Compare armed forces

Alliance builder

Military power of USA & Japan

USA flag svg Japan flag svg

USA vs Japan

Show map
USA Japan

USA is a country located in North America with an area of 9,857,306 km2 (land boundries: 12,002 km and costline 19,924 km). The capital of USA is Washington. The number of inhabitants is 331,449,281.

The United States is a member of NATO and was one of the original 12 countries to sign the North Atlantic Treaty in 1949. The US military's inventory is comprised almost entirely of domestically-produced weapons systems defense industry is capable of designing, developing, maintaining, and producing the full spectrum of weapons systems. The United States is the world's leading arms exporter.

More about USA military

Japan is a country located in Eastern Asia with an area of 377,944 km2 (land boundries: 0 km and costline 29,751 km). The capital of Japan is Tokyo. The number of inhabitants is 125,360,000.

The current Self Defense Force was founded in 1954. Japan has Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) status with the USA. Approximately 55,000 US troops and other military assets, including aircraft and naval ships, were stationed in Japan and had exclusive use of more than 80 bases and facilities. In exchange for their use, the US guarantees Japan’s security. The JSDF is equipped with a mix of imported and domestically-produced equipment. The majority of its weapons imports are from the US and some domestically-produced weapons are US-origin and manufactured under license.

More about Japan military

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

Military expenditures

small flag US US small flag JP JP
Military budget: 816 billion $ 53.1 billion $
Percent of GDP: 3.3% 1.2%

Military budget

small flag US small flag JP
Highest value in the world: 816 billion $ (USA)
More

Manpower

small flag US US small flag JP JP
Active personnel: 1,358,500 247,150
Reserve personnel: 799,500 56,100
Available for military: 73,270,043 27,301,443

Active

small flag US small flag JP
Highest value in the world: 2,035,000 (China)
More

Land Forces

small flag US US small flag JP JP
Tanks: 6,612 1,004
Armoured fighting vehicles: 41,237 3,072
Total artillery: 4,243 623
Self-propelled artillery: 1,498 214
Rocket artillery: 1,366 99

Tanks

tank svg
small flag small flag
Highest value in the world: 12,267 (Russia)
More

Air Forces

small flag US US small flag JP JP
Total aircraft: 12,930 1,444
Fighter aircraft: 461 155
Multirole aircraft: 2,417 79
Attack aircraft: 566 0
Helicopters: 4,741 698
UCAV (combat drone): 334 0

Total aircraft

airplane svg
small flag small flag
Highest value in the world: 12,930 (USA)
More

Navy

small flag US US small flag JP JP
Total naval: 460 140
Aircraftcarriers: 20 4
Destroyers: 94 36
Frigates: 0 2
Corvettes: 22 6
Submarines: 69 22

Total naval

ship svg
small flag small flag
Highest value in the world: 967 (North Korea)
More

Nuclear weapons

USA

The first country to develop and to military use nuclear warheads in the world. Everything started from the Manhattan project, a research that had one particular goal in focus – to develop and produce the first nuclear weapon. Americans were the first to wield such powerful weapon. Everything started in 1941, which is date of the beginning of Manhattan project. Since the end of the Second World War, United States became the leading country when it comes to possessing nuclear warheads and it lasted approximately to 1980s. We should also bear in mind that United States are also the only nation that ever used nuclear weapon in military conflict.

In 1960, the amount of warheads stored by Americans exceeded 30,000. However, it is worth to note that throughout the entire period of the so-called Cold War, USA managed to build approximately 70,000 nuclear warheads, what is more than all other countries with access to nuclear weapons combined. From the first test that happened in 1945 to this day, the USA conducted 1054 tests of atomic bombs. Still, as a result of introduced restrictions on the amount of warheads one state can possess, the current number has dropped to 6500 warheads. Noteworthy is also the fact that out of this number, United States deployed only 1600.

Japan

Does not have nuclear weapons.

Military service

USA

18 years of age (17 years of age with parental consent) for male and female voluntary service; no conscription; maximum enlistment age 42 (Army), 27 (Air Force), 34 (Navy), 28 (Marines); service obligation 8 years, including 2-5 years active duty (Army), 2 years active (Navy), 4 years active (Air Force, Marines); DoD is eliminating prohibitions restricting women from assignments in units smaller than brigades or near combat units.

Japan

18 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; mandatory retirement at age 53 for senior enlisted personnel and at 62 years for senior service officers.