5 Most Powerful Militaries in Asia

3. South Korea

GDP (2022): $1,800 billion

Defense spending (2022): $42.1 billion

Manpower: 555,000

Tanks: 2,331

Armored Fighting Vehicles: 133,738

Nuclear warheads: 0

Aircrafts including fighter jets: 1,595

Naval assets: 157

Technological Advancement: 6/132

Given its tensions with North Korea, it is no surprise that South Korea has raised a strong military, which is the eighth largest in terms of manpower. Seoul also possesses a huge fleet of military aircrafts, fighter jets, and combat helicopters, which would give South Korea an edge if an armed conflict were to break out with Pyongyang.

South Korea has developed its own fourth-generation fighter jet called KF-21 Boramae which is equipped with radar evading capabilities commonly found in fifth-generation fighter jets.