Table Of ContentThe Military Balance 1980- 81 is the
latest quantitative assessment of the
military power and defence expenditure
of countries throughout the world,
examining the facts of military power as
they exist today.
Countries are grouped in geographical
regions, and each section is introduced
with a description of multilateral pacts,
bilateral pacts and military aid
agreements. The entry for each country is
laid out in a standard form to enable easy
comparison; information includes defence
expenditure, G.N.P., manpower (active
forces), equipment and strength of
military formations.
Additional information, set out in
tabular form, compares nuclear delivery
vehicles and static measurements of the
strategic nuclear balance, defence
expenditures (with historical trends),
military manpower (active and reserve),
major naval construction, army divisional
establishments and arms transfer
agreements.
There is also a separate section
assessing the European theatre balance
between NATO and the Warsaw Pact,
and this presents an invaluable summary
of the statistics of forces and weapons
facing each other across the 'Iron
Curtain' .
£6.95
Net
ISBN 0 - 85368 - 197 - X In UK. only
THE
MILITARY
BALANCE 9 8 ·
. London/Melbourne: Arms and Armour Press
New York: Facts On File, Inc.
in association with
The International Institute for Strategic Studies
Cased edition published in association with
The International Institute for Strategic Studies,
23 Tavistock Street, London WC2E 7NQ
Published in Great Britain by Published in the U.S.A. by
Anns and Annour Press, Facts On File, Inc.,
Lionel Leventhal Limited, 119 West 57th Street,
2---6 Hampstead High Street, New York, N.Y. 10019.
London NW3 1Q Q;
and in Australasia at ISBN 0-87196-446-5.
4-12 Tattersalls Lane,
Melbourne, Victoria 3000.
© The International Institute for Strategic Studies, 1980.
Photographic supplement © Lionel Leventhal Limited, 1980.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in
any form by any means electrical, mechanical or otherwise,
without the prior permission of the publishers.
The publishers wish to acknowledge the invaluable assistance
of Michael 1. Gething in the preparation of the photographic
supplement to this cased edition.
British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:
The military balance.
1980-81
1. Anned Forces-Periodicals
I. International Institute for Strategic Studies
355.2'05 UA15
ISBN 0-85368-197-X
Printed in Great Britain by Adlard & Son Ltd.,
Bartholomew Press, Dorking.
CONTENTS
Page
Preface .. ~v
Readers' Notes .. vi
Abbreviations .. viii
1. COUNTRIES AND PRINCIPAL PACTS
Country Index 2
The United States and the Soviet Union 3
The Alliances and Europe 14
The Middle East and North Africa 28
Sub-Saharan Mrica 51
Asia and Australasia 61
Latin America 77
2. TABLES
1. Nuclear Delivery Vehicles: Comparative Strengths and
Characteristics . . 88
2. Indices of NATO Defence Expenditure 1960-1979 . . 94
3. Soviet Military Districts and Groups of Forces 95
4. Comparisons of Defence Expenditure and Military Manpower
1975-1980 96
5. Organization of French Armoured Division 98
6. Organization of French Motor Rifle Division 99
7. Organization of Chinese (PRC) Armoured Division 100
8. Organization of Chinese (PRC) Infantry Division 101
9. Major Identified Arms Agreements, July 1979-June 1980 102
3. ANALYSIS
The East-West Theatre Balance in Europe 110
The Balance of Theatre Nuclear Forces in Europe 116
PREFACE
The Military Balance is an annual, quantitative assessment of the military power and defence
expenditure of countries throughout the world.
It examines the facts of military power as they existed in July 1980, and no projections of force
levels or weapons beyond this date have been included, except where specificially stated. The study
should not therefore be regarded as a comprehensive guide to the balance of military power; in
particular, it does not reflect the facts of geography, vulnerability or efficiency, except where these are
explicitly touched upon.
In general, national entries are grouped geographically, but with special reference to the principal
regional defence pacts and alignments. Information about some smaller countries, whose military
forces are of a size which has not seemed to warrant fuller description at this stage, has been set
out in a tabular form. Other tables give comparative information on nuclear delivery vehicles and
static measurements of the strategic nuclear balance, defence expenditure (with historical trends),
military manpower (active and reserve) and arms-transfer agreements. Those tables which, by their
nature, change only slightly from year to year, are not always repeated in every edition. Charts
illustrate French and Chinese divisional organizations, and there is a map of the Soviet Military
Districts. Separate essays assess the European theatre balance, both conventional and nuclear,
between NATO and the Warsaw Pact and summarize the statistics of forces and weapons in Europe
which are the subject of negotiations for mutual force reductions.
Notes, which follow this Preface, will help the reader to use the current edition of The Military
Balance. It is important to read them, since they amplify and give precision to the data in the
national sections and tables.
The Director and the staff of the Institute assume full responsibility for the facts and judgments
which this study contains. The co-operation of governments has been sought and, in many cases,
received. Not all countries have been equally co-operative, and some figures have necessarily been
estimated. The Institute owes a considerable debt to a number of its own members and consultants,
who have helped in compiling and checking material.
September 1980
VI
READER'S NOTES
Regions and Countries
The main geographical regions are indicated in the Table of Contents on p. iii. An alphabetical list, showing
where each country entry is to be found, is on p. 2, following these notes. To the extent that national varia
tions permit, each country entry (with the exception of those for some smaller countries) is arranged in a
standard form: general information about population, military service, total military manpower strength,
Gross National Product (GNP) and defence expenditure is followed by separate sections on the main
armed services (army, navy, air force), each of which contains, where the information is available, sub
sections on reserves and para-military forces and, where relevant, on deployment of forces of a significant
size. It is not easy to make precise distinctions as to what are or are not para-military forces, and some
latitude must be allowed in definition. Some information on primary naval bases is included.
Defence Pacts and Agreements
A short description of multilateral and bilateral pacts and military aid agreements introduces each of the
main regional sections of the study. Defence assistance given under less formal arrangements is also noted.
Agreements which cover only economic aid are not included.
Defence Expenditure
For defence expenditure the latest available budget figures are quoted. Table 4 on pp. 96-7 shows current
and past expenditures, expressed in United States dollars so as to afford international comparisons; however,
since many countries update these each year, the figures will not necessarily correspond with those shown in
previous editions of The Military Balance. In Table 2 there are comparisons of NATO defence expenditures
1960--1979 in current and constant prices; in this table, and for the NATO countries in Table 4, a NATO
definition of defence expenditure is used, but in all other cases national definitions are used. The defence
expenditures of the Soviet Union and the People's Republic of China are estimates. The problem of arriving
at Soviet defence expenditure and at a suitable exchange rate to afford comparability is discussed on pp.
12-13, whilst a note on p. 64 gives an indication of the difficulty of arriving at a figure for China.
Gross National Product (GNP)
GNP figures are usually quoted at current market prices (factor cost for East European countries). Where
figures are not currently available from published sources, estimates have been made, and Table 4 uses
both published and estimated GNP figures. Wherever possible, the United Nations System of National
Accounts has been used, rather than national figures, as a step towards greater comparability. For the
Soviet Union GNP estimates are made in roubles, following R. W. Campbell, 'A Shortcut Method for Esti
mating Soviet GNP' (Association for Comparative Economic Studies, vol. XIV, no. 2, Fall 1972). East
European GNPS at factor cost are derived from Net Material Product, using an adjustment parameter from
T. P. Alton, 'Economic Growth and Resource Allocation in Eastern Europe', Reorientation and Commercial
Relations of the Economies of Eastern Europe Joint Economic Committee, 93rd Congress, 2nd Session
(Washington DC: USGPO, 1974). For the People's Republic of China two estimates of GNP have been given
in a note on p. 64.
Currency Con,ersion Rates
To make comparisons easier, national currency figures have been converted into United States dollars,
using the rate prevailing at the end of the first quarter of the relevant year. In all cases the conversion rates
used are shown in the country entry but may not always be applicable to commercial transactions. An
exception has been made in the case of the Soviet Union, since the official exchange rate is unsuitable for
converting rouble estimates of GNP. Various estimates of more appropriate conversion rates have been
made, but they have shortcomings too great to warrant their being used here; the official rate is, however,
given in the country section. Further exceptions are certain East European countries which are not members
of the IMF and Romania (which is), for which the conversion rates used are those described in Alton's study
mentioned above.
Manpower
Unless otherwise stated, the manpower figures given are those of active forces, regular and conscript.
An indication of the size of militia, reserve and para-military forces is also included in the country entry
where appropriate. Para-military forces are here taken to be forces whose equipment and training goes
beyond that required for civil police duties and whose constitution and control suggest that they may be
usable in support, or in lieu, of regular forces. Further manpower information is also included in Table 4.
VII
EqllipmellJ
The equipment figures in the country entries cover total holdings, with the exception of combat aircraft,
<
where front-line squadron strengths are normally shown. Except where the symbol is used, naval
vessels of less than 100 tons structural displacement have been excluded. The term 'combat aircraft'
comprises only bomber, fighter-bomber, strike, interceptor, reconnaissance, counter-insurgency and armed
trainer aircraft (i.e. aircraft normally equipped and configured to deliver ordnance); it does not include
helicopters. Basic technical details of the nuclear delivery vehicles (missiles, artillery and aircraft) available
. to NATO and Warsaw Pact countries are given in Table 1 on pp. 88-94.
Strength of Military Formations
The table below gives the average establishment strength of the major military formations used in the text.
The figures should be treated as approximate, since military organization is flexible, and formations may
be reinforced or reduced. The manning of formations may, of course, be well below these levels.
Division Brigade Squadron
Armoured Mechanized Airborne Armoured Mechanized
Fighter
Men Tanks Men Tanks Men Men Tanks Men Tanks aircraft
United States 18,900 324 18,500 216 16,500 4,500 108 4,800 54 18-24
Soviet Union 11,000 335a 14,000 266a 7,000 1,300b 95b 2,300b 40b 12-15 W
China 9,200 270 12,700e 30e 9,000 1,200b 90b 2,000 9-10 I
Britaind 8,500 148 8-15 I
Germany 17,000 300 17,500 250 8-9,000 4,500- 110 5,000- 54 15-21~1
India 15,000 200 17,500e 6,000 150 4,500 12-20 'fl
Israel 3,500 80--100 3,500 36-40 15-20 "
Egypt 11,000 300 12,000 190 3,500 96 3,500 36 10--12 !~
.. These tank strengths are for Soviet divisions in Eastern Europe; other Soviet divisions have fewer.
b Strength of a regiment, which is the equivalent formation in the Soviet and Chinese command structures. (The
term 'regiment' is, however, often employed, particularly in West European countries, to describe a battalion-size
unit, and it is so used in The Military Balance.)
• Infantry division.
"Britain has eliminated the brigade. Armoured division strength will rise to 11,500 on mobilization. New infantry
formations of about brigade size, known as Field Forces, have been formed; their establishments vary according to
role.
• Manpower levels currently under review.
Divisional strengths cover organic units only and exclude support units or services outside the divisional
structure. Warsaw Pact and some client countries have establishments similar to those of the Soviet Union.
NATO formations and squadrons not included in the table above have similar totals to those of Germany
unless otherwise mentioned in the text. Iran, Pakistan, the Philippines, Thailand, Japan, South Korea
and Taiwan have tended to adopt American military organization, while Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia
and Singapore have generally followed British practice.
Arms Transfers
Major arms supply agreements identified as being made during the year which ended on 1 July 1980 are
listed, under geographical regions, in Table 9 on pp. 102-107. Because the actual transfer of arms may
take place outside that year, an indication is also given there of expected delivery dates, where these are
known. Licensing arrangements, which are widespread among industrialized countries, are not normally
included.
Abbreviations alld Terms
A list of the abbreviations used in the text is on p. viii, immediately following these notes. For the con
venience of the reader, certain important abbreviations are explained again when first used. Where a S sign
appears it refers to United States dollars, unless otherwise stated. The term billion equals 1,000 million.
The symbol (-) indicates that part of a unit's or formation's establishment is detached.
viii
ABBREVIATIONS
< under 100 tons ODP gross domestic product n.a. not available
indicates part of estab- GDR German Democratic Neth Netherlands
Iishment is detached Republic nm nautical miles
Ger German (West)
AA anti-aircraft GLCM ground-launched cruise
AAM air-to-air missile(s) missile(s) ocu operational conversion
AD airborne GNP gross national product unites)
ABM anti-ballistic missile(s) GP general-purpose
ac aircraft gp group
AD air defence GW guided weapon(s) para parachute
pdr pounder
AEW airborne early warning
AFV armoured fighting bel helicopter(s) Pol Polish
vehicle(s) how howitzer(s) Port Portuguese
ALBM air-launched ballistic hy heavy
missile(s)
ALCM airm-liasusinlceh(se)d cruise ICBM intbear-llciostnicti nmeinstsaille (s) RreCcLc e rreeccooinllneasiss slaanucnec her(s)
amph amphibious indep independent regt regiment
APC armcaorurireerd(s )p ersonnel iIRnBfM iinnftearnmtreyd iate-range RRVL rreo-ceknettr yl avuenhcihceler((ss))
Arg Argentinian ballistic missile(s)
armd armoured SAM surface-to-air missile(s)
arty artillery km kilometres SAR search and rescue
ASM air-to-surface missile(s) KT kiloton (1,000 tons TNT sig sigllal
ASW anti-submarine warfare equivalent) SLBM submarine-launched
ATGW anti-tank guided ballistic missile(s)
weapon(s) LCA landing craft, assault SLCM sea-launched cruise
ATK anti-tank LCM landing craft, missile(s)
Aus Australian medium/mechanized Sov Soviet
AWACS airborne warning and LCT landing craft, tank SP self-propelled
control system LCU landing craft, utility spt support
AWX all-weather fighter(s) LCVP landing craft, vehicles sqn squadron
and personnel
SRAM short-range attack
LHA amphibious general
bbr bomber assault ship(s) missile(s)
bde brigade log logistic SRBM short-range ballistic
bn battalion or billion(s) LPD landing platform(s), missile(s)
Br British dock SSBN ballistic-missile
bty battery LPH landing platform(s), submarine(s), nuclear
SSM surface-to-surface
helicopter
missile(s)
Can Canadian LSD landing shipes), dock SSN submarine(s), nuclear
cav cavalry LSM landing shipes), medium sub submarine
cdo commando LST landing shipes), tank
Ch Chinese (PRC) It light
cmd command TA Territorial Army
COIN counter-insurgency m million(s) tac tactical
comms communications MARV manoeuvrable re-entry tk tank
coy company vehicle(s) tp troop
MCM mine counter-measures tpt transport
det detachment mech mechanized trg training
div division med medium
MICV mechanized infantry
combat vehicle(s) UNDOP United Nations
ECM electronic counter- MIRV multiple independently- Disengagement
measures targetable re-entry Observation Force
ELINT electronic intelligence vehicle(s) UNFICYP United Nations Force
engr engineer mod modified in Cyprus
eqpt equipment mor mortar(s) UNIPIL United Nations Interim
EW early warning mot motorized Force in Lebanon
MR maritime UNTSO United Nations Truce
FAC(G) fast attack craft (gun) reconnaissance Supervisory Organi-
PAC(M) fast attack craft (missile) MRBM medium-range ballistic zation
PAC(P) fast attack craft (patrol) missile(s) USGW underwater-to-surface
PAC(T) fast attack craft MRCA multi-role combat guided weapon
(torpedo) aircraft
FB fighter-bomber(s} MRL multiple rocket
fd field launcher(s) veh vehicle(s)
FGA fighter(s), ground-attaCk MRV multiple re-entry v(fS)TOL vertical (lshort) take-off
fit flight vehicle(s) and landing
Fr French msl missile
FRG Federal Republic of MT megaton (1 million tons
Germany TNT equivalent) Yug Yugoslav
1
COUNTRIES AND
PRINCIPAL PACTS
