How big is Iran's military power?

The Israeli military said on April 14 that Iran had launched more than 200 drones and missiles at Israel, according to Reuters. Ballistic missiles are an important part of Tehran's arsenal. According to the US Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Iran has the largest number of ballistic missiles in the region.

9 missiles that can reach Israel

This week, Iran’s ISNA news agency released a graphic showing nine Iranian missiles that it said could reach Israel. These include the Sejil, which can fly at speeds of more than 17,000 kilometers per hour and has a range of 2,500 kilometers, the Kheibar, which has a range of 2,000 kilometers, and the Haj Qasem, which has a range of 1,400 kilometers.

How significant is Iran's military power?

The US-based Arms Control Association says Iran's short- and medium-range ballistic missiles include the Shahab-1 (with an estimated range of 300 km), the Zolfaghar (700 km), the Shahab-3 (800-1,000 km), the Emad-1, a missile under development with a range of up to 2,000 km, and the Sejil, under development (1,500-2,500 km).

Iran's missile was unveiled on February 17, 2024

Iran also has cruise missiles such as the Kh-55, an air-launched nuclear-capable weapon with a range of up to 3,000 km, and the advanced Khalid Farzh anti-ship missile, with a range of about 300 km, capable of carrying a 1,000 kg warhead.

In June 2023, Iran unveiled what officials described as its first domestically produced hypersonic ballistic missile, according to the official IRNA news agency. Hypersonic missiles can fly at least five times faster than the speed of sound and have complex trajectories, making them difficult to intercept.

Iran says its ballistic missiles are an important deterrent and retaliation force against the United States, Israel and other potential targets in the region. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons.

Large UAV swarm

Iran is also a major producer of UAVs. In August 2023, Tehran produced an advanced UAV called Mohajer-10 with a range of 2,000 km and the ability to fly for up to 24 hours with a payload of up to 300 kg, according to Reuters.

What does Israel's air defense network have to deal with Iran?

In recent years, Tehran has assembled a large number of UAVs with ranges of 1,930 to 2,490 kilometers and the ability to fly low to avoid radar, according to The New York Times, citing Iranian experts and commanders in public interviews with Iranian media.

Iran has made no secret of its military buildup, displaying its arsenal of UAVs and missiles in parades and has ambitions to build a major export business in UAVs. Iranian UAVs are being used by Russia in Ukraine and have appeared in the conflict in Sudan, according to The New York Times .

UAV models to be displayed in Iran in 2023

Experts say the country's bases and warehouses for UAVs and missiles are scattered, deep underground and fortified with air defenses, making them difficult to destroy by air strikes.

In addition to UAVs and missiles, Iran has also built a large fleet of speedboats and several small submarines capable of disrupting global shipping and energy supplies passing through the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz, according to The New York Times .

Iran has also made mixed progress in its efforts to produce armored vehicles and large naval vessels. It has also imported small submarines from North Korea and expanded and modernized its domestically built fleet, according to The New York Times .

How do countries evaluate Iran's military?

Iran's military is considered one of the strongest in the region in terms of equipment, cohesion, experience and quality of personnel, but is far behind the strength and sophistication of the armed forces of the United States, Israel and some European countries, according to experts quoted by The New York Times .

Iran's biggest weakness is its air force. Most of Iran's aircraft date back to the reign of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who ruled Iran from 1941 to 1979, and many are grounded for lack of spare parts.

Experts also say Iran’s tanks and armored vehicles are old and the country has few large naval vessels. Two Iranian intelligence-gathering ships, the Saviz and the Behshad, have been deployed to the Red Sea to help Yemen’s Houthi forces identify Israeli-owned ships for attack, according to The New York Times, citing US officials.

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