Compare armed forces

Alliance builder

Military power of France & Poland

France flag svg Poland flag svg

France vs Poland

Show map
France Poland

France is a country located in Western Europe with an area of 640,679 km2 (land boundries: 3,956 km and costline 4,853 km). The capital of France is Paris. The number of inhabitants is 67,413,000.

France was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty, which created NATO in 1949. France and the UK signed in 2010 a declaration on defense and security cooperation that included greater military interoperability and a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force. The CJEF was assessed as having full operating capacity with the ability to rapidly deploy over 10,000 personnel. The French military's inventory consists mostly of domestically-produced weapons systems, including some jointly-produced with other European countries. France has a defense industry capable of manufacturing the full spectrum of military weapons systems.

More about France military

Poland is a country located in Central Europe with an area of 312,679 km2 (land boundries: 2,865 km and costline 440 km). The capital of Poland is Warsaw. The number of inhabitants is 38,268,000.

Poland joined NATO in 1999 and hosts US-led multi-national NATO ground force battlegroup since 2007. The inventory of the Polish Armed Forces consists of a mix of Soviet-era and more modern Western weapons systems. Poland announced in March 2022 plans to increase the size of its armed forces to 300,000 personnel and to allocate at least 3% of GDP to defense. Modernization plan would include such items as 5th generation combat aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, rocket artillery, helicopters, submarines and frigates.

More about Poland military

If you want to check the comparison in terms of economic ratios check out CompareEconomy.com

Military expenditures

small flag FR
small flag PL

Military budget

+
60 billion $
40 billion $

Percent of GDP

+
1.9 %
4.7 %

Manpower

small flag FR
small flag PL

Active personnel

+
270,000
200,000

Reserve personnel

+
141,050
150,000

Available for military

+
14,563,662
10,500,000

Land Forces

small flag FR
small flag PL
mlrs svg

Tanks

+
406
601
mlrs svg

Armoured fighting vehicles

+
6,748
2,417
mlrs svg

Total artillery

+
119
773
mlrs svg

Self-propelled artillery

+
96
585
mlrs svg

Rocket artillery

+
11
188

Air Forces

small flag FR
small flag PL
mlrs svg

Total aircraft

+
1,143
481
mlrs svg

Fighter

+
26
13
mlrs svg

Multirole

+
144
60
mlrs svg

Attack

+
66
18
mlrs svg

Helicopters

+
478
212
mlrs svg

UCAV (combat drone)

+
16
24

Navy

small flag FR
small flag PL
mlrs svg

Total naval

+
111
66
mlrs svg

Aircraft carriers

+
4
0
mlrs svg

Destroyers

+
10
0
mlrs svg

Frigates

+
12
2
mlrs svg

Corvettes

+
0
2
mlrs svg

Submarines

+
10
1

Nuclear weapons

France

France managed to research and develop its own nuclear weapon in 1960. The test, known as, Gerboise Bleue, was the result of mostly French research. One of the main figures that played crucial role in the entire process of developing the bomb was General Pierre Marie Gallois. He was concerned that the Suez Crisis, which started in 1956, would show the world how insignificant France became, since out of all Great Powers in the world, they were the only one without possessing its own nuclear arsenal. The tests were conducted on the terrains of Sahara Desert.

At this moment France owns 300 nuclear warheads, out of which almost all are deployed. What is more, compared to Great Britain, they made more tests, approximately 210. Noteworthy is the fact that the development of the first nuclear bomb in France as well as its tests were a bit controversial. It was due to the fact that France allowed Israeli observers to attend the tests, providing them with almost unrestricted access to all the data. It was quite important, since Israel, together with United Kingdom and France, were trying to invade Egypt.

Poland

Does not have nuclear weapons.

Military service

France

18-25 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; no conscription; 1-year service obligation; women serve in noncombat post.

Poland

18-28 years of age for male and female voluntary military service; conscription phased out in 2009-12; service obligation shortened from 12 to 9 months in 2005; women only allowed to serve as officers and noncommissioned officers.