Top Ten Armed Forces In The World

1. The United States

The U.S. defense budget is $612 billion. Despite sequestration and other spending cuts, the United States spends more money on defense than the next ten highest spending countries combined.

America's biggest conventional military advantage is its fleet of 19 aircraft carriers, compared to 12 carriers operated by the rest of the world combined. These massive carriers allow the U.S. to set up forward operating bases anywhere and project power throughout the world.

The super power also has by far the most aircraft of any country, cutting-edge technology like the Navy's new rail gun, a large and well-trained human force — and that's not even counting the world's largest nuclear arsenal.

2. Russia

Two decades after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia's military is growing again. The Kremlin's military spending has increased by almost a third since 2008 and is expected to grow 44% more in the next three years. Today, the Russian defense budget stands at $76.6 billion.

Russia currently has 766,000 active frontline personnel with a reserve force of 2,485,000 personnel. These troops are backed up by 15,500 tanks, the largest tank force in the world. Russian soldiers generally receive relatively mediocre training, however, and their equipment, like that tank force, is aging.

3. China

China has embarked upon a relentless policy of massive military spending, with a 12.2% increase in spending over the past year. China's defense budget stands at $126 billion but could unofficially be higher, prompting concern across Asia as China attempts to project its power to settle border disputes with Japan and the Philippines. 

The size of the Chinese army is staggering, with 2,285,000 active frontline personnel with an additional 2,300,000 in the reserves. China also has a history of successfully stealing sensitive military technology, such as recently acquiring sensitive information about the new F-35.

4. India

India's defense spending is expected to rise as it pursues a modernization drive. Currently, it is estimated that India only spends $46 billion on its budget, and it is slated to become the fourth highest spender by 2020. It is already the world's largest importer of military goods. 

India has ballistic missiles with a range capable of hitting all of Pakistan or most of China. Indian military strategy has been dominated by its long-simmering conflict with Pakistan, although there have also been minor wars between China and India in the past.

5. The United Kingdom

British Army Corporal Birendra Limbu of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Gurkha Rifles, shows his rifle to Afghan children as he secures an area near an Afghan National Police (ANP) checkpoint outside the town of Lashkar Gah in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan, July 13, 2011.

The U.K. is planning on reducing the size of its armed forces by 20% between 2010 and 2018, with smaller cuts to the Royal Navy and RAF. The defense budget stands at $54 billion.

Despite scaling back, the U.K. counts on being able to project its power around the world. The Royal Navy is planning on putting the HMS Queen Elizabeth, an aircraft carrier that has a flight deck measuring at 4.5 acres, into service in 2020. The Queen Elizabeth is planned to carry 40 F-35B joint strike fighters around the world. Thanks to superior training and equipment, Britain could still hold an advantage over emerging powers like China, according to a leading think tank.

6. France

France effectively froze its military spending in 2013 while cutting 10% of its defense jobs in an effort to save money for purchasing high-tech equipment. The country spends  $43 billion a year on defense, which is 1.9% of its GDP, below the spending target set by NATO for member countries.

Despite a leveling off of its military budget, France is still highly capable of projecting force around the globe, with significant deployments  in the Central African Republic, Chad, Mali, Senegal and elsewhere around the world.

7. Germany

German military strength falls short of its economic strength on the world stage. Recently, Germany has started considering offering military support to eastern European NATO members. It has also considered a more active international role militarily. Germany spends $45 billion on its military annually, making it the eighth largest spender in the world.

Following the aftermath of World War II, the German population generally became anti-war. The German military was originally limited to a defense force, but has become more accustomed to taking an active international role following the breakup of Yugoslavia. Germany only has 183,000 active frontline personnel with an additional 145,000 members in the reserves. Germany eliminated mandatory service in 2011 in an attempt to create a professional army.

8. Turkey

Turkish military spending is expected to rise 9.4% in 2014 over the 2013 budget. The ongoing conflict in Syria and possible clashes with the Kurdish separatist organization, the PKK, were key reasons for the spending increase. Turkey's defense budget stands at $18.2 billion.

The NATO member has contributed soldiers to various initiatives around the world. The Turkish military took part in operations in Afghanistan, as well as in peacekeeping operations in the Balkans. Turkey also maintains a large military force in Northern Cyprus.

9. South Korea

South Korea has been increasing its defense spending due to both the increasing armament of Japan and China, and the constant threat from North Korea. South Korea spends $34 billion on defense.

South Korea has a relatively large military force for its small size. It has 640,000 active personnel with an additional 2,900,000 personnel in the reserves. South Korea also has 2,346 tanks and 1,393 aircraft. The South Korean military is generally well-trained and routinely takes part in military exercise with the United States. South Korea's air force is also the sixth largest in the world.

10. Japan

Japan increased its defense spending for the first time in 11 years in response to growing disputes with China. It has also started its first military expansion in over 40 years by placing a new military base on its outer islands. Japan spends $49.1 billion on defense, the sixth most in the world.

Japan's military is fairly well-equipped. It currently has 247,000 active personnel with an additional 57,900 in reserve. Japan also has 1,595 aircraft, the world's fifth largest air force, and 131 ships. Japan's military is limited by a peace clause in the constitution that makes it illegal for the country to have an offensive army. 

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Top Military Weapons

Corner Shot 40mm Grenade Launcher

Sharp shooters trapped in corners and other closed environments won't need to engage in blind fire to save their ass anymore. The Corner Shot sports a hinged frame that extends the grenade launcher barrel horizontally at a 60-degree angle, along with a digital camera under the barrel and a video screen that provides sneak-peak viewing and accurate targeting. It's capable of firing single 60mm rounds, tear gas, and less- and non-lethal explosives, and has a target range of 150 meters as well. Why didn't anyone think of this before?

Matador Rocket Launcher

Specifically designed for urban warfare, the Matador was built to destroy brick walls and vehicle armor. It uses a warhead with minimum blast back that works best in confined and indoor settings, and features a switch that alters the time intervals between the two detonation charges contained in the projectile. There are two firing modes. Short Interval Mode sets off the second detonation immediately after the first to create a passageway through a wall and Blast Mode can trigger the second explosion inside a building after the first breaks through the wall by increasing the time intervals between both detonations. Check the blast master in action to see what we're talking about.

KAC M110 Sniper Rifle

On top of being the standard firearm for the U.S. Army, Knight Armament's gas-operated sharp shooter is also the military's first semi-automatic weapon to be used as a sniper rifle in the field of combat. In comparison to the standard bolt-action rifle, the M110 Sniper Rifle has a 4-1 hit ration and an effective shooting range of up to 3,2000 feet. Sound suppressor night vision also provides a more clear and accurate targeting system, no matter the time of day. See for youself.

XM25 Smart Grenade Launcher

U.S. troops stationed in Afghanistan received this beauty as a Christmas present late last year. The programmable grenade launcher carries four tiny warheads and can fire 25mm. shells up to 2,300 feet (almost half a mile). But the X25's sickest feature is the ability to program the shell to explode at any given point. It also sports different sight, sensor, and laser functions, as well as a short barrel that's "the size of a cannon". No wonder soilders refer to it as "The Punisher". The Army looks to arrange full-scale deployment sometime within 2012 or 2013. In other words, we're not leaving the Middle East anytime soon.

Beretta LTLX7000 Shotgun

This prototype launches bullet shells that can penetrate a target with with the same force regardless of the the shooting distance. Simply configure the range using the shotty's holographic scope and set the aim by aligning two red dots at the head and feet of your target. Then pull the trigger and blast off some less-lethal rounds. A shot with a 50-foot range can hit a target with the impact velocity of 211 mph, which is enough force to take someone down. See what the end result is when shooting a target from 230 feet away. Nearly identical.

M32 Multiple Grenade Launcher

This semi-automatic monstrosity is capable of firing six 40mm grenades in less than six seconds; 18 in a minute. That's just the tip of the smoking barrel. It also shoots HUNTIR rounds, which float to the ground via parachute and capture aerial video footage, as well as HELLHOUND rounds-extremely powerful projectiles that can be fired from 140 yards and obliterate everything in sight. God damn. Check out the shooter's reaction when he unloads six rounds into an empty truck from over 100 feet away.

HK M320 Grenade Launcher

Heckler & Koch's M320 can either serve its purpose as a powerful grenade launcher or bring double the pain by attaching itself onto an M4 Carbine or M16 assault rifle. It fires all NATO grenades (high-explosive, illuminating, and smoke), as well as less-lethal rounds, and provides better shot accuracy and first-hit probability thanks to its handheld Laser Range Finder. There's also a Day/Night Sight feature created by Insight Technology that allows shooters to maneuver and let off shots effectively in the dark.

Barrett MRAD .388 Sniper Rifle

The MRAD (Multi-Role Adaptive Design) Sniper Rifle shoots the military-favorite .338 Lapua Magnum and offers a fully modular configuration system that supports upgrades and add-ons. It has a user-changeable barrel system that opens the lane for caliber conversions and maintenance. And most noticeably, it has an ambidextrous magazine release and features a thumb-operated safety, which is an unconventional feature for any bolt-action rifle. Hunters can cop it this summer, but until then watch a video of the MRAD in action. by Complex

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