US still boasts the most powerful military in the world, with Russia and China behind them, according to new global rankings of armed forces
- The US still boasts the most powerful military in the world, dwarfing both Russia and China behind them
- The US spends almost $600 billion a year on its defence budget with available manpower of 145,215,000
- Ranking of 106 nations based on more than 50 factors, including military budget, manpower and weaponry
The US spends almost $600 billion a year on its defense budget and has 19 aircraft carriers (including USS Carl Vinson)
The US still boasts the most powerful military in the world, dwarfing both Russia and China behind them, according to the new global rankings of armed forces around the world.
The US spends almost $600 billion a year on its defense budget and has an available manpower of 145,215,000.
Russia, which came second in the rankings, spends less than $45 billion a year on defense while China forks out $161 billion annually.
Earlier this year the US carried out military drills with South Korea in a display of his military power, in the Korean Peninsula (the graphic shows show of the fighter jets on aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson)
What's more, the US will see its defense spending increase under President Donald Trump, as he has proposed a $54 billion increase for the department.
He said it will help 'demolish and destroy' ISIS, increase the number of ships in the US Navy fleet and build extra F-35 fighter jets to expand the Air Force.
Trump's 10 per cent boost to the military will see cuts to non-defense spending at the State Department, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Environmental Protection Agency and dozens of other federal programs.
This graphic demonstrates the military strength of North Korea, South Korea, Japan, the US and China
The ranking of 106 nations was based on more than 50 factors and looked at each country's military budget, manpower and the amount of equipment it had.
It also focused on the country's range of weaponry, logistical flexibility and natural resources, while NATO powers were given a slight boost because of the sharing of resources.
Nuclear stockpiles were taken into account but not recognized, in the figures compiled by Global Firepower.
As well as its huge defense budget, the US has 19 aircraft/helicopter carriers, 5,884 tanks, 13,762 aircraft, a total naval strength of 415 and 1,400,000 active frontline personnel.
Aircraft carriers greatly enhance a country's overall military strength, as they allow nations to have mobile naval and air force bases. The figures for 'aircraft carriers' here also include 'helicopter carrier' vessels.
Russia has only one aircraft/helicopter carrier, but 20,215 tanks, 3,794 aircraft and a naval strength of 352, with 766,055 active frontline personnel.
China has one aircraft/helicopter carrier, 6,457 tanks, 2,955 aircraft, 714 ships and 2,335,000 in the armed forces.
Russia's military strength is growing and the country boasts 20,215 tanks, 3,794 aircraft and a naval strength of 352
China, which unveiled its J-20 stealth fighter during an air show in Zhuhai in November 2016, has the third most powerful military in the world
India, which has the fourth most powerful military, spends $51 billion every year on its defence budget
The UK has the sixth most powerful military in the world, with an available manpower of 30 million, an active frontline personnel of 150,000, two helicopter carriers, 249 tanks, 856 aircraft and a total naval strength of 76.
It spends $45 billion on defense every year.
In her manifesto pledge, Prime Minister Theresa May has said a Conservative government will increase defense spending above inflation every year of the next parliament, as well as meeting Nato's commitment to spend at least 2 per cent of GDP on defense.
The UK is currently building two aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth and Prince Of Wales. The current cost estimates for both carriers, as well as the Lockheed Martin F-35B jets that will fly off them, is $18.3 billion.
The figures have been released at a time when tensions between the US and North Korea have escalated to a level where the secretive state has threatened 'full scale' nuclear war
North Korea - which has carried out two nuclear tests and dozens of missile launches since the beginning of last year in its quest to build a rocket capable of delivering an atomic warhead to the US mainland - is in 23rd place.
It spends $7.5 billion on defense every year, but has no aircraft carriers.
It has an available manpower of 13 million, with 700,000 active frontline personnel.
The hermit state also has 5,025 tanks, 944 aircraft and a fleet of 967 ships.
But despite having one of the largest submarine fleets in the world, most of its vessels are unusable.
A third of North Korea's subs are noisy diesel-powered Romeos, which have been obsolete since 1961. These submarines have a weapons range of only four miles, whereas a modern US submarine can fire 150 miles.
The figures have been released at a time when tensions between the US and North Korea have escalated to a level where the secretive state has threatened 'full scale' nuclear war.
Earlier this year, in a display of military power, the US sent warships and an aircraft carrier group to the region to deter North Korea from carrying out another nuclear test.
Washington has suggested military action could be on the table but Trump has softened his message more recently, saying he would be 'honored' to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un.
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