South Africa flag

SOUTH AFRICA

GFP #34AfricaCAP: Pretoria

Africa's most technologically sophisticated military, formerly the continent's only nuclear weapons state.

MILITARY DOCTRINE

African peacekeeping, SADC regional stabilisation, and maritime domain awareness in southern Indian Ocean.

60.0M
POPULATION
$405.9B
GDP TOTAL
$3.1B
MILITARY BUDGET
78K
ACTIVE TROOPS

FORCE STRUCTURE BREAKDOWN

PERSONNEL

Active Troops
78,000
Reserve Troops
15,000
Paramilitary
15,000
Special Forces
2,000
GFP POWER INDEX
0.5064
MIL. BUDGET % GDP
0.8%

GROUND FORCES

Tanks (MBT)
195
Armored Vehicles
2,400
Artillery
320
MLRS
72
195
TANKS
2,400
AFVs
320
ARTILLERY

AIR POWER

Fighter Aircraft
222
Attack Helicopters
12
Transport Helicopters
81
Drones (UAV/UCAV)
6
222
FIGHTERS
12
HELICOPTERS
6
DRONES

NAVAL & STRATEGIC

Total Ships
28
Submarines
3
Aircraft Carriers
0
Ballistic Missiles
0
NON-NUCLEAR STATE

NATIONAL ARSENAL

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