Comparison of weapons of the countries of the world. Rating of the most powerful armies in the world. Modern era and military

Time goes forward, the world does not stand still. Mankind has long realized that war brings only destruction and death. But this awareness does not give such an effect as we would like. The globe is engulfed in wars, and even countries that are not at war are aware of the existence of many factors that do not allow them to relax. All this leads to the fact that each country is trying to build up its military forces in order to feel safe.

The world community understands that it is impossible to completely abandon weapons, since there are people, for example, terrorists or extremists, who will continue to destroy civilians in their own way. religious reasons. And everyone is wondering what the top of the strongest armies in the world looks like.

To compile such a list, you need to choose a number of criteria by which armies will be evaluated. It:

• the maximum conscription of people into the ranks of the army;
• the number of tanks;
• the number of aircraft;
• nuclear combat power;
• the number of aircraft carriers;
• the number of submarines;
• military budget.

It is from these sides that we will consider the armies of the world. The ranking of countries is very interesting and sometimes predictable. Let's take a closer look at our winners.

1. USA is the winner of the race

This country very predictably took first place. If you ask common man, what is the most powerful army in the world, then fifty percent will answer that the US military forces, and they will be right.

According to the above characteristics, the US wins in three. The first one is the number of planes. 13643 units of aircraft - that's what the US Army can boast of. This country is also the undoubted leader in terms of the number of aircraft carriers, there are 10 of them, while in Russia or China there is only one each. And the third, probably one of the most important qualities, because of which the United States does not lose its position in the arms race, is the budget. The White House invests more than $612 billion in its troops every year, and the US Army proves that it is worth the money spent on it.

In addition, the status of the most high-tech and combat-ready also belongs to this army. The United States has its all over the world, which allows them to significantly scare potential enemies. After all, they can deliver a blow in just a couple of hours after receiving an order for that.

The Pentagon also does not lag behind in modern military developments, which gives rise to new, hitherto unseen types of weapons that have ever greater power and greater range.

All these factors help to understand that the United States is ahead of all other armies in the world. The rating is deservedly headed by this country, but it is not the only one that deserves attention.

The ranking of the ten strongest armies in the world in 2019 is based on data Global Firepower. The military power of each state was evaluated according to more than 50 different criteria. The economic situation of the states also played an important role in the ranking.

10 Germany

Germany opens the top ten strongest armies in the world in 2019. Until July 1, 2011, in Germany, all adult citizens of the country were required to serve on a compulsory basis (6 months of military service or alternative labor service in social and charitable organizations). Now the Bundeswehr has moved to a fully professional army. Germany has been a member of the NATO bloc for many years, so in case of any military threats, it can count on the help of the United States and other allies.

The German ground forces consist of four headquarters bases, which include multinational NATO corps from the so-called "rapid deployment forces", 5 task forces with headquarters in other army corps (Greek, Spanish, Turkish, Italian, and French), five divisions and auxiliary units and divisions.

The general focus of the German army is mainly focused on conducting peacekeeping missions as part of coalition forces, as well as on the settlement of local conflicts of low intensity. This is reflected in the founding document on German military development. Thus, in the event of a military conflict near the borders of Germany or the declaration of martial law, the state is ready for war only with a virtually “toothless” enemy. Such a conclusion suggests itself if you become familiar with the degree of combat, technical and logistic support of the Bundeswehr.

9 Turkey

Ninth place - the armed forces of Turkey. The Turkish army is recruited by conscription, the draft age is 20-41 years, the period of compulsory military service is from 6 to 12 months. Upon dismissal from the army, a citizen is considered liable for military service and is in the reserve until the age of 45. In wartime, in accordance with the law, men between the ages of 16 and 60 and women between the ages of 20 and 46 who are able to carry weapons can be drafted into the army.

The state and directions of development of the armed forces of Turkey are determined foreign policy situation that has developed in the Middle East region today. To call it simple does not turn the tongue. The situation that is currently observed in the Middle East poses many serious challenges and threats to the security of the Turkish state.

First of all, this is a large-scale conflict that is blazing in Syria, a high probability of creating an independent Kurdish state in the territories of Syria and Iraq, active terrorist activities of the PKK (Kurdistan Workers' Party), a frozen conflict with Greece around Cyprus and islands in the Aegean Sea.

8 UK

Compared to last year, the British Armed Forces have fallen from sixth to eighth place in the ranking of the strongest armies in the world. The military budget has also been cut by $2.5 billion, with the bulk of the budget spent on scientific research in engineering and technology. Despite its significant resources, the policy of the Ministry of Defense provides for the participation of British troops in military operations of any kind only as part of a coalition.

The Commander-in-Chief of the British Armed Forces is the British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II. The British Armed Forces are under the control of the Defense Council of the Ministry of Defence. The main task of the British armed forces is to protect the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, ensure the security and protection of the interests of Great Britain, participate in international UN peacekeeping operations and NATO operations.

The UK is believed to possess around 225 thermonuclear warheads, of which 160 are on alert, but the exact size of the arsenal has not been officially released. Since 1998 the only component nuclear forces Great Britain is the Trident SSBN group. The group consists of four Vanguard-class nuclear submarines based in Faslane, Scotland. Each submarine carries up to 16 Trident II missiles, each of which can carry up to eight warheads. At least one armed submarine is always on alert.

7 South Korea

According to the constitution, all South Korean men are required to serve in the military. At the same time, the draft age ranges from 18 to 35 years. In wartime, military service is compulsory for men between the ages of 18 and 45. The duration of conscription service is from 21 to 24 months. In terms of the number of military personnel per capita, South Korea ranks second in the world after its northern neighbor, the DPRK.

The army of South Korea is almost twice as large as the army of the DPRK, but in terms of its mobilization resources it is in no way inferior to its northern neighbor. On the side of the Republic of Korea, there is more than a twofold superiority in population - more than 51 million according to 2015, against 24 million for its northern neighbor, the Republic of Korea's GDP exceeds the GDP of the DPRK by more than 100 times, and the armed forces, although smaller in number, but armed with much more modern models of weapons and military equipment. The economic opportunities of the two Koreas today are simply incomparable.

Over the past 20 years, first-class armed forces have been created in South Korea, which are able to successfully withstand the army of almost any state. In almost all respects, the armed forces of this country are today among the ten strongest armies in the world, especially given the very high level of combat training. Also, the armed forces have a strong rear in the form of a powerful industrial base.

6 Japan

In contrast to the UK, the Japanese army has risen from eighth place in the ranking to sixth compared to last year. The Japan Self-Defense Force is the modern name for the Japanese armed forces. Formed in 1954 from the National Security Forces created two years earlier. The main task of the Self-Defense Forces is the defense of the state, the protection of the freedoms and independence of Japan. The ninth article of the Japanese Constitution severely restricts the military activities of the Self-Defense Forces, not directly related to the defense of the country.

Japan's military doctrine calls for close cooperation with the United States (with which Tokyo has a military alliance), allowing the Self-Defense Forces to be used to protect allies even if Japan itself is not attacked, and containing the PRC in the East China and South China Seas. Today, the island state is clearly seeking the right to independently oppose the DPRK.

The unresolved dispute over the Kuril Islands is a source of tension in Russian-Japanese relations. What character will this dispute acquire if a full-fledged army appears in Japan? In the context of the revival of its combat power, only Russian nuclear weapons remain a deterrent to a violent invasion of the islands. So the militarization of Japan cannot but worry Russia.

5 France

Fifth place is occupied by the armed forces of the French Republic. The French armed forces are the second largest and most equipped in Europe. At the same time, the French army is the largest on the Continent among those whose military doctrine provides for foreign military operations. In addition, it has two more additional differences. First, France has its own tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. Secondly, the country's armed forces have a balanced structure, including a powerful navy, and have probably the most experience in independent military operations among all EU and NATO countries.

Most of the first persons of France, starting with Charles de Gaulle, stated that nuclear weapons are the basis of the independence of the Fifth Republic in making foreign policy and strategic decisions. France was also called the "nuclear monarchy", since decision-making on nuclear weapons issues is entirely the prerogative of the country's president.

France is one of the founders of NATO, but from 1966 to 2009, Paris was not part of the military structure of the alliance, demonstrating its independence in military and international affairs. In the very foreseeable future, the French Armed Forces will lose the ability to conduct even very limited independent operations. This explains the return of the country to the military structure of NATO. However, the capabilities of the alliance as a whole are also rapidly declining.

4 India

Armed forces India - the military organization of India, designed to defend the Republic, protect the freedom and independence of the state, one of the most important instruments of political power. There is no mandatory call. India ranks first in the world in terms of arms imports and possesses nuclear weapons.

The Indian army, with 1.12 million soldiers, is the second largest in Asia. India, located between its traditional rivals Pakistan and China, needs a ground force capable of protecting its long territorial borders. Domestic insurgency, as well as the need to conduct operations in a country of 1.2 billion people, also forces India to have a significant military force with large quantity infantry divisions.

A feature of the Indian armed forces is very close cooperation with the Russian military-industrial complex. The Indian army is armed with a huge amount of military equipment and weapons produced by the Soviet Union and Russia. For example, the largest fleet of T-90 tanks in the world is not possessed by Russia, but by India.

3 China

The top three is opened by the People's Liberation Army of China. A noticeable geopolitical trend of recent decades has been the rapid rise of China and its gradual transformation from a regional leader into a superpower that no longer hides its global ambitions. Today, China has the second economy in the world, and it continues to grow rapidly, more than a third of world GDP growth is provided by China.

The Chinese army is conscription, men are recruited into the armed forces at the age of 18 and remain in the reserve until the age of 50.

China continues to increase defense spending: if at the beginning of the 2000s the country spent $17 billion on the army and the military-industrial complex, then in 2019 this figure reached $224 billion. In terms of military spending, China confidently ranks second, significantly ahead of Russia. China still lags behind Russia in some areas: in aircraft and rocket engines, submarines, cruise missiles - but this gap is rapidly closing. Moreover, the PRC is gradually turning into a powerful player in the global arms market, confidently occupying the niche of inexpensive and high-quality weapons.

2 Russia

Second place is taken by the Armed Forces Russian Federation. Military service in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation is provided for both by contract and by conscription. Military service is regulated by Federal Law No. 53-FZ “On military duty and military service”. Mandatory military duty is subject to males from 18 to 27 years.

It should be noted the most powerful military-industrial complex, which Russia inherited from the Soviet Union. He is able to independently produce almost the entire range of weapons for the modern land army and navy. Russia is one of the largest arms exporters in the world, second only to the United States.

On March 11, 2019, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced that since 2013 the number of precision-guided cruise missiles in the Russian army has increased by more than 30 times. Shoigu said that over the course of six years, the Russian Armed Forces also received 109 Yars intercontinental ballistic missiles, three Borei strategic missile submarines, 7 Bal and Bastion coastal missile systems, and 108 submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

1 US

It is safe to say that today the US Army is the strongest on the planet. The state, which does not have a potential enemy near its borders, was able to build powerful armed forces with the most modern weapons. The American army, in terms of the level of funds spent on it, occupies a leading position on the planet. Thus, the military budget of 2019 provided for spending 716 billion dollars on the needs of the army, which is 3 times more than China's defense spending and 16 times more than Russia's.

The American army is recruited on a voluntary basis and is based on a contract basis. The service accepts American citizens or permanent residents in the United States of America, with a residence permit, having at least a secondary education. The minimum candidate age for military service is 18 years.

For many years, the US Army has confidently held first place in the ranking of the strongest armies in the world. The Americans have their military bases practically all over the world. American soldiers have at their disposal the most modern military equipment which is updated frequently. The US has a huge nuclear potential. Navy has 24 powerful aircraft carriers, the state has the largest air force in the world, which has about 13,398 units.

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 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: number ground forces in the Middle Kingdom - about 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 best in the world is considered german tank Leopard 2A7, and the Russian T-14 "Armata" - 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

There are no aircraft carriers in the armed forces of Germany, Turkey and South Korea. 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

The most powerful armies in 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. From conscription young people are free in Albania and Serbia, in 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- served for approximately 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 based on compulsory conscription is the Israeli one. 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

Part by part high technology the top armies are again led by the US. 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 is 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 of “non-traditional orientation” fought. 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 is the 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.

The Russian army entered the top three of the strongest armies in the world. The military of the Russian Federation was evaluated on a par with other armies and shared the podium with China and the United States. Typically, such ratings are compiled on the basis of data from Global Firepower or Credit Suisse. The military power of each state is evaluated according to various criteria, nuclear potential or its absence is not taken into account.

How to determine the real alignment of forces among the states participating in military conflicts? When compiling the rating of armies, parameters such as the budget, the size of the army, the number of weapons (armored vehicles, aircraft, aircraft carriers and submarines) are usually taken into account. The technical level of weapons affects the position in the list to a lesser extent, and it is almost never possible to assess the real combat capability of the army. Nuclear potential or its absence in this list was not taken into account. The position was also influenced by the economic situation of the countries.
The Global Firepower organization evaluates the military potential of more than one hundred countries according to 50 different criteria. In 2016, the United States ranked first in the world in terms of having the largest military budget, the largest number of aircraft carriers, and the largest air fleet. Russia leads in the number of tanks (15,000) and nuclear warheads (8,484 units). China is ahead of everyone in the size of the army.
Not so long ago, the National Interest magazine made a forecast on the combat power of the armies of the world in 15 years. The analysis was 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 and glorious history, having served in both World War I and World War II as part of the British Empire. Members of the Australian Armed Forces are consistently involved in all NATO operations. In accordance with national doctrine, Australia should be able to stand alone against an invasion from outside. Located on the edge of the world, with no real competitor, Australia is considered one of the safest countries, as ground invasion is impossible. The Australian Defense Force is relatively small but technologically advanced. They are formed on 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 the Ethiopian Civil War, the Angolan Civil War, the Bosnian War and the War in Afghanistan.
Whenever we hear about the German military, it is somehow impossible not to think of Adolf Hitler, who is responsible for the deaths of about 6 million Jews and many millions of people of other nations...
The Germans today have few submarines and not a single aircraft carrier. The German army has a record number of inexperienced young soldiers, which makes it 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 has 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, which did not become victorious for England - she 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 has become 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 citizens of Israel, including those with dual citizenship and living in another country, as well as all permanent residents in the territory of the state, upon reaching 18 years of age, are subject to conscription in the IDF. 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 privates 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 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 compulsory for Egyptian men, they can be up to 9 years old. Today, Egypt is trying to keep the peace in its own country and wage a war on terrorism.
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. 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 Muslim countries Middle East.
The semi-European, semi-Asian power, which has the second largest military in NATO after the US, is one of the best trained military forces in the world. Turkey owns a "treasure" of more than 200 F-16s, the second largest fleet after the United States. Despite the presence of a large number of well-trained military personnel, the Turkish Armed Forces are not particularly popular among the people. In early 2016, when the military attempted a coup, they were defeated by ordinary citizens who took to the streets and re-established an elected government.

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 Cold War conflict is seen as a proxy war between the United States and its allies and Chinese and Soviet forces. The composition of the northern coalition included: North Korea and its armed forces; the Chinese army (since it was officially believed that the PRC did not participate in the conflict, regular Chinese troops were formally considered to be formations of the so-called "Chinese people's volunteers"); The USSR, which also did not officially participate in the war, but 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 numerous armed forces, although in terms of quantitative indicators in everything except aviation, it continues to lose to its main potential adversary - the DPRK. The difference, of course, is in the technological level. Seoul has its latest and Western developments, Pyongyang has Soviet technology 50 years ago.
Interestingly, North Korea is considered the leader in the number of submarines (35th in the Global Firepower rating), which has 78 units. However, it is noted that they are almost completely unusable. A third of North Korea's submarines are noisy diesel-powered Romeos, which were obsolete in 1961.

India

Budget: $51 billion
Active Army Strength: 1,408,551
Tanks: 6,464
Aviation: 1,905
Subs: 15
Currently, India is confidently among the top ten world powers in terms of its military potential. The armed forces of India are inferior to the armies of the United States, Russia and China, they are strong and numerous. Speaking of the Indian armed forces, it is worth remembering that India is the world's largest importer of weapons (as of 2012), and also possesses nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. In addition to the armed forces themselves, India has a variety of paramilitary forces in which more than a million people serve: national security forces, special border forces, special paramilitary forces. The fact that India has about a hundred nuclear warheads, three aircraft carriers and two nuclear submarines in service makes it the fifth most powerful.

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 was hit by a nuclear attack from the United States. After defeat in World War II Imperial Army Japan was dissolved, and military factories and educational establishments closed. The occupying authorities banned even martial arts. A ban on the manufacture of Japanese swords was also established, which lasted until 1953. In 1947, the Constitution of Japan was adopted, which legally enshrined Japan's refusal to participate in military conflicts. The only country that has suffered from nuclear attacks is not allowed to raise its own army.
However, already during the period of American occupation, the creation of armed formations began: in 1950, a reserve police corps was created; in 1952 it was converted to the Security Corps, in 1954 it was converted to the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The Japan Self-Defense Force is 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. Japan recently deployed its troops to South Sudan for the first time since World War II as part of UN peacekeeping missions. The Japan Self-Defense Forces are armed with 4 helicopter carriers and 9 destroyers. However, Japan does not have nuclear weapons and this, together with a small number of tanks, makes some experts think that the position of this army is overestimated.

Russia

Budget: $84.5 billion
Active Army strength: 766,033
Tanks: 15,398
Aviation: 3,429
Subs: 55
It would be disrespectful to the national military history to try to retell it in one paragraph.
A great power has just under a million military personnel. The Russian ground army is rightfully considered the most powerful in the whole world, which is provided with the latest military equipment. The budget allocated by the state for the needs of the army, the production and purchase of military equipment, is more than 84 billion dollars. The air force includes over 3,000 aircraft. No less equipped 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 the largest number of soldiers; 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. The Chinese armed forces are divided into five military command zones and three fleets organized according to the territorial principle: east, north, west, south and center.
After the capitulation of Japan, the USSR handed over to the PLA captured weapons of the Kwantung Army: ships of the Sungari River Flotilla, 861 aircraft, 600 tanks, artillery, mortars, 1200 machine guns, as well as small arms, ammunition and other military equipment.
Chinese officials say that in the course of developing weapons, China does not exceed the feasible level that the economy and society are able to withstand, and even more so does not seek an arms race. However, PRC defense spending increased sharply in 2001-2009.
The second economy in the world has the largest active army, however, in terms of the number of tanks, aircraft and helicopters, it is still noticeably inferior not only to the United States, but also to Russia. But the defense budget exceeds the Russian one by 2.5 times. As far as we know, China keeps several hundred nuclear warheads on combat duty. However, some believe that in reality the PRC may have several thousand warheads, but this information is classified.

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 wars that take place on planet Earth since the discovery of America. The US military budget is comparable to previous countries in the ranking. The Navy has 10 powerful aircraft carriers, half of which are considered the largest in the world. The superpower has 1.4 million military personnel in reserve. A third of the country's gross income goes to the development of the army and military equipment - about 600 billion dollars. American soldiers have at their disposal the most modern military equipment, which is periodically updated. The US has a nuclear capability that includes 7,500 nuclear warheads. The country is also famous for its tanks, and their armored vehicles have more than 8 thousand units. The state also has the largest air force in the world, which has about 13,682 aircraft.
Some experts say that the USA can never be invaded because they have the strongest fleet with the maximum number ships and submarines. The American army owns about 15 million hectares of land throughout the United States and the Americans have their military bases almost all over the world (there are at least 158 ​​of them). In 2011, the Army Newsletter reported that they estimated that 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 a leader 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.

10. France

Active Army: 362,485

Military reserve: 419,000

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).

In 2003, the second part of the reform of the armed forces, begun in 1996, was completed in the country. As part of this reform, conscription was abolished and a transition to a professional, less numerous, but more effective army took place. This reform will continue until 2015.

9. Iran

Active Army: 545,000

Military reserve: 650,000

In 1979, the Islamic Revolution took place in Iran, led by Ayatollah Khomeini, during which the monarchy was overthrown and an Islamic republic was proclaimed. Since then, this country has been a serious hotbed of tension in the region.

The Iranian armed forces consist of two main parts: troops under the Ministry of Defense and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps under the direct subordination of the Supreme Leader, where a total of 545,000 people serve.

Iran's combat capabilities are a closely guarded secret. It is known that since 1992 Iran has been producing its own tanks, armored personnel carriers, guided missiles, submarines and even fighter jets.

8. Turkey

Active Army: 612,900

Military reserve: 429,000

The Turkish army has existed for more than 2 thousand years. During the Second World War, she remained neutral. However, the Turks were involved in the Korean War, and the biggest conflict of the 20th century for Turkey was the war of independence, where Russia, Great Britain, Greece and Italy participated.

Military service in Turkey is compulsory. In terms of the size of the ground forces, Turkey ranks second in NATO.

7. Pakistan

Active Army: 617,000

Military reserve: 515,500

The Pakistan Army was founded in 1947. It has more than 600 thousand military personnel who are volunteers.

The military history of Pakistan includes conflicts with border states such as Afghanistan and India, the war in the Persian Gulf, in Magadisho and Somalia. Pakistan is also a US ally in the global war on terrorism, helping to fight the Taliban and al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and on the Pakistani border.

6. South Korea

Active Army: 653,000

Military reserve: 3,200,000

There are three types of armed forces in Korea: army, air force and navy. As in the US, they are independent of each other.

At the head of the army is a committee of chiefs of staff, which plays the role of the general staff and exercises operational control of the armed forces.

The Korean Ministry of Defense is a civilian organization responsible for the budget of the armed forces, their supply and personnel matters.

5. North Korea

Active Army: 1,106,000

Military reserve: 8,200,000

The Korean People's Army was founded in 1939 and has over a million soldiers. No less impressive is the number of reserve soldiers that can be raised in the event of hostilities - 8 million people.

The main conflicts in the history of North Korea are the Korean and Vietnam Wars. Contradictions and tensions between North and South Korea still exist, and, technically, this conflict is not officially over yet.

4. Russia

Active Army: 1,200,000

Military reserve: 754,000

Russia has undergone numerous changes in its military history since 863. Today the army is called the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. May 7, 1992 is considered the day of its foundation.

Previous Russian military organizations, including the Red Army, have been involved in numerous regional conflicts, world wars, and the Cold War. Before the collapse of the Soviet Union, it was known as the most powerful army in the world, surpassing the US in every way, including the number of soldiers and the volume of nuclear weapons.

Conscription for military service begins at the age of 18.

3. India

Active Army: 1,325,000

Military reserve: 1,747,000

The Indian army has its roots in the Stone Age. Today it is famous for the largest number of volunteers in the army and has over 1 million people.

The Indian army was involved in both world wars and several wars for its own independence. India also has a conflicting relationship with Pakistan.

2. United States of America

Active Army: 1,477,896

Military reserve: 1,458,500

The history of the United States Army dates back to 1775, when the Continental Army was created to fight in the revolutionary war.

The states have been involved in every world war, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Gulf War, and now the war against global terrorism.

The active fighting force of the United States is over 500,000 men and over a million reservists and National Guard soldiers. America's military bases are located all over the world. Service in the army is on a voluntary basis.

1. China

Active Army: 2,285,000

Military reserve: 800,000

The People's Liberation Army of China is the largest army in the world, with more than 2.2 million people. And this is after a significant reduction in recent years.

It was founded in 1927. Participated in the Sino-Japanese conflict, the Second World War, the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

Technically, military service is compulsory from the age of 18. At the same time, China has never experienced problems with personnel, since there have always been even more than enough men who volunteered for the army.