JAKARTA – The dynamics of the Middle East conflict are increasingly heating up. Israel and Islamic countries such as Iran are increasingly demonstrating their military strength.
According to the Global Fire Power list based on available weapons indicators, Iran and Israel rank 14th and 17th respectively. This ranking puts them ahead of countries such as Germany and Poland, which are ranked 19th and 21st.
Furthermore, information from the website nrclitchi.org shows that Iran has a greater number of active soldiers than Israel. However, the defense budgets of these two countries show different conditions. Israel’s defense budget is higher than Iran’s, reaching 24.2 billion US dollars or the equivalent of Rp. 4 trillion, compared to Iran’s 9.9 billion US dollars or Rp. 1.6 trillion.
Comparison of Israel vs Iran Military Strength
The differences between the two countries are not just limited to budgets. Israel has fewer naval units, with only 67 ships compared to Iran’s 101 ships.
In general, determining which country is stronger is quite debatable. Although Iran’s military strategy relies on old equipment, its substantial quantity is noteworthy. In addition, Iran is focused on developing missile technology, including ballistic missiles, which is especially important because the two countries do not share a border, thus relying on aviation and missiles for attacks.
However, Israel is equipped with the capacity to defend against such an attack. This is proven by the existence of the Iron Dome, which is equipped with Tamir missiles. Its ability to lock targets up to around 69 kilometers and reach a speed of Mach 2.2 or approximately 2,723 kilometers/hour. Meanwhile, the geographical distance between Iran and Israel is almost 1,000 kilometers from Iran’s westernmost point to Jerusalem.
Iranian weapons
The backbone of the Iranian Air Force, namely the MiG-29 fighter aircraft. This aircraft, designed in the 1970s, can reach speeds of Mach 2.3 and has a range of about 1087 miles. This aircraft is equipped with a GSz-30-1 30 mm cannon and can carry additional weapons. The Iranian air force also has F-14 Tomcat, F-5 Tiger II, and Chengdu F-7 Airguards fighters.
On the ground, Iranian forces are led by the Zulfiqar tank, which resembles the American M1 Abrams tank and is equipped with a powerful diesel engine and a 125 mm cannon. The country also uses other domestically produced tanks and foreign models such as the T-72S and M-60A1.
When it comes to missiles, assets matter Iran including the Ghadr and Emad missiles with a range of about 2,000 kilometers. These missiles use MIRV-type warheads, posing a challenge to Israeli defense forces by requiring many anti-missiles for interception.
Israeli Army Capabilities
Israel’s prominent position in the Global Fire Power rankings is due to its modern military assets. The Israeli Forces (IDF) rely on the Merkava tank, which is known for its advanced design and defensive capabilities. The Merkava Mk IV, in particular, offered substantial firepower and defensive features, such as movable armor plates and shielding against anti-tank grenades.
In addition, the IDF uses the Achzarit heavy personnel carrier, which was developed from captured T-54 and T-55 tanks and has valuable self-propelled systems such as the M109A2 Paladin and artillery capable of carrying nuclear warheads.
The Israeli Air Force is equipped with advanced weapons, including F-35 and F-16 fighters, and is renowned for its capabilities and technological superiority in conflicts. Israel also reportedly has up to 500 nuclear warheads, which can be deployed using Jericho-2B intercontinental ballistic missiles, posing a major threat on a global scale.
