Most powerful militaries in the world An annual ranking that assesses nations’ armed forces has revealed the most powerful militaries in the world.
The ranking is based on data collected from the Global Firepower Index (GFI) and Credit Suisse.
Both studies focused on the number of available manpower, active aircraft carriers, naval power, land systems, resources, logistics, finances, and geography covered.
Analysts also focused on weapon diversity (i.e. fielding 100 minesweepers does not equal the strategic and tactical value of fielding 10 aircraft carriers).
Among the findings: -The United States has the best-equipped military on the planet.
-Both Russia & China have been modernizing their armed forces, and while their equipment still lags behind top-end American technology, experts say the gap is closing.
-The French military is larger and arguably more capable than its traditional British rival.
-Italy is stronger than Germany in every area, from aircraft and land forces to seapower.
Courtesy of Grinberng News Monday, 20 November , 2017
The most powerful militaries in the world, as of Feb. 1, 2017:
1.United States Possession of over 7000 nuclear weapons, 13000 weaponized aircraft and a spending of over $600 billion a year on defense makes the US the most powerful military in the world.
Budget: $601 billion Active Military Personnel: 1,477,896 Total Tanks: 8,848 Total Aircraft: 15,293 Total Naval Strength: 290 Aircraft Carriers: 10The most powerful militaries in the world, as of Feb. 1, 2017:
2. Russia Russia comes in at second mostly because they possess the most number of tanks as well as nuclear warheads in the world. 15,000 tanks and 8,500 nuclear weapons to be specific.
Budget: $84.5 billion Active Military Personnel: 766,055 Total Tanks: 15,398 Total Aircraft: 4,498 Total Naval Strength: 352 Aircraft Carriers: 1 3. China The Chinese economy is second only to the United States, and their military capabilities are growing at a shocking speed. In terms of raw manpower, it’s the largest military in the world. It also has the second largest tank fleet behind Russia and the second largest submarine fleet behind the US. Budget: $216 billion Active Military Personnel: 2,335,000 Total Tanks: 9,150 Total Aircraft: 5,048 Total Naval Strength: 714 Aircraft Carriers: 1
4. India India has successfully emerged as a major military power in the last two decades and has recently overtaken China as the fastest growing major economy in the world. While their equipment has lagged behind in the past, India now has access to nearly the entire universe of military technology. Russia, Europe, and the United States all sell their military hardware to India.
Budget: $50 billion Active Military Personnel: 1,325,000 Total Tanks: 6,464 Total Aircraft: 2,086 Total Naval Strength: 295 Aircraft Carriers: 2
5. France The French have always been told by the British that they are weak but the reality is the modern French military is larger and more capable than Britain. In addition to being highly trained, the French have power projection capabilities second only to the United States thanks to multiple bases around the globe.
Budget: $62.3 billion Active Military Personnel: 205,000 Total Tanks: 423 Total Aircraft: 1,282 Total Naval Strength: 118 Aircraft Carriers: 4
6.United Kingdom The British military remains one of the most well funded and well-trained forces in the world. However this can be disputed concerning funding, many have the opinion; as continue cuts and asset stripping, via new governments continue and with austerity measures, this will reduce the affectiveness of our troops now and in the future. Their manpower might be comparatively low, but the quality is high with equipment at their disposal, begged, borrowed or aquired.... The reason for the decline, is most likely down to the government wanting to remain in the EU and providing delay tactics, as Brexit 'negotiations' continue, to eventually transfer all military responsibility into the new EU Army. This will leave our boarders and specialised units vaulnrable and the British Army will be an Army of little or no worth in a major incident. Many agree with this 'opinion', when asked; especially with continued austerity cuts. Goverment trends continue.
Budget: $60.5 billion Active frontline personnel: 146,980 Total Tanks: 407 Total Aircraft: 879 Total Naval Strength: 76 Aircraft Carriers: 2
7. Italy Italian forces have gotten much better in the last few decades thanks to interventions in foreign lands (Somalia, Yugoslavia) which gave Italy real combat experience. Their military placed highly on the report due to the country’s possession of two active aircraft carriers. These carriers, in addition to the country’s relatively large submarine and attack helicopter fleets, drastically boosted Italy’s ranking.
Budget: $34 billion Active Military Personnel: 320,000 Total Tanks: 586 Total Aircraft: 785 Total Naval Strength: 179 Aircraft Carriers: 2
8. Germany Germany is one of the strongest economic forces in the world but the army’s condition seems to have deteriorated in the past few years. Germany does not have an aircraft carrier and has relatively few submarines which lowered its ranking. Budget: $40.2 billion Active Military Personnel: 180,000 Total Tanks: 408 Total Aircraft: 676 Total Naval Strength: 81 Aircraft Carriers: 0
9. Japan Even though Japan has officially denounced its right to declare war, it maintains a modern military that is extremely well equipped. Japan could be a top-four military power if their constitution would allow them to also be an offensive force, not only defensive.
Budget: $41.6 billion Active Military Personnel: 250,000 Total Tanks: 678 Total Aircraft: 1,613 Total Naval Strength: 131 Aircraft Carriers: 3
10. Turkey Turkey’s military is mighty in numbers - more than France and the UK combined - but their equipment and training are not as top-notch, but respectable and fully compatible with NATO. In addition, the country can lay claim to an impressively large tank fleet as well as numerous aircraft and attack helicopters.
Budget - $18.2 billion Active Military Personnel - 425,500 Total Tanks - 3,778 Total Aircrafts - 1,007 Naval Strength - 194 Aircraft Carriers - 0
11. South Korea 12. Pakistan 13. Egypt 14. Taiwan 15. Israel 16. Brazil 17. Indonesia 18. Australia 19. Vietnam 20. Thailand 21. Poland 22. Canada 23. Saudi Arabia 24. Algeria 25. Spain 26. Greece 27. Sweden 28. Ukraine 29. Mexico 30. Czech Republic
31. Myanmar 32. Malaysia 33. Argentina 34. Syria 35. Switzerland 36. Norway 37. Netherlands 38. Peru 39. Colombia 40. Ethiopia 41. Romania 42. Nigeria 43. Venezuela 44. South Africa 45. Chile 46. Uzbekistan 47. Belarus 48. Denmark
North Korea and Iran have been omitted from the list because experts remain unsure about their true military power.
Expenditure - Science and Technology - Military and Developments
