NATO’s Tank Power Shifts East, Surpassing Germany, France, and the UK

Photo of Chris Lange
By Chris Lange Published

Key Points

  • When it comes to NATO’s armored power, it isn’t Germany, France, or the United Kingdom that are leading the charge

  • Eastern members like Poland and Turkey field some of the largest tank fleets in the Alliance

  • Their tank arsenals make more sense in the context that these countries are geographically located closer to potential flashpoints

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NATO’s Tank Power Shifts East, Surpassing Germany, France, and the UK

© Abrams Tank (Public Domain) by U.S. Army Europe

When it comes to NATO’s armored power, it isn’t Germany, France, or the United Kingdom that are leading the charge. Instead, Eastern members like Poland and Turkey field some of the largest tank fleets in the Alliance. Their tank arsenals make more sense in the context that these countries are geographically located closer to potential flashpoints. However, the United States has a fairly impressive arsenal of its own tanks within NATO. Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look into the NATO Alliance and which of these nations is pushing the most armored power.

To identify the NATO countries with the most tanks, 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. Countries were ranked on the total number of tanks in their arsenal. We included supplemental information regarding the total military vehicles, artillery and MLRS units, as well as each country’s overall military strength score and defense budget. Countries without tanks were excluded.

Here is a look at the countries with the largest tank armies in NATO:

Why Are We Covering This?

Saeima / Wikimedia Commons

Understanding NATO’s military dynamics is important when looking at the state of global security. Since its inception, NATO has played a pivotal role in shaping international relations through its collective defense and security framework. As geopolitical tensions continue to rise and new threats emerge, knowing and understanding NATO’s military capabilities is important for getting a clearer picture of the world stage. Not to mention, countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, among others, contribute significantly to NATO’s military strength, influencing global power balances and regional stability.

25. Netherlands

2022 Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Total number of tanks: 18
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 46
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 2
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 2,755
  • Active duty military personnel: 41,380
  • Military defense budget: $27,000,000,000 – #18 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.6412 – #36 out of 145

The Netherlands fields 41,380 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 120 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 64 naval vessels.

24. North Macedonia

  • Total number of tanks: 20
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 150
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 17
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 1,108
  • Active duty military personnel: 9,000
  • Military defense budget: $388,421,700 – #114 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 2.4042 – #112 out of 145

North Macedonia fields 9,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 20 military aircraft and has no navy to speak of.

23. Portugal

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

Portugal fields 24,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 115 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 194 naval vessels.

22. Czechia

Jan Helebrant / Public Domain / Flickr
  • Total number of tanks: 43
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 50
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 16
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 6,340
  • Active duty military personnel: 28,000
  • Military defense budget: $6,750,000,000 – #43 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.9994 – #53 out of 145

Czechia fields 28,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 99 military aircraft and no naval force as the country is landlocked.

21. Denmark

Public Domain / WIkimedia Commons
  • Total number of tanks: 44
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 19
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 8
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 3,856
  • Active duty military personnel: 20,000
  • Military defense budget: $7,225,466,250 – #40 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.8109 – #45 out of 145

Denmark fields 20,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 117 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 50 naval vessels.

20. Norway

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total number of tanks: 44
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 42
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 6,552
  • Active duty military personnel: 23,250
  • Military defense budget: $9,710,000,000 – #32 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.6811 – #38 out of 145

Norway fields 23,250 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 97 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 43 naval vessels.

19. Croatia

  • Total number of tanks: 45
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 67
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 42
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 2,848
  • Active duty military personnel: 14,325
  • Military defense budget: $1,176,000,000 – #83 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 1.5074 – #75 out of 145

Croatia fields 14,325 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 67 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 30 naval vessels.

18. Slovakia

Poland+T-72M1 | T-72M1 ‘3243’ – Tankfest 2017
ajw1970 / Flickr

  • Total number of tanks: 45
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 44
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 25
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 3,074
  • Active duty military personnel: 19,500
  • Military defense budget: $2,656,000,000 – #64 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 1.3978 – #71 out of 145

Slovakia fields 19,500 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 41 military aircraft and no naval presence to speak of.

17. Albania

  • Total number of tanks: 46
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 50
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 135
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 1,796
  • Active duty military personnel: 6,600
  • Military defense budget: $558,862,420 – #101 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 1.6815 – #78 out of 145

Albania fields 6,600 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 19 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 19 naval vessels.

16. Slovenia

  • Total number of tanks: 54
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 18
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 1,428
  • Active duty military personnel: 7,300
  • Military defense budget: $886,860,000 – #91 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 2.1016 – #96 out of 145

Slovenia fields 7,300 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 39 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 2 naval vessels.

15. Canada

Arseniy45 / iStock via Getty Images
  • Total number of tanks: 74
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 0
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 21,704
  • Active duty military personnel: 68,000
  • Military defense budget: $41,000,000,000 – #15 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.5179 – #28 out of 145

Canada fields 68,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 351 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 73 naval vessels.

14. Bulgaria

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Total number of tanks: 90
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 72
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 24
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 4,914
  • Active duty military personnel: 37,000
  • Military defense budget: $1,373,232,000 – #80 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 1.2563 – #61 out of 145

Bulgaria fields 37,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 65 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 36 naval vessels.

13. Sweden

  • Total number of tanks: 110
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 26
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 6,795
  • Active duty military personnel: 24,400
  • Military defense budget: $13,000,000,000 – #28 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.4835 – #27 out of 145

Sweden fields 24,400 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 169 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 308 naval vessels.

12. Finland

Finland+tanks | Finnish Stug III
peer_gynt / Flickr

  • Total number of tanks: 200
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 774
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 76
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 11,704
  • Active duty military personnel: 24,000
  • Military defense budget: $6,779,661,000 – #42 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.8437 – #48 out of 145

Finland fields 24,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 163 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 264 naval vessels.

11. Italy

  • Total number of tanks: 200
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 172
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 21
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 73,480
  • Active duty military personnel: 165,500
  • Military defense budget: $30,890,000,000 – #16 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.2164 – #10 out of 145

Italy fields 165,500 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 729 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 196 naval vessels.

10. Hungary

Hungary+artillery | Dedication to the Great Victory Day. Soviet Self Propelled Tank Destroer SU-100. 1944-45. Ко дню Великой Победы. Советская Самоходка СУ-100.
peer_gynt / Flickr

  • Total number of tanks: 209
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 319
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 7,797
  • Active duty military personnel: 41,600
  • Military defense budget: $4,576,000,000 – #53 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 1.0259 – #55 out of 145

Hungary fields 41,600 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 69 military aircraft and no naval force as the country is landlocked.

9. France

Public Domain / WIkimedia Commons
  • Total number of tanks: 215
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 96
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 9
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 110,932
  • Active duty military personnel: 200,000
  • Military defense budget: $55,000,000,000 – #9 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.1878 – #8 out of 145

France fields 200,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 976 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 129 naval vessels.

8. United Kingdom

WO2 Pete Bristo MBE / Wikimedia Commons

  • Total number of tanks: 227
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 197
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 29
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 38,200
  • Active duty military personnel: 184,860
  • Military defense budget: $71,500,540,000 – #6 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.1785 – #6 out of 145

The United Kingdom fields 184,860 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 631 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 109 naval vessels.

7. Germany

Thinkstock

  • Total number of tanks: 296
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 134
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 33
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 83,260
  • Active duty military personnel: 181,600
  • Military defense budget: $50,000,000,000 – #11 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.2601 – #14 out of 145

Germany fields 181,600 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 584 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 61 naval vessels.

6. Spain

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

  • Total number of tanks: 317
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 382
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 0
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 17,626
  • Active duty military personnel: 133,282
  • Military defense budget: $23,397,000,000 – #22 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.3242 – #17 out of 145

Spain fields 133,282 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 461 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 152 naval vessels.

5. Romania

Romania+tanks | Romanian tanks attack during Combined Resolve II
7armyjmtc / Flickr

  • Total number of tanks: 328
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 720
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 243
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 10,774
  • Active duty military personnel: 81,300
  • Military defense budget: $9,700,000,000 – #33 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.8984 – #51 out of 145

Romania fields 81,300 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 140 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 20 naval vessels.

4. Poland

Poland+tanks | 3rd ABCT, 4th ID, tanks fire first rounds in Poland
3rd ABCT, 4th ID, tanks fire first rounds in Poland by U.S. Army Europe / PDM 1.0 (https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)

  • Total number of tanks: 614
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 677
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 196
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 23,138
  • Active duty military personnel: 202,100
  • Military defense budget: $48,700,000,000 – #12 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.3776 – #22 out of 145

Poland fields 202,100 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 479 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 62 naval vessels.

3. Greece

  • Total number of tanks: 1,344
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 1287
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 152
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 61,888
  • Active duty military personnel: 142,700
  • Military defense budget: $6,500,000,000 – #44 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.5337 – #30 out of 145

Greece fields 142,700 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 558 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 192 naval vessels.

2. Turkey

M-A-U / iStock via Getty Images
  • Total number of tanks: 2,238
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 2,745
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 296
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 61,173
  • Active duty military personnel: 355,200
  • Military defense budget: $47,000,000,000 – #13 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.1902 – #9 out of 145

Turkey fields 355,200 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 1,083 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 182 naval vessels.

1. United States

nato+Tanks | Abrams Tanks
usarmyeurope_images / Public Domain / Flickr

  • Total number of tanks: 4,640
  • Total count of artillery (self propelled and towed): 1,883
  • Total inventory of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS): 641
  • Total military vehicles currently in active service: 391,963
  • Active duty military personnel: 1,328,000
  • Military defense budget: $895,000,000,000 – #1 out of 145
  • Military strength score and world rank: 0.0744 – #1 out of 145

United States fields 1,328,000 active-duty personnel across all branches of its armed forces. In addition to its ground forces, the country operates 13,043 military aircraft and maintains a fleet of 440 naval vessels.

Photo of Chris Lange
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.

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