The Associated Press March 18, 2003
U.S. and Iraqi military
Estimates of Iraqi and coalition military forces, according to government officials and independent military think tanks.
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-72
- 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, which Iraq started destroying in February after U.N. officials determined they flew farther than the 93-mile limit. Iraq had destroyed more than 50 of more than 100 missiles by March 6.
- An unknown number of Ababil-100 rockets, which U.S. officials say fly beyond the 93-mile limit. U.S. forces struck an Ababil launcher in southern Iraq in February.
- Up to several dozen long-range Scud missiles hidden after the 1991 Persian Gulf War.
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:
- More than 100 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters
- More than 200 AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters
- More than 400 utility/transport helicopters, including UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-47 Chinook and CH-53 Sea Stallion
AIRPLANES:
IRAQ:
- About 300 combat planes, including:
- 30-50 French Mirage F-1EQ fighters
- 10-17 Soviet MiG-29s
- 6-15 MiG-25s
- 35-60 MiG-23s
- 36-160 MiG-21s.
- 33-60 Su-17/20/22 ground attack jets
- 4-30 Su-25 ground attack jets
COALITION:
- About 100 British planes, including Tornado, Harrier and Jaguar fighter/attack jets
- About 500 U.S. fighter/attack planes, including:
- 50-60 F-14s
- About 90 F-15s
- About 75 F-16s
- 180-220 F/A-18s
- At least 10 F-117s
- About 50 A-10s
- At least 36 heavy bombers, including B-52, B-1B and B-2s.
- About 60 Marine Corps AV-8B Harriers
- Thousands of bombs and missiles, including:
- More than 20,000 satellite-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitions
- More than 20,000 laser-guided Paveway II/III 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
