Malcolm Rivera
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is the national military of Israel, comprising the Israeli army, navy, and air force. The IDF was formed on May 26, 1948, shortly after Israel's declaration of independence, and has participated in every armed conflict involving the country since. The IDF is unique among armed forces globally due to its conscription of women and its structure, which emphasizes close cooperation between the army, navy, and air force. The IDF consists of specialized infantry units such as the Nahal Brigade and the Kfir Brigade, and is supplemented by advanced defense systems and a mechanized force. Israel's defense industry is a significant player in the global arms market, with companies like Israel Military Industries (IMI) and Rafael Advanced Defense Systems playing a crucial role in supplying the IDF and exporting military equipment worldwide.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Israel Defense Forces (IDF) |
| Hebrew Name | Tzva ha-Hagana le-Yisra'el |
| Hebrew Acronym | Tzahal |
| Formation Date | 26 May 1948 |
| Formation Order Date | 26 May 1948 |
| Effective Date | 31 May 1948 |
| Branches | Israeli Ground Forces, Israeli Air Force, Israeli Navy |
| Commander | Chief of the General Staff |
| Number of Troops | 125,000 (early 21st century) |
| Infantry Units | Nahal Brigade, Kfir Brigade, Combat Engineering Corps, Paratroopers |
| Military Service | Compulsory for Jews, Druze (men and women), and Circassian men |
| Conscription Deferments | Available for students |
| Exemptions | Married women, women with children |
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What You'll Learn
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
The IDF is unique in its structure, emphasizing close relations between the army, navy, and air force. It is also distinct in its conscription of women. Military service is mandatory for Jews and Druze, for both men and women, and for Circassian men. Conscription deferments are available for students, and exemptions are granted to married women and mothers.
The IDF is headed by the chief of the general staff, who is subordinate to the defence minister. The chiefs of the air force and navy report to the chief of staff, as do regional commanders and the heads of various defense directorates, including the Intelligence Corps, Mossad, and Shin Bet, which form the three pillars of Israel's intelligence and counterintelligence establishment.
The IDF has been designed to match Israel's unique security situation, and its guiding principles are shaped by the country's need to defend itself against its numerically superior neighbors. To achieve this, the IDF relies on a defensive strategy that utilizes the rapid mobilization of overwhelming force. This is made possible through a well-trained reserve force, active intelligence gathering, early warning systems, advanced theater missile defense networks, and a mechanized force that includes battle tanks and armored personnel carriers.
The defense industry in Israel is a significant player in the global arms market, and Israeli defense companies were behind 41% of all drones exported between 2001 and 2011. The country has over 150 active defense companies, with combined revenues of more than $3.5 billion annually. The growth of the defense industry has been achieved through a combination of imported technology and Israeli innovation.
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Military service conscription
Military service in Israel is compulsory for Jews and Druze, including men and women, and for Circassian men. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) was formed on May 26, 1948, and became operational on May 31, 1948, just two weeks after Israel's declaration of independence. The IDF consists of three main service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. The IDF is headed by the chief of the general staff, who is subordinate to the defence minister.
The IDF differs from most armed forces globally in several ways, including the conscription of women and its structure, which fosters close relations between the army, navy, and air force. The IDF is designed to match Israel's unique security situation, with a focus on defence rather than offence. This is due to Israel's need to defend itself against its numerically superior neighbours. To achieve this, the IDF relies on rapid mobilization and the deployment of overwhelming force.
The IDF has a relatively small active-duty component, with an estimated strength of around 125,000 troops in the early 21st century, of whom approximately two-thirds were conscripts. To compensate for this, the IDF maintains a well-trained reserve force and prioritizes active intelligence gathering. The reserve units provide the majority of the infantry strength, positioning the IDF more akin to a citizen militia augmented by career officers and active-duty conscripts.
Conscription deferments are available for students, and exemptions are granted to married women and women with children. Historically, men engaged in religious studies, particularly those from the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, were also exempt. However, in the 21st century, this exemption became controversial due to the growing proportion of this community relative to the general population.
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Specialized infantry units
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) is the national military of Israel, consisting of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. The IDF is made up of both active-duty conscripts and a well-trained reserve force.
Among the specialized infantry units within the IDF are:
Nahal Brigade
The Nahal Brigade is a unit established by David Ben-Gurion that combines military and agricultural training.
Kfir Brigade
The Kfir Brigade is a unit specializing in urban combat and counterterrorism.
Combat Engineering Corps
The Combat Engineering Corps is a specialized infantry unit within the IDF.
Paratroopers
The Paratroopers are a specialized infantry unit within the IDF. The first Israeli special forces unit, Commando Unit 101, was merged into the 890th Paratroop Battalion in 1954.
Shayetet 13
Shayetet 13 is an elite special forces unit within the Israeli Navy, often compared to the US Navy SEALs and Britain's Special Boat Service.
Yamam
The Yamam unit is a counter-terrorist force specializing in hostage rescue operations in friendly territory.
Maglan
Maglan is an elite commando unit that specializes in eliminating high-value targets behind enemy lines, using advanced technologies and classified weaponry.
Unit 669
Unit 669 is the Israeli Air Force’s elite combat search and rescue unit, specializing in helicopter extraction and infiltration, rappelling, fast roping, scuba diving, and counter-terrorism.
Alpinist
Alpinist is an IDF mountain-warfare unit operating in the Golan Heights, providing protection for IDF electronic listening posts.
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Military equipment exports
Israel has a large defence industry, which is a strategically important sector, a significant employer, and a major supplier of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The country is a prominent exporter of military equipment, accounting for 2.1% of the world total in 2024.
Israel's defence industry is made up of over 150 active defence companies, with combined revenues of more than $3.5 billion annually. In 2022, three Israeli companies were listed on the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute's index of the world's top 100 arms-producing and military service companies: Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries, and RAFAEL. Israel is also a major player in the global arms market, with a 2.3% share of exports as of 2023. Total arms transfer agreements topped $12.9 billion between 2004 and 2011.
Israel's defence industry has historically not been subsidised by the government, so export markets are vital for major arms manufacturers. In the 1980s, Israel became one of the world's leading suppliers of arms and security services, with foreign exchange earnings of US$1.5 billion annually, representing one-third of the country's industrial exports.
Israel has a long history of manufacturing small weapons and explosives, dating back to secret arms factories in the 1930s. The country has specialised in upgrading and overhauling military equipment, such as surplus wartime aircraft, tanks, and artillery. The Israeli-designed Uzi submachine gun, for example, became a major export success and was adopted by the security forces and militaries of many nations.
Israeli defence companies were behind 41% of all drones exported between 2001 and 2011, making it the leading UAV exporter in the world. The country also has a number of private defence firms specialising in various areas, such as mortars and artillery munitions, communications, electronic warfare, and command and control systems.
The IDF has close military relations with the United States Army, including development and cooperation on projects such as the F-15 jet and the Arrow missile defence system. The US military maintains two classified, pre-positioned War Reserve Stocks in Israel valued at $493 million. Israel has been the largest annual recipient of US foreign assistance since 1976, with $2.55 billion in Foreign Military Financing grants from the Department of Defense in 2009.
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US corporate ownership
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) is the national military of Israel, comprising the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy. The IDF was formed on May 26, 1948, shortly after Israel's declaration of independence, and has participated in every armed conflict involving the country since.
The defense industry of Israel is a strategically important sector, employing a large number of people and contributing significantly to the country's economy. It is a major player in the global arms market, accounting for 2.1% of the world's military equipment exports in 2024. The growth of Israel's defense industry has been facilitated by a combination of imported technology and Israeli innovation, with Israeli firms entering into joint ventures with foreign companies.
Since 1976, Israel has been the largest annual recipient of U.S. foreign assistance. In 2009, the country received $2.55 billion in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) grants from the U.S. Department of Defense, with 74% of this military aid being used to purchase military hardware from American companies. The U.S. military also maintains two classified, pre-positioned War Reserve Stocks in Israel valued at $493 million.
Additionally, there are several instances of U.S. corporate ownership and influence in the Israeli defense industry:
- AEL Industries, Inc. (U.S.) and Elisra Electronic Systems (Israel): AEL owns 58% of Elisra, and they collaborate on electronic warfare systems and telephone switching equipment.
- Astronautics Corporation of America (U.S.) and Astronautics CA (Israel): Astronautics CA is a subsidiary of the U.S. company, producing advanced electronic displays and fire control systems for military aircraft and tanks.
- Control Data (U.S.) and Elbit Computers (Israel): Elbit was established with a joint investment from Rockefeller Venture Capital and Israel Discount Bank, and produces military products for the Israeli market.
- GM-Detroit Diesel Allison (U.S.) and Nimda (Israel): The details of their financial relationship are unknown, but they produce vehicle power trains and retrofits for military vehicles, with a majority of sales for export.
- GTE (U.S.) and Tadiran Israel Electronics Industries (Israel): GTE owns 22% of Tadiran, which specializes in electronic warfare systems, military communications, and remotely piloted vehicles.
- Gerber Scientific, Inc. (U.S.) and Beta Engineering and Development, Inc. (Israel): Gerber Scientific owns 35% of Beta Engineering through its wholly owned subsidiary, Gerber Venture Capital. They produce mine detectors and vibration detection surveillance devices for the Israeli army and export.
- Intel (U.S.) and Intel Israel (Israel): Intel Israel is a wholly owned subsidiary, producing microcomputers for missiles and airplanes.
- Motorola (U.S.) and Motorola Israel (Israel): Motorola Israel is a wholly owned subsidiary, manufacturing fuses for bombs, as well as surveillance and security equipment.
- United Technologies, Inc. (U.S.) and Bet Shemesh Engines (Israel): United Technologies bought 40% of the Israeli government's shares of Bet Shemesh in 1984. They produce engines and engine components for military aircraft.
- Vishay Intertech (U.S.) and Vishay Israel (Israel): Vishay Israel is a subsidiary, producing resistors and thermal sleeves for tanks.
These examples demonstrate the significant U.S. corporate ownership and involvement in Israel's defense industry, which has implications for both countries' military capabilities and economic relations.
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Frequently asked questions
The Israeli army is called the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
The IDF consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and the Israeli Navy.
The IDF differs from most armed forces in the world due to its conscription of women and its structure, which emphasizes close relations between the army, navy, and air force.
Some examples of specialized infantry units within the IDF include the Nahal Brigade, the Kfir Brigade, the Combat Engineering Corps, and the Paratroopers.
