With a total military strength of 919,000 personnel, total aircraft might of 951, and a defence budget of $7bn, Pakistan’s armed forces have been ranked 13th amongst the 25 most powerful world militaries, according to a February 26, 2018 report of American financial and business news website, the Business Insider.
The Business Insider, which operates international editions in the United Kingdom, Australia, China, Germany, France, South Africa, India, Italy, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Netherlands, Scandinavia, Poland, and Singapore, has revealed that Pakistani military has 197 naval assets, 301 fighter aircraft, and 2,924 combat tanks.
The American news website, which publishes several international editions in languages including Chinese, Dutch, French, Italian, German, Polish, and Japanese, has actually carried the “2017 Military Strength Rankings” of Global Firepower, another globally-renowned website.
Global Firepower’s “2017 Military Strength Rankings” says that it has taken more than 50 factors to assign a Power Index score to 133 countries, because head-to-head military comparisons are harder to draw since weapons sales only indicate which country is beefing up their armed forces.
The Global Firepower states on its website that since 2006, it has provided its unique analytical display of data concerning over 130 modern military powers.
The Global Firepower asserts that its ranking is based on each nation’s potential (conventional) war-making capability across land, sea and air.
“The results incorporate values related to resources, finances and geography with over 50 different factors ultimately making up the final annual rankings. The results provide an interesting look into an increasingly volatile global landscape where war seems an inevitability,” the Global Firepower website maintains.
The Business Insider, in its February 26, 2018 report, says: “The ranking assesses the diversity of weapons held by each country and pays particular attention to the manpower available.
“The geography, logistical capacity, available natural resources, and the status of local industry are also taken into account.
“While recognised nuclear powers receive a bonus, the nuclear stockpiles are not factored into the score.
“Moreover, countries that are landlocked are not docked points for lacking a navy, though they are penalised for not having a merchant marine force.
“Countries with navies are penalised if there is a lack of diversity in their naval assets.”
Here follow the rankings in this context:
1. United States (total population: 323,995,528, total military personnel: 2,363,675, total aircraft: 13,762, fighter aircraft: 2,296, combat tanks: 5,884, total naval assets: 415 [19 aircraft carriers], defence budget: $587.8bn).
2. Russia (total population: 142,355,415, total military personnel: 3,371,027, total aircraft: 3,794, fighter aircraft: 806, combat tanks: 20,216, total naval assets: 352 [one aircraft carrier], and defence budget: $44.6bn).
3. China (total population: 1,373,541,278, total military personnel: 3,712,500, total aircraft: 2,955, fighter aircraft: 1,271, combat tanks: 6,457, total naval assets: 714 [one aircraft carrier], defence budget: $161.7bn).
4. India (total population: 1,266,883,598, total military personnel: 4,207,250, total aircraft: 2,102, fighter aircraft: 676, combat tanks: 4,426, total naval assets: 295 [three aircraft carriers], defence budget: $51bn).
5. France (total population: 66,836,154, total military personnel: 387,635, total aircraft: 1,305, fighter aircraft: 296, combat tanks: 406, total naval assets: 118 [four aircraft carriers], defence budget: $35bn).
6. United Kingdom (total population: 64,430,428, total military personnel: 232,675, total aircraft: 856, fighter aircraft: 88, combat tanks: 249, total naval assets: 76 [two aircraft carriers], defence budget: $45.7bn).
7. Japan (total population: 126,702,133, total military personnel: 311,875, total aircraft: 1,594, fighter aircraft: 288, combat tanks: 700, total naval assets: 131 [four aircraft carriers]. defence budget: $43.8bn).
8. Turkey (total population: 80,274,604, total military personnel: 743,415, total aircraft: 1,018, fighter aircraft: 207, combat tanks: 2,445, total naval assets: 194, defence budget: $8.2bn).
9. Germany (total population: 80,722,792, total military personnel: 210,000, total aircraft: 698, fighter aircraft: 92, combat tanks: 543, total naval assets: 81, defence budget: $39.2bn).
10. Egypt (total population: 94,666,993, total military personnel: 1,329,250, total aircraft: 1,132, fighter aircraft: 337, combat tanks: 4,110, total naval assets: 319 [two aircraft carriers], defence budget: $4.4bn).
11. Italy (total population: 62,007,540, total military personnel: 267,500, total aircraft: 822, fighter aircraft: 79, combat tanks: 200, total naval assets: 143 [two aircraft carriers], defence budget: $34bn).
12. South Korea (total population: 50,924,172, total military personnel: 5,829,750, total aircraft: 1,477, fighter aircraft: 406, combat tanks: 2,654, total naval assets: 166 [one aircraft carrier], defence budget: $43.8bn).
As stated above, the Pakistani military has been ranked 13th amongst the 25 most powerful world armies.
The remaining top 25 countries that have lesser military might are Indonesia at 14, Israel at 15, Vietnam at 16, Brazil at 17, Taiwan at 18, Poland at 19, Thailand at 20, Iran at 21, Australia at 22, North Korea at 23, Saudi Arabia at 24, and Algeria.
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