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Which troops are the strongest. The strongest armies in the world: ranking

A new edition of the annual The Military Balance is due out today. It is published - always in a very impressive volume - by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). This organization, located in Britain, is considered one of the most authoritative in this field. The IISS has been publishing its annual reviews of military strength and the state of troops of various countries since 1959.

This year, as in the past, the survey will feature information on the military capabilities and military economies of 171 countries. Detailed data indicate each country's combat strength, army personnel, weapons stockpiles, and the economic performance of the military-industrial complexes.

Analysts in uniform consider these reports to be a reference book, some just a useful source, but they agree that the staff of the institute try to be objective when preparing their annual document. Well, at least within the limits that the mentality of a Westerner allows.

No text yet, but three main characters have already been identified

The report should be released on February 14, but the real customers will be able to start analyzing it only from tomorrow morning. For the time being, Tsargrad analysts have an extended annotation at their disposal. It is clear from it that the main heroes of the document will be three countries - the United States, Russia and China. Moreover, the latter two will be devoted to additional (along with the traditional descriptions of new orders for weapons and delivery schedules) articles.

Against the general background of the description of the modernization of strategic forces in these three countries, there will be separate reviews of Chinese and Russian aviation weapons (recall the recent "leak" of information about the Russian strategic air-launched cruise missiles Kh-101, discussed with reverence and slight tremors in their voice in the American magazine The National Interest), as well as the development of artificial intelligence in the interests of defense. Russia will "receive" an additional "bonus" in the form of thematic texts on the modernization of its strategic forces.

As new products in the fresh The Military Balance-2018, the military development in the same China, Russia and the United States, as well as in France and the UK, is assessed in detail. This, presumably, indirectly but indisputably declares the "pool" of the first five leading armies of the world. A kind of permanent committee of the "Security Council" of the secret military "UN" of our world. The similarity complements the indication of a separate analysis of the military capabilities of Norway, Qatar, Sudan, Uganda and Venezuela - as if they were non-permanent members of the armed and very dangerous "Security Council", without the right to veto ...

In addition, they promise to describe and graphically depict the most important events in the field of defense procurement in 2017, as well as show and outline a number of new weapons developments. Among them, the Russian Su-57 (T-50) combat aircraft is separately mentioned. Much attention will be paid to the naval forces. "National cyber capabilities" are considered separately.

The first armies of the world have been identified by Russian military experts

While the world militarized public is waiting for the release of a new IISS survey, Constantinople asked Russia's leading military experts to express their opinion on the top strongest armies in the world.

The military expert Igor Korotchenko (editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine, director of the Center for Analysis of the World Arms Trade LLC), who is closest to what the IISS is doing, in terms of professional activity, although he was skeptical about the very compilation of such ratings, spoke traditionally academic:

"This is not about which army is the largest, but which army is the strongest and most efficient, which army has the widest range of weapons for solving certain tasks of political leadership."

Based on these considerations, the expert believes that "at least the US and Russian armies will top this rating," since "today both the US and Russia are the largest militarily powers - in terms of both parity and availability in arsenals, including strategic nuclear weapons. "

Further, the rating will include, according to Korotchenko, China, Japan, Great Britain, India. "Well, I don't exclude the possibility that the army of North Korea," he added the top 7 most efficient armies in the world. But at the same time he made a reservation: "I must say that drawing up such ratings is a rather artificial thing. Because only war can accurately assess the real situation. And God forbid that it happens."

“But we can say with confidence today that the Russian Armed Forces are rightfully one of the best in the world, both in terms of their technical equipment, and in terms of combat and morale. Therefore, regardless of the compilers of the ratings, we can sleep peacefully, considering that the army reliably ensures our security, "Igor Korotchenko summed up.

But another well-known military expert - Viktor Litovkin - has a completely different rating of the world's armies: the fifth place, perhaps, I can place the Turkish army. "

When asked why this is so, the expert just shrugged his shoulders: "This is if we talk about numbers. The United States has the largest army, China is in second place, North Korea is in third. And so on." these armies exceed 1 million 200 thousand people, at least, "he said.

“But if we take in terms of power, in terms of combat potential, then, of course, in the first place is the United States, in the second place is Russia, in the third place is China,” Viktor Litovkin emphasized. more difficult. This is the French army, and the British, and the German, and so on. "

Viktor Baranets, another prominent Russian expert in the military field, military observer of Komsomolskaya Pravda, stated and substantiated his point of view in great detail: NATO countries, often smack of a very serious politicization. This time. Secondly, the methods of compiling ratings among specialists raise very serious questions. I mean that it is difficult, for example, today to compare the American and Russian armies, which in terms of the number and quality of nuclear weapons they are in no way inferior to each other. But the Americans still like to put themselves in the first position, and push Russia to the second. "

“I believe that today the level of armament of the Russian army, and its combat readiness, mobility, logistics, weapons - all this suggests that the Russian army is in no way inferior to the American one,” the expert emphasized. argument: Russia possesses general-purpose forces, that is, non-nuclear forces in smaller quantities and in lesser quality. And here I would partly agree: over the years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, we have seriously worn out the general-purpose forces and have been rebuilding them for a very long time. "

As for the world's top armies, Viktor Baranets outlined the following order in it: “I am absolutely sure that the Americans will put themselves first in this rating. They simply stated in unison that the greatest military threat to the armed forces of the United States of America is the Russian army. In third place, of course, will be the Chinese army. This is an army with nuclear weapons, it is considered the largest in the world in terms of the number of bayonets under military banners. it has almost 2.5 million people.

“In fourth place, no matter what we say, I would still put the half-million Turkish army. We must not forget that besides the fact that it has a half-million contingent, it is very well armed. It has a very serious degree of combat readiness, as evidenced by actions of its units in Syria, "Baranets said.

"As for the further rating, I would put the Indian army in fifth place - considering its number, of course. And then I would put the North Korean army. Because both armies have nuclear weapons," he summed up.

1. USA
2. Russia
3. China
4. India
5. Turkey
6. North Korea
7. France
8.UK
9. Germany

In principle, the ratings of "Constantinople" coincide with this reeting ... almost. Because it is necessary to take into consideration one more, no, even two circumstances.

The first is that in terms of nuclear potential, Russia and the United States are equal to each other. This is officially recorded in the START Treaty. According to the law of mathematics, we are therefore obliged to remove these quantities from the formula. As well as nuclear weapons of other powers. Let's also remove other equals - weapons of the same class and quality, logistics, management.

And then the remaining aspects of the issue come to the fore in the formula: the size of the army, the quality of its main weapons, its training, cohesiveness, combat experience and morale.

And in this sense, one does not even need to guess: the armies of Russia and the United States each have their own touchstone for the manifestation of these qualities: Syria, respectively, and Afghanistan. The war is being fought by conventional means, the war is fought primarily by air and by special operations. The war both here and here has approximately the same political background in the form of a legitimate government trying to cope with the armed opposition.

Now let's look at the results that Russia has achieved in Syria, and which the United States has achieved in Afghanistan. They are, to put it mildly, opposite.

Add to this the fighting spirit, which in one army gives rise to heroes one after another, and which forces the other army to huddle in bases and hide behind the backs of government troops - and the picture will be complete.

1.Russia (morale, combat experience, weapons)
2. China (numbers, weapons, ideology)
3. USA (weapons)
4. DPRK (morale, strength, ideology)
5. Israel (combat experience, morale, weapons, ideology)
6. India (number, armament)
7.Turkey (combat experience, weapons)
8.Iran (fighting spirit, combat experience, ideology)
9. Vietnam (fighting spirit, weapons)
10. France (weapons)

All that remains is to compare with the list that will be issued by the IISS. But for some reason there is confidence that whatever it may be, the top 10 "Constantinople" will be more correct.

Each historical epoch is in one way or another associated with the dominant position of one or another state. The strength of the state and its might determined not only the size of the controlled territory, but also the state of its army. In ancient times, it was the army that was the face of the state. A strong and powerful army ensured not only the protection of its own territory, but also became an essential element of the economic development of ancient civilizations. Even with the time of the Egyptian pharaohs, the army becomes the key to achieving world domination. Later, this postulate has repeatedly found its real confirmation.

World famous historical figures such as Alexander the Great, Julius Caesar and Charlemagne, Napoleon Bonaparte and their followers understood perfectly how much their power and personal power depended on the state of their own armed forces. In ancient times, first the Persians and Greeks, then the ancient Romans possessed the most powerful armies. With the collapse of ancient empires, new rulers appear on the scene, new states appear. Today it is difficult to believe that small countries, which today do not decide much in world politics, once possessed strength and power. The strongest army at one time was with Genghis Khan. The Mongols managed to conquer not only all of Asia and the Middle East, but also entered the borders of Eastern Europe.

The era of the crusades came to replace the Mongol conquerors, where the two strongest armies of that time, the army of the crusaders and the army of Salah ad-Din, came together in a full-time duel. The era of the Middle Ages was marked by the emergence of several poles of world politics. In the east, mainland China was gaining power, in the middle of Asia the power of the Mughal Empire grew, in the Middle East and North Africa the Ottoman Empire ruled. In Europe, there was an irreconcilable struggle between England and Spain, France and Austria. In every corner of the globe, regiments and battalions, guns and a navy were deciding politics. In those distant times, those countries and states dominated that relied on a well-armed and trained army.

Even the Roman Emperor Augustus believed that legions decide everything. The famous phrase spoken by the emperor Augustus - "Var, give me back my legions" could mean how important it was for the state and power to have an army. Later, the Emperor of France Napoleon Bonaparte said so: "Big battalions are always right!"

Almost the entire period of its development, humanity was constantly in a state of war. There has never been a period when the world was calm. Wars gave way to bloody civil confrontation, the conquest of territories smoothly passed into colonization. One war followed another, some armies became victors, others went into oblivion. So it was, so it is and so it will be. As long as there are weapons in the world, as long as a person strives to assert his will over others, there will be the most powerful armies in the world and armed conflicts.

The modern era and the armed forces

Unlike the place and role of the army in the history of mankind in the old days, the modern era has made significant adjustments to the development of the armed forces. Now it is not the number of soldiers and the military talent of the commander that decide the outcome on the battlefield. Wars and armed conflicts, which often start in government offices, rely on the economy, the quality of personnel training and weapons. The times of large and numerous armies, which conscripted the bulk of the male population, have gone down in history. The armament of countries claiming the role of world and regional leaders has also radically changed. The combat effectiveness of an army is assessed by the presence of a wide variety of weapons, including aircraft and helicopters, communications and missiles, artillery, tanks and ships. The weather in world politics is made by countries that have modern and combat-ready armed forces. Any state that wants to have a powerful army is forced to spend colossal funds from its own budget.

The modern army is not tons of fodder, mountains of gunpowder and cast-iron cannonballs. A combat-ready armed force is a modern, most complex mechanism in which, along with logistical support, complex technologies, technical means and electronic systems are involved. In the 20th century, humanity has made a rapid leap forward in its development. Accordingly, the military power of states has increased. The economic development of countries determined the power of their armed forces. The emergence of new technologies and their application in the creation of weapons, marked the beginning of the arms race. First came rifled firearms. Then, battleships and cruisers, clad in armor, entered the arena. The advent of the airplane and machine gun at the beginning of the 20th century put an end to the dominance of the infantry on the battlefield. Military equipment, armor and engines have become the determining factors in the combat effectiveness of any army.

Two World Wars that swept the planet in modern history, a whole series of other conflicts, and finally, the emergence of nuclear weapons, clearly showed what criteria are used to measure the strength of the army today.

Criteria for assessing the power of modern armed forces

By far the largest army today is the National Liberation Army of China (PLA). The armed forces of communist China are the largest in numbers. However, to say that the largest army in our time is a priori the strongest is an obvious exaggeration. Naturally, a huge country with a population of under 2 billion people cannot have a small army. In addition, after the Second World War, China has finally turned into a single and centralized state capable of pursuing its policy on the world stage. China's nuclear potential only strengthened China's position in world politics.

However, under current conditions, the strength and might of the army are measured by other criteria. First of all, the following parameters are evaluated:

  • the size of the military budget;
  • the presence of all types of troops in the armed forces;
  • military-technical support of the army;
  • the level of training of military units;
  • technological aspect;
  • presence of motivation.

The nuclear weapons currently possessed by the United States, Russia, China, Great Britain, France, Pakistan, India, North Korea and Israel cannot be regarded as the main criterion for the might of the armed forces. The atomic bomb and nuclear missile forces today are more a pass to the elite club of states and a kind of instrument for deterring potential aggression. In the military-political aspect, the comparison of armies is carried out on the basis of the art of command and control, the quality of training and equipping the armed forces with high technologies. The stake is placed on conventional weapons. As before, the main characters on the battlefield are man and machine. The level of training of army units and the amount of modern military equipment determines the power of the armed forces of states. Accordingly, the assessment is based on these positions when choosing the strongest armies in the world.

If China has the largest army, then in military-technical terms, the US army, the Russian armed forces, the PLA, the armed forces of India, South Korea, the Japanese self-defense forces and the Turkish army are in the forefront. The armies of Great Britain, France and Germany follow. This arrangement of countries is explained by the results of analytical studies that are carried out annually around the world. Here, of course, you can add the Israeli IDF, but in the ratings this is one of the most efficient armies in the world, for some reason it is outside the top ten.

The place in the rating determines the result

A number of international expert agencies and analytical institutions rank the armies of the world, which are the most powerful and powerful at the moment. It can be noted that the places of countries in the most recent rankings have changed little over the past 10-15 years. As before, the leadership belongs to the two states, the United States and Russia. These countries continue to be the main opponents of each other, having inherited the effect of confrontation during the Cold War. The second half of the 20th century was marked by an unprecedented arms race between the two military camps. The Western coalition was led by the US Armed Forces, the Eastern bloc relied on the strength and might of the Soviet armed forces. Today, the Russian army and the US armed forces continue to adhere to military-technical parity in all branches of the military, not counting the nuclear potential of the two countries.

These two states have all available weapons at their disposal. The size of the armies of Russia and the United States is also at a high level, as is the military-technical potential. The first places in the rating are awarded to these two armies, taking into account the fact that the assumed likelihood of a military conflict between the two countries will be the beginning of a global catastrophe.

The strength and might of the armed forces of Russia and the United States are assessed differently. In the United States, they are betting on the development of the naval forces. Their nuclear-powered aircraft carrier fleet is unmatched and provides US power in the ocean. Following the fleet overseas, the air force is constantly increasing in quantity and quality. The US ground army in terms of size, firepower and number of weapons is approximately in equal positions with the Russian ground forces. Russia has an undeniable advantage over the Americans in terms of the number of tanks and motorized armored vehicles. Parity is observed between the two armies in the number of cannon and rocket artillery and in the number of tactical missile launchers.

The only thing that cannot be compared is the military budget of the two countries. The United States in this regard is far beyond the main group of participants in the rating. The amount of $ 612 billion is not a boon for the Russian economy, which, in turn, could allocate about $ 70 billion for military spending.

China is rightfully ranked third in the top 10 most powerful armies in the world. His PLA is no longer an archaic army, but quite modern, technically equipped and numerous armed forces. The strengthening of China's position in the ranking is also facilitated by a rather large military budget, which, according to data for 2016, amounted to neither more nor less than $ 215 billion. The Chinese today have everything in the army, both nuclear missile forces and a large navy. Aviation and ground forces have the necessary amount of military equipment, among which there are many modern models. It is important to note that China at the beginning of the new millennium took a course towards a complete modernization of its own armed forces, the ultimate goal of which is to create a modern, high-tech and combat-ready army.

  • the Indian army, which numbers 1 million 325 thousand people, has a military budget of 56 billion dollars;
  • the South Korean army has a military budget of $ 36.8 billion;
  • the Japanese self-defense forces, which number 247 thousand people, and the military budget is equal to the figure of 47 billion dollars;
  • the Turkish armed forces are the most numerous in Europe, numbering 510 thousand people and with the smallest military budget, only 18 billion dollars;
  • the British Armed Forces, numbering 188,000 people and a military budget of $ 48 billion;
  • the French army was funded by $ 55 billion with a number of 222 thousand people;
  • The German Bundeswehr has 186,000 men under arms with a military budget of $ 41 billion.

When assessing the positions of countries in the ranking, it is difficult to agree with the criteria on the basis of which the report was made. The armament of the countries of the world today is so diverse, both qualitatively and quantitatively, that it is not correct to assess the combat effectiveness of armies in this case. It is necessary to assess, first of all, the economic potential of states that invest in their own armed forces and the motivation that the military faces.

Most of XX was spent in wars. By the beginning of the new millennium, serious geopolitical changes took place in the world, the Cold War ended, the Soviet Union collapsed, followed by the world socialist system. It would seem that the intensity of passions around the issue of world leadership should have decreased, and if not stopped, then at least slowed down. This, unfortunately, did not happen.

Economy and army

War is the continuation of politics in conditions when diplomatic norms are no longer valid. And attaches and plenipotentiaries feel much more confident if menacing silhouettes of aircraft carriers, tanks, strategic bombers and intercontinental missiles are guessed behind the folds of their tailcoats.

Which army is the strongest in the world? What criteria can be used to determine this? In terms of the amount of the military budget, the number of military personnel, the availability of modern weapons, or information saturation? As an example, consider the four most significant armies in the world: the American, Israeli, Chinese, and Russian. They differ in the principles of equipment, in number, and in the amount of funds consumed, representing unique models of the armed forces.

U.S. Army

The defeat of the command-administrative system in the field of production and distribution of material goods of life caused a certain euphoria in the camp of the winners. There was an immediate conclusion that if economically free market countries are stronger, then in a military sense, superiority is indisputable, as is the assertion that the most powerful army in the world is the American one.

In terms of the size of the military budget, the United States is the world leader. The annual volume of funds disbursed by the Pentagon is an astronomical amount, approaching seven hundred billion dollars. This money is enough to ensure that five types of troops (Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and the army itself) constantly receive the most amazing weapons, ahead of time and at a fantastic technical level. At least, this is how the situation looks, according to the media (of course, the American one). In practice, things are not so rosy. After the impressive victory over Iraq by Hussein and the "showy beating" of Yugoslavia, the list of military victories somehow began to decline. In other words, the US military could not fulfill any of the tasks set by the government and the president. Afghanistan, Libya and Syria are actually controlled by armed groups, which are usually called illegal. The most powerful army in the world is powerless in its confrontation with international terrorism. Instead of the notorious "pinpoint strikes", it inflicts damage on the civilian population, which causes increased resistance. It should be borne in mind that it was the solution of local problems that became a priority for the Pentagon after 1991.

American army problems

Over the past two decades, the level of training of personnel has decreased. Americans do not want to serve in their salaries and the risks that soldiers are exposed to. The most powerful army in the world today is largely staffed by visitors, foreigners, ready to put on uniforms for the sake of the prospect of obtaining citizenship. The focus on technical superiority also influenced the physical training of the US military.

Nevertheless, the American army remains strong, and its area of ​​responsibility continues to include the entire globe (this is how the Pentagon leaders understand their mission). The US fleet is the largest in the world (almost 2,400 units), its nuclear potential is about the same as that of Russia (about 2,000 warheads), and its personnel numbers almost one and a half million people. Numerous military bases are maintained abroad.

As for the latest models of military equipment, then, most likely, among them there are both successful and those that do not deserve such laudatory epithets. The military-industrial complex is interested in large orders, which dictates the requirements for weapons. They must be, firstly, large, secondly, look impressive, and thirdly, they simply must be expensive. What any country can learn from Americans is the ability to provide its soldiers with everything they need - from food and medicine to clothes and toilet paper. In matters of supply, the U.S. Army is the best army in the world.

Chinese folk

According to the tradition laid down in the distant hot 1927 by Mao Zedong, the Chinese army is called the People's Liberation Army. She actually fought against the Japanese invaders. The issue was resolved by itself after the successful offensive of the Soviet troops.

In 1950-1953, the PLA tried to free the southern part of the Korean Peninsula from the capitalists, but it failed. There were also unsuccessful attacks on the USSR (1969) and Vietnam (1979). Yes, even Tibet was freed from the monks. At present, China has no foreign policy problems requiring a military solution, except perhaps for semi-recognized Taiwan and the Senkaku archipelago, but these issues have long since become diplomatic.

Chinese assets

The PLA banners are not fanned with military glory. However, this does not prevent us from saying that, if not the most powerful army in the world, then at least it is a power that neighboring countries are forced to reckon with. The military budget is one hundred billion (translated into US dollars). The nuclear potential is approximately equal to the French one. It has no equal in terms of the number of soldiers and officers (almost 2.3 million). There is also a militia (12 million people). Artillery - 25 thousand guns. Aviation consists of three-quarters of fighter aircraft, which indirectly indicates the defensive nature of military doctrine. In the event of an attack on the PRC, the mobilization reserve is estimated at 300 million "bayonets". It can be assumed that no one will dare to commit aggression against China. This country has the strongest army in the world in terms of numbers.

Tsakhal

Israel is a small country. There are, of course, smaller states, but they did not have to fight so much. The hostile environment over and over again sought not only to harm Israel, but to destroy it. The situation in modern conditions is aggravated by short distances, and, consequently, short flight times of ammunition delivery vehicles. The Tsakhal, of course, is not the strongest army in the world, the country simply does not have enough economic potential and population to compete with the PRC, the USA or Russia in terms of power and number of weapons, but the very fact of the existence of a Jewish state speaks volumes about high efficiency of its defense system.

Jewish "chips"

In order to defeat a numerically superior enemy, special methods and techniques are needed. These in the Middle East case include:

The maximum possible military training of the population. Both men and women (unmarried) serve in the Tsakhal.

A powerful intelligence network. The special services, the main of which is the Mossad, provide the country's leadership with detailed information about possible risks and promptly inform it about the problems that have arisen.

The best possible examples of military equipment, both imported and produced in the country.

Ideological training, expressed in the education of young people to defend their homeland.

The unique organizational and management structure of the armed forces.

There is reason to believe that, even with its small numbers, the Tsakhal today is the best army in the world. This is understood as the ability to quickly solve the tasks necessary to maintain the viability of the State of Israel.

after the collapse of the USSR

After the collapse of the USSR, hard times fell on the former Soviet military. The soldiers and officers of the Union, who knew from childhood that the strongest army in the world is ours, went through a real shock in 1991. The media persistently and intelligibly explained that the Afghan war was fought in vain, the Czechoslovak events of 1968 were criminal, the USSR lost the war with Finland, and the sanctity of the Victory itself is in question. A moral crisis was accompanied by a material one. The financial support of the Russian military in the conditions of a raging spontaneous market looked like a mockery. The first Chechen campaign exposed many systemic flaws. The place of the Russian army in the world could no longer be attributed to the leading ones. It seemed that the complete collapse of the armed forces was inevitable, followed by the disintegration of the federal state into separate principalities. But…

Russian army today

The crisis was overcome. The country's leadership was able to preserve the basis of defense capability - a nuclear shield that protects against direct military pressure from outside.

However, new threats have arisen in the form of numerous local conflicts. With a modest military budget of $ 56 billion (in comparable prices), Russia has surpassed all of its potential rivals in terms of efficiency in using funds. Servicemen receive decent pay and are socially protected. A systematic modernization of the material part is being carried out. Even analysts who are unfriendly towards the Russian Federation are forced to admit that today the Russian army is the strongest in the world, at least in the range of tasks outlined for it. Criteria for such a high assessment are indicators such as mobility, communications, coordination of actions, good supplies and high personnel morale. Local conflicts of recent years, in which the Russian military took part, confirm the opinion of experts.

Unfortunately, the army gains experience in wars. A country that has been at peace for a long time often ceases to value its defenders. But there is one more important aspect of this issue. Even the most efficient army in the world will be powerless if the task assigned to it is criminal or does not correspond to national interests. The successes demonstrate that we are fine with this.

The Russian army entered the top three of the strongest armies in the world. The Russian military was evaluated on a par with other armies and shared the winner's podium with China and the United States. Typically, these ratings are based on data from Global Firepower or Credit Suisse. The military power of each state is assessed according to various criteria; nuclear potential or its absence is not taken into account.

How to determine the real balance of power among the states participating in military conflicts? When compiling a rating of armies, parameters such as the budget, the size of the army, the number of weapons (armored vehicles, aircraft, aircraft carriers and submarines) are usually taken into account. The technical level of weapons affects the position on the list to a lesser extent, and there is almost never an opportunity to assess the real combat capability of the army. Nuclear potential or its absence in this list was not taken into account. The place occupied was also influenced by the economic situation of the countries.
The Global Firepower organization evaluates the military capabilities of more than one hundred countries according to 50 different criteria. In 2016, the United States was the first in the world in such parameters as the country with the largest military budget, the largest number of aircraft carriers and the largest air fleet. Russia leads in the number of tanks (15,000) and nuclear warheads (8,484 units). China is ahead of all in terms of the size of the army.
Not so long ago, the National Interest magazine made a forecast for the combat power of the armies of the world in 15 years. The analysis was based on the following parameters: access to innovation and other important national resources, support from politicians and the ability of the armed forces to learn and improve in a world of peace. As a result, the five most powerful armies, in their opinion, will include the armed forces of India, the United States, France, China and Russia.
This rating, compiled by the American portal The Richest, may raise some questions. For example, the Israeli army yields to Egypt one position, mainly due to the number of employees and tanks. However, in all clashes, the first country always won a victory over the second, despite the numerical superiority. It is also strange that the list does not include Iran with its half a million soldiers, 1,500 tanks and 300 combat aircraft. Our readers will certainly have many more questions for the authors of this list.

Australia

Budget: $ 26.1 billion
The number of active troops: 58 thousand people
Tanks: 59
Aviation: 408
Submarines: 6
The Australian Army has a long and illustrious history, having fought in both WWI and WWII as part of the British Empire. Members of the Australian Armed Forces are invariably involved in all NATO operations. National doctrine requires Australia to be able to stand alone against invasion from outside. Situated on the edge of the world, with no particular competing neighbors, Australia is considered one of the safest countries, as land invasion is impossible. The Australian Defense Force is relatively small but technologically advanced. They are formed on a professional basis only from Australian citizens, they are technically well equipped, they have a modern fleet and many combat helicopters. With a small number of personnel, but with a serious budget, the Australian Armed Forces are able, if necessary, to deploy their troops in several locations at the same time.

Germany

Budget: $ 40.2 billion
Population: 180 thousand people
Tanks: 408
Aviation: 663
Subs: 4
After World War II, Germany did not have its own army for 10 years. During the confrontation between the West and the USSR, the Bundeswehr numbered up to half a million people, but after the unification of East and West Berlin, the authorities abandoned the doctrine of confrontation and sharply reduced investment in defense. Apparently, therefore, in the Credit Suisse rating, for example, the Armed Forces of the GDR fell behind even Poland (and in this rating there is no Poland at all). At the same time, Berlin actively sponsors the eastern NATO allies. After 1945, Germany was never directly involved in major operations, but they sent troops to support their allies during the Ethiopian Civil War, Angolan Civil War, Bosnian War, and the War in Afghanistan.
Whenever we hear about the German military, it is somehow impossible not to remember Adolf Hitler, who is responsible for the deaths of about 6 million Jews and many millions of people of other nations ...
The Germans today have few submarines and not a single aircraft carrier. The German army has a record number of inexperienced young soldiers, which makes it weaker; they are now planning to overhaul their strategy and implement new recruiting processes.

Italy

Budget: $ 34 billion
The size of the army in the field: 320 thousand people.
Tanks: 586
Aviation: 760
Subs: 6
The aggregate of the military forces of the Italian Republic designed to protect the freedom, independence and territorial integrity of the state. Consist of ground forces, naval forces, air forces and a carabinieri corps.
Italy has not been directly involved in armed conflicts in any countries lately, but has always participated in peacekeeping missions and deployed its troops in the war on terrorism.
Weak during World War II, the Italian army currently owns two active aircraft carriers, housing a large number of helicopters; they have submarines, which makes them one of the strongest armies. Italy is not at war now, but is an active member of the UN - willingly transfers its troops to countries that ask for help.

Great Britain

Budget: $ 60.5 billion
The number of the army in the field: 147 thousand
Tanks: 407
Aviation: 936
Subs: 10
After the end of World War II, Great Britain abandoned the idea of ​​military dominance around the world in favor of the United States, but the Royal Armed Forces still possess considerable power and take part in all NATO operations. After World War II, Great Britain had three big wars with Iceland, which did not become victorious for England - it was defeated, which allowed Iceland to expand its territory.
The United Kingdom once ruled over half the world, including India, New Zealand, Malaysia, Canada, Australia, but the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is becoming much weaker over time. The UK military budget has been cut due to BREXIT, and they plan to cut their troop numbers in time until 2018.
Her Majesty's fleet includes several atomic submarines with strategic nuclear weapons: a total of about 200 warheads. By 2020, it is planned to commission the aircraft carrier "Queen Elizabeth", which will be able to carry 40 F-35B fighters.

Israel

Budget: $ 17 billion
Population: 160 thousand
Tanks: 4 170
Aviation: 684
Subs: 5
The main enemy of the Arabs, Israel has been fighting for its independence since 1947; he is constantly in continuous war with Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan and other Arab countries.
Israel has won five straight victories in previous wars against Hamas and Palestine since 2000, with strong US military reinforcements.
The country, which is not recognized by 31 countries (of which 18 are Arab), is still fighting against its enemies. According to the law, all Israeli citizens, including those with dual citizenship and living in another country, as well as all permanent residents of the state, upon reaching the age of 18, are subject to conscription into the IDF. The term of military service is 36 months - 3 years (32 months for combat units), for women - 24 months (2 years). After the end of regular service, all privates and officers may be called up annually for reservist training for up to 45 days.
The IDF's greatest strength is its use of technology in modernizing its missile defense systems. The army consists of 3 types of armed forces: land, air and naval. The implementation of the decision on the creation of the fourth branch of the armed forces - the cybernetic troops - has begun. The visiting card of the IDF is female military personnel, who have proven that the weaker sex with a submachine gun is no less effective than the strong. Not to mention the fact that according to unverified data, Israel is armed with about 80 nuclear warheads.
Israel is traditionally the most underestimated member of the Credit Suisse rating. The IDF won all the conflicts in which it participated, and often the Israelis had to fight on several fronts against the enemy many times superior in number. In addition to a huge number of the latest offensive and defensive weapons of our own design, the rating does not take into account the fact that there are several hundred thousand reservists in the country with combat experience and high motivation.

Egypt

Budget: $ 4.4 billion
Army size: 468 thousand
Tanks: 4 624
Aviation: 1 107
Subs: 4
Fighting on the side of the Arab alliance against Israel in 4 wars, Egypt has never fought major battles against any other countries, but participated several times in operations against ISIS terrorist groups. As in Israel, military service is compulsory for Egyptian men for 9 years. Today Egypt is trying to keep the peace in its own country and to fight the war on terrorism.
The Egyptian army was in the ranking due to the number and quantity of equipment, although, as the Yom Kippur War showed, even a threefold superiority in tanks is leveled by high combat skills and technical level of weapons. As of 2014, contracts initialed or signed for a total amount of more than $ 3 billion for the supply from Russia of 24 MiG-29m / m2 fighters, air defense systems, anti-tank Kornet, combat helicopters: Ka-25, Mi-28 and Mi-25, Mi-35 ... Light weapons. Coastal anti-ship systems. All contracts began after the suspension of military and financial aid to Egypt from the United States. At the same time, it is known that about a thousand "Abrams" of the Egyptian Armed Forces are simply mothballed in warehouses. If Cairo acquires Mistral-class helicopter carriers and attack helicopters for them, it will make Egypt a truly serious military force.

Pakistan

Budget: $ 7 billion
The number of the army in the field: 617 thousand
Tanks: 2 924
Aviation: 914
Subs: 8
The first major war was fought in 1965 against the largest enemy - India, military operations were quite successful, India withdrew its troops. The second war was over the internal politics of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), when the Indian army took revenge for 1965 and played its cards, splitting the country in two. Pakistan has not reached an agreement on the borders with India: the territories of the states of Jammu and Kashmir remain disputed, formally the countries are in a state of conflict, in which they are conducting an arms race.
The Pakistani army is one of the largest in the world, it has a lot of tanks and aircraft, the United States supports Islamabad with equipment. The main threat is internal, in the hard-to-reach regions of the country are ruled by local leaders and the Taliban. Pakistan has medium-range ballistic missiles and about a hundred nuclear warheads. Packs love and respect their military infinitely, and often seek justice from the army (instead of the courts and government). Pakistan is said to have friendly relations with superpowers, including the United States, China and Turkey, who are always ready to support them. Recently, joint military exercises with the Russian army have made the Pakistani military much stronger, although their biggest enemy, India, has been backed by Russia in previous wars against Pakistan.

Turkey

Budget: $ 18.2 billion
The size of the army in the field: 410, 500 thousand
Tanks: 3 778
Aviation: 1,020
Subs: 13
Turkey is an active member of the UN; she took part in the Korean War between China and Korea. They fought in two major battles with Cyprus in 1964 and 1974 and won, occupying 36.2% of the territory of Cyprus. They remain involved in the ongoing wars in Afghanistan against the Taliban and ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
Turkey claims to be a regional leader, therefore, it is constantly building up and updating its armed forces. A huge number of tanks, aircraft and a large modern fleet (albeit without aircraft carriers) allows the Turkish army to be considered the strongest among the Muslim countries of the Middle East.
A semi-European, semi-Asian power with the second largest army in NATO after the United States, it is one of the best trained military forces in the world. Turkey owns a "treasure" of more than 200 F-16 aircraft and is the second largest fleet after the United States. Despite the presence of a large number of well-trained military personnel, the Turkish Armed Forces are not particularly popular among the people. In early 2016, when the military attempted a coup, they were defeated by ordinary citizens who took to the streets and reinstated the elected government.

France

Budget: $ 62.3 billion
The number of the army in the field: 205 thousand
Tanks: 623
Aviation: 1,264
Subs: 10
France is one of the few countries whose armed forces have an almost full range of modern weapons and military equipment of their own production - from small arms to nuclear strike aircraft carriers (which, besides France, only the United States has). France is the only country (other than Russia) that owns a radar guided missile system.
The military history of France spans over 3000 years. France took part in the First and Second World Wars and faced major defeats. Other major events in the military history of this country: the French-Thai War, the Tunisian War of Independence, the Algerian War of Independence in 1954-1962. After that, France did not participate in major battles, but sent its troops to the war against the Taliban in Afghanistan. The French army is still the main military force in Africa and continues to actively intervene in local conflicts.
In 2015, France completed the reform of the armed forces, which began in 1996. As part of this reform, the draft was canceled and the transition to a mercenary army, less numerous, but more effective, took place. The total number of the French armed forces has been significantly reduced.
The Charles de Gaulle nuclear attack aircraft carrier was recently commissioned. France currently has about 300 strategic nuclear warheads deployed on nuclear submarines. There are also 60 tactical warheads.

South Korea

Budget: $ 62.3 billion
The number of the army in the field: 625 thousand
Tanks: 2 381
Aviation: 1,412
Subs: 13
The main war in which this country participated is the Korean War in 1950. This Cold War conflict is often viewed as a proxy war between the United States and its allies and the forces of the PRC and the USSR. The northern coalition included: North Korea and its armed forces; the Chinese army (since it was officially believed that the PRC did not participate in the conflict, the regular Chinese troops were formally considered the formations of the so-called "Chinese people's volunteers"); The USSR, which also did not officially participate in the war, but largely took over its financing, as well as the supply of Chinese troops. Numerous military advisers and specialists were recalled from North Korea even before the start of the war, and during the war they were sent back under the guise of TASS correspondents. From the South, South Korea, the United States, Great Britain and a number of other countries took part in the war as part of the UN peacekeeping forces. Interestingly, China uses the title "War Against America to Support the Korean People." In 1952-53, a lot has changed in the world (new president in the United States, Stalin's death, etc.), and the war ended in a truce.
The South Korean Armed Forces are highly backed by the US Armed Forces, making them stronger. South Korea retains numerous armed forces, although in terms of quantitative indicators in everything except aviation, it continues to lose to its main potential adversary, the DPRK. The difference is, of course, in the technological level. Seoul has its latest and western developments, Pyongyang has 50-year-old Soviet technology.
Interestingly, North Korea is considered the leader in the number of submarines (35th place in the Global Firepower rating), which has 78 units. However, it is noted that they are almost completely unusable. A third of North Korea's submarines are the noisy diesel Romeos, which were outdated back in 1961.

India

Budget: $ 51 billion
Army strength in the field: 1,408,551
Tanks: 6 464
Aviation: 1,905
Subs: 15
At present, India is confidently among the top ten world powers in terms of its military potential. The armed forces of India are inferior to the armies of the United States, Russia and China, they are strong and numerous. Speaking about the Indian armed forces, it is worth remembering that India is the world's largest importer of weapons (as of 2012), and also possesses nuclear weapons and their means of delivery. In addition to the direct armed forces, India has a variety of paramilitary formations, in which more than a million people serve: national security forces, special border forces, special paramilitary forces. The fact that India has about a hundred nuclear warheads, three aircraft carriers and two nuclear submarines in service makes it the fifth most powerful.

Japan

Budget: $ 41.6 billion
Active army strength: 247, 173
Tanks: 678
Aviation: 1,613
Subs: 16
The last battle of World War II was Japan's nightmare, which was hit by a nuclear strike from the United States. After the defeat in World War II, the Imperial Japanese Army was disbanded, and military factories and educational institutions were closed. The occupation authorities even banned martial arts. Also, a ban was imposed on the manufacture of Japanese swords, which lasted until 1953. In 1947, the Constitution of Japan was adopted, in which Japan's refusal to participate in military conflicts was legally enshrined. The only country that has suffered from nuclear attacks is not allowed to create its own army.
Nevertheless, already during the period of the American occupation, the creation of armed formations began: in 1950, a reserve police corps was created; in 1952 it was transformed into a security corps, in 1954 it was transformed into the Japan Self-Defense Forces. The Japan Self-Defense Forces is the modern name for the Japanese armed forces. The armed forces include: the ground forces, the naval and air self-defense forces of Japan. It can be argued that today Japan has very large and relatively modern Armed Forces, powerful enough in the Asia-Pacific region and capable of solving almost any problem. On September 19, 2015, the Japanese parliament authorized the use of the Self-Defense Forces to participate in military conflicts overseas.
Japan's high-tech Armed Forces are equipped with cutting-edge gadgets and the latest weapons, making them some of the strongest on this list. Recently, Japan has deployed its troops for the first time since World War II in South Sudan as part of UN peacekeeping missions. The Japan Self-Defense Forces have 4 helicopter carriers and 9 destroyers. At the same time, Japan does not have nuclear weapons and this, together with a small number of tanks, makes some experts think that the position of this army is overestimated.

Russia

Budget: $ 84.5 billion
Army strength in the field: 766,033
Tanks: 15 398
Aviation: 3 429
Subs: 55
It would be disrespectful to Russian military history to try to retell it in one paragraph.
A great power has just under a million troops. The Russian ground army is rightfully considered the most powerful in the whole world, which is provided with the latest military equipment. The budget allocated by the state for the needs of the army, production and purchase of military equipment is more than 84 billion dollars. The air force includes over 3,000 aircraft. The navy is no less equipped, consisting of 55 submarines and 1 aircraft carrier. The country has more than 8,000 nuclear warheads and 15,000 armored vehicles in stock.
Syria has demonstrated once again that Russia justly continues to hold a firm place among the strongest, as many experts believe. The RF Armed Forces are second only to China in the number of submarines. And if the rumors about China's secret nuclear stockpile are not true, then it is far ahead of it in this area. It is believed that Russia's strategic nuclear forces comprise about 350 delivery vehicles and about 2,000 nuclear warheads. The number of tactical nuclear warheads is unknown and may amount to several thousand.
One of the three most powerful and experienced armies in the world, the Russian army is a major threat to China and the United States. Russia constantly invests in its military budget and produces the latest aircraft, helicopters and ammunition. By 2020, Russia plans to add six more army aviation air bases to the eight existing ones. In addition, more than a thousand new helicopters are planned to be commissioned.

China

Budget: $ 216 billion
Army strength in the field: 2,333,000
Tanks: 9,150
Aviation: 2 860
Subs: 67
The People's Liberation Army of China is the official name of the armed forces of the PRC, the largest in number in the world. China is the most populous country in the world with the most soldiers; serve approximately 2,333,000 people (this is only 0.18% of the country's population). China is increasing its military budget by 12% every year to become a superpower against the United States. The legislation provides for conscription for men over the age of 18; volunteers are accepted up to 49 years old. The age limit for a member of the army reserve is 50 years. The armed forces of the PRC are divided into five zones of military command and three fleets, organized according to the territorial principle: east, north, west, south and center.
After the surrender of Japan, the USSR handed over to the PLA the captured weapons of the Kwantung Army: ships of the Sungaria River Flotilla, 861 aircraft, 600 tanks, artillery, mortars, 1200 machine guns, as well as small arms, ammunition and other military property.
Chinese officials say that in the course of the development of armaments, China does not exceed the feasible level that the economy and society are able to withstand, and even more so it does not seek an arms race. However, the PRC's defense spending skyrocketed in 2001-2009.
The second economy in the world has the largest active army, but in terms of the number of tanks, aircraft and helicopters, it is still noticeably inferior not only to the United States, but also to Russia. But the defense budget exceeds the Russian one by 2.5 times. As far as we know, China keeps several hundred nuclear warheads on alert. However, some believe that in reality the PRC may have several thousand warheads, but this information is classified.

USA

Budget: $ 601 billion
Number of troops: 1,400,000
Tanks: 8,848
Aviation: 13,892
Submarines: 72
The United States has been directly or indirectly involved in almost all the wars that have taken place on planet Earth since the discovery of America. The US military budget is comparable to the previous countries in the ranking. The Navy has 10 of the most powerful aircraft carriers, half of which are considered the largest in the world. The superpower has 1.4 million military personnel in reserve. A third of the country's gross income is spent on the development of the army and military equipment - about 600 billion dollars. The American soldiers have the most modern military equipment at their disposal, which is periodically updated. The United States possesses a nuclear potential, which includes 7.5 thousand nuclear warheads. The country is also famous for its tanks, and their armored vehicles number more than 8 thousand units. The state also has the largest air force in the world, with about 13,682 aircraft.
Some experts say the US can never be captured as it has the strongest fleet with the maximum number of ships and submarines. The American army owns about 15 million hectares of land throughout the United States and the Americans have their military bases almost all over the world (there are at least 158 ​​of them). In 2011, the Army Newsletter reported that they estimated that they had spent about 22 gallons of fuel per day per soldier.
The United States is investing billions of dollars in the development of the latest military technologies, keeping the United States at the forefront of fields such as robotics. Recently, the US Army has been seeking to create new cyber corps and increase the number of soldiers in the cyber crime department. Their responsibility will be to ensure the security of networks and information systems databases and to defend against cyber attacks.

The army is an essential attribute of any state. Sooner or later, a conflict arises between neighboring countries or regions within the country, which often ends in armed clashes that claim the lives of thousands of people and destroy cities to the ground. The soldiers are called upon to defend the interests of their country, repelling the attacks of the aggressor, or vice versa, to be the aggressor in relation to another country. In front of you the strongest armies in the world who, like no one else, know what a real war is!

  • Active living force: 410.5 thousand soldiers.
  • Army reserve: 185.63 thousand persons liable for military service.
  • 13849 units.
  • Marine fleet: 194 units of naval vessels.
  • Air fleet: 1007 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget:$ 18.185 billion.

Conflicts along the country's borders have forced Turkey to have a strong military force. The total number of citizens ready to take arms is more than half a million, which can serve as a fairly weighty argument for the peace of mind of the inhabitants of this country.

  • Active living force: 250 thousand servicemen.
  • Army reserve: 57.9 thousand persons liable for military service.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 4329 units.
  • Marine fleet: 131 units of naval equipment.
  • Air fleet: 1,590 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget: USD 40.3 billion.

After the Second World War, Japan found itself at a very disadvantageous position. Hundreds of uncomfortable contracts fell on her head. One such treaty is a small document that prohibits Japan from recruiting more than a certain number of soldiers. The country's budget is more than 40 million US dollars for 250 thousand troops.

  • Active living force: 180 thousand servicemen.
  • Army reserve: 145 thousand persons liable for military service.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 6481 units.
  • Marine fleet: 81 units of naval equipment.
  • Air fleet: 676 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget: USD 36.3 billion.

Everyone remembers how strong this country was in the XX century and the Second World War clearly showed this. But the German army was defeated and since then has very much lost its positions. Nevertheless, today this country plays an important role in global politics and has a well-equipped army.

7 South Korea

  • Active living force: 625 thousand military personnel.
  • Army reserve: 2.9 million conscripted.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 12619 units.
  • Marine fleet: 166 units of naval equipment.
  • Air fleet: 1451 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget: USD 33.2 billion.

The need to be a strong military power is dictated by the northern neighbor.

  • Active living force: 205 thousand servicemen.
  • Army reserve: 195.77 thousand persons liable for military service and more than one hundred thousand policemen.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 7888 cars.
  • Marine fleet: 118 units of naval vessels.
  • Air fleet: 1282 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget: 35 billion US dollars.

It remained one of the few armed formations that are fully equipped with weapons, equipment and protective equipment from their own manufacturer. Another unique feature is the huge (against the background of other armies) number of women, about 15%.

  • Active living force: 150 thousand servicemen.
  • Army reserve: 182 thousand persons liable for military service.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 6,624 tanks, armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.
  • Marine fleet: 76 units of naval equipment.
  • Air fleet: 879 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget: USD 55 billion.

The size of the British Army makes it one of the largest armed formations in the countries of the European Union. In fact, the troops of England have always been considered a strong enough enemy, instilling fear in all the enemies of Britain. She has preserved this image to this day. Unfortunately, the main pride of England - its fleet, has long ceased to be one of the best in the world, which lowered it to the fifth place in the ranking of the Top 10 most powerful armies in the world.

  • Active living force: 1.325 million military personnel.
  • Army reserve: 2.143 million conscripted.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 21164 units.
  • Marine fleet: 295 units of naval equipment.
  • Air fleet: 2,086 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget:$ 40 billion.

Do not be surprised at such a huge number of manpower in India. In a country where more than a billion people live, in no case should you lose your vigilance. For such countries, a strong fist is needed, ready at any moment to repel an external threat or suppress a danger inside the country. No one is forced to serve here, the service is carried out exclusively on a paid contract basis by persons who have reached the age of majority.

  • Active living force: 2.335 million military personnel.
  • Army reserve: 2.3 million conscripts.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 23664 units.
  • Marine fleet: 714 units of naval vessels.
  • Air fleet: 2942 attack aircraft, fighters and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget: USD 155.6 billion.

Another giant country that simply needs the strongest army in the world. The relatively low cost of such a huge number of military personnel does not in any way affect the quality of their service. A huge air fleet, considered the most powerful after the Russian one. Almost 24 thousand units of military equipment and about 2.3 million soldiers are ready to defend the independence of their country at any moment.

  • Active living force: 766.06 thousand servicemen.
  • Army reserve: 2.485 million conscripted.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 61086 units.
  • Marine fleet: 352 units of naval equipment.
  • Air fleet: 3,547 attack aircraft, fighters, transports and bombers.
  • Annual Defense Budget: USD 46.6 billion.

1.United States of America

Before the collapse of the USSR, the country's army was considered the strongest in the world and was too tough for even the United States. But, alas, after the collapse, she significantly lost ground. But even so, huge reserves, almost ten thousand units of armored equipment and many other weapons make Russia a terrible enemy that is beyond the power of most countries in the world. In addition, the Russian Federation possesses nuclear weapons (their presence in the rating is not taken into account), and in the event of a serious conflict with another state, it will be a very significant addition to military power. And I would also like to say that the main difference between the army of our country and others is, perhaps, the strongest will and spirit of the soldiers. But, since the main role in the ranking is played by the quantitative and qualitative equipment of the army, the number of servicemen and the cost of the defense industry, then, alas, the second line.

  • Active living force: 1.4 million military personnel.
  • Army reserve: 1.1 million conscripts.
  • Number of ground combat vehicles: 54,474 tanks, armored personnel carriers and other equipment.
  • Marine fleet: 415 units of naval equipment.
  • Air fleet: 13444 combat and transport helicopters.
  • Annual Defense Budget: 581 billion dollars.

First of all, the most powerful army in the world in 2016 will amaze you not with the number of soldiers or armored vehicles, but with its budget. If you take the top ten armies in the world, their total budget will hardly reach the American one. A huge number of aviation, a powerful navy and more than 54 thousand units of ground armored vehicles make the United States the most powerful rival on the world stage.