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Military power of European Union EU & Russia

European Union EU vs Russia

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European Union EU Russia

The European Union (EU) is a political and economic union countries that are located in Europe with an area of 4,233,255 km² The capital of Ukraine is Brussels. The number of inhabitants estimated is about 447 million. Members of EU: Germany, Latvia, France, Lithuania, Estonia, Portugal, Belgium, Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Sweden, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Hungary, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain.

The European Union were not devised as a military alliance because most of the members are in the North Atlantic Alliance. Since the withdrawal of the UK, France is the only member recognised as a nuclear weapon state. Italy, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium participate in NATO nuclear sharing.

Russia is a country located in North Asia bordering the Arctic Ocean with an area of 17,098,242 km² (land boundries: 22,407 km and costline 37,653 km). The capital of Russia is Moscow. The number of inhabitants is 146,171,015.

On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine with an estimated 150 k troops. Russia is the leading member of the Collective Security Treaty Organization. The Russian Federation's military is equipped with domestically-produced weapons systems. Russia is the world's second largest exporter of military hardware and has the world's largest stockpile of nuclear weapons.

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Military expenditures

Military budget

295.8 billion $

86.4 billion $

Percent of GDP

0 %

4.1 %

Manpower

Active personnel

1,277,969

1,000,000

Reserve personnel

1,687,132

2,000,000

Available for military

92,594,951

34,765,736

Land Forces

Tanks

4,244

12,267

Armoured fighting vehicles

29,656

24,172

Total artillery

6,056

18,266

Self-propelled artillery

1,856

6,443

Rocket artillery

674

4,331

Air Forces

Total aircraft

5,350

4,418

Fighter

415

340

Multirole

883

382

Attack

142

689

Helicopters

2,336

1,665

UCAV (combat drone)

68

100

Navy

Total naval

1,306

653

Aircraft carriers

7

1

Destroyers

18

14

Frigates

69

11

Corvettes

23

80

Submarines

48

66

Nuclear weapons

European Union EU

Data not available

Russia

The second most important state when it comes to researching, developing, and then storing nuclear weapon. Although the Russians managed to catch up with Americans later on, it was only in 1949 that the first nuclear test conducted by then the Soviet Union occurred. It was still quite a surprise for the Western Powers, who believed that Russia won’t be capable of producing nuclear warheads until 1953-1954. After the first test, the nation in question started to rapidly increase the amount of warheads they possessed. In the end of 1980s, they were the leading power when it comes to total number of warheads stored. It was approximately 40,000 warheads.

Nowadays, similarly to United States, the Russians store a total number of 6490 warheads, what is scarcely more than USA. When it comes to the number of deployed warheads, the amount is the same as in case of Americans, namely 1600 deployed warheads. We should also remember about the fact that Russia conducted over 700 tests, what makes them the second most important nation when it comes to developing nuclear weapons. However, it was the Soviet Union that managed to create the biggest bomb in the world. Known as Tsar Bomba, it had blast yield of 50 megatons of TNT.

Military service

European Union EU

Data not available

Russia

18-27 years of age for compulsory or voluntary military service; males are registered for the draft at 17 years of age; 1-year service obligation (conscripts can only be sent to combat zones after 6 months of training); reserve obligation for non-officers to age 50; enrollment in military schools from the age of 16, cadets classified as members of the armed forces.