In this article we are going to list the 10 most powerful militaries in the world in 2022. For a detailed coverage of this topic and a more comprehensive list please take a look at the 25 Most Powerful Militaries in the World in 2022.
10. Saudi Arabia
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 55,564
Total number of fighter jets: 283
Total number of submarines: 0
One of the most powerful militaries in the world, Saudi Arabia has continued to increase its defense spending over the last decade especially due to its involvement and active contribution in the Yemen conflict. Saudi Arabia imports a majority of its weapons from the United States, which is why the two are such close allies, with weaponry deals being worth tens of billions of dollars a year.
9. Germany
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 56,017
Total number of fighter jets: 134
Total number of submarines: 6
As we mentioned earlier, Germany decided to increase its military budget after Russia invaded Ukraine, which is something that most Western nations will welcome as they’d been trying to convince the largest economy in Europe to increase its defensive contributions. This is a historic shift and may have implications for decades to come.
8. Japan
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 54,124
Total number of fighter jets: 217
Total number of submarines: 21
Japan has recently increased cooperation with its allies as it has considered Russia to be a major threat after its invasion of Ukraine. It has increased its military expenditure which has resulted in a higher acquisition of hardware and new equipment. Currently, the reserve personnel in Japan exceed 50,000 people.
7. United Kingdom
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 68,366
Total number of fighter jets: 119
Total number of submarines: 10
The United Kingdom is expected to allocate £100 billion in annual defense spend by 2030.
6. France
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 56,647
Total number of fighter jets: 266
Total number of submarines: 10
France has the highest military spend in Europe, which is why it is among the most powerful militaries in the world. In addition to its high spend, France also boasts a large number of fighter jets and submarines to boost its military strength.
5. South Korea
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 50,227
Total number of fighter jets: 402
Total number of submarines: 22
South Korea has constantly faced a threat from North Korea for decades which is why it spends a significant amount on its military.
4. India
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 76,598
Total number of fighter jets: 564
Total number of submarines: 17
Most of India’s spend on its giant army is on maintenance of salaries, cantonments and pensions rather than arms and ammunition.
3. Russia
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 65,908
Total number of fighter jets: 772
Total number of submarines: 70
Surprisingly, based on our metrics, Russia is still the third most powerful military in the world. Remember, there are several reasons that the war has not gone well, which include the Russian army not having the motivation to fight an unnecessary war, older weaponry despite the high spend, and Ukraine receiving major weaponry from NATO.
2. China
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 293,352
Total number of fighter jets: 1,200
Total number of submarines: 79
China has grown to become the second-largest economy in the world and is the fifth-largest exporter of arms in the world. The biggest recipient of Chinese weapons is Pakistan.
1. United States of America
Total military spend by the country (in millions): 800,672
Total number of fighter jets: 1,957
Total number of submarines: 68
Easily topping the list of the 25 most powerful militaries in the world in 2022 is the United States of America, whose defense spending is greater than the other nine entries on this list combined. Considering how much help the United States has provided to Ukraine, this spend may exceed $1 trillion in 2022.
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