Conflict catalog

1982 Lebanon War: Weapons and Equipment

The 1982 Lebanon War was Israel's invasion of Lebanon against PLO and Syrian positions, launched in June 1982.

The 1982 Lebanon War was Israel's invasion of Lebanon against PLO and Syrian forces and aligned militias. It became a major air and ground campaign across southern Lebanon and the Bekaa Valley.

This catalog tracks weapon systems directly documented in the 1982 Lebanon War.

Entries should be limited to systems with direct conflict-use sourcing.

12 weapon systems

Conflict Actors

Israel / PLO and Syria

Israel

10 weapon systems in this catalog

PLO and Syria

2 weapon systems in this catalog
  • PLO and Syria

Context

Status
Published catalog
Domains
air, land, air defense

Weapons

1982 Lebanon War Weapon Systems

Category

Aircraft & UAVs

Crewed aircraft, drones, and loitering munitions.

6/6
F-14 Tomcat, Carrier-based air superiority fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-14 TomcatCarrier-based air superiority fighterSide: IsraelRole: Reconnaissance and patrolBuilt: Grumman Corporation / United StatesThe Grumman F-14 Tomcat was a carrier-based, two-seat, variable-sweep-wing fighter built for U.S. Navy fleet defense and later adapted for strike, reconnaissance, and targeting missions. Its long-range radar-and-missile concept shaped Cold War carrier air defense, while later F-14B and F-14D upgrades kept the type in combat from the Gulf of Sidra through Iraq, Afghanistan, and Iran's surviving fleet in the 2026 Iran War.
F-15 family fighter aircraft, Fighter aircraft family, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-15 family fighter aircraftFighter aircraft familySide: IsraelRole: Air superiority fighterBuilt: McDonnell Douglas / Boeing / United StatesThe F-15 family covers U.S.-origin Eagle air-superiority fighters, F-15E Strike Eagle attack aircraft, and export or modernized derivatives such as the F-15 Baz, F-15I, F-15S, and F-15EX. The catalog records its air-to-air, interdiction, long-range strike, no-fly-zone patrol, and evacuation-cover roles from the 1982 Lebanon War and 1990 Gulf War through Israeli, Saudi, U.S., and coalition operations in the 2020s.
IAI Kfir, Fighter-bomber and multirole combat aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsIAI KfirFighter-bomber and multirole combat aircraftSide: IsraelRole: Ground-attack strike aircraftBuilt: Israel Aerospace Industries / IsraelThe IAI Kfir is an Israeli fighter-bomber and multirole combat aircraft developed by Israel Aircraft Industries from the Mirage 5 and IAI Nesher lineage. Powered by a license-built General Electric J79 turbojet, the type entered Israeli service in 1975, became Israel's first home-grown fighter-bomber, and later served export operators in Colombia, Ecuador, Sri Lanka, and U.S. adversary-training fleets.
F-15 Baz, Multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-15 BazMultirole fighterSide: IsraelRole: Air-superiority fighterBuilt: McDonnell Douglas / United StatesThe F-15 Baz is the Israeli Air Force designation for F-15A/B/C/D Eagle aircraft adapted for air-superiority, long-range strike, and precision-attack missions. Open-source reporting traces Baz combat use from 1982 Lebanon War air battles through later Lebanon, Gaza, and Iran strike operations, showing how older Israeli F-15 airframes remained relevant as heavy payload carriers after repeated avionics and weapons upgrades.
Su-17, Variable-sweep wing fighter-bomber / ground-attack aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsSu-17Variable-sweep wing fighter-bomber / ground-attack aircraftSide: PLO and SyriaRole: Syrian strike and reconnaissance sortiesBuilt: Sukhoi / Soviet Union / RussiaThe Su-17 Fitter is a Soviet variable-sweep wing fighter-bomber developed from the fixed-wing Su-7B and exported through the Su-20 and Su-22 lines. Designed for ground attack and bombing with rockets, bombs, missiles, gun pods, and 30 mm cannon armament, the family is documented in Soviet, Iraqi, and Syrian conflict use from Afghanistan to Syria.

Category

Air Defense

Systems that contest aircraft, missiles, helicopters, and drones.

1/1
9K33 Osa, Short-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile system, Air DefenseAir Defense9K33 OsaShort-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile systemSide: PLO and SyriaRole: Syrian mobile air defense in the Bekaa ValleyBuilt: Izhevsk Electromechanical Plant (IEMZ) / Soviet UnionThe 9K33 Osa, NATO reporting name SA-8 Gecko, is a Soviet short-range self-propelled surface-to-air missile system that combines search radar, tracking radar, command guidance, and ready-to-fire missiles on a single amphibious 6x6 TELAR. Cataloged conflict records show the system across several generations of air-defense use: Syrian Osa-AK vehicles in Lebanon in 1982, Iraqi SA-8s in the Gulf War air-defense network, captured Georgian systems in 2008, rebel-held examples in Syria, Armenian and Ukrainian battlefield use, and Indian OSA-AK service during Operation Sindoor.

Category

Artillery

Tube artillery, rocket artillery, and long-range ground fires.

2/2
M109, 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer family, ArtilleryArtilleryM109155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer familySide: IsraelRole: Israeli self-propelled artillery supportBuilt: BAE Systems / United StatesThe M109 is a U.S.-origin 155 mm tracked self-propelled howitzer family built for mobile indirect fire with armored and mechanized forces. The family spans the original short-tube vehicle, M109A1 to M109A4 rebuild and export lines, the M109A5 M284-cannon upgrade, the digitally modernized M109A6 Paladin, current M109A7 production, and the longer-barrel M109-52 concept; catalog evidence here centers on direct conflict use by U.S., Ukrainian, U.S.-led coalition, and Israeli forces.
160 mm Soltam M-66, 160 mm towed heavy mortar, ArtilleryArtillery160 mm Soltam M-66160 mm towed heavy mortarSide: IsraelRole: Israeli heavy mortar fire supportBuilt: Soltam Systems / IsraelThe 160 mm Soltam M-66 is an Israeli heavy mortar derived from the Finnish Tampella 160 Krh/58C lineage and built around a large 38 kg-class bomb, a wheel-supported firing carriage, and truck-towed mobility. Open sources document both the towed mortar and the Makmat self-propelled installation, which mounted the M-66 on a modified M4 Sherman chassis for Israeli heavy fire-support use.

Category

Munitions

Standalone missiles, bombs, rockets, torpedoes, and guided or unguided explosive payloads.

2/2
AIM-7 Sparrow missile, Air-to-air missile, MunitionsMunitionsAIM-7 Sparrow missileAir-to-air missileSide: IsraelRole: Air-to-air interceptionBuilt: Raytheon / General Dynamics / United StatesThe AIM-7 Sparrow missile is a U.S.-developed, medium-range radar-guided air-to-air missile built by Raytheon and General Dynamics. The AIM-7E production branch made the Sparrow a Vietnam-era Phantom weapon, later AIM-7M/P rounds improved low-altitude and electronic-countermeasures performance, and SIPRI records AIM-7M transfers to Ukraine for air-defense aid.
AIM-9 Sidewinder missile, Short-range air-to-air missile family, MunitionsMunitionsAIM-9 Sidewinder missileShort-range air-to-air missile familySide: IsraelRole: UnknownBuilt: Raytheon / Diehl Defence / United States / GermanyThe AIM-9 Sidewinder is a short-range infrared-guided air-to-air missile family that began at Naval Ordnance Test Station China Lake and entered service in the 1950s. The family spans early rear-aspect missiles, all-aspect AIM-9L/M models, German AIM-9L/I modernization, export P-series rounds, and the modern AIM-9X branch, with documented use from Vietnam and Middle East air wars to Falklands, Gulf War, Ukraine air-defense aid, and Red Sea operations.

Category

Tanks

Heavy armor built around direct fire, protection, and battlefield shock.

1/1
M60A1 Patton, Second-generation main battle tank, TanksTanksM60A1 PattonSecond-generation main battle tankSide: IsraelRole: Israeli armored assault and direct-fire tank combatBuilt: Detroit Tank Arsenal / United StatesThe M60A1 Patton is a U.S.-origin main battle tank built around the 105 mm M68 gun, a four-person crew, and a redesigned long turret with heavier protection than the original M60. Israeli Magach 6A tanks, Iranian M60A1s, and U.S. Marine Corps M60A1s give the type a documented combat record from the 1973 Yom Kippur War through the 1990 Gulf War, while exported vehicles such as Yemen's pre-war inventory kept it visible in later conflicts.

Conflict Sources

  • Arab-Israeli wars | BritannicaPublisher: Encyclopaedia Britannica | Note: Supports the 1982 Lebanon War's place in the Arab-Israeli wars and the June 1982 Israeli invasion context. | Accessed: 2026-06-26