Armed forces of the countries of the world 231. The most powerful armies in the world: rating
If the world were perfect, then no armies and weapons would be needed and there would never be wars. But the reality is that threats both abroad and within the state put national security under threat. This reality forces many states to have a powerful army in the form of human potential and weapons.
There are several outstanding armies that are widely known for their size in combat experience and military equipment. They are among the ten largest armies in the world.
1. China
The first place in the world in terms of the size of the army is not surprisingly occupied by the most populous country in the world, China. People's Army. This nation is known not only for its large territory, but also for its huge population and, accordingly, the largest army. The Chinese People's Liberation Army was founded in 1927.
Its main part consists of citizens aged 18 to 49 years. The number of 2300000 people. Budget $129 billion per year. About 240 installations for launching nuclear missiles. The Chinese army is well trained and has large resources for weapons and mobilization resources in the event of a war, it can put 200,000,000 people under arms. It is armed with 8,500 tanks, 61 submarines, 54 surface ships and 4,000 aircraft.
Russian army
The Russian army is one of the most experienced in the world. Its number is 1,013,628 military personnel (according to the presidential decree of March 28, 2017). The annual budget is 64 billion dollars and ranks 3rd in the world in terms of spending on the army. There are 2,867 tanks, 10,720 armored vehicles, 2,646 self-propelled guns, and 2,155 towed artillery pieces in service. Russia also has the largest number of nuclear warheads in the world.
3.United States of America
US Army
The US Army was founded in 1775. The United States currently has 1,400,000 active military personnel and 1,450,000 active personnel. The defense budget is what really sets the US apart from all the other countries on the list, at over $689 billion a year.
The United States also has the most trained troops and a powerful arsenal. Its ground forces use 8,325 tanks, 18,539 armored combat vehicles, 1,934 self-propelled guns, 1,791 towed artillery pieces, and 1,330 nuclear warheads.
indian army
Located in southern Asia, India is the largest arms importer in the world. With a population of 1.325 thousand soldiers and officers. The army's military budget is $44 billion a year. Also in service are about 80 nuclear warheads.
5. North Korea
Army of North Korea
North Korea has a well-trained and well-coordinated army of 1,106,000, as well as a large number of reservists of 8,200,000 as of 2011. It also has a large number of weapons which include: 5400 tanks, 2580 armored vehicles, 1600 self-propelled guns, 3500 towed artillery pieces, 1600 air defense systems and other powerful weapons. Military service in this state is mandatory for all the term of service in the army is 10 years.
While totalitarian regime in North Korea build a big army most of its military equipment is considered obsolete. However, they have nuclear weapons, which in turn threatens the stability of the world in this region.
6. South Korea
Photo of the South Korean Army
Next on the list of the largest armies in the world is the South Korean army. In this state, the draft age is from 18 to 35 years, the term of service is 21 months.
Its armed forces are called the Army of the Republic of Korea. It uses both domestic weapons and imported ones. It is armed with 2,300 tanks, 2,600 armored vehicles, 30 air defense systems and 5,300 artillery pieces. The number of its troops reaches approximately 1,240,000 people.
7. Pakistan
pakistani army
The Pakistan Army rightfully ranks among the largest armies in the world. Its headcount is 617,000 people and the personnel reserve is about 515,500 people as of 2011.
Its ground forces use a wide range of weapons: 3,490 tanks, 5,745 armored vehicles, 1,065 self-propelled guns, and 3,197 towed artillery pieces. The Air Force is armed with 1,531 aircraft and 589 helicopters. The naval forces consist of 11 frigates and 8 submarines. With a budget of just over $5 billion, it is the smallest budget of the top ten military powers. Pakistan may be a small country in size, but it is undoubtedly one of the largest armies in the world in terms of size and military prowess. Also, this army is a permanent ally of the United States.
Iranian army
It is said that the most powerful army in the Middle East is the Iranian army. Iran is also known for its large troop strength. It has about 545,000 men, divided into 14 infantry divisions and 15 air bases. Their army is equipped with 2895 tanks, 1500 armored vehicles, 310 self-propelled guns, 860 air defense systems, 1858 aircraft and 800 helicopters. The defense budget is just over $10 billion.
Turkish army
Turkey has the largest army at the point of contact between Asia and Europe. Citizens are called up for service from the age of 20. The call lasts approximately 6 to 15 months, depending on educational level students. The number of the Turkish army is 1,041,900 people, of which 612,900 are regular military personnel and 429,000 are in the reserve. Its army is also well armed and has 4460 tanks, 1500 self-propelled guns, 7133 armored vehicles, 406 air defense systems, 570 aircraft and helicopters. The annual budget of this army is 19 billion dollars.
10 Israel
Israeli army
The army of the State of Israel is known as the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Every year men who have reached the age of 18 are subject to conscription. Every year about 121,000 men can be drafted into the army to serve in any of its military units. Currently, the Israeli army consists of 187,000 regular soldiers and a reserve of 565,000 people. As a result, the number of troops of the Israel Defense Forces is about 752,000. The army is equipped with the latest technology and is armed with 3870 tanks, 1775 armored vehicles, 706 self-propelled guns, 350 towed artillery pieces, and 48 air defense systems.
Not all countries in the world need a large army for reliable protection. However, the maintenance of peace and order would not be possible without a well-organized and well-armed army.
The Russian army entered the top three of the strongest armies in the world. The military of the Russian Federation was evaluated on a par with other armies and shared the podium with China and the United States. Typically, such ratings are compiled on the basis of data from Global Firepower or Credit Suisse. The military power of each state is evaluated according to various criteria, nuclear potential or its absence is not taken into account.
How to determine the real alignment of forces among the states participating in military conflicts? When compiling the rating of armies, parameters such as the budget, the size of the army, the number of weapons (armored vehicles, aircraft, aircraft carriers and submarines) are usually taken into account. The technical level of weapons affects the position in the list to a lesser extent, and it is almost never possible to assess the real combat capability of the army. Nuclear potential or its absence in this list were not taken into account. The position was also influenced by the economic situation of the countries.
The Global Firepower organization evaluates the military potential of more than one hundred countries according to 50 different criteria. In 2016, the United States ranked first in the world in terms of having the largest military budget, the largest number of aircraft carriers, and the largest air fleet. Russia leads in the number of tanks (15,000) and nuclear warheads (8,484 units). China is ahead of everyone in the size of the army.
Not so long ago, the National Interest magazine made a forecast on the combat power of the armies of the world in 15 years. The analysis was based on the following parameters: access to innovation and other important national resources, support from politicians and the ability of the military to learn and improve in a peaceful environment. As a result, the five most powerful armies, in their opinion, will include the armed forces of India, the United States, France, China and Russia.
This rating, compiled by the American portal The Richest, may raise some questions. For example, the Israeli army is losing one position to Egypt, mainly due to the number of employees and tanks. However, in all clashes, the first country always defeated the second, despite the numerical superiority. It is also strange that the list does not include Iran with its half a million soldiers, 1500 tanks and 300 combat aircraft. Our readers will probably have many more questions for the authors of this list.
15. Australia
Budget: $26.1 billion
Number of active troops: 58 thousand people
Tanks: 59
Aviation: 408
Submarines: 6
The Australian Army has a long and glorious history, having served in both World War I and World War II as part of the British Empire. Members of the Australian Armed Forces are consistently involved in all NATO operations. In accordance with national doctrine, Australia should be able to stand alone against an invasion from outside. Located on the edge of the world, with no real competitor, Australia is considered one of the safest countries, as ground invasion is impossible. The Australian Defense Force is relatively small but technologically advanced. They are formed on professional basis only from Australian citizens, technically well equipped, there are modern fleet and many combat helicopters. With a small number of personnel, but with a serious budget, the Australian Armed Forces are able to deploy their troops in several locations at the same time if necessary.
14. Germany
Budget: $40.2 billion
Number: 180 thousand people
Tanks: 408
Aviation: 663
Subs: 4
After the Second World War, Germany did not have its own army for 10 years. During the confrontation between the West and the USSR, the Bundeswehr numbered up to half a million people, but after the unification of East and West Berlin, the authorities abandoned the doctrine of confrontation and sharply reduced investments in defense. Apparently, this is why in the Credit Suisse rating, for example, the GDR Armed Forces were behind even Poland (and Poland is not in this rating at all). At the same time, Berlin actively sponsors the eastern allies in NATO. After 1945, Germany was never directly involved in major operations, but they sent troops to support their allies during the Ethiopian Civil War, the Angolan Civil War, the Bosnian War and the War in Afghanistan.
Whenever we hear about the German military, it is somehow impossible not to think of Adolf Hitler, who is responsible for the deaths of about 6 million Jews and many millions of people of other nations...
The Germans today have few submarines and not a single aircraft carrier. german army has a record number of inexperienced young soldiers, which makes her weaker; they are now planning to overhaul their strategy and implement new recruitment processes.
13. Italy
Budget: $34 billion
The number of active army: 320 thousand people.
Tanks: 586
Aviation: 760
Subs: 6
The totality of the military forces of the Italian Republic, designed to protect freedom, independence and territorial integrity states. Consist of ground forces, navy, air force and carabinieri corps.
Italy has not taken a direct part in armed conflicts in any countries beyond recent times, but is always involved in peacekeeping missions and deployed its troops in the war on terrorism.
Weak during the Second World War, the Italian army currently owns two active aircraft carriers, which house a large number of helicopters; they have submarines, which allows them to be included in the list of the most powerful armies. Italy is not currently at war, but is an active member of the UN - willingly transfers its troops to countries that ask for help.
12. UK
Budget: $60.5 billion
Active Army: 147,000
Tanks: 407
Aviation: 936
Subs: 10
After the end of World War II, Great Britain abandoned the idea of military dominance around the world in favor of the United States, but the Royal Armed Forces still have significant power and take part in all NATO operations. After the Second World War, there were three big wars with Iceland in Great Britain, which did not become victorious for England - it was defeated, which allowed Iceland to expand its territories.
The United Kingdom once ruled over half the world, including India, New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, but the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is getting much weaker over time. The UK military budget has been cut due to BREXIT and they are planning to reduce the number of their soldiers in time until 2018.
Her Majesty's fleet includes several nuclear submarines with strategic nuclear weapons: a total of about 200 warheads. By 2020, the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth is expected to be commissioned, which will be able to carry 40 F-35B fighters.
11. Israel
Budget: $17 billion
Population: 160 thousand
Tanks: 4,170
Aviation: 684
Subs: 5
The main enemy of the Arabs, Israel has been fighting for its independence since 1947; it is constantly at war with Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and other Arab countries.
Israel has won five consecutive victories in previous wars against Hamas and Palestine since 2000, with heavy reinforcements from the US military.
A country that is not recognized by 31 countries (of which 18 are Arab) is still fighting against its enemies. By law, all citizens of Israel, including those with dual citizenship and living in another country, as well as all permanent residents in the territory of the state, upon reaching 18 years of age, are subject to conscription in the IDF. Term military service 36 months - 3 years (32 months for combat units), for women - 24 months (2 years). After the end of regular service, all privates and officers may be called up annually for reservist duties for up to 45 days.
The IDF's greatest strength is the use of technology in upgrading its missile defense systems. The army consists of 3 types of armed forces: land, air force and naval forces. Implementation of the decision on the creation of the fourth type of armed forces - cybernetic troops has begun. Business card IDF - female military personnel who have proven that the weaker sex with a machine gun is no less effective than the strong one. Not to mention the fact that according to unverified data, Israel has about 80 nuclear warheads in service.
Israel is traditionally the most undervalued member of the Credit Suisse rating. The IDF has won all the conflicts in which it participated, and often the Israelis had to fight on several fronts against an enemy many times superior in number. In addition to a huge amount of the latest offensive and defensive weapons of our own design, the rating does not take into account the fact that there are several hundred thousand reservists in the country with combat experience and high motivation.
10. Egypt
Budget: $4.4 billion
Army size: 468 thousand people
Tanks: 4,624
Aviation: 1,107
Subs: 4
Having fought on the side of the Arab alliance against Israel in 4 wars, Egypt has never fought a major battle against any other countries, but has participated several times in operations against ISIS terrorist groups. As in Israel military service is obligatory for Egyptian men, they happen to be 9 years old. Today, Egypt is trying to keep the peace in its own country and wage a war on terrorism.
The army of Egypt was in the ranking due to the number and amount of equipment, although as the war showed doomsday, even a threefold superiority in tanks is offset by high combat skills and the technical level of weapons. Initialed or signed as of 2014 contracts totaling more than $3 billion for the supply from the Russian Federation of 24 MiG-29m/m2 fighters, air defense systems, anti-tank Cornet, combat helicopters: Ka-25, Mi-28 and Mi-25, Mi-35 . Light weapons. Coastal anti-ship systems. All contracts started after the suspension of military and financial assistance to Egypt from the United States. At the same time, it is known that about a thousand "Abrams" of the Egyptian Armed Forces are simply mothballed in warehouses. If Cairo acquires Mistral-type helicopter carriers and attack helicopters for them, this will make Egypt a truly serious military force.
9. Pakistan
Budget: $7 billion
The number of active army: 617 thousand people
Tanks: 2,924
Aviation: 914
Subs: 8
The first major war was fought in 1965 against the largest enemy - India, military operations were quite successful, India withdrew its troops. The second war was domestic policy East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), when the Indian army took revenge for 1965 and played its cards, splitting the country in two. Pakistan has not reached an agreement on the borders with India: the territories of the states of Jammu and Kashmir remain disputed, formally the countries are in a state of conflict, within which they are conducting an arms race.
Pakistan's army is one of the largest in the world, it has a lot of tanks and aircraft, the US supports Islamabad with equipment. The main threat is internal, in remote areas of the country ruled by local leaders and the Taliban. Pakistan has medium-range ballistic missiles and about a hundred nuclear warheads. Pucks love and respect their MC immensely, and often seek justice from the military (instead of the courts and the government). Pakistan is said to have friendly relations with the superpowers, including the US, China and Turkey, who are always ready to support them. Recently, joint military exercises with the Russian army have made the Pakistani military much stronger, even though their biggest enemy India has been backed by Russia in previous wars against Pakistan.
8. Turkey
Budget: $18.2 billion
The number of active army: 410, 500 thousand people
Tanks: 3,778
Aviation: 1,020
Subs: 13
Turkey is an active member of the UN; She took part in the Korean War between China and Korea. They fought two major battles with Cyprus in 1964 and 1974 and won, taking 36.2% of the territory of Cyprus. They are still involved in the ongoing wars in Afghanistan against the Taliban and ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Turkey claims to be a regional leader, therefore it is constantly building up and updating its armed forces. Great amount tanks, aviation and a large modern fleet (though without aircraft carriers) allows the Turkish army to be considered the strongest among the Muslim countries of the Middle East.
The semi-European, semi-Asian power, which has the second largest military in NATO after the US, is one of the best trained military forces in the world. Turkey owns a "treasure" of more than 200 F-16s, the second largest fleet after the United States. Despite the presence of a large number of well-trained military personnel, the Turkish Armed Forces are not particularly popular among the people. In early 2016, when the military attempted a coup, they were defeated by ordinary citizens who took to the streets and re-established an elected government.
7. France
Budget: $62.3 billion
Active Army: 205,000
Tanks: 623
Aviation: 1,264
Subs: 10
France is one of the few countries whose armed forces have an almost complete range of modern weapons and military equipment of their own production - from small arms to strike nuclear aircraft carriers (which, apart from France, only the United States has). France is the only country (other than Russia) that owns a system of radar guided missiles.
The military history of France spans over 3,000 years. France took part in the First and Second World Wars and faced major defeats. Other major events military history of this country: the French-Thai War, the Tunisian War of Independence, the Algerian War of Independence in 1954-1962. After that, France did not participate in major battles, but sent its troops to the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The French army is still the main military force in Africa, it continues to actively intervene in local conflicts.
In 2015, France completed the reform of the armed forces, which began in 1996. As part of this reform, conscription was canceled and a transition to a mercenary army took place, which was less numerous, but more effective. The total strength of the French armed forces was significantly reduced.
Recently, the attack nuclear aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" was put into operation. Currently, France has approximately 300 strategic nuclear warheads, which are deployed on nuclear submarines. There are also 60 tactical warheads.
6. South Korea
Budget: $62.3 billion
Active Army: 625,000
Tanks: 2,381
Aviation: 1,412
Subs: 13
The main war in which this country participated was the Korean War in 1950. Often this conflict of times cold war is viewed as a proxy war between the United States and its allies and the forces of the PRC and the USSR. The composition of the northern coalition included: North Korea and its armed forces; the Chinese army (since it was officially believed that the PRC did not participate in the conflict, regular Chinese troops were formally considered to be formations of the so-called "Chinese people's volunteers"); The USSR, which also did not officially participate in the war, but in many respects took over its financing, as well as the supply Chinese troops. Numerous military advisers and specialists were withdrawn from North Korea even before the start of the war, and during the war they were sent back under the guise of TASS correspondents. From the South, South Korea, the United States, Great Britain and a number of other countries took part in the war as part of the UN peacekeeping forces. Interestingly, China uses the name "War against America to support the Korean people." In 1952-53, many things changed in the world (the new president in the USA, the death of Stalin, etc.), and the war ended with a truce.
Armed forces South Korea highly backed by the US military, which makes them stronger. South Korea retains numerous armed forces, although in terms of quantitative indicators in everything except aviation, it continues to lose to its main potential adversary - the DPRK. The difference, of course, is in the technological level. Seoul has its latest and Western developments, Pyongyang has Soviet technology 50 years ago.
Interestingly, North Korea is considered the leader in the number of submarines (35th in the Global Firepower rating), which has 78 units. However, it is noted that they are almost completely unusable. A third of North Korea's submarines are noisy diesel-powered Romeos, which were obsolete in 1961.
5. India
Budget: $51 billion
Active Army Strength: 1,408,551
Tanks: 6,464
Aviation: 1,905
Subs: 15
Currently, India is confidently among the top ten world powers in terms of its military potential. The armed forces of India are inferior to the armies of the United States, Russia and China, they are strong and numerous. Speaking of the Indian armed forces, it is worth remembering that India is the world's largest importer of weapons (as of 2012), and also possesses nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. In addition to the armed forces themselves, India has a variety of paramilitary forces in which more than a million people serve: national security forces, special border forces, special paramilitary forces. The fact that India has about a hundred nuclear warheads, three aircraft carriers and two nuclear submarines in service makes it the fifth most powerful.
4. Japan
Budget: $41.6 billion
Active army strength: 247, 173
Tanks: 678
Aviation: 1,613
Subs: 16
Last battle World War II was a nightmare for Japan, which was hit by a nuclear attack from the United States. After defeat in World War II Imperial Army Japan was dissolved, and military factories and educational establishments closed. The occupying authorities banned even martial arts. A ban on the manufacture of Japanese swords was also established, which lasted until 1953. In 1947, the Constitution of Japan was adopted, which legally enshrined Japan's refusal to participate in military conflicts. The only country that has suffered from nuclear attacks is not allowed to raise its own army.
However, already during the period of American occupation, the creation of armed formations began: in 1950, a reserve police corps was created; in 1952 it was converted to the Security Corps, in 1954 it was converted to the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The Japan Self-Defense Force is modern name armed forces of Japan. The armed forces include: ground forces, sea and air self-defense forces of Japan. It can be argued that today Japan has a very large and relatively modern armed forces, powerful enough in the Asia-Pacific region and capable of solving almost any task. On September 19, 2015, the Japanese Parliament authorized the use of the Self-Defense Forces to participate in military conflicts abroad.
Japan's high-tech military is equipped with cutting-edge gadgets and the latest weapons, making it one of the strongest on this list. Japan recently deployed its troops to South Sudan for the first time since World War II as part of UN peacekeeping missions. The Japan Self-Defense Forces are armed with 4 helicopter carriers and 9 destroyers. However, Japan does not have nuclear weapons and this, together with a small number of tanks, makes some experts think that the position of this army is overestimated.
3. Russia
Budget: $84.5 billion
Active Army strength: 766,033
Tanks: 15,398
Aviation: 3,429
Subs: 55
It would be disrespectful to the national military history to try to retell it in one paragraph.
A great power has just under a million military personnel. The Russian ground army is rightfully considered the most powerful in the whole world, which is provided with the latest military equipment. The budget allocated by the state for the needs of the army, the production and purchase of military equipment, is more than 84 billion dollars. The air force includes over 3,000 aircraft. No less equipped navy, consisting of 55 submarines and 1 aircraft carrier. The country has more than 8,000 nuclear warheads and 15,000 armored vehicles in stock.
Syria has demonstrated once again that Russia rightly continues to hold a firm place among the strongest, as many experts believe. The RF Armed Forces are inferior to China only in the number of submarines. And if the rumors about a Chinese secret nuclear stockpile are not true, then it is far ahead of him in this area. It is believed that Russia's strategic nuclear forces have about 350 carriers and about 2,000 nuclear warheads. The number of tactical nuclear charges is unknown and may be several thousand.
One of the three most powerful and experienced armies in the world, the Russian army is a big threat to China and the US. Russia constantly invests in its military budget and produces the latest aircraft, helicopters and ammunition. By 2020, Russia plans to add six more army aviation air bases to the existing eight. In addition, more than a thousand new helicopters are planned to be put into operation.
2. China
Budget: $216 billion
Active Army Strength: 2,333,000
Tanks: 9,150
Aviation: 2,860
Subs: 67
The People's Liberation Army of China is the official name of the Chinese armed forces, the largest in terms of numbers in the world. China is the most populated country in the world with largest number soldier; approximately 2,333,000 people serve (this is only 0.18% of the country's population). China is increasing its military budget by 12% every year to become a superpower against the US. Legislation provides military duty for men over 18; volunteers are accepted until the age of 49. The age limit for an army reserve soldier is 50 years. Armed forces The PRC is divided into five military command zones and three fleets organized along territorial lines: east, north, west, south, and center.
After the capitulation of Japan, the USSR handed over to the PLA captured weapons of the Kwantung Army: ships of the Sungari River Flotilla, 861 aircraft, 600 tanks, artillery, mortars, 1200 machine guns, as well as small arms, ammunition and other military equipment.
Chinese officials say that in the course of developing weapons, China does not exceed the feasible level that the economy and society are able to withstand, and even more so does not seek an arms race. However, PRC defense spending increased sharply in 2001-2009.
The second economy in the world has the largest active army, however, in terms of the number of tanks, aircraft and helicopters, it is still noticeably inferior not only to the United States, but also to Russia. But the defense budget exceeds the Russian one by 2.5 times. As far as we know, China keeps several hundred nuclear warheads on combat duty. However, some believe that in reality the PRC may have several thousand warheads, but this information is classified.
1. USA
Budget: $601 billion
Troops: 1,400,000
Tanks: 8,848
Aviation: 13,892
Submarines: 72
The USA is directly or indirectly involved in almost all the wars that have been taking place on planet Earth since the discovery of America. The US military budget is comparable to previous countries in the ranking. The Navy has 10 powerful aircraft carriers, half of which are considered the largest in the world. The superpower has 1.4 million military personnel in reserve. A third of the country's gross income goes to the development of the army and military equipment - about 600 billion dollars. American soldiers have at their disposal the most modern military equipment, which is periodically updated. The US has a nuclear capability that includes 7,500 nuclear warheads. The country is also famous for its tanks, and their armored vehicles have more than 8 thousand units. The state also has the largest air force in the world, with some 13,682 aircraft.
Some experts say that the USA can never be invaded because they have the strongest fleet with the maximum number ships and submarines. The American army owns about 15 million hectares of land throughout the United States and the Americans have their military bases almost all over the world (there are at least 158 of them). In 2011, the Army Newsletter reported that they estimated they had used up about 22 gallons of fuel per day per soldier.
The US is investing billions of dollars to develop the latest military technology, keeping the US at the forefront in areas such as robotics. Recently, the US Army has been looking to create new Cyber Corps and increase soldiers in the Cyber Crime Unit. Their responsibility will be to ensure the security of networks and information databases of systems and to protect against cyber attacks.
If you want peace, prepare for war. This is what the well-known wisdom proclaims. Indeed, only a strong army in modern world is the guarantor of the independence of the state, despite international law and the UN. Of course, the peace initiatives of recent decades have reduced tension in the world, but the number of hot spots on the globe is still large. In addition to solving the usual problems, modern military units have to take part in the fight against world terrorism. In this material, we will talk about which are the most powerful armies in the world and which states they belong to.
First place - United States of America
After the collapse of the USSR, the only superpower in the world remains the United States. Despite the fact that after the end of the Cold War, the country's military spending in to a large extent declined, the US military is the most powerful army in the world so far.
The country's population is about 311 million people, which provides a high mobilization resource in case of war, while in peacetime the US Army is completely professional.
The number of its regular troops is 560 thousand people. There are many more in reserve. The number of combat ground equipment in service is 60 thousand units. In addition, the American army has a fairly powerful fleet, which includes more than two thousand units. No less threatening force is the country's Air Force. The number of air vehicles exceeds 18 thousand units.
The most impressive figure is the US military budget. Its amount is more than the total military budget of all other major armies in the world and amounts to 692 billion dollars. Among other things, the Americans have powerful rocket troops, which include 32 military satellites and about 500 ballistic missiles.
The US Army has proved its worth in practice in a large number of wars in which it has participated over the past thirty years. The triumph was military operation against Saddam Hussein's Iraq, when his army was defeated without any serious losses, despite the fact that it was the most powerful army in the Middle East, in which officers who went through the Soviet school served.
Second place - Russian Federation
The second most powerful army in the world and, without a doubt, the most best army within the territory of former USSR. In many ways, it was the rich heritage that allowed the Russian army to take a high line.
After the collapse Soviet Union The Russian army was going through bad times. However, already in the 2000s, the state began to pay much more attention to its combat capability. In addition, a lot of work has been done to increase the authority of the army in the eyes of the country's population.
The population of the country is about 145 million people. At the same time, the number of regular troops is one million people. A large army (twice as large as that of the United States) is necessary for the country because of the large extent of its borders. There are about 20 million people in the reserve. The number of ground combat equipment is 9 thousand units.
The fleet is traditionally the weak side of the Russian army. To date, it has only 233 ships. The number of aircraft - 2800 units. The budget of the country's Armed Forces is about 75 billion US dollars. In addition, Russia has powerful nuclear weapons and their means of delivery.
The Russian army began to be treated more respectfully as a result of the Crimean and Syrian operations. Outstanding foreign experts noted the speed and efficiency with which the army is able to carry out tasks.
Third place - People's Republic of China
The most big army in the world belongs to the Republic of China. The whole history of the country is connected with numerous wars. Despite the fact that China has not participated in any large-scale military operations since the Korean War, the number of threats to this country has not decreased.
The population of the country at the moment is one and a half billion people. The number of regular troops is 2.2 million. At the same time, there is another million in reserve. The number of combat ground equipment - 58 thousand units. Recently, China has been actively building up its fleet, and the production of modern aircraft carriers has been launched. The number of ships today is only 972 units, but this number is growing. Also in the service of Chinese troops is about 5 thousand aircraft.
The budget of the Chinese army is 106 billion US dollars. Today's military doctrine The PRC is directed to fight in the east. Recently, China built several islands off its coast, which caused protests from Japan and the United States. In addition, there is still a desire to resolve the Taiwan issue by force. In addition, the country's neighbor, the DPRK, has recently become completely uncontrollable and is beginning to threaten not only its traditional adversaries, but also countries such as China and Russia.
China also has powerful nuclear forces. They lag behind the level of the Russian or american army, however, they can still cause irreparable harm to their opponent.
Fourth place - India
India became an independent power only in the middle of the last century, but during this time its troops managed to take part in several local wars. The state has tense relations with Pakistan, which is the Muslim regions of the former India, which is in the possession of the English crown. There are still territorial disputes between these two neighbors. In addition, in the history of the country there were some disputes with another powerful neighbor - the PRC. That is why India is obliged to have a powerful armed forces.
The population of the country is 1.2 billion people. Regular troops - 1.3 million people. There are 2 million more people in the reserve. In the service of the Indian Armed Forces there are 13 thousand units of ground military equipment and about two hundred warships. The country's aviation includes about 2.5 thousand aircraft. The budget of the army is about 50 billion US dollars.
Fifth place - UK
The English army was once the most formidable weapon on the planet. Her fleet was especially famous. The British Empire was called the queen of the seas, its troops could fight anywhere in the world, thanks to a well-established system of maritime supply. No wonder the Empire's holdings were so vast that the sun never set on it.
A lot of time has passed since then, the colonies gained independence, but even today the UK has a very efficient army. The population of the country is 62 million people, the size of regular units is 220 thousand people, plus the same number is in reserve. The UK Armed Forces has about 20,000 units of ground combat equipment. Interestingly, today's fleet of the country is much more modest. It includes about a hundred warships. Aviation Troops has about 1600 aircraft. The military item of expenditure of the budget is 75 billion US dollars.
The country's troops participated in a limited amount in the Yugoslav conflict, the war in Iraq and the counter-terrorist operation in Afghanistan. Since 2015, the country's aircraft have been participating in the fight against ISIS formations in Syria and Iraq.
Sixth place - Turkey
As a rule, few people realize that the Turkish Armed Forces are included in the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world. However, upon closer examination, this state of affairs becomes clear. Many times in the history of this country it was necessary to fight with its neighbors, including Russia. Today Turkey is in the most troubled region of the world. Nearby is Syria, which sucks in fighting an increasing number of participants.
In addition, there is a serious Kurdish problem in the country. The aggravation of relations with the Kurds threatens a real civil war. The number of regular troops is 660 thousand people, the same number of people are in the reserve. The armament consists of about 70 thousand military units of equipment, 265 ships and about 2 thousand aircraft.
Seventh place - Republic of Korea
The Korean War is the worst war since World War II. The most powerful countries in the world - the USSR, the USA and China - took part in it. So far, the Korean question has not been finally resolved. Every now and then between the two countries there are crisis situations that threaten new clashes. That is why the Republic of Korea maintains large modern troops. Regular troops consist of 650 thousand people. There are more than two million people in the reserve. About 14 thousand military equipment, 170 ships and 1.5 thousand aircraft are on guard. The country's military budget is about 30 million US dollars.
Eighth place - France
France is a country whose army participated in both world wars, where the memory of the Nazi occupation has not yet cooled down. Despite the fact that modern Europe is a much calmer place compared to the last century, the country still maintains a fairly powerful army, also being a member of NATO. The population of the country is 64 million people, the regular troops are 230 thousand people, and the reserve is 70 thousand people. Military equipment - 10 thousand units. The fleet is about 300 ships. Aviation - 1800 aircraft. The country's budget is 44 billion US dollars.
French aircraft participated in the operation in Libya, where they supported the rebels, and today the country's air force is participating in the counter-terrorist operation in Syria and Iraq.
Ninth place - Japan
The Japanese army was a formidable weapon during the Second World War. Japanese fleet for a long time successfully fought with a powerful enemy - the US Navy. At the end of WWII, Japan was forbidden to have a large army. However, despite this, modern Japan is among the top most powerful states.
Limitations in numbers forced the Japanese leadership to engage in the qualitative development of their armed forces. The population of the country is about 130 million people. The regular army has only 220 thousand people. There are about 50 thousand people in the reserve. The number of military equipment has about 5 thousand combat vehicles. The restrictions also affected the country's fleet. During the Second World War, it was one of the most powerful in the world, but today it has only 110 ships. The number of aircraft is about 1900 units. The country's budget is 58 billion dollars.
Tenth place - Israel
Israel is in tenth place in this ranking, but few other countries in the world have such combat experience. The state is quite young, and it so happened that it had to prove its right to exist throughout the 20th century. Being surrounded by hostile Arab countries, Israel has been involved in several serious armed conflicts. Despite the fact that all the wars have been won, Israel does not relax and continues to maintain a powerful army. The Palestinian question remains unresolved to this day. In addition, a new hotbed of tension that has arisen in Syria also threatens Israel. Relations remain difficult with Iran and Hezbollah (the Lebanese group), which still do not recognize the Jewish state.
The population of the country is only 8 million people. The regular army has 240 thousand people, 60 thousand people are in the reserve. The number of military equipment is 13 thousand units. The country's fleet consists of 65 ships. Aviation - about 2 thousand aircraft. The country's budget is 15 billion US dollars.
A powerful and combat-ready army is the key to a significant weight of the country in the international arena. Moreover, in connection with the well-known events in Syria and Ukraine, more and more often military power different countries is given the closest attention. Many ask the question: "Who will win the world war?".
Today we present an annually updated, official ranking of the armies of the world, a list that includes the most powerful armies in the world in 2017.
When compiling a rating, the comparison includes:
- number of armies of the world (regular number of troops, reservists)
- weapons (aircraft, helicopters, tanks, fleet, artillery, other equipment)
- military budget, resource equipment, geographical position, logistics.
Nuclear potential is not taken into account by experts, however, recognized nuclear powers get an advantage in ranking.
By the way, San Marino had the weakest army in the world in 2017 - only 80 people.
10 South Korea
The Korean army is the third in Asia in terms of numbers - 630 thousand soldiers. The country has a very high number of military personnel per thousand inhabitants - 14.2 people. Defense budget of Korea - $33.7 billion.9 Germany
The country's military budget is $45 billion. The number of German armed forces is 186,500 people. The German army is completely professional, i.e. There has been no compulsory conscription in the country since 2011.8 Turkey
The Turkish army is the best in the Middle East. The number of the country's armed forces is 510,000 people. Turkey's military budget is $18 billion. There are just over 7 military personnel per thousand inhabitants of the country.7 Japan
The Japanese army is the seventh in the list of the best. The combat-ready part of the army has 247,000 servicemen. With such a large number of armed forces, the country has a huge defense budget - $49 billion.6 UK
The country's military budget is $53 billion. The number of British armed forces - 188,000 military - is the smallest army in the ranking. But Royal Navy Britain is second in the world in terms of tonnage.5 France
Opens a list of the 5 most powerful armies in the world. The country's military budget is $43 billion. The number of French armed forces is 222,000 people. The key to the combat effectiveness of this army is the presence in it of a full range of weapons of its own production, from warships to helicopters and small arms.4 India
The country's military budget is $46 billion. The number of Indian armed forces is 1,346,000 people, the country's army is the third largest in the world.3 China
The largest army in the world is the Chinese army, with 2,333,000 troops. Wikipedia indicates that there are 1.71 military personnel per 1000 inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. China's military budget is $126 billion.2 Russia
The Russian armed forces surpass almost all the armies of the countries of the world in terms of the power of weapons in all branches of the military - air, land and sea. The number of the Russian army for 2017 is 798,000 people. The military budget is $76 billion. Among the superpowers, Russia has a very high number of military personnel per 1,000 inhabitants - 5.3 people.1 US
The strongest army in the world, according to Globalfirepower, is American. By the way, it is not the largest in terms of numbers, but the most powerful in terms of available weapons, including nuclear potential not taken into account by experts. The US Army has 1,492,200 men and a defense budget of $612 billion.Any state. And it is in every country. But which armies in the world can rightly be called the best?
Turkey
They are in tenth place. They include land, air, and sea. It is worth noting that the total population of the state is approximately 77-78 million people. And the active manpower is calculated in the amount of ~ 410,500 soldiers. At the same time, approximately 185,000 soldiers are in reserve. And the number of combat ground equipment is about 14,000 units. At the same time, approximately 200 warships. In the air - 1007 attack aircraft, bombers and fighters. And finally, the budget. Defense spends $18,185 billion every year.
It cannot be said that Turkey at all times could boast of a powerful army. But constant conflicts (both external and internal) forced the armed forces of this state to rise to a whole new level.
Japan and Germany
Following Turkey, in ninth place in the ranking, is Japan. The population of this state is estimated at 127 million people. Active manpower is 250,000 military and approximately 58,000 in reserve. Ground equipment is available in the amount of 4329 units, in the navy it is less - only 131 ships. AT air force- about 1690 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers. $40.3 billion is spent on defense annually.
The Japan Self-Defense Force was founded in 1954. The military policy of this state is very interesting. Main principles: do not attack, do not use nuclear weapon, control the activities of the armed forces and cooperate with the United States.
The eighth place in the ranking, which lists the strongest armies in the world, is occupied by the Bundeswehr (Germany). On the day it was founded (07/07/1955), the German Ministry of Defense was also opened. Now there are 180,000 military personnel for ~ 80,000,000 of the population (plus 145,000 military in reserve). Ground equipment impresses with its quantity - 6481 units. has at its disposal 81 warships. And they have 676 units of equipment. Approximately $36.3 billion is spent on defense annually.
South Korea, France and England
7th, 6th and 5th places are occupied by the armed forces of South Korea, France and England. They also entered the strongest armies in the world. The population of South Korea is less than 50 million people. And this number accounts for 625,000 military personnel, plus almost 3,000,000 (!) in the reserve. The equipment is also striking in its numbers: 12,619 combat vehicles, 166 ships and 1,451 units in the air fleet.
Speaking about the number of armies in the world, it is worth noting that in France almost 11,300,000 people, or 1/6 of the entire population, are fit for service! This is a lot. Why did France enter the rating called “The strongest armies in the world”? Because her troops are truly unique. The French army has remained one of those that are fully equipped with equipment, all kinds of weapons from their own manufacturer. It is also interesting that there are many women in the ranks of the armed forces of this country, their percentage of the total number of military men is 15!
England also entered the list of "The most powerful armies in the world." And it's no wonder why she's in fifth place. After all british army takes a direct part in hostilities in many hot spots. But that's not all. In addition, the British military participates in UN operations to maintain global security and tranquility (not many armies of the countries of the world are involved in this).
India
Many are surprised to learn that on the 4th line of the rating called “The most powerful armies of the countries of the world” are the armed forces of this particular state. But it is so. The population is almost 1.3 billion. And about 2,143,000 conscripts! 1,325,000 people serve. The total number of equipment is 23,545. It is not surprising that this state in 2012 ranked first on the entire planet in terms of arms imports. By the way, it is interesting that in India everyone serves under a contract - no one is forced to.
China
Naturally, talking about the most powerful armies world, we can not forget about China. In total, there are 2,335,000 military in the armed forces of this state. The same amount is in reserve. And the defense annually spends an amount of 155.6 billion (!) Dollars. By the way, in terms of the total amount of technology, China is not much ahead of India. This state has at its disposal 27,320 combat vehicles, ships, bombers, etc.
The Chinese army is distinguished by certain features. Or rather, the requirements for military personnel. Men with tattoos cannot serve in the Chinese army. Even with those whose diameter does not exceed two centimeters. And since 2006, military schools have been closed to those who snore. This was explained by the fact that snoring prevents many from falling asleep, and as a result, sleepy soldiers who cannot fully engage. And it was also stated that all the military, who have obesity among their problems, are automatically deprived of the opportunity to grow in their careers.
1st and 2nd places
Russian Federation and the United States - these are the armies of the world that are rightly considered the best. ~ 143,000,000 people live in our country. And the total number of military personnel (both reserve and active manpower) exceeds 3 million. Russia has a powerful navy and aerospace force, and the total number of equipment is almost 65,000 units.
But the United States still occupies the first rating line. The total population is ~ 321,400,000 people, and for this number - 2.5 million military personnel (both reserve and manpower). The amount of equipment is approximately the same, but there are fewer military ones. It turns out that no other number of armies in the world can be compared with Russia. But why then the US in the first place? Everything is simple. on our Russian army leaves a budget of ~47 billion dollars. Only. And the US spends 581 (!) Billion on this.