Uzbekistan secures 58th place among the world’s strongest armies on the 2025 Global Firepower (GFP) index. This is a significant improvement from its 2024 ranking of 65th. In Central Asia, Uzbekistan ranks second, behind Kazakhstan, which holds 57th globally. Turkmenistan is in 77th, while Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan are ranked 105th and 108th, respectively.
Uzbekistan’s Military Profile
Uzbekistan’s military has shown impressive growth, as demonstrated by its jump from 65th in 2024 to 58th in 2025. Key statistics detailing Uzbekistan’s defense infrastructure and manpower include:
Manpower:
Uzbekistan has a total population of around 37mn, with 16.3mn people (52% of the population) classified as available military manpower and 13.7mn (43.7%) fit for service. The country maintains an active military force of 48,000 personnel, supported by 20,000 paramilitary personnel.
Uzbekistan's defense budget stood at $796.8mn in 2024, with foreign exchange and gold reserves totaling $35.37bn, and external debt of $17bn.
Military Units:
- Air Force Personnel: 15,000
- Army Personnel: 40,000
- Navy Personnel: 550
- Mobilization Potential: Uzbekistan could mobilize more than 2.5 million recruits within a four-year period, showcasing its strong potential for rapid military reinforcement.
Airpower
The country maintains 191 aircraft, with 115 in operational readiness (based on 2024 statistics). Breakdown of airpower includes:
- Fighters: 58 aircraft, with 35 ready for action
- Attack Aircraft: 13, with 8 ready
- Transports (Fixed-Wing): 13, with 8 ready
- Trainers: 7, with 4 ready
- Helicopters: 100, with 60 ready
- Attack Helicopters: 33, with 20 ready
In 2024 Daryo reported that Uzbekistan ranks 11th globally among nations with the most Sukhoi fighter jets, maintaining 38 active aircraft, primarily the Su-27 variant. In Central Asia, Kazakhstan is leads with 69 active Sukhoi jets, ranking 6th globally, while Turkmenistan follows with 25 aircraft.
Landpower
Uzbekistan’s landpower capacity key assets include:
- Tanks: 270 total, with 162 ready
- Vehicles: 5,526 total, with 3,316 ready
- Self-Propelled Artillery: 83 total, with 50 ready
- MLRS (Rocket Artillery): 143 total, with 86 ready
In July 2024, Uzbekistan announced the development of its first domestic armored personnel carrier (APC), the “Arslon,” which meets NATO standards. The eight-wheeled vehicle features advanced combat modules, a 30-mm cannon, and a 7.62-mm machine gun, offering class 6 and class 4 protection, mine resistance, and capacity for up to 11 personnel. Alongside the modernized Tarlon-M vehicle, these innovations, spearheaded by Krantas Group and backed by a $55mn investment in a specialized facility in the Tashkent region.
Global Firepower
The GFP ranking, compiled by the American analytical firm Global Firepower, evaluates 145 countries based on 60 criteria, including military manpower, resources, technological advancements, geographic location, and mobility. The United States retains its top position, while Bhutan is ranked last.
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