Global firepower military ranking 2014

[Skybird]

For number-fetishists. :smug:

http://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.asp

[Jimbuna]

I'm surprised Israel only rank 11th.

[Skybird]

Good, but small.

[BossMark]

I'm surprised Israel only rank 11th.
And I am even more shocked that we are ranked 5th..............

[mapuc]

One thing is how strong military and how much of the stuff you have a whole other thing is....effectiveness

What I understand or have heard is that Israel is a clean number 1 when it comes to that.

Markus

[Rhodes]

#53, uhhuuuuu! :Kaleun_Applaud:

[TarJak]

I'm surprised we are even on the list,let alone ranked at 20.

[Herr-Berbunch]

I'm amazed the UK has only four fewer serviceable airfields than France. :o

[mapuc]

I toke a close look at my homecountry Sweden and was looking at Logistical

serviceable airports 231. Don't know what they mean by that

Now in peace time we have only a few military airport in action and in wartime we have hundreds if not thousands.

Markus

[Betonov]

We're on the list :rotfl2:

[Tribesman]

We're on the list :rotfl2:

We're not:yeah:

[CCIP]

Very neat! :up:

And as for Israel etc., I think it's only the obvious - it's not the firepower, it's how you use it (and against what). In Israel's case, you have to consider who they're fighting. Their traditional enemies all rank well below them, with the exception of Egypt - though many would argue that if Israel and Egypt were to have a full-blown war today, it might not end that well for the Israelis. Even Lebanon in 2006 proved more than they could effectively crack. Even then, of course, they've stood up to some pretty overwhelming odds, but try to picture Israel going up against one of the top powers in the list in an all-out prolonged war, and yeah... doesn't look so good, does it.

I think Turkey, Japan and South Korea are the most interesting three in the top 10. People often underestimate just how large and capable those countries' militaries are.

Another observation is about the role of military in the politics of Turkey, Egypt and Pakistan. Their political fortunes seem to come and go, but there's little wonder those three countries seem to flip-flop between military dictatorships and periods when they're pushed out of power but stay firmly in the background. Their military bureaucracies are really deeply ingrained, even despite the massive social instability.

Another observation is the chest-puffing of Iran and North Korea. Look where they are compared to the Ukraine, and look at how well Ukraine is able to deal with with even so much as a threat from a first-rate power, even where they are not isolated internationally. Ouch. Even without involvement of first-rate powers, it's interesting to see just how poorly those two "rogue states" fare against their regional opponents (Japan and South Korea in DPRK's case, Israel and Saudi Arabia and arguably Turkey in Iran's).

[Betonov]

We're not:yeah:

Buahahahahhahaahahahaha :haha:

Good for you I guess. Less means less maintenance, less money wasted.

[TarJak]

The fact that Israel has been regularly using its defence force in active defence of I rs territory is one reason they are so effective.

[Skybird]

Buahahahahhahaahahahaha :haha:

Good for you I guess. Less means less maintenance, less money wasted.
Just curious. Less "wasting" states not maintaining defences, are less capable in defending. In case they suddenly need defence because of a war - what do you suggest then? Others bailing them out?

[Jimbuna]

I've noticed nuclear capability is not taken into account but do wonder how much that relates to power projection.

[Skybird]

It prevents an enemy from projecting his power.

[Jimbuna]

So does it have an alternate bearing on the ranking position?

[Betonov]

Just curious. Less "wasting" states not maintaining defences, are less capable in defending. In case they suddenly need defence because of a war - what do you suggest then? Others bailing them out?

They have a brigade of highly skilled Celtic ninjas, that will assassinate any enemy leaders bringing a war to a sudden and bloodless halt.


Waste in the Slovene army. We are a country that's small, mountanes and more than half forested. And we are investing in open warfare NATO doctrine equipment like armored transporters and guns that are excellent in dry climates but will jam the first time a soldier crosses a creek.
If there's a war here the only doctrine with an army this small is let the country fall and head for the hills. And then slaughter them with guerilla tactics like partisans did in WWII. You blow up one railroad bridge and you cripple an entire corridor for days.

[Skybird]

Since when are there Celts in Slowenia...? :06:

Militia or guerilla forces like in Switzerland still needs a certain amount of funding and preparation. Else the first guerilla counterattack will be that guerilla's last counterattack as well.

[Oberon]

I dunno, Yugoslavia has done pretty well with partisans in the past. :hmmm:

In regards to Celts, well...you'd be surprised:

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1f/Celts_in_Europe.png

:salute:

[Betonov]

Since when are there Celts in Slowenia...? :06:

Militia or guerilla forces like in Switzerland still needs a certain amount of funding and preparation. Else the first guerilla counterattack will be that guerilla's last counterattack as well.

There were before the Romans.
I thought you meant Ireland since I was talking to Tribesman (about Ireland)

Yeah, Yugoslavia was prepared for that. Even civilians had compulsory weapons and tactics training* and weapon caches hidden all around the lands.


* training? almost, limited training, some state funded camping trips and a quick briefing on gun handling. My mother knew how to use the AK-47 when she was in elemnatary school. Never fired one though.

[Betonov]

In regards to Celts, well...you'd be surprised:





Me and my uncle have a little red-ish beards.
Some Celt blood in me it seems :)

[the_tyrant]

Hmm, I wonder how the rankings will shuffle once we start counting PMCs. I mean, historically, the 20th century was a bad one for mercenaries, you didn't see men like John Hawkwood rampaging in Europe, funding their own wars, nor did you see conquistadors invading empires for cash.

Private Military groups in the 20th century were limited to coups and wars in places that most of us can't even point out on a map ("Comoros? where is that?").

But I believe that the balance of power is shifting in favor of the private military corporations soon. 20th century "power", as in the million strong armies, the tens of thousands of tanks, and the fleets of hundreds of ships were only obtainable by nation states.

21st century power however, with a-symmetrical warfare is no longer under sole control of nation states. Look at how the Israelis attacked the Iranian nuclear program with a virus. Historically if you wanted to do that, you needed a million strong army, and a strong fleet, to muscle your way into the country. Now? If I had money, I can hire a team of programmers to program viri all day.

Also, for the longest time, there was this theory that only 2% of the population is comfortable actually killing. You can conscript yourself a million men, but 20 thousand of them would be doing most of the killing anyways. in the 20th century, with large set pieces, trenches, and large tracts of ground to cover, the millions of men were needed. However, in the 21st century, I can imagine small mercenary groups, composed purely of the 2%, being able to take on large nation states with great effect.

[Jimbuna]

Me and my uncle have a little red-ish beards.
Some Celt blood in me it seems :)

Well it certainly makes you a ginger ninja :)

[Betonov]

Well it certainly makes you a ginger ninja :)

At least I won't stand out in a crowd so close to Scotland :O:

[Jimbuna]

At least I won't stand out in a crowd so close to Scotland :O:

LOL...you experience a dram or two and you won't be standing anyway :)

[TarJak]

Well it certainly makes you a ginger ninja :)

Better than being a ginger minger. :D

[Betonov]

dram, minger...

I'm affraid to ask and even more afraid I'll find out :dead:

[Oberon]

Dram is a measurement of drink, usually quite small, 25ml in official terms I'd wager.

Minge is...a little harder to explain in this forum, but suffice to say that when the reference is made to ask if the carpet matches the curtains, minge refers to the carpet. :03:

[Betonov]

Bloody hell, the older they are, the weirder their jokes get :dead:

And how the hell this thread went from a list of countries military capabilities to pubic hair

[Tribesman]

Buahahahahhahaahahahaha :haha:

Good for you I guess. Less means less maintenance, less money wasted.
They can always find ways to waste money.

Just curious. Less "wasting" states not maintaining defences, are less capable in defending. In case they suddenly need defence because of a war - what do you suggest then? Others bailing them out?
Well Skybird there is this little theory I heard on this forum, what happens is you have this little isolated community which lives in happy clappy blissland without a central government and without nasty horrors such as taxes to waste on things like armies.
When things go pear shaped they hire in some mercenaries from a less happy clappy blissland and hope that when the pear shaped situation is resolved the mercenaries all bugger off home
Now history would suggest that the "ideal" Italian city states proved this little theory to be complete bollox, but strangely some people still hold to it and praise it as a solution.:rotfl2:

[Oberon]

Bloody hell, the older they are, the weirder their jokes get :dead:

And how the hell this thread went from a list of countries military capabilities to pubic hair

Well, this is a pubic forum...


Oh...public...my bad...

[TarJak]

Please refer to my Sig. :D

All your threads are belong to me. ;)

[Jimbuna]

Better than being a ginger minger. :D

Dram is a measurement of drink, usually quite small, 25ml in official terms I'd wager.

Minge is...a little harder to explain in this forum, but suffice to say that when the reference is made to ask if the carpet matches the curtains, minge refers to the carpet. :03:

Well, this is a pubic forum...


Oh...public...my bad...

Please refer to my Sig. :D

All your threads are belong to me. ;)

The mind simply boggles :doh:

[TarJak]

The mind simply boggles :doh:
We know that's not hard to do.:O: