{"id":196326,"date":"2017-09-04T18:30:28","date_gmt":"2017-09-04T16:30:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=196326"},"modified":"2017-09-04T11:43:46","modified_gmt":"2017-09-04T09:43:46","slug":"south-africas-military-strength-vs-the-world-in-2017","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/trending\/196326\/south-africas-military-strength-vs-the-world-in-2017\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa’s military strength vs the world in 2017"},"content":{"rendered":"

As tension between the US and North Korea continues to escalate amid continued nuclear testing by the latter country, the Global Firepower list for 2017 puts the military powers of the world into full perspective.<\/p>\n

Data from Global Firepower<\/a> (GFP) ranks the military strength of 133 countries around the world, including South Africa – r<\/span>anked 46th.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The ranking relies on over 50 factors to determine a given nation’s PowerIndex (‘PwrIndx’) score. The group said its formula allows smaller, though more technologically-advanced, nations to compete with larger, lesser-developed ones.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ranking does not simply rely on the total number of weapons available to any one country but rather focuses on weapon diversity<\/span> within the number totals to provide a better balance of firepower available (i.e. fielding 100 minesweepers does not equal the strategic and tactical value of fielding 10 aircraft carriers).<\/span><\/p>\n

Nuclear stockpiles are not taken into account but recognized\/suspected nuclear powers receive a bonus, while geographical factors, logistical flexibility, natural resources and local industry influence the final ranking.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

The US ranks ahead of Russia, China and India in the rankings, with North Korea ranking 23rd on the list, while neighboring South Korea, which is also embroiled in a a tug of war between the US and North Korea, is ranked 12th.<\/p>\n

Africa’s largest military power, Egypt has climbed the rankings, into the top 10, while Algeria is ranked 25th on the list, followed by Nigeria (43rd), and South Africa (46th).<\/p>\n

South Africa’s total military personnel<\/span><\/span> has increased to 94,050<\/span>, from 89,000 previously, with active personnel at 78,050 and reserve personnel at 16,000 – down from 17,100 before.<\/p>\n

The South African National Defence Force (SANDF) was allocated R46.8 billion in the 2017\/18 national budget, versus the US budget of $587 billion.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

World\u2019s top 10 military powers<\/h3>\n
\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nActive Frontline<\/th>\nReserve<\/th>\nArmoured vehicles<\/th>\nAircraft Strength<\/th>\nNaval Assets<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nUnited States<\/td>\n1 373 650<\/td>\n990 025<\/td>\n41 062<\/td>\n13 4762<\/strong><\/td>\n415<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nRussia<\/td>\n798 527<\/td>\n2 572 500<\/td>\n31 298
\n<\/strong><\/td>\n		3 794<\/td>\n352<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nChina<\/td>\n2 260 000<\/strong><\/td>\n1 452 500<\/td>\n4 788<\/td>\n2 955<\/td>\n714<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nIndia<\/td>\n1 362 500<\/td>\n2 844 750<\/td>\n6 704<\/td>\n2 102<\/td>\n295<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\n\u00a0France<\/td>\n204 000<\/td>\n183 635<\/td>\n6 863<\/td>\n1 305<\/td>\n118<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nUnited Kingdom<\/td>\n151 175<\/td>\n81 500<\/td>\n5 948<\/td>\n856<\/td>\n76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nJapan<\/td>\n248 575<\/td>\n63 300<\/td>\n2 850<\/td>\n1 594<\/td>\n131<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nTurkey<\/td>\n382 850<\/td>\n360 565<\/td>\n7 550<\/td>\n1 018<\/td>\n194<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nGermany<\/td>\n180 000<\/td>\n30 000<\/td>\n5 869<\/td>\n698<\/td>\n81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nEgypt<\/td>\n454 250<\/td>\n875 000<\/td>\n13 949<\/td>\n1 132<\/td>\n319<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
23<\/td>\nNorth Korea<\/td>\n945 000<\/td>\n5 500 000<\/td>\n4 100<\/td>\n944<\/td>\n967<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

South Africa\u2019s military<\/strong> forces are broken down as follows:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

ManPower<\/strong>: \u201cGoing beyond military equipment totals and perceived fighting strength is the actual manpower that drives a given military. Wars of attrition favor those with more,\u201d Global Firepower.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Manpower<\/th>\nTotal<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Available Manpower<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n26 000 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fit for Service<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n14 100 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Reaching Military Age Annually<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n965 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Active Frontline Personnel<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n94 050<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Active Reserve Personnel<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n16 000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Land Systems<\/strong>: Tank value includes Main Battle Tanks, light tanks and tank destroyers, either wheeled or tracked. AFV value includes Armored Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFVs).<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Land Systems<\/th>\nTotal<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Tanks<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n195<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Armored Fighting Vehicles <\/span><\/span><\/td>\n2 265<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Self-Propelled Guns<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n43<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Towed-Artillery<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n97<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Multiple-Launch Rocket Systems<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n50<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Air Power<\/strong>: Includes both fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft from all branches of service.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Air Power<\/th>\nTotal<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Aircraft<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n213<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fighters\/Interceptors<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Fixed-Wing Attack Aircraft<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n17<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Attack Helicopters<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Transport Aircraft<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n109<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Trainer Aircraft<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n88<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Helicopters<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n95<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Naval Power<\/strong>: Aircraft Carrier value includes dedicated \u201chelicopter carrier\u201d vessels. Total naval strength includes all known auxiliaries as well.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Naval Power<\/th>\nTotal<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
Total Naval Strength<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Aircraft Carriers<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Frigates<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Destroyers<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Corvettes<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Submarines<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Patrol Craft<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mine Warfare<\/span><\/span><\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Read: The world\u2019s 20 biggest military spenders in 2016<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

As tension between the US and North Korea continues to escalate amid continued nuclear testing by the latter country, the Global Firepower list for 2017 puts the military powers of the world into full perspective.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":91336,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-196326","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trending"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196326","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=196326"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196326\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":196374,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/196326\/revisions\/196374"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/91336"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=196326"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=196326"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=196326"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}