In the ongoing Russia-Ukraine War, the violence is beginning to creep beyond the countries’ borders. Since Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Russia has been secretly attacking other countries, shares James Appathurai, NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General for Innovation, Hybrid, and Cyber. According to Appathurai, Russia has been engaging in hybrid warfare — sabotaging buildings, putting incendiary devices in luggage, cutting undersea cables, or engaging in other covert acts of war. These acts, claims Appathurai, are Russia’s response to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) providing support and aid to Ukraine over the past two years. Russia, of course, denies any involvement. Getting involved in a conflict with NATO members could cause significant issues for Russia. With over 30 member nations, NATO operates on the premise of “collective defence” — i.e., NATO members step in if any of their member nations are attacked. While Ukraine is not a part of NATO (at least not yet), Russia’s infringement on other countries could lead to NATO stepping in more heavily. NATO is a strong military alliance with lots of access to aircraft, ships, and military vehicles like tanks. (This NATO country has a standing army of 1.3 million.)
The U.S. has, by far, the largest military within NATO. But which military holdings of NATO nations in Europe are most prepared for future conflict? NATO nations rely heavily on ground forces to achieve their operational objectives. Units like tanks, MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket Systems), and other armored vehicles are important in this regard, each serving in a different capacity. Armored vehicles ensure safety with troop movement, while tanks, MLRS, and artillery provide offensive firepower. It should be noted that there are a number of vehicles that serve in a logistical capacity outside of any combat roles. Collectively, these assets enable NATO forces to maintain a tactical advantage, regardless of the terrain. These also enable rapid deployment, which ultimately acts as a deterrent for opposing forces. Also, the standardization of these vehicles across NATO allows for an improved joint operational capacity among member nations. To identify the European countries with the most military vehicles, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 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 vehicles in their arsenal. We included supplemental information regarding the total tanks, artillery and MLRS units, as well as each country’s overall military strength score. Note that we have excluded Russia from this list.
Why Are We Covering This?
Historically, Europe has been marked by wars, shifting alliances, and territorial disputes — some of which remain ongoing. Yet Europe as a whole, and the countries within it, remains a key player on the global stage. Understanding European military dynamics is incredibly important to recognizing the continent’s deeply rooted political challenges and how they may manifest moving forward. Alliances like the European Union (EU) and NATO are some of the most powerful in terms of global influence. The countries below all either have large armies or hold many military vehicles, with backups from their fellow allied forces.
Check out the European countries with the most military vehicles:
38. Iceland
- Total military vehicles: 175
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 0
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 0
- Total active-duty personnel: 0
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.5038 – #136 out of 145
37. Luxembourg
- Total military vehicles: 180
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 0
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 1
- Total active-duty personnel: 1,000 (out of a population of 660,924)
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.1458 – #109 out of 145
36. Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Total military vehicles: 450
- Total tanks: 91
- Total artillery: 590
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 79
- Total military aircraft: 24 (all helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 12,770 (out of a population of 3.8 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.3996 – #116 out of 145
35. Moldova
- Total military vehicles: 450
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 0
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 3 (including 2 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 8,500 (out of a population of 3.3 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 4.2311 – #144 out of 145
34. Montenegro
- Total military vehicles: 662
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 12
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 12
- Total military aircraft: 11 (all helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 2,350 (out of a population of 602,445)
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.9109 – #129 out of 145
33. Austria
.jpg "Austria Tanks by 7th Army Training Command")
- Total military vehicles: 848
- Total tanks: 58
- Total artillery: 53
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 104 (including 15 fighter aircraft and 66 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 16,000 (out of a population of 8.9 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.2351 – #71 out of 145
32. Kosovo
- Total military vehicles: 922
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 0
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 0
- Total active-duty personnel: 10,000 (out of a population of 2 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 3.4115 – #135 out of 145
31. Albania
- Total military vehicles: 976
- Total tanks: 40
- Total artillery: 0
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 19 (all helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 6,600 (out of a population of 3.1 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.8188 – #90 out of 145
30. Ireland
- Total military vehicles: 1,064
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 0
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 25 (including 8 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 7,765 (out of a population of 5.3 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.8779 – #94 out of 145
29. Lithuania
- Total military vehicles: 1,356
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 75
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 9 (including 4 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 23,000 (out of a population of 2.7 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.7395 – #88 out of 145
28. Estonia
- Total military vehicles: 1,409
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 24
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 6
- Total military aircraft: 7 (including 3 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 7,700 (out of a population of 1.2 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.7237 – #87 out of 145
27. Slovenia
- Total military vehicles: 1,502
- Total tanks: 55
- Total artillery: 18
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 38 (including 12 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 7,300 (out of a population of 2.1 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.8286 – #91 out of 145
26. Latvia
- Total military vehicles: 1,544
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 59
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 7 (all helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 17,250 (out of a population of 1.8 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.9911 – #99 out of 145
25. Slovakia
- Total military vehicles: 2,048
- Total tanks: 36
- Total artillery: 44
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 25
- Total military aircraft: 37 (including 22 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 19,500 (out of a population of 5.4 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.1891 – #69 out of 145
24. North Macedonia
- Total military vehicles: 2,156
- Total tanks: 23
- Total artillery: 191
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 24
- Total military aircraft: 20 (including 10 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 9,000 (out of a population of 2.1 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 2.1717 – #110 out of 145
23. Croatia
- Total military vehicles: 3,076
- Total tanks: 75
- Total artillery: 181
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 105
- Total military aircraft: 81 (including 11 fighter aircraft and 52 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 14,325 (out of a population of 4.2 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.1333 – #66 out of 145
22. Netherlands
- Total military vehicles: 3,176
- Total tanks: 18
- Total artillery: 72
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 143 (including 6 attack aircraft, 26 fighter aircraft, and 66 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 41,380 (out of a population of 17.5 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.5644 – #40 out of 145
21. Serbia
- Total military vehicles: 3,954
- Total tanks: 262
- Total artillery: 162
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 82
- Total military aircraft:112 (including 17 attack aircraft, 11 fighter aircraft, and 44 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 25,000 (out of a population of 6.7 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.9038 – #56 out of 145
20. Denmark
- Total military vehicles: 4,056
- Total tanks: 44
- Total artillery: 19
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 119 (including 4 attack aircraft, 33 fighter aircraft, and 34 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 20,000 (out of a population of 5.9 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.7743 – #48 out of 145
19. Switzerland
_Birmenstorf,_Switzerland_(Ank_Kumar,_Infosys_Limited)_04.jpg "Switzerland tank by Ank Kumar")
- Total military vehicles: 4,304
- Total tanks: 134
- Total artillery: 133
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 147 (including 43 fighter aircraft and 41 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 101,584 (out of a population of 8.6 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.6097 – #43 out of 145
18. Belgium
- Total military vehicles: 4,606
- Total tanks: 0
- Total artillery: 0
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 110 (including 45 fighter aircraft and 20 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 25,000 (out of a population of 11.9 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.2064 – #70 out of 145
17. Belarus
- Total military vehicles: 6,700
- Total tanks: 517
- Total artillery: 539
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 206
- Total military aircraft: 183 (including 51 attack aircraft, 37 fighter aircraft, and 64 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 63,000 (out of a population of 9.4 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.0901 – #64 out of 145
16. Czechia
- Total military vehicles: 6,757
- Total tanks: 65
- Total artillery: 53
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 88 (including 16 attack aircraft, 12 fighter aircraft, and 33 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 28,000 (out of a population of 10.7 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.7706 – #46 out of 145
15. Norway
- Total military vehicles: 7,048
- Total tanks: 36
- Total artillery: 56
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 102 (including 30 attack aircraft and 37 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 23,250 (out of a population of 5.6 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.5664 – #41 out of 145
14. Bulgaria
- Total military vehicles: 7,420
- Total tanks: 215
- Total artillery: 273
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 24
- Total military aircraft: 65 (including 5 attack aircraft, 11 fighter aircraft, and 27 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 37,000 (out of a population of 6.8 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 1.0132 – #62 out of 145
13. Hungary
- Total military vehicles: 7,797
- Total tanks: 208
- Total artillery: 318
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 62 (including 12 fighter aircraft and 38 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 41,600 (out of a population of 9.7 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.8478 – #54 out of 145
12. Sweden
- Total military vehicles: 7,958
- Total tanks: 120
- Total artillery: 26
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 212 (including 71 fighter aircraft and 53 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 24,400 (out of a population of 10.5 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.4009 – #29 out of 145
11. Romania
- Total military vehicles: 9,990
- Total tanks: 345
- Total artillery: 720
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 225
- Total military aircraft: 131 (including 14 fighter aircraft and 67 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 81,300 (out of a population of 18.3 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.7712 – #47 out of 145
10. Portugal
.jpg "portugal artillery by Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum")
- Total military vehicles: 11,173
- Total tanks: 34
- Total artillery: 106
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 117 (including 28 fighter aircraft and 38 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 24,000 (out of a population of 10.5 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.5609 – #38 out of 145
9. Finland
- Total military vehicles: 11,716
- Total tanks: 200
- Total artillery: 792
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 76
- Total military aircraft: 164 (including 55 fighter aircraft and 27 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 24,000 (out of a population of 5.6 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.7967 – #50 out of 145
8. Poland
- Total military vehicles: 13,956
- Total tanks: 612
- Total artillery: 525
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 211
- Total military aircraft: 468 (including 34 attack aircraft, 59 fighter aircraft, and 215 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 202,100 (out of a population of 38 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2917 – #21 out of 145
7. Spain
- Total military vehicles: 15,046
- Total tanks: 327
- Total artillery: 236
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 0
- Total military aircraft: 513 (including 12 attack aircraft, 139 fighter aircraft, and 121 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 133,282 (out of a population of 47.2 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2882 – #20 out of 145
6. Ukraine
- Total military vehicles: 22,110
- Total tanks: 1,777
- Total artillery: 2,217
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 491
- Total military aircraft: 321 (including 30 attack aircraft, 72 fighter aircraft, and 130 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 900,000 (out of a population of 43.3 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2598 – #18 out of 145
5. United Kingdom
- Total military vehicles: 27,203
- Total tanks: 213
- Total artillery: 197
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 41
- Total military aircraft: 664 (including 29 attack aircraft, 120 fighter aircraft, and 276 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 184,860 (out of a population of 68.1 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.1443 – #6 out of 145
4. Greece
- Total military vehicles: 57,030
- Total tanks: 1,365
- Total artillery: 1,318
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 152
- Total military aircraft: 632 (including 194 fighter aircraft and 289 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 142,700 (out of a population of 10.5 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.4349 – #32 out of 145
3. Italy
- Total military vehicles: 61,892
- Total tanks: 200
- Total artillery: 172
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 21
- Total military aircraft: 800 (including 67 attack aircraft, 90 fighter aircraft, and 402 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 165,500 (out of a population of 61 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.1863 – #10 out of 145
2. Germany
- Total military vehicles: 79,317
- Total tanks: 295
- Total artillery: 134
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 33
- Total military aircraft: 618 (including 76 attack aircraft, 133 fighter aircraft, and 318 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 181,600 (out of a population of 84.2 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.2847 – #19 out of 145
1. France
- Total military vehicles: 85,023
- Total tanks: 222
- Total artillery: 96
- Total Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS): 9
- Total military aircraft: 972 (including 224 fighter aircraft and 447 helicopters)
- Total active-duty personnel: 200,000 (out of a population of 68.5 million)
- Military strength score and world rank: 0.1878 – #11 out of 145
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