What exactly makes a military superpower? This question is technically very hard to give an answer to and views on this may differ from analyst to analyst and may be interpreted in different context. When evaluating or analysing if a state is a military superpower, things like geographical and strategic location and setup, the population and natural resources, the purchasing power and the health of the economy, the level of industrialisation and skilled labours is as important as the weapons and military might of the state.
In the world today, many analyst believe that there are only 3 military superpowers in the world which are U.S.A, China and Russia while some disagree stressing that only U.S.A fits the specs of military superpower. This set of analyst believe that China is only a regional power at the moment with great potentials to be a military superpower before 2030. Russia on the other hand is seen as a very strong regional power with little possibility of ever becoming a superpower. The location of Russia which is surrounded by hostile States and its fairly moderate economy is seen as the key factors that is robbing Russia of that Status (unlike U.S.S.R which has a much bigger economy, population, resources, and more strategic buffer zones and was a military and economic superpower before its collapse in 1990).
For a state to lay a claim to the status of a military superpower, aside from the other natural, tactical and technical factors , the military must possess this 10 military equipment.
(1) Nuclear Weapon: This increases the diplomatic relevance and negotiation power of states armed with them in the international community. The amount of nuclear warheads the world has right now is enough to destroy the planet 7 times over.
The United States and Russia have more than 7,000 nuclear warheads between them which is by far more than the nuclear warhead of other states armed with them combined together.
Being nuclear armed is almost enough to dissuade an enemy from attacking as its massive destructive power is an overkill for counter attack. This is even more profound if you can mount it and deliever it from a missile, a long range bomber, a warship or a submarine.
Though an attempt to own this military hardware is frown at by almost every states and international organisation in the international community as seen in the case of Iran who were heavily criticized and ultimately bullied to droping its nuclear agenda and North Korea who are the latest to join the nuclear armed league against all odds.
If you have a military-Superpower dream, you just have to have them.
(2) Aircraft Carrier: This is the biggest and the most expensive warship in the world which makes it acquirable only for the rich countries. The United States own more Carriers than all the world militaries combined together.
A carrier is used to move military equipment most especially military aircraft all around the world. The U.S Nimitz Class Carriers have enough space that can accomodate over 60 F-16 fighter jets, 15 Black Hawk Chopper, 10 Predator or Reaper drones, over 100 Main battle Tanks and Armoured Personnel Carriers and almost 5,000 personnel.
Carriers increases the offensive potency of the military and give them the ability to maintain a floating base at the backyard of unfriendly states or conflict zones without getting into a border violation scandals and also the ability to stay out hostiles strike range.
A nuclear powered carriers is even better than carrier powered by other means as it gives it an unlimited range.
A Carrier often move around with escort group which includes Submarines and Missile and tactical destroyers.
(3) Inter-Continental Ballistic Missile: North Korea officially joined the league of states armed with this wicked hardware as its last tested missile, the Hwasong-15 has a potential range of over 8,000 miles which gives them the ability to strike the whole of United States. A combo of nuclear weapons and ICBM in a state armoury is even more mouth watering as it increases the strike power, strike range and negotiation power of a state; Ask Kim Jong-Un.
The ability to make fireballs in the sitting room of your enemy from your own sitting room with Pizza on the table and cold beer in hand is an ability you must have if you want other states to get a shivering spine whenever you talk.
(4) Military Satellite : Although almost every satellite in space can be used for military assignment but there are some specialized satellites and space assets that are solely for military use. Ever since the launch of Sputnik by Russia in 1957, the space has turned into a potential threatre of battle in a war.
Over the years, actors like the United States, Russia and China has been developing their capabilities in space to attack enemy space assets and land assets from space.
Also, Space assets with intelligence, Surveillance and reconnaissance(ISR) capabilities are been developed all around the world to spy and for other military uses.
It is an asset you can't fail to have.
(5) Advanced Air Defence System: An advanced multi-role long range air defence system to defend and safeguard the airspace is also very important. If all a military can boast of are Cold War era Surface-to-Air-Missile system(S.A.M), tactical S.A.M system with limited range or Manpads, advanced fighter jets won't break a sweat before getting to your roof to do the Charley Born Dance.
S.A.M systems like the American Patriot or THAAD System or Russian S300/S400 which has the ability to intercept Cruise and Ballistic missiles, tactical and spy aircrafts, Bombers, Fighter Jets, Drones and even Stealth Jets must be well in your ranks or at the top of your wish list.
(6) Advanced Military Aircraft: If a military have the dream of going super-power and still have 2nd and 3rd generational military aircrafts screeching through their runways in a world where 6th generational aircraft are the next big thing, well, we have two words for you; Goodluck Dreaming!
In reality, a super-power must have high tech and advanced bombers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircafts otherwise known as Spy planes, Communication and radar aircraft, powerful transport aircraft, advanced air superiority aircraft, 4th to 5th generational fighter jets, good trainer jets, powerful transport and attack helicopters, long range and long endurance drones, stealth jets, electronic warfare aircraft and many others. in other words, your aircraft must be able to compete with the powerfuls of the world in every areas.
(7) Submarines: Submarines are sea vessels with the ability to operate on water and also dive. They are stealth way of moving around even in enemy waters without fear of detection or getting into scandal. Submarines gives a military the ability to attack enemy vessels and getting out of the scene like they weren't even there and also a good asset for coastal defence, Sea denial, sea protection and trailing without awakening suspicion.
A nuclear powered submarine is more important and valued more than a diesel/electric submarine as it has unlimited range and can stay submerge for as long as 6 months as oppose to diesel/electric which needs to be refuel or recharge at interval and can only stay submerge for a maximum of two weeks.
North Korea, U.S, China and Russia have the highest number of Subs in the World.
A sub is very germaine if you want other states to take you more seriously.
(8) Missile Destroyers: A missile destroyer is a special kind of destroyer packed with enough firepower to carryout precision strikes on targets far and near. They are the nucleus of a armed carrier group as they are well capable of attacking and defending against all threat including subs. A single missile destroyer is almost enough to devastate a moderately armed state.
Russia, U.S, China, Japan and some few other country maintain a number of them in their navy for defensive,attacking and symbolic purpose.
You want to be a military super-power, then you start planning on how to get them if you don't have them already.
(9) Cyber Warfare Tool: A war between powers will see battles on two new domain besides the conventional domain which are sea, air, and land. outer space and cyber space will be used as a threatre of War. Hackers and bots will go against each other to take over and take down enemy military asset, power grid and communication system while defending theirs in the process.
In this modern world, a cyber attack on a country by another is considered as an act of war and if not properly manage may result into an exchange of bullets and missiles.
If you want to be a military super power and you have little or no cyber warfare tools, you still have a long way to go.
(10) Artificial Intelligence and Robotics: By 2025 the U.S plan to be able to field more robot than human Soldiers. It's not because they love Iron Man or Transformer than most of us but they know the importance of artificial intelligence and robotics in future battle fields.
Some analyst claimed that AI and robotics is the next big thing in the world and will be as important to a state as nuclear weapons are today in power projection and amplification of a state's negotiation power.
AI and Robotics if properly harness can give a small state like Isreal the ability to stand and fight as equal against larger states like China and the United States in a war.
How many of this military equipment can your country's military boast of?
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