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Jane's Sentinel examines the forces in the region

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13 October 2000

Jane's examines the forces in the region - Jane's International Security News

Jane's World Armies 06
WORLD ARMIES, ISRAEL

Armed Forces Overview

Army
Strength 136,000; 3,600 � MBTs in service; 400 � recce vehicles; probably 9,000 � APCs available; over 1,000 SP guns and 53 attack helicopters.

Navy
Strength 8,000e; 3 � submarines; 3 � corvettes; 18 � missile craft.

Air Force
Strength 32,000; probably about 500 � combat aircraft and 120 � attack helicopters.

Defence Budget
In August 1998, Israel's former Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu and former Minister of Defence, Itzhak Mordechai, agreed to increase Israel Defence Forces' (IDF) funding by NIS5 billion (US$1.35 billion) over five years, beginning in 1999.

The decision marks a major change in priorities, after over 10 years of defence cuts. According to the defence ministry plans, NIS10 billion will be required for its five-year modernisation plan. Israel recently began a process to convert foreign aid into military support, allowing it to buy more US systems with US finance. The additional funding will be directed mainly to local procurement.

Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment - Eastern Mediterranean - 09

4.0.7 Regional Military Balance

	Armed Forces Strength	Armo-ured Vehi-cles	Combat Aircraft	Major Naval Vess- els	Balli-stic Mis- siles
Cyprus - ROC	12,500	762	None	None	None
Cyprus - TRNC	4,500	None	None	None	None
Gaza/ West Bank	40,000⁽¹⁾	45	None	None	None
Greece	166,100	4,317	342	47	None
Israel	177,500	9,548+	583	18	360+
Jordan	94,650	2,069+	85	None	None
Lebanon	64,965	1,200+	None	None	None
Syria	425,000	5,810+	511	18	300+
Turkey	516,600	8,650+	519	55	72⁽²⁾
Notes: 1. Figures for Palestinian Police Force (PPF). 2. In delivery.

ARMED FORCES, ISRAEL

4.10.1 ARMED FORCES SUMMARY

TOTAL STRENGTH
177,500 (Estimated)

4.10.13 Inventory: Strategic Weapons

Type	Role	Quantity	In Service
Arrow 2	Anti-Missile Defence System	3 batteries ordered	1
Jericho-1 (YA-1)	Ballistic missile (max range 500km, payload 500kg)	150⁽�⁾	150⁽�⁾
Jericho-2 (YA-2)	Ballistic missile (max range 1,500km+, payload 1,000kg)	50⁽�⁾	50⁽�⁾
Jericho-3 (reported)	Ballistic missile (max range 1,500km+, payload n/a)	n/a	n/a
Shavit	Booster for satellite launch - (SLV) experts believe it could be converted for military use (max range 4,500km, payload 1,100kg)
MGM-55C (Lance)	Ballistic missile (max range 130km, payload 450kg)	160(12 launchers)	160
Note: 1. Estimated. There have been reports that Israel has deployed the MAR-350 surface-to-surface missile, which has a range of 90km and a payload of 330kg. Estimates as to the number of nuclear warheads in Israel's arsenal vary widely - figures ranging from 100 to 300 have been mentioned. The US writer Seymour Hersh, in his book The Samson Option (Random House, 1991), alleged that by 1990 Israel had over 100 usable weapons, including air-dropped bombs, ballistic missile warheads, mines and artillery shells. In March 2000 the Israeli Air Force took delivery of the first of three Arrow 2 anti-missile batteries that had been ordered. At that time the first battery was regarded as having emergency deployment capability, with a number of tests and improvements scheduled over the following year.

SECURITY AND FOREIGN FORCES, Gaza and the West Bank

Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN -
UPDATE 8

SECURITY AND FOREIGN FORCES

2.11.1 POLICE

TOTAL STRENGTH
40,000 (Estimated)

2.11.4 Organization

The Palestinian Police Force (PPF), set up under the Cairo Agreement of May 1994, had six branches under the terms of the agreement. The number of branches has inceased since then. Of the six original branches, four had a security/intelligence role and are answerable directly to Yasser Arafat - Public Security, Preventative Security, General Intelligence and Presidential Security. The other two branches were the Civil Police and Emergency Service and Rescue. Provision was also made for a Coast Guard.
The PPF went on to establish a number of branches that are not officially recognised either by the Cairo Agreement or Oslo II. These include Military Intelligence and the latter's subordinate body, the Military Police; the Special Security Force which is particularly close to Yasser Arafat and reports directly to him; the Aerial Police, and the County Guard. A Customs and Excise Police Force, and a University Security Service were also established.

The PPF, also known formally as the Palestinian Directorate of Police Force, or simply the Palestinian Police Force, is also referred to as the General Security Service (GSS). In theory, the GSS is the umbrella body responsible for the organisation of the Palestinian police and for coordinating the work of the different branches. In practice, some of branches, especially those with an intelligence role, seem to have a semi-autonomous status, answerable more to Yasser Arafat than to the GSS bureaucracy. The GSS has nine administrative departments, including logistics, training, communication, finance and political guidance. Presidential Security and the Special Security Force, which are under the tight personal control of Yasser Arafat, are sometimes referred to as the Palestinian Security Services (PSS).
The supreme commander of the PPF is Yasser Arafat. The PA's Ministry of Interior has responsibility for the PPF. The director general of the PPF is General Nasser Yussef, and under his command are two regional commanders, one in charge of the police forces in Gaza and the other in charge of the West Bank. As the headquarters in the two regions were being established, Major General Razak Majadia was appointed to take charge of the Gaza HQ, while Brigadier General Haj Ismail took control of the West Bank HQ.

According to an agreement reached in September 1995 between the PA and Israel, the total number of PPF members in all branches in the West Bank and Gaza would be no more than 30,000, of which up to 12,000 may be deployed in the West Bank and 18,000 in Gaza. By late 1997, the numbers had reached at least full strength. Israeli sources claimed that the numbers continued to be augmented over and above the strength that had been agreed. By late 1999 it was estimated that there was a strength of up to 40,000.

WORLD ARMIES, JORDAN

Jane's World Armies 06
Armed Forces Overview

Army
Strength 86,000; 835 � MBTs; 189 � recce vehicles; 35 � AIFV; 1,100 � APCs; probably 220 � SP arty guns.

Navy
Strength - approximately 500 with 3 � patrol craft.

Air Force
Strength - approximately 13,000 (including 3,000 air defence troops) with about 90 combat aircraft and 24 armed helicopters.

Defence Budget
The armed forces have suffered severely from budgetary cutbacks since the late 1980s and much of their equipment is now antiquated. The Jordanian economy has been in trouble for the last decade but the situation deteriorated in August 1990, when the kingdom refused to join the USA-led coalition against Saddam Hussein after he invaded Kuwait. Saudi Arabia and the other Gulf Co-operation Council states cut off US$1.2 billion a year in aid, a pillar of the Jordanian economy. The Saudis also cut off oil supplies.

Another key source of revenue for the resource-poor kingdom was also lost because of the Gulf crisis: billions of dollars a year in remittances from hundreds of thousands of Jordanians and Palestinians, who had also supported Saddam Hussein. They either fled to Kuwait or were expelled by other Gulf states. In all, Jordan estimates it lost US$1.5 billion a year in revenue.

The defence budget fell from US$548 million in 1998, to US$496 million in 1999, and across-the-board spending cutbacks have prevented any serious acquisitions in the open market. In 1989, Jordan was forced to abandon a programme to create integrated air defence brigades and plans for upgrading its armoured forces were also stalled, although some work was carried out on its 275 Khalid (Chieftain) MBTs. Its armoured forces are still in a parlous state, with as much as one-third of its MBTs in storage or inactive.

However, there has been a recent improvement in the economic situation and the defence expenditure figure will probably rise steadily as the economy strengthens and could top US$600 million in the early years of the new decade. Probably 70 per cent plus of defence expenditure is devoted to the army.

During 1998, USA FMA (Foreign Military Assistance) totalled US$32 million. UPDATED

ARMY, JORDAN

Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN - UPDATE 9

5.11.1 ARMY SUMMARY

STRENGTH
86,000

INFANTRY
Mechanized division � 2
Royal Guards brigade � 1
Special Forces brigade � 1

ARMOUR
Division � 2

ARTILLERY
Brigade � 5

5.11.12 Inventory: Armour

Type	Role	Quan-tity	In Service
Challenger 1 (Al-Hussein)	Main Battle Tank	288 (in delivery)	14
BTR-94	Armoured Personnel Carrier	50	50
M60A1/A3	Main Battle Tank	350	350
M47, M48A5	Main Battle Tank	300	None
Chieftain (Khalid)	Main Battle Tank	365	275
Centurion (Tariq)	Main Battle Tank	290	290
Scorpion	Light Tank	19	19
Ferret	Reconnaissance Vehicle	150	n/a
Saracen/Saladin	APC/ Reconnaissance Vehicle	60	None
BMP-2	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	35	35
M113	Armoured Personnel Carrier	1,100	1,100
Note: In addition to the equipment outlined in the table, Jordan also has a sizeable holding of armoured recovery vehicles. It was announced in March 1999 that the UK is to supply more than 150 refurbished Challenger 1 tanks to Jordan. The following year it was reported that the actual number of tanks to be delivered would be 288, including `run only' tanks and some driver training tanks (DTTs). Meanwhile, the first batch of 14 tanks was delivered in November 1999, with further deliveries scheduled for the latter part of 2000 and subsequent years. These ex-British Army tanks are to replace Jordan's ageing Centurion tanks.

5.11.13 Inventory: Artillery

Type	Role	Quantity	In Service
105 mm M102	Towed Howitzer	50	50
155 mm M114	Towed Howitzer	30	30
155 mm M59/M1	Towed Howitzer	10	10
203 mm M115	Towed Field Gun	25	none
105 mm M52	Self-Propelled Howitzer	30	30
155 mm M44	Self-Propelled Howitzer	20	20
155 mm M109A1/A2	Self-Propelled Howitzer	220	220
203 mm M110	Self-Propelled Howitzer	148	148
120 mm Brandt	Mortar	300	300
107 mm M30	Mortar	50	50
81 mm	Mortar⁽�⁾	450	450
Note: 1. About 125 of the 81mm mortars are self-propelled. The army also has the AN/TPQ-36/37 artillery/mortar locating system. Jordan has built up its artillery strength over the years and has a formidable holding of self-propelled weapons.

5.11.14 Inventory: Anti-Tank Weapons

Type	Role	Quantity	In Service
BGM-71A TOW/BGM-71C Improved TOW	Anti-Tank Missile Launcher	330	330
M-47 Dragon	Anti-Tank Missile Launcher	310	310
112 mm APILAS	Rocket Launcher	2,300	2,300
94 mm LAW80	Rocket Launcher	2,500	2,500
106 mm M40A1	Recoilless Rifle	330	330
Note: As the figures show, Jordan has a considerable anti-tank capability.

5.11.15 Inventory: Air Defence Weapons

Type	Role	Quantity	In Service
MIM-23B Improved HAWK	Long-Range SAM	80	80
Antey 9K33 (SA-8)	Missile Launcher Vehicle	50	50
9K35 Strela 10 (SA-13)	Missile Launcher Vehicle	50	50
FIM-43A Redeye	Manportable SAM	250	250
Strela-3 (SA-14)	Manportable SAM	300	300
Strela-2 (SA-7)	Manportable SAM	n/a	n/a
Igla-1 (SA-16)	Manportable SAM	240	240
Twin-barrel 40 mm M-42 Duster GMC	Self-Propelled AAG	218	218
23 mm ZSU-23.4 Shilka	Self-Propelled AAG	45	45
20 mm M-163 Vulcan	Self-Propelled AAG	100	100
Note: The army operates the following air defence radars: AN/TPS-43, AN/TPSA-63 and S-711. Jordan's air defence weapons are a mixture of Western and Soviet equipment.

5.11.16 Inventory: Infantry Weapons

Type	Role
9 � 19 mm Parabellum FN Mle. 35GP	Pistol
9 � 19 mm Parabellum Glock P80	Pistol
11.43 � 23 mm .45 M1911A1	Pistol
No 2 Mk-1 .38 Enfield	Revolver
9 � 29 mm .38 Smith & Wesson	Revolver
9 � 19 mm Parabellum MP5K	Sub-Machine Gun
9 � 19 mm Parabellum L34A1	Sub-Machine Gun
9 � 19 mm Parabellum Sten	Sub-Machine Gun
7.62 mm FN FAL	Assault Rifle
7.62 mm AK-47	Assault Rifle
7.62 mm G3	Assault Rifle
7.62 mm M16A1/A2	Assault Rifle
7.62 mm FN MAG	General-Purpose Machine Gun
7.62 mm M60D	General-Purpose Machine Gun
7.62 mm (0.3 in) Browning M1919	Heavy Machine Gun
12.7 mm (0.5 in) Browning M2	Heavy Machine Gun

WORLD ARMIES, SYRIA

Jane's World Armies 08
Armed Forces Overview

Army
Strength: 220,000e; 4,500 MBT; 950 � recce vehicles; 2,380 � AIFVs; 1,400 � APCs and 450 � self propelled artillery guns.

Navy
Strength: 6,000e; 3 � submarine (2 possibly non-operational) 2 � frigates and about 20 patrol craft.

Air Force
Strength: 40,000e; 550e � combat aircraft; 91 � attack helicopters.

Defence Budget
Defence spending accounts for an estimated 7 per cent of the 1998 Syrian budget, which was approved by the rubber-stamp People's Assembly in late April 1998. The Damascus government published few details of the budget and nothing on politically sensitive defence allocations.

The 1999 defence budget has been set at US$2.9 billion, clearly a figure that is totally insufficient to fund armed forces of this size and complexity. At the very best a figure of US$275 million could be allocated to army procurement expenditure from this figure.

Former Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Hikmat Shihabi said in 1998 that Syria intends to continue modernising its force in line with neighbouring countries.

ARMY, Syria

Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment - EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN - UPDATE 7

ARMY

7.11.12 Inventory: Armour

Type	Role	Quantity	In Service
T-72/T-72M	Main Battle Tank	1,500⁽�⁾	1,500⁽�⁾
T-62	Main Battle Tank	1,000	1,000
T-54/T-55	Main Battle Tank	2,250^(²)	n/a
BRDM-2	Reconnaissance Vehicle	950	950
BMP-2	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	60	60
BMP-1	Infantry Fighting Vehicle	2,300	2,300
BTR-152	Armoured Personnel Carrier	560	n/a
BTR-40/50/60	Armoured Personnel Carrier	1,000	n/a
Notes: 1. Syria may have as many as 1,600 T-72 MBTs. 2. Estimated. Syria has invested heavily in its armour. It has more than 4,000 main battle tanks (MBTs), although more than half of these are aging T-54/T-55 vehicles. Analysts believe that one of the reasons behind the purchase of the modern T-72 was to give Syrian forces the speed and manoeuvrability that would be required were they to move against Israeli forces on the Golan Heights.

7.11.13 Inventory: Artillery

Type	Role	Quantity	In Service
152 mm M-1972 (2S3)	Self-Propelled Howitzer	50	50
122 mm 2S1	Self-Propelled Howitzer	400	400
122 mm D-30	Self-Propelled Gun⁽�⁾	36	36
180 mm S23	Gun (Towed)	10	10
152 mm M-1937	Gun (Towed)	50	50
130 mm M-46	Gun (Towed)	750	750
122 mm D-30	Howitzer (Towed)	480	480
122 mm M1938	Howitzer (Towed)	150	150
122 mm M1931/1937	Howitzer (Towed)	100	n/a
122 mm BM-21	Multiple Rocket System	300^(²)	300^(²)
107 mm Type 63	Multiple Rocket System	200^(²)	200^(²)
240 mm M240	Heavy Mortar	10^(²)	10^(²)
160 mm M160	Heavy Mortar	100	100
120 mm M1943	Heavy Mortar	400	400
82 mm	Mortar	200^(²)	200^(²)
Notes: 1. Mounted on T-34 chassis. 2. Estimated.

7.11.14 Inventory: Anti-Tank Weapons

Type	Role	Quantity	In Service
MILAN	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	200	200
AT-3 `Sagger'	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	3,000	3,000
AT-4 `Spigot'	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	150	150
AT-5 `Spandrel'	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	40	40
AT -14 `Kornet'	Anti-Tank Guided Missile	1,000	1,000⁽¹⁾
Note: 1 It was reported in June 1998 that Russia had sold Syria 1,000 AT-14 `Kornet' anti-tank guided missiles. There was some concern in Israel about the reports. While Israel's Merkava MBT was designed to defeat the threat of such missiles, there was concern that the AT-14 could be effective against fortified positions or medium protected vehicles in areas such as southern Lebanon or the Golan Heights. Syria remains heavily dependent on Soviet-designed anti-tank weapons. It has been seeking to acquire advanced Western-designed weapons that are easier to use.

7.11.15 Inventory: Air Defence Weapons

Type	Role	Quantity	In Service
Strela-2 (SA-7)	Manportable SAM	4,000	4,000
Strela-3 (SA-14)	Manportable SAM	n/a	n/a
Igla-1 (SA-16)	Manportable SAM	n/a	n/a
2K12 Kub/9K33 (SA-6/SA-8)	Low Altitude SAM	70⁽�⁾	70⁽�⁾
9K31 Strela-1 (SA-9)	Low Altitude SAM	20	20
9K35 Strela 10 (SA-13)	Low Altitude SAM	35	35
100 mm KS-19	Anti-Aircraft Gun	25	25
57 mm S-60	Anti-Aircraft Gun	700⁽�⁾	700⁽�⁾
57 mm ZSU-57-2 SP	Self-Propelled AAG	10	10
37 mm M1939	Anti-Aircraft Gun	300	n/a
23 mm ZSU-23-4 SP	Self-Propelled AAG	400	400
23 mm ZU-23-2	Light Anti-Aircraft Gun (Towed)	650	650
Note: 1. Estimated. The army has more than 2,000 air defence guns and more than 4,100 surface-to-air missiles. In this as in other areas, the army is heavily dependent on Soviet-designed weapons. The Air Defence Command, which operates under the command of the air force, operates longer-range surface-to-air missiles such as the Almaz Volga-M (SA-2), S-125 Neva (SA-3) and Antey S-200 (SA-5).

7.11.16 Inventory: Infantry Weapons

Type	Role
7.62 � 25 mm TT33 Tokarev	Pistol
7.65 mm MAS-1935S	Pistol
7.65 mm SACM-1935A	Pistol
9 � 18 mm Makarov	Pistol
9 � 19 mm Parabellum (FN Mle. 35 GP)	Pistol
Enfield No 2 Mk 1 .38	Revolver
Webley No 1 Mk VI .455	Revolver
Webley Mk IV .38	Revolver
9 � 29 mm (.38 Smith and Wesson)	Revolver
7.62 � 51 mm Steyr SSG	Sniper Rifle
7.62 � 39 mm AK-47	Assault Rifle
7.62 � 39 mm AKM	Assault Rifle
7.62 � 51 mm FN FAL	Assault Rifle
9 � 19 mm Parabellum vz.23 and vz.25	Sub-Machine Gun
7.62 mm PPS-43 Tokarev	Sub-Machine Gun
7.62 mm PPSh-41 Tokarev	Sub-Machine Gun
7.62 � 39 mm RPK	Light Machine Gun
7.62 � 54 mm,	General-Purpose Machine Gun
PK series 7.62 � 54 mm SGM Vehicle MGs	Machine Gun
7.62 � 54 mm DT vehicle MGs	Machine Gun
12.7 � 108 mm DShK38/46	Heavy Machine Gun
14.5 x 114 mm KPV HMG (ZPU-1, ZPU-2 and ZPU-4)	Automatic Cannon
23 � 152 mm: ZU-23	Automatic Cannon
Note: Soviet-designed weapons predominate in the small arms inventory.

REGIONAL OVERVIEW, THE GULF STATES
Jane's Sentinel Security Assessment - THE GULF STATES - UPDATE 6

Military Equipment In Service

Country

Armoured Vehicles

Combat Aircraft

Combat Vessels

Defence Expenditure