WARFARE INSTITUTE Military Strength Index
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United States Military Strength 2026

Rank #1 of 145

United States is ranked #1 of 145 nations on the Warfare Institute Strength Index, with a provisional score of 80.2 / 100. The comparable baseline weighs air power, land and naval forces, active manpower and financials, adjusted for equipment quality and readiness.

Category scores

Air Superiority89.5
Air DefenseNot scored
Long-Range StrikeNot scored
Land Forces68.2
Naval Forces56.5
Logistics87.8
Manpower67.1
Financials100

Key figures

Active personnel
1,333,030
Reserve personnel
799,500
Total aircraft
13,032
Fighters
1,791
Attack helicopters
1,024
Tanks
4,666
Armored vehicles
409,660
Self-propelled artillery
1,521
Rocket artillery (MLRS)
1,731
Naval vessels
200
Aircraft carriers
11
Submarines
66
Defense budget
$831.5B
Population
341,963,408

What the ranking shows

United States scores 80.2 out of 100. Its highest category score is Financials (100.0); its lowest is Naval Forces (56.5). Category scores compare this country with the strongest inventory in each category, rather than measuring the probability of winning a war.

The inventory reports 1,333,030 active personnel, 1,791 fighters, 4,666 tanks and 200 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.

United States equipment inventory
ModelCategoryIn serviceData dateSource tag
F-22A RaptorAir superiority (stealth)1142026-07SIPRI-AT
F-35 Lightning IIMultirole (stealth)2862026-07SIPRI-AT
F-15E Strike EagleMultirole / strike1362026-07SIPRI-AT
F-15EX Eagle IIMultirole / strike52026-07SIPRI-AT
F-15C/D EagleAir superiority262026-07SIPRI-AT
F-16C/D Fighting FalconMultirole4892026-07SIPRI-AT
F/A-18E/F Super HornetCarrier multirole3422026-07SIPRI-AT
F/A-18C/D HornetMultirole1162026-07SIPRI-AT
EA-18G GrowlerElectronic attack952026-07SIPRI-AT
A-10C Thunderbolt IIClose air support1012026-07SIPRI-AT
AV-8B Harrier IISTOVL attack542026-07SIPRI-AT
F-5N/F Tiger IIAdversary / aggressor272026-07SIPRI-AT
MQ-9 ReaperMALE UCAV155Not datedNot assigned
MQ-1C Gray EagleMALE UCAV165Not datedNot assigned
RQ-4 Global HawkHALE ISR10Not datedNot assigned
MQ-4C TritonHALE maritime ISR20Not datedNot assigned
MQ-25 StingrayCarrier tanker drone0Not datedNot assigned
Switchblade 300/600Loitering munition—Not datedNot assigned
AH-64D/E ApacheAttack helicopter7172026-07SIPRI-AT
AH-1Z ViperAttack helicopter1022026-07SIPRI-AT
Other attack helicopters (united-states-of-america)Attack helicopter2052026-07IISS-MB26
UH-60 Black HawkUtility helicopter1,8582026-07SIPRI-AT
CH-47F ChinookHeavy-lift helicopter4892026-07SIPRI-AT
CH-53E/K Sea Stallion/King StallionHeavy-lift helicopter2932026-07SIPRI-AT
SH/MH-60 SeahawkNaval helicopter4892026-07SIPRI-AT
Other helicopters (united-states-of-america)Utility helicopter1,7602026-07IISS-MB26
E-3/E-7/E-2/P-8 special-mission fleetAEW/ISR/MPA6112026-07SIPRI-AT
KC-135R StratotankerTanker3972026-07SIPRI-AT
KC-46A PegasusTanker922026-07SIPRI-AT
Other tankers (united-states-of-america)Aerial tanker1212026-07IISS-MB26
C-17 Globemaster IIIHeavy transport2022026-07SIPRI-AT
C-130H/J HerculesTransport3302026-07SIPRI-AT
C-5M Super GalaxyHeavy transport462026-07SIPRI-AT
Other transports (united-states-of-america)Fixed-wing transport3392026-07IISS-MB26
Patriot PAC-2/PAC-3Long-range SAM / lower-tier BMD15Not datedNot assigned
THAADUpper-tier BMD8Not datedNot assigned
GMDStrategic ICBM defense44Not datedNot assigned
NASAMSMedium-range SAM1Not datedNot assigned
M-SHORAD / Sgt. StoutShort-range SHORAD (mobile)4Not datedNot assigned
C-RAM Centurion (LPWS)C-RAM point defense532026-07MOD-NATIONAL
Nimitz classAircraft carrier102026-07SIPRI-AT
Gerald R. Ford classAircraft carrier12026-07SIPRI-AT
Wasp & America classAmphibious assault (LHD/LHA)92026-07SIPRI-AT
Ticonderoga classCruiser52026-07SIPRI-AT
Arleigh Burke classDestroyer752026-07SIPRI-AT
Zumwalt classDestroyer32026-07SIPRI-AT
Constellation classFrigate02026-07SIPRI-AT
Freedom & Independence class (LCS)Littoral combat ship242026-07SIPRI-AT
Ohio classSSBN/SSGN182026-07SIPRI-AT
Columbia classSSBN02026-07SIPRI-AT
Virginia classSSN262026-07SIPRI-AT
Los Angeles classSSN222026-07SIPRI-AT
Other corvettes (united-states-of-america)Corvettes32026-07NAVAL-NEWS
M1A2 SEP v2/v3 AbramsModern MBT3,0332026-07SIPRI-AT
M1A1 SA AbramsMBT1,1672026-07SIPRI-AT
Other tanks legacy (united-states-of-america)tank4662026-07IISS-MB26
M2/M3 BradleyIFV73,7392026-07SIPRI-AT
Stryker familyAPC/IFV73,7392026-07SIPRI-AT
M113/AMPV familyAPC81,9322026-07SIPRI-AT
MRAP / JLTV armored vehiclesProtected mobility122,8982026-07SIPRI-AT
Other vehicles mixed (united-states-of-america)armored vehicle57,3522026-07IISS-MB26
M109A6/A7 PaladinSPG1,3692026-07SIPRI-AT
Other self-propelled artillery mixed (united-states-of-america)self-propelled artillery1522026-07IISS-MB26
M777A2 155mmTowed artillery1,0332026-07SIPRI-AT
M119 105mmTowed artillery6572026-07SIPRI-AT
Other towed artillery legacy (united-states-of-america)towed artillery1882026-07IISS-MB26
M142 HIMARSMLRS5542026-07SIPRI-AT
M270A1/A2 MLRSMLRS3982026-07SIPRI-AT
Other rocket artillery mixed (united-states-of-america)rocket artillery7792026-07IISS-MB26
Tomahawk Block IV/V land-attack loadoutstrike360Not datedNot assigned
PrSM / ATACMS launcher-equivalent forcestrike90Not datedNot assigned
Dark Eagle LRHW early batterystrike4Not datedNot assigned

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