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Saudi Arabia Military Strength 2026

Rank #21 of 145

Saudi Arabia is ranked #21 of 145 nations on the Warfare Institute Strength Index, with a provisional score of 5.2 / 100. The comparable baseline weighs air power, land and naval forces, active manpower and financials, adjusted for equipment quality and readiness.

Category scores

Air Superiority4.8
Air DefenseNot scored
Long-Range StrikeNot scored
Land Forces5
Naval Forces2.3
Logistics2.6
Manpower15.1
Financials7.7

Key figures

Active personnel
247,000
Reserve personnel
0
Total aircraft
917
Fighters
283
Attack helicopters
34
Tanks
1,085
Armored vehicles
22,370
Self-propelled artillery
380
Rocket artillery (MLRS)
327
Naval vessels
28
Aircraft carriers
0
Submarines
0
Defense budget
$64.0B
Population
36,544,431

What the ranking shows

Saudi Arabia scores 5.2 out of 100. Its highest category score is Manpower (15.1); its lowest is Naval Forces (2.3). Category scores compare this country with the strongest inventory in each category, rather than measuring the probability of winning a war.

The inventory reports 247,000 active personnel, 283 fighters, 1,085 tanks and 28 naval vessels. Geography, alliances, logistics and deployment conditions affect how those forces can be used. Inventory totals and readiness estimates are explained in the methodology.

Data dates and sources

Dated model records range from 2026-07 to 2026-07. The 2026 label identifies the ranking edition; individual observations may refer to earlier periods. Figures are public-source estimates.

These citations identify the source families assigned to the model records; they do not imply every aggregate figure has been independently verified. See the source registry and corrections process.

Equipment by model

Model counts are estimates and may be reconciled to aggregate totals. — means undisclosed.

Saudi Arabia equipment inventory
ModelCategoryIn serviceData dateSource tag
F-15SA / F-15SRMultirole strike1122026-07SIPRI-AT
Panavia Tornado IDSStrike / fighter-bomber592026-07SIPRI-AT
F-15C/D EagleAir superiority592026-07SIPRI-AT
Eurofighter TyphoonMultirole532026-07SIPRI-AT
Wing Loong 2MALE UCAV—Not datedNot assigned
CASC CH-4BMALE UCAV—Not datedNot assigned
Bayraktar AkinciHALE UCAV—Not datedNot assigned
Saqr-1MALE UCAV—Not datedNot assigned
AH-64D/E ApacheAttack helicopter222026-07SIPRI-AT
Other attack helicopters (saudi-arabia)Attack helicopter122026-07IISS-MB26
UH-60 Black HawkUtility helicopter692026-07SIPRI-AT
CH-47F / Super PumaUtility helicopter412026-07SIPRI-AT
Other helicopters (saudi-arabia)Utility helicopter1202026-07IISS-MB26
E-3A / Saab 2000 Erieye / RE-3 fleetAEW/ISR162026-07SIPRI-AT
A330 MRTT / KE-3 tanker fleetTanker222026-07SIPRI-AT
C-130H/J and CN-235Transport492026-07SIPRI-AT
Patriot PAC-2/PAC-3Long-range SAM / lower-tier BMD25Not datedNot assigned
THAADUpper-tier BMD2Not datedNot assigned
KM-SAM II Cheongung-IIMedium-range SAM0Not datedNot assigned
Shahine / CrotaleShort-range SAM73Not datedNot assigned
MIM-23 I-HawkMedium-range SAM1282026-07OSINT-PROFILES
Other frigates (saudi-arabia)Frigates72026-07NAVAL-NEWS
Other corvettes (saudi-arabia)Corvettes92026-07NAVAL-NEWS
M1A2S AbramsModern MBT3262026-07SIPRI-AT
M60A3 / AMX-30Legacy MBT3802026-07SIPRI-AT
Other tanks legacy (saudi-arabia)tank3792026-07IISS-MB26
M2 BradleyIFV2,2372026-07SIPRI-AT
LAV/Piranha familyAPC6,2642026-07SIPRI-AT
M113 familyAPC6,2642026-07SIPRI-AT
Other vehicles mixed (saudi-arabia)armored vehicle7,6052026-07IISS-MB26
M109A2/A5SPG2092026-07SIPRI-AT
CAESAR 155mmSPG572026-07SIPRI-AT
Other self-propelled artillery mixed (saudi-arabia)self-propelled artillery1142026-07IISS-MB26
M198 / FH70 / M102Towed artillery3342026-07SIPRI-AT
Other towed artillery legacy (saudi-arabia)towed artillery2232026-07IISS-MB26
M270 / ASTROS IIMLRS1142026-07SIPRI-AT
Other rocket artillery mixed (saudi-arabia)rocket artillery2132026-07IISS-MB26
DF-21 / DF-3 conventional missile forcestrike24Not datedNot assigned

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