Iraq: Fielded Forces

Overview / Army / Navy / Air Force / Civilian Forces

Overview / Leadership / System Essentials / Infrastructure / Population / Table of Contents

Iraq's military capability was damaged, but not destroyed, in Desert Storm

Overview

The Iraqi military consists of the army, navy, air force, and an unknown number of special security forces. About 15% of the country's GDP accounts for defense spending; exact numbers are not available. Iraq demonstrated an excessively centralized command and control system during Desert Storm. Current active duty force is about 382,000. Conscripts are required to serve 18 to 24 months. Reserve forces number about 650,000.

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Army

Army personnel include an estimated 350,000 troops. Organized into 6 corps headquarters, 22 armored mech. and infantry divisions, the Iraqi army has an additional 7 Republican Guard divisions (4 armored, 3 Infantry).

MBTs: Estimated at 2,200 T-54/55, Ch T-59/69, T-62, T-72, Chieftain MK-3/5, M-60, M-47
RECCE: Estimated at 1,500 BRDM-2, AML-60/-90
IFVs: Estimated at 700 BMP-1/-2
APCs: Perhaps 2000 including BTR-50/-60/-152, OT-62/64, MTLB, YW-531
Artillery: Estimated at 1,500 individual pieces in size from 105mm to 155mm
Helos: Estimated at 500 with 120 being armed
Air Def Guns: Estimated at 5,500 pieces from 23mm to 130mm
SAMs: SA-2/3/6/7/8/9/13/14/16, and Roland

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Navy

Navy personnel number approximately 2,000 strong. The Basra, Az Zubayr, and Umm Qasr bases offer limited port facilities.

Surface Combatants

1 frigate (badly damaged in Gulf War, unlikely to return to duty)
2 corvettes (moored in Italy unable to return until UN sanctions lifted
1 fast attack craft-missile
1 large patrol craft (operational status doubtful)
1 large patrol craft (operational)
5 coastal patrol craft 3 (90 ton displacement, 2 are still under repair)
5 minehunters-2 inshore, 3 minesweepers-inshore
4 replenishment and transport ships
1 presidential yacht

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Air Force

The Iraqi air force numbers approximately 30,000 people. Total Iraqi aircraft losses cannot be estimated. During DESERT STORM, the Iraqi air force lost 37 aircraft in air-to-air combat, 100 destroyed on the ground, and 112 escaped to Iran. The missing or lost aircraft are excluded in the list below.

Ftr Bmr: Est. 130 H-6D, MiG-23BN, MiG-27, Mirage F1, Su-7, Su-20, Su-25.
Fighter: Est. 180 Ch J-7, MiG-21, MiG-25, Mirage F-1, MiG-29.
Bombers: Est. 6 H-6D, Tu-16, Tu-22
RECCE: Include MiG-25
Transport: Include An-2, An-12, An-24, An-26, IL-76
Trainers: Include AS-202, EMB-312, some 40 L-29, some 40 L-39, MB-233, Mirage F-1B, 25 PC-7, 30 PC-9

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Civilian Forces

An unknown number of presidential guard forces exist as well as 15 special forces brigades.

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