Documents
Israel IWI
Desert Eagle
A gas-operated, rotating-bolt semi-automatic pistol chambered for powerful magnum revolver cartridges, originally designed in the U.S. and produced under license by Israel Military Industries. Its large frame and distinctive silhouette made it a cultural icon far beyond its niche military and law-enforcement use.
In service since 1983 · 5 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
60
m range
436
m/s
7
rds
💲 ≈ $2,000 — Approximate retail price
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
Israeli export-licensed
Israeli MoD (DECA/SIBAT) licensing; active export programme.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Fielded & proven
Established · 5 operators
In service since 1983. Status: active · ~300,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data — export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
- Effective range
Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope.
- 60 m Top 2% of pistols
- Muzzle velocity
Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration.
- 436 m/s Top 7% of pistols
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
- Main armament
Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type.
- .50 Action Express
- Caliber
Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better — ammunition commonality matters.
- 12.7 mm
- Ammunition
Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity.
- 7 Bottom 2% of pistols
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
- Length
Overall length including gun/probe where applicable.
- 0.27 m
- Empty weight
Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew.
- 2 kg
- Crew
Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity.
- 1
- Barrel length
Barrel length — longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling.
- 152 mm
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
- Unit cost
Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper.
- $2,000 Bottom 2% of pistols
- Units built
Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability.
- 300,000 Stronger than 19% of pistols
- Operator countries
Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem.
- 5 Stronger than 12% of pistols
Specifications compiled from public IWI and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations — treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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How many crew does the IWI Desert Eagle require? +
The IWI Desert Eagle requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the IWI Desert Eagle? +
The IWI Desert Eagle's primary weapon is the .50 Action Express.
What is the IWI Desert Eagle used for? +
The IWI Desert Eagle is a pistol & sidearm typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the IWI Desert Eagle? +
The IWI Desert Eagle is operated by 5 countries.
How much does the IWI Desert Eagle cost? +
The IWI Desert Eagle has an approximate unit cost of 2,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration — treat this as directional.
