{"id":304332,"date":"2019-03-10T16:00:50","date_gmt":"2019-03-10T14:00:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/?p=304332"},"modified":"2019-03-08T15:00:38","modified_gmt":"2019-03-08T13:00:38","slug":"south-africas-military-strength-vs-the-rest-of-the-world-in-2019","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/businesstech.co.za\/news\/government\/304332\/south-africas-military-strength-vs-the-rest-of-the-world-in-2019\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa\u2019s military strength vs the rest of the world in 2019"},"content":{"rendered":"

Military website, Global Firepower, has released its military strength ranking for 2019.<\/p>\n

More than 137 countries feature on the list, with the ranking utilising more than 55 different factors to determine a given nation\u2019s PowerIndex.<\/p>\n

However, the ranking does not simply rely on the total number of weapons available to any one country but rather focuses on weapon diversity within the number totals to provide a better balance of firepower available.<\/p>\n

In addition, nuclear weapons are not recognised directly (but receive an indirect score bonus), while geographical factors, logistical flexibility, natural resources and local industry influence the rankings.<\/p>\n

The USA was named as the most powerful country in the world in 2019 with 1.28 million active military personnel, 13,398 aircraft, more than 6,200 tanks and a defence budget of $716 billion.<\/p>\n

In distant second place is Russia with 1 million active personnel, 4,000 aircraft, 21,932 tanks and a defence budget of $44 billion.<\/p>\n

China, India and France round out the top five.<\/p>\n

Note: Some vehicles can fall under multiple classifications.<\/em><\/p>\n

\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
#<\/th>\nCountry<\/th>\nActive Frontline<\/th>\nReserve<\/th>\nCombat tanks<\/th>\nAir\u00a0Force<\/th>\nNaval Vessels<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n
1<\/td>\nUSA<\/td>\n1 281 900<\/td>\n860 000<\/td>\n6 287<\/td>\n13 398<\/td>\n415<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2<\/td>\nRussia<\/td>\n1 013 628<\/td>\n2 572 500<\/td>\n21 932<\/td>\n4 078<\/td>\n352<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
3<\/td>\nChina<\/td>\n2 183 000<\/td>\n510 000<\/td>\n13 050<\/td>\n3 187<\/td>\n714<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
4<\/td>\nIndia<\/td>\n1 362 500<\/td>\n2 100 000<\/td>\n4 184<\/td>\n2 082<\/td>\n295<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
5<\/td>\nFrance<\/td>\n205 000<\/td>\n183 635<\/td>\n406<\/td>\n1 248<\/td>\n118<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
6<\/td>\nJapan<\/td>\n247 157<\/td>\n56 000<\/td>\n1 004<\/td>\n1 572<\/td>\n131<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
7<\/td>\nSouth Korea<\/td>\n625 000<\/td>\n5 202 250<\/td>\n2 654<\/td>\n1 614<\/td>\n166<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
8<\/td>\nUnited Kingdom<\/td>\n150 000<\/td>\n\u00a083 000<\/td>\n331<\/td>\n811<\/td>\n76<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
9<\/td>\nTurkey<\/td>\n355 000<\/td>\n380 000<\/td>\n3 200<\/td>\n1 067<\/td>\n194<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
10<\/td>\nGermany<\/td>\n178 641<\/td>\n30 000<\/td>\n900<\/td>\n613<\/td>\n81<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

South Africa\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Africa was ranked as having the 32nd greatest military strength in the world – behind Egypt (12th) and Algeria (27th) in Africa.<\/p>\n

According to the ranking, South Africa has 66,300 active personnel and 15,000 reserve personnel.<\/p>\n

It also estimates that the country has around 14,175,119 citizens who would be fit-for-service should the country enforce conscription laws.<\/p>\n

Notably, the country stands out for its land power but has fallen behind other nations in recent years when it comes to air and naval power.<\/p>\n

Air power<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Africa has a total aircraft strength of 206 assets.<\/p>\n

This includes:<\/p>\n