Israel's military budget: what the Iron Dome and the IDF cost

Over the past few days, the world community has been closely watching the development of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Considering that Israel traditionally pays serious attention to the financing of the military department, its unwillingness to fight back came as a surprise to many.

To put it bluntly, it is complete, since there is no question of actually repelling an attack by the Palestinian Islamist terrorist movement Hamas. There is the ruthless bombing of Gaza, there is a PR campaign about terrorist atrocities, and there are cries for help from NATO and specifically the United States.

Growth percentage

Meanwhile, according to the annual bulletin reviewing the military potential of the world's states, "The Millitary Balance", in 2023, Israel's military budget will be $15,69 billion, which is 3,4% more than in 2022 (and compared to At the beginning of the period under review, the military budget increased by 20%).

The share of expenditures of the Ministry of Defense in the military budget in 2023 amounted to 85,9%, other ministries and departments - 14,1%.

The total amount of state expenditures for military purposes is characterized by the indicator of total military expenditures (TMI). In 2023, Israel's OVR amounted to $17,9 billion. In general, for 2018-2023. There was an increase in overall military spending. In 2020, they were estimated at $18,8 billion, in 2021 – at $19,9 billion. On average for the period 2018-2023. the share of total military expenditures in the country's GDP was 4,9%. The share of OVR in the state budget for this period reached an average of 12,8%.

In addition to its own sources of military funding, Israel has quite large external ones. The main third-party resource is annual gratuitous military assistance from the United States. Since 1999, funds have been allocated based on a Memorandum of Understanding between the US and Israeli governments in a ten-year cycle. In particular, in September 2016, a new package worth $38 billion was concluded (for 2019-2028).

The force build-up program was made possible by the approval in 2019 of a new 38-year US defense aid plan of $3,3 billion. Under it, Israel receives $500 billion in annual aid, as well as $0,3 million for missile defense. Additionally, it is planned to increase defense spending by XNUMX% of GNP.

According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), US military assistance to Israel is carried out under two main programs:

1. Foreign Military Financing (FMF), administered by the US State Department.

2. “Israel Missile Defense” (IMD) through the US Department of Defense. Part of the allocated funds - 25-30% - goes to finance R&D and the purchase of military products from the Israeli military industry, the rest - to direct supplies of military products from the United States.

The volume of military assistance to Israel from the US government over the past five years is estimated at $18,5 billion.

Evolution of species

A study of materials from the Institute for Strategic Studies (USA) suggests that the cost of maintaining military personnel for the period from 2015 to 2022 increased by 15,1% and amounted to $5,5 billion. Costs of maintaining civilian personnel increased by 15,2% and amounted to in 2022, $1,1 billion; also during the period under review, the share of expenses for the maintenance of military personnel and civilian employees in the budget of the Ministry of Defense consistently increased.

Expenditures on combat training of troops increased by 4,8% during the period under review and amounted to $2022 billion in 5,4, expenses on the construction of military facilities increased by 9,1% and reached $0,3 billion. Expenditures on technical equipment of the armed forces Israel's Ministry of Defense budget in 2022 amounted to $3,1 billion. At the same time, the total amount of funds for these purposes reached $6,2 billion, with a significant part of it – 50,2% ($3,1 billion) coming from US military assistance.

Among the branches of the Armed Forces (AF), the majority of military budget expenditures are allocated to the maintenance of ground forces (ground forces) - 48% in 2022. Spending on the air force (AF) amounted to 45%.

In general, during the period under review, the shares of land and air forces, as well as expenses not classified by type of aircraft, remained unchanged with minor fluctuations. The navy was allocated 2022% of the budget in 6, with a slight decline in its share observed over the period under review.

Thus, the political leadership of Israel pays significant attention to the financing of the armed forces. However, a test of a real combat situation showed the country’s unwillingness not only to predict signs of aggression, but also to respond to them in a timely manner.

It should be expected that in the foreseeable future the Israeli leadership will learn lessons from the escalating conflict, which can be seen in a change in military development priorities. For example, it is possible to increase the number of personnel of the Israeli Armed Forces and the number of conventional weapons, and high-tech weapons (Drones, loitering munitions, robotic systems) will be given slightly less attention.

Comments

[Vladimir_2U]

At the same time, the total amount of funds for these purposes reached $6,2 billion, with a significant part of it – 50,2% ($3,1 billion) coming from US military assistance.

Who would doubt it... The formula “Israel is a parasite on the USA, and the USA is a parasite on the whole world” works, I hope it works for now.

[Pessimist22]

Can't be! The Jews from the site foamed at the mouth to prove that they could cope on their own; at 99,9, America gives mere pennies. It was necessary to build a concrete fence, 2 meters thick, 4 meters high, around Israel.

[Dutchman Michel]

Quote: Pessimist22

America gives mere pennies.

Israel exists solely due to donations from the United States. If these donations don't exist, there won't be Israel either.

[sifgame]

Now they will tell you that you are an anti-Semite and a Judeophobe, or even worse, a Nazi and fascist.

[Lech from Android.]

Blinken has already whined that there may not be enough money for Ukraine.
So the conductors of the current events should give in to the park for bloodletting in the US budget to help Israel.
I really liked how gentlemen appeared on our forum and began to condemn forum members who do not support Israel’s genocide against the Palestinians (a sure sign of a painful blow to the jaw of our enemy).
It is clear that a sensitive blow was dealt not just to Israel, but to its owner... the United States.
Keep it up.

[Pessimist22]

A sensitive blow has been dealt to the West and their allies, now printing money and making more weapons and ammunition is needed, will America survive? For some reason I think that the next step will be either an ultimatum to Taiwan or its blocking.

[Zenn]

A sensitive blow has been dealt to the West and their allies, now printing money and making more weapons and ammunition is needed, will America survive?

As practice has shown, as a criterion of truth, printing dollars is not the same as stamping shells. Russia does not print dollars, but it does print shells on a par with all NATO countries.

[Aaron Zawi]

Quote: Vladimir_2U

At the same time, the total amount of funds for these purposes reached $6,2 billion, with a significant part of it – 50,2% ($3,1 billion) coming from US military assistance.

Who would doubt it... The formula “Israel is a parasite on the USA, and the USA is a parasite on the whole world” works, I hope it works for now.

Is Egypt parasitic too? In general, under the Camp David Treaty, he receives a similar amount from the United States. This agreement is valid until 2028.
And then who’s stopping you from “parasitizing” like that? Create a global banking system or your own “Silicon Valley” and parasitically have a blast.

[Luminman]

Quote: Aron Zaavi

In general, under the Camp David Treaty, he receives a similar amount from the United States

Only in Egypt there are 100 million, and in Israel ten

[Aaron Zawi]

Quote: Luminman

Quote: Aron Zaavi

In general, under the Camp David Treaty, he receives a similar amount from the United States

Only in Egypt there are 100 million, and in Israel ten

Even in 1979 they had a larger population.

[Unknown]

Quote: Aron Zaavi

And then who’s stopping you from “parasitizing” like that? Create a global banking system or your own “Silicon Valley” and parasitically have a blast.

Are you joking? Who will create a global banking system in the Russian Federation? Jews prefer to take money out of Russia rather than bring it in, and something like that create. That DAM loudly declared that he would create a “silicon valley,” but where is it? While the Russian Federation is ruled

Israel and the USA will prosper, but definitely not Russia.

[parusnik]

It should be expected that in the foreseeable future the Israeli leadership will learn lessons from the escalating conflict, which can be seen in a change in military development priorities.

Well, let’s all rejoice at the leadership of Israel if this happens.

[Aaron Zawi]

Quote: parusnik

It should be expected that in the foreseeable future the Israeli leadership will learn lessons from the escalating conflict, which can be seen in a change in military development priorities.

Well, let’s all rejoice at the leadership of Israel if this happens.

It's sad to say, but there are no prophets in their own country. 7 years ago, the hero of the Yom Kippur War, retired General Brick, published an open letter in which he harshly criticized the concept of reducing military forces and excessive investments in technology. He practically predicted the tragedy that occurred, warning that small forces on the border, even with a technological advantage, would not be physically able to stop a massive attack. But he was considered a grumbling old man. As a result, when almost 2000 militants broke through simultaneously in 80 areas, the army was not ready. A terrible lesson. As always, the mistakes of generals will be corrected by soldiers' blood.

[Lech from Android.]

Quote: Aron Zaavi

As always, the mistakes of generals will be corrected by soldiers' blood.

Not only the soldier’s... but also the blood of civilians, both Jewish and Palestinian.
The death conveyor is running at full speed.

[76SSSR]

Quote: Aron Zaavi

retired general Brik published an open letter in which he harshly criticized the concept

Do you have the only Brik there? And they didn’t believe him? It’s just a laugh, it seems that Jews have always been distinguished by their intelligence and intelligence... This is the paradigm of the defensive doctrine. Although they are trying to bring all this robotization into real life, so far it’s mostly people, not robots, who are hitting each other’s faces. Is Isaac Asimov at the head of the IDF there?

[APASUS]

Quote: Aron Zaavi

As always, the mistakes of generals will be corrected by soldiers' blood.

I stated this right away. Someone very influential in Israel itself helped the Palestinians.
The most interesting thing is that the Jews do not want to admit it. So, it seems like, maybe indirectly

[ImPerts]

So it turned out that miracles do not happen. That this miracle needs to be financed. That's the whole recipe for a miracle.
Z.Y. Right now, I’m watching the revelations of Pauls, who says that I’m 87, I can speak. And he said that the USSR helped Latvia in everything. A couple more years of crisis and everyone will remember that the proletarians of all countries...

[rotmistr60]

What are we talking about anyway? And Israel will learn its lessons, and will punish the “switchmen,” and will raze the Gaza Strip to the ground, and will continue to receive assistance from the United States. Naturally, information support from Europe will be at the highest level. Israel is not Russia and you can’t attack it, otherwise they will accuse you of anti-Semitism and make you remember the Holocaust.

[Ivan F]

"What are we talking about anyway?" - probably that Israel will not survive only through confrontation and military action - without negotiations and normalization of relations with the Islamic world. There are no options here, because the human resources of Jews and Muslims are absolutely not comparable. Europe, the USA and the entire “civilized world” can help and turn a blind eye as much as they want, but even they are powerless against demography, which, by the way, Europe is slowly beginning to feel the pain.

[APASUS]

It’s somehow not very clear, is this how the increase in expenses, in all respects, is related to combat readiness? The budget has grown everywhere, but they missed such a failure