WARFARE INSTITUTE Military Strength Index
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Vietnam Military Strength 2026

Rank #23 of 145

Vietnam is ranked #23 of 145 nations on the Warfare Institute Strength Index, with a provisional score of 5.1 / 100. The comparable baseline weighs air power, land and naval forces, active manpower and financials, adjusted for equipment quality and readiness.

Category scores

Air Superiority0.6
Air DefenseNot scored
Long-Range StrikeNot scored
Land Forces8
Naval Forces3.9
Logistics1.7
Manpower20.3
Financials1.2

Key figures

Active personnel
450,000
Reserve personnel
5,000,000
Total aircraft
265
Fighters
61
Attack helicopters
0
Tanks
1,999
Armored vehicles
69,914
Self-propelled artillery
30
Rocket artillery (MLRS)
774
Naval vessels
67
Aircraft carriers
0
Submarines
6
Defense budget
$10.2B
Population
105,758,975

What the ranking shows

Vietnam scores 5.1 out of 100. Its highest category score is Manpower (20.3); its lowest is Air Superiority (0.6). Category scores compare this country with the strongest inventory in each category, rather than measuring the probability of winning a war.

The inventory reports 450,000 active personnel, 61 fighters, 1,999 tanks and 67 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.

Vietnam equipment inventory
ModelCategoryIn serviceData dateSource tag
Su-30MK2Multirole302026-07SIPRI-AT
Su-22Fighter-bomber222026-07SIPRI-AT
Su-27Fighter92026-07SIPRI-AT
F-16 Fighting FalconMultirole02026-07SIPRI-AT
VT-PatrolTactical ISR—Not datedNot assigned
Aeronautics Orbiter 3Tactical ISR—Not datedNot assigned
HS-6LMALE ISR—Not datedNot assigned
Mi-8/17Utility helicopter662026-07SIPRI-AT
Other helicopters (vietnam)Utility helicopter352026-07IISS-MB26
An-26/An-30 special-mission aircraftSpecial-mission32026-07SIPRI-AT
An-26 / An-12 transportsTransport62026-07SIPRI-AT
Other submarines (vietnam)Submarines62026-07NAVAL-NEWS
Other frigates (vietnam)Frigates92026-07NAVAL-NEWS
Other corvettes (vietnam)Corvettes172026-07NAVAL-NEWS
T-54/55Legacy MBT1,0002026-07SIPRI-AT
T-62 / Type 59Legacy MBT5002026-07SIPRI-AT
Other tanks legacy (vietnam)tank4992026-07IISS-MB26
BMP-1/2IFV16,7792026-07SIPRI-AT
BTR-60/70/80APC19,5762026-07SIPRI-AT
M113 / Type 63 APCAPC12,5852026-07SIPRI-AT
Other vehicles mixed (vietnam)armored vehicle20,9742026-07IISS-MB26
2S1 Gvozdika / 2S3 AkatsiyaSPG142026-07SIPRI-AT
Other self-propelled artillery mixed (vietnam)self-propelled artillery162026-07IISS-MB26
D-30 / M-46 / D-20Towed artillery2,1132026-07SIPRI-AT
Other towed artillery legacy (vietnam)towed artillery1,1372026-07IISS-MB26
BM-21 GradMLRS5422026-07SIPRI-AT
Other rocket artillery mixed (vietnam)rocket artillery2322026-07IISS-MB26
Scud-B/C launcher reservestrike24Not datedNot assigned
Bastion-P / K-300P coastal land-attack optionstrike16Not datedNot assigned
S-300PMU1Long-range SAM2Not datedNot assigned
SPYDER / S-125-2TM layersMedium/short-range SAM6Not datedNot assigned

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