2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. David Intriago

2023 Index of

U.S. Military Strength

The only non-governmental and only annual assessment of U.S. Military Strength

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Key Topics

Assessing the Global Operating Environment

Europe, Middle East, Asia

Assessing Threats to U.S. Vital Interests

China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Non-State Actors

An Assessment of U.S. Military Power

Army, Navy, USAF, USMC, Space, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense, Cyber

Topical Essays

AUKUS, All-Volunteer Force, the Real Cost of the Tools of War

About the Index

The only non-governmental and only annual assessment of U.S. Military Strength

Contributors and Acknowledgments

The contributions of a great many people make this type of publication possible.

Executive Summary of the 2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength

Each year, The Heritage Foundation’s Index of U.S. Military Strength employs a standardized, consistent set of criteria, accessible both to government officials and to the American public, to gauge the U.S. military’s ability to perform its missions in today’s world.

Introduction

Informed deliberations on the status of America’s military power are desperately needed.

Preface

This Index of U.S. Military Strength, composed by experts who have studied these areas for decades, provides an unvarnished assessment of the U.S. military.

Senator James M. Inhofe (R–OK)

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We are honored to dedicate the 2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength to Senator James M. Inhofe (R–OK).

Glossary of Abbreviations

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Find the definitions for abbreviations used throughout the 2023 Index.

Methodology

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The assessment portion of the Index of U.S. Military Strength is composed of three major sections that address America’s military power, the operating environments within or through which that power must be employed, and threats to U.S. vital national interests.

Appendix

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This Index measures the capability of the U.S. military based on the current state of its combat equipment. Four factors are key to this assessment. This appendix presents each of the services’ principal combat platforms and corresponding modernization programs, scoring them in each of the four factors.

Graphics

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View the graphics used throughout the 2023 Index.

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In addition to the website, the 2023 Index of U.S. Military Strength is also available in a print friendly PDF format.

Previous Indexes

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View and download previous Indexes of U.S. Military Strength.

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