With Over 3,000 Rocket Systems, This Country is Not to Be Played With

Military

Published: April 25, 2025 11:10 am

After the invasion of Ukraine by Russian forces, numerous countries around the globe stepped up to provide necessary resources and equipment to Ukrainian forces. These countries, many of which are NATO allies (despite the fact that Ukraine is not part of NATO), have also begun bolstering their own defenses as Russia undertakes sabotage efforts against them — such as cutting or damaging underwater cables. But while countries have flocked to Ukraine’s defense, have any countries supported Russia instead? A new video from the frontlines of the conflict suggests yes. The video, captured by defense reporter Yuriy Butusov, appears to show that Russia has a North Korean M1991 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS). Given that Russia and North Korea signed a defense pact last June, this is not entirely surprising. However, it could show that Russia is possibly more prepared for ongoing conflict than other nations believed — or that Russia might have some more powerful equipment and weaponry behind the scenes. (Which countries hold Putin in high regard?)

MLRS units have been used extensively throughout history, including during World War II, the Gulf War, and the 2006 Gaza War, and will no doubt be deployed more frequently as the state of warfare changes. To determine which countries across the world have the most MLRS units, 24/7 Wall St. explored Global Firepower’s Military Strength Ranking. This comprehensive resource evaluates 145 countries on a variety of factors including financials, air power, manpower, land forces, and more to identify which countries have the strongest military. Each nation is given a score — the closer to 0.000, the more powerful the military. Our information on MLRS units, as well as other military vehicles and the defense budgets, was also taken from Global Firepower.

This previously published article was updated in April 2025 to adjust several rankings and to highlight news relating to MLRS use in various conflicts.

Why Are We Covering This?

Silhouette of a military man in headphones at a laptop against the background of a digital globe of the earth, contour lighting. Concept: collection of confidential information, surveillance.

Multiple Rocket Launch Systems play an important role in modern warfare. These systems provide a powerful advantage to military units looking to strike quickly and powerfully. A country with significant MLRS units is prepared for conflicts that unfold fast and require rapid responses. Over the last few years, and especially over the last few months, the world has seen increasing frustrations and territorial disputes between countries. The Trump administration has been a catalyst for global unrest, as many allied countries remain concerned about Trump’s potential relationships with Russia. Still, the U.S. Army participated in Joint Viking 25, a Norwegian-led, multinational exercise that involved an MLRS battalion, in March 2025. As we look to the future, countries with MLRS units — and who are ready and prepared to use them — will be best suited for success if or when war begins.

Can you guess which countries have the most MLRS units?:

27. Turkmenistan

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 164
Total tanks: 654
Total artillery: 523
Total military vehicles: 5,016
Military defense budget: $1,078,020,000 – #86 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 1.6512 – #77 out of 145

26. Myanmar

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 180
Total tanks: 445
Total artillery: 305
Total military vehicles: 5,980
Military defense budget: $2,948,000,000 – #62 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6735 – #37 out of 145

25. Israel

Menatetz -- Our-IDF-2018-IZE-1... by Zachi Evenor

Menatetz -- Our-IDF-2018-IZE-1... (CC BY 2.0) by Zachi Evenor

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 183
Total tanks: 1,300
Total artillery: 523
Total military vehicles: 35,985
Military defense budget: $30,500,000,000 – #17 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2661 – #15 out of 145

24. Sudan

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 192
Total tanks: 224
Total artillery: 387
Total military vehicles: 2,900
Military defense budget: $342,000,000 – #118 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 1.4756 – #73 out of 145

23. Poland

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 196
Total tanks: 614
Total artillery: 677
Total military vehicles: 23,138
Military defense budget: $48,700,000,000 – #12 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3776 – #21 out of 145

22. Syria

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 204
Total tanks: 365
Total artillery: 731
Total military vehicles: 11,148
Military defense budget: $291,850,000 – #124 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2771 – #64 out of 145

21. Belarus

Polonez MLRS (05) (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Homoatrox

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 206
Total tanks: 507
Total artillery: 572
Total military vehicles: 6,916
Military defense budget: $1,077,900,000 – #87 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 1.3954 – #70 out of 145

20. Taiwan

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 234
Total tanks: 888
Total artillery: 1,848
Total military vehicles: 19,921
Military defense budget: $19,740,000,000 – #23 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3988 – #22 out of 145

19. Romania

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 243
Total tanks: 328
Total artillery: 720
Total military vehicles: 10,774
Military defense budget: $9,700,000,000 – #33 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.8984 – #51 out of 145

18. India

Multiple launch rocket system with a tactical ballistic missile

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 264
Total tanks: 4,201
Total artillery: 4,075
Total military vehicles: 148,594
Military defense budget: $75,000,000,000 – #4 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1184 – #4 out of 145

17. Algeria

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 266
Total tanks: 1,485
Total artillery: 707
Total military vehicles: 26,000
Military defense budget: $25,000,000,000 – #21 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3589 – #26 out of 145

16. Azerbaijan

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 268
Total tanks: 497
Total artillery: 848
Total military vehicles: 7,642
Military defense budget: $5,000,000,000 – #49 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 1.2531 – #60 out of 145

15. Ukraine

Ukrainian and Russian flag on Ukraine geopolitical map. War, Conflict, Crisis concept in Europe. High quality photo

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 279
Total tanks: 1,114
Total artillery: 1273
Total military vehicles: 18,920
Military defense budget: $53,700,000,000 – #10 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3755 – #20 out of 145

14. Kazakhstan

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 287
Total tanks: 350
Total artillery: 320
Total military vehicles: 7,736
Military defense budget: $2,048,700,000 – #72 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 1.1016 – #57 out of 145

13. Turkey

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 296
Total tanks: 2,238
Total artillery: 2,745
Total military vehicles: 61,173
Military defense budget: $47,000,000,000 – #13 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – #9 out of 145

12. Saudi Arabia

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 321
Total tanks: 840
Total artillery: 799
Total military vehicles: 19,040
Military defense budget: $74,760,000,000 – #5 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4201 – #24 out of 145

11. South Korea

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 426
Total tanks: 2,236
Total artillery: 7,670
Total military vehicles: 58,880
Military defense budget: $46,300,000,000 – #14 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.1656 – #5 out of 145

10. Cambodia

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 463
Total tanks: 644
Total artillery: 460
Total military vehicles: 3,627
Military defense budget: $860,000,000 – #92 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 2.0752 – #95 out of 145

9. Vietnam

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 474
Total tanks: 1,374
Total artillery: 575
Total military vehicles: 11,912
Military defense budget: $8,594,000,000 – #35 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.4024 – #23 out of 145

8. Egypt

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 528
Total tanks: 3,620
Total artillery: 2,018
Total military vehicles: 41,012
Military defense budget: $5,879,500,000 – #46 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3427 – #19 out of 145

7. Iraq

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 572
Total tanks: 1,025
Total artillery: 1044
Total military vehicles: 37,288
Military defense budget: $7,923,000,000 – #37 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.7738 – #43 out of 145

6. Pakistan

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 600
Total tanks: 2,627
Total artillery: 3,291
Total military vehicles: 17,516
Military defense budget: $7,640,000,000 – #38 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.2513 – #12 out of 145

5. United States

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 641
Total tanks: 4,640
Total artillery: 1,883
Total military vehicles: 391,963
Military defense budget: $895,000,000,000 – #1 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0744 – #1 out of 145

4. North Korea

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 1,500
Total tanks: 4,344
Total artillery: 2,000
Total military vehicles: 18,288
Military defense budget: $4,736,000,000 – #51 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.6016 – #34 out of 145

3. Iran

iran defense spending | Iranian missiles on the background of a banknote of Iranian rials

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 1,517
Total tanks: 1,713
Total artillery: 2,462
Total military vehicles: 65,825
Military defense budget: $15,450,000,000 – #25 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.3048 – #16 out of 145

2. China

China nuclear | Missiles in front of sunny chinese flag

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 2,750
Total tanks: 6,800
Total artillery: 4,490
Total military vehicles: 144,017
Military defense budget: $266,850,000,000 – #2 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #3 out of 145

1. Russia

BM-30 Smerch ARMY-2018 by Boevaya mashina

BM-30 Smerch ARMY-2018 (BY-SA 3.0) by Boevaya mashina

Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 3,005
Total tanks: 5,750
Total artillery: 13,673
Total military vehicles: 131,527
Military defense budget: $126,000,000,000 – #3 out of 145
Military strength score and world rank: 0.0788 – #2 out of 145

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