Rating of the armies of the world for 2013

The strength of an army depends not only on strength, but also on the state's latest developments in the field of military engineering, on the nuclear capability of the state and on the system for managing the actions of military units. The presence of a powerful army was and remains an important lever of influence in the international arena.

Today we offer the rating of the armies of the world for 2013 according to RBC, which includes 7 countries that have the most powerful and combat-ready military forces.

Warning! The material is out of date. Read the current rating of the armies of the world. The list of the strongest troops is updated now every year.

7. Turkey( the number of the army - 613 thousand people, reserve - 429 thousand)

Outpostforward to Europe and Asia historically must have the authority, including the military. Therefore, the strength of the armed forces of Turkey exceeds the army of any European country. True, the main danger for the state is not external enemies, but Kurdish separatists. It is with them that almost all the military clashes of recent years occur. Turkey is among the world leaders in the availability of air defense systems. The country has no official nuclear weapons.

6. India( the strength of the army is 1 million 325 thousand people)

The continuing confrontation between India and Pakistan leads to an inevitable increase in the number of armies and expenditures for the armed forces. The Indian army by number is the third in the world after the US and China. Armed forces are being completed on a voluntary contract basis. The country has at least five dozen nuclear warheads. Among the developments of the Indian military industry is the intercontinental ballistic missile Agni-V, capable of carrying a warhead at a distance of up to 6,000 kilometers.

5. North Korea( the strength of the army is 1 million 106 thousand people)

The deplorable state of the country's economy does not allow allocating significant funds for the army's maintenance. Therefore, the budget of the armed forces of Korea - the smallest among all participants in the ranking of the armies of the world in 2013, only $ 5 billion. In addition to the basic staff, 8 million reservists are always ready for the call-up. Most of the troops are concentrated on the border with South Korea. North Korea conducted the first tests of nuclear weapons in 2006.Today, there are up to 10 warheads in the arsenal of the country.

4. Russia( the strength of the army is 1 million 200 thousand people)

The power of the Russian army is largely determined by the nuclear potential of the country, the Russian Federation has at its disposal about 11,000 warheads, as well as advanced means of delivery. Russia's defense budget is 56 billion dollars. The US spends 692 billion, China - 100 billion. The last serious armed clash involving the Russian army is the armed conflict in South Ossetia with the Georgian military in 2008.

3. Israel( the strength of the army is 176,5 thousand people, reserve - 565 thousand people)

The distinctive feature of the smallest army in the ranking for 2013 is the presence of women who serve on a mandatory basis for 24 months. Term of service for men is 36 months. In the ranking of the armies of the world for 2013, Israel leads the defense spending per capita - about 2 thousand 400 dollars. Officially, the country does not possess nuclear weapons, but it is estimated that between 80 and 200 warheads can be deployed at Israel's disposal.

2. China( the strength of the army is 2 million 285 thousand people)

China's main resource is people, the country's army is the largest in the world. However, the state methodically develops the defense industry, moving from simple copying of Western models to the development and production of its own equipment. The army is completed and on draft, and on a contract basis. China's defense budget is the second largest in the world. The nuclear potential of the country totals about 200 warheads.

1. The United States( the strength of the army is 1 million 478 thousand people)

According to the total number of nuclear warheads, the country leading in the ranking of the world's armies for 2013 is only slightly inferior to Russia. And the intercontinental ballistic missiles available to the US military make it possible to carry warheads at a distance of 15,000 kilometers. The US has an unprecedentedly large defense budget, which is 12 times higher than Russian army spending.