The armed forces available in any developed state are called upon to ensure the security of its citizens, government, and the integrity of the country's constitutional system. Nowadays, security threats come from various sources. This may be space, as well as the risks associated with natural and weather disasters, the human factor is not excluded. The trouble can come from any hostile state both by land and by sea. With the intensive development of technology, air has become another area of attack. To ensure the safety of air borders in many countries created the air force.
The United States, Russian Federation, and China are states whose air forces are considered the most powerful in the world. Countries with significant combat potential are constantly in a state of intense competition and rivalry.
The most powerful armies in the world
It has long been known that they usually reckon with a country that has a strong and efficient army, which is an effective deterrent, as well as protecting the state and its population. The ten most powerful armies, besides the USA and Russia, include such countries as Japan, China, Israel, North Korea, France, Great Britain and Germany. The armies of these countries, in the presence of some deficiencies in armament or strength, have a number of advantages predetermined by the historical development of states or the consequence of intensive armament that distinguishes modern politics of targeted militarization.
World Armies Rating
- 10th place: Japan. The state fell under the ban on increasing military personnel. At the same time, its armed forces possess the most effective anti-ballistic systems in the world and the navy. The Japanese army concentrates all its resources on air defense, without working on any offensive tasks. The country has chosen a defensive position.
- 9th place: Israel. The state occupies a small area, but has a well-organized army and also maintains close friendly ties with Britain and America.
- 8th place: Germany. The strengths of the German army are its disciplined ground forces and the Air Force. This state allowed her to take a worthy place in the ranking of the best armies in the world.
- 7th place: England. In the UK, the Navy and the Air Force are very developed. The state possesses nuclear weapons and strong ties with NATO and the United States.
- 6th place: North Korea. The army of this country is second only to India and Russia. In addition, the state has a nuclear potential and a high level of patriotic education among the population, which allows North Korea to enter the top ten countries, despite the fact that the territorially given state is insignificant.
- 5th place: France. The country is famous in the world for the state of its Air Force, which allows it to compete with other states in this area, excluding the air forces of the United States and Russia.
- 4th place: India. The army wins due to its size, which reminds the Chinese army, with the difference that India has a poorly developed economy and science, lacks military experience and a decent level of training of military personnel. At the same time, India is a country with a nuclear arsenal. In recent years, the Indian economy and technology has been developing. The Indian military works closely with Russian specialists.
The three most militarized countries
The armies of China, Russia and the United States of America are considered the most powerful in the world. Their potential is sufficient both for successfully upholding the interests of these states and their friendly countries without the use of outside help, and for exerting, if necessary, military pressure.
- In third place in the top ten strongest armies is China. The state takes a winning position, because it has a large population, it holds regular military appeals. This enables the country to intensively build up military power. In addition, the state possesses nuclear weapons and a fairly developed economy. The military potential of China is positively affected by agreements and agreements with the Russian Federation.
- The second place among the strongest armies in the world belongs to the Russian Federation. The strengths of the Russian army are its enormous number, the developed navy and Navy, the presence of nuclear weapons and modern anti-aircraft and anti-ballistic systems.
- The first place is occupied by the USA. American military bases are located on the territory of almost the entire globe. The state has a nuclear potential with which only the Russian Federation can compete. The government of America on the arsenal of their country allocates a third of gross income. And as a result, the level of development of nuclear weapons, modern military equipment, developed and combat-ready Air Force and Navy in the ranking of world military power allow the US Army to occupy a leading place.
The air forces of the USA and Russia are the most powerful and efficient in the world.
The basis of US military power
The US Air Force is the world leader in terms of personnel and the number of aircraft.
The basis of the American army is its Air Force. But it would be a mistake to believe that these troops are not adapted for war on land.
The tactics of the actions of the American armed forces consists in the fact that before starting military ground operations, the territory of military operations must be subjected to massive airborne processing.
The US Air Force is traditionally used by the command when necessary to resolve military conflicts.
A similar tactic was used during the war with Nazi Germany, in which 13 thousand combat aircraft and 619 thousand people took part. The US Air Force dropped 1,500,000 bombs in World War II and destroyed 35,000 enemy aircraft. In this case, the loss of Americans amounted to 18 thousand aircraft.
The lion's share of military funding in America is directed at various technical innovations and innovations in the field of the Air Force, as experience has shown that success in any battle is possible only if air superiority is achieved. After the successful operation of the aircraft, the introduction of ground forces may not be necessary. And this, in turn, will save human lives. The outcome of the battle is decided by the air force. The United States has the highest aviation mobility in the world. This enables the US Air Force to quickly engage in military operations in any corner of the globe.
U.S. Air Force
The structure of the Air Force is represented by ten army commands and the national guard, the main task of which is the territorial defense of the country. But since there was no need for such protection for nearly 200 years, the National Guard is used for the intervention operations conducted by the US Air Force.
The structure of the US Air Force includes the three most promising command, receiving special financial support from the state. Also included are commands that perform related tasks.
US Air Force Levels
First level: the main headquarters of the Air Force. It includes two components:
- a secretariat composed of a secretary and his headquarters;
- headquarters of the main command of the air force.
Second level:
- Commander. The command of this level is to subordinate the main headquarters of the Air Force. Its function is to manage the headquarters of all Air Force commands in the performance of individual tasks. Using the main air forces of the USA and all formations of the Air Force, the headquarters carry out work in the directions set by the general mission of the Air Force.
- Leading commander. A command that performs a task separate from the entire Air Force mission and is separately responsible for its result. This is the training command responsible for training the US Air Force.
US Air Force Base. Command
- The US Air Force at the Offut airbase has a strategic aviation command. Its task is to carry out offensive operations and launch nuclear missiles at strategically important targets behind enemy lines. In addition, this command is engaged in providing air support to the American troops and their allies, and performing intelligence work.
- Space command. Its task is the militarization of outer space. Leadership is from Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado. The relevant US Air Force is located there. The equipment used by this command is intended for warfare in space, as well as for delivering strikes from there. These are mainly Earth satellites and connected navigation, meteorological objects. Space command is one of the main ones, since the intensive development of technology and nanotechnology does not exclude threats from outer space from other states. Command performs the protective function of the entire North American continent.
- Tactical Command. It is considered the most mobile strategic reserve of military forces of general purpose, which the United States Air Force has. The mobility of the reserve allows for urgent military operations in any corner of the globe. Tactical fighter planes, reconnaissance and special purpose aircraft are subordinate to the tactical command, in its composition. The US Air Force of this command is located at the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.
- Military Transport Command. Deployed at Scott Airbase in Illinois. This command carries out coordination during the transfer of troops, landing, weapons in the territory of military operations, and is also involved in the evacuation of wounded, search and rescue operations.
- The rear command of the US Air Force is engaged in the repair and modernization of aviation and equipment for the remaining commands, as well as supplying them with everything necessary in wartime: spare parts, consumables, ammunition.
- Communication command. Provides repair and installation of communications facilities needed for all US Air Force commands.
- Air Force Weapons Development Command. He is engaged in scientific research and improvement of aviation by placing relevant orders for the US industry.
- US Air Force Radio Intelligence and Security Command. Provides covert communications between all centers and airbases of the air force.
- US Air Force Training Command. Engaged in the replenishment of volunteers of educational institutions of the air force, provides training in all military specialties. Training centers train specialists both among Americans and among all comers from other union states. At the disposal of this command are aircraft T - 41, T - 38, T - 37 and various ground-based simulators.
US Air Force in Europe
This is one of the largest commands dealing with airspace security issues in the European zone, both jointly with the Allied Allied Air Force and independently. In peacetime alone, America allocated 35% of the personnel for this task. The fleet consists of nuclear weapons carriers. This is F - 4, F - 111, F - 16. The US Air Force command is located in Germany at the Ramstein air base. In wartime, the US Air Force command is capable of mobilizing 1800 aircraft within ten days.
Pacific zone
The deployment point of the US Air Force command, responsible for the safety of airspace in the Pacific, is located in the Hawaiian Islands at the headquarters of the Hikam air base. From the Arctic to Antarctica, and from the East coast of Africa to the West coast of America - this is the territory for the safety of which the U.S. Air Force is responsible. The combat potential of this command is represented by tactical, reconnaissance aircraft and fighter aircraft. Aviation in peacetime totals 370 units of military equipment and 46 thousand personnel. During the hostilities that took place in the 70s on the territory of Southeast Asia, 174,500 people were concentrated and 1,880 aircraft - Pacific combat personnel. The US Air Force, if necessary, control over the Pacific zone, with the participation of the tactical aviation command, will use its reserve air force components, since the territory in this zone is strategically important for America.
Aviation Used
Depending on the purpose and nature of the tasks assigned, the technical support of the US Air Force is divided into three groups. Strategic missiles equipped with the Minitman system, designed for global attacks carried out by the US Air Force. The state of this missile system is in combat mode all the time, which makes it possible to launch it within 6 minutes.
Combat aircraft is divided into three subgroups:
- strategic bomber - sides: B - 2A "Spirit", B - 1B "Lancer"; fleet totals 120 units;
- tactical - aircraft F - 15 E "Strike Eagle", F - 15C, D "Eagle"; combat personnel - 2,000 aircraft;
- reconnaissance - the aircraft fleet has 50 units: the U-2S "Dragon Lady" board, the RC-135 "River Joint" also have unmanned aerial vehicles (300 units).
Auxiliary aircraft serves as a service to all US Air Force commands. Depending on the tasks performed, auxiliary aviation can be of four types:
- military transport - the aircraft fleet includes 300 strategic S-17A Globmaster units and 500 S-130 Hercules tactical aircraft used for military transportation over a strategic range;
- the transport and refueling station consists of 400 aircraft - KS - 10 “Extender”, KS - 135 “Stratotanker”;
- aviation for special operations is represented by aircraft M-28, WC - 130, RS - 12;
- training, fleet of which has more than 1000 units.
Further development of the Air Force
The analysis of the US Air Force and the data obtained allowed the military senior leadership to outline the priorities and direction for the further development of the Air Force. The main goals and objectives are set out in detail in a document entitled "US Air Force: A Challenge to the Future," published and approved by the US government in July 2014. In the next thirty years, the US Air Force will follow these guidelines. Development prospects are to attract high-quality pilots to the Air Force through material incentives. For this purpose, the state allocates grants of $ 225,000 to finance fighter aircraft specialists who have extended the contract for 9 years, and $ 125 thousand for pilots of other types of aviation. The second step involves optimizing the training of personnel with the active use of computer simulations and ground-based simulators in the educational process, which allow simulating situations close to combat. Simultaneously with these steps, it is planned to significantly increase the number of training courses.
A significant place in the plans of the US Air Force is also given to the social protection of servicemen and their families. By 2020, the state has planned the full provision of all air force personnel with office premises on the territory of air bases and housing.
The Air Force, being the most effective and promising power tool, occupies a significant place in the US armed forces. Thanks to the advanced Air Force, America controls more than 40% of the globe. The ability to ensure guaranteed security of airspace, the presence of military agreements with other states allow the US government to promote its political views anywhere in the world.
Modern weapons and rich experience allow the American military leadership to effectively carry out reconnaissance, aggression and control operations in the air and outer space in order to strengthen the national interests of the United States.