How Strong Is Israel’s Military in 2026? Budget, Air Force, Missile Defense and Nuclear Ambiguity

Israel ranks 15th in the Global Firepower 2026 index, but few militaries anywhere have as much recent combat experience or as much advanced technology per soldier. Since October 2023, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have fought in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and directly against Iran, testing nearly every part of their arsenal.

Budget

SIPRI estimates Israel spent $48.3 billion on its military in 2025, down 4.9% from the wartime peak of 2024 but still 97% higher than in 2022. On top of that, Israel receives about $3.8 billion a year in US military aid under a 10-year agreement, plus emergency packages during the wars.

People: a reserve army

The IDF has around 170,000 active personnel, mostly conscripts, but its real strength lies in roughly 465,000 reservists who can be mobilized within days. Military service is compulsory for most Jewish Israeli men and women, and the long wars have put the reserve system under heavy strain.

Air Force

The Israeli Air Force is one of the most capable in the world. It flies the F-35I “Adir,” a customized version of the F-35A with Israeli electronics, alongside F-15I, F-16I and newly ordered F-15IA jets, supported by tankers and early-warning aircraft. In 2024 and 2025 it carried out long-range strikes on Iran and Yemen, including the June 2025 campaign against Iranian nuclear and military sites, and it fought alongside US forces in the war with Iran that began in February 2026.

Missile defense: the most layered shield

Israel has the world’s most battle-tested multi-layer missile defense: Iron Dome against rockets and drones, David’s Sling against medium-range threats, Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 against ballistic missiles, and the Iron Beam laser, which entered operational use to shoot down short-range threats at very low cost per shot. These systems intercepted most of the hundreds of missiles Iran fired at Israel in 2024 and 2025, though some got through.

Ground forces

The Army fields Merkava Mk 4 tanks, Namer heavy APCs and Eitan wheeled vehicles, with Trophy active protection widely used. Urban warfare in Gaza and the tunnel threat have shaped new tactics and equipment.

Nuclear ambiguity

Israel neither confirms nor denies having nuclear weapons. Independent estimates suggest it has around 90 warheads, deliverable by Jericho missiles, aircraft and possibly submarines.

Defense industry

Companies like Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and Rafael are global leaders in drones, missiles, air defense and electronics. Israel’s defense exports hit a record of about $14.8 billion in 2024, with Europe the largest market, including Germany’s purchase of Arrow 3.

Verdict

Israel is a small country with an outsized, highly experienced military and some of the world’s most advanced weapons. Its challenges are manpower strain after years of war, the cost of missile interceptors and growing international criticism of its operations.

Featured image: Major Ofer, Israeli Air Force רס”ן עופר, חיל האוויר הישראלי / CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons