Uzbekistan rose five places in the Global Firepower ranking of the world’s strongest militaries, placing 53rd out of 145 countries.
Global Firepower estimates that nearly 19 mln people in Uzbekistan fall within labour and mobilisation resources, with about 15.9 mln deemed fit for military service. By this measure, the country ranks among global leaders. The armed forces number about 120,000 active personnel, with roughly 95,000 serving in the ground forces and the remainder in the air force.
Uzbekistan’s military operates 159 aircraft, 87 of which are considered combat-ready. The air force fleet includes 101 helicopters, among them 34 attack helicopters, with 19 assessed as operational.
The ground forces are equipped with around 470 tanks, more than half of which are ready for use. Total armoured vehicles exceed 8,600 units. The arsenal also includes self-propelled and towed artillery systems as well as multiple-launch rocket systems.
Uzbekistan remains the strongest military power in Central Asia. Kazakhstan ranks 58th, followed by Turkmenistan in 78th place, Tajikistan at 100th and Kyrgyzstan at 109th.
Globally, the United States, Russia and China continue to lead the ranking.
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