Rising Powers — These Nations Are Building Massive Artillery Forces

Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries, has identified 46 nations that have gained military strength in the last year. These nations “on the rise” have seen improvements in their “Power Index,” a military strength ranking created by Global Firepower which includes 60 categories. Some of these categories include manpower, financial strength, and number of military units. Today, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a close look at these rising powers’ artillery forces.

To identify the “Powers on the Rise” countries with the most artillery units, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower. Countries were ranked on the total number of artillery units in their arsenal. We included supplemental information regarding the total military vehicles, tanks, and MLRS units, as well as each country’s overall military strength score.

Why Are We Covering This?

South Korea Holds 74th Armed Forces Day Ceremony

Understanding global military dynamics is incredibly important due to the interconnected nature of international relations and conflicts. As long as civilization has existed, the world has witnessed shifting power balances and alliances which have ultimately shaped the current geopolitical landscape. While key players like the United States, China, and Russia are easily the global powers, there are a number of emerging military powers that have their own spheres of influence and give shape to geopolitical relations in their own unique way.

Here is a look at the Powers on the Rise with the largest artillery armies:

30. Denmark

Total artillery: 19
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 19
Total tanks: 44
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 4,056
Military strength score: 0.7743 – #48 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Denmark has 119 military aircraft (including 4 attack aircraft, 33 fighter aircraft, and 34 helicopters). Denmark has 20,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 5.9 million.

29. Estonia

Total artillery: 24
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 24
Total tanks: 0
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 6
Total military vehicles: 1,409
Military strength score: 1.7237 – #87 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Estonia has 7 military aircraft (including 3 helicopters). Estonia has 7,700 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 1.2 million.

28. Sweden

Total artillery: 26
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 26
Total tanks: 120
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 7,958
Military strength score: 0.4009 – #29 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Sweden has 212 military aircraft (including 71 fighter aircraft and 53 helicopters). Sweden has 24,400 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.5 million.

27. Paraguay

Total artillery: 28
Total towed artillery: 28
Total self-propelled artillery: 0
Total tanks: 10
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 1,936
Military strength score: 1.7053 – #85 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Paraguay has 41 military aircraft (including 14 helicopters). Paraguay has 15,650 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 7.4 million.

26. New Zealand

Ukraine artillery | The flight of a projectile during a shot from a cannon

Total artillery: 31
Total towed artillery: 31
Total self-propelled artillery: 0
Total tanks: 0
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 4,040
Military strength score: 1.1844 – #67 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, New Zealand has 47 military aircraft (including and 22 helicopters). New Zealand has 8,670 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 5.1 million.

25. Czechia

Total artillery: 53
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 53
Total tanks: 65
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 6,757
Military strength score: 0.7706 – #46 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Czechia has 88 military aircraft (including 16 attack aircraft, 12 fighter aircraft, and 33 helicopters). Czechia has 28,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.7 million.

24. Austria

Austrian national flag waving on blue sky background. Republic of Austria, AT

Total artillery: 53
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 53
Total tanks: 58
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 848
Military strength score: 1.2351 – #71 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Austria has 104 military aircraft (including 15 fighter aircraft and 66 helicopters). Austria has 16,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 8.9 million.

23. Qatar

Total artillery: 58
Total towed artillery: 12
Total self-propelled artillery: 46
Total tanks: 99
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 16
Total military vehicles: 5,544
Military strength score: 1.0789 – #63 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Qatar has 228 military aircraft (including 6 attack aircraft, 92 fighter aircraft, and 67 helicopters). Qatar has 66,550 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 2.5 million.

22. Kuwait

Total artillery: 74
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 74
Total tanks: 367
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 27
Total military vehicles: 4,409
Military strength score: 1.4261 – #77 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Kuwait has 144 military aircraft (including 36 fighter aircraft and 60 helicopters). Kuwait has 72,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 3.1 million.

21. Libya

Total artillery: 75
Total towed artillery: 65
Total self-propelled artillery: 10
Total tanks: 300
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 55
Total military vehicles: 2,890
Military strength score: 1.4449 – #79 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Libya has 132 military aircraft (including 3 attack aircraft, 17 fighter aircraft, and 32 helicopters). Libya has 32,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 7.3 million.

20. Portugal

Total artillery: 106
Total towed artillery: 82
Total self-propelled artillery: 24
Total tanks: 34
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 11,173
Military strength score: 0.5609 – #38 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Portugal has 117 military aircraft (including 28 fighter aircraft and 38 helicopters). Portugal has 24,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.5 million.

19. Switzerland

Total artillery: 133
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 133
Total tanks: 134
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 4,304
Military strength score: 0.6097 – #43 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Switzerland has 147 military aircraft (including 43 fighter aircraft and 41 helicopters). Switzerland has 101,584 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 8.6 million.

18. Germany

Total artillery: 134
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 134
Total tanks: 295
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 33
Total military vehicles: 79,317
Military strength score: 0.2847 – #19 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Germany has 618 military aircraft (including 76 attack aircraft, 133 fighter aircraft, and 318 helicopters). Germany has 181,600 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 84.2 million.

17. Serbia

Total artillery: 162
Total towed artillery: 72
Total self-propelled artillery: 90
Total tanks: 262
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 82
Total military vehicles: 3,954
Military strength score: 0.9038 – #56 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Serbia has 112 military aircraft (including 17 attack aircraft, 11 fighter aircraft, and 44 helicopters). Serbia has 25,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 6.7 million.

16. Croatia

Total artillery: 181
Total towed artillery: 163
Total self-propelled artillery: 18
Total tanks: 75
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 105
Total military vehicles: 3,076
Military strength score: 1.1333 – #66 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Croatia has 81 military aircraft (including 11 fighter aircraft and 52 helicopters). Croatia has 14,325 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 4.2 million.

15. Spain

Total artillery: 236
Total towed artillery: 140
Total self-propelled artillery: 96
Total tanks: 327
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles: 15,046
Military strength score: 0.2882 – #20 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Spain has 513 military aircraft (including 12 attack aircraft, 139 fighter aircraft, and 121 helicopters). Spain has 133,282 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 47.2 million.

14. Georgia

Azerbaijan+tanks | Exercise Saber Guardian 2016

Total artillery: 267
Total towed artillery: 173
Total self-propelled artillery: 94
Total tanks: 235
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 82
Total military vehicles: 5,256
Military strength score: 1.6969 – #84 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Georgia has 52 military aircraft (including 42 helicopters). Georgia has 55,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 4.9 million.

13. United Arab Emirates

Total artillery: 282
Total towed artillery: 99
Total self-propelled artillery: 183
Total tanks: 354
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 162
Total military vehicles: 12,253
Military strength score: 0.8083 – #51 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, the United Arab Emirates has 560 military aircraft (including 18 attack aircraft, 99 fighter aircraft, and 246 helicopters). The United Arab Emirates has 65,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.0 million.

12. Jordan

Total artillery: 283
Total towed artillery: 84
Total self-propelled artillery: 199
Total tanks: 1,365
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 88
Total military vehicles: 24,148
Military strength score: 1.4651 – #80 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Jordan has 265 military aircraft (including 6 attack aircraft, 44 fighter aircraft, and 148 helicopters). Jordan has 100,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 11.1 million.

11. Bangladesh

Total artillery: 464
Total towed artillery: 437
Total self-propelled artillery: 27
Total tanks: 320
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 71
Total military vehicles: 13,100
Military strength score: 0.5419 – #37 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Bangladesh has 216 military aircraft (including 44 fighter aircraft and 73 helicopters). Bangladesh has 163,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 167.2 million.

10. Poland

Total artillery: 525
Total towed artillery: 0
Total self-propelled artillery: 525
Total tanks: 612
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 211
Total military vehicles: 13,956
Military strength score: 0.2917 – #21 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Poland has 468 military aircraft (including 34 attack aircraft, 59 fighter aircraft, and 215 helicopters). Poland has 202,100 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 38.0 million.

9. Japan

Total artillery: 653
Total towed artillery: 480
Total self-propelled artillery: 173
Total tanks: 518
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 54
Total military vehicles: 37,662
Military strength score: 0.1601 – #7 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Japan has 1,459 military aircraft (including 36 attack aircraft, 217 fighter aircraft, and 577 helicopters). Japan has 247,150 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 123.7 million.

8. Kazakhstan

Total artillery: 696
Total towed artillery: 450
Total self-propelled artillery: 246
Total tanks: 300
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 407
Total military vehicles: 6,012
Military strength score: 0.9495 – #58 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Kazakhstan has 243 military aircraft (including 38 attack aircraft, 81 fighter aircraft, and 75 helicopters). Kazakhstan has 110,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 19.5 million.

7. Finland

Total artillery: 792
Total towed artillery: 667
Total self-propelled artillery: 125
Total tanks: 200
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 76
Total military vehicles: 11,716
Military strength score: 0.7967 – #50 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Finland has 164 military aircraft (including 55 fighter aircraft and 27 helicopters). Finland has 24,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 5.6 million.

6. Israel

Total artillery: 950
Total towed artillery: 300
Total self-propelled artillery: 650
Total tanks: 1,370
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 150
Total military vehicles: 43,407
Military strength score: 0.2596 – #17 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Israel has 612 military aircraft (including 39 attack aircraft, 241 fighter aircraft, and 146 helicopters). Israel has 170,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 9.0 million.

5. Myanmar

Total artillery: 2,083
Total towed artillery: 1,868
Total self-propelled artillery: 215
Total tanks: 705
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 586
Total military vehicles: 8,139
Military strength score: 0.5251 – #35 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Myanmar has 293 military aircraft (including 26 attack aircraft, 58 fighter aircraft, and 80 helicopters). Myanmar has 150,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 58.0 million.

4. Iran

Total artillery: 2,630
Total towed artillery: 2,050
Total self-propelled artillery: 580
Total tanks: 1,996
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 775
Total military vehicles: 65,765
Military strength score: 0.2269 – #14 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Iran has 551 military aircraft (including 23 attack aircraft, 186 fighter aircraft, and 129 helicopters). Iran has 610,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 87.6 million.

3. Syria

Total artillery: 2,695
Total towed artillery: 2,400
Total self-propelled artillery: 295
Total tanks: 2,720
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 614
Total military vehicles: 14,550
Military strength score: 1.0026 – #60 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Syria has 452 military aircraft (including 57 attack aircraft, 168 fighter aircraft, and 153 helicopters). Syria has 170,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 22.9 million.

2. Turkey

Total artillery: 2,785
Total towed artillery: 1,747
Total self-propelled artillery: 1,038
Total tanks: 2,231
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 286
Total military vehicles: 55,104
Military strength score: 0.1697 – #8 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, Turkey has 1,069 military aircraft (including 205 fighter aircraft and 502 helicopters). Turkey has 355,200 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 83.6 million.

1. South Korea

Total artillery: 8,052
Total towed artillery: 4,863
Total self-propelled artillery: 3,189
Total tanks: 2,501
Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 581
Total military vehicles: 66,492
Military strength score: 0.1416 – #5 out of 145

Separate from the ground forces, South Korea has 1,576 military aircraft (including 98 attack aircraft, 354 fighter aircraft, and 758 helicopters). South Korea has 600,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 52.0 million.