The world's 10 most powerful militaries in 2023 newshub

It said the US, China, and Russia rank highest, with some surprises further down the list

10: Italy

Italian Ariete tank of NATO enhanced Forward Presence battle group fires during military exercise "Silver Arrow" in Adazi, Latvia, in September 2021. — Italian Ariete tank of NATO enhanced Forward Presence battle group fires during military exercise “Silver Arrow” in Adazi, Latvia, in September 2021.

Global Firepower ranked Italy in the top 10 in areas including its aerial tanker aircraft fleet, total helicopter strength, attack aircraft strength, and its total number of aircraft carrier warships.

It said Italy had 404 helicopters, including 58 attack helicopters, and two aircraft carrier warships as of January 2023.

It gave Italy a PowerIndex score of 0.1973.

9: France

Armoured cars drive down the Avenue des Champs Elysees in Paris July 14, 2005 during the annual Bastille Day parade. — Armored cars drive down the Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris during the annual Bastille Day parade, July 14, 2005.

Global Firepower ranked France, ninth overall, in the top 10 in areas including total aerial tanker aircraft fleet, total helicopter fleet, and number of destroyer warships, as well as its total transport fleet strength.

It said France had 438 helicopters, including 69 attack helicopters, and 10 destroyer warships as of January 2023, giving it a PowerIndex score of 0.1848.

8: Japan

A soldier from Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force participates in a beach invasion drill at Camp Pendleton, California in February 2019 — A soldier from Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force participates in a beach invasion drill at Camp Pendleton, California, in February 2019.

Global Firepower ranked Japan in the top 10 for its aircraft fleet strength, total helicopter strength, and armored fighting vehicle fleet strength.

An island nation, Japan was the highest-ranked nation when it came to major ports, and with four helicopter carriers it ranked second in that category, as well as second (behind only the US) when it came to the strength of its special-mission aircraft fleet – platforms specifically developed to undertake an over-battlefield role “by utilization of advanced onboard equipment or specialized trait.”

Global Firepower said that Japan had more than 1,400 military aircraft, and more than 111,000 vehicles as of January 2023, with a PowerIndex score of 0.1711.

7: Pakistan

Pakistani military personnel stand beside a Shaheen III surface-to-surface ballistic missile during Pakistan Day military parade in Islamabad, Pakistan, in March 2017.

Pakistan rose from ninth overall in 2022 to seventh on the list in 2023.

While Pakistan had more than 3,700 tanks, 1,400 military aircraft, nine submarines, and 654,000 active military personnel as of January 2023, Global Firepower said its rise was also due to this year’s rankings having a bigger focus on natural resources and shared borders.

Pakistan neighbors Afghanistan, China, India, and Iran, and has a lot of coal, as well as some petroleum and natural gas fields.

Global Firepower ranked Pakistan in the top 10 in areas including its total available population fit for military service, total available active military manpower, and total aircraft fleet strength, with a PowerIndex score of 0.1694.

6: South Korea

U.S. and South Korea's marines take part in an amphibious landing drill called the 'Ssangyong' exercise, in Pohang, South Korea in March 2023. — US and South Korean marines take part in an amphibious landing drill called the ‘Ssangyong’ exercise in Pohang, South Korea, in March 2023.

The strength of South Korea’s military is no surprise giving its decades-old tensions with North Korea.

Global Firepower ranked South Korea in the top five for its aircraft fleet strength, armored fighting vehicle fleet strength, and its helicopter strength. It said the Asian nation had more than 133,000 vehicles and 739 helicopters, including 112 attack helicopters, as of January 2023.

Overall, it gave South Korea a PowerIndex score of 0.1505.

5: UK

Graduating cadets are seen prior to inspection by Britain's King Charles III on April 14, 2023. — Graduating cadets are seen prior to inspection by Britain’s King Charles III on April 14, 2023.

Global Firepower said the UK’s position was boosted by its strengths in manpower and airpower, as well as its strong financial position. “It is also one of the few powers to operate more than one aircraft carrier,” it added.

The UK currently has two aircraft carriers, equal to the number that China, Italy, and India have, but far fewer than the 11 that the US operates.

Global Firepower ranked the UK in the top 10 in areas including its total number of available ports and its total aerial tanker aircraft fleet strength, giving the country a PowerIndex score of 0.1435.

4: India

An Indian army soldier shouts commands to his colleagues in October 2007.

India’s strength lies in the size of its population. Global Firepower ranked India second for available manpower, total available active military manpower, and paramilitary force strength.

It said India’s avaliable manpower was more than 653 million people, 47% of the country’s population, as of January 2023. It also said that India had almost 1.5 million active military personnel.

It gave India a PowerIndex score of 0.1025.

3: China

Warships and fighter jets of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy take part in a military display in the South China Sea in April 2018. — Warships and fighter jets of Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Navy take part in a military display in the South China Sea in April 2018.

Global Firepower ranked China first for available manpower and for the strength of its naval fleet.

China has a “distinct advantage economically and by way of sheer manpower and has placed a decided focus on increasing (primarily through local means) naval, airpower, and land warfare capabilities,” Global Firepower said in its latest ranking.

If the trend continues, it added, China “will become the primary global military adversary to the United States.”

According to Global Firepower, China has available military manpower of more than 761 million people as of April 2023, along with 50 destroyer warships and 78 submarines, among many other military assets.

It gave China a PowerIndex score of 0.0722.

2: Russia

A military parade on Victory Day in Red Square, Moscow, Russia, in May 2022, to mark the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II. — A military parade on Victory Day in Red Square, Moscow, May 2022, to mark the 77th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.

While its military’s reputation has taken a hit since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russia retained its second-place spot on Global Firepower’s ranking.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine “showcased key limitations in Russian military capabilities despite its quantitative manpower and material advantage over neighboring Ukraine,” Global Firepower said. It added that China was moving closer to taking the runnerup spot.

Global Firepower ranked Russia second in areas including total aircraft fleet strength and total transport fleet strength. It said that, as of January 2023, Russia had more than 4,100 military aircraft.

While Russia has faced a number of military setbacks since it launched its invasion of Ukraine, losing considerable quantities of equipment, notably tanks, its airforce and navy has largely avoided damage.

Overall, Global Firepower gave Russia a PowerIndex score of 0.0714.

1: US

Members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the U.S. Army walk on the tarmac at Pope Field ahead of deployment to Poland from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in February 2022. — Members of the 82nd Airborne Division of the US Army at Pope Field ahead of deployment to Poland from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, in February 2022.

Global Firepower said the US took the top spot as it “showcases commanding numbers in key material, financial, and resource categories.”

The US, which was given a PowerIndex score of 0.0712, leads the world technologically, it said, and is advanced in key medical, aerospace, and telecom sectors, while maintaining an edge in several major industry markets “allowing for a certain degree of self-sustainment.”

With 92 destroyers, 11 aircraft carriers, 13,300 aircraft, and 983 attack helicopters, as of April 2023, the country was ranked first in many areas, including the size of its aircraft fleet, number of warships, and its transport fleet strength.

It also had by far the largest defense budget, of $761.7 billion, more than triple that of China in second place, which had a defense budget of $230 billion.

Source: I N S I D E R