Armed forces of the countries of the world online. Armies of the world: ranking of the strongest

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 commanders 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 strength of a modern army is determined not only by its strength, but in many respects it also 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 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 existence was not taken into account nuclear weapons.

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 has a 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 country's military-industrial complex - German tanks, aircraft, small arms are 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 long years is a member of the NATO bloc, so that in case 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 United States supplies Japan with the latest types of 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 in Southeast 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 southern neighbors the main enemy 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 huge, 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. IN 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.

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 the generals of other armies can only dream of - $ 612 billion, which allows it to be the most powerful country in the world.

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 in years cold war Soviet strategists focused on tanks, while the Americans actively developed 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.

Magazine collection Armed Forces of the World is an encyclopedic publication dedicated to the armed forces different countries from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. publishing house Eaglemoss.

Each issue of the magazine consists of 32 pages (except the first issue, which has 48) and is designed in such a way that you can put articles in special folders that you will receive as a gift. The result is a comprehensive, streamlined, well-organized help system that is a pleasure to use over and over again.

Journal

The entire spectrum of military equipment, troops, military campaigns and operations is presented in the collection under six headings. For ease of organization and data retrieval, each heading is divided into sections, and they, in turn, into subsections. Special symbols and colors indicate the era and help identify the rubric and section. This will allow you to store information in perfect order and find it quickly.

• Types of weapons
  Descriptions of the most significant types of weapons are given in three sections: Land, Air, Sea.
• Beats and Campaigns
  The world history of military conflicts is divided into four eras: the first half of the twentieth century (1900-1938), the second World War(1939-1945), Second half of the twentieth century (1946-1991), Modern era (1992-present).
• Strategy and tactics
  This column tells about military operations on land, in the air, at sea and about mixed operations.
• Armies of the countries of the world
  Five sections of the heading about the armies of the countries of the world are allocated according to the geographical principle.
• Personalities
  This rubric, which includes three sections: Leaders, Innovators, Warriors, tells about the most significant figures in military history.
• Special types of troops
  Information about special types of troops is divided into three sections: Military formations, Intelligence and special operations forces, Irregular formations.

Spectacular technical illustrations
Modern illustrations will allow you to see combat vehicles and weapons not only from the outside, but also in the context. By “removing” part of the armor, skin, composite coating or fabric shell of armored vehicles, warships and aircraft, we will show internal organization these complex combat vehicles.

Detailed images of the battlefield help you understand the most difficult encounters, while maps of military campaigns with authentic military symbols will make you feel like a warlord.

Information inserts
Information inserts focus on the most important facts or supplement articles with interesting details.

• Inserts " Context” contain important information that helps to put the topic in a broader global context. A tank, for example, can be considered within the framework of the history of the development of tank building, and a battle in terms of its political and military significance.
• In the inserts " Important Facts» provides information on key aspects of the topic presented. Here you can read about vehicle modifications, the main stages of the campaign or the career of a military leader.
• Tactical and technical characteristics. In the inserts, abbreviated TTX, all data on the speed, weight, range and firepower of the weapon are systematized as much as possible.
• In the inserts " Short» outlines the most significant Additional Information on the topic or comments of specialists are given, formulated briefly and clearly.
• Battle plan. Short description of battle plans, strategies, dispositions, doctrines, and objectives of the most intricate campaigns given in the "Battle Plan" inserts will help you to penetrate the plans of the military leaders.

The Armed Forces of the World collection is a unique information organization system.

• Category name– Heading and subsection titles are always located on the corresponding color.
• Article title– A short title specifies exactly what information the sheet contains.
• Action zone- Each sheet indicates where the action takes place: on land, at sea or in the air.
• National flag– The image of the flag tells which country the article is about.
• Photo– The collection contains carefully selected archival photographs from around the world.
• Storage– Each sheet has holes, which makes it easy to place them in folders.
• Important information- A special symbol for each section and the name of the era on the corresponding color precisely determine the place of the sheet in the collection.
• Symbols– Special symbols help you navigate through the collection. Each rubric and era corresponds to a certain color, and special symbols indicate which type of troops the sheet is dedicated to: ground forces, air force or naval forces. The globe symbol quickly and visually represents the region referred to in the heading "Armies of the World".
• Epoch indicator– This element will help classify articles into four time periods.
• On the same subject– With the help of a unique code, the information of this sheet is compared with other rubrics.
• Main armament- The most important weapons objects are marked with a special mark.
• Topic and sheet number– Headings include topics, each of which has a number (the first digit before the dot). Each article within a topic also has its own number.

To store the materials of the collection, put the sheets of magazines in special folders and distribute them by headings using the appropriate separators. Each folder is accompanied by a special list - a description of the heading structure, where campaigns, personalities, details of equipment are mentioned. Written by military experts, these introductory sheets serve as guides to the rubrics, make it easier to find information, and help organize the collection as it grows.

Exit Schedule

№1 – 14.08.2013
№2 + folder - 28.08.2013
No. 3 + dividers for the folder - 09/11/2013
№4 – 18.09.2013

How many issues

Total planned 100 issues.

If you want peace, prepare for war.

Cornelius Nepos, Roman historian

Armies of different countries: size, composition of troops and combat readiness

To guarantee the safety of citizens and the inviolability of borders, all countries of the world are acquiring armed forces - on a conscription or contract basis. Depending on the size of the state, the number of population and the annual budget, their armies also differ - in the number of military personnel (personnel), as well as in the number and level of weapons.

So, "who is the strongest in the world?" It is not easy to answer, because all the ratings of the armies of the world are compiled on the basis of the data that each state considers it necessary to report. At the same time, it can both overestimate its successes in the hope of frightening potential opponents, and underestimate them, not wanting to devote the world community to the details of its military industry.

In our article about the most powerful armies in the world in 2017, we will provide data from open sources, but it is worth remembering that they may differ significantly from the real ones. In addition, it is not the number of tanks and aircraft that determines the combat readiness of troops - much more important is trained personnel and morale. Fortunately, in the Russian army, this is all right!

Here is what the top ten most powerful armies in the world look like:

• 1st place - US Army;
• 2nd - Russian army;
• 3rd - Chinese army;
• 4th - the armed forces of India;
• 5th - British troops;
• 6th - the army of France;
• 7th - German troops;
• 8th - Turkish army:
• 9th - the army of South Korea;
• 10th - the armed forces of Japan.

Types of troops and weapons

Most armies in the world are composed of the following types of troops:

• ground troops;
• tank forces;
• military aviation;
• navy, including aircraft carriers and submarines.

The presence of nuclear warheads in the arsenal determines membership in the so-called "nuclear club". Of the major countries, it does not include:

• Germany;
• Turkey;
• South Korea;
• Japan.

Quantitative data from different sources on the volume of lethal weapons may vary: often this information is classified. Our pride is 8,484 nuclear warheads compared to 7,506 in the US, although in the overall ranking the US ranks first.

Personnel

The number of armies in the world often depends not only on the population of the state, but also on who is more in the personnel - professionals or conscripts. The largest army is Chinese: the number of ground forces in China is approximately 1.6 million soldiers. The age of service is impressive: they are called up from the age of 19, fighters remain in the reserve until the age of 50. In total, there are more than one and a half billion people in China's reserve reserve! In terms of numbers, the Russian army ranks second in the world.

Military equipment

The strongest armies in the world in 2017 have thousands of pieces of military equipment at their disposal. The Russian army has only one aircraft carrier against ten American ones, but we have more tanks than other countries - 15,000 units, while the UK has only 407. For comparison: the leader of the dozen, the US Army, is armed with 8,325 tanks . If we talk about the power of weapons, then the German tank Leopard 2A7 is considered the best in the world, and the Russian T-14 Armata is in 5th place.

The United States has the most powerful navy (more than 270 units), at the end of the ten strongest ships, the Indonesian Navy anchored. Russia, according to various estimates, is approximately in 5th place.

Fleet of different countries of the world

As part of armed forces Germany, Turkey and South Korea have no aircraft carriers. Experts agree that the best submarines are American ones, such as the Seawolf. Russian submarines of project 885 "Ash" - in 4th place. Since 2016, other leaders have been afloat in the United States - destroyers of the Zamvolt type.

World military aviation

Superiority in battles is unthinkable without combat aircraft - all the strongest armies in the world are capable of fighting in the sky. The top three cars are "Americans". The Lockheed Martin/Boeing F-22 Raptor is the 5th generation fighter, the most versatile and most expensive in the world. The second "flying" stealth fighter Lockheed Martin F-35. Third place went to the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet: the aircraft is equipped with an electronic-digital engine control system. The Russian MiG-31 takes the 8th place in the rating of "air fighters".

F-22 Raptor

How much does defense cost

The United States does not skimp on the army: the defense budget is 662 billion dollars, and in Russia - only 50. This is less than China's - 191.8, but significantly more than Turkey's - 18 billion.

duty to the motherland

Most strong armies of the world are aimed at the transition to professional personnel. Since 2005, compulsory conscription has been abolished in Italy, Slovakia, Macedonia and Montenegro. It is also in the past for Romania, Latvia, Bulgaria and Poland. Young people are free from military service in Albania and Serbia, Sweden and Germany. Information has appeared that Georgia will also follow this path.

The terms of conscription service in the modern armies of the world are different and differ significantly from those practiced by the armies of antiquity. The "lifelong call" also existed in Ancient Rome, and in Tsarist Russia - they served for about 25 years. Some sources claim that the soldiers of Genghis Khan were required to serve 53 years.

Today they manage to both serve and live in a “civilian”:

• in Greece, the debt to the motherland is paid for 9 months;
• in Finland, the term of service depends on the rank and ranges from 165 to 347 days;
• in Estonia they serve from 8 to 11 months.

The strongest army in the world - American - professional. But in the event that the US Congress deems it necessary to restore the draft, all men from 18 to 25 years old (regardless of their US citizenship) will be required to register with the military. Voluntary contract service in Australia, Belgium, Great Britain, India, Ireland, Canada, Luxembourg, France.

In Russia, guys are seen off for a year, and in neighboring Belarus - depending on education: if you get a higher education - serve 12 months, no - give the army 18 months. In Ukraine, they call for a year and a half.

the only professional army on the basis of compulsory conscription - Israeli. Men serve 3 years, women - 2. There are three types of troops in the Israeli army:

• rear;
• combat (those that conduct constant military operations on the front line);
• combat support troops.

After a three-year course, the service continues under the contract and lasts at least 7 years.

Service in North Korea is not for the faint of heart: in the ground forces - from 5 to 12 years, in aviation and air defense forces - 3-4 years, in the navy - from 5 to 10 years.

Technologies and personnel

In terms of high technology, the top armies are again led by the United States. Having scattered its military bases all over the world, America continues to be zealous in the development of new types of weapons and is confidently leading the world.

Russia has no less potential, but the budget is the main brake on the development of the Russian army. It is 8 times smaller than the American one. In our army, cadres decide everything. The qualifications and combat experience of military personnel, special highly mobile units ready to go into battle immediately upon receipt of an order are an undoubted plus for the defense capability of our country.

Interesting facts about the armies of the world

The army is not only dry numbers. military history full of interesting and even funny facts.

• For example, Peter I ordered to sew buttons to the sleeves of soldier's uniforms. What for? Everything is very simple: the buttons interfered with the servicemen, after eating, wipe their mouths with their sleeves! Most of the soldiers of that era came from peasant families, and had the appropriate habits. Peter fought for the safety of uniforms made of expensive cloth.
• And in Ancient Greece according to some historians, special detachments of heroes fought " gay". How can you be cowardly or disgraceful when there is a beloved among your “fellow soldiers”? The detachments were considered invincible and preferred death on the battlefield to defeat.
• The modern Romanian army, where women are also called up, is considered the most beautiful in the world.
• The coast of Greenland is patrolled by a detachment of huskies. Dog sledding is the only way to get around these places, and furry fighters are called into service.
• The Pentagon went even further - they are armed with bees! The winged warriors detect some explosives that neither humans nor dogs are susceptible to.

Such modern world"in the optical sight". As you can see, the question of which is the most powerful army in the world remains open. We hope that we and our descendants will never have to find out by experience.

29.06.2013

It's no secret that ever since the time the strength of the country was determined by the power of its army. Maintaining control within the state and protecting from external enemies is the main task. It is not for nothing that countries are so anxious about the issue of financing this area. Below are the ten most powerful world armies. This rating is compiled taking into account the number of the army, its modernity and the power of the equipment used and the budget. And of course, the most powerful armies are armed with,. So top 10

The most powerful armies in the world.

No. 10. Israel

240,000 soldiers and 600,000 people are in reserve, with a total population of 7.9 million people - a good indicator. The military equipment consists of 13,000 units, including 1964 air units and 64 nautical ship. There are a large number of girls among the soldiers. The amount that is used for the military forces is 15 billion dollars.

No. 9. Japan

Another small country with a population of 127.8 million, including 247,000 military personnel, as well as 60,000 people who are now in reserve. Official data indicate the following figures: 5320 units of ground equipment, 1965 - all kinds of aircraft, 110 units of naval weapons. Unofficially, there are suspicions about the latest developments in the field of military science. Army financing - is 58 billion dollars.

No. 8. France

In France, there are 230,000 military personnel and 70,000 reserves, plus 105,000 police officers. 10,621 objects of ground defense equipment, 1,757 - air, as well as 289 ships. Financing is more than 44 billion euros. These are good indicators for a state with a population of 65.4 people. And she is in eighth place among the strongest and most powerful armies in the world.

No. 7. South Korea

There are 640,000 active military personnel, 2.9 million people in reserve, 13,361 ground military facilities, 1,568 airborne, and 170 naval facilities. It is not surprising, given the peculiarities of the neighbors. Financing 27 billion. dollars.

No. 6. Turkey

There are 660 thousand people in the active servicemen, 579 thousand are in reserve, and this is with a total population of 74.7 million people. 69,744 units of ground equipment, 1940 - air, 265 - sea. Funding over $25 billion.

No. 5. England

Among the 62.2 million people living in the UK, 220 thousand are serving in the army, 181 thousand are in reserve. The armed forces have 11,630 ground equipment, 1,663 aircraft and 99 defense ships. Funding equates to $74 billion.

No. 4. India

It is strange to see India in fourth place with a population of 1.2 billion people. 1.325 million people in the asset, 2,142,821 people in the reserve. In addition, the country has 2,452 aircraft and 175 ships, with a total military funding of $48.9 billion. Fourth place in the Top 10 strongest armies in the world.

No. 3. China

China is famous for the largest army, which has 2.2 million people engaged in military activities and 800 thousand people who are on the reservation. Military equipment includes 57,575 ground vehicles, 5,176 aircraft and 972 ships. The total funding is more than 106 billion dollars.

No. 2. Russia

Russia is in the honorable second position. The population is 143.1 million people, of which more than 1 million are those who serve in the army and 20 million are reservists. In addition to 91,715 ground defense equipment, the defense forces have 2,747 air defense equipment, as well as 233 ships. The total funding is 74 billion dollars. Although she occupies second place in this ranking, she holds the first position among.

Video:

No. 1. United States of America

The leading first place is the most powerful and strong world army, consisting of 560 thousand active employees in the army and 567 thousand reserve with a total population of 311 million people. Ground defense equipment is represented by 56,269 objects, air defense equipment - 18,234 units, of which 450 intercontinental ballistic missiles, as well as 32 satellites, marine equipment includes 2,384 ships. The total budget is 692 billion dollars.

The Russian army has entered the top three strongest in the world; in the Credit Suisse rating, the military of the Russian Federation is evaluated together with the armies of China and the United States. What is the real alignment of forces among states ready for military conflicts?medialeaks publishes a list of the 20 most powerful armies in the world according to the organization.

At the end of September, the financial organization published a report in which it indicated the TOP 20 most powerful armies in the world. Based on this graph, our publication made a detailed list and added its own comments.

When compiling the rating, such parameters as the budget, the size of the army, the number of tanks, aircraft, combat helicopters, aircraft carriers and submarines, and partly the presence of nuclear weapons were taken into account. The technical level of weapons influenced the position in the list in lesser degree, and the real combat effectiveness of a particular army was practically not assessed.

Thus, the assessment of the position of some countries may raise questions. Let's say the Israeli army concedes two positions to Egypt, mainly because of the number of employees and tanks. However, in all clashes, the first won an unconditional victory over the second, despite the numerical superiority.

It is interesting to note that none of the Latin American countries made it to the list. So, for example, despite the size of the population and economy, Brazil's military doctrine does not involve serious external or internal threats, so the cost of the army in this country is only about 1% of GDP.

It is also somewhat strange that Iran with its half a million soldiers, one and a half thousand tanks and 300 combat aircraft was not included in the list.

20. Canada

Budget: $15.7 billion
Active Army: 22,000
Tanks: 181
Aviation: 420
Subs: 4

The Canadian Army closes the list: it does not have such a large number and not so much military equipment. Be that as it may, the Canadian military is actively involved in all US operations. In addition, Canada is a member of the F-35 program.

19. Indonesia

Budget: $6.9 billion
Active army strength: 476,000
Tanks: 468
Aviation: 405
Subs: 2

Indonesia was on the list due to the large number of military personnel and the noticeable size of the tank group, but for an island country it lacks naval forces: in particular, there are no aircraft carriers, and only two diesel submarines are in service.

18. Germany

Budget: $40.2 billion
The number of active army: 179 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, the country's authorities abandoned the doctrine of confrontation and sharply reduced investments in defense. Apparently, therefore, in the Credit Suisse rating, the German Armed Forces were even behind Poland. At the same time, Berlin is actively sponsoring the eastern allies in NATO.

17. Poland

Budget: $9.4 billion
Active Army: 120,000
Tanks: 1,009
Aviation: 467
Subs: 5

Poland has outstripped its western neighbor in military power due to a larger number of tanks and submarines, although for the last 300 years the Polish Army has been losing in most military conflicts. Be that as it may, Warsaw increased spending on the army after the annexation of Crimea to Russia and the outbreak of conflict in eastern Ukraine.

16. Thailand

Budget: $5.4 billion
Active army strength: 306,000
Tanks: 722
Aviation: 573
Subs: 0

The Thai army has been keeping the situation inside the country under control since May 2014, the armed forces are the main guarantee of political stability. A significant number of people serve in it, there are a large number of modern tanks and aircraft.

15. Australia

Budget: $26.1 billion
Active Army: 58,000
Tanks: 59
Aviation: 408
Subs: 6

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. The defense forces are formed on a professional basis, the army is well equipped technically, there is a modern fleet and a large number of combat helicopters.

14. Israel

Budget: $17 billion
Active Army: 160,000
Tanks: 4,170
Aviation: 684
Subs: 5

Israel is the most underestimated participant in the rating. The IDF won all the conflicts in which it participated, and sometimes 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 its own design, Credit Suisse's analysis does not take into account the fact that there are several hundred thousand reservists in the country with combat experience and high motivation. The visiting card of the IDF is 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.

13. Taiwan

Budget: $10.7 billion
Active army strength: 290,000
Tanks: 2005
Aviation: 804
Subs: 4

The authorities of the Republic of China believe that they are the legitimate government of the Celestial Empire and sooner or later they must return to Beijing, and until this happens, the army is always ready for the invasion of usurpers from the mainland. And although in reality the armed forces of the island will hardly be able to withstand the Chinese army, two thousand modern tanks and 800 aircraft and helicopters make it a serious force.

12. Egypt

Budget: $4.4 billion
Active army strength: 468,000
Tanks: 4,624
Aviation: 1,107
Subs: 4

The Egyptian army was in the ranking due to the number and quantity of equipment, although, as the Yom Kippur War showed, even a threefold superiority in tanks is offset by high combat skills and technical level of weapons. At the same time, it is known that about a thousand "Abrams" of the Egyptian Armed Forces are simply mothballed in warehouses. Nevertheless, Cairo will acquire two Mistral-type helicopter carriers not supplied by France to the Russian Federation, and about 50 Ka-52 combat helicopters for them, which will make Egypt a truly serious military force in the region.

11. Pakistan

Budget: $7 billion
The number of active army: 617 thousand people
Tanks: 2,924
Aviation: 914
Subs: 8

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. In addition, 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 has medium-range ballistic missiles and about a hundred nuclear warheads

10. Turkey

Budget: $18.2 billion
Active Army: 410,000
Tanks: 3,778
Aviation: 1,020
Subs: 13

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.

9. 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. As part of Her Majesty's fleet, there are several nuclear submarines with a strategic nuclear weapons: about 200 warheads in total. By 2020, the aircraft carrier Queen Elizabeth is expected to be commissioned, which will be able to carry 40 F-35B fighters.

8. Italy

Budget: $34 billion
Active Army: 320,000
Tanks: 586
Aviation: 760
Subs: 6

7. South Korea

Budget: $62.3 billion
The number of active army: 624 thousand people
Tanks: 2,381
Aviation: 1,412
Subs: 13

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.

6. France

Budget: $62.3 billion
The number of active army: 202 thousand people
Tanks: 423
Aviation: 1,264
Subs: 10

The French army is still the main military force in Africa and continues to actively intervene in local conflicts. 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.

5. India

Budget: $50 billion
Active Army: 1.325 million
Tanks: 6,464
Aviation: 1,905
Subs: 15

The third largest army in terms of the number of military personnel and the fourth largest army in terms of the number of equipment in the world. 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: 247,000
Tanks: 678
Aviation: 1,613
Subs: 16

The most unexpected thing in the ranking is Japan's 4th place, despite the fact that formally the country cannot have an army, but only self-defense forces. Business Insider attributes this high level equipment of the Japanese aircraft. In addition, they include 4 helicopter carriers, 9 destroyers. At the same time, Japan does not have nuclear weapons, and this, together with a small number of tanks, makes one think that the position of this army is greatly overestimated.

3. China

Budget: $216 billion
Active Army: 2.33 million
Tanks: 9,150
Aviation: 2,860
Subs: 67

The second economy in the world has the largest active army, however, in terms of the number of tanks, planes 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 carefully classified.

2. Russia

Budget: $84.5 billion
Active Army: 1 million
Tanks: 15,398
Aviation: 3,429
Subs: 55

Syria has demonstrated once again that Russia rightly continues to hold a solid 2nd place among the strongest, according to Business Insider. The RF Armed Forces are inferior to China only in the number of submarines. And if the rumors about China's secret nuclear stockpile are not true, far ahead of it 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.

1. USA

Budget: $601 billion
Active Army: 1.4 million
Tanks: 8,848
Aviation: 13,892
Subs: 72

The US military budget is comparable to the previous 19th. The Navy includes 10 aircraft carriers. It is characteristic that, unlike Moscow, which made back in Soviet times relying on tanks, Washington is developing combat aircraft. In addition, the US authorities, despite the end of the Cold War, continue to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in the development of the latest military technologies, thanks to which the United States remains a leader not only in everything related to killing people, but also in the field, for example, robotics and prosthetics.