In this article, we take a look at 5 biggest militaries in the world. If you want to check out our detailed analysis on whether or not military size is still a strategic advantage, head to 12 Biggest Militaries in the World: Does Size Matter?
5. United Kingdom
Aircraft Carriers: 2
Aircraft: 555
Tanks: 227
Strategic Warships: 19
Submarines: 10
Nuclear Weapons: 225
Military Satellites: 8
The United Kingdom is the biggest military power in Western Europe. It projects power in the seas through its two aircraft carriers, namely, HMS Queen Elizabeth and HMS Prince of Wales. It has 19 other strategic warships. These include 13 frigates and 6 destroyers. Its air fleet comprises 555 fixed wing aircraft as of 2021. Its noteworthy fighter aircraft include fourth generation Eurofighter Typhoon, developed by Eurofighter GmbH, and the fifth generation F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin.
The island country maintains 225 ready-to-use nuclear weapons, and has 8 military satellites currently in orbit. Its active duty personnel comprise 148,000 soldiers while an additional 38,000 make up the reserve force.
4. India
Aircraft Carriers: 2
Aircraft: 2,186
Tanks: 4,740
Strategic Warships: 41
Submarines: 21
Nuclear Weapons: 160
Military Satellites: 15
India is the biggest military power in South Asia. The country has border disputes with both China and Pakistan and numerous insurgencies in its Northeastern region. This has led India to develop a robust military capability. In 2021, it spent 2.7% of its GDP on its military.
It has two aircraft carriers, 4,740 main-battle tanks, 41 strategic warships (10 destroyers, 12 frigates and 19 corvettes), 21 submarines (including 2 under-construction), 41 attack helicopters and 2,186 fixed-wing aircraft. Its aircraft inventory includes fighters like Su-30, Dassault Rafale and Mig-29. Currently, India does not have any fifth generation stealth aircraft in its air fleet.
The country has 160 nuclear weapons in service. It’s one of the only four countries that has based its nuclear force structure around the Nuclear Triad – the capability to launch nuclear warheads from sea, air and land. The other three countries are China, Russia and the US.
3. China
Aircraft Carriers: 2
Aircraft: 3,373
Tanks: 5,651
Strategic Warships: 160
Submarines: 60
Nuclear Weapons: 350
Military Satellites: 60+
China is one of the biggest militaries in the world. It is increasingly finding itself at odds with the US, India and Japan as it asserts its rising position in regional affairs. It has territorial disputes with India and Japan, and geopolitical disputes with the US over the issue of Taiwan.
Therefore, it has developed its military power ambitiously over the past few years. Its military power comprises 2 million active duty personnel, with another 2 million in reserve troops, over 5,600 tanks, 160 strategic warships that only comprise frigates, corvettes, cruisers and destroyers. Its total naval fleet that includes smaller ships amounts to well over 400, including 60 submarines as of 2021.
The country is also developing advanced capabilities for cyber and autonomous warfare. Foreign Policy put China’s ‘Hacker Army’ numbers between 50,000 and 100,000 personnel.
It is also ahead of the US in capabilities like hypersonics, with its Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV) DF-ZF in service as of 2019, while the US is expected to field the technology at the earliest in 2023.
2. Russia
Aircraft Carriers: 1
Aircraft: 3,829
Tanks: 12,420
Strategic Warships: 98
Submarines: 58
Nuclear Weapons: 5,977
Military Satellites: 75
Russia is the second biggest military power in the world. It has the largest stockpile of nuclear weapons in the world, at 5,977. It also has the most main-battle tanks in the world, at over 12,000.
Russia spent 4.1% of its 2021 GDP on defense. Its air fleet comprises 3,829 aircraft. Some of the prominent fighters in its aircraft inventory include Su-35 and Su-57. The former is considered one of the best fourth generation dogfighters in the world, while the latter is Russia’s only fifth generation stealth fighter, which was deployed in service in December, 2020.
Russia, like China, is also ahead of the US in hypersonics. Its Avangard, the Hypersonic Glide Vehicle (HGV), has been in service since 2019. It’s also the first country to use hypersonic missiles in combat, in Ukraine.
Russia has 98 strategic warships other than its aircraft carrier. These include 83 corvettes, 11 frigates, and 4 cruisers. Its submarines amount to a total of 58. It is also one of the only four countries to possess nuclear-triad capability. In addition, Russia’s air-defense system, the S-400 Triumf, is widely regarded as the best in the world.
1. United States
Aircraft Carriers: 11
Aircraft: 5,217
Tanks: 6,333
Strategic Warships: 132
Submarines: 68
Nuclear Weapons: 5,550
Military Satellites: 120+
The United States is the biggest military power in the world. It spent $800 billion in defense in 2021. Its 11 nuclear-powered aircraft carriers, with capacity for 80 aircraft each, allows the country to project power around the globe. The US Navy also uses 132 strategic warships, which includes 18 frigates, 92 cruisers and destroyers, and 22 corvettes. Other than that, the US Navy also operates 68 submarines as of 2022.
The military power on land is bolstered by over 6,000 tanks, mostly M1 Abrams. The country has over 120 military satellites currently orbiting the Earth. In terms of nuclear weapons, the US has the second largest stockpile of nuclear warheads with a total of 5,550 nuclear weapons.
The country has nuclear-triad capability and in that regard, operates land-based nuclear-capable missiles, submarines and strategic bombers like B-52 Stratofortress and B-2 Spirit.
The US military structure is also one of the most complex in the world. In addition to the army, air force and the navy, the country also has other arms. These include the United States Marine Corp, Space Force and Coast Guard. The US also has the highest number of special forces in the world. Some notable among them are 75th Ranger Regiment, US Navy Seals, United States Army Special Forces (Green Berets) and Delta Force.
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