NATO and partners chose November 2018 to saber weapons - Norway hosts the largest military exercises since the Cold War. Russia, of course, was not enthusiastic, and in response also decided to "play with muscles." The Russian military cruiser "Peter the Great" went to sea in the vicinity of Norway for missile exercises, which will be held from November 6 to 9. All this arms demonstration takes place against the background of Europe, which is closely following all this - a part of the world where some of the most well-armed armies in the world are located.
The data on the most powerful armies were taken from the annual report of a site called Global Firepower. Experts determine the strongest armies by 55 parameters (they include geography, logistics, territorial resources, the degree of development of industry, a variety of weapons, and so on). As a result, even the troops of small nations can stand higher in the ranking than their more numerous neighbors.
According to the results of calculations, the index is determined, and the higher it is, the army, paradoxically, is worse. Below you will find top 10 most powerful armies in Europe.
10. Ukraine
- Place in world armies rating: 29.
- Expert Rating: 0,5383.
- Human resources: 44 033 874.
- Of which are military: 1 182 000.
- Number of aircraft: 240.
- Of these fighters: 39.
- Tank units: 2 214.
- Navy: 25.
- The military budget of the country: 4.88 billion dollars.
The head of state, Petro Poroshenko, is firmly convinced that the Ukrainian army is the strongest in Europe. However, the experts of the Global Firepower website do not agree with him: Ukraine, according to their version, is assigned 29th place in the world rating and 10th place in Europe. She, of course, confidently bypasses Monaco, Liechtenstein and Scandinavian prosperous neighbors, but she still has to work and work before leadership.
Like many republics of the former USSR, Ukraine is still not able to send the legacy of the Soviet era to a landfill - there are no opportunities. This is prevented by both the tense situation within the country and the high level of corruption.
9. Greece
- Place in the world ranking: 28.
- Expert Rating: 0,5255.
- Human resources: 10 768 477.
- Of which are military: 413 750.
- Number of aircraft: 567.
- Of these fighters: 189.
- Tank units: 1 345.
- Navy: 115.
- The military budget of the country: 6.54 billion dollars.
Does changing the guard of honor in Athens make you smile? Think carefully before you laugh and point your fingers at the skirts of the guards and the pompons on their shoes. Greece is not in vain among the ten most powerful European armies in 2018. The reason for this is the centuries-old history of complex relations with Turkey; both nations, rightly fearing each other, are trying to keep their military forces in good shape. Although both countries are part of the same North Atlantic Alliance.
8. Poland
- Place in the world ranking: 22.
- Expert Rating: 0,4276.
- Human resources: 38 476 269.
- Of which are military: 184 650.
- Number of aircraft: 466.
- Of these fighters: 99.
- Tank units: 1 065.
- Navy: 83.
- The military budget of the country: 9.36 billion dollars.
In 2016, the Minister of War of Poland, Anthony Matserevich, announced that the country's military forces would be increased at least one and a half times. Matserevich himself is an odious figure in his own way; he is firmly convinced that Russia is leading the world behind the scenes with Israel. In early 2018, he was removed from his post. However, three new brigades, created to serve as a barrier to the eastern barbarians, continue to serve on the border.
And more recently, Ukraine was also included in the Eastern barbarians, since the Poles are not enthusiastic about their troubled neighbor.
7. Spain
- Place in the world ranking: 19.
- Expert Rating: 0,4079.
- Human resources: 48 958 159.
- Of which are military: 174 700.
- Number of aircraft: 524.
- Of these fighters: 122.
- Tank units: 327.
- Navy: 46 (of which one aircraft carrier).
- The military budget of the country: 11.6 billion dollars.
Military service in Spain is under the auspices of the royal family. The crowned head of state is the captain-general of both the ground forces and the naval and air forces. King Philip VI himself once served in the army and independently rose to the rank of lieutenant colonel and captain of the second rank.
In general, military service in Spain is considered prestigious and able to bring bonuses to the citizen in the future, so they go to the army with pleasure.
6. Italy
- Place in the world ranking: 11.
- Expert Rating: 0,2565.
- Human resources: 62 137 802.
- Of which are military: 267 500.
- Number of aircraft: 828.
- Of these fighters: 90.
- Tank units: 200.
- Navy: 143 (two aircraft carriers).
- The military budget of the country: 37.7 billion dollars.
Despite the reform six years ago to reduce the armed forces of Italy, its army remains one of the strongest in Europe. A lot was cut
for example, personnel costs have been halved.
Like Spain, Italy has long since canceled the general conscription in the army to reach a certain age and switched to a contractual basis. And although Italy itself does not produce nuclear weapons, it stores it for the United States. At the country's military bases lie about a deadly load of about 50 bombs.
5. Germany
- Place in the world ranking: 10.
- Expert Rating: 0,2461.
- Human resources: 80 594 017.
- Of which are military: 208 641.
- Number of aircraft: 714.
- Of these fighters: 94.
- Tank units: 432.
- Navy: 81.
- The military budget of the country: 45.2 billion dollars.
After the end of the Cold War and the collapse of the USSR, Germany, like many other NATO members, began to reduce armaments and personnel. And she did it from the heart and on a grand scale - if at the time of the beginning of perestroika there were more than 370 thousand people in the armed forces, now there are barely 200 thousand servicemen.
The main goal of the German army is peacekeeping, whatever that means. And like many other European countries, Germany canceled the universal call 7 years ago, in 2011.
4. Turkey
- Place in the world ranking: 9.
- Expert Rating: 0,2216.
- Human resources: 80 845 215.
- Of which are military: 710 565.
- Number of aircraft: 1 056.
- Of these fighters: 207.
- Tank units: 2 446.
- Navy: 194.
- The military budget of the country: 10.2 billion dollars.
Turkey has rather complicated relations with Greece and Russia, especially against the background of the ongoing war in Syria. Ankara has long hinted that it would be nice for Turkish troops to invade Syria, which Russia, of course, cannot allow. And in recent years, Turkey continued to build up its military power (this was not even prevented by the military’s attempt to stage a coup).
The Turkish army is considered one of the most wealthy and well-trained among the countries - members of NATO. The dreams of some politicians about the establishment of a "Turkic peace" centered in Ankara are also a cause for concern.
3. England
- Place in the world ranking: 6.
- Expert Rating: 0,1917.
- Human resources: 64 769 452.
- Of which are military: 279 230.
- Number of aircraft: 832.
- Of these fighters: 103.
- Tank units: 227.
- Navy: 76 (of which two aircraft carriers).
- The military budget of the country: 50 billion dollars.
The top 3 most powerful armies of Europe in 2018 are opened by the military forces of foggy Albion. Like many armies of NATO countries, the British significantly reduced their power after the end of the Cold War. The apotheosis of military cuts was the dismantling for parts of aircraft just released from the factory in 2010.
The cutback in the military budget causes concern among many politicians who fear that military submarines flying the Russian flag may come up from the bottom of the Thames tomorrow. The Daily Mail and Telegraph are adding hysteria - these are two newspapers claiming that in the event of a war between Russia and England, the “Russian bears” will win. Whether one of the most powerful armies in the world will increase arms is still unknown.
2. France
- Place in the world ranking: 5.
- Expert Rating: 0,1869.
- Human resources: 67 106 161.
- Of which are military: 388 635.
- Number of aircraft: 1 262.
- Of these fighters: 299.
- Tank units: 406.
- Navy: 118 (of which four aircraft carriers).
- The military budget of the country: 40 billion dollars.
France has always loved to demonstrate its independence from NATO. In 1966, the country withdrew from this organization and returned only in 2009, which created certain friction between the organizations. Moreover, last week, the French president said that it was high time to create a pan-European army, independent of the United States (and, apparently, NATO).
Like many other countries, France switched to the contract form of the army. However, the military is not satisfied with the service, and after its completion, more than 40% of the military prefer to do other things. One of the reasons is poor conditions of service, plus attractive offers from private companies who like to lure military specialists to themselves.
1. Russia
- Place in the world ranking: 2.
- Expert Rating: 0,0841.
- Human resources: 142 257 519.
- Of which are military: 3 586 128.
- Number of aircraft: 3 914.
- Of these fighters: 818.
- Tank units: 20 300.
- Navy: 352 (of which one aircraft carrier).
- The military budget of the country: 47 billion dollars.
When looking at the first place in the rating, patriotic pride overflows the soul. Global Firepower experts recognized the Russian army as the strongest in Europe. And in the world it is second only to its eternal enemy and rival - the United States. According to the level of technical development, the Russian army is one of the most powerful, because it is one of those rare countries that can fully and independently create the entire development cycle of a nuclear bomb, from collecting raw materials to delivering to a possible enemy. The Russian army is still being replenished by draft, but thanks to recent reforms, serving in it has become more prestigious, especially if a person is from a small town or village where there are no other social elevators. There are also contractual units - these include constant reaction troops, where elite from the elites are being recruited.
However, other voices are heard from across the ocean: some American experts say that if there is a military conflict between Russia and China, then the latter will win. Because China’s technologies are more advanced, and the country's financial capabilities allow them to freely increase. While Moscow, with tears, had to abandon the idea of building a new aircraft carrier. The reason is simple - there is no money. Will the US military power be reoriented to confront China - time will tell.
