6 candidates for the title of strongest army in ASEAN
(Baonghean.vn) - There are up to 6 candidates for the title of strongest army in ASEAN, including Vietnam, according to the website '21stcenturyasianarmsrace'.
1. Indonesia
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It’s no surprise that Indonesia has the largest military in the region. It’s estimated to have 476,000 personnel, with an army of 300,000. The army has Leopard 2 tanks and BMP-3 infantry fighting vehicles. However, the air force is quite modest, with just a few squadrons of Russian-made F-16s and Sukhois. In return, Indonesia has a large navy with a number of frigates and missile boats suitable for patrolling its waters. The Indonesian navy is already rebuilding its submarine force. |
2. Malaysia
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| The Malaysian armed forces have a total strength of 110,000. The reserve force is approximately 300,000. The Malaysian air force and navy are well equipped. The air force operates several dozen fighter aircraft, including Hawks, F-5 Tigers, F/A-18Ds, and Su-30s. The country's MiG-29 fleet is scheduled for early retirement. Malaysia has a developed defense industry and access to many foreign suppliers. The aerospace sector is a bright spot in the Malaysian economy. The sector has numerous firms specializing in the maintenance and repair of both civilian and military aircraft. |
3. Myanmar
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| Myanmar's military personnel are estimated to be between 250,000 and 400,000. The country's annual defense budget was $3 billion in 2017. Myanmar's arms industry dates back to the 1960s, but it wasn't until the 1990s that Israel and Singapore helped establish small arms and ammunition production facilities. Myanmar's main arms suppliers are China, Russia and Ukraine. The Myanmar Air Force relies almost entirely on Chinese aircraft. |
4. Singapore
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| The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) has only 75,000 troops on paper, but it can mobilize nearly 1 million citizens in a serious crisis. Singapore's GDP hovers around $300 billion. Its defense budget was $10 billion in 2017. Each branch of the Singapore military is well equipped. The army has several hundred armored vehicles, including 196 upgraded Leopard 2SG main battle tanks. The air force has 62 F-16C/Ds and 40 F-15SGs. The navy has deep-sea combat capabilities thanks to its stealthy French frigates and Swedish Archer-class submarines. |
5. Thailand
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| The Thai monarchy favors its armed forces, which number an estimated 310,000, including 190,000 in the army. Thailand’s defense budget for 2017 was a hefty $6.1 billion. The Thai navy has one (symbolically inoperable) aircraft carrier, along with dozens of small patrol boats. The Thai air force favors single-engine fighters such as the F-16C/D and JAS 39 Gripen. |
6. Vietnam
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| Vietnam has a large regular army. The reserve force is also very large. The Vietnamese Army possesses the largest armored formation in ASEAN, mainly consisting of T-54/55 medium tanks and light amphibious vehicles. Vietnam also has a lot of artillery. These two factors give Vietnam an advantage. Today, the Vietnam People's Army has deployed many advanced weapons imported from Russia and Israel, including S-300 air defense systems, missile patrol boats and frigates, and 6 Kilo-class submarines. The Vietnamese Air Force has modern SU-30 squadrons to help protect its airspace against a number of military powers.../ |
Kim Ngoc
(Synthetic)
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