Israel Military Forces 🇮🇱

Strategic Position

The State of Israel’s defense posture is defined by its pursuit of a Qualitative Military Edge (QME) over regional adversaries. The geopolitical context is characterized by direct military friction with the Iranian-led "Axis of Resistance," including non-state actors such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthi movement. Following the conflict that began in 2023 and extended through 2025, Israel has transitioned its defense doctrine from a strategy of "containment" and "conflict management" to one of "preemption" and "decisive defeat." This shift is evidenced by the 2025 operations targeting Iranian nuclear and missile infrastructure and the dismantling of paramilitary governance in the Gaza Strip.

Israel maintains a security partnership with the United States, formalized through a 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) providing $3.8 billion in annual military aid, which is set to expire in 2028. Negotiations for a successor agreement are a central focus of 2026 diplomatic efforts. Regionally, Israel maintains defense ties through the Abraham Accords with the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco, including a 2026 military action plan with Morocco for joint counterterrorism exercises. Despite these ties, regional rivalries remain with Iran and its proxies, while security coordination with Egypt and Jordan continues to focus on border stability and counter-smuggling operations.

Military Forces

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is a unified military command comprising the Ground Forces, the Air Force (IAF), and the Navy. Command authority rests with the Chief of the General Staff, who reports to the Minister of Defense. The military relies on a universal conscription model for most Jewish and Druze citizens, followed by extensive reserve service.

• Personnel: Active duty personnel number approximately 170,000. Due to sustained multi-front operations, the reserve call-up cap was raised to 450,000 in 2025, representing the highest mobilization level in the state's history.
• Ground Forces: The army operates Merkava Mk 4 main battle tanks and Namer armored personnel carriers. In 2025, the IDF established Division 96, a new territorial division intended to secure the eastern borders, utilizing a mix of career and veteran reservist personnel.
• Air Force: The IAF operates a fleet of F-35I Adir stealth fighters, F-15I Ra'am strike aircraft, and F-16I Sufa multirole jets. Long-range strike capabilities are a priority, supported by a fleet of aerial refueling tankers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) such as the Heron TP and Hermes 900.
• Navy: Naval operations center on the Sa'ar 6-class corvettes and Sa'ar 5-class frigates. Subsurface capabilities are provided by Dolphin-class and Dolphin II-class submarines, which serve as a component of Israel's strategic deterrent.
• Specialized Capabilities: Unit 8200 provides signals intelligence and offensive cyber capabilities. Israel maintains a multi-layered integrated air defense system consisting of Iron Dome (short-range), David’s Sling (medium-range), and Arrow 2 and 3 (exo-atmospheric).

Defense Industry

The Israeli defense industry is characterized by high levels of domestic innovation and a significant export orientation. Major state-owned and private firms include Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, and Elbit Systems. In 2024, defense exports reached a record $14.8 billion, with 2025 figures estimated to be at a similar level.

The industry focuses on battle-proven technologies, including active protection systems (Trophy), precision-guided munitions (Spike), and missile defense. Notable export programs in 2025 and 2026 include the delivery of the Arrow 3 system to Germany and radar systems to the Czech Republic and Slovakia. While Israel is self-sufficient in the production of armor, electronics, and missile technology, it remains reliant on the United States for fixed-wing aircraft platforms and specific munitions components.

Strategic Trends

Defense spending in 2025 reached approximately 6.5% of GDP, a response to the multi-year conflict and the requirement to replenish munitions stockpiles. A major modernization priority for 2026 is the deployment of the Iron Beam, a high-energy laser defense system designed to intercept rockets and UAVs at a lower cost-per-kill than traditional interceptors.

Force structure shifts include the permanent deployment of larger standing forces along the "Yellow Line" demarcation in Gaza and a reinforced buffer zone in southern Syria following the 2024 collapse of the Syrian central government. Procurement priorities for 2026 include the execution of an $8.6 billion contract for 25 F-15IA (Israel Advanced) fighters and the upgrade of existing F-15I airframes. Constraints facing the military include the economic burden of prolonged reserve mobilizations and domestic political debates regarding the enlistment of the Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) population to address personnel requirements.