Most Powerful Military Forces in Southern and Eastern Asia

Bangladesh

Ranked 18th out of all of Asia, the Bangladesh Armed Forces are the military force under the command of Bangladesh’s Defence Ministry, with the President of Bangladesh serving as Commander-in-chief of the military. Bangladesh military has an estimated active personnel of 160,000 and reserve personnel of 964,000.

In terms of expenditures, their total budget is $3.45 billion (not including the Paramilitary Forces) which accounts for a mere 1.2% of the country’s total GDP. The Bangladesh Army, the land forces of the military, is the largest branch of the three.

credit: Wikipedia
The Bangladesh Armed Forces total aircraft strength is ranked 53rd in the world and consists of 45 fighters, 45 attacks, and an undisclosed number of attack helicopters. In terms of land strength, they have about 340 tanks, 521 armored fighting vehicles, 340 towed artillery, and 36 rocket projectors.

The military has launched a long-term modernization program called “Forces Goal 2030”, with the plan of modernizing and expanding all of the military’s equipment and infrastructures. From acquiring modern war-machines to upgrading the training technics for all of the future personnel. The plan mostly relies on the local defense industries initiated at Bangladesh.