Country profile · SD Strength Index
Turkey Military Strength 2026
Score by area
| Air power | 27 | |
| Missiles & strike | 8 | |
| Air & missile defence | 20 | |
| Sea power | 32 | |
| Land forces | 59 | |
| Manpower | 54 | |
| Budget & industry | 19 |
Armed forces in 2026
Key figures
As of 2026-10| Defence budget | 17–30 $bn | B |
| Share of GDP | 2.1 % | B |
| Active personnel | 355k–401k | C |
| Reserves | 378.7k | C |
| Combat aircraft | 290 | B |
| Fifth-generation fighters | 0 | A |
| Attack helicopters | 75 | B |
| All military aircraft | 1,050 | C |
| Main battle tanks | 2,200–2,500 | C |
| Rocket artillery | 280 | C |
| Aircraft carriers | 0 | A |
| Destroyers | 0 | A |
| Frigates | 16–19 | C |
| Submarines | 12–13 | B |
| Longest missile range | 280–800 km | C |
| Long-range air-defence batteries | 0–6 | C |
| Nuclear warheads | 0 | A |
A confirmed B strong estimate C estimated range
Main equipment
| Equipment | Number | |
|---|---|---|
| F-16C/D Block 30/40/50(+) | 230–250 | B |
| F-4E 2020 Terminator | 20–30 | C |
| Eurofighter Typhoon | 0 | B |
| TAI KAAN | 1–2 | B |
| A400M | 10 | A |
| S-400 Triumf | 4 | A |
| Siper-1 | 0–4 | C |
| Hisar-A+/Hisar-O+ | 10–30 | C |
| TCG Anadolu | 1 | A |
| Istif (I-class) frigate | 1–2 | B |
| Reis-class (Type 214TN) | 2–3 | A |
| Altay T1 | 3–14 | C |
| Tayfun (Block 1-3) | — | C |
| Bayraktar TB2/TB3 | 160–250 | C |
| Bayraktar Akinci | 20–40 | C |
| Bayraktar Kizilelma | 0–3 | C |
How strong is Turkey's military?
Turkey's strength is breadth. Silent Dossier estimates about 355,000 active personnel and roughly 380,000 reserves, with some 157,000 gendarmerie and other paramilitary forces on top. The army holds an estimated 2,200 to 2,500 Leopard 2, M60 and M48 tanks and some 8,000 armoured vehicles.
It is also a force that fights. Operations against the PKK in Iraq and Syria have run for years, and Turkish drones flew in northern Syria and in support of Azerbaijan in 2020.
How big is the Turkish army?
Big. Leopard 2A4s and modernised M60Ts lead the tank fleet. The first home-built Altay tanks were delivered in October 2025, with 10 or 11 planned for 2026 out of 250 ordered. Silent Dossier estimates around 1,000 self-propelled guns and 280 rocket launchers.
Years of cross-border operations in northern Iraq and Syria have given it more recent ground experience than most NATO armies. Age is the problem. Much of the tank fleet is old Leopard 2A4, M60 and M48 stock.
What is the Turkish air force's weak point?
Fighters. Removal from the F-35 programme in 2019 left Turkey with about 238 F-16s, many of them older Block 30 jets earmarked for the Ozgur upgrade, whose production contract is still unclear. A single squadron of F-4E 2020 Terminators remains. Silent Dossier counts about 258 fighters, none of them stealthy, and no new fighter has arrived since the 2010s.
Relief is slow. Twenty new Eurofighter Typhoons ordered from Britain in October 2025 are due from 2030. Twelve used Typhoons agreed with Qatar were held back by the regional war and none had arrived by October 2026. A June 2024 deal for 40 F-16 Block 70s and upgrade kits is worth about $7.9bn, with deliveries from around 2027. The indigenous KAAN is in flight test, with 20 ordered for 2028 to 2030 and 48 sold to Indonesia.
Why are Turkish drones so important?
Turkey turned the armed drone into an export brand. Silent Dossier estimates around 400 armed drones across the Bayraktar TB2 and TB3, Akinci and Anka families. TB3s have flown more than 100 sorties from TCG Anadolu, the amphibious assault ship that now doubles as a small drone carrier.
Drones let Turkey strike often and cheaply without risking pilots. Against a well defended opponent they matter less. Turkish defence and aerospace exports reached a record $10bn in 2025.
How strong is Turkey's navy?
Thirteen submarines, an estimated 17 frigates and 10 corvettes make it a serious regional fleet. Two new Reis submarines are in service and a third was launched in 2025. TCG Istanbul leads a run of Istif frigates, with two more launched in 2026. A national aircraft carrier is under construction for the early 2030s.
Does Turkey have air defence and missiles?
Partly. Turkey owns four Russian S-400 batteries that sit inactive while Ankara and Moscow discuss their fate. The domestic Siper long range system was due to start serial deliveries in January 2026 under the Steel Dome plan, but the number fielded is unconfirmed, so NATO Patriot and Italian SAMP/T batteries fill the gap. The Tayfun ballistic missile is in service, and Silent Dossier estimates its range at about 560 km. Ankara has not disclosed it.
Turkey has no nuclear weapons of its own. The US bombs at Incirlik stay in American custody.
Combat record and readiness
Fights the PKK in Iraq and Syria with drones, air strikes and ground raids, including in northern Syria from 2020 to 2026. Backed Azerbaijan in the 2020 Karabakh war. A peace process with the PKK has run through 2025 and 2026.
Builds Bayraktar and Anka drones, the KAAN fighter and Hurjet trainer, Altay tanks, frigates, submarines, Siper and Hisar air defence and Tayfun missiles. It is a major drone exporter, but engines still come from the US, Ukraine and Korea.
No new fighter has arrived since the 2010s. Removal from the F-35 programme in 2019 leaves about 238 ageing F-16s to hold on until KAAN, and the Typhoon bridge purchase has stalled. The S-400 sits inactive and US sanctions still limit engines and parts.
Latest Silent Dossier analysis
Questions readers ask
How strong is Turkey's military?
It is the third strongest in the Middle East on the Silent Dossier index, behind Israel and Saudi Arabia. Its land forces and navy are large, and its main weakness is an ageing fighter fleet with no stealth aircraft.
How many soldiers does Turkey have?
Silent Dossier estimates about 355,000 active personnel and around 380,000 reserves. Some 157,000 paramilitary personnel, including the gendarmerie, come on top.
Does Turkey have F-35s?
No. Turkey was removed from the F-35 programme in 2019 after buying Russian S-400s, and Washington still links any return to their disposal. Ankara is buying Eurofighter Typhoons and F-16 Block 70s and developing its own KAAN fighter.
How many drones does Turkey have?
Silent Dossier estimates around 400 armed drones, including Bayraktar TB2, TB3, Akinci and Anka types. The exact operational number is not public.
Does Turkey have nuclear weapons?
No. American B61 bombs are stored at Incirlik, but they remain in US custody and are not Turkish weapons.
How much does Turkey spend on defence?
The defence ministry's 2026 budget is about $19bn, up nearly a third. Silent Dossier estimates the wider defence and security envelope at up to $30bn.