24/7 Wall St. Insights:
- Russia has by far the most artillery units in Asia
- There are nearly 15,000 artillery units in Russia’s arsenal as well as a massive amount ot tanks and MLRS units
- Russia’s arsenal includes some of the most advanced artillery systems in the world including the 2S19 Msta-S, a self-propelled howitzer, as well as the BM-30 Smerch, a long-range MLRS
- Also: Dividend Legends to Hold Forever
When it comes to sheer artillery firepower, Russia is the top dog in Asia. Employing nearly 15,000 artillery units, Russia also incorporates a massive number of tanks and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS) into its arsenal as well. Russia stands unrivaled in Asia in its artillery capabilities. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at the artillery arsenals of Asia. (Which countries support Russia in the conflict with Ukraine.)
To identify the Asian countries with the most artillery units, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 2024 Military Strength Ranking from Global Firepower, an annually updated defense-related statistics website with information on 145 countries. 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. Countries with no artillery were excluded.
Russia’s arsenal includes some of the most advanced artillery systems in the world. Among its most powerful is the 2S19 Msta-S, a self-propelled howitzer, as well as the BM-30 Smerch, a long-range MLRS.
Outside of Russia there are a number of other nations that have formidable artillery arsenals as well, but none come close to the sheer numbers that the Red Army has. (The US Army’s longest range artillery weapons, ranked.)
Here is a look at the largest artillery armies in Asia:
Why Are We Covering This?
Understanding the military dynamics of Asia is important considering the region’s complex geopolitical landscape and its growing strategic significance. Historically, Asia has been shaped by internal conflicts, border disputes, and great power competition. Today, its military forces play an important role in determining regional stability. As tensions rise over territorial claims and political influence, military power is the law of the land, from disputes in the South China Sea to the contested borders in South Asia.
42. Yemen
- Total artillery: 26
- Total towed artillery: 26
- Total self-propelled artillery: 0
- Total tanks: 55
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 13
- Total military vehicles: 4,800
- Military strength score: 1.4692 – #81 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Yemen has 177 military aircraft (including 23 attack aircraft, 53 fighter aircraft, and 61 helicopters). Yemen has 66,700 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 31.6 million.
41. 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
Apart 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.
40. Bahrain
- Total artillery: 64
- Total towed artillery: 26
- Total self-propelled artillery: 38
- Total tanks: 180
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 17
- Total military vehicles: 2,598
- Military strength score: 1.7163 – #86 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Bahrain has 120 military aircraft (including 18 fighter aircraft and 74 helicopters). Bahrain has 18,400 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 1.6 million.
39. 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
Apart 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.
38. Uzbekistan
- Total artillery: 83
- Total towed artillery: 0
- Total self-propelled artillery: 83
- Total tanks: 270
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 143
- Total military vehicles: 5,526
- Military strength score: 1.1069 – #65 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Uzbekistan has 191 military aircraft (including 13 attack aircraft, 58 fighter aircraft, and 100 helicopters). Uzbekistan has 48,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 31.4 million.
37. Tajikistan
- Total artillery: 90
- Total towed artillery: 55
- Total self-propelled artillery: 35
- Total tanks: 80
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 45
- Total military vehicles: 4,650
- Military strength score: 2.1265 – #107 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Tajikistan has 25 military aircraft (including 20 helicopters). Tajikistan has 9,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 9.2 million.
36. Laos
- Total artillery: 127
- Total towed artillery: 87
- Total self-propelled artillery: 40
- Total tanks: 130
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 64
- Total military vehicles: 1,880
- Military strength score: 2.2071 – #112 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Laos has 34 military aircraft (including 27 helicopters). Laos has 100,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 7.9 million.
35. Singapore
- Total artillery: 137
- Total towed artillery: 89
- Total self-propelled artillery: 48
- Total tanks: 170
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 24
- Total military vehicles: 8,318
- Military strength score: 0.4087 – #30 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Singapore has 247 military aircraft (including 100 fighter aircraft and 87 helicopters). Singapore has 51,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 6.0 million.
34. Mongolia
- Total artillery: 150
- Total towed artillery: 150
- Total self-propelled artillery: 0
- Total tanks: 470
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 120
- Total military vehicles: 3,600
- Military strength score: 2.1079 – #105 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Mongolia has 11 military aircraft (including 6 helicopters). Mongolia has 35,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 3.3 million.
33. Oman
- Total artillery: 165
- Total towed artillery: 141
- Total self-propelled artillery: 24
- Total tanks: 154
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military vehicles: 5,019
- Military strength score: 1.4448 – #78 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Oman has 128 military aircraft (including 10 attack aircraft, 29 fighter aircraft, and 31 helicopters). Oman has 42,600 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 3.8 million.
32. Sri Lanka
- Total artillery: 175
- Total towed artillery: 175
- Total self-propelled artillery: 0
- Total tanks: 182
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 32
- Total military vehicles: 3,708
- Military strength score: 1.3459 – #75 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Sri Lanka has 86 military aircraft (including 5 fighter aircraft and 55 helicopters). Sri Lanka has 346,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 23.6 million.
31. Armenia
- Total artillery: 182
- Total towed artillery: 145
- Total self-propelled artillery: 37
- Total tanks: 221
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 100
- Total military vehicles: 736
- Military strength score: 2.0583 – #102 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Armenia has 64 military aircraft (including 10 attack aircraft, 4 fighter aircraft, and 36 helicopters). Armenia has 57,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 3.0 million.
30. Malaysia
- Total artillery: 196
- Total towed artillery: 196
- Total self-propelled artillery: 0
- Total tanks: 48
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 36
- Total military vehicles: 13,965
- Military strength score: 0.5992 – #42 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Malaysia has 143 military aircraft (including 12 attack aircraft, 26 fighter aircraft, and 52 helicopters). Malaysia has 113,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 34.2 million.
29. Cambodia
- Total artillery: 240
- Total towed artillery: 215
- Total self-propelled artillery: 25
- Total tanks: 322
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 497
- Total military vehicles: 4,094
- Military strength score: 2.1725 – #111 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Cambodia has 24 military aircraft (including 20 helicopters). Cambodia has 221,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 16.9 million.
28. Georgia
- 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
Apart 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.
27. 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
Apart 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.
26. 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
Apart 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.
25. Philippines
- Total artillery: 301
- Total towed artillery: 289
- Total self-propelled artillery: 12
- Total tanks: 10
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military vehicles: 7,562
- Military strength score: 0.4691 – #34 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, the Philippines has 195 military aircraft (including 25 attack aircraft and 115 helicopters). The Philippines has 150,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 116.4 million.
24. Kyrgyzstan
- Total artillery: 370
- Total towed artillery: 306
- Total self-propelled artillery: 64
- Total tanks: 215
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 36
- Total military vehicles: 2,772
- Military strength score: 2.0057 – #100 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Kyrgyzstan has 6 military aircraft (including 6 helicopters). Kyrgyzstan has 23,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 6.1 million.
23. Lebanon
- Total artillery: 458
- Total towed artillery: 374
- Total self-propelled artillery: 84
- Total tanks: 204
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 30
- Total military vehicles: 4,522
- Military strength score: 2.4283 – #118 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Lebanon has 81 military aircraft (including 9 attack aircraft and 69 helicopters). Lebanon has 60,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 5.3 million.
22. 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
Apart 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.
21. Turkmenistan
- Total artillery: 530
- Total towed artillery: 457
- Total self-propelled artillery: 73
- Total tanks: 680
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 160
- Total military vehicles: 8,312
- Military strength score: 1.4906 – #83 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Turkmenistan has 90 military aircraft (including 28 attack aircraft, 24 fighter aircraft, and 26 helicopters). Turkmenistan has 36,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 5.7 million.
20. Indonesia
- Total artillery: 567
- Total towed artillery: 414
- Total self-propelled artillery: 153
- Total tanks: 313
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 63
- Total military vehicles: 11,604
- Military strength score: 0.2251 – #13 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Indonesia has 474 military aircraft (including 37 attack aircraft, 41 fighter aircraft, and 210 helicopters). Indonesia has 400,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 279.5 million.
19. Azerbaijan
- Total artillery: 594
- Total towed artillery: 300
- Total self-propelled artillery: 294
- Total tanks: 920
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 218
- Total military vehicles: 29,312
- Military strength score: 0.9934 – #59 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Azerbaijan has 144 military aircraft (including 11 attack aircraft, 12 fighter aircraft, and 86 helicopters). Azerbaijan has 126,400 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.4 million.
18. Thailand
- Total artillery: 639
- Total towed artillery: 589
- Total self-propelled artillery: 50
- Total tanks: 648
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 26
- Total military vehicles: 14,040
- Military strength score: 0.3389 – #25 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Thailand has 501 military aircraft (including 18 attack aircraft, 73 fighter aircraft, and 231 helicopters). Thailand has 360,850 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 69.8 million.
17. 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
Apart 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.
16. 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
Apart 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.
15. Vietnam
- Total artillery: 880
- Total towed artillery: 700
- Total self-propelled artillery: 180
- Total tanks: 2,029
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 450
- Total military vehicles: 18,578
- Military strength score: 0.3158 – #22 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Vietnam has 226 military aircraft (including 33 attack aircraft, 41 fighter aircraft, and 99 helicopters). Vietnam has 600,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 104.8 million.
14. 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
Apart 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.
13. Taiwan
- Total artillery: 1,420
- Total towed artillery: 1,120
- Total self-propelled artillery: 300
- Total tanks: 1,010
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 223
- Total military vehicles: 19,868
- Military strength score: 0.3302 – #24 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Taiwan has 750 military aircraft (including 286 fighter aircraft and 236 helicopters). Taiwan has 215,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 23.6 million.
12. Iraq
- Total artillery: 1,727
- Total towed artillery: 1,446
- Total self-propelled artillery: 281
- Total tanks: 848
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 425
- Total military vehicles: 39,872
- Military strength score: 0.7441 – #45 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Iraq has 371 military aircraft (including 35 attack aircraft, 26 fighter aircraft, and 197 helicopters). Iraq has 193,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 41.3 million.
11. 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
Apart 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.
10. 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
Apart 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.
9. 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
Apart 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.
8. 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
Apart from the ground forces, Turkey has 1,069 military aircraft (including 0 attack aircraft, 205 fighter aircraft, and 502 helicopters). Turkey has 355,200 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 83.6 million.
7. Saudi Arabia
- Total artillery: 3,253
- Total towed artillery: 2,017
- Total self-propelled artillery: 1,236
- Total tanks: 1,485
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 490
- Total military vehicles: 20,694
- Military strength score: 0.3235 – #23 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Saudi Arabia has 914 military aircraft (including 81 attack aircraft, 283 fighter aircraft, and 262 helicopters). Saudi Arabia has 257,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 36.0 million.
6. India
- Total artillery: 3,383
- Total towed artillery: 3,243
- Total self-propelled artillery: 140
- Total tanks: 4,614
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 702
- Total military vehicles: 151,248
- Military strength score: 0.1023 – #4 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, India has 2,296 military aircraft (including 130 attack aircraft, 606 fighter aircraft, and 869 helicopters). India has 1.5 million active-duty personnel out of a total population of 1.4 billion.
5. Pakistan
- Total artillery: 3,990
- Total towed artillery: 3,238
- Total self-propelled artillery: 752
- Total tanks: 3,742
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 602
- Total military vehicles: 50,523
- Military strength score: 0.1711 – #9 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Pakistan has 1,434 military aircraft (including 90 attack aircraft, 387 fighter aircraft, and 352 helicopters). Pakistan has 654,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 247.7 million.
4. China
- Total artillery: 5,284
- Total towed artillery: 1,434
- Total self-propelled artillery: 3,850
- Total tanks: 5,000
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 3,180
- Total military vehicles: 174,300
- Military strength score: 0.0706 – #3 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, China has 3,304 military aircraft (including 371 attack aircraft, 1,207 fighter aircraft, and 913 helicopters). China has 2.0 million active-duty personnel out of a total population of 1.4 billion.
3. 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
Apart 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.
2. North Korea
- Total artillery: 9,000
- Total towed artillery: 4,500
- Total self-propelled artillery: 4,500
- Total tanks: 5,845
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 2,920
- Total military vehicles: 24,696
- Military strength score: 0.5313 – #36 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, North Korea has 951 military aircraft (including 132 attack aircraft, 440 fighter aircraft, and 205 helicopters). North Korea has 1.3 million active-duty personnel out of a total population of 26.1 million.
1. Russia
- Total artillery: 14,564
- Total towed artillery: 8,356
- Total self-propelled artillery: 6,208
- Total tanks: 14,777
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 3,065
- Total military vehicles: 161,382
- Military strength score: 0.0702 – #2 out of 145
Apart from the ground forces, Russia has 4,255 military aircraft (including 730 attack aircraft, 809 fighter aircraft, and 1,547 helicopters). Russia has 1.3 million active-duty personnel out of a total population of 141.7 million.
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