle/Carbine/Service rifle | 5.56x45mm | Improved version of the X95 with longer barrel. | ||
| IWI X95 (Micro-Tavor)[4] | BullpupAssault rifle/Carbine | 5.56x45mm | 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 | Cut from service as of 2009 and replaced by the X95. | ||
| M4A1 Carbine[4] | Carbine/Assault rifle/Service 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[citation needed] | 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 forDMR 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 | 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[citation needed] | 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[4][7][10] | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Captured from Arab armies over the course of theArab–Israeli conflict and was used by Special Forces due to their high reliability. | ||
| AK-47[4][7][10] | Assault rifle | 7.62×39mm | Captured from Arab armies over the course of theArab–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 | 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 | |||||
| M1919 Browning[citation needed] | Medium machine gun | .30-06 Springfield | United States | ||
| General-purpose machine guns | |||||
| FN MAG[11] | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm | Former Standard Issue to IDF Since 1960s to 1990s as a Main Machine Gun. | ||
| Negev NG7[citation needed] | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm | Capable of semi-automatic or full-automatic fire. | ||
| PKM[6] | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×54mmR | Captured from Arab armies over the course of theArab–Israeli conflict and used by Special Forces. | ||
| M60[citation needed] | General-purpose machine gun | 7.62×51mm NATO | Limited use. | ||
| Heavy machine guns | |||||
| Browning M2 (Makach 0.5)[4] | Heavy machine gun | 12.7×99mm | United States | Upgraded to M2HB-QCB | |
| Shotguns | |||||
| Armsel Striker[citation needed] | Revolvingriot shotgun | 12 Gauge | Used for riot control | ||
| Designated marksman rifles | |||||
| M4A1 Kala Sa'ar[citation needed] | Designated marksman rifle | 5.56×45mm | United States | Accurized M4A1, used by "kala sa'ar" marksmen. | |
| SR-25 Mk 11[6] | Designated marksman rifle/Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | United States | Used by IDF Special Forces. Also employed as asniper rifle. | |
| Tavor X-95L "Micro-Tavor Kala'im"[citation needed] | Designated marksman rifle | 5.56×45mm | 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 0.5MOA withIMI ammo. | |
| IDF Modernized M24 SWS[6] | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | United States | Standard-issued sniper rifle, achieves accuracy of 0.5MOA withIMI ammo. | |
| Mauser 86SR[6] | Sniper rifle | 7.62×51mm | Used forcounter-terrorism operations. | ||
| Barak (HTR 2000)[citation needed] | Long-range sniper rifle | .338 Lapua Magnum | United States | An IDF modifiedH-S Precision Pro Series 2000 HTR rifle | |
| Barrett M82A1 | Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×99mm | United States | Used mainly by theCombat Engineering Corps and IDF Special Forces | |
| McMillan TAC-50[citation needed] | Long range sniper rifle/Anti-materiel rifle | 12.7×99mm | United States | Used by IDF Special Forces. | |
| Barrett MRAD[citation needed] | Multi-rolesniper rifle (field sniping / counter-terrorism / long-range) | 7.62×51mm .338 Lapua Magnum | United States | Used by Special Forces and also byIsraeli Police eliteCT unitYAMAM. Achieves accuracy of 0.35-0.5MOA (1.1 cm groups in 100 m). | |
| Barrett REC10[citation needed] | Semi-automaticsniper rifle (counter-terrorism) | 7.62×51mm | United States | Use by the IDF special forces and also byIsraeli Police. Achieves accuracy of around 0.75 MOA. | |
| IWI Dan[citation needed] | Long-range sniper rifle | .338 Lapua Magnum | |||
| Hand grenades | |||||
| M26A2[citation needed] | Fragmentation grenade | n/a | Based on the AmericanM26 grenade | ||
| IDF M48[citation needed] | ![]() | Stun grenade | n/a | Based on the AmericanM84 stun grenade | |
| Name | Image | Type | Caliber | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-300 Shipon[citation needed] | Shoulder-launchedrocket | 96 mm | |||
| M72 LAW[citation needed] | Shoulder-launched rocket | 66 mm | United States | ||
| M141 BDM[12] | Shoulder-launched rocket | 83 mm | United States | Single-shot shoulder-launched weapon designed to defeat hardened structures. Based on theSMAW. | |
| MATADOR[citation needed] | Shoulder-launched rocket | 90 mm | |||
| M203[4] | Under-barrelgrenade launcher | 40 mm | 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. | |
| M320[13] | Grenade launcher | 40 mm | Single-shot under-barrel or stand-alone grenade launcher. First received by theGivati Brigade in 2024.[13] | ||
| Mk 19[4] | Automatic grenade launcher | 40 mm | United States | ||
| Mk 47 Striker[citation needed] | Automatic grenade launcher | 40 mm | United States |
| Name | Image | Type | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spike[citation needed] | Anti-tank missile | Used various models of the family, including Gil (Spike-MR) and Gil 2 (Spike-LR II), Spike-ER (I and II) andTamouz (Spike NLOS). | ||
| BGM-71 TOW[citation needed] | Anti-tank missile | United States | ||
| LAHAT[citation needed] | Anti-tank missile | |||
| MAPATS[citation needed] | Anti-tank missile | |||
| Nimrod[citation needed] | Long-range anti-tank missile |
| Name | Image | Type | Number in service[20] | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-propelled howitzers | |||||
| SIGMA 155 | 155mmself-propelled howitzer | N/A | Currently being introduced into service, slated to replace the M109 as the primary howitzer of the IDF.[21] | ||
| M109 Doher | 155mmself-propelled howitzer | 250[14] | United States | Upgraded as the M109 Doher. Based on the M109A5. To be replaced by the SIGMA 155 as the primary howitzer of the IDF but remain in reserve.[22] 30 M109A2 in store[14] | |
| M107 | 175mmself-propelled howitzer | United States | 36 in store[14] | ||
| M110 | 203mmself-propelled howitzer | United States | 36 in store[14] | ||
| Towed howtizers | |||||
| M-46 | 155mm howtizer | 40 modernized in store[14] | |||
| M-68/M-71 | 155mm howitzer | 50 in store[14] | |||
| M-839P/M845P | 155mm howitzer | 81 in store[14] | |||
| Mortars | |||||
| Cardom SP | 120 mmself-propelled mortar | Khanit[14] | |||
| Soltam M-65 | 120 mmmortar | 650 in store[14] | |||
| Soltam M-66 | 160mm mortar | 18 in store[14] | |||
| Anti-tank missile launcher | |||||
| M113 Tamuz | Missile launching vehicle | N/A | Spike missiles launched from anM113 chassis[23] | ||
| Multiple launch rocket system/Ballistic missiles | |||||
| LAR-160 | 160 mm MLRS | 50 in store[14] | |||
| M270 "Menatetz" | 270mm MLRS | 30[14] | United States | 18 in store. | |
| PULS | 306mm MLRS | N/A[14] | |||
| Extended Range Artillery Rocket (EXTRA) | Long-range artillery rocket | 150 km range[24] | |||
| LORA | Theaterquasiballistic missile | ||||
| Name | Image | Type | Number in service[20] | Origin | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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+ | Intercepted hundreds of artillery records since declared operational in 2011. | ||
| David's Sling | Medium- to long-rangeanti-ballistic missile/surface-to-air missile | N/A | Medium- to long-rangeanti-ballistic missile withsurface-to-air missile capability | ||
| Arrow | Anti-ballistic missile | N/A | Out of the atmosphereanti-ballistic missile missile series |
Below are the IDF'sactive service watercraft. The year of service, speed, full load displacement, and crew members, are in parentheses.
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.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) September 20, 2010.