A Mosaic of Muscle: Deciphering the Intricacies of Iran’s Defence System

Iran's military strength in terms of technology and firepower may not be comparable to that of the US. However, Iran compensates for this shortfall by leveraging its peak level of readiness and capability for combat and defence, strategic positioning and a larger number of forces

By Girish Linganna

Admin Opinion

The US is considering a military reaction after accusing Iran of orchestrating a drone attack on its base in the Middle East. Iran has denied these claims, and a high-ranking Iranian officer has stated that their military is ready to deliver a forceful response to any danger. So, how capable is the Iranian military?

 

According to reports, the US is contemplating a military response against Iran. In response, General Kioumars Heidari emphasised that the Iranian military is currently at its peak level of readiness and capability for combat and defence. Heidari is likely referring to the overall armed forces of Iran.

The Iranian Armed Forces are the largest in the Middle East and the seventh largest globally. They currently have around 587,000 active-duty soldiers and approximately 200,000 reserve personnel, totaling about 787,000 military personnel.

 

The Iranian Armed Forces consist of three main branches: the army, which is also known as Artesh, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (Sepah), and the Law Enforcement Force (Faraja). The Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, holds the position of commander-in-chief over these forces.

 

Iranian Army

The main objective of the 310,000-member Iranian Army is to safeguard the country’s borders from both external and internal dangers, as well as to demonstrate its power.

The Artesh, within its own Joint Staff, manages and coordinates its four distinct service branches.

  • Ground Forces
  • Air force
  • Navy
  • Air Defence Force

The Iranian Armed Forces are the largest in the Middle East and the seventh largest globally. They currently have around 587,000 active-duty soldiers and approximately 200,000 reserve personnel, totaling about 787,000 military personnel

The Iranian Army is split into four military regions, with each region including:

  • Four motorized divisions
  • Six infantry divisions
  • Six artillery divisions
  • Two special forces units
  • One airborne division
  • An aviation group
  • Several logistics brigades

Artesh’s Military Equipment

1,634 tanks (the Zulfiqar, the T-72, M60A1, the Chieftain)

  • 2,345 armored personnel carriers (M113A1/M577, Sarir)
  • 870 multiple launch rocket systems (Fajr-5, BM-21 “Grad”)
  • 670 infantry fighting vehicles (BMP-2)
  • 1,800 howitzers (GHN-45, M101A1)
  • 1,670 artillery installations (from HM-12 to HM-16)

In the Iranian Air Force, out of the approximately 300 combat aircraft they possess, there are Russian, American, and Chinese-made warplanes. For instance, they have the MiG-29, F-14, and J-7 aircraft.

Iran’s naval arsenal consists of Russian Kilo-class submarines, domestically produced frigates and destroyers from Britain, and missile boats made by both China and France.

It is worth mentioning that nearly all of Iran’s drones, including the Karrar, Mohajer-6, and Shahed 149, are domestically manufactured and have been allegedly utilised in different armed conflicts. The Iranian Aerospace Force is believed to possess over 200 drones that are currently in operation

It is worth mentioning that nearly all of Iran’s drones, including the Karrar, Mohajer-6, and Shahed 149, are domestically manufactured and have been allegedly utilised in different armed conflicts. The Iranian Aerospace Force is believed to possess over 200 drones that are currently in operation.

Iran is believed to have the biggest collection of ballistic missiles in the Middle East. As of 2023, they reportedly had over 3,000 modified ballistic missiles in their possession. These missiles have varying capabilities, including the ability to strike targets up to 2,000 kilometers away from Iran, reaching regions such as Israel and southeastern Europe.

Ranking Iran’s Military Power

According to the online military ranking website, Global Firepower Index, Iran was previously ranked 13th out of 136 countries worldwide.

The ranking is determined by considering over 50 factors, including conventional military capabilities, troop strength, geographical factors, and financial resources.

CNN previously reported that military experts noted Iran’s military strength in terms of technology and firepower may not be comparable to that of the US. However, these experts highlighted that Iran compensates for this shortfall by leveraging strategic positioning and a larger number of forces.

– The writer is a Defence, Aerospace & Political Analyst based in Bengaluru. He is also Director of ADD Engineering Components, India, Pvt. Ltd, a subsidiary of ADD Engineering GmbH, Germany. You can reach out to him at: girishlinganna@gmail.com