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

Nuclear potential is not taken into account by experts, but recognized nuclear powers receive an advantage in ranking.

More money - fewer people

Compulsory conscription in Germany has been abolished since 2011, and the German army is now completely professional. It consists of the ground forces, navy, aviation, medical service and logistics service.

The main advantage is the highest level of development of the country's military-industrial complex

German technology is considered almost the best in the world, and the army is equipped accordingly.

Germany is a NATO member, so in the event of any military threats, it can count on the help of the United States and other allies.

The Turkish army is in 9th place. Like the German one, since 2017 it has dropped one place in the ranking.

The Turkish army is considered the best among the Muslim countries of the Middle East. The number of the country's armed forces is 510,000 people. Turkey's military budget is $18 billion. The military-industrial complex is constantly developing, with the help of the USA, Germany and France.

Türkiye has more than three thousand tanks and more than a thousand combat aircraft.

True, less than half of modern tanks

The Turkish army also has solid combat experience; for many years the Turks have been confronting various terrorist (and other) organizations on their borders.

Asian tigers and British lion

The military budget for such a number is simply huge - $44 billion

So the technical equipment is at its best. The air force has more than 1,600 combat aircraft, and the navy is traditionally considered one of the strongest in the world.

In addition, Japan is one of the United States' closest allies in the region. There are American bases on the country's territory; the United States supplies Japan with the latest types of weapons.

The South Korean army has improved its performance, moving from 10th place in 2017 to 7th in 2018. 625 thousand people serve in the Korean army, the military budget is $40 billion.

It is the third largest in Asia, second only to the DPRK and China. Military service in South Korea is compulsory for all men over 18 years of age. Its duration, depending on the type of military service, is from 21 to 24 months. The upper age limit for conscripts is 36 years.

Peace between South and North Korea has not yet been concluded, so

the country is actually at war

Moreover, the army of the northerners outnumbers the southerners by about one and a half times. So you need to make up for the difference with technical equipment, and not only of your own production. The latest weapons are supplied to Seoul by the United States, which seriously strengthens the military power of South Korea.

The British Army was in 6th place in 2017, and has remained there to this day. Although it increased its number from 188 to 197 thousand people. However, the military budget decreased from 55 to 50 billion dollars.

Today England has the second largest navy in the world in terms of tonnage, second only to the United States.

The domestic military-industrial complex produces all types of weapons for its needs

The British army has solid combat experience, as it participates in almost all wars and conflicts where the United States is present. Everyone serves in the army on a professional basis; there is no general conscription.

The Fab Five

The top 5 strongest armies in the world are opened by the French military, which in 2017 was only in 9th place.

There are 205 thousand people serving in the French army. At the same time, the country's defense budget is $40 billion.

The army here is contract, but at the beginning of 2018

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised to introduce universal conscription

The key to the combat effectiveness of the French army is the presence in it of a full range of weapons of its own production, from warships and helicopters to small arms. In addition, France has approximately three hundred nuclear warheads, although this is not taken into account in the ranking.

The Indian Armed Forces retain 4th place. The country's military budget is $47 billion. The Indian Army is the third largest in the world, with more than 1.3 million personnel.

In the recent history of India, there have been three bloody wars with Pakistan and a huge number of border incidents. There are also unresolved territorial disputes with China.

India has a serious navy with aircraft carriers and nuclear submarines. In addition, recently the country's leadership has been paying a lot of attention to the development of its own military-industrial complex. A few years ago it was adopted

a new strategy for the development of the defense industry, which goes under the motto “Make in India”

Now, when purchasing weapons, Indians give preference to those suppliers who are ready to open production facilities in the country and share the latest technologies.

India also has nuclear weapons.

Legacy of the USSR

China is in third place. He has the largest army in the world - which is not surprising.

There is a military conscription here, but it is not compulsory. Military service is voluntary and prestigious. The conscript must pass various tests, since it is very difficult to get into the army.

More than 2.1 million people serve in the Chinese army. And the military budget is also huge - $151 billion (increased from $126 billion since 2017).

Today, the Chinese are armed with more than 9 thousand tanks, almost 70 submarines, almost 3 thousand aircraft, a large number of combat aircraft and multiple launch rocket systems.

The Chinese army is constantly improving its technical level. 10-15 years ago, most types of military equipment were outdated copies of Soviet models. But today, the majority of Chinese units have switched to modern technology.

The second place goes to the Russian army. The number of the Russian army in 2018 is just over a million people. The military budget is estimated at $76 billion. Among the superpowers, Russia has a very high rate of the number of military personnel per 1000 inhabitants - 5.3 people.

Russia has one of the most powerful ground forces in the world: more than fifteen thousand tanks, a huge number of armored vehicles and combat helicopters.

Russia inherited from the USSR a powerful military-industrial complex that produces all types of weapons

Russia is one of the largest arms exporters in the world, second only to the United States. The Russian Air Force is armed with almost 3.5 thousand aircraft of various types.

The country has a powerful navy, and its submarines are especially dangerous.

the serious problem is that most of the weapons are still obsolete Soviet models,

new equipment is entering the troops, but this process is slow.

Ahead of the rest of the planet

The most powerful army in the world, according to Globalfirepower, is American. It is not the largest in numbers, but the most powerful in terms of available weapons. Its population is 1.2 million people, its defense budget is $647 billion.

A huge budget allows the Americans to develop and purchase the most modern (and most expensive) weapons systems, supply their army at the highest level,

simultaneously conduct several military campaigns in different parts of the world

Today, the US Army is armed with almost 9 thousand tanks, a huge number of armored vehicles and other military equipment, and almost 4 thousand military aircraft. The US Air Force is considered the strongest in the world.

The United States has the most powerful navy in the world. It consists of ten aircraft carrier groups, more than seventy submarines, a large number of aircraft and auxiliary ships.

Americans are leaders in the development of the latest military technologies of a wide range.

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

How to determine the real balance of power among states participating in military conflicts? When compiling a ranking of armies, parameters such as budget, army size, and number of weapons (armored vehicles, aircraft, aircraft carriers and submarines) are usually taken into account. The technical level of weapons affects the position on 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 was not taken into account in this list. The place occupied was also influenced by the economic situation of the countries.

Global Firepower evaluates the military capabilities of more than one hundred countries using 50 different criteria. In 2016, the United States was first in the world in such parameters as the country with the largest military budget, the largest number of aircraft carriers and the largest fleet. Russia leads in the number of tanks (15 thousand) and nuclear warheads (8,484 units). China is ahead of everyone in terms of army size.

Not long ago, the National Interest magazine made a forecast for the combat power of the world's armies in 15 years. The analysis was carried out based on the following parameters: access to innovation and other important national resources, support from politicians and the ability of the armed forces to learn and improve in a peaceful environment. As a result, the top five most powerful armies, in their opinion, will include the armed forces of India, the USA, France, China and Russia.

This rating compiled by the American portal The Richest may raise some questions. For example, the Israeli army is inferior to Egypt by one position, mainly due to the number of soldiers and tanks. However, in all clashes, the first country always prevailed over the second, despite the numerical superiority. It is also strange that Iran, with its half a million soldiers, 1,500 tanks and 300 combat aircraft, is not included in the list. 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 proud history, having participated in both the First and Second World Wars as part of the British Empire. Australian military personnel consistently take part in all NATO operations. In accordance with national doctrine, Australia must be able to stand alone against external invasion. Situated on the edge of the world, with no particular rival neighbors, Australia is considered one of the safest countries, since land invasion is impossible. The Australian Defense Force is relatively small but technologically advanced. They are formed on a professional basis only from Australian citizens, are technically well equipped, have a modern fleet and many combat helicopters. With a small number of personnel, but with a serious budget, the Australian Armed Forces are capable of deploying their troops to several locations simultaneously if necessary.

14. Germany

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

After World War II, 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 armed forces of the GDR were behind even Poland (and Poland is not included in this rating at all). At the same time, Berlin actively sponsors its eastern NATO allies. After 1945, Germany was never directly involved in major operations, but they sent troops to their allies in support during the Ethiopian Civil War, the Angolan Civil War, the Bosnian War and the Afghan War.
Whenever we hear about the German military, it is somehow impossible not to remember Adolf Hitler, who was responsible for the death 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, making it weaker; They are now planning to restructure their strategy and introduce new processes for recruitment.

13. Italy

Budget: $34 billion
Number of active army: 320 thousand people.
Tanks: 586
Aviation: 760
Submarines: 6

The totality of the military forces of the Italian Republic intended to protect the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of the state. Consists of the ground forces, navy, air force and carabinieri corps.
Italy has not been directly involved in armed conflicts in any countries in recent times, but has always participated in peacekeeping missions and deployed troops in the war on terrorism.

Weak during World War II, the Italian Army currently operates two active aircraft carriers housing 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 and willingly transfers its troops to countries that ask for help.

12. UK

Budget: $60.5 billion
Number of active army: 147 thousand.
Tanks: 407
Aviation: 936
Submarines: 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 the Second World War, Great Britain had three big wars with Iceland, which were not victorious for England - it was defeated, which allowed Iceland to expand its territories.

The United Kingdom once ruled more than 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's military budget has been cut due to BREXIT and they are planning to reduce the number of their soldiers between now and 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
Number: 160 thousand.
Tanks: 4,170
Aviation: 684
Submarines: 5

The main enemy of the Arabs, Israel has been fighting for its independence since 1947; it is constantly in a continuous war with Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and other Arab countries.
Israel has won five straight victories in previous wars against Hamas and Palestine since 2000, with heavy US military support.
A country that is not recognized by 31 countries (of which 18 are Arab) is still fighting against its enemies. By law, all Israeli citizens, including those with dual citizenship and those living in another country, as well as all permanent residents of the state, upon reaching 18 years of age, are subject to conscription for service 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 completing regular service, all privates and officers can be called up annually for reservist training for up to 45 days.

The IDF's greatest strength is its use of technology in modernizing its missile defense systems. The army consists of 3 types of armed forces: ground, air force and naval. The implementation of the decision to create a fourth type of armed forces - cyber forces - has begun. The calling card of the IDF is female soldiers who have proven that the weaker sex with a machine gun is no less effective than the stronger. Not to mention the fact that, according to unverified data, Israel has about 80 nuclear warheads in its arsenal.

Israel is traditionally the most undervalued participant in the Credit Suisse rating. The IDF 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 numbers. In addition to the huge amount of the latest offensive and defensive weapons of its own design, the rating does not take into account the fact that the country has several hundred thousand reservists with combat experience and high motivation.

10. Egypt

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

Having fought on the side of the Arab alliance against Israel in 4 wars, Egypt has never fought major battles against any other countries, but has participated several times in operations against the ISIS terrorist groups. As in Israel, military service is compulsory for Egyptian men, sometimes for 9 years. Today, Egypt is trying to maintain peace in its own country and fight the war on terrorism.

The Egyptian army was ranked due to its numbers and quantity of equipment, although, as the Yom Kippur War showed, even a threefold superiority in tanks is offset by high combat skills and the technical level of weapons. As of 2014, contracts were initialed or signed for a total amount of 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 began 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-class helicopter carriers and combat helicopters for them, this will make Egypt a truly serious military force.

9. Pakistan

Budget: $7 billion
Number of active army: 617 thousand.
Tanks: 2,924
Aviation: 914
Submarines: 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 due to the internal politics of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), when the Indian army took revenge for 1965 and played its cards, breaking the country into two parts. Pakistan has not yet reached an agreement on 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 engaged in an arms race.

The Pakistani army is one of the largest in the world, it has many tanks and aircraft, and the United States supports Islamabad with equipment. The main threat is internal; local leaders and the Taliban rule in hard-to-reach areas of the country. Pakistan has medium-range ballistic missiles and about a hundred nuclear warheads. Packs have unlimited love and respect for their armed forces, and often seek justice from the army (instead of the courts and government). Pakistan is said to have friendly relations with superpowers including the US, China and Turkey, which are always ready to support them. Recently, joint military exercises with the Russian army have made the Pakistani military much stronger, although its biggest enemy India was supported by Russia in previous wars against Pakistan.

8. Türkiye

Budget: $18.2 billion
Number of active army: 410, 500 thousand.
Tanks: 3,778
Aviation: 1,020
Submarines: 13

Türkiye 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, occupying 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.

Türkiye claims to be a regional leader, so it is constantly building up and updating its armed forces. A huge number of tanks, aircraft and a large modern fleet (though without aircraft carriers) allow the Turkish army to be considered the strongest among the Muslim countries of the Middle East.
The half-European, half-Asian power, which has the second largest army in NATO after the United States, is one of the best trained military forces in the world. Turkey owns a treasure trove of more than 200 F-16 aircraft, its 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. When the military attempted a coup in early 2016, it was defeated by ordinary citizens who took to the streets and restored the elected government.

7. France

Budget: $62.3 billion
Number of active army: 205 thousand.
Tanks: 623
Aviation: 1,264
Submarines: 10

France is one of the few countries whose armed forces have almost the full range of modern weapons and military equipment of their own production - from small arms to attack nuclear aircraft carriers (which, besides France, only the United States has). France is the only country (other than Russia) that owns a radar guided missile system.
The military history of France lasts more than 3000 years. France took part in the First and Second World Wars and faced major defeats. Other major events in the military history of this country: the French-Thai War, the Tunisian War of Independence, the Algerian War of Independence in 1954-1962. After this, 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 and continues to actively intervene in local conflicts.

In 2015, the reform of the armed forces, begun in 1996, was completed in France. As part of this reform, conscription was abolished and a transition took place to a mercenary army, less numerous but more effective. The overall strength of the French armed forces was significantly reduced.
The nuclear attack aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle was recently commissioned. Currently, France has approximately 300 strategic nuclear warheads, which are located on nuclear submarines. There are also 60 tactical warheads.

6. South Korea

Budget: $62.3 billion
Number of active army: 625 thousand.
Tanks: 2,381
Aviation: 1,412
Submarines: 13
The main war in which this country participated was the Korean War in 1950. This Cold War conflict is often seen as a proxy war between the United States and its allies and the forces of China and the USSR. 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 units 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 supplying Chinese troops. Numerous military advisers and specialists were recalled 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 USA, 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, a lot changed in the world (a new president in the USA, the death of Stalin, etc.), and the war ended with a truce.

South Korea's military is highly supported by the US military, making 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 enemy, the DPRK. The difference, of course, is in the technological level. Seoul has its own and Western latest developments, Pyongyang has Soviet technology 50 years ago.

Interestingly, North Korea is considered the leader in the number of submarines (35th place in the Global Firepower ranking), which has 78 units. However, it is noted that they are almost completely unusable. A third of North Korea's submarines are noisy Romeo diesels, which were obsolete in 1961.

5. India

Budget: $51 billion
Number of active army: 1,408,551
Tanks: 6,464
Aviation: 1,905
Submarines: 15
Currently, India is confidently among the top ten world powers in terms of its military potential. India's armed forces are inferior to the armies of the US, Russia and China, they are strong and numerous. Speaking about 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 delivery systems. In addition to the direct armed forces, India has a variety of paramilitary forces, which serve more than a million people: national security forces, special border forces, special paramilitary forces. The fact that India has approximately a hundred nuclear warheads, three aircraft carriers and two nuclear submarines in service makes it the fifth most powerful country.

4. Japan

Budget: $41.6 billion
Number of active army: 247, 173
Tanks: 678
Aviation: 1,613
Submarines: 16

The last battle of World War II was a nightmare for Japan, which suffered a nuclear attack from the United States. After defeat in World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army was disbanded and military factories and educational institutions were closed. The occupation authorities even banned martial arts. There was also a ban on the manufacture of Japanese swords, 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 suffered from nuclear attacks is not allowed to create its own army.

However, already during the period of the American occupation, the creation of armed formations began: in 1950, a reserve police corps was created; in 1952 it was converted into a security corps, in 1954 it became the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The Japan Self-Defense Forces 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 very large and relatively modern armed forces, quite powerful in the Asia-Pacific region and capable of solving almost any problem. On September 19, 2015, the Japanese Diet 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 them one of the strongest on this list. Japan recently deployed troops to South Sudan for the first time since World War II as part of UN peacekeeping missions. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces have 4 helicopter carriers and 9 destroyers. However, Japan does not have nuclear weapons and this, coupled with a small number of tanks, makes some experts think that the position of this army is overestimated.

3. Russia

Budget: $84.5 billion
Number of active army: 766,033
Tanks: 15,398
Aviation: 3,429
Submarines: 55

It would be disrespectful to Russian military history to try to retell it in one paragraph.
The 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, production and purchase of military equipment is more than 84 billion dollars. The air force includes over 3 thousand aircraft. The navy is no less equipped, consisting of 55 submarines and 1 aircraft carrier. The country has more than 8 thousand nuclear warheads and 15 thousand 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 Russian Armed Forces are second only to China in terms of the number of submarines. And if the rumors about China's secret nuclear stockpile are not true, then it is far ahead in this area. It is believed that Russia's strategic nuclear forces have about 350 delivery vehicles and about 2 thousand nuclear warheads. The number of tactical nuclear warheads is unknown and could be several thousand.
One of the three most powerful and experienced armies in the world, the Russian army is a great threat to China and the United States. Russia is constantly investing in its military budget and producing the latest aircraft, helicopters and ammunition. By 2020, Russia plans to add six more army 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
Number of active army: 2,333,000
Tanks: 9,150
Aviation: 2,860
Submarines: 67

The People's Liberation Army of China is the official name of the armed forces of the People's Republic of China, the largest in number in the world. China is the most populous 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 increases its military budget by 12% every year to become a superpower and counter the US. The legislation provides for military service for men from 18 years of age; Volunteers are accepted up to 49 years of age. The age limit for an Army Reserve member is 50 years. The armed forces of the People's Republic of China are divided into five military command zones and three fleets, organized according to territorial principles: east, north, west, south and center.

After the surrender of Japan, the USSR transferred captured weapons to the Kwantung Army to the PLA: ships of the Sungari River Flotilla, 861 aircraft, 600 tanks, artillery, mortars, 1,200 machine guns, as well as small arms, ammunition and other military equipment.

Chinese officials say that in the course of weapons development, China does not exceed the feasible level that the economy and society can withstand, and certainly does not strive for an arms race. However, Chinese defense spending increased sharply in 2001-2009.

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

1. USA

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

The United States has been directly or indirectly involved in almost every war that has occurred 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 - this is about 600 billion dollars. American soldiers have the most modern military equipment at their disposal, which is periodically updated. The United States has a nuclear potential that includes 7.5 thousand nuclear warheads. The country is also famous for its tanks, and their armored vehicles number more than 8 thousand units. The state also has the largest air force in the world, which numbers about 13,682 aircraft.

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

The US invests billions of dollars in the development of the latest military technologies, thanks to which the US remains a leader in the field, for example, robotics. Recently, the US Army has been looking to create new cyber corps and increase soldiers in the cyber crime department. Their responsibility will be to ensure the security of networks and information systems databases and protect against cyber attacks.

A new edition of the annual report, The Military Balance, is due out today. It is published - always in a very impressive volume - by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). This organization, located in Britain, is considered one of the most authoritative in this field. The IISS has been publishing its annual reviews of military strength and the state of troops of different countries since 1959.

This year, as in the past, the review will include information on the military capabilities and military economies of 171 countries. Detailed data indicates each country's fighting forces, army personnel levels, weapons stockpiles, and economic performance of military-industrial complexes.

Analysts in uniform consider these reports some to be a reference book, others just a useful source, but they agree that the institute’s employees try to be objective when preparing their annual document. Well, at least to the extent that the mentality of a Westerner allows.

There is no text yet, but the three main characters have already been determined

The report is due to be released on February 14, but customers will actually be able to start analyzing it only from tomorrow morning. For now, Tsargrad analysts have an extended summary of it. It is clear from it that the main characters of the document will be three countries - the USA, Russia and China. Moreover, additional articles (along with traditional descriptions of new orders for weapons and delivery schedules) will be devoted to the last two.

Against the general background of the description of the modernization of strategic forces in these three countries, there will be separate reviews of Chinese and Russian aviation weapons (remember the recent “leak” of information about the Russian X-101 aircraft-based strategic cruise missiles, discussed with reverence and a slight trembling in the voice in the American magazine The National Interest), as well as about the development of artificial intelligence in the interests of defense. Russia will “receive” an additional “bonus” in the form of thematic texts on the modernization of its strategic forces.

As a new feature, the latest The Military Balance 2018 evaluates in detail military development in China, Russia and the United States, as well as in France and Great Britain. This, presumably, indirectly but indisputably declares the “pool” of the first five leading armies of the world. A sort of permanent committee of the “Security Council” of the secret military “UN” of our world. The similarity is complemented by an indication of a separate analysis of the military potential of Norway, Qatar, Sudan, Uganda and Venezuela - as if they were non-permanent members of an armed and very dangerous “Security Council”, without the right of veto...

In addition, they promise to describe and graphically depict the most important events in the field of defense procurement in 2017, as well as show and outline a number of new weapons developments. Among which the Russian combat aircraft Su-57 (T-50) is specifically mentioned. Much attention will be paid to the naval forces. “National cyber capabilities” are considered separately.

The first armies of the world were identified by Russian military experts

While the world's militarized public is waiting for the release of a new IISS review, Tsargrad asked Russia's leading military experts to express their opinion on the top strongest armies in the world.

The military expert closest to what IISS is doing in terms of professional activity is Igor Korotchenko (editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, director of the Center for Analysis of the Global Arms Trade LLC), although he was skeptical about the very compilation of such ratings, he spoke traditionally academically:

“We are not talking about which army is the largest, but which army is the strongest and most combat-ready, which army has the widest range of weapons to solve certain problems of political leadership.”

Based on these considerations, the expert believes that “at a minimum, the armies of the United States and Russia will lead this rating,” since “today both the United States and Russia are the largest militarily powers - in terms of both parity and presence in arsenals, including strategic nuclear weapons."

Further, according to Korotchenko, the ranking will include China, Japan, Great Britain, and India. “Well, I don’t rule out that the army of North Korea,” he added to the top 7 most combat-ready armies in the world. But at the same time he made a reservation: “It must be said that compiling such ratings is a rather artificial thing. Because only war can accurately assess the real situation. And God forbid that it happens.”

“But we can say with confidence today that the Russian Armed Forces are rightfully one of the best in the world both in terms of technical equipment and in combat and morale. Therefore, regardless of the compilers of the ratings, we can sleep peacefully, considering that the army reliably ensures our security,” concluded Igor Korotchenko.

But another well-known military expert, Viktor Litovkin, gave a completely different rating of the world’s armies: “The largest armies in the world are: the United States army is first, the Chinese are in second place. Then is the North Korean army. Then is the Russian army. And on I can probably place the Turkish army in fifth place."

When asked why this was so, the expert just shrugged: “This is if we talk about numbers. The largest army in terms of numbers is the United States, China is in second place, North Korea is in third place. And so on. “The size of each of these armies exceed 1 million 200 thousand people, at a minimum,” he noted.

“But if you take it in terms of power, in terms of combat potential, then, of course, the United States is in first place, Russia is in second, China is in third,” Viktor Litovkin especially emphasized. “In fourth place, in principle, everything is there.” It’s more complicated. This is the French army, and the English, and the German, and so on.”

Another prominent Russian expert in the military field, military columnist for Komsomolskaya Pravda, Viktor Baranets, outlined and substantiated his point of view in great detail: “All ratings that from time to time fall into the public information network, emanating either from the United States or from others NATO countries often smack of very serious politicization. Secondly, the methods for compiling ratings among specialists raise very serious questions. I am saying that it is difficult today to compare, for example, the American and Russian armies, which have the quantity and quality of nuclear weapons. “They are not inferior to each other in anything. But the Americans still like to put themselves in first position and push Russia to second.”

“I believe that today the level of armament of the Russian army, and its combat readiness, mobility, logistics, weapons - all this suggests that the Russian army is in no way inferior to the American one,” the expert emphasized. “True, the Americans have a favorite argument: Russia has general-purpose forces, that is, non-nuclear forces, both in smaller quantities and in lower quality. And here I would partly agree: in the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, we seriously damaged our general-purpose forces and took a very long time to restore them.”

As for the world top armies, Viktor Baranets outlined the following order in it: “I am absolutely sure that the Americans will put themselves in first place in this ranking. They will put Russia in second, otherwise it will be illogical - over the past two or three years, American generals They simply declared in unison that the biggest military threat to the armed forces of the United States of America is the Russian army. In third place, of course, will be the Chinese army. This is an army with nuclear weapons, which is considered the largest in the world today in terms of the number of bayonets under military banners. it has almost 2.5 million people.

“In fourth place, no matter what we say, I would still put the half-million-strong Turkish army. We must not forget that in addition to the fact that it has a contingent of half a million, it is very well armed. It has a very serious degree of combat readiness, as evidenced by actions of its units in Syria,” Baranets noted.

“As for the further ranking, I would put the Indian army in fifth place - taking into account its number, of course. And then I would put the North Korean army. Because both armies have nuclear weapons,” he concluded.

1. USA
2. Russia
3. China
4. India
5. Türkiye
6. North Korea
7. France
8. UK
9. Germany

In principle, the assessments of “Tsargrad” coincide with this rating... almost. Because it is necessary to take into consideration one more, no, even two circumstances.

The first is that in terms of nuclear potential, Russia and the United States are equal to each other. This is officially stated in the START treaty. According to the law of mathematics, we are therefore obliged to remove these quantities from the formula. Just like the nuclear weapons of other powers. Let's also remove other things that are equal - weapons of the same class and quality, logistics, and management.

And then the remaining aspects of the issue come first in the formula: the size of the army, the quality of its main weapons, its training, cohesion, combat experience and morale.

And in this sense, there is no need to even guess: the armies of Russia and the United States each have their own touchstone for demonstrating these qualities: Syria, respectively, and Afghanistan. The war is waged by conventional means, the war is waged primarily by air and special operations. The war in both cases has approximately the same political background in the form of a legitimate government trying to cope with the armed opposition.

And now we look at the results that Russia has achieved in Syria, and that the United States has achieved in Afghanistan. They are, to put it mildly, opposite.

Add to this the fighting spirit, which in one army gives rise to heroes one after another, and which forces the other army to huddle in bases and hide behind the backs of government troops - and the picture will be complete.

1. Russia (morale, combat experience, weapons)
2. China (numbers, weapons, ideology)
3. USA (weapons)
4. DPRK (morale, numbers, ideology)
5. Israel (combat experience, morale, weapons, ideology)
6. India (numbers, weapons)
7. Türkiye (combat experience, weapons)
8. Iran (morale, combat experience, ideology)
9. Vietnam (morale, weapons)
10. France (weapons)

All that remains is to compare with the list that IISS produces. But for some reason there is confidence that no matter what it is, the top 10 of “Tsargrad” will be more correct.

Political significance on the world stage is impossible without a strong, combat-ready army, on which a large amount of budget funds is spent. In past centuries, securing the support of warriors actually meant the greatest degree of success for a politician. Nothing has changed since then.

The armed forces are a guarantee of the independence, success of the country and the safety of citizens. We present to our readers a rating of the strongest armies in the world, an assessment of weapons and manpower.

Modern era and military forces

Modern countries need to protect their borders no less than territories hundreds of years ago. However, today there are countries that do not have armed forces. To protect the population, police units or units equivalent to them are used there. The list includes 21 states, including:

• Andorra;
• Vatican;
• Haiti;
• Iceland;
• Costa Rica;
• Monaco;
• Solomon Islands.

Location of countries in the world that do not have their own regular troops

It is noteworthy that some publications also include Japan in this list, whose armed forces are called self-defense forces. Legislatively, the actions of this structure are greatly limited and can only be associated with defense activities. However, it is wrong to say that Japan does not have an army.

The strength of modern troops lies not so much in numbers, but in the uniqueness of weapons, the number of tanks, submarines, and other equipment. Technological progress has given humanity not only cars and rockets, but also nuclear weapons.

Modern armies are divided into types of troops, intelligence departments and other special services.

Below is the top 10 most powerful armies in the world, let's talk about the evaluation criteria.

Criteria for assessing the power of modern armed forces

To assess the strength of armies, several criteria are used:

• the number of manpower and reservists;
• military budget (calculated both as a fixed amount and as a percentage of GDP);
• number of airplanes and helicopters;
• number of tanks;
• the number of nuclear warheads and their delivery vehicles;
• number of submarines and missile carriers;
• degree of fuel availability;
• geographical data.

Rating of the strongest armies in the world

The list of the most powerful armies in the world is based on the annual Global Firepower report. The organization studies the armed forces of various countries and assigns a strength index to each. Looking at the numbers, it is easy to understand whose army is the strongest and whose army is lagging behind in most respects. This is the most detailed rating in the world.

10th place – Bundeswehr (Germany)

In 2019, the German Armed Forces lost several positions in the ranking, but remained in the top ten. Since 2011, it has been among the professional formations in which there is no place for conscripts.

German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen inspecting equipment

• Number: 178,641;
• airplanes/helicopters: 714/384;
• tanks: 432;
• submarines: 6;
• budget: $45.2 billion;
• force index: 0.2461.

The supply of the army in Germany is very good. The country is a member of NATO, but, contrary to its obligations, does not spend 2% of GDP on defense. Actively participates in conflicts abroad. The latest operation is the fight against ISIS in Afghanistan.

9th place – Türkiye

The troops consist of five units that guard the borders at sea, in the air and on the ground, and also maintain order within the country. It is not professional; recruits are annually drafted from among age-appropriate citizens of the country.

View of the Turkish Incerlik airbase, also used by NATO troops

There is a system of official redemption from the service. To do this, a young man needs to undergo initial military training for up to 5 weeks and pay 500 million liras (equivalent to 6 billion rubles). Thus, very rich citizens replenish the country's budget.

• Number: 350,000;
• airplanes/helicopters: 1056/475;
• tanks: 2446;
• submarines: 12;
• budget: $10.2 billion;
• force index: 0.2216.

Türkiye has its own military training centers. Citizens in the reserve are required to undergo annual retraining.

8th place - Japan

The Japan Self-Defense Forces, or Jieitai, are a special type of military force. According to the Constitution, the country does not have the right to participate in military conflicts of other countries, and the purpose of creating an army is the defense of the state. All this is a thing of the past. Today the country is consistently among the ten most powerful armies in the world with a huge defense budget. Since 2015, participation in military conflicts abroad has been officially permitted (decision of parliament).

Japan spares no expense in equipping its self-defense forces

• Number: 247,157;
• airplanes/helicopters: 1508/622;
• tanks: 679;
• submarines: 17;
• budget: $44 billion;
• force index: 0.2107.

The conscription age in Japan has been increased to 32 years. In recent years, the militarization of Japan has been carried out at an active pace.

7th place – South Korea

South Korean Armed Forces

• Number: 625,000;
• airplanes/helicopters: 1560/748;
• tanks: 2654;
• submarines: 16;
• budget: $40 billion;
• force index: 0.2001.

The Republic of Korea officially participated in the Iraq War, losing only one soldier killed.

6th place - Great Britain

By 2019, Britain's troops had become even stronger, according to Global Firepower. The state is a member of NATO and is consistently ranked among the best armies in the world.

British Army soldiers

• Number: 197,730;
• airplanes/helicopters: 832/333;
• tanks: 227;
• submarines: 10;
• budget: $50 billion;
• force index: 0.1917.

The advantage of the Kingdom's army is its huge budget. Regularly participates in military conflicts and NATO peacekeeping missions. The last operation was Operation Serval, in which French forces suppressed the uprising in the Republic of Mali. The British Army enjoys a peaceful and calm environment. Accidents and suicides are rare.

5th place – France

France ranks fifth among the strongest, and it maintains last year's position. The armed forces of the Republic are considered the strongest in Europe.

French regular troops often participate in international armed conflicts

• Number: 205,000;
• airplanes/helicopters: 1262/570;
• tanks: 406;
• submarines: 10;
• budget: $40 billion;
• force index: 0.1869.

France has also stationed combat aircraft in Tajikistan. 7% of the NATO contingent is represented by the military force of the Republic. The guarantor of the country's security is not only a strong army, but also nuclear weapons. Its quantity was reduced as much as possible with the end of the Cold War.

The Fifth Republic is a country with developed industry. It produces airplanes and helicopters and sells them abroad. The French army has a large number of women (14%) who even serve in the navy. These are the most feminized aircraft in the world.

4th place – India

The top five has remained unchanged for several years. This suggests that strong armies are seriously outperforming their competitors. One of the leaders is India. The size of this country's army is unprecedented and exceeds 1 million soldiers. Regular divisions include:

• army;
• naval forces;
• air force.

Military personnel at the Delhi Republic Day parade, 2017.

It is believed that in the event of war, the mobilization of the army will exceed 700 million people.

• Number: 1,362,500;
• airplanes/helicopters: 2185/720;
• tanks: 4426;
• submarines: 16;
• budget: $47 billion;
• force index: 0.1417.

The Indian army significantly surpasses the French forces in the number of tanks, aircraft and other parameters. The state is a strong nuclear power recognized by world leaders. It is noteworthy that the post of Indian Defense Minister is held by a woman, Nirmala Sitharaman.

Indian industry partially supplies the armed forces with equipment.

3rd place - China

The active army of the People's Republic of China numbers more than 2 million soldiers. In case of war, this figure will increase to 750 million.

The largest army

• Number: 2,183,000;
• airplanes/helicopters: 3035/985;
• tanks: 7716;
• submarines: 73;
• budget: $151 billion;
• force index: 0.0852.

China maintains military bases in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, ensuring security and an uninterrupted fuel supply. The PRC is in second place in terms of the budget of its armed forces, second only to the United States in this matter.

Since the army is large, a strategic agency was created in 2016 to deal with logistics issues.

Interesting fact: The Chinese army does not accept young people with tattoos. Military school soldiers must not snore, otherwise they will be discharged.

2nd place – Russia

• Number: 1,013,628;
• airplanes/helicopters: 3914/1451;
• tanks: 20300;
• submarines: 62;
• budget: $47 billion;
• force index: 0.0841.

Russia is the leader in the number of tanks - more than 20 thousand and nuclear warheads (8484 pieces). The delivery system for weapons of mass destruction is very well developed. The troops consist of conscripts and contract soldiers. The share of the latter is higher, and this trend has emerged since 2015. The mobilization resource is more than 30 million people.

Russian soldiers in Syria

Military units are supplied by a strong and developed military-industrial complex, which includes dozens of enterprises. They produce weapons known all over the world:

• Kalashnikov assault rifles;
• Sea- and ground-based air defense;
• MI and Ka helicopters;
• reconnaissance ships;
• Project 636 submarines;
• Su, Tu aircraft.

Russia is in third place in the number of submarines, behind China and the United States. In recent years, the rearmament of the army has accelerated. The Russian Federation has several bases outside the country:

• in Abkhazia;
• Transnistria;
• Kyrgyzstan;
• Kazakhstan;
• Belarus;
• Tajikistan and other countries.

It is planned to strengthen its position in Asia and northern Africa.

The RF Armed Forces are characterized by two types of problems:

• desertion;
• corruption.

Several criminal cases have been initiated against officials related to multimillion-dollar thefts. The problem of desertion often arises from extra-statutory relations. They are trying to eradicate hazing in Russian troops, since it is also a cause of suicide.

It's no secret which army is the strongest in the world.

1st place - USA

The United States is the most powerful country in the world in terms of military equipment. Its budget is higher than the spending of all the top ten countries and is estimated at several hundred billion dollars.

US Army soldiers in Afghanistan

• Number: 1,281,900;
• airplanes/helicopters: 13362/5758;
• tanks: 5884;
• submarines: 66;
• budget: $647 billion;
• force index: 0.0818.

The budget is distributed according to the orders of the Ministry of Defense. Thus, about 20% is spent annually on updating weapons and other purchases.

The USA has a developed military-industrial complex. It supplies its own army and the forces of other states in accordance with military contracts.

There are approximately 900 military bases outside the United States around the world:

• in Europe (Bulgaria, Germany, Spain, Norway, Kosovo and so on);
• in Africa (Niger, Djibouti and others);
• Latin America (Cuba, Brazil, Honduras);
• Oceania (Australia, Guam);
• Asia (Bahrain, Republic of Korea, Japan, Singapore, Afghanistan);
• Middle East (Israel, Qatar, UAE, Saudi Arabia).

The United States Army has a problem with suicide among military personnel. Over the years, their number either increases or decreases slightly, although management is trying to combat this. Official figures exceed Russian ones.

This is what the powerful ranking of the strongest armies looks like today. The pace of development of the armed forces is both amazing and alarming. The naked eye can see a new arms race, mutual accusations of strong sides, and the emergence of new types of weapons. Over the past decade, the world has become more militant and divided into several warring camps.

Which country's army is the largest and strongest in the world?

Which countries have the strongest and most numerous armies on the planet? It is difficult to answer the question about the combat effectiveness of the army of any country. Many factors must be taken into account, especially their behavior in actual military operations.

It is much easier to evaluate an army by its quantitative indicators. Although, for example, the Indian army (India is the second most populous country in the world) in this aspect is not considered even the most combat-ready in the world.

So, the best ten armies in the world.

1. Chinese army - 2.3 million troops

More recently, it was equipped with obsolete and ineffective equipment. But recently, thanks to gigantic cash injections, the Chinese have begun a large-scale program of technical re-equipment of their army with the most modern military equipment.

2. US Army - 1.477 million military personnel

This army is not the largest in the world, although at present it has no equal in experience in conducting modern combat operations, and both its tactical and technical equipment are at the highest level.

3. Pakistani army - 1.451 million troops

Its composition is staffed primarily by men on a voluntary basis. The age for conscription is from 17 to 23 years. There are many female military personnel serving in the air force and navy.

4. Indian Army - 1.325 million troops

The Indian Armed Forces Reserve also consists of 535 thousand people who are well prepared for military service. The Indian Air Force is considered by most military experts to be the best in the world.

5. North Korean army - 1.106 million troops

She took part in the Korean War (1950-1953) and in minor local wars with the armies of the United States and South Korea. Since 1953, it has been in a state of constant combat readiness. It has a large number of artillery systems and tanks in its arsenal. Recently, the KPA strategic missile forces have begun to develop rapidly.

6. Russian army - 1.027 million military personnel

The structure of this army has at its disposal all possible types and types of troops. Despite the fact that after the collapse of the USSR its position was significantly weakened, the Russian army with its nuclear missile potential still remains one of the most powerful armies on the planet.

7. South Korean army - 687 thousand military personnel

This army has extensive experience in conducting combat operations during the Vietnam and Korean wars. Most of its armed forces (560 thousand people) are ground forces.

8. Iranian army - 650 thousand troops

It is rightfully considered one of the best Middle Eastern armies. It consists of 14 ground divisions, 15 air force formations, as well as 1,400 helicopters and aircraft, 170 warships. Recently, it has been armed with powerful long-range ballistic missiles Shahab-3.

9. Iraqi army - 450 thousand troops

This army has always been considered the most technically equipped of the Middle Eastern armies. After the regime of Saddam Hussein was overthrown in the 2003 war, the army began to reorient itself towards Western tactical and organizational principles. As for its technical equipment, the Iraqi army is currently dominated by obsolete Russian and Soviet-made weapons.

10. Myanmar army - 425 thousand troops

The national army is supplemented by about 72 thousand people of paramilitary formations - the militia. Starting this year, all civilians of the country - both women and men - aged 18-35 are required to undergo military training for a period of two years.