A list of the top ten strongest militaries in the world

A list of the top ten strongest militaries in the world

A list of the top ten strongest militaries in the world, ranked by their relative strengths. The United States has been the unquestioned leader in military power since the end of World War II, but it’s not necessarily the strongest military in the world, according to a variety of metrics. So which country actually has the most powerful military? This list ranks all countries by their ability to defend themselves and project force over long distances via land, sea, or air. These countries are ranked by factors such as manpower, natural resources, technological prowess, and geographic location in relation to other countries and potential aggressors.

The U.S.

The United States, which spends more on defense than every other country on Earth combined, employs about 1.4 million active-duty troops. The U.S. spends about 5% of its GDP on defense and has roughly five times as many active-duty troops as China and about six times as many as Russia. As for nuclear capabilities, America’s military reportedly has 7,700 warheads; Russia has 7,000 to 8,000 and China fewer than 300.

Russia

At Number 1, Russia’s military budget is slightly less than that of China. However, what it lacks in dollars, it makes up for with numbers. Russia maintains a reserve force of 5 million—the largest active-duty force is about 800,000—and also has some 690 tanks and 770 aircraft available for active duty. It deploys about 80 warships and 90 combat jets.

China

With more than 2.3 million active personnel, China has one of the largest standing armies in existence today. They also have a comprehensive military system which incorporates everything from army, navy and air force components to powerful reserve forces. The major difference between China’s military capabilities and those of others on this list is that they aren’t quite as sophisticated as many others. For example, they still rely heavily on older-generation weaponry while other countries have moved beyond that approach. Still, when it comes to sheer size and number of troops under arms there are few who can match China’s might in an all-out war with other major powers.

India

The biggest military power on our list is India. The most populous country on Earth, India’s military is 1.3 million strong, making it almost four times as large as Russia’s and nearly double that of China. On average, Indian troops are relatively well trained with modern equipment to boot. India spends a lot of money on its military – its defense budget is 3.2% of GDP, more than three times that spent by China and over six times more than that spent by Russia.

UK

With six nuclear submarines, two aircraft carriers, 42 operational fighter jets and a stockpile of around 300 nuclear warheads, France has one of Europe’s most powerful military forces. The country also boasts nearly 12,000 soldiers based overseas and more than 200 soldiers stationed on UN peacekeeping missions. France consistently ranks among NATO’s strongest members. Its military budget for 2016 is approximately $41 billion.

France

$3.5 Billion (1) The French military is ranked first among European nations, with an active force estimated at 250,000 personnel. Paris allocates $32 billion annually to national defense, and France has more than 1,500 military bases outside its territory. Since World War II, France has been a pillar of NATO and a bulwark against Soviet expansionism in Western Europe. A founding member of both EUFOR and Operation Artemis, France is also involved in anti-piracy operations off Somalia’s coast. The French Navy currently deploys 27 major surface vessels and 11 nuclear attack submarines…

Japan

The Japanese Self-Defense Forces are, by far, one of Asia’s most powerful and respected military forces. They have a sizeable army that is modern and capable of launching a range of operations including ground combat missions. The force has several branches, including an army, navy and air force. The total size is 226,914 active personnel with a further 451,800 people serving in its reserves. Japan also has one submarine squadron that includes 16 boats. The country also has six destroyer squadrons with 17 destroyers altogether while also having three mine countermeasure squadrons with 19 vessels overall. Its armament consists mostly of anti-ship missiles as well as surface-to-air missiles and anti-submarine weapons among others.

Germany

The South Korean military boasts 563,000 active-duty soldiers. There are also 2.6 million reservists who can be mobilized if needed. The country’s navy consists of 67 warships and nine amphibious landing ships—which amounts to more than 100,000 sailors overall. The army has nearly 10,000 tanks and 3,400 armored vehicles and artillery pieces. Seoul is also equipped with F-15K strike fighters, which are capable of delivering precision munitions anywhere in North Korea within minutes; B-1B bombers that can hit targets up to 620 miles away; Taurus cruise missiles that travel at low altitudes and can strike within three meters of their target; and a number of other ballistic missiles with similar pinpoint accuracy capabilities.

Iran

Strong military capability, has nuclear technology. However, Iran is under severe international sanctions and a boycott by Western powers for pursuing nuclear development and having current policies which are anti-Semitic. In addition, military spending is only 1.5% of its GDP, relatively low compared to other countries in same rank (14th). The tradeoff may be a strong military but at a lower cost than other countries that have higher military spending as a percentage of GDP. Many economists believe that Iran’s present economy cannot sustain large investments into their army without putting strain on their citizens’ welfare; thus many economists assume that Iran’s ranking will drop significantly if they increase their military budget beyond what it is today because it would consume too much economic surplus.

South Korea

1,194,000 active personnel and 10,200 tanks. This is one of two military powers that have an almost purely defensive strategy. They have managed to avoid being invaded by surrounding North Korea with a number of small guard units. Many South Koreans see themselves as superior to North Koreans, who they believe are inferior due to cultural homogeneity and strict control over unwanted elements. This has lead to many confrontations and several wars with their neighbors throughout history, but never a full-scale invasion.