Comparing the military power of different states is a complex but interesting problem. Despite all the difficulties associated with assessing the power of the armed forces of a state, attempts are constantly being made to make a rating of the most militarily powerful states. Due to the constant tensions or open clashes that are constantly observed in different parts of the world, such ratings are in demand and attract the attention of the general public.
On July 10, the American edition of Business Insider published an article entitled The 35 Most Powerful Militaries In The World. As is clear from the title, the authors of the article tried to compare the armed forces of the leading countries and find out which state has the most powerful army. For convenience, the list was limited to only 35 positions, which is why the vast majority of countries in the world could not get into it.
According to Business Insider, the top ten most militarily powerful states are as follows: the United States, Russia, China, India, Britain, France, Germany, Turkey, South Korea and Japan. Keeping in mind the recent events, it is necessary to note the position in the rating of several other states. So, Israel could not enter the top ten and stopped at 11th place, Ukraine took 21st place, and Iran is immediately behind it in the ranking. The Syrian Armed Forces secured their country 26th place in the world ranking. The last line in the list from Business Insider is the DPRK.
GFP rating
It should be noted that the authors of The 35 Most Powerful Militaries In The World did not independently conduct research on the armed forces of the world, but used the existing database. They took the well-known Global Firepower Index (GFP) rating as the basis for their work. This rating is considered one of the most famous and authoritative in the world. The purpose of the GFP database is to collect, analyze and summarize information about the world's military forces. The latest ranking of the armies of the world was published in April this year and contains information about the armed forces of 106 states. In the future, the number of countries included in the ranking will increase.
To compare the military power of states, the authors of the Global Firepower Index use a complex assessment methodology that takes into account over 50 different factors. Based on the results of the calculations, the army receives an assessment (Power index or PwrIndex), which roughly reflects its capabilities. At the same time, for greater objectivity of assessments, a system of bonus and penalty points is used. In addition, objectivity is designed to provide several additional conditions:
- the assessment does not take into account nuclear weapons;
- the assessment takes into account the geographical features of the state;
- the assessment takes into account not only the number of weapons and equipment;
- the assessment takes into account the production and consumption of some resources;
- Landlocked states do not receive penalty points for the absence of the Navy;
- a fine is imposed for the limited capabilities of the navy;
- the assessment does not take into account the peculiarities of the political and military leadership of the country.
The total of the counting becomes a decimal fraction with four decimal places. Ideally, the index of the state should be equal to 0, 0000, but achieving such high rates in reality is impossible. For example, the leader of the last rating, the USA, has a score of 0, 2208, and Japan closes the top ten with a PwrIndex of 0, 5586. Starting from 25th place (Saudi Arabia), the ratings of states exceed one. Moreover, Tanzania, which is in the last 106th place in the ranking, has a score of 4, 3423.
Of course, the GFP rating has certain problems, but it still allows for a relatively objective picture, taking into account many different factors. Let's turn to the Global Firepower Index database and consider what allowed the countries to take the top 5 places in the ranking.
1. USA
The authors of the rating note that in recent years the United States has found itself in a difficult position. Two costly wars and difficulties with new projects, as well as cuts in the military budget, have led the Pentagon to face many difficulties. Nevertheless, even in such conditions, the US military retained its first place in the GFP ranking, receiving a score of 0, 2208.
The total population of the United States is 316.668 million. The total number of human resources suitable for service is 142.2 million people. 120 million people aged 17-45 can be drafted into the army if necessary. Each year, the number of potential recruits is replenished with 4, 2 million people. Currently, the US armed forces serve 1.43 million people, and the reserve is 850 thousand people.
The ground units of the armed forces have a large number of equipment of various classes and types. In total, 8325 tanks, 25,782 armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, etc., 1,934 self-propelled artillery mounts, 1,791 towed guns and 1,330 multiple launch rocket systems are used in the United States.
The total number of aircraft in the Air Force, Navy and KMP aviation is 13683. These are 2271 fighters, 2601 attack aircraft, 5222 military transport aircraft, 2745 training aircraft, as well as 6012 multipurpose and 914 attack helicopters.
More than 470 ships, submarines, boats and support vessels are currently operated in the US Navy and other structures. 10 aircraft carriers, 15 frigates, 62 destroyers, 72 submarines, 13 coast guard ships and 13 minesweepers.
Despite the emergence of the latest weapons and equipment, the US military still needs oil and petroleum products. The United States oil industry is currently producing 8.5 million barrels per day. Daily consumption is 19 million. Proved US reserves are 20.6 billion barrels.
The GFP ranking also takes into account the manufacturing and logistics capabilities of countries. The total workforce in the United States is 155 million. The country has 393 merchant ships (sailing under the American flag) that can use 24 major ports. The total length of highways is 6, 58 million miles, of railways - 227, 8 thousand miles. There are 13, 5 thousand airports and airfields in operation.
An important element of the rating is the financial component of the armed forces. The US military budget is $ 612.5 billion. At the same time, the country's external debt is equal to 15.9 trillion dollars. The country's gold and foreign exchange reserves are $ 150.2 billion, purchasing power parity is $ 15.9 trillion.
To predict a country's capabilities in a defensive war, the Global Firepower Index takes into account the geographical features of countries. The total area of the United States is 9.8 million square meters. km. The coastline is 19, 9 thousand km, borders with neighboring states - 12 thousand km. Waterways - 41 thousand km.
2. Russia
The second place in the April GFP rating was taken by Russia with a score of 0, 2355. The authors of the rating believe that the growth in military potential shown in 2013 should become a good foundation for the future.
The total population of Russia is 145, 5 million people, 69, 1 million of whom can serve. Each year the draft age reaches 1.35 million people. Currently, 766 thousand people are doing military service, and the reserve of the armed forces is 2.48 million.
Russia has one of the largest armored vehicles parks. Its armed forces have 15.5 thousand tanks, 27607 armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles and similar vehicles, 5990 self-propelled guns, 4625 towed guns and 3871 MLRS.
The total number of aircraft in the armed forces is 3082 units. Of these, 736 fighters, 1289 attack aircraft, 730 military transport, 303 training aircraft, as well as 973 multipurpose and 114 attack helicopters.
The Navy and the Border Service use more than 350 ships, boats and auxiliary vessels. This is one aircraft carrier, four frigates, 13 destroyers, 74 corvettes, 63 submarines and 65 coast guard ships. Mine-sweeping forces are represented by 34 ships.
According to the authors of the GFP rating, Russia produces 11 million barrels of oil daily. Own consumption does not exceed 2.2 million barrels per day. Proven reserves are 80 billion barrels.
The "working hands" of Russia are estimated at 75, 68 million people. There are 1143 sea and river merchant ships. The main logistics burden falls on seven large ports and terminals. The country has 982 thousand km of roads and 87.1 thousand km of railways. Air transport can use 1218 airfields.
The Russian military budget is $ 76.6 billion. The country's external debt is $ 631.8 billion. Gold and foreign exchange reserves are estimated at $ 537.6 billion. Purchasing power parity - $ 2.486 trillion.
Russia is the largest state in the world and has an area of over 17 million square meters. km. The country's coastline is 37653 km long, and the land borders are 20241 km long. The total length of the waterways reaches 102 thousand km.
3. China
China closes the top three in the April Global Firepower Index with a score of 0, 2594. This country is increasing its defense spending, which allows it to increase its presence in the Asia-Pacific region, as well as move up in the GFP rating.
The PRC is the world's largest state in terms of population: 1.35 billion people live on the territory of this country. If necessary, 749.6 million people can be drafted into the ranks of the armed forces. Every year 19, 5 million people reach draft age. At the moment, the People's Liberation Army of China (PLA) has 2.28 million people, and 2.3 million are reservists.
The PLA has 9,150 tanks of various classes and types, 4,788 armored vehicles for the infantry, 1,710 self-propelled and 6,246 towed guns. In addition, the ground forces have 1,770 multiple launch rocket systems.
The total number of aircraft in the Air Force and naval aviation is 2788. Of these, 1170 are fighters, 885 are attack aircraft. Transport tasks are performed by 762 aircraft, 380 aircraft are used to train pilots. In addition, the PLA has 865 multipurpose helicopters and 122 attack helicopters.
The Chinese fleet has 520 ships, boats and vessels. This number includes one aircraft carrier, 45 frigates, 24 destroyers, 9 corvettes, 69 submarines, 353 ships and boats of the Coast Guard, as well as 119 ships of the mine-sweeping forces.
The PRC produces 4.075 million barrels of oil daily, which is less than half of its own consumption (9.5 million barrels per day). Proved oil reserves - 25.58 billion barrels.
China's workforce is estimated at 798.5 million. The country operates 2,030 merchant ships. 15 ports and terminals are of strategic importance. The total length of highways exceeds 3.86 million kilometers, and there are also 86 thousand kilometers of railways. Aviation can use 507 airfields.
China's defense budget reached $ 126 billion last year, according to the GFP. At the same time, the country's external debt approached $ 729 billion. The country's gold and foreign exchange reserves reach $ 3.34 trillion. The purchasing power parity is $ 12.26 trillion.
The area of China is just under 9.6 million square meters. kilometers. The coastline is 14.5 thousand km long, the land border is 22117 km. There are waterways with a total length of 110 thousand km.
4. India
India received a score of 0, 3872 and with its help is ranked fourth in the GFP ranking. This state has already become the largest importer of weapons and military equipment, and, apparently, will continue military-technical cooperation with foreign partners in the future.
Being the second largest country in the world in terms of population (1.22 billion people), India, if necessary, can draft up to 615.2 million people into the army. The available human resources are annually replenished with 22, 9 million people reaching draft age. At the moment, 1.325 million people serve in the Indian armed forces, another 2.143 million are in reserve.
The Indian Army has 3569 tanks, 5085 armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles, 290 self-propelled guns and 6445 towed artillery pieces. Rocket artillery is represented by 292 multiple launch rocket systems.
The Indian Air Force has 1,785 aircraft of all classes and types. The aircraft fleet has the following structure: 535 fighters, 468 attack vehicles, 706 military transport and 237 trainers. Transport and support tasks are performed by 504 multipurpose helicopters. Destruction of enemy equipment and forces is assigned to 20 attack helicopters.
India's naval forces are relatively small, with only 184 ships. This number includes 2 aircraft carriers, 15 frigates, 11 destroyers, 24 corvettes, 17 submarines, 32 ships and boats of the Coast Guard, and 7 minesweepers.
India has relatively small oil fields, but the country remains dependent on foreign supplies. Proved reserves - 5.476 billion barrels. The Indian industry produces 897.5 thousand barrels of oil daily, and the daily consumption reaches 3.2 million barrels.
The Indian workforce is estimated at 482.3 million. There are 340 merchant ships flying the Indian flag. There are 7 large ports in the country. The total length of highways exceeds 3.32 million km. For railways, this parameter does not exceed 64 thousand km. There are 346 airfields in operation.
India has allocated $ 46 billion for defense this year. The external debt of the state is approaching 379 billion. The country's gold and foreign exchange reserves are estimated at $ 297.8 billion, and the purchasing power parity is at $ 4.71 trillion.
The area of India is 3.287 million square meters. km. The country has land borders with a total length of 14,103 km and a coastline of 7,000 km. The length of the country's waterways is 14.5 thousand km.
5. United Kingdom
The top five in the GFP ranking, compiled in April this year, is closed by the United Kingdom, which received a score of 0, 3923. This country intends to pay special attention to its armed forces in the near future and, in this regard, is implementing several new projects.
Of the 63, 4 million British citizens, only 29, 1 million people can get into the army. The number of potential military personnel is annually replenished with 749 thousand people. Currently, 205, 3 thousand people are serving in the armed forces. The reserve is 182 thousand.
The British ground forces are armed with 407 tanks, 6245 armored vehicles for transporting infantry, 89 self-propelled artillery mounts, 138 towed guns and 56 MLRS.
The RAF has 908 aircraft. These are mainly aircraft: 84 fighters, 178 attack aircraft, 338 military transport aircraft and 312 training aircraft. In addition, the troops have 362 multipurpose and 66 attack helicopters.
Great Britain once possessed one of the most powerful navies in the world, but in recent decades it has lost its maritime power. At the moment, the British Naval Service has only 66 ships and vessels. This is 1 aircraft carrier, 13 frigates, 6 destroyers, 11 submarines, 24 coast guard ships and 15 minesweepers.
From platforms in the North Sea, the UK produces 1.1 million barrels of oil daily. However, production does not cover the country's own consumption, which reaches 1.7 million barrels per day. The country's proven reserves are at the level of 3, 12 billion barrels.
The UK industry and economy employs about 32 million people. The country's merchant fleet operates 504 ships and 14 major ports. On the territory of the state there are 394, 4 thousand km of automobile roads and 16, 45 thousand km of railways. There are 460 airfields and airports in operation.
The size of the military budget of Great Britain reaches 56, 6 billion dollars, the external debt - 10, 09 trillion dollars. Gold and foreign exchange reserves are estimated at $ 105.1 billion. Purchasing power parity - $ 2.313 trillion.
The area of the island state is 243.6 thousand square meters. km. The length of the coastline is 12,429 km. On land, Great Britain is bordered only by Ireland. The length of this border does not exceed 390 km. The total length of the waterways is 3200 km.
Leadership issues
As you can see, the states occupying the first lines in the Global Firepower Index have several common features. These countries pay great attention to their armed forces, including from a financial point of view. The conclusions of the authors of the GFP rating are confirmed by other sources. For example, according to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), over the past few years, India (4th in the GFP ranking), which has been increasing spending on the purchase of arms and military equipment, has literally soared up the list of importing countries and took the deserved first place. The "silver medalist" of the GFP rating, Russia, is currently implementing the State Arms Program, according to which, by 2020, a little less than 20 trillion rubles will be spent on the purchase of weapons and equipment.
The purchase of equipment and weapons can be considered one of the main factors that allow countries to stay at the top of the ranking under review. However, investment in new equipment alone cannot lift a country to the top of the list. In addition to procurement, competent management is required, the correct operation of various structures of the armed forces, etc. When calculating the PwrIndex index, fifty factors are taken into account, each of which can affect the place of a particular country in the list. Nevertheless, there is some relationship between the quantity and quality of equipment and the country's position in the ranking. To see it, you need to refer again to the table compiled by journalists from Business Insider.
The authors of The 35 Most Powerful Militaries In The World not only presented the information in a convenient form, but also noted the leaders in certain "areas". Thus, the world leader in terms of the size of the military budget is unconditionally the United States with defense spending in the amount of $ 612.5 billion. The same country belongs to the primacy in the field of aviation (13683 aircraft) and aircraft carrier fleet (10 aircraft carriers). As a result, the United States is in the first place in the ranking.
Russia took second place and is also in the lead in some indicators. The Russian army has 15,000 tanks, more than anyone else. In addition, Busines Insider journalists took it upon themselves to supplement the GFP rating with information about the countries' nuclear arsenals. According to their calculations, Russia has 8484 nuclear weapons of various classes and types.
The top three is closed by the PRC, which is the leader in the field of human resources. Theoretically, 749.6 million people can be drafted into the Chinese army. In addition, it is necessary to note the growing military budget of the PRC, which, according to Business Insider, is second only to the American one and has already reached $ 126 billion.
An interesting fact is that in the table from the article "The 35 most powerful armies in the world", the leadership in one of the points remained with a small and not too powerful militarily country. The DPRK is ranked 35th in the GFP and its revised version from Business Insider. Despite such a low position, the North Korean Navy is the world leader in the submarine fleet: according to available data, it has 78 submarines of various types. However, world leadership in such an area did not help North Korea climb above 35th place.
The Global Firepower Index rating, despite the fact that it was published a few months ago, is still of some interest. In view of the complexity of the assessment methodology, which takes into account a large number of various factors, this rating can be considered sufficiently objective and showing an approximate picture of the real state of affairs in the military field. In addition, it should be noted that it can please the Russian reader, since our country took one of the first places in it and bypassed almost all other countries taken into account in the rating. The publication in the Business Insider, in turn, reminds of the GFP rating and makes you feel proud of the Russian armed forces again.
