The army is an integral attribute of any state. Sooner or later, a conflict arises between neighboring countries or regions within a 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 defend the interests of their country, repelling the attacks of the aggressor, or, conversely, to be an aggressor towards another country. In front of you the most powerful armies in the world who, like no one else, know what real war is!

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

Conflicts near the country's borders have forced Turkey to have a strong military. The total number of citizens ready to take arms is more than half a million, which can serve as a fairly weighty argument for the peace of mind of the residents of this country.

Active living force: 250 thousand military personnel.
Army Reserve: 57.9 thousand are liable for military service.
Number of ground combat equipment: 4329 units.
Navy: 131 units of naval equipment.
Air fleet: 1,590 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
Annual defense budget: 40.3 billion US dollars.

After the Second World War, Japan found itself in a very disadvantageous position. Hundreds of inconvenient agreements fell on her head. One such treaty is a small document that prohibits 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 are liable for military service.
Number of ground combat equipment: 6481 units.
Navy: 81 units of naval equipment.
Air fleet: 676 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
Annual defense budget: US$36.3 billion.

Everyone remembers how strong this country was in the 20th century and the Second World War this was clearly demonstrated. But the German army was defeated and has since lost its position greatly. Nevertheless, today this country is playing 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 military personnel.
Number of ground combat equipment: 12619 units.
Navy: 166 units of naval equipment.
Air fleet: 1451 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
Annual defense budget: US$33.2 billion.

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

Active living force: 205 thousand military personnel.
Army Reserve: 195.77 thousand military personnel and more than one hundred thousand police officers.
Number of ground combat equipment: 7888 cars.
Navy: 118 units of naval vessels.
Air fleet: 1282 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
Annual defense budget: US$35 billion.

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

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

The size of the British Army makes it one of the largest armed forces in the European Union. In fact, the troops of England have always been considered a fairly strong enemy, instilling fear in all enemies of Britain. She has 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 ranking. strong armies peace.

Active living force: 1.325 million military personnel.
Army Reserve: 2.143 million military personnel.
Number of ground combat equipment: 21164 units.
Navy: 295 units of naval equipment.
Air fleet: 2086 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
Annual defense budget: 40 billion dollars.

Do not be surprised at such a huge number of manpower in India. In a country where more than a billion people live, we must never let down our guard. 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; 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 military personnel.
Army Reserve: 2.3 million military personnel.
Number of ground combat equipment: 23664 units.
Navy: 714 units of naval vessels.
Air fleet: 2942 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
Annual defense budget: US$155.6 billion.

Another giant country that simply needs the strongest army in the world. The relatively small cost of such a huge number of military personnel does not in any way affect the quality of their service. Huge size air fleet, considered the strongest after the Russian one. Almost 24 thousand units of military equipment and about 2.3 million soldiers are ready at any moment to defend the independence of their country.

Active living force: 766.06 thousand military personnel.
Army Reserve: 2.485 million military personnel.
Number of ground combat equipment: 61086 units.
Navy: 352 units of naval equipment.
Air fleet: 3547 attack aircraft, fighters, transports and bombers.
Annual defense budget: US$46.6 billion.

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 it lost ground significantly. But even despite this, gigantic reserves, almost ten thousand units of armored vehicles and many other weapons make Russia a terrible enemy that is beyond the capabilities of most countries in the world. In addition, the Russian Federation has nuclear weapons(its presence in the rating is not taken into account), and in the event of 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 our country’s army and others is, perhaps, the strongest will and spirit of the soldiers. But, since the ranking main role plays the quantitative and qualitative equipment of the army, the number of military personnel and the costs of the defense industry, then, alas, the second line.

Active living force: 1.4 million military personnel.
Army Reserve: 1.1 million military personnel.
Number of ground combat equipment: 54474 tanks, armored personnel carriers and other equipment.
Navy: 415 units of naval equipment.
Air fleet: 13444 combat and transport helicopters and aircraft.
Annual defense budget: 581 billion dollars.

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 ten best armies in the world, their total budget will hardly reach the American one. A huge number of aircraft, powerful navy and more than 54 thousand units of ground armored vehicles makes the United States the strongest contender on the world stage.

The ranking of the ten strongest armies in the world for 2018 was compiled based on data Global Firepower. The military power of each state was assessed according to more than 50 different criteria. The economic situation of the states also played a significant role in its place in the ranking.

10 Germany

10th place - German Army

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

9 Türkiye

9th place - Turkish Army

Ninth place is the Turkish Armed Forces. Military service is mandatory for all male citizens aged 20 to 41 who have no medical contraindications. The service life in all types of aircraft is 12 months. A Turkish citizen can be exempted from conscription after paying an amount of 16-17 thousand Turkish liras to the country's budget. One of the strengths of the Turkish army is its extensive combat experience: the Turks have been fighting various terrorist organizations near their borders for many years.

8 Japan

8th place - Japanese Army

The total strength of the Japan Self-Defense Forces is 248 thousand people, in addition, there are 56 thousand reservists. The Japan Self-Defense Forces are staffed on a voluntary basis. This country has the third largest economy in the world, so it is not difficult for Japan to allocate serious money for the maintenance and development of its army. Japan's military budget is $44 billion, which is quite significant for a military of its size. The main rivals that the Japanese fear are China and North Korea. In addition, the Japanese still have not concluded a peace treaty with Russia.

7 South Korea

7th place - South Korean Army

The official date of the creation of the South Korean armed forces is considered to be November 30, 1948, when the “Law on the Establishment of national army"and the system was introduced conscription. Military service in South Korea is compulsory for all men over 18 years of age, and its duration, depending on the type of military service, ranges from 21 to 24 months. The upper age limit for conscripts is 36 years. South Korea has been living in a state of war for more than 60 years - peace has never been concluded between Pyongyang and Seoul.

6 UK

6th place - British Army

The armed forces of the United Kingdom have a long history, having participated in many European and colonial wars, including: Seven Years' War, Napoleonic Wars, Crimean War. In Great Britain, conscription was introduced only for short periods, primarily due to the world wars of the 20th century, and the last conscripts were demobilized from the army in the 60s. Meanwhile, Great Britain participates in almost all military conflicts where the United States is present (wars in Iraq, Afghanistan). Therefore, the experience of the British Army is not lacking.

5 France

5th place - French Army

Fifth place is occupied by the armed forces of the French Republic. On the eve of the First World War, France had the largest army in Europe. France is a nuclear weapons country. The official position of the French government has always been the creation of a "limited nuclear arsenal at the minimum necessary level." Since February 1996, the army in France has transferred from a conscription system to a contract system. However, at the beginning of 2018, speaking to representatives of the country's armed forces, French President Emmanuel Macron said: “I want to assure everyone that universal conscription will be introduced. It will be managed by all ministries related to this, not just the Ministry of Defense,” Macron emphasized.

4 India

4th place - Indian Army

The fourth place in the ranking of the strongest armies in the world in 2018 is occupied by the Indian armed forces. There is no compulsory conscription in India. India ranks first in the world in terms of arms imports. He is also a member of the nuclear club. IN modern history India has had three bloody wars with Pakistan and a huge number of border incidents. There are unresolved territorial disputes with huge China.

3 China

3rd place - Chinese Army

The top three are opened by the People's Liberation Army of China. There is military conscription in this country, 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. 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.

The Chinese army is constantly improving its technical level. If 10-15 years ago, most types of military equipment in service with the PLA were outdated copies of Soviet models, today the situation has changed dramatically. Currently, the PRC is working on the creation of a fifth-generation fighter; its latest developments in the field of tank building and missile weapons are not much inferior to models made in Russia or the West. Considering the enormous resources (financial, human, technological) that China has, the armed forces of this country in the coming years will become a formidable rival for the countries that occupy the first positions in this ranking.

2 Russia

2nd place - Russian Army

Second place is taken armed forces Russian Federation. Military service in the RF Armed Forces is provided for both by contract and by conscription. Military service is regulated by The federal law No. 53-FZ “On military duty And military service" Males aged 18 to 27 years are subject to compulsory military service.

The Russian army has the world's largest stockpiles of weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear weapons, and a well-developed system of means of delivering them. Russia's problem is the fact that most of its army's weapons are outdated Soviet models; new military equipment is entering the troops, but this process is slow. Rearmament costs enormous amounts of money; it is not a fact that the Russian economy will be able to withstand this burden. It is worth noting that in the coming years, Russia may be displaced from second place by China.

1 USA

1st place - US Army

For many years, the US Army has confidently held first place in the ranking of the strongest armies in the world. Americans have their military bases almost all over the world. American soldiers have the most modern military equipment at their disposal, which is updated frequently. The United States has a huge nuclear potential, which includes about 7 thousand nuclear warheads. The navy has 20 powerful aircraft carriers, and the state also has the largest air fleet in the world, which numbers about 13,362 units.

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

10.19.2015 at 11:12 · Pavlofox · 94 690

Top 10 Most Powerful Armies in the World 2015

There is only one way to know for sure which state has the strongest army in the world, but, fortunately, it is unacceptable. Today's military forces largest states do not participate in full-scale military conflicts. How to evaluate the power of armies different countries? There is a global firepower index for this purpose. It includes more than 50 factors by which military strength is assessed. This is the amount of equipment, manpower, the size of the defense budget, availability natural resources And so on. It should be noted that this data is constantly changing and needs to be clarified. In addition, many indicators, while reflecting quantity, say nothing about quality. For example, a country may have many submarines, but they will be outdated and significantly inferior in combat effectiveness to modern models. In addition, not all countries have access to the sea, and therefore do not have a navy. The firepower index takes this factor into account and does not exclude such states from the rating. So, the most powerful armies in the world in 2015 - which of our neighbors around the globe should we be wary of?

10.

Opens the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world in 2015. Despite the fact that according to the country's constitution, it does not have the right to have an offensive army, Japan's military forces are very powerful. The country's arsenal includes all types of weapons, and the technical equipment of the army is one of the best in the world. Due to territorial disputes with the DPRK, the country intends to further increase defense spending. Japan currently spends about $49 billion on military needs.

9.

In ninth position among the most powerful world– . After World War II, the country was limited to defense forces only, but in last years Germany is actively increasing military force. Military spending is $45 billion. The number of troops is about 185 thousand people. Despite such a small army, German ground forces are in no way inferior to Russian ones.

8.

It ranks 8th in the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world. The country spends $34 billion annually on military spending. The size of the army is about 640 thousand people, in the reserve there are about 3 million inhabitants. Due to the constant threat from the nearest neighbor, North Korea, the country is constantly increasing its military potential.

7.

In seventh place on the list of the strongest armies in the world is. The country spends about $18 billion on military needs, but this spending is expected to increase due to the difficult situation in Syria. The Turkish army is considered the best in the Middle East. It actively participates in many NATO operations.

6.

It occupies sixth position in the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world in 2015. The key to the success of this country, whose army numbers 230 thousand people, is the presence of a full range of weapons of its own production. And don’t forget that France is one of the nuclear powers.

5.

It ranks 5th in the list of the most powerful and combat-ready armies on the planet. Gone are the days when England had unhindered dominance of the seas. But, although the status of the strongest maritime power has long been lost, the country continues to remain on the list of the most serious military forces in the world. England has all types of weapons in its arsenal, and a military budget of 53 billion dollars allows it to improve and modernize the army.

4.

In fourth place in the ranking of the strongest armies in the world is. It's a paradox, but this one is far from the best rich country bypassed many economically the developed countries by the power of military forces. The secret lies in the number of troops. The country's army numbers about 1 million 300 thousand people. In addition, India has nuclear weapons and a navy, which increases its combat capability. The country's military spending is $46 billion a year.

3.

The third place in the ranking of the most powerful armed forces on the planet is occupied by a country that evokes fear and respect at the same time -. Thousands of years ago, numerous discoveries were made here that allowed human civilization to take a big step forward. And today, China continues to amaze the world with its tenacity and ability to short terms make amazing progress both in the economy and in the development of military technology. China has reached third place in the ranking of the most powerful armies in the world not only due to the number of its troops - and they number more than two million people. In the event of a military conflict, the Celestial Empire can call up another 5% of the population and the size of the Chinese army will increase to 60 million. The numbers are simply stunning. In addition, the country has nuclear potential and a large amount of military equipment. China has long been suspected of using industrial espionage to copy the best weapons of other countries, in particular Russia and the United States. Spending on the military budget is the second in the world ($126 billion). It is possible that China unofficially spends much more on equipping its army.

2.

It is in second place in the list of the most powerful armies in the world in 2015. It has advanced military technology, and its army is considered the most powerful ground force in the world. The country's arsenal is strong and big Navy, including more than 60 modern nuclear submarines. Power air force The Russian army is comparable to the United States Air Force. Russia surpasses the United States in the number of heavy military equipment, in particular tanks. country - the largest in the world. The army consists of about a million people. Russia spends approximately $80 billion annually to support the combat capability of the army. All this together gives the country the right to consider its army one of the strongest in the world in 2015.

1.

1st place – . Whatever one may say, the United States has today the most powerful military force. No other country in the world has such a military budget as here. Almost 613 billion dollars - this is how much the United States spends on annually increasing its power. And this despite the fact that the country reduced spending on the army by 7% in connection with the withdrawal of its troops from Iran and Afghanistan. The size of the army is almost one and a half million people and about 700 thousand are in reserve.

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

Today we present an annually updated, official ranking of the world's armies, a list that includes the most powerful armies in the world in 2017.

When compiling the rating, the following are compared:
- the number of armies of the world (regular number of troops, reservists)
- weapons (airplanes, helicopters, tanks, navy, artillery, other equipment)
- military budget, resource availability, geographical position, logistics.

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

By the way, San Marino has the weakest army in the world in 2017 – only 80 people.

10 South Korea

The Korean army is the third largest in Asia - 630 thousand troops. The country has a very high number of military personnel per thousand inhabitants - 14.2 people. Korea's defense budget is $33.7 billion.

9 Germany

The country's military budget is $45 billion. The number of German armed forces is 186,500 people. The German army is completely professional, i.e. There has been no compulsory conscription in the country since 2011.

8 Türkiye

The Turkish army is the best in the Middle East. The number of the country's armed forces is 510,000 people. Turkey's military budget is $18 billion. There are just over 7 military personnel per thousand residents of the country.

7 Japan

The Japanese army is seventh in the list of the best. The combat-ready part of the army numbers 247 thousand military personnel. With such a large armed force, the country has a simply huge defense budget - $49 billion.

6 UK

The country's military budget is $53 billion. The size of the British armed forces is 188,000 military personnel - this is the smallest army in the ranking. But the Royal Navy of Britain is the second in the world in terms of tonnage.

5 France

Opens a list of the 5 most powerful armies peace. The country's military budget is $43 billion. The number of French armed forces is 222,000 people. The key to the combat effectiveness of this army is the presence in it of a full range of weapons of its own production, from warships to helicopters and small arms.

4 India

The country's military budget is $46 billion. The number of Indian armed forces is 1,346,000 people, the country's army is the third largest in the world.

3 China

The largest army in the world ranking is the Chinese army, numbering 2,333,000 troops. Wikipedia shows that there are 1.71 military personnel per 1,000 inhabitants of the Celestial Empire. China's military budget is $126 billion.

2 Russia

The Russian armed forces are superior to almost all armies of the world in terms of weapons power in all branches of the military - air, ground and sea. Number Russian army for 2017 – 798,000 people. Military budget - $76 billion. Among the superpowers, Russia has a very high rate of the number of military personnel per 1000 inhabitants - 5.3 people.

1 USA

The most powerful army in the world, according to Globalfirepower, is 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, which is not taken into account by experts. The US Army has a strength of 1,492,200 people and a defense budget of $612 billion.