What are the 12 strongest armies in the world 2021?

What are the 12 strongest armies in the world in 2021? that’s what we’re going to talk about here. Just for the record, we’ve discussed the Top 10 Most Powerful Militaries in the World before as well.

What are the 12 strongest armies in the world in 2021?

MilitaryEzyInfo.com – Since ancient times, the armed forces have been considered the guarantor of the independence of any power and the security of its citizens. International relations and diplomacy are important factors in regulating stability between countries. But as practice shows, these levers do not always work during a military conflict. The army of a country comes to the rescue.

There are currently over 2 million active militaries in the world. They differ in number, power of armaments, and military doctrines. In the past, famous commanders believed that “big battalions are always right”. However, in today’s reality, the situation has changed radically.

Often the power of an army is determined not so much by its size as by the motivation of soldiers, the level of weapons, and the training of fighters. In today’s world, the armed forces are quite a costly field. The cost of a tank or an airplane is in the millions of dollars. Therefore, not all countries can afford to have a well-equipped and strong army.

According to Business Insider Analysts

Business Insider analysts give their version of the strongest armies in the world. In determining the strength of the armed forces a comprehensive analysis of various factors was conducted. Not only the number of armed forces but also their diversity was taken into account. Also, an important factor is the country’s geographic location, climate, level of industrial development, availability of natural resources, and much more. Military alliances and allies are not the last influence on the strength of a country’s armed forces.

We present the ranking of the strongest armies in the world according to Business Insider for 2021. The original study can be found at this link.

12. Egypt

12 Strongest Armies in The World 2021 – The twelfth ranking is occupied by the Egyptian army, which made it to the top because of its size and the number of military equipment. According to various estimates, 920,000 soldiers are currently serving in the Egyptian army. The total number of aircraft is 1,092 (including 213 fighters). There are 2,160 battle tanks in the army. At the same time, there are 319 warships, including two aircraft carriers.

This state has a well-developed defense industry and produces a large number of small arms and armored vehicles, both for its own needs and for export to other countries.

Egypt’s Armed Forces are formed on the basis of conscription of male citizens who have reached the age of 18, but not older than 30 years. Young men serve mandatory conscription for 1 to 3 years, after which they are enlisted in the reserves for another 9 years.

Egypt’s army is considered one of the most powerful in the regions of North Africa and the Middle East. All the armed forces of the country are focused on preserving the territorial integrity of its state and the security of its inhabitants. Egypt maintains strategic cooperation with the United States, which has supplied the country with equipment and financial aid. Defense relations with Russia, in the area of arms procurement, are also developing.

11. Italy

12 Strongest Armies in The World 2021 – The eleventh position is occupied by the Italian army, whose armed forces are designed to protect the freedom of its citizens, the geographical borders, and the independence of the state. The army consists of ground forces, naval, air forces, and carabinieri units.

The Italian armed forces have not participated in recent years in wars with other countries. However, they have always assisted in peacekeeping, participated in various missions, and assisted in countering terrorism.

Rather weak during World War II, Italy’s army now occupies one of the leading positions. It has five aircraft carriers housing warplanes, including 94 fighter planes. The Italian army’s 200 battle tanks and 137 warships, along with the impressive strength of 357,000 soldiers make it one of the strongest armies in the world.

At the moment the Italian army is not at war, but it is an active member of the UN, NATO and provides military support to other countries that ask for help.

10. Germany

12 Strongest Armies in The World 2021 – According to Business Insider, the German army, the Bundeswehr, is in tenth place. It includes ground forces, navy, aviation, logistics units, and medical service.

According to various estimates, the strength of the German armed forces numbers over 208,000 soldiers. The Bundeswehr consists of professional soldiers. The military budget of the country exceeds $49 billion. Despite the rather modest numbers compared to other countries, the German army has first-class training, the latest types of weapons, and military traditions that are the envy of many powers.

It is also impossible not to mention the level of development of the military-industrial industry of the country – aircraft, tanks, and small arms made in Germany is considered one of the best in the world. Today, the German army has 613 airplanes (including 122 fighters), 900 tanks, and 81 warships.

With regard to national security, Germany’s foreign policy is very peace-loving. This is probably due to the fact that in the last century, the country was quite actively involved in wars. At the same time, Germany has been a member of NATO for many years, so in case of a military threat, it can count on the support of the United States and other countries.

9. Turkey

At number nine in the ranking is the Turkish army, which is the strongest among other Muslim armies in the Middle East. Being the descendants of the Janissaries, the modern warlords were able to create a military force, which in the southern region is second in strength only to the army of Israel.

The Turkish Armed Forces number 735,000 soldiers, while the country’s military budget is quite small compared to other countries – only $8.6 billion. Until recently the Turkish Armed Forces were close allies of the United States in the region.

The Turkish Armed Forces are equipped with a large amount of military equipment. The arsenal of the army includes more than 1,000 airplanes, among which 207 fighters. The Turkish army also has a record number of tanks – 3,200. However, most of the weapons are obsolete models.

The Turkish Navy is considered one of the strongest in the Black Sea. The Army has modern ships and submarines with a total of 194 units. Recently, Turkey has been developing its military-industrial potential with the support of NATO countries and Russia.

8. British Armed Forces (UK)

The eighth position in the ranking of the Business Insider’s portal is occupied by the British Armed Forces, the number of which is 233 thousand soldiers. In this case, the military budget is very impressive – $47.5 billion, more than half of which is spent on the development of new military technologies and research in the field of engineering.

The commander in chief of the British army is the head of state, Queen Elizabeth II. The armed forces are governed by a Military Council under the Ministry of Defence. The main task of the British Army is to defend the territories and maritime borders of the Kingdom, ensure the safety of citizens and protect the interests of the country, and participate in numerous peacekeeping operations of the UN and NATO.

The British Army is equipped with the latest technology. It has a large number of modern combat vehicles: 811 aircraft (including 129 fighters), 331 tanks, and 76 warships, including one aircraft carrier. The country ranks second (after the USA) in tonnage of the Navy, which includes nuclear-powered submarines.

The British armed forces engaged in special operations are considered some of the best in the world. In recent years, the British Army has participated in several military conflicts: two in Iraq and Afghanistan.

7. South Korea

In seventh place, Business Insider analysts ranked South Korea’s army, which has impressive numbers. The military ranks third in its region, behind only the DPRK and China.

According to the constitution of Korea, all adult men are subject to conscription. At the same time, the period of service is 21-24 months. This refers to peacetime. During the period of warfare, up to 45 years of age are subjected to military service.

For more than sixty years, South Korea has been threatened by hostilities, a peace agreement between Seoul and Pyongyang has never been reached. The North’s neighbors constantly threaten the South with war. Therefore, the country has to strengthen its defense capabilities. Each year, the government allocates 38.3 billion dollars for military needs.

Korean army equipment is the envy of many countries. There are 1,614 aircraft (including 406 fighters), 2,654 battle tanks, 166 warships, and one aircraft carrier in the arsenal. Soldiers have a high level of combat training. In addition, a well-developed military industry strengthens the rear of the army.

6. Japan

The Japanese army ranks sixth in the ranking. Formally, this country has no armed forces at all, there are self-defense units to protect the country. The power of which should not be underestimated, because the number of military personnel is more than 300,000 units, putting the country in fourth place in the Pacific. Japan’s main military competitors are North Korea and China.

The Japanese army has an impressive navy, air force, ground troops, and strong rear. Its armed forces have 1,572 aircraft (including 297 fighters), over 1,000 battle tanks, 131 warships (including 16 submarines), and four aircraft carriers.

Japan has a well-developed economy, so it is easier to allocate substantial sums to maintain the country’s military power. The annual military budget is $47 billion.

The technical equipment of the Japanese army is one of the best in the world. Japanese scientists are currently developing fifth-generation fighters and no one has any doubts that a new type of weapon will soon be ready.

5. France

On the fifth place in the ranking of Business Insider for 2021 is the French army – a country with a strong military tradition, a large number of soldiers, and a well-developed military-industrial complex.

The size of the French army is more than 388,000 soldiers; the country annually spends more than $40 billion on defense. The military industry provides the army with the necessary weapons: battle tanks, small arms, aircraft, satellites, and so on. The arsenal of the French army is truly impressive: 1,248 aircraft, 406 tanks, 118 ships (including four aircraft carriers).

In addition, the French army has two significant advantages over other countries:

– Availability of its own nuclear weapons for tactical and strategic purposes.
– High level of training of military personnel with impressive experience in conducting independent special operations.

France is a founding member of NATO. However, from 1966 to 2009, the country was not part of the alliance, demonstrating its ability to choose its own security strategies.

4. India

The fourth position in the ranking is occupied by the Indian army. This armed organization, created to protect the independence of the state and citizens, is also an important instrument of political power. There is no compulsory conscription into the armed forces in the country.

India has a strong army of nearly three and a half million soldiers. At the same time, the government spends $55.2 billion a year to maintain its power, buying weapons in large quantities. According to Business Insider, the Indian army’s arsenal includes 2,082 aircraft (including 520 fighter jets), more than 4,000 battle tanks, 295 ships, and one aircraft carrier. In addition, India owns nuclear weapons.

The country is in conflict with its neighbors: Pakistan and China. In recent years, India has been involved in bloody wars with Pakistan and has had numerous border incidents fighting over territory with China.

The government pays sufficient attention to the development of the military-industrial complex. While purchasing weapons from other countries, Indians are trying to establish their own production in order to adopt new technologies of high-quality weapons production from developed countries.

3. China

The top three, according to the ranking of Business Insider, is the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. The number of which is one of the largest on the planet. The annual military budget is also large and amounts to 224 billion dollars.

The army in China is conscript. All men join the armed forces when they reach the age of majority and remain in the reserve until they are 50 years old.

The Chinese want to become the most powerful power in the world, so they constantly increase the number of weapons. At the moment the army’s arsenal includes 3,187 combat aircraft (including 1,222 fighter planes), more than 13,000 battle tanks, 714 warships, and one aircraft carrier.

China’s armed forces are constantly improving their technical level. Whereas a couple of decades ago the army had outdated tanks and planes in its arsenal, the situation has drastically changed now. The country’s scientists are now working on a new-generation fighter jet, and developments in rocket and tank armament are as advanced as those in the West. The government also pays attention to the development of the navy. The army’s arsenal recently received its first aircraft carrier.

2. Russia

In the second place, Business Insider ranked the Russian army, which by many measures is considered the strongest armies in the world. The number of personnel is more than 3.5 million people. The military budget exceeds 44 billion dollars a year.

The country’s ground forces are among the best in the world. The Russian army has 4,078 combat aircraft (including 869 fighters), 2,932 tanks, many helicopters, and armored vehicles. The armed forces also have 352 warships and 60 submarines. The country’s leadership spends large sums to upgrade the navy.

Military service is regulated by the legislation of the country, and young people aged 18-27 are enrolled in the armed forces.

Russia inherited a powerful military-industrial complex from the Soviet Union. It is capable of producing any modern weaponry for the navy and ground forces. Russia is one of the largest exporters of armaments in the world, second only to the United States.

1. United States

The leader of the ranking is the United States Army. The power of the armed forces of the country largely depends on the amount of funding. The U.S. military budget is a record 716 billion dollars a year. This allows the American government to buy the most modern and high-quality weapons, provide the army with everything it needs, and raise the level of soldiers’ training.

The U.S. Armed Forces are manned on a voluntary basis — soldiers serve under contract. U.S. citizens and men who are long-term permanent residents of the United States with residency permits and at least a high school education are accepted into the military. Young men, 18 years of age or older, are eligible to enlist. According to various estimates, the U.S. army today has more than 2 million soldiers.

The U.S. Army has a strong Navy. It has 415 warships, 70 submarines, and 24 aircraft carriers. The military also has 1,398 aircraft, including 2,362 fighters.

The United States is a leader in the field of new military developments. And their range is quite wide: the creation of robotic military systems, lasers, and more. For a long time, the U.S. army has held a leading position, its military bases are located around the world.

Conclusion

What are the 12 strongest armies in the world in 2021? – This ranking shows the diversity of the armed forces of different countries, focusing on their objective power as of 2021. In compiling it, Business Insider specialists took into account a variety of factors: the country’s geographic location, its material, and technical characteristics, its economy, the availability of natural resources, the state of local industry.

Powerful nuclear powers have undeniable advantages over other countries. But this indicator has not been taken into account in our rating. Landlocked countries do not lose their positions due to their lack of a naval fleet. In determining global combat power, helicopter carriers were also taken into account along with traditional aircraft carriers.

NATO member states have certain advantages because the alliance theoretically supports all of its members. But, in general, political and economic relations between countries were not taken into account.