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 based on the following parameters: access to innovation and other important national resources, support from politicians and the ability of the military to learn and improve in a peaceful environment. As a result, the top five strong armies, in their opinion, will include the armed forces of India, the United States, France, China and Russia.

This rating, compiled by the American portal The Richest, may raise some questions. For example, the Israeli army is losing one position to Egypt, mainly due to the number of employees and tanks. However, in all clashes, the first country always defeated the second, despite the numerical superiority. It is also strange that the list does not include Iran with its half a million soldiers, 1500 tanks and 300 combat aircraft. Our readers will probably have many more questions for the authors of this list.

15. Australia

Budget: $26.1 billion
Number of active troops: 58 thousand people
Tanks: 59
Aviation: 408
Submarines: 6
The Australian Army has a long and glorious history, having served in both World War I and World War II as part of the British Empire. Members of the Australian Armed Forces are consistently involved in all NATO operations. In accordance with national doctrine, Australia should be able to stand alone against an invasion from outside. Located on the edge of the world, with no real competitor, Australia is considered one of the safest countries, as ground invasion is impossible. The Australian Defense Force is relatively small but technologically advanced. They are formed on 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.

14. Germany

Budget: $40.2 billion
Number: 180 thousand people
Tanks: 408
Aviation: 663
Subs: 4

After the Second World War, Germany did not have its own army for 10 years. During the confrontation between the West and the USSR, the Bundeswehr numbered up to half a million people, but after the unification of East and West Berlin, the authorities abandoned the doctrine of confrontation and sharply reduced investments in defense. Apparently, this is why in the Credit Suisse rating, for example, the GDR Armed Forces were behind even Poland (and Poland is not in this rating at all). At the same time, Berlin actively sponsors the eastern allies in NATO. After 1945, Germany was never directly involved in major operations, but they sent troops to support their allies during the Ethiopian Civil War, the Angolan Civil War, the Bosnian War and the War in Afghanistan.
Whenever we hear about the German military, it is somehow impossible not to think of Adolf Hitler, who is responsible for the deaths of about 6 million Jews and many millions of people of other nations...
The Germans today have few submarines and not a single aircraft carrier. 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.

13. Italy

Budget: $34 billion
The number of active army: 320 thousand people.
Tanks: 586
Aviation: 760
Subs: 6

The totality of the military forces of the Italian Republic, designed to protect 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 taken a direct part in armed conflicts in any countries beyond recent times, but is always involved in peacekeeping missions and deployed its troops in the war on terrorism.

Weak during the Second World War, the Italian army currently owns two active aircraft carriers, which house a large number of helicopters; they have submarines, which allows them to be included in the list of the most powerful armies. Italy is not currently at war, but is an active member of the UN - willingly transfers its troops to countries that ask for help.

12. UK

Budget: $60.5 billion
Active Army: 147,000
Tanks: 407
Aviation: 936
Subs: 10

After the end of World War II, Great Britain abandoned the idea of ​​​​military dominance around the world in favor of the United States, but the Royal Armed Forces still have significant power and take part in all NATO operations. After 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 becomes much weaker over time. The UK military budget has been cut due to BREXIT and they are planning to reduce the number of their soldiers in time until 2018.

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

11. Israel

Budget: $17 billion
Population: 160 thousand
Tanks: 4,170
Aviation: 684
Subs: 5

The main enemy of the Arabs, Israel has been fighting for its independence since 1947; it is constantly at war with Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and other Arab countries.
Israel has won five consecutive victories in previous wars against Hamas and Palestine since 2000, with heavy reinforcements from the US military.
A country that is not recognized by 31 countries (of which 18 are Arab) is still fighting against its enemies. By law, all citizens of Israel, including those with dual citizenship and living in another country, as well as all permanent residents in the territory of the state, upon reaching 18 years of age, are subject to conscription in the IDF. 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 IDF's greatest strength is the use of technology in upgrading its missile defense systems. The army consists of 3 types of armed forces: land, air force and naval forces. Implementation of the decision on the creation of the fourth type of armed forces - cybernetic troops has begun. 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.

Israel is traditionally the most undervalued member of the Credit Suisse rating. The IDF has won all the conflicts in which it has participated, and often the Israelis had to fight on several fronts against an enemy many times superior in number. In addition to a huge amount of the latest offensive and defensive weapons of our own design, the rating does not take into account the fact that there are several hundred thousand reservists in the country with combat experience and high motivation.

10. Egypt

Budget: $4.4 billion
Army size: 468 thousand people
Tanks: 4,624
Aviation: 1,107
Subs: 4

Having fought on the side of the Arab alliance against Israel in 4 wars, Egypt has never fought a major battle against any other countries, but has participated several times in operations against ISIS terrorist groups. As in Israel military service is obligatory for Egyptian men, they happen to be 9 years old. Today, Egypt is trying to keep the peace in its own country and wage a war on terrorism.

The army of Egypt was in the ranking due to the number and amount of equipment, although as the war showed doomsday, even a threefold superiority in tanks is offset by high combat skills and the technical level of weapons. Initialed or signed as of 2014 contracts totaling more than $3 billion for the supply from the Russian Federation of 24 MiG-29m/m2 fighters, air defense systems, anti-tank Cornet, combat helicopters: Ka-25, Mi-28 and Mi-25, Mi-35 . Light weapons. Coastal anti-ship systems. All contracts started after the suspension of military and financial assistance to Egypt from the United States. At the same time, it is known that about a thousand "Abrams" of the Egyptian Armed Forces are simply mothballed in warehouses. If Cairo acquires Mistral-type helicopter carriers and attack helicopters for them, this will make Egypt a truly serious military force.

9. Pakistan

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

The first major war was fought in 1965 against the largest enemy - India, military operations were quite successful, India withdrew its troops. The second war was domestic policy East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), when the Indian army took revenge for 1965 and played its cards, splitting the country in two. Pakistan has not reached an agreement on the borders with India: the territories of the states of Jammu and Kashmir remain disputed, formally the countries are in a state of conflict, within which they are conducting an arms race.

Pakistan's army is one of the largest in the world, it has a lot of tanks and aircraft, the US supports Islamabad with equipment. The main threat is internal, in remote areas of the country ruled by local leaders and the Taliban. Pakistan has medium-range ballistic missiles and about a hundred nuclear warheads. Pucks love and respect their MC immensely, and often seek justice from the military (instead of the courts and the government). Pakistan is said to have friendly relations with the superpowers, including the US, China and Turkey, who are always ready to support them. Recently, joint military exercises with the Russian army have made the Pakistani military much stronger, even though their biggest enemy India has been backed by Russia in previous wars against Pakistan.

8. Turkey

Budget: $18.2 billion
The number of active army: 410, 500 thousand people
Tanks: 3,778
Aviation: 1,020
Subs: 13

Turkey is an active member of the UN; She took part in the Korean War between China and Korea. They fought two major battles with Cyprus in 1964 and 1974 and won, taking 36.2% of the territory of Cyprus. They are still involved in the ongoing wars in Afghanistan against the Taliban and ISIS in Iraq and Syria.

Turkey claims to be a regional leader, therefore it is constantly building up and updating its armed forces. Great amount tanks, aviation and a large modern fleet (though without aircraft carriers) allows the Turkish army to be considered the strongest among the Muslim countries of the Middle East.
The semi-European, semi-Asian power, which has the second largest military in NATO after the US, is one of the best trained military forces in the world. Turkey owns a "treasure" of more than 200 F-16s, the second largest fleet after the United States. Despite the presence a large number well-trained military, the Turkish Armed Forces are not particularly popular among the people. In early 2016, when the military attempted a coup, they were defeated by ordinary citizens who took to the streets and re-established an elected government.

7. France

Budget: $62.3 billion
Active Army: 205,000
Tanks: 623
Aviation: 1,264
Subs: 10

France is one of the few countries whose armed forces have an almost complete range of modern weapons and military equipment of their own production - from small arms to 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. French army- is still the main military force in Africa, it continues to actively intervene in local conflicts.

In 2015, France completed the reform of the armed forces, which began in 1996. As part of this reform, conscription was canceled and a transition to a mercenary army took place, which was less numerous, but more effective. The total strength of the French armed forces was significantly reduced.
Recently, the attack nuclear aircraft carrier "Charles de Gaulle" was put into operation. Currently, France has approximately 300 strategic nuclear warheads, which are deployed on nuclear submarines. There are also 60 tactical warheads.

6. South Korea

Budget: $62.3 billion
Active Army: 625,000
Tanks: 2,381
Aviation: 1,412
Subs: 13
The main war in which this country participated was the Korean War in 1950. Often this conflict of times cold war is viewed as a proxy war between the United States and its allies and the forces of the PRC and the USSR. The composition of the northern coalition included: North Korea and its armed forces; the Chinese army (since it was officially believed that the PRC did not participate in the conflict, regular Chinese troops were formally considered to be formations of the so-called "Chinese people's volunteers"); The USSR, which also did not officially participate in the war, but in many respects took over its financing, as well as the supply Chinese troops. Numerous military advisers and specialists were withdrawn from North Korea even before the start of the war, and during the war they were sent back under the guise of TASS correspondents. From the South, South Korea, the United States, Great Britain and a number of other countries took part in the war as part of the UN peacekeeping forces. Interestingly, China uses the name "War against America to support the Korean people." In 1952-53, many things changed in the world (the new president in the USA, the death of Stalin, etc.), and the war ended with a truce.

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.

5. India

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

4. Japan

Budget: $41.6 billion
Active army strength: 247, 173
Tanks: 678
Aviation: 1,613
Subs: 16

The last battle of World War II was a nightmare for Japan, which suffered nuclear strike from the United States. After defeat in World War II Imperial Army Japan was dissolved, and military factories and educational establishments closed. The occupying authorities banned even martial arts. A ban on the manufacture of Japanese swords was also established, which lasted until 1953. In 1947, the Constitution of Japan was adopted, which legally enshrined Japan's refusal to participate in military conflicts. The only country that has suffered from nuclear attacks is not allowed to raise its own army.

However, already during the period of American occupation, the creation of armed formations began: in 1950, a reserve police corps was created; in 1952 it was converted to the Security Corps, in 1954 it was converted to the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The Japan Self-Defense Force is the modern name for the Japanese armed forces. The armed forces include: ground forces, sea and air self-defense forces of Japan. It can be argued that today Japan has a very large and relatively modern armed forces, powerful enough in the Asia-Pacific region and capable of solving almost any task. On September 19, 2015, the Japanese Parliament authorized the use of the Self-Defense Forces to participate in military conflicts abroad.

Japan's high-tech military is equipped with cutting-edge gadgets and the latest weapons, making it one of the strongest on this list. Recently, Japan deployed its troops for the first time since World War II in South Sudan within the UN peacekeeping missions. The Japan Self-Defense Forces are armed with 4 helicopter carriers and 9 destroyers. However, Japan does not have nuclear weapons and this, together with a small number of tanks, makes some experts think that the position of this army is overestimated.

3. Russia

Budget: $84.5 billion
Active Army strength: 766,033
Tanks: 15,398
Aviation: 3,429
Subs: 55

It would be disrespectful to the national military history to try to retell it in one paragraph.
A great power has just under a million military personnel. The Russian ground army is rightfully considered the most powerful in the whole world, which is provided with the latest military equipment. The budget allocated by the state for the needs of the army, the production and purchase of military equipment, is more than 84 billion dollars. The air force includes over 3,000 aircraft. No less equipped 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 as part of the strategic nuclear forces Russia has about 350 carriers and about 2,000 nuclear warheads. The number of tactical nuclear charges is unknown and may be several thousand.
One of the three most powerful and experienced armies in the world, the Russian army is a big threat to China and the US. Russia constantly invests in its military budget and produces the latest aircraft, helicopters and ammunition. By 2020, Russia plans to add six more army aviation air bases to the existing eight. In addition, more than a thousand new helicopters are planned to be put into operation.

2. China

Budget: $216 billion
Active Army Strength: 2,333,000
Tanks: 9,150
Aviation: 2,860
Subs: 67

The People's Liberation Army of China is the official name of the Chinese armed forces, the largest in terms of numbers in the world. China is the most populated country in the world with largest number soldier; approximately 2,333,000 people serve (this is only 0.18% of the country's population). China is increasing its military budget by 12% every year to become a superpower against the US. Legislation provides 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. Military establishment The PRC is divided into five military command zones and three fleets organized along territorial lines: east, north, west, south, and center.

After the capitulation of Japan, the USSR handed over to the PLA captured weapons of the Kwantung Army: ships of the Sungari River Flotilla, 861 aircraft, 600 tanks, artillery, mortars, 1200 machine guns, as well as small arms, ammunition and other military equipment.

Chinese officials say that in the course of developing weapons, China does not exceed the feasible level that the economy and society are able to withstand, and even more so does not seek an arms race. However, PRC defense spending increased sharply in 2001-2009.

The second economy in the world has the largest active army, however, in terms of the number of tanks, aircraft and helicopters, it is still noticeably inferior not only to the United States, but also to Russia. But the defense budget exceeds the Russian one by 2.5 times. As far as we know, China keeps several hundred nuclear warheads on combat duty. However, some believe that in reality the PRC may have several thousand warheads, but this information is classified.

1. USA

Budget: $601 billion
Troops: 1,400,000
Tanks: 8,848
Aviation: 13,892
Submarines: 72

The USA is directly or indirectly involved in almost all the wars that have been taking place on planet Earth since the discovery of America. The US military budget is comparable to previous countries in the ranking. The Navy has 10 powerful aircraft carriers, half of which are considered the largest in the world. The superpower has 1.4 million military personnel in reserve. A third of the country's gross income goes to the development of the army and military equipment - about 600 billion dollars. American soldiers have at their disposal the most modern military equipment, which is periodically updated. The US has a nuclear capability that includes 7,500 nuclear warheads. The country is also famous for its tanks, and their armored vehicles have more than 8 thousand units. The state also has the largest air force in the world, with some 13,682 aircraft.

Some experts say that the USA can never be invaded because it has the strongest fleet with the maximum number of ships and submarines. American army owns about 15 million hectares of land throughout the United States and the Americans have their military bases almost all over the world (there are at least 158 ​​of them). In 2011, the Army Newsletter reported that they estimated they had used up about 22 gallons of fuel per day per soldier.

The US is investing billions of dollars to develop the latest military technology, keeping the US at the forefront in areas such as robotics. Recently, the US Army has been looking to create new Cyber ​​Corps and increase soldiers in the Cyber ​​Crime Unit. Their responsibility will be to ensure the security of networks and information databases of systems and to protect against cyber attacks.

The army is an essential attribute of any state. Sooner or later, a conflict arises between neighboring countries or regions within the country, which often ends in armed clashes that claim the lives of thousands of people and destroy cities to the ground. Soldiers are called upon to protect the interests of their country, repulsing the attacks of an aggressor, or vice versa, to be an aggressor in relation to another country. in front of you the strongest armies in the world who, like no one else, know what real war is!

• Active living force: 410.5 thousand soldiers.
• Army reserve: 185.63 thousand persons liable for military service.
• 13849 units.
• Marine: 194 units of naval vessels.
• Air fleet: 1007 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: 18.185 billion dollars.

Conflicts near the country's borders have forced Turkey to have a strong military. The total number of citizens who are ready to be under arms is more than half a million, which can serve as a fairly weighty argument for the calmness of the inhabitants of this country.

• Active living force: 250 thousand military personnel.
• Army reserve: 57.9 thousand persons liable for military service.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 4329 units.
• Marine: 131 units of naval equipment.
• Air fleet: 1590 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: 40.3 billion US dollars.

After World War II, Japan found itself in a very disadvantageous position. Hundreds of uncomfortable contracts for her fell on her head. One such treaty is a small document that forbids Japan from recruiting more than a certain number of soldiers. The country's budget is more than 40 million US dollars for 250 thousand military personnel.

• Active living force: 180 thousand military personnel.
• Army reserve: 145 thousand conscripts.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 6481 units.
• Marine: 81 units of naval equipment.
• Air fleet: 676 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: 36.3 billion US dollars.

Everyone remembers how strong this country was in the 20th century and the Second World War it clearly showed. But german army was defeated and has since lost its positions very much. Nevertheless, today this country plays an important role in global politics and has a well-equipped army.

7. South Korea

• Active living force: 625 thousand military personnel.
• Army reserve: 2.9 million conscripts.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 12619 units.
• Marine: 166 units of naval equipment.
• Air fleet: 1451 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: 33.2 billion US dollars.

The need to be a strong military power is dictated by the northern neighbor.

• Active living force: 205 thousand military personnel.
• Army reserve: 195.77 thousand military men and more than one hundred thousand policemen.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 7888 cars.
• Marine: 118 units of naval vessels.
• Air fleet: 1282 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: 35 billion US dollars.

It remained one of the few armed formations that are fully equipped with weapons, equipment and protective equipment from their own manufacturer. Another unique feature is the huge (against the background of other armies) number of women, about 15%.

• Active living force: 150 thousand military personnel.
• Army reserve: 182 thousand people liable for military service.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 6624 tanks, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.
• Marine: 76 units of naval equipment.
• Air fleet: 879 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: US$55 billion.

population british army makes it one of the largest armed formations of the countries of the European Union. In fact, the troops of England have always been considered strong enough to instill fear in all the enemies of Britain. She retained this image to this day. Unfortunately, the main pride of England - its fleet, has long ceased to be one of the best in the world, which lowered it to the fifth step in the Top 10 most powerful armies in the world.

• Active living force: 1.325 million troops.
• Army reserve: 2.143 million people liable for military service.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 21164 units.
• Marine: 295 units of naval equipment.
• Air fleet: 2086 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: 40 billion dollars.

Do not be surprised at such a huge figure of manpower in India. In a country where more than a billion people get along, in no case should one lose vigilance. Such countries need a strong fist, ready at any moment to repel an external threat or suppress the danger within the country. No one is forced to serve here, the service is carried out exclusively on a paid contract basis by persons who have reached the age of majority.

• Active living force: 2.335 million troops.
• Army reserve: 2.3 million conscripts.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 23664 units.
• Marine: 714 units of naval vessels.
• Air fleet: 2942 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: 155.6 billion US dollars.

Another giant country that simply needs the strongest army in the world. The relatively small cost of such a huge number of military personnel in no way affects the quality of their service. A huge air fleet, considered the strongest after the Russian one. Almost 24 thousand units of military equipment and about 2.3 million soldiers are ready to defend the independence of their country at any moment.

• Active living force: 766.06 thousand military personnel.
• Army reserve: 2.485 million conscripts.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 61086 units.
• Marine: 352 units of naval equipment.
• Air fleet: 3547 attack aircraft, fighters, transports and bombers.
• Annual budget for defense: 46.6 billion US dollars.

1.United States of America

Before the collapse of the USSR, the country's army was considered the strongest in the world and was too tough even for the United States. But, alas, after the collapse, she significantly lost ground. But even despite this, huge reserves, almost ten thousand pieces of armored vehicles and many other weapons make Russia a terrible enemy that is beyond the power of most countries in the world. To all other the Russian Federation possesses nuclear weapons (its presence is not taken into account in the rating), and in a serious conflict with another state, it will be a very significant addition to military power. And I would also like to say that the main difference between the army of our country and others is, perhaps, the strongest will and spirit of the soldiers. But, since the quantitative and qualitative equipment of the army, the number of servicemen and defense spending play the main role in the rating, then, alas, the second line.

• Active living force: 1.4 million troops.
• Army reserve: 1.1 million conscripts.
• Number of combat ground vehicles: 54474 tanks, armored personnel carriers and other equipment.
• Marine: 415 units of naval equipment.
• Air fleet: 13444 combat and transport helicopters.
• Annual budget for defense:$581 billion.

First of all, the most powerful army in the world in 2016 will amaze you not with the number of soldiers or armored vehicles, but with its budget. If you take the top ten armies in the world, their total budget will hardly reach the American one. A huge number of aircraft, a powerful navy and more than 54,000 ground armored vehicles make the United States the strongest contender on the world stage.

The troops are considered an important part of the country and its security. Every year, large funds are allocated from the budgets to maintain and modernize weapons, train and maintain soldiers, and much more. Countries are also taking special initiatives to strengthen themselves militarily.

Hypothetically, compare armies different countries world and find out which one is the strongest, impossible. However, without leading to a bloodbath, we will try to get an idea of ​​the military power of countries, taking into account: the arsenal at the disposal; implementation of advanced technologies; military combat skills of soldiers; power and number of allies; army size; allocated budget for maintaining troops, etc.

Let's look at the top 10 countries with the strongest armies in the world.

The most powerful armies in the world

10. Japan

Japan is the land of the samurai and was the leading force during World War II. Interestingly, according to the peace treaty, which was signed after the end of World War II, Japan is prohibited from having an offensive army. In response to the growing controversy over China's military expansion, Japan has launched a military expansion for the first time in 40 years and is placing new military bases on its outer islands. "Land of the Rising Sun", for the first time in the last 11 years, increased military spending to $ 49,100 million and ranks 6th in the world in this indicator. The Japanese Army has over 247,000 active personnel and almost 60,000 in reserve. The Air Force Squadron consists of 1595 aircraft (5th in the world). The fleet has about 131 warships. In addition, through his recent defense initiatives, he maintains a strong military presence in Asia.

9. South Korea

South Korea is bordered by North Korea, which has an extremely powerful military at its disposal, and therefore poses a constant threat to South Korea. But a possible attack by neighbors is not the only problem for South Korea. To meet the growing armament of China and Japan, South Korea is ramping up defense spending, which currently stands at about $34 billion. It has more than 640,000 active troops and 2,900,000 additional reserve personnel. air force represented by 1,393 aircraft (6th largest). Fleet - 166 ships. Also in South Korea, there are about 15,000 ground weapons, including missile systems, as well as 2,346 tanks. South Korean troops regularly take part in military exercises with the United States.

8. Turkey

In 2015, the Turkish government decided to increase its defense spending by 10%. This may be due to the fact that a war is being fought between IS and Syrian troops near Turkey, and possibly because of the likelihood of a collision with a Kurdish separatist organization. Turkey's defense budget is about $18180000000. The size of the army (both regular and reserve) is just over 660000. The Turkish Air Force has 1000 aircraft. Also in service are 16,000 ground weapons. Turkey has strong diplomatic relations with the United States (although these ties are weakening every year), and also participates in initiatives around the world.

7. Germany

Germany is one of the strongest economic powers in the world, but despite spending about $45 million each year, the state of the army seems to have worsened over the past few years. One of the reasons for this may be that the generation born and raised in the 1950s and 60s was against the war and was afraid of attacks from other countries with stronger armies. This still discourages people from joining the ranks of the troops. In 2011, compulsory military service was abolished to prevent the country from being a militarized country. The troops include only 183,000 active personnel and 145,000 reservists. Aviation is armed with 710 aircraft. The total number of weapons of various types is almost units.

6. France

France is another country that followed Germany and in 2013 the French government decided to “effectively” freeze military spending and jobs in the defense sector by 10% to save money on technologically advanced equipment. Currently, France's military budget is about $43 billion a year, which is 1.9% of the country's GDP (well below the spending target set by NATO). The French armed forces have about 220 thousand active personnel and the same number of people are in reserve. Aviation is represented by more than 1000 aircraft. Also in service are about 9,000 ground vehicles. Even if it doesn't make France formidable army, it has several trump cards: position in the EU and the UN, as well as the presence of about 290 nuclear weapons.

5. UK

The UK is another EU member, also implementing a plan to reduce the size of the armed forces by 20% in 2010-2018. There is also a reduction in the Royal navy and the British Air Force. The UK military budget currently stands at $54 billion. Britain's regular army has about 205,000 men. The Air Force is represented by 908 aircraft. Navy - 66 ships. However, the UK army is still considered powerful and superior to many others due to the training of soldiers. Also, Britain has 160 nuclear weapons, which is the strongest argument. The Royal Navy plans to commission HMS Queen Elizabeth in 2020.

4. India

The government of India decided to take advantage of the fact that the population of the country is very large. The Indian Army has a sizable 3.5 million men, including 1.325 million active troops. The sheer size of the Indian force is one of the reasons why India ranks so high in our rankings and in the rankings. best armies peace. The strength of the army is supplemented by a practical 16,000 ground vehicles, which include 3,500 tanks as well as 1,785 aircraft, along with nuclear weapons. Indian ballistic missiles could hit all of Pakistan or most of China. The current military budget is $46 billion, but the government plans to increase this amount by 2020, as well as modernize some weapons.

3. China

It has another 2,800 aircraft in its Air Force. China has about 300 nuclear weapons at its disposal, along with 180 different methods of deploying them. China recently acquired classified information about the new F-35, and is known to successfully steal sensitive military equipment. China is rightfully one of the top 3 armed forces.

According to official figures, China's defense budget is $126 billion, and this amount may increase by another 12.2% in the near future. The Chinese army is massive, with 2.285 million active front-line personnel and another 2.3 million reservists, the largest ground force in the world, yet operating with 25,000 ground troops. vehicles. Chinese aviation consists of 2,800 aircraft. China also has about 300 nuclear weapons at its disposal. Given all this, we can say that China rightfully ranks third in our ranking of the most strong countries peace.

2. Russia

Russia's military budget is $76,600 million, but it will increase by 44% in the next three years. In fact, Kremlin spending has increased by about a third since 2008, especially when Vladimir Putin became president in 2000. The Russian army has shown significant growth since the collapse Soviet Union two decades ago. About 766,000 active personnel are involved in the Russian army, including about 2.5 million people in the reserve forces. In addition, 15,500 tanks are in service, making Russia the largest tank force in the world, although they are becoming obsolete like any other equipment. Russia is also the leader among nuclear states, having at its disposal 8500 active nuclear warheads.

1. United States of America

The United States annually spends a whopping $612500000000 to maintain the army. This is the budget is equal to the sum budgets of nine other countries combined. The United States maintains a surprisingly large army of over 1.4 million soldiers and another 800,000 reservists. In addition to active ground teams, the reserve includes trained men and women ready to assist the troops at any given time. The advantage of the USA is that the country is the world leader in the production of aviation equipment. Also in service with the States are 19 aircraft carriers, while all other states have a total of only 12 pieces. The 7,500 nuclear warheads also help maintain the United States of America as the world's most powerful country and military.

Comments 0

A powerful and combat-ready army is the key to a significant weight of the country in the international arena. Moreover, in connection with the well-known events in Syria and Ukraine, the military power of different countries is increasingly being given the closest attention. Many ask the question: "Who will win the world war?".

Today we present an annually updated, official rating of the armies of the world, in full list entered the most powerful armies in the world in 2018.

Read updated according to Globalfirepower.

Top 10 compiled according to a specialized resource.

• the number of armies of the world (regular number of troops, reservists)
• weapons (aircraft, helicopters, tanks, navy, artillery, other equipment)
• military budget,
• resources, geographic location,
• logistics.

The nuclear potential is not taken into account by experts, but the recognized ones get an advantage in ranking.

In 2018, the ranking included136 countries. Newcomers to the list are Ireland (116th), Montenegro (121st) and Liberia.(135 position).

By the way, San Marino has the weakest army in the world in 2018 - only 84 people.

10. German Army

The military budget of Germany increased from 45 to 46 billion dollars. At the same time, the number of military personnel decreased from186 up to 178 thousand people. The German army is completely professional, i.e. There has been no compulsory conscription in the country since 2011.

9. Turkish Armed Forces

In the past, the top armies of the world, the country of luxurious beaches and beautiful tomatoes, ranked eighth. The number of its armed forces is 350 thousand people, and the military budget is 10.2 billion dollars.

8Japan Self-Defense Force

The Land of the Rising Sun has worsened its military performance and dropped one line in the list of the best armies in the world. The military budget has decreased from 49 to 44 billion dollars, but the number of servicemen has not changed - over 247 thousand people.

7. Army of South Korea

Compared to the previous ranking, South Korea jumped from 10th to 7th place. There are 625,000 servicemen in the Korean army. The eternal rival - North Korea, the number of soldiers reaches 945 thousand people. And South Korea's defense budget is $40 billion.

6. British Army

Although the country's position in the list has not changed, it has improved its performance in terms of the size of the army (197 thousand people against 188 thousand people). Nevertheless, it still remains the smallest army in the ranking.

The military budget of England has decreased compared to 2017 from 55 to 50 billion dollars.

5. Army of France

The French army, which opened the top 5 most powerful armies in the world, is small in number. Currently, 205 thousand people serve in it. At the same time, the country's defense budget is $40 billion.

4. Indian Armed Forces

The country's military budget is $47 billion. The number of Indian armed forces is 1,362,000 people, the country's army is the third largest in the world.

3. Army of China

The Celestial Empire has the largest human military force in the ranking of the armies of the world. It serves 2,183,000 people. According to Wikipedia, there are 1.71 military personnel per 1,000 inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. And China's military budget is huge, to match the army - $ 151 billion (up from $ 126 billion compared to 2017).

2. Russian army

The Russian armed forces surpass almost all the armies of the countries of the world in terms of the power of weapons in all branches of the military - air, land and sea. population Russian army for 2018 - 1,013,000 people. The military budget is $47 billion. Among the superpowers, Russia has a very high number of military personnel per 1,000 inhabitants - 5.3 people.

1. US Army

The strongest army in the world, according to Globalfirepower, American. By the way, it is not the largest in terms of numbers, but the most powerful in terms of available weapons, including nuclear potential not taken into account by experts. The US Army has 1,281,900 men and a defense budget of $647 billion.dollars.

World Armies Comparison Table (Infographic)

No matter how armed the army is, importance to win the world war will play the morale of the soldiers. In this regard, it is a big mistake to consider the current distribution of seats as absolutely correct.

Still at dawn human civilization people created armed formations to protect their borders. Then wars were won thanks to the size of the army and the skill of the commanders. Today, the military is focusing on modern technologies, which allows even such small countries as Israel to have a powerful army. In our review, we will focus on the most modern and powerful armies in the world.

1. North Korea

The Democratic People's Republic of Korea is known for its repressive government and its antagonistic relationship with much of the world. North Korea currently has 4,200 tanks, 944 aircraft, and 967 warships.

Despite the impressive numbers, North Korean weapons are considered very outdated. For example, of the 70 submarines currently in service, 20 are rusty Romeo-class wrecks made with 1950s technology.

2. Saudi Arabia

The Royal Saudi Armed Forces consist of infantry, air force, navy, air defense, the National Guard, and a number of paramilitary units. In total, over 230,000 people are on active duty in the army of this country. This is one of the richest military in the world.

3. Australia

The constant development of China has led to the fact that Australia, as well as most countries in the Asia-Pacific region, began the continuous modernization of their military forces. Despite its small size, the Australian military is considered one of the best and most efficient in the world.

4. Canada

Despite the fact that this country has been one of the most peaceful and friendly throughout its history, the Canadian army is among the 25 strongest in the world. Canada currently has 181 tanks, 426 aircraft and 63 warships in service.

5. Iran

The armed forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran in total number about 545,000 people. Without a doubt, this is one of the most powerful and dominant forces in the Middle East.

6. Thailand

Historically, the military has been the backbone of unity and peace in Thai society. Although this country has an impressive number of troops and tanks in service, the most fascinating fact is that Thailand has an aircraft carrier but no combat aircraft (since all AV-8S Matadors were retired in 2006).

7. Taiwan

Under the constant threat of an invasion by a gigantic Chinese army that still hasn't given up plans to invade and occupy its neighbor, Taiwan has focused its entire military development on building a defense. That is why such a small island has more helicopters (307) than most countries in the world. Also the number of tanks (2,005) and aircraft (815) in Taiwan is quite impressive in relation to its size.

8. Poland

The tense situation in Ukraine has forced the Polish government to start spending huge amounts of money lately on the defense industry. As a result, the level Polish army increased significantly in just a few years.

9. Vietnam

The Vietnam People's Army is considered one of the most prestigious and sacred concepts in the local culture. This was especially aggravated after the brave (and victorious, in the eyes of most historians) people's army fought against such superpowers as France and the United States in the twentieth century. The Vietnamese army is an integral part of the culture of this country and is considered one of the strongest in Asia.

10 Israel

Despite its small size, both in terms of territory and population, as well as its very short story Israel can proudly claim that its defense forces have been among the most active (if not the most active) in the world for the past five decades. Due to the constant tension in the region, Israel has created an incredibly strong and modernized army.

11. Brazil

With the second largest military in the Americas (after the United States) and the largest in Latin America, Brazil currently has 486 tanks, 735 aircraft and 110 ships in service, as well as 330,000 military personnel and officers in its armed forces.

Although South America is a relatively peaceful continent, Brazil shares borders with 10 countries and therefore requires a significant number of military personnel.

12. Indonesia

The Indonesian army was formed during the Indonesian national revolution when she was engaged in guerrilla warfare. Today, thanks to some half a million military personnel and modern technologies, it is considered one of the most powerful armies in Asia.

13. Pakistan

In Pakistan, the military is the 13th strongest in the world due to the fact that the country is constantly improving its military technology. In addition, the Pakistani military is the largest contributor to United Nations peacekeeping efforts with more than 10,000 Pakistani army personnel permanently deployed overseas.

14. Egypt

The Egyptian armed forces are not only the largest in Africa and the Middle East, but also one of the largest in the world - an active staff of 470,000 people. In addition, it is one of the most ancient armies since it was created in 3200 BC.

15. South Korea

The fact that this country borders on a dangerous and unpredictable northern neighbor (North Korea) has forced South Korea spend crazy money on military equipment and weapons, which makes her army one of the most modernized and powerful in the world. At present, the Asians boast 625,000 troops, 2,381 tanks and 1,451 aircraft.

16. Italy

The Italian armed forces consist of the regular army, navy, air force and carabinieri (who also serve as military police). As of the end of 2014, the 320,000-strong Italian army is the third largest in the European Union and the fifth among NATO countries.

17. Germany

The ongoing reform of the German armed forces is the most radical revision of the Bundeswehr in the history of the country. The problem of international terrorism and global cooperation have led to the need today for a smaller but more flexible force structure that will not have such a strong defensive function as in the past few decades.

18. Turkey

The Turkish military is considered the second largest in NATO (after the US military). The estimated strength of the Turkish army is 495,000 people.

19. Japan

The Japan Self-Defense Forces were created after World War II. Although they have been inactive for most of the last fifty years, tensions in the area have been on the rise lately (over North Korea in particular). This forced Japan to urgently modernize the army.

20. UK

Despite being relatively small compared to countries such as the US, Russia and China, and the fact that the British government plans to reduce the size of its armed forces by 10% by 2018, the once globally dominant United Kingdom still has one of the strongest armies in the world.

21. France

France may not be as powerful a military power as it once was, but it is still in the top ten most powerful in the world. Its main military actions recently have been the fight against terrorism in Mali, Afghanistan, Libya, and at the present time the fight against the Islamic State (ISIS).

Army of the Russian Federation.

Global modernization and Putin's massive military procurement program over the past two decades have made Russia's military one of the most powerful in the world.

25. United States

Despite recent geopolitical misadventures and American withdrawals from Afghanistan and Iraq, the United States military continues to hold the palm of the world's most powerful military thanks to the world's largest defense budget.

However, even in the most powerful armies there are embarrassments. For example, such as appearance.