New Delhi: Now an unprecedented volley of missiles and air strikes is embroiling Israel and Iran in a conflict that for the first time pits their full arsenals against each other, making the entire world tremble for a total war. If a line-by-line analysis of the military capabilities, including the depth and breadth of both countries’ arsenals, technology, and possible strategies, were completed on June 21, 2025, the differences would be stark.
Iran will have a massive armed force, consisting of 610,000 active-duty personnel, which includes 350,000 in the army and 190,000 in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), along with an additional 350,000 reservists. It also has 551 aircraft (186 fighter planes, including older F4s and MiG-29s) and 129 helicopters in its air force. On land, Iran possesses 1,996 tanks, 65,765 armoured vehicles, and 775 multiple-launch rocket system (MLRS) destroyers. It boasts a sizeable fleet of 17 submarines, seven frigates, and three corvettes, along with 68 patrol boats, giving it numerical dominance over other navies, notably in the Persian Gulf. Iran has (or is thought to have) a minimum of 2,000-3,000 ballistic missiles, including Shahab-3s, Fateh-110s, Zulfiqar, Khorramshahr, and hypersonic Fattah, at ranges of 2,000 km (1,250 miles).
Unlike some, Israel relies on a relatively small but incredibly sophisticated force of 169,500 active and 465,000 reserve. It has the third-largest air force in the world, with a total of 612 aircraft, 241 of which are modern combat aircraft, including F-35I stealth fighters and 43 ground-attack helicopters. Israel has the largest land forces, with 1,370 tanks, including the advanced Merkava, and 1,190 armoured personnel carriers. It has a small navy of 5 Dolphin-class submarines and 45 patrol boats, which uses advanced technology for precision bombardment operations. The Jericho-3, with an approximate range of 4,800-6,500 km, is said to carry upwards of 90 nuclear warheads and serves as a key pillar of Israel’s strategic deterrence. The Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow provide a multi-layered defence against missiles.
Israel’s edge in technology, however, is helping it nullify Iran’s numbers in manpower and missiles, according to missile defence expert Shaan Shaikh of the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. Iran leverages proxies like Hezbollah and Hamas to expand its influence, but when faced with limited resources and time, Israel’s aerial systems, bolstered by US support, significantly outweigh Iran in direct warfare.
Israel’s most recent military campaigns against Iranian assets consisted of Operation Rising Lion on June 13, which had meticulous strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, took out high-ranking IRGC generals, and proved the efficacy of Mossad operators and the accuracy of F-35 aircraft. This suggests that Iranian missiles can endure extensive bombings, unlike the Israeli missile defence system, which struggled against Iranian counterattacks deep within Tel Aviv and sustained significant damage.
With over 2,000 missiles on both sides and Israel backing it up with a nuclear option, Iran and Israel also emphasise the sensitivity of this situation with respect to conflict escalation. However, although Iran poses a threat, its numbers and proxies suggest that the department will prosper, ultimately forcing Israel into a calamitous and dangerous waiting game.