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NATIONAL FORCES · COMPARISON
Italy vs United Kingdom
| Overview | Italy | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
Active personnel DefinitionFull-time active military personnel; exclude reserves and paramilitary unless explicitly identified. | 191,600Estimate · people · 2026Single source2026 estimate. NATO peacetime military personnel strength; excludes trained reserves held at high readiness. National reporting coverage may differ from regular-force-only headcounts. | 125,900Estimate · people · 2026Single source2026 estimate. NATO peacetime military personnel strength; excludes trained reserves held at high readiness. National reporting coverage may differ from regular-force-only headcounts. |
Armed forces personnel DefinitionActive-duty military personnel, including paramilitary forces whose training, organisation, equipment and control allow them to support or replace regular forces. This is not an active-regular-only count. | 338,000people · 2020Single source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. | 153,000people · 2020Single source2020 annual observation. Active-duty military personnel, including qualifying paramilitary forces; not an active-regular-only count. |
Combat aircraft DefinitionIn-service fixed-wing combat aircraft; exclude stored, retired and ordered aircraft. In service does not establish readiness. | 156Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing aircraft classified as Combat aircraft by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of combat readiness. | 144Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing aircraft classified as Combat aircraft by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of combat readiness. |
Defence spending DefinitionAnnual military expenditure in current US dollars. State fiscal year, coverage and conversion basis in notes. | US$41.9bnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS defence budget forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceSource-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 41.9bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. Source coverage/fiscal-year notes: [b] Includes military pensions The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. | US$102bnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS defence budget forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceSource-reported annual official defence budget/appropriation in current US dollars; it is a budget figure, not an assertion of final expenditure or readiness. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD ε102bn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. Source coverage/fiscal-year notes: [b] Includes total departmental expenditure limits; costs of military operations; Armed Forces Pension Service; military aid to Ukraine; and external income earned by the MoD The printed ε marks this cell as estimated. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. |
GDP DefinitionAnnual nominal GDP in current US dollars, not purchasing-power parity. | US$2.7tnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS nominal GDP forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceAnnual nominal GDP at current market prices, in source-reported current US dollars. Excludes purchasing-power-parity GDP and real GDP growth. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 2.70trn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. | US$4.23tnEstimate · USD · 2026 IISS nominal GDP forecast (November 2025 assessment)Single sourceAnnual nominal GDP at current market prices, in source-reported current US dollars. Excludes purchasing-power-parity GDP and real GDP growth. Explicit 2026 economic-table year column; USD 4.23trn. The table was compiled in the November 2025 IISS assessment; this annual figure is an assessment/estimate and does not assert a final audited outturn. The explicit 2026 column is forward-looking relative to the November 2025 assessment and is retained as a forecast, not an observed final outturn. |
Main battle tanks DefinitionIn-service main battle tanks; exclude storage and orders. | 147Estimate · vehicles · 2025 edition; census date not statedSingle sourceIn-service C1 Ariete MBT fleet. Excludes three C2 Ariete AMV vehicles explicitly in test from the source’s broader 150-vehicle MBT category. | 213Estimate · vehicles · 2023Single sourceBritish national Challenger 2 main battle tank fleet in FOI's 2023 capability assessment. Does not add the separately planned Challenger 3 upgrade programme or broader later inventory holdings. |
Major surface combatants DefinitionCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates. Exclude patrol craft and support vessels. | 14Estimate · vessels · 20 Jan 2025Single sourceCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates in the national fleet; excludes aircraft carriers, corvettes, patrol, amphibious and support vessels. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. | 13vessels · 1 Apr 2026Single sourceCommissioned cruisers, destroyers and frigates in the national fleet; excludes aircraft carriers, corvettes, patrol, amphibious and support vessels. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. |
Population DefinitionTotal resident population; retain the source's reference year. | 58,915,656people · 2025Single source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. | 69,487,000people · 2025Single source2025 annual observation. Midyear resident population estimate. |
Reserve personnel DefinitionReported reserve personnel, with mobilisation and training definitions stated in notes. | 14,500Estimate · people · November 2025 IISS assessmentSingle sourceNational military reserve pool; excludes the separately reported active and paramilitary personnel. Training/mobilisation definitions remain source-specific. | 32,100people · 1 Apr 2026Single sourceTotal trained and untrained UK Tri-Service Future Reserves 2020 personnel. Includes FR20 volunteer reserve categories; excludes the wider former-regular mobilisation liability pool. |
Submarines DefinitionCommissioned submarines; exclude vessels on order and decommissioned vessels. | 8vessels · 31 Dec 2025Single sourceCommissioned military submarines in the national fleet; excludes orders, construction and uncommissioned trial boats. Fleet count, not immediately deployable strength. | 9vessels · 1 Apr 2026Single sourceRoyal Navy Submarine Service vessels in service at 1 April 2026, under MOD readiness-state definition; not necessarily immediately deployable. |
Transport aircraft DefinitionIn-service dedicated fixed-wing military transport aircraft; exclude trainers and orders. | 30Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing military transport aircraft classified as Transport by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Includes strategic, tactical and light liaison/utility transport aircraft; excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of immediate availability. | 29Estimate · aircraft · 8 Oct 2024Single sourceNational in-service fixed-wing military transport aircraft classified as Transport by FlightGlobal/Cirium, summing the Active column across all military services listed for the country. Includes strategic, tactical and light liaison/utility transport aircraft; excludes the separately classified trainers, special-mission aircraft, tankers and helicopters, as well as aircraft in storage, undergoing or awaiting upgrades, and orders. This is the directory's active-role inventory estimate, not a measure of immediate availability. |
Nuclear warheads DefinitionWarheads in the military stockpile, deployed or in reserve; exclude retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. Independent estimates, labelled as such. | —Not yet documented | 225Estimate · warheads · 2026 estimateSingle sourceWarheads in the military stockpile: in the custody of the military and earmarked for use by military forces, deployed or in reserve. Excludes retired warheads awaiting dismantlement. |
EQUIPMENT & WEAPONS
Equipment listed in inventory and operator sources, grouped by force and category. Sourced quantities retain their date, variant coverage and inventory status. Equipment without a documented count is listed by type.
405 matching equipment types
| Equipment | Italy | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Combat aircraft | ||
| Eurofighter Typhoon | 93Air Force · 2026Wikipedia 24Air Force · 2026Wikipedia 93Air Force · 2026Wikipedia | 1242026 111Royal Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| F-35 Lightning II | 10Naval Aviation · 2026Wikipedia 10Naval Aviation · 2026Wikipedia 10Italian Naval Aviation · 2026Wikipedia 10Italian Naval Aviation · 2026Wikipedia 28Air Force · 2025 47Air Force · 2026Wikipedia | 472026Wikipedia 482026Wikipedia |
| Hawker Hunter | — | 32026Wikipedia 32026Wikipedia |
| McDonnell Douglas AV-8B Harrier II | 12Naval Aviation · 2026Wikipedia 12Naval Aviation · 2026Wikipedia 12Italian Naval Aviation · 2026Wikipedia 12Italian Naval Aviation · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Panavia Tornado | 35Air Force · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Support aircraft | ||
| A330 MRTT | — | 14Royal Air Force · 2025Wikipedia 14Royal Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| A400M Atlas | — | 222026 22Royal Air Force · 2025Wikipedia |
| Airbus A319 | 3Air Force · 2025 3Air Force · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Alenia C-27J Spartan | 10Air Force · 2026Wikipedia 10Air Force · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| ATR 42 | 42026Wikipedia 42026Wikipedia | — |
| ATR 72 | 4Air Force · 2026Wikipedia 4Air Force · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Beechcraft King Air | 22024 | 102024 |
| Equipment | Italy | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Tanks | ||
| Ariete | 147Army · 2025 87Italian Army · 2025Wikipedia 110Italian Army · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Boxer | — | 282026 |
| Challenger 2 | — | 2852026 |
| Challenger 3 | — | In service |
| L9 bar mine | — | In service |
| Leopard 1 | 19Italian Army · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Armoured vehicles | ||
| Ajax | — | 1852026 |
| Alvis Saracen | — | In service |
| Assault Amphibious Vehicle | 17Italian Army · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Bison and Coyote armoured vehicles | — | 72British Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| Buffalo (mine protected vehicle) | 7Italian Army · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle | — | 24UK Special Forces · 2025 |
| Equipment | Italy | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Air defence | ||
| 9K33 Osa | — | In service |
| Alvis Stormer | — | 532026 |
| Aster (missile family) | 8Army · 2025 | — |
| CAMM (missile family) | In service | 6British Army · 2026Wikipedia ≥6British Army · 2026Wikipedia |
| DARDO | In service | — |
| MIM-23 Hawk | 4Italian Army · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Skynex | 3Italian Army · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| Anti-aircraft guns | ||
| M45 quad mount | In service | — |
| QF 3.7-inch AA gun | — | In service |
| Portable air defence | ||
| FIM-92 Stinger | 145Italian Army · 2026Wikipedia | In service |
| Starstreak | — | In service |
| Cruise & anti-ship missiles | ||
| Harpoon (missile) | In service | — |
| Equipment | Italy | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Small arms | ||
| Accuracy International Arctic Warfare | In service | — |
| Accuracy International AS50 | — | In service |
| Accuracy International AW50 | — | In service |
| Accuracy International AWM | In service | In service |
| Accuracy International AX50 | — | In service |
| AR-M1 | — | In service |
| Barrett M82 | In service | In service |
| Barrett M95 | In service | — |
| Benelli M3 | In service | In service |
| Benelli M4 | In service | In service |
| Beretta 92 | In service | — |
| Beretta 93R | In service | — |
| Equipment | Italy | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Remote weapon stations | ||
| Protector RWS | — | In service |
| Equipment | Italy | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|
| Radar & sensors | ||
| Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight | — | In service |
| Aimpoint CompM2 | 20,000Italian Army · 2026Wikipedia | — |
| AN/FPS-117 | In service | In service |
| AN/PAS-13 | In service | — |
| AN/PEQ-16 | — | In service |
| ARTHUR | In service | In service |
| C79 optical sight | — | In service |
| ELCAN Specter | In service | In service |
| Giraffe radar | — | 6British Army · 2023Wikipedia |
| LLM01 | — | In service |
| Communications & electronic warfare | ||
| AN/PRC-117 | In service | — |
| AN/PRC-148 | In service | — |
Coverage is incomplete. “Not documented” means no linked inventory evidence, not zero equipment. Methodology ↗
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cited source 2014-05-31 | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| 2026 cited source period | 22 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| 2026 cited source period | 55 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| 2026 cited source period | 12 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| 2026 cited source period | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 22 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 9 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 1 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 20 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 8 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 9 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 13 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 5 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 4 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 1 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 4 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 2 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 4 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 3 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 10 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 1 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 4 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 15 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
No shared land boundary is represented in the Natural Earth dataset. Approximate separation between the dataset’s country label points: 1,400 km.
Generalized geography from Natural Earth 1:110m, version 5.1.1. Label-point distance is calculated on a sphere and rounded to the nearest 100 km; it is not a capital-to-capital distance, route, border distance or operational range. Dataset boundaries do not imply recognition of territorial claims.
Boundaries: Natural Earth 1:110m, v5.1.1 · Public domain · Research catalogue highlighted
Scores out of 100 on the ForceTally Index. Each bar splits in proportion to the two scores. A point at the centre of the chart means no sourced figure for that part.
Points represent sourced observations, including revisions. Revisions on the same effective date are not separate inventory events. Ranges appear in the table and are not plotted as exact points.
| Observation / report period | Value | Source | Claim state |
|---|---|---|---|
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 53 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 6 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |
| Source snapshot 2026-10-02 · inventory date unstated | 23 units | Wikipedia contributors | approved |