The portal for ranking a country’s military strength, Global Firepower (GFP), compiled a list of 45 countries on the Asian continent that have the best defense systems. The ranking is determined based on more than 60 factors to determine the final strength index score (PowerIndex).
Some of the components of the assessment in question are the amount of ownership of the main weapons system (alutsista), national financial conditions, as well as logistical capabilities and geographical conditions.
The following is a list of the top 10 countries with the strongest militaries in Asia 2023:
1. Russia
Russia is located on two continents, namely Europe and Asia, which are separated by the Ural Mountains. The country led by Vladimir Putin is ranked first as the country with the best military power in Asia in 2023. Russia equips its defense system with 20,300 armored vehicles and achieved a strength index score of 0.0714.
2. China
In second place, there is China which got a PowerIndex score of 0.0722. The country led by Xi Jinping has 2.7 million military troops, 7,716 battle tanks, 1,232 fighter planes and 33,000 armored vehicles.
3. India
Following China, India managed to occupy 3rd position with a strength index score of 0.1025. India is estimated to employ 4.2 million active personnel in the military forces and has 4,426 battle tanks, 538 fighter aircraft and 4,060 towed artillery pieces.
4. South Korea
As a country known for its entertainment and cultural industry, South Korea has successfully achieved 4th place as the country with the best military power on the Asian continent. Global Firepower gave South Korea an index score of 0.1505 because it has 5.8 million active personnel, 2,654 battle tanks and 1,560 combat aircraft.
5. Pakistan
Pakistan is also included in the list of countries with the strongest military in Asia in 2023. This country in the South Asia region achieved a PowerIndex score of 0.1694 because it was recorded as having equipped a national defense system with 356 fighter jets, 2,200 tanks and 7,330 armored vehicles.
6. Japan
Shifting to the East Asian region, Japan has managed to rank 6th as the country with the best military system on the Asian continent in 2023. The country whose capital is Tokyo achieved a strength index score of 0.1711 and reportedly has 290 fighter aircraft and 679 vehicles. armored.
7. Turkiye
Turkiye is recorded as strengthening its domestic defense system with 355,000 active soldiers and 380 reserve personnel. Apart from being one of the best in Asia, the Turkiye military managed to win the title of strongest in the Middle East with a PowerIndex score of 0.2016.
8. Indonesia
In the Southeast Asia region, Indonesia is among the countries with the best military in Asia. Global Firepower gave a strength index score for Indonesia of 0.2221. The allocation of funds for the Indonesian Ministry of Defense (Kemenhan) as per the 2024 Draft State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (RAPBN) reaches IDR 135.44 trillion.
9. Iran
Iran managed to reach ninth place with a PowerIndex score of 0.2712. Iran is said to be spending a military budget of US$ 5.5 billion or around IDR 87.2 trillion in 2023. Apart from that, the country led by Ebrahim Raeisi is estimated to have collected 19 models of cruise and ballistic missiles.
10. Israel
Israel is in 10th position as the country with the strongest military in Asia in 2023 and achieved a strength index score of 0.2757. The country, which is in conflict with Palestine, armed its national defense system with various types of advanced defense equipment, one of which is the Iron Dome.
Source : Tempo
