Military power can come in many forms, from massive numbers of soldiers and advanced fighter jets to submarines, nuclear weapons, powerful missiles, and enormous defense budgets. Today, we’re bringing out the force-o-meter, taking you around the world, and showcasing the 12 mightiest armies and what makes them so powerful.
If you’re an Egyptian man between 18 and 30 years old, you have a choice to make. You must do 18 to 36 months of military service in the army, navy, air force or air defense force. Egypt is the only Arab state in the Middle East that builds reconnaissance satellites to gather intelligence. In 2022, Egypt had 438,500 active duty personnel, 250 fighter jets and eight submarines.
Italy’s strong weapons industry makes tanks, tank destroyers and attack helicopters. Conscription ended in 2005, and women can serve in all military branches. In 2022, Italy had 334,500 active duty military personnel, 92 fighter jets, two aircraft carriers, eight submarines, and an annual budget of $32 billion.
In 1822, Brazil created its armed forces to fight for independence from Portugal. Now, it has over 334,000 personnel and makes light attack aircraft, military helicopters and rocket launchers.
The force-o-meter jumps to 5/10 as we introduce the first army on our list with nuclear weapons, and it has at least 120 of them. Pakistan also has 654,000 active military personnel, 357 fighter jets and nine submarines. In the past 80 years, there have been three major conflicts between Pakistan and India.
The British Army has the world’s most powerful and dangerous special force, the Special Air Services, or SAS. This group plays a significant role in many international conflicts where the British Army is deployed. Their primary functions include counter-terrorism, gathering intelligence, sabotage and training foreign militaries. The British Armed Forces have 275,000 active military personnel, a defense budget of over $68 billion and 215 nuclear missiles.
After its defeat in World War II, the Japanese military disbanded and the constitution stopped the formation of any large armed forces. But in 1950, during the Korean War, Japan formed its National Police Reserve. It became the Self Defence Force in 1954.
Japan plans to double its defense budget by 2028 and produces patrol aircraft, stealth fighters, and helicopter carriers. It has 250,000 soldiers, 256 fighter jets, 20 submarines, and plans to buy hundreds of American cruise missiles.
France is a powerhouse when it comes to manufacturing weapons. Its Mistral class warships can carry 16 heavy helicopters, self-propelled artillery and anti-ship missiles. The country also has about 300 nuclear weapons, 10 satellites and an aircraft carrier. France is also rated at number 6 for its cyberwarfare abilities.
After World War II, South Korea created a democratic government and formed the Republic of Korea Armed Forces in 1946. Men in South Korea who are 18 to 28 years old must serve in the military for 21 months, and women can volunteer. The country produces tanks, naval assault ships and missile destroyers. Its massive military has over 600,000 people, 402 fighter jets and 22 submarines.
The Indian Armed Forces created BrahMos, the most dangerous and powerful supersonic cruise missile. It attacks at 4,900 km/h, about 2.8 times faster than the speed of sound. This impressive military has over 1.4 million soldiers, 542 fighter jets, 17 submarines and 150 nuclear missiles. Its budget is $76 billion.
Russia inherited a lot of its military power from the former Soviet Union. The military invented the ADS assault rifle, an underwater gun that shoots up to 20 meters underwater. It’s estimated that Russia has over 12,000 tanks, the largest of any army in the world, and a defense budget of $66 billion. With over one million soldiers, 789 fighter jets, 64 subs, and 6,500 nuclear missiles, the force-o-meter reaches 8/10.
China grew to become the world’s second largest economy in the world. The country is also a prominent weapons manufacturer and exporter. Not surprisingly, China has over 2 million active military personnel, 1,200 fighter jets, 79 submarines, and 290 nuclear missiles. Its military budget is $293 billion.
Before the force-o-meter hits a perfect ten, it’s time for our bonus fact. North Korea didn’t make our list because of the secrecy behind its borders. A report in 2017 estimated that North Korea had 1.2 million soldiers, 3,500 tanks and 563 combat aircraft. Some experts suspect the country has biological and chemical weapons, but we don’t know how accurate any of this is.
Now, we’re turning the force-o-meter to 10/10 and taking you to the United States. The U.S. military is renowned for its Air Force superiority. It’s the largest in the world with 6,125 nuclear missiles. The U.S. also has the largest military budget in the world and spends a staggering $800 billion. It’s easy to see why the United States military tops our list.
