Russia
Wins 12/27
United States
Wins 15/27United States leads on 15 of 27 tracked categories.
United States holds the stronger Global Firepower rank (#1).
Russia and United States are compared here on public military strength data, with United States holding the stronger Global Firepower rank over Russia. The sharpest gap is in defense budget, United States at 954,000,000,000 versus 190,000,000,000. Some figures for Russia are state-influenced or opaque, so treat this comparison as directional.
Russia: State-influenced or opaque figures, treat as directional.
Full data
Spec sheet
| Russia | United States | |
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| GFP power index | 0.0791 | 0.0741 ✓ |
| GFP rank | 2 | 1 ✓ |
| Economy | ||
| Defense budget (USD) | $190,000,000,000 | $954,000,000,000 ✓ |
| GDP (USD) | $2,561,310,000,000 | $30,769,700,000,000 ✓ |
| Defense spend, % of GDP (%) | 7.5 % | 3.1 % |
| Population | 140,820,810 | 341,963,408 ✓ |
| Personnel | ||
| Active personnel | 1,320,000 | 1,333,030 ✓ |
| Reserve personnel | 2,000,000 ✓ | 799,500 |
| Paramilitary | 250,000 ✓ | 0 |
| Nuclear | ||
| Warheads, total | 5,420 ✓ | 5,042 |
| Warheads, deployed | 1,796 ✓ | 1,770 |
| Nuclear status | Yes | Yes |
| Delivery legs | ICBM, SLBM, bomber | ICBM, SLBM, bomber |
| NPT status | signatory (nuclear-weapon state) | signatory (nuclear-weapon state) |
| First test year | 1949 | 1945 |
| Air power | ||
| Total aircraft | 4,237 | 13,032 ✓ |
| Fighters | 861 | 1,791 ✓ |
| Attack aircraft | 698 | 926 ✓ |
| Transport aircraft | 458 | 917 ✓ |
| Helicopters | 1,643 | 5,913 ✓ |
| Attack helicopters | 556 | 1,024 ✓ |
| Land power | ||
| Tanks | 5,630 ✓ | 4,666 |
| Armored fighting vehicles | 126,512 | 409,660 ✓ |
| Self-propelled artillery | 3,603 ✓ | 1,521 |
| Towed artillery | 5,920 ✓ | 1,878 |
| Rocket artillery (MLRS) | 2,486 ✓ | 1,731 |
| Naval power | ||
| Total naval assets | 747 ✓ | 465 |
| Aircraft carriers | 1 | 11 ✓ |
| Submarines | 66 | 66 |
| Destroyers | 13 | 83 ✓ |
| Frigates | 12 ✓ | 0 |
| Corvettes | 79 ✓ | 27 |
| Patrol vessels | 70 ✓ | 0 |
Frequently asked questions
Which has more nuclear warheads, Russia or United States? +
Russia has more nuclear warheads, an estimated 5,420 in total stockpile.
Which has the bigger defense budget, Russia or United States? +
United States has the bigger defense budget, at an estimated 954,000,000,000 USD.
Which has more tanks, Russia or United States? +
Russia has more tanks, an estimated 5,630 main battle tanks.
Which has a bigger air force, Russia or United States? +
United States has more total aircraft, an estimated 13,032.
Which has a bigger navy, Russia or United States? +
Russia has more naval assets, an estimated 747 vessels.
Which has the higher Global Firepower rank, Russia or United States? +
United States holds the stronger Global Firepower rank, at number 1 worldwide.
Where does this military comparison data come from? +
Sources: Global Firepower 2026, SIPRI 2025, FAS 2026, IMF. Figures are public estimates. Every figure is a public estimate, not classified data, and can vary between sources.
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Sources: Global Firepower 2026, SIPRI 2025, FAS 2026, IMF. Figures are public estimates.