720 Reasons Why Romania Dominates Europe’s Artillery Game

By Chris Lange Published Jul 31, 10:07AM EDT

Key Points

Romania stands tall as Europe’s leading power in towed artillery with over 700 units at the ready
These assets from the Cold War era are still central to the country’s military doctrine, in both offensive and defensive aspects

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720 Reasons Why Romania Dominates Europe’s Artillery Game — © U.S. Army Europe / Public Domain / Flickr

While there are still ongoing tensions on NATO’s Eastern flank, Romania stands tall as Europe’s leading power in towed artillery with over 700 units at the ready. These assets from the Cold War era are still central to the country’s military doctrine, in both offensive and defensive aspects. Not to mention, it’s hard to make progress on the ground with an overwhelming volley of firepower hailing down on the battlefield. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is exploring the towed artillery stockpiles of not just Romania but the rest of Europe.

To determine the European countries with the most towed 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 towed artillery units. We also included supplemental information regarding military vehicles, tanks, MLRS, as well as the overall strength score and defense budget. Countries with no artillery were excluded.

Here is a look at the countries with the most towed artillery in Europe:

Why Are We Covering This?

Understanding the military dynamics in Europe is important considering the continent’s deeply rooted geopolitical challenges going forward. Historically, Europe has been marked by wars, shifting alliances, and territorial disputes, and yet it still remains a key player on the global stage. At the same time, alliances like the EU or NATO are some of the most powerful in terms of their influence on the world. Whether it is a question of NATO’s expansion or Russia’s campaign in Eastern Europe, these military forces tilt the region’s balance of power.

21. Slovakia

Patriot PAC-3 MSE SIAF-2022 by Boevaya mashina

Patriot PAC-3 MSE SIAF-2022 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by Boevaya mashina

Total towed artillery: 9
Total self-propelled artillery: 35
Total artillery count: 44
Total number of tanks: 45
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 25
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 3,074
Military strength score: 1.3978 – #71 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,656,000,000 – #64 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Slovakia has 41 military aircraft (including 2 fighter aircraft and 22 helicopters). Slovakia has 19,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 5.564 million.

20. Montenegro

100-mm anti-aircraft gun KS-19 in Saint Petersburg Artillery museum

Total towed artillery: 12
Total self-propelled artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 12
Total number of tanks: 0
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 12
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 471
Military strength score: 2.9216 – #127 out of 145
Military defense budget: $148,100,000 – #136 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Montenegro has 11 military aircraft, all of which are helicopters. Montenegro has 2,350 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 599,849.

19. Slovenia

Total towed artillery: 18
Total self-propelled artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 18
Total number of tanks: 54
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 1,428
Military strength score: 2.1016 – #96 out of 145
Military defense budget: $886,860,000 – #91 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Slovenia has 39 military aircraft, most of which are helicopters. Slovenia has 7,300 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 2.098 million.

18. Bulgaria

Total towed artillery: 24
Total self-propelled artillery: 48
Total artillery count: 72
Total number of tanks: 90
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 24
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 4,914
Military strength score: 1.2563 – #61 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,373,232,000 – #80 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Bulgaria has 65 military aircraft (including 5 attack aircraft, 10 fighter aircraft, and 27 helicopters). Bulgaria has 37,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 6.783 million.

17. Croatia

Croatia-00784 - M18 Hellcat Gu... by Dennis Jarvis

Croatia-00784 - M18 Hellcat Gu... (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Dennis Jarvis

Total towed artillery: 42
Total self-propelled artillery: 25
Total artillery count: 67
Total number of tanks: 45
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 42
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 2,848
Military strength score: 1.5074 – #75 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,176,000,000 – #83 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Croatia has 67 military aircraft (including 10 fighter aircraft and 37 helicopters). Croatia has 14,325 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 4.150 million.

16. Albania

M1A2 tanks at Combined resolve... by 7th Army Training Command

M1A2 tanks at Combined resolve... (CC BY 2.0) by 7th Army Training Command

Total towed artillery: 50
Total self-propelled artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 50
Total number of tanks: 46
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 135
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 1,796
Military strength score: 1.6815 – #78 out of 145
Military defense budget: $558,862,420 – #101 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Albania has 19 military aircraft, all of which are helicopters. Albania has 6,600 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 3.107 million.

15. Lithuania

Total towed artillery: 54
Total self-propelled artillery: 21
Total artillery count: 75
Total number of tanks: 0
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 1,263
Military strength score: 1.9075 – #88 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,388,900,000 – #66 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Lithuania has 9 military aircraft (including 4 helicopters). Lithuania has 23,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 2.628 million.

14. Moldova

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

Total towed artillery: 67
Total self-propelled artillery: 9
Total artillery count: 76
Total number of tanks: 0
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 11
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 500
Military strength score: 3.2555 – #134 out of 145
Military defense budget: $1,710,000,000 – #73 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Moldova has 3 military aircraft. Moldova has 8,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 3.600 million.

13. Italy

Italy tank (CC BY 2.5) by Italian Army

Total towed artillery: 108
Total self-propelled artillery: 64
Total artillery count: 172
Total number of tanks: 200
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 21
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 73,480
Military strength score: 0.2164 – #10 out of 145
Military defense budget: $30,890,000,000 – #16 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Italy has 729 military aircraft (including 67 attack aircraft, 89 fighter aircraft, and 392 helicopters). Italy has 165,500 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 60.96 million.

12. Portugal

Portugal tank by Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum

Portugal tank (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum

Total towed artillery: 115
Total self-propelled artillery: 24
Total artillery count: 139
Total number of tanks: 34
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 10,828
Military strength score: 0.6856 – #39 out of 145
Military defense budget: $4,627,000,000 – #52 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Portugal has 115 military aircraft (including 28 fighter aircraft and 31 helicopters). Portugal has 24,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.64 million.

11. United Kingdom

United+Kingdom+artillery | Royal Artillery Memorial, Constitution Hill, Hyde Park Corner, Grosvenor Place, Knightsbridge, London, England UK

Total towed artillery: 126
Total self-propelled artillery: 71
Total artillery count: 197
Total number of tanks: 227
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 29
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 38,200
Military strength score: 0.1785 – #6 out of 145
Military defense budget: $71,500,540,000 – #6 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, the United Kingdom has 631 military aircraft (including 31 attack aircraft, 113 fighter aircraft, and 266 helicopters). The United Kingdom has 184,860 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 68.46 million.

10. Serbia

Total towed artillery: 150
Total self-propelled artillery: 90
Total artillery count: 240
Total number of tanks: 262
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 98
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 3,683
Military strength score: 1.2576 – #63 out of 145
Military defense budget: $2,287,461,000 – #68 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Serbia has 110 military aircraft (including 17 attack aircraft, 11 fighter aircraft, and 46 helicopters). Serbia has 25,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 6.652 million.

9. North Macedonia

Czechia+artillery | 2022_07_18_Ukraine_Shield_of_Europe_exhibition_2_T-90A_main_battle_tank_020

Total towed artillery: 150
Total self-propelled artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 150
Total number of tanks: 20
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 17
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 1,108
Military strength score: 2.4042 – #112 out of 145
Military defense budget: $388,421,700 – #114 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, North Macedonia has 20 military aircraft (including 10 helicopters). North Macedonia has 9,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 2.136 million.

8. Belarus

Iran artillery | Rusty cannon gun remained from the war between Iran and Iraq

Total towed artillery: 215
Total self-propelled artillery: 357
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.

7. Spain

Self-propelled+howitzer+artillery | Italian Army - 8th Field Artillery Regiment 'Pasubio' - PzH2000 self-propelled howitzer in Qatar

Total towed artillery: 287
Total self-propelled artillery: 95
Total artillery count: 382
Total number of tanks: 317
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 17,626
Military strength score: 0.3242 – #17 out of 145
Military defense budget: $23,397,000,000 – #22 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Spain has 461 military aircraft (including 12 attack aircraft, 137 fighter aircraft, and 153 helicopters). Spain has 133,282 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 47.28 million.

6. Hungary

Total towed artillery: 295
Total self-propelled artillery: 24
Total artillery count: 319
Total number of tanks: 209
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 7,797
Military strength score: 1.0259 – #55 out of 145
Military defense budget: $4,576,000,000 – #53 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Hungary has 69 military aircraft (including 12 fighter aircraft and 44 helicopters). Hungary has 41,600 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 9.856 million.

5. Bosnia and Herzegovina

Total towed artillery: 457
Total self-propelled artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 457
Total number of tanks: 45
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 79
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 720
Military strength score: 3.0799 – #131 out of 145
Military defense budget: $216,400,000 – #131 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Bosnia and Herzegovina has 22 military aircraft, all of which are helicopters. Bosnia and Herzegovina has 12,770 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 3.799 million.

4. Ukraine

Total towed artillery: 615
Total self-propelled artillery: 658
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.

3. Finland

Finland artillery | Missile system on the background of the Finnish flag

Total towed artillery: 667
Total self-propelled artillery: 107
Total artillery count: 774
Total number of tanks: 200
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 76
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 11,704
Military strength score: 0.8437 – #48 out of 145
Military defense budget: $6,779,661,000 – #42 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Finland has 163 military aircraft (including 54 fighter aircraft and 27 helicopters). Finland has 24,000 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 5.626 million.

2. Greece

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

Total towed artillery: 698
Total self-propelled artillery: 589
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 (including178 fighter aircraft and 293 helicopters). Greece has 142,700 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 10.46 million.

1. Romania

Azerbaijan+artillery | Romanian artillery

Total towed artillery: 720
Total self-propelled artillery: 0
Total artillery count: 720
Total number of tanks: 328
Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 243
Total military vehicles currently in active service: 10,774
Military strength score: 0.8984 – #51 out of 145
Military defense budget: $9,700,000,000 – #33 out of 145

Apart from the ground forces, Romania has 140 military aircraft (including 21 fighter aircraft and 65 helicopters). Romania has 81,300 active-duty personnel out of a total population of 18.15 million.

About the Author Chris Lange →

Chris Lange is a writer for 24/7 Wall St., based in Houston. He has covered financial markets over the past decade with an emphasis on healthcare, tech, and IPOs. During this time, he has published thousands of articles with insightful analysis across these complex fields. Currently, Lange's focus is on military and geopolitical topics.

Lange's work has been quoted or mentioned in Forbes, The New York Times, Business Insider, USA Today, MSN, Yahoo, The Verge, Vice, The Intelligencer, Quartz, Nasdaq, The Motley Fool, Fox Business, International Business Times, The Street, Seeking Alpha, Barron’s, Benzinga, and many other major publications.

A graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas, Lange majored in business with a particular focus on investments. He has previous experience in the banking industry and startups.