Army comparison: Iran vs South Africa
Overview
Iran's army fields 6,676 active vehicles — 3.3x South Africa's 2,043. Additionally, Iran has 0 and South Africa has 2,442 vehicles in storage.
The breakdown includes 1,513 vs 200 tanks, 610 vs 608 infantry fighting vehicles, 640 vs 1,070 armored personnel carriers, 292 vs 52 self-propelled artillery, 2,030 vs 72 towed artillery, 1,476 vs 35 rocket launchers (Iran vs South Africa).
Iranian Army 🇮🇷
| Total vehicles | 6676 as of 2026 |
| On order | 800 |
South African Army 🇿🇦
| Total vehicles | 2043 as of 2026 |
| In storage | 2442 |
| On order | 232 |
Iranian vehicles by category
| Vehicle category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank | 1513 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 610 | |
| Armored Personnel Carrier | 640 | |
| Light Armoured Vehicle | 115 | |
| Tank Destroyer | 0 | |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 292 | |
| Towed Artillery | 2030 | |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System | 1476 | |
South African vehicles by category
| Vehicle category | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Main Battle Tank | 200 | |
| Infantry Fighting Vehicle | 608 | |
| Armored Personnel Carrier | 1070 | |
| Light Armoured Vehicle | 6 | |
| Tank Destroyer | 0 | |
| Self-Propelled Artillery | 52 | |
| Towed Artillery | 72 | |
| Multiple Launch Rocket System | 35 | |
Vehicle Categories Radar Comparison
Ground Forces Analysis
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which country has more armored vehicles, Iran or South Africa?
Iran has a larger ground force with 6,676 vehicles compared to South Africa's 2,043 vehicles.
Which country has more tanks, Iran or South Africa?
Iran operates more main battle tanks with 1,513 compared to South Africa's 200.
Which army has more infantry fighting vehicles, Iran or South Africa?
Iran has 610 infantry fighting vehicles compared to South Africa's 608.
Which country has more armored personnel carriers, Iran or South Africa?
South Africa operates 1,070 APCs compared to Iran's 640.
Which country has more artillery systems, Iran or South Africa?
Iran fields 3,798 artillery systems (self-propelled, towed, and MLRS) compared to South Africa's 159.
How do the Iran and South Africa armies compare in size?
Iran's army is 3.3 times larger than South Africa's in terms of total vehicles (6,676 vs 2,043).