The Associated Press March 12, 2003
Estimates of Iraqi and coalition military forces
Estimates of Iraqi and coalition military forces, according to government officials and independent analysts.
SOLDIERS:
IRAQ:
- 389,000 full-time, active-duty military, including about 80,000 Republican Guard.
- 44,000-60,000 paramilitary/security forces.
- 650,000 reserves.
COALITION:
- More than 225,000 U.S. troops in region, more on the way.
- 45,000 British troops.
ARMOR:
IRAQ:
- About 1,800 to 2,000 serviceable tanks, including 500-600 Soviet T-72s.
- More than 3,000 other armored vehicles.
COALITION:
- More than 800 M1 Abrams tanks.
- More than 600 M2/M3 Bradley fighting vehicles.
- About 120 British Challenger tanks.
- About 150 British Warrior armored vehicles.
MISSILES:
IRAQ:
- Al-Samoud 2 missiles; Iraq had destroyed more than 50 of more than 100 missiles by March 12.
- An unknown number of Ababil-100 missiles.
- Up to several dozen long-range Scud missiles.
COALITION:
- As many as 1,000 Tomahawk cruise missiles on U.S. Navy ships.
- Hundreds of Patriot anti-missile rockets.
HELICOPTERS:
IRAQ:
- About 100 attack helicopters, all aging Soviet models.
- About 275 utility/transport helicopters.
COALITION:
- More than 700 helicopters, including AH-64 Apaches and AH-1 Cobras.
- More than 400 utility/transport helicopters, including UH-60 Black Hawks, CH-47 Chinooks and CH-53 Sea Stallions.
AIRPLANES:
IRAQ:
- About 300 combat planes, including French Mirage F-1EQ fighters and Soviet MiG-29s, MiG-25s, MiG-23s and MiG-21s.
COALITION:
- About 100 British planes, including Tornado, Harrier and Jaguar fighter/attack jets.
- About 500 U.S. fighter/attack planes, including F-14s, F-15s, F-16s, F/A-18s, F-117s, AV-8s and A-10s.
- More than 30 heavy bombers, including B-52s, B-1Bs and B-2s.
- Tens of thousands of bombs and missiles, including satellite-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions and Paveway laser-guided bombs.
NAVY:
IRAQ:
- 2,000 men and 9 obsolete ships.
- Unknown numbers of mines and Silkworm anti-ship missiles.
COALITION:
- 6 U.S. aircraft carrier battle groups underway or in the region.
- 1 British aircraft carrier group.
Sources: Center for Strategic and International Studies; GlobalSecurity.org; British Defense Ministry.
Copyright © 2003, The Associated Press
