OOB Israel 2004

The Israeli army (Zahal)

It has a unified structure , there are no individual HQs for each service, they are all branches of the IDF.
Overall command is in the hands of the countries cabinet which is lead by the prime minister.
Operational and administrative control is in the hands of the chief of the general staff.
Navy and airforce train there own personell where the army HQ is responsible for all matters regarding groundforces training and structure.

Home front command is responsible for civil protection and anti terrorisme.
Field intelligence corps gathers tactical information most for the army.
Interservice intelligence corps provides intell on a strategic basis.

Total active manpower (2004): 178000 troops including conscripts.
Para military forces: border guards and coast guard 4.500
Conscription period: men serve 32 and women 24 months.
Only jews and druze are drafted, other religions can join on a voluntary base.

STRATEGIC FORCES

Israel officially has no nuclear wepaons, however its assumed the army has about 200 warheads.
They have 150 Jericho I and II missiles.
JERICHO III (longer range) being introduced.

HOMA
This project aims for a country based anti missile screen based on the ARROW 2 interceptor missile.
2 squadrons are active where a third is being formed.

NAVY

Personell strength 8000(3000 conscripts) and 4000 reserves.

Structure
Missile boat flottilla
Naval commando flottilla
Submarine squadron

Equipment
Subs
3 Dolphin class

Light ships
3 Eilath class missile corvettes
2 Aliayah class missile FAC( command ships)
10 Hetz/RESHEF class missile FAC
12 Super Dvora class patrol boats

Amphibious forces
3 US class LSM1
1 LCM

Naval aviation
2 x SA 366g (shipborne)
6 x AB206
5 x AS565M (shipborne on Eliaths)

Special forces
1 commando and 1 frogmen squadron

Main naval bases: Ashdod,Eilat, Haifa

LAND FORCES

personell strenght: 133.000 including 113000 conscripts, this number can grow to 530.000 in case of a mobilisation.

Structure
3 corps HQ's
4 territorial commands(north/central/south and home front)
3 armored divisons- each with 3 armoured brigades/an infantrybrigade and an artillerybrigade.
1 air mobile brigade
1 paratroop brigade
1 Sf operations battallion
Note, every unit falls under command of the territorial command of the region its based in except the parachute unit.

Equipment
*MBT
1000+ MERKAVA MBT all versions MK I to IV
1400 M60's
600 M48
*Armored cars
Scores of BRDM1/2, M2 and M3 halftracks and RBY's
*APC's
over 5000 in total including:
M113/OT62/BTRs/WALID/PUMA and ACHZARIT
*Artillery
70 M101(105mm)
100 D30 (122mm)
Soltam M68/71(towed 155mm)
200 M107 SP (175mm)
300 M50 SP(155mm)
300 M109 SP(155mm)
200 M110(203mm)
*Mortars
900 pieces: 81/122 and 160mm
*122/135/240mm and US MLRS
*ATGW: TOW/MILAN/GILL/SPIKE/MAPATS
*AAA guns: 24 x Vulcan chapparral system(20 mm + stinger) 30 and 40mm guns
*SAM: 500+ Stingers

Note: most units now operate the MERKAVA, reserve units have now the modified M60(MAGACH7) M48s are kept in storage.
A number of captured T55/62 tanks are converted into personell carriers.(Achzarit)

AIRFORCE

personell strength: 27000 men(and women)including 18.000 conscripts.

Structure:

3 air superiority/fighter squadrons
106 sq with F15c/d
133 sq with F15a/b

12 interceptor/strike squadrons
101/105/109/110 and 117 sq with F16c/d
104/140/144/147/253 with F16 A/B
132 and 149 with KFIR C7

3 fighter/bomber squadrons
69sq with F15I
119 and 201 sq with F4e/2000

3 attack squadrons
111/115 and 116sq with F16a/b

1 reconnaissance squadron
107 sq with RF4E

EW
134 sq with BOEING 707ELINT and 191 sq with King air 200

Transport/airrefuelling
103 and 131 sq with C130E/H and KC130H
120 sq with BOEING 707/KC707
122 and 126sq with ARAVA

Liaison

100/125/128 and 135 sq with DO28, CESSNAU206, BEECH QUEEN AIR and AB206 choppers

Training:
 5 squadrons with CM 170/PA 18 super cub(being withdrawn)G120 SNUNIT ,AB 206 and MD 500 choppers

Helicopters:

5 attack squadrons,

113/127 and 190 sq with AH64A APACHE
160 and 161 sq with AH1G/S COBRA

4 transportsquadrons:

114 and 228 with CH-53A
123 and 124 with UH 60A BLACKHAWK
1 SAR with CH53/AB212 and UH 60 helis

Airdefense:

15 batteries HAWK-I and 6 batteries PATRIOT( Patriots from stocks of Germany and the US)

Total numbers of helis and aircraft:
Some 630 planes in active units:
25 x F15I
46 x F15A/B
25 x F15C/D
108 x F16A/B
122 x F16C/D
40 x C7(KFIR)
55 x F4E/2000
19 x C130
5 KC130
4 x 707
3 x KC707
2 x 707 ELINT
2 x 707 PHALCON AEW
10 x ARAVA
10 x DO28
39+ AH 64
40 x CH 53A/D
38 x BELL 206
34 UH60
25 x S70 PEACEHAWKS

Recently delivered 50 more US surplus stock F16
9 x APACHE LONGBOWs

Sources: IDF,Dutch ministry of defense,military technology,Janes