Which Countries Are Investing the Most in Advancing Artillery Interests?

Military

Published: April 1, 2025 11:18 am

For more than a century, artillery has played a central role in conflicts around the world. The ability to strike enemies from great distance yields a significant advantage, and then having the biggest guns to do so helps even more. Artillery guns also imply a serious economic investment by a nation for advancing these capabilities. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the countries with the most self-propelled artillery units.

To determine the countries with the most self-propelled artillery in the world, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2025 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. Global Firepower ranked 145 countries based on their PowerIndex, a composite of over 60 measures in categories such as military might, financials, logistical capability, and geography. The smaller the PowerIndex value the more powerful a nation’s theoretical conventional fighting capability is. We ranked these countries based on total self-propelled artillery units. We also included supplemental information regarding military vehicles, tanks, MLRS, as well as the overall strength score and defense budget.

Here is a look at the countries with the most self-propelled artillery in the world:

Why Are We Covering This?

Earth photo at night, City Lights of Europe, Middle East, Turkey, Italy, Black Sea, Mediterrenian Sea from space, World map on dark globe on satellite photo. Elements of this image furnished by NASA.

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 considered the strongest military powers in the world, there are a number of other nations with their own spheres of influence and strengths that impact global relations from a military perspective.

30. Brazil

Total self-propelled artillery: 109
Total towed artillery: 412
Total artillery count: 521
Total number of tanks: 294
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 38
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 22,464
Military strength score: 0.2415 – #11 out of 145
Military defense budget: $26,157,300,000 – #19 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Brazil has 513 military aircraft (including 38 attack aircraft, 43 fighter aircraft, and 191 helicopters). Brazil has 360,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 220.05 million.

29. Kazakhstan

Russian Tank T-80 with Gas Tur... by Andrey Korchagin

Russian Tank T-80 with Gas Tur... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Andrey Korchagin

Total self-propelled artillery: 126
Total towed artillery: 194
Total artillery count: 320
Total number of tanks: 350
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 287
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 7,736
Military strength score: 1.1016 – #57 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,048,700,000 – #72 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Kazakhstan has 198 military aircraft (including 25 attack aircraft, 63 fighter aircraft, and 65 helicopters). Kazakhstan has 110,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 20.26 million.

28. Switzerland

Switzerland tank (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Ank Kumar

Total self-propelled artillery: 133
Total towed artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 133
Total number of tanks: 205
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 6,996
Military strength score: 0.7869 – #44 out of 145
Military defense budget: $25,039,000,000 – #20 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Switzerland has 146 military aircraft (including 43 fighter aircraft and 40 helicopters). Switzerland has 101,584 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 8.861 million.

27. Germany

NATO Response Force (Land) Holds Exercise In Northern Germany

Total self-propelled artillery: 134
Total towed artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 134
Total number of tanks: 296
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 33
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 83,260
Military strength score: 0.2601 – #14 out of 145
Military defense budget: $50,000,000,000 – #11 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Germany has 584 military aircraft (including 63 attack aircraft, 129 fighter aircraft, and 309 helicopters). Germany has 181,600 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 84.12 million.

26. Armenia

Total self-propelled artillery: 145
Total towed artillery: 148
Total artillery count: 293
Total number of tanks: 109
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 100
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 1,306
Military strength score: 2.0373 – #91 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,700,000,000 – #74 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Armenia has 71 military aircraft (including 15 attack aircraft, 4 fighter aircraft, and 36 helicopters). Armenia has 57,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 2.977 million.

25. Uzbekistan

Total self-propelled artillery: 147
Total towed artillery: 236
Total artillery count: 383
Total number of tanks: 340
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 108
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 2,970
Military strength score: 1.1121 – #58 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,803,500,000 – #63 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Uzbekistan has 192 military aircraft (including 13 attack aircraft, 58 fighter aircraft, and 101 helicopters). Uzbekistan has 48,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 36.52 million.

24. Japan

Total self-propelled artillery: 149
Total towed artillery: 480
Total artillery count: 629
Total number of tanks: 521
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 54
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 31,964
Military strength score: 0.1839 – #7 out of 145
Military defense budget: $57,000,000,000 – #7 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Japan has 1,443 military aircraft (including 38 attack aircraft, 217 fighter aircraft, and 596 helicopters). Japan has 247,150 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 123.2 million.

23. Indonesia

Total self-propelled artillery: 153
Total towed artillery: 396
Total artillery count: 549
Total number of tanks: 331
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 63
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 20,440
Military strength score: 0.2557 – #13 out of 145
Military defense budget: $10,600,000,000 – #29 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Indonesia has 459 military aircraft (including 34 attack aircraft, 41 fighter aircraft, and 214 helicopters). Indonesia has 400,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 281.56 million.

22. United Arab Emirates

Total self-propelled artillery: 165
Total towed artillery: 99
Total artillery count: 264
Total number of tanks: 354
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 49
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 8,707
Military strength score: 1.0186 – #54 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,212,360,382 – #70 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, the United Arab Emirates has 551 military aircraft (including 16 attack aircraft, 99 fighter aircraft, and 247 helicopters). The United Arab Emirates has 65,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.03 million.

21. Azerbaijan

Exercise Saber Guardian 2016 by U.S. Army Europe

Exercise Saber Guardian 2016 (Public Domain) by U.S. Army Europe

Total self-propelled artillery: 198
Total towed artillery: 650
Total artillery count: 848
Total number of tanks: 497
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 268
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 7,642
Military strength score: 1.2531 – #60 out of 145
Military defense budget: $5,000,000,000 – #49 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Azerbaijan has 154 military aircraft (including 18 attack aircraft, 12 fighter aircraft, and 86 helicopters). Azerbaijan has 126,400 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.65 million.

20. Algeria

Total self-propelled artillery: 224
Total towed artillery: 483
Total artillery count: 707
Total number of tanks: 1,485
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 266
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 26,000
Military strength score: 0.3589 – #20 out of 145
Military defense budget: $25,000,000,000 – #21 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Algeria has 608 military aircraft (including 42 attack aircraft, 102 fighter aircraft, and 299 helicopters). Algeria has 325,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 47.02 million.

19. Saudi Arabia

Operation Desert Storm (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Lietmotiv

Total self-propelled artillery: 332
Total towed artillery: 467
Total artillery count: 799
Total number of tanks: 840
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 321
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 19,040
Military strength score: 0.4201 – #25 out of 145
Military defense budget: $74,760,000,000 – #5 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Saudi Arabia has 917 military aircraft (including 81 attack aircraft, 283 fighter aircraft, and 264 helicopters). Saudi Arabia has 257,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 36.54 million.

18. Israel

Merkava (Chariot) | Israeli Merkava tank on presentation

Total self-propelled artillery: 352
Total towed artillery: 171
Total artillery count: 523
Total number of tanks: 1,300
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 183
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 35,985
Military strength score: 0.2661 – #15 out of 145
Military defense budget: $30,500,000,000 – #17 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Israel has 611 military aircraft (including 38 attack aircraft, 240 fighter aircraft, and 147 helicopters). Israel has 170,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 9.403 million.

17. Belarus

Total self-propelled artillery: 357
Total towed artillery: 215
Total artillery count: 572
Total number of tanks: 507
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 206
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 6,916
Military strength score: 1.3954 – #70 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,077,900,000 – #87 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Belarus has 185 military aircraft (including 50 attack aircraft, 36 fighter aircraft, and 68 helicopters). Belarus has 63,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 9.501 million.

16. Jordan

Total self-propelled artillery: 358
Total towed artillery: 80
Total artillery count: 438
Total number of tanks: 1,458
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 56
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 16,624
Military strength score: 1.6139 – #76 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,500,000,000 – #65 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Jordan has 274 military aircraft (including 6 attack aircraft, 44 fighter aircraft, and 155 helicopters). Jordan has 100,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 11.17 million.

15. Iran

Military rockets, wall with barbwire and Iran national flag

Total self-propelled artillery: 392
Total towed artillery: 2,070
Total artillery count: 2,462
Total number of tanks: 1,713
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 1,517
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 65,825
Military strength score: 0.3048 – #16 out of 145
Military defense budget: $15,450,000,000 – #25 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Iran has 551 military aircraft (including 21 attack aircraft, 188 fighter aircraft, and 128 helicopters). Iran has 610,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 88.39 million.

14. Morocco

4th Tank Battalion trains with Moroccan counterparts during African Lion 2011 [Image 1 of 8] by DVIDSHUB

4th Tank Battalion trains with Moroccan counterparts during African Lion 2011 [Image 1 of 8] (BY 2.0) by DVIDSHUB

Total self-propelled artillery: 396
Total towed artillery: 153
Total artillery count: 549
Total number of tanks: 903
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 129
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 7,877
Military strength score: 1.1273 – #59 out of 145
Military defense budget: $13,400,000,000 – #27 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Morocco has 260 military aircraft (including 83 fighter aircraft and 78 helicopters). Morocco has 195,800 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 37.39 million.

13. Iraq

Total self-propelled artillery: 434
Total towed artillery: 610
Total artillery count: 1044
Total number of tanks: 1,025
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 572
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 37,288
Military strength score: 0.7738 – #43 out of 145
Military defense budget: $7,923,000,000 – #37 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Iraq has 391 military aircraft (including 36 attack aircraft, 26 fighter aircraft, and 197 helicopters). Iraq has 193,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 42.08 million.

12. Taiwan

Total self-propelled artillery: 488
Total towed artillery: 1,360
Total artillery count: 1,848
Total number of tanks: 888
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 234
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 19,921
Military strength score: 0.3988 – #23 out of 145
Military defense budget: $19,740,000,000 – #23 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Taiwan has 761 military aircraft (including 285 fighter aircraft and 236 helicopters). Taiwan has 215,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 23.60 million.

11. Greece

Leopard 2 (CC BY-SA 4.0) by George E. Koronaios

Total self-propelled artillery: 589
Total towed artillery: 698
Total artillery count: 1287
Total number of tanks: 1,344
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 152
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 61,888
Military strength score: 0.5337 – #30 out of 145
Military defense budget: $6,500,000,000 – #44 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Greece has 558 military aircraft (including 178 fighter aircraft and 293 helicopters). Greece has 142,700 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.46 million.

10. Ukraine

Total self-propelled artillery: 658
Total towed artillery: 615
Total artillery count: 1273
Total number of tanks: 1,114
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 279
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 18,920
Military strength score: 0.3755 – #21 out of 145
Military defense budget: $53,700,000,000 – #10 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Ukraine has 324 military aircraft (including 36 attack aircraft, 70 fighter aircraft, and 136 helicopters). Ukraine has 900,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 35.66 million.

9. Pakistan

Pakistan military tank by Ahmed Bin Mazhar

Pakistan military tank (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Ahmed Bin Mazhar

Total self-propelled artillery: 662
Total towed artillery: 2,629
Total artillery count: 3,291
Total number of tanks: 2,627
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 600
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 17,516
Military strength score: 0.2513 – #12 out of 145
Military defense budget: $7,640,000,000 – #38 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Pakistan has 1,399 military aircraft (including 90 attack aircraft, 328 fighter aircraft, and 373 helicopters). Pakistan has 654,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 252.36 million.

8. United States

Austria Tanks by 7th Army Training Command

Austria Tanks (CC BY 2.0) by 7th Army Training Command

Total self-propelled artillery: 671
Total towed artillery: 1,212
Total artillery count: 1,883
Total number of tanks: 4,640
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 641
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 391,963
Military strength score: 0.0744 – #1 out of 145
Military defense budget: $895,000,000,000 – #1 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, the United States has 13,043 military aircraft (including 889 attack aircraft, 1,790 fighter aircraft, and 5,843 helicopters). The United States has 1,328,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 341.96 million.

7. Poland

Poland+T-72M1 | T-72M1 ‘3243’ – Tankfest 2017

Total self-propelled artillery: 677
Total towed artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 677
Total number of tanks: 614
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 196
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 23,138
Military strength score: 0.3776 – #22 out of 145
Military defense budget: $48,700,000,000 – #12 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Poland has 479 military aircraft (including 44 attack aircraft, 59 fighter aircraft, and 216 helicopters). Poland has 202,100 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 38.75 million.

6. Turkey

Total self-propelled artillery: 1,038
Total towed artillery: 1,707
Total artillery count: 2,745
Total number of tanks: 2,238
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 296
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 61,173
Military strength score: 0.1902 – #9 out of 145
Military defense budget: $47,000,000,000 – #13 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Turkey has 1,083 military aircraft (including 201 fighter aircraft and 508 helicopters). Turkey has 355,200 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 84.12 million.

5. Egypt

Total self-propelled artillery: 1,056
Total towed artillery: 962
Total artillery count: 2,018
Total number of tanks: 3,620
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 528
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 41,012
Military strength score: 0.3427 – #19 out of 145
Military defense budget: $5,879,500,000 – #46 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Egypt has 1,093 military aircraft (including 90 attack aircraft, 238 fighter aircraft, and 348 helicopters). Egypt has 440,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 111.25 million.

4. North Korea

North Korea artillery | Missiles on the background of the North Korean flag

Total self-propelled artillery: 1,300
Total towed artillery: 700
Total artillery count: 2,000
Total number of tanks: 4,344
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 1,500
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 18,288
Military strength score: 0.6016 – #34 out of 145
Military defense budget: $4,736,000,000 – #51 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, North Korea has 861 military aircraft (including 114 attack aircraft, 368 fighter aircraft, and 205 helicopters). North Korea has 1,320,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 26.30 million.

3. South Korea

Total self-propelled artillery: 3,270
Total towed artillery: 4,400
Total artillery count: 7,670
Total number of tanks: 2,236
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 426
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 58,880
Military strength score: 0.1656 – #5 out of 145
Military defense budget: $46,300,000,000 – #14 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, South Korea has 1,592 military aircraft (including 98 attack aircraft, 315 fighter aircraft, and 807 helicopters). South Korea has 600,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 52.08 million.

2. China

Total self-propelled artillery: 3,490
Total towed artillery: 1,000
Total artillery count: 4,490
Total number of tanks: 6,800
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 2,750
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 144,017
Military strength score: 0.0788 – #3 out of 145
Military defense budget: $266,850,000,000 – #2 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, China has 3,309 military aircraft (including 371 attack aircraft, 1,212 fighter aircraft, and 913 helicopters). China has 2,035,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 1.415 billion.

1. Russia

Total self-propelled artillery: 5,168
Total towed artillery: 8,505
Total artillery count: 13,673
Total number of tanks: 5,750
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 3,005
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 131,527
Military strength score: 0.0788 – #2 out of 145
Military defense budget: $126,000,000,000 – #3 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Russia has 4,292 military aircraft (including 689 attack aircraft, 833 fighter aircraft, and 1,651 helicopters). Russia has 1,320,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 140.82 million.

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