As of 2023, NATO had approximately 3.36 million active military personnel compared with 1.33 million active military personnel in the Russian military. The collective military capabilities of the 30 countries that make up NATO outnumber Russia in terms of aircraft, at 20,633 to 4,182, and in naval power, with 2,151 military ships, to 598. Russia's ground combat vehicle capacity is more competitive, however, with 12,566 main battle tanks, to 12,408. The combined nuclear arsenal of the United States, United Kingdom, and France amounted to 5,943 nuclear warheads, compared with Russia's 5,977.
Comparison of the military capabilities of NATO and Russia as of 2023
| Characteristic | NATO | Russia |
|---|---|---|
| Personnel | - | - |
| Total military personnel | 5,817,100 | 1,330,900 |
| Active soldiers | 3,358,000 | 830,900 |
| Reserve forces | 1,720,700 | 250,000 |
| Paramilitary units | 738,400 | 250,000 |
| Air Force | - | - |
| Total aircraft | 20,633 | 4,182 |
| Fighters / interceptors | 3,398 | 773 |
| Ground attack aircraft | 1,108 | 744 |
| Transport aircraft | 1,506 | 444 |
| Special aircraft (e.g reconnaissance) | 970 | 147 |
| Tanker aircraft | 615 | 19 |
| Total helicopters | 8,614 | 1,531 |
| Combat helicopters | 1,439 | 537 |
| Ground combat vehicles | - | - |
| Main battle tanks | 12,408 | 12,566 |
| Armored vehicles | 1,004,844 | 151,641 |
| Self-propelled artillery | 4,532 | 6,575 |
| Tower artillery | 6,554 | 4,336 |
| Self-propelled rocket launchers | 3,272 | 3,887 |
| Naval forces | - | - |
| Total military ships | 2,151 | 598 |
| Destroyers | 112 | 15 |
| Frigates | 135 | 11 |
| Corvettes | 55 | 86 |
| Helicopter Carriers | 13 | 0 |
| Aircraft carriers | 16 | 1 |
| Submarines | 143 | 70 |
| Patrol boats | 295 | 59 |
| Minesweepers | 151 | 49 |
| Nuclear Weapons | - | - |
| Nuclear warheads* | 5,943 | 5,977 |
See Also
Nato vs. Russia: who would win?Embed this statistic (FAQ)
