Rating of the armed forces of the countries of the world. Armies of the world: rating of the strongest. The most powerful armies in the world. More money, less people

Do you know which countries have the most powerful armies in 2018? If not, then it will be useful for you to familiarize yourself with this rating-table of the armies of the world in 2018. This informative article will tell the reader about the ten states with the strongest military apparatus, lining up all the participants in the rating in descending order (from smallest to largest).

Egypt

The armed forces of Egypt, the total number of which is about 450 thousand people (not counting the reserve), will make their debut in the ranking of the armies of the world in 2018. The military formation structurally consists of four divisions: the ground forces, the naval forces (hereinafter referred to as the Navy / Navy), the air force (Air Force), and the air defense (Air Defense). The ground forces include tank, ground and mechanized divisions armed with over 3,700 tanks, 2,500 mortars, and 4,000 armored personnel carriers. The composition of the Egyptian Air Force - 350 aircraft and 35 thousand military personnel. The composition of the Navy - more than 40 thousand employees and 60 combat ships. Egypt is officially a country without nuclear weapons.

Germany

The German army is called the Bundeswehr, which consists of three (there are 6 in total) main power structures: the Navy (20,000), the Air Force (30,000), and the ground forces. The total number of the entire composition of the Bundeswehr is 180,000 people. Compulsory military service in Germany was abolished in 2011. Since then, only professional military men (contract service) have been found in the ranks of employees. feature German Bundeswehr the medical and sanitary unit is considered (composition 23,000) - this is a full-fledged structural unit of the Bundeswehr, which deals with the treatment of military personnel, the development of modern medical equipment for military purposes, pharmaceuticals, etc. Germany is one of the few countries that curtailed its nuclear program.

Turkey

Turkey ranks 8th in the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world in 2018. Military service is compulsory for all men aged 20-40. Turkey has the strongest ground forces in the world (after the United States) and has about 400 thousand people, who are armed with more than 4,500 tanks, and 4,000 self-propelled artillery of various calibers. The Turkish Navy (about 15 thousand people) is relatively small compared to the UK. The Turkish Navy has about 20 submarines, 30 frigates and corvettes at its disposal.

Japan

After the Second World War, the Imperial Japanese Armed Forces were completely disbanded, which were replaced by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, which are still active today. The basic principles of the Japan Self-Defense Forces: do not attack, do not use nuclear weapons. The Japanese army as of 2018 has more than 250 thousand employees on a voluntary basis (in Japan there is no mandatory conscription, all military personnel are recruited at their own request). The legal status of the Japan Self-Defense Forces is not fully defined, and therefore it is considered that the Japanese army is in the public domain.

Great Britain

The Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Armed Forces of Great Britain is the current monarch. Great Britain settled on the 6th place in the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world in 2018, the number of which is 200 thousand people. 20% of all armed forces is navy(the number is about 40 thousand people). The English fleet is considered one of the most modern and powerful in the world (after the USA) - this is not surprising, because Great Britain is an island. Ground forces number 80 thousand people + 25 thousand reserve. The UK is armed with 4 submarines with nuclear warheads on board.

France

France is the leader in the ranking of the combat capability of the armies of the world. To date, the country has the most modern weapons of its own production, nuclear weapons and numerous human resources. Every year about 30-40 billion US dollars are spent from the state budget for defense purposes. More than 300 million servicemen are constantly ready to defend the interests of the state. More than 15% of women are present in the ranks of the military - this is the highest figure among all countries. Also, France constantly accepts orders from various countries for the production of aircraft carriers, fighters and other military equipment, which replenishes the state's treasury very well.

India

One of the largest countries in terms of population (1.4 billion) has a multi-million army to protect its borders. About 50 billion dollars are annually financed from the country's budget to maintain the combat capability of the country's defense structure. India is armed with ground forces (1.2 million people), naval fleet (60 thousand people), air force (127,000) and coast guards. India is a member of the "nuclear club", and is one of the main producers of nuclear warheads for all members of this association. India is armed with about 1,000 combat fighter aircraft and 500 combat helicopters, about 4,000 tanks, 2,000 infantry fighting vehicles, 30,000 anti-tank systems.

China

The Chinese armed forces are considered the largest army in the world in terms of numbers, and is more than 2.5 million people. China is armed with more than 8,000 tanks (including light and trackless), 4,000 armored personnel carriers, 3,500 MLRS and self-propelled howitzers, 1,700 combat aircraft. The structure of the Chinese army has 5 types of troops: land, navy, air force, rocket troops, and troops of strategic importance. The QBZ-95 submachine gun is considered the official handgun in China. China is a member of the "nuclear club", and therefore the PRC is armed with nuclear warheads.

Russia

The second place in the rating of combat effectiveness of the armies of the world is occupied by Russia. Every year about 70-80 billion dollars are financed from the Russian budget to support the army. The permanent armed forces number approximately 800 thousand people, excluding the reserve (2 million). In terms of the number of military personnel, Russia ranks 5th in the world (China ranks first). The army of the Russian Federation is armed with: tanks (more than 3 thousand units), infantry fighting vehicles (more than 4 thousand), armored personnel carriers (approximately 7200 units), self-propelled artillery mounts (2000+ thousand), as well as more than 1000+ mobile tactical missile systems(half of the bottom is occupied by the Grad system), etc.

USA

The USA is the country with the largest army in the world in 2018. The total number of military personnel is 1 million. The main unit of the US internal armed forces is considered regular army(460 thousand), as well as reserve troops: National Guard(340 thousand) and reserve troops (200 thousand). The armed forces also include the Coast Guard, the Military Police and the Navy. The United States is armed with: tanks, military vehicles, artillery, tactical missile and anti-tank systems, aviation and aircraft carriers, etc. Every year the United States spends more than 600 billion dollars on defense purposes.

Since ancient times, the armed forces have been the main and main guarantor of the independence of any country and the security of its citizens. Diplomacy, interstate treaties are also important factors of international stability, but as practice shows, when it comes to a military conflict, they often do not work. The events in Ukraine are clear proof of this. Indeed, who wants to shed the blood of their soldiers for the interests of others? Today we will try to answer the question - whose army is the strongest in the world, whose military power is unrivaled?

As once said Russian emperor Alexander III: "Russia has only two reliable allies - its army and navy." And he is one hundred percent right. Naturally, this statement is true not only for Russia, but also for any other state.

Today, there are more than 160 armies in the world of various sizes, weapons and military doctrines.

One of the greatest generals in history, the French emperor Napoleon I believed that "big battalions are always right", but in our time the situation has changed somewhat.

It should be understood that the power modern army is determined not only by its numbers, it largely depends on the effectiveness of its weapons, the training of fighters, and their motivation. The time of mass recruiting armies is gradually fading into the past. Modern armed forces are a very expensive pleasure. The cost of the latest tank or fighter aircraft is estimated at tens of millions of dollars, and only very rich countries can afford a large and strong army.

There is another factor that emerged after the end of World War II - nuclear weapons. Its power is so terrifying that it still keeps the world from starting another global conflict. Today, two states have the largest nuclear arsenals - Russia and the United States. A conflict between them is guaranteed to lead to the end of our civilization.

On the Internet, disputes often flare up about which is the most powerful army in the world. This question is somewhat incorrect, since only a full-scale war can compare armies. There are too many factors that determine the strength or weakness of certain armed forces. When compiling our rating, we took into account the size of the armed forces, their technical equipment, the development of the military-industrial complex, army traditions, as well as the level of funding.

When compiling the top 10 most powerful armies in the world, the factor of the existence of nuclear weapons was not taken into account.

So, meet the strongest armies in the world.

10. Germany. The Bundeswehr opens our ranking of the top 10 most powerful armies on the planet - the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Germany. It consists of the ground forces, the navy, the air force, the medical and sanitary service and the logistics service.

The number of armed forces of the Bundeswehr is 186 thousand people, the German army is completely professional. The country's military budget is $45 billion. Despite the rather modest size (compared to other participants in our rating), the German army is very highly trained, equipped with the latest types of weapons, but the military traditions of Germany can only be envied. It should be noted the highest level of development of the military-industrial complex of the country - german tanks, aircraft, weapon deservedly considered one of the best in the world.

Germany could count on a higher place in the top 10, however foreign policy this country is peaceful. Apparently, the Germans fought enough in the last century, so they are no longer drawn to military adventures. In addition, Germany has been a member of NATO for many years, so in the event of any military threats, it can count on the help of the United States and other allies.

9. France. In ninth place in our ranking is France - a country with the richest military traditions, a very advanced military-industrial complex and significant armed forces. Their number is 222 thousand people. The country's military budget is $43 billion. The military-industrial complex of France makes it possible to provide its army with almost all the necessary weapons - from small arms to tanks, aircraft and reconnaissance satellites.

However, it should be noted that the French, like the Germans, do not seek to resolve foreign policy issues by military means. France has no disputed territories with its neighbors, as well as frozen conflicts.

8. UK. In eighth place in our ranking is Great Britain - a country that managed to create a world empire in which the sun did not set. But that's in the past. Today, the strength of the British armed forces is 188 thousand people. The country's military budget is $53 billion. The British have a very worthy military-industrial complex, which is able to manufacture tanks, aircraft, warships, small arms and other types of weapons.

England has the second (after the USA) navy in terms of tonnage. It includes nuclear submarines, two light aircraft carriers are being built for the country's Navy.

The British Special Operations Forces are considered among the best in the world.

Great Britain is involved in almost all military conflicts where the United States is present (the first and second conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan). So the experience of the English army does not hold.

7. Turkey. The army of this country is considered the strongest among the Muslim armies of the Middle East. The descendants of the warlike Janissaries managed to create a very combat-ready armed forces, which in the region are second only to the army of Israel in their power. That is why Turkey is in seventh place in our ranking.

6. Japan. In sixth place in our top 10 ranking is Japan, which formally does not have an army at all, its functions are performed by the so-called “self-defense forces”. However, do not let this name mislead you: the country's armed forces number 247 thousand people and are in fourth place in terms of numbers in the Pacific region.

The main rivals that the Japanese fear are China and North Korea. In addition, the Japanese have not yet concluded a peace treaty with Russia.

Japan has a strong air force, ground forces and an impressive navy, which is considered one of the strongest in the world. Japan has more than 1600 combat aircraft, 678 tanks, 16 submarines, 4 helicopter carriers.

This country has the third most powerful economy in the world, so it is not difficult for Japan to allocate serious money for the maintenance and development of its army. Japan's military budget is $47 billion, which is pretty good for a military of this size.

Separately, it should be noted the high level of development of the country's military-industrial complex - in terms of their technical equipment, the Japanese armed forces are considered one of the best in the world. Today in Japan they are developing a fifth-generation fighter, and it will probably be ready in the coming years.

In addition, Japan is one of the closest US allies in the region. There are American bases on the territory of the country, the USA supplies Japan newest species weapons. However, despite this, Japan plans to further increase defense spending. Well, the descendants of the samurai do not hold experience and fighting spirit.

5. South Korea. Fifth place in our top 10 ranking is occupied by another state South-East Asia- South Korea. This country has an impressive armed forces with a total strength of 630 thousand people. It is in third place in the region, behind only China and North Korea. South Korea has been living in a state of war for more than sixty years - peace between Pyongyang and Seoul has never been concluded. The armed forces of the DPRK number almost 1.2 million people, the North Koreans consider their main enemy southern neighbors and constantly threaten them with war.

It is clear that in such a situation, South Korea has to pay a lot of attention to the development of its own army. Every year, $33.7 billion is allocated for defense needs. The South Korean army is considered one of the most equipped not only in its region, but also in the world. South Korea is one of the closest and most devoted allies of the United States in the region, so the Americans supply Seoul with the latest weapons, and there are US bases in the country. Therefore, if the conflict between the DPRK and South Korea does start, it is not a fact that the northerners (despite their numerical superiority) will emerge victorious from it.

4. India. In fourth place in our top 10 ranking is the armed forces of India. This vast, populous, booming economy has a military force of 1.325 million and spends approximately $50 billion on defense.

In addition to the fact that India is the owner of nuclear weapons, its armed forces are the third largest in the world. And there is a simple explanation for this: the country is in a state of permanent conflict with its neighbors: China and Pakistan. AT recent history India had three bloody wars with Pakistan and a huge number of border incidents. There are also unresolved territorial disputes with a strong China.

India has a strong navy, which includes three aircraft carriers and two nuclear submarines.

Every year, the Indian government spends serious sums on the purchase of new weapons. And if before the Indians mainly bought weapons made in the USSR or Russia, now they increasingly prefer higher-quality Western models.

In addition, recently the country's leadership has been paying much attention to the development of its own military-industrial complex. A few years ago, a new strategy for the development of the defense industry was adopted, which is carried out under the motto "Make in India". Now, when buying weapons, Indians give preference to those suppliers who are ready to open production facilities in the country and share the latest technologies.

3. China. In third place in our ranking of the top 10 strongest armies is the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA). These are the largest armed forces on the planet - their number is 2.333 million people. China's military budget is the second largest in the world, second only to the United States. It is 126 billion dollars.

China is striving to become the second superpower after the United States, and it is impossible to do this without a powerful armed forces, it definitely cannot do without the largest army in the world.

Today, the Chinese are armed with 9150 tanks, 2860 aircraft, 67 submarines, a large number of combat aircraft and multiple launch rocket systems. There has been some debate about how many warheads the PRC has in stock for quite some time: the official figure is several hundred pieces, but some experts believe that the Chinese have an order of magnitude more.

The Chinese army is constantly improving its technical level. If ten or fifteen years ago most of the types of military equipment in service with the PLA were outdated copies of Soviet models, today the situation has changed dramatically.

At present, the PRC is working on the creation of a fifth-generation fighter, its latest developments in the field of tank building and missile weapons are not much inferior to samples made in Russia or in the West. Much attention is paid to the development of the naval forces: recently, the first aircraft carrier (the former Varyag, bought from Ukraine) appeared in the PRC Navy.

Given the vast resources (financial, human, technological) that China has, the armed forces of this country in the coming years will become a formidable rival for the countries that occupy the first positions in our ranking.

2. Russia. In second place in our top 10 ranking are the Russian armed forces, which in many respects remain the strongest on the planet.

In terms of the number of personnel, the Russian army ranks only fifth, behind the United States, China, India and North Korea. Its number is 798 thousand people. The budget of the Russian defense department is $76 billion. However, at the same time, it has one of the most powerful ground forces in the world: more than fifteen thousand tanks, a huge number of armored vehicles and combat helicopters.

1. USA. The United States of America is in first place in the top 10. In terms of the number of personnel, the US Army is second only to China (albeit significantly), its number is 1.381 million people. At the same time, the US military department has a budget that generals of other armies can only dream of - $ 612 billion, which allows it to be itself strong country peace.

The strength of modern military forces depends largely on their funding. Therefore, the huge American defense budget is one of the main components of its success. It allows Americans to develop and purchase the most advanced (and most expensive) weapons systems, supply their army at the highest level, and simultaneously conduct several military campaigns in different parts of the world.

Today, the US Army is armed with 8,848 tanks, a huge number of armored vehicles and other military equipment, and 3,892 military aircraft. If during the years of the Cold War, Soviet strategists focused on tanks, the Americans were actively developing combat aircraft. Currently, the US Air Force is rightfully considered the strongest in the world.

The United States has the most powerful navy, which includes ten aircraft carrier groups, more than seventy submarines, a large number of aircraft and support ships.

The Americans are leaders in the development of the latest military technologies, and their range is very wide: from the creation of lasers and robotic combat systems to prosthetics.

If you have any questions - leave them in the comments below the article. We or our visitors will be happy to answer them.

It is difficult to judge the strength of the army until it enters into hostilities. For example, the authoritative rating of the international company global firepower takes as a basis the real ability of the armed forces of a country to repel aggression. The main indicator, in this case, should be the effectiveness of the conduct of hostilities, the victories won and the rate of losses during the battles, both human and military equipment.

Based on the criterion of efficiency, before considering the most powerful armies in the world, let's take a short look into the past and find out what is the strongest army in the history of Mankind.

Army of Alexander the Great

Macedonian troops rightfully entered the strongest armies of the past. The armed forces of Macedonia began to create the father of Alexander Philip II, and the son only continued the reforms of his father and won brilliant victories.

During his short life, the Macedonian ruler did not suffer a single defeat. And his most glorious victory was the defeat of the Great Persian Power.

The basis of his army and the main striking force was the heavy cavalry, consisting of geytars, the so-called friends of the ruler. The infantry also played an important role. The Macedonian army was the first in the world to use a kind of prototype of field artillery.

ancient roman army

Usually the number of the Roman army was 100 thousand people, but during the period of conquests and major military clashes it reached 250 thousand.

The basis was the infantry, divided into legions. During battles, infantry and cavalry lined up in a special way in the form of a phalanx. The army had strict discipline and excellent weapons, which largely determined the victories of the Roman army.

History confirms the strength of the army ancient world, because with its help, Rome conquered all of Europe and part of Asia, and also won the Punic Wars with Carthage.

Army of the Mongol Empire

The creation of the strongest armed forces began in 1206, when Genghis Khan managed to unite disparate tribes into one powerful empire.

Having absorbed all the best achievements of previous tribes Great Steppe, Genghis Khan was recognized as the strongest army, besides, it was the most terrible army of that time, which terrified the enemy. Strong and fearless warriors of Genghis Khan and his descendants conquered the entire Middle East, China and owned Russian lands for 240 years.

Everything was based on strict discipline and collective responsibility for cowardice and misdeeds. But cruelty towards the enemy and the civilian population was due to the mentality and lifestyle of the nomads.

Ottoman army

At its peak, with the help of its armed forces Ottoman Empire conquered the Middle East, the countries of the Balkan Peninsula, the Northern Black Sea region and North Africa.

In 1453, she managed to storm the most impregnable city of the Middle Ages, Constantinople, and for more than 500 years she was one of the strongest and most powerful in the region.

And the successes were due to the fact that the Turks were the first in the world to use latest achievements weapons production. These were guns, muskets. Its one condition for victories was the use of elite units - the Janissaries.

Summing up, the top of the most powerful armies in the world in history is also worth mentioning the Napoleonic armed forces, the Wehrmacht of the Third Reich, as well as the Russian and Soviet army, which, as everyone knows, was able to win both the first and second in different periods of history. But the Nazi army went down in history as the most terrible army, although many war crimes were committed by punitive units and special services of Nazi Germany.

Germany

Throughout its history, after the unification of the German states into a single country in 1871, the German army participated in many world military conflicts, and the Second World War began solely through the fault and initiative of Germany.

Today, having strong armed forces, Germany, taught by bitter experience, is in no hurry to actively participate in modern military conflicts, although it maintains a 186,000-strong army.

Great Britain

For a long time in world history, the British fleet was invincible, and the largest army in the world was needed by Great Britain to hold the vast territories of the colonies.

On the present stage Great Britain, as the main ally of the United States, has a fairly strong armed force, numbering 190,000. It was also possible to maintain the strongest fleet, which, in terms of total tonnage, is second only to the American Navy.

About the most interesting places London, read the article.

Turkey

The Middle East has been and remains one of the most turbulent regions of the world, so Turkey is forced to maintain numerous armed forces, and lay out $ 18 billion for their maintenance.

The population of Turkey is commensurate with the number of military units in which 520,000 servicemen are serving. But we note that in technical terms, the Eastern State is inferior to other countries, since the equipment is mostly old models.

Japan

Let's start with the fact that Japan does not officially have an army, but contains self-defense forces. But Article 9 of the Constitution of the country of the Rising Sun prohibits the use of the military outside the country.

The aggressive behavior of North Korea and the traditional confrontation with China in the Pacific region are forcing the Japanese government to revise its military doctrine, as well as to reform the self-defense forces. The Japanese economy allows to allocate 47 billion dollars annually to the military.

South Korea

Our list of armies in the world in 2017 continues with one of the strongest and most powerful armies Southeast region. The course of history and the confrontation with the northern neighbor are forcing the South Koreans to maintain a 630,000-strong army and allocate large funds for its maintenance and modernization.

For comparison, we note that in North Korea there are 1.2 million military personnel. But the technical equipment is inferior to that of South Korea, a major modernization of which is taking place with the direct participation of the United States, and the combat capability of the army is supported by joint exercises.

India

By all indicators, India is rightfully included in the top of the most powerful armies in the world, and yet the armed forces were created quite recently, after gaining independence in 1947.

The confrontation with Pakistan and the high threat of terrorism are forcing the Indian government to maintain an army of 1.33 million troops, annually allocating about $ 50 billion for their maintenance. The economic growth eastern state in recent decades, allows India to purchase the latest weapons.

It's time to get acquainted with the largest armed forces in terms of numbers, because in the PRC they have 2.333 million military personnel, and the budget is $ 126 billion. In addition, in terms of its potential, the PRC army is the most powerful army in the world.

In a short period, China has managed to create a competitive military force and is actively developing its military missile forces. But China is also one of the most peaceful countries in the world. The largest military units in the world have not taken part in military clashes for a long time. The East is a delicate matter, and the Chinese prefer to solve their problems at the negotiating table.

Russia

Few would argue that the army Russian Federation the most powerful and combat-ready, and its combat readiness is always maintained at high level. Maybe the real threat from the NATO bloc is exaggerated, but somehow I don’t want to check this by reducing the number of Russian military and weapons.

Today, there are more than 800 thousand people in the military service in the Russian Federation, and the defense budget is growing every year. But this is required by the current geopolitical situation, as well as the advancement of NATO countries to the East. So, the military units of Russia are the most combat-ready army and the largest in terms of equipment of all those presented.

USA

If we take into account the size and amount of funding, then, of course, the United States has the strongest army. In addition, the US armed forces are constantly taking part in various military conflicts, which affects the increase in its combat capability.

The military and the most powerful arms manufacturers have a greater influence on the political life of the United States. This is partly why the number of US armed forces exceeds 1.3 million soldiers and officers, and the cost of weapons annually fluctuates in the amount of $600 billion. The United States is ahead of other countries in the world in terms of the number of weapons.

By the way, read our article about the 30 best ones.

Finally

And again, speaking about the top of the most powerful armies in the world and comparing the effectiveness, one can take as a basis the military operations of the coalition led by the United States in Syria and Iraq, and compare with the military operations of the Russian troops in the same region. It can be treated differently in the expediency of Russia's participation there, but the fact that the actions of Russian armed units are much more effective is indisputable.

In conclusion, we note that there is a certain pattern in the fact that the 10 most powerful armies in the world of modern times are formed in states with glorious military traditions and strong economies.

Which army in the world is considered the most combat-ready? A question that does not have an unequivocal answer, the real combat capability of the army can only be determined in real war. In peacetime, it is possible to determine the combat effectiveness of an army by comparing several main characterizing components.
For convenience, we will divide these components into points and, on the basis of them, we will conduct the most unbiased, dry analysis of the combat effectiveness of the most powerful armies in comparison with each other:

1. Combat and strength of the army and navy
2. Quantity and quality of weapons and military equipment
3. Quality and training of command officers

All these components of the combat effectiveness of the army express the potential to carry out the assigned tasks in the conditions of real military operations.

The following question arises: the armies of which countries to compare? For example, when such a question is asked on the same Internet, on various military and near military forums and sites, Russia and the United States are unconditional in this list, China is also everywhere, as well as the constantly warring army of Israel falls into this list too. The Bundeswehr and the British army are very rarely mentioned, but, oddly enough, in the first place of European countries speaks, a state that has not fought with anyone for several centuries.

Let's take three countries for comparison: Russia, USA, China. So, let's begin. I would like to note right away that the data are approximate, taken from open sources, the exact data are kept by the commanders of the districts in safes, but even these data can be used to give a general assessment.

1. Combat and strength of the army and navy
According to these indicators, China is in the lead (more than 2,000,000 people), the United States is in second place (about 1,500,000 people), Russia is in third place, something about a million people. North Korea and India also have numerous armies.

2. Quantity and quality of weapons and military equipment
— By the number of tanks in the first place is Russia (it plans to reduce the number as part of the ongoing military reform), the second is the United States, and China is third.
— By combat aircraft The United States is absolutely in the lead, Russia is in second place, China is in third.
— By combat helicopters The United States is in first place, Russia is in second, China is in third place with a significant lag.
— By the number of warships in the fleet Traditionally, the United States is in the lead, the second place is occupied by China, the third by Russia.

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. military power 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 was not taken into account. The place occupied was influenced by economic situation 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 conducted on the basis of 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.

Australia

Budget: $26.1 billion
Number of active troops: 58 thousand people
Tanks: 59
Aviation: 408
Submarines: 6
The Australian Army has a long standing and glorious history, she participated in both the First and Second World Wars 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 a professional basis only from Australian citizens, they are technically well equipped, they have a 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.

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 civil war in Ethiopia, 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.

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 the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of the state. They consist of ground forces, naval forces, air forces and the carabinieri corps.
Italy has not been directly involved in armed conflicts in any countries in recent times, but has always been 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.

Great Britain

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 World War II, 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 becomes 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.

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 Israeli citizens, including those with dual citizenship and those residing in another country, as well as all those permanently residing in the territory of the state, upon reaching the age of 18, are subject to conscription in the IDF. The term of military service is 36 months - 3 years (32 months for combat units), for women - 24 months (2 years). After the end of regular service, all private and officers may be called up annually for reservist duties for up to 45 days.
The most forte The IDF is using technology to upgrade 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 has 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.

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 for total amount 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.

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.

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. A huge number of 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 a large number well-trained military, 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.

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 attack 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.

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; 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 largely took over its financing, as well as the supply of 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.
The South Korean military is highly backed by the US military, which makes it stronger. South Korea retains a large military force, although 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.

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 paramilitaries, 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.

Japan

Budget: $41.6 billion
Active army strength: 247, 173
Tanks: 678
Aviation: 1,613
Subs: 16
The last battle of World War II was a nightmare for Japan, which suffered nuclear strike 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 the modern name for the Japanese armed forces. 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. Recently, Japan deployed its troops for the first time since World War II in South Sudan within the 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.

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. Ground Russian army is rightfully considered the most powerful in the 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 is the 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.

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 for conscription for men from the age of 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 surrender of Japan, the USSR handed over captured weapons to the PLA 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.

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 updated periodically. 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 it has the strongest fleet with the maximum number of 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.