Compare armed forces

Alliance builder

Military power of France & Switzerland

France flag svg Switzerland flag svg

France vs Switzerland

Show map
France Switzerland

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

Switzerland is a country located in Central Europe with an area of 41,285 km2 (land boundries: 1,770 km and costline 0 km (landlocked)). The capital of Switzerland is Bern. The number of inhabitants is 8,570,146.

Switzerland has long maintained a policy of military neutrality, but does periodically participate in EU, NATO, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Swiss law excludes participation in combat operations for peace enforcement, and Swiss units will only participate in operations under the mandate of the UN or OSCE. The Swiss Armed Forces inventory includes a mix of domestically-produced and imported weapons systems. The United States is the leading supplier of military armaments.

More about Switzerland military

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

Military expenditures

small flag FR
small flag CH

Military budget

+
60 billion $
6.3 billion $

Percent of GDP

+
1.9 %
0.7 %

Manpower

small flag FR
small flag CH

Active personnel

+
270,000
140,000

Reserve personnel

+
141,050
80,000

Available for military

+
14,563,662
1,852,580

Land Forces

small flag FR
small flag CH
mlrs svg

Tanks

+
406
224
mlrs svg

Armoured fighting vehicles

+
6,748
1,808
mlrs svg

Total artillery

+
119
176
mlrs svg

Self-propelled artillery

+
96
176
mlrs svg

Rocket artillery

+
11
0

Air Forces

small flag FR
small flag CH
mlrs svg

Total aircraft

+
1,143
178
mlrs svg

Fighter

+
26
27
mlrs svg

Multirole

+
144
25
mlrs svg

Attack

+
66
0
mlrs svg

Helicopters

+
478
57
mlrs svg

UCAV (combat drone)

+
16
0

Navy

small flag FR
small flag CH
mlrs svg

Total naval

+
111
0
mlrs svg

Aircraft carriers

+
4
0
mlrs svg

Destroyers

+
10
0
mlrs svg

Frigates

+
12
0
mlrs svg

Corvettes

+
0
0
mlrs svg

Submarines

+
10
0

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.

Switzerland

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.

Switzerland

19-26 years of age for male compulsory military service; 18 years of age for voluntary male and female military service; every Swiss male has to serve at least 260 days in the armed forces; conscripts receive 18 weeks of mandatory training, followed by seven 3-week intermittent recalls for training during the next 10 years.