Business Insider India has updated its Privacy and Cookie policy. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the better experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we\'ll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies on the Business Insider India website. However, you can change your cookie setting at any time by clicking on our Cookie Policy at any time. You can also see our Privacy Policy.
Russian servicemen parade with tanks during the 72nd anniversary of the end of World War II on the Red Square in Moscow.Reuters/Maxim Shemetov
Advertisement
The arms trade is booming: The volume of international transfers of major weapons between 2013 and 2017 was 10% higher than between 2008 and 2012.
Countries in Asia have been major players in that trade. The continent was home to three of the top 10 arms exporters between 2013 and 2017 - and eight of the 10 top arms importers.
Arms sales indicate who is beefing up their armed forces, but head-to-head military comparisons are more complex. Global Firepower's 2017 Military Strength Ranking takes up that task by drawing on more than 50 factors to assign a Power Index score to 133 countries.
The ranking assesses weapons held by each country and pays close attention to their manpower. The geography, logistical capacity, available natural resources, and the status of local industry are also taken into account.
Advertisement
Thirteen Asian countries are among the world's 25 most powerful militaries, according to the Global Firepower ranking. Below, you can see the 10 strongest armed forces in the region:
