| AUKUS | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Combined ATLAS Index | 100.0 | 89.9 |
| Member states | 3 | 1 |
| Active military personnel | 1,529,050 | 2,035,000 |
| – Reserve troops | 910,620 | 510,000 |
| Military aircraft | 14,059 | 6,341 |
| – incl. combat aircraft | 3,203 | 3,222 |
| Military ships | 339 | 1,005 |
| – incl. aircraft carriers | 13 | 3 |
| – incl. submarines | 80 | 62 |
| Main battle tanks | 4,942 | 6,800 |
| Nuclear warheads | 5,267 | 620 |
| Combined defense budget | $1T | $281B |
Overview
AUKUS groups 3 countries against 1 for China. AUKUS fields 1,529,050 active troops combined vs 2,035,000 for China. AUKUS's combined $1T defense budget is 3.7:1 that of China ($281B).
In the air, AUKUS musters 14,059 military aircraft (3,203 combat) against 6,341 (3,222 combat) for China. At sea, the fleets total 339 ships for AUKUS and 1,005 for China, including 80 and 62 submarines respectively. On the ground, AUKUS deploys 4,942 main battle tanks vs 6,800 for China.
Both blocs hold nuclear weapons: AUKUS's members maintain 5,267 warheads and China's hold 620.
Combined ATLAS Index
Country ranking →| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 10% | 93.3 | 1,984,360 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 100.0 | 4,942 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 100.0 | 339 ships — the members' SEAS inventory power |
| Air power | 25% | 100.0 | 14,059 aircraft — the members' AIRS inventory power |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 99.3 | 5,267 warheads |
| Defense budget | 15% | 100.0 | $1T combined, PPP-adjusted |
| Availability | modifier | ground ×1.20 · naval ×1.03 · air ×1.01 | Pooled budget per point of each force |
| Pillar | Weight | Score | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manpower | 10% | 100.0 | 2,740,000 effective |
| Ground forces | 20% | 94.2 | 6,800 main battle tanks |
| Naval power | 20% | 95.5 | 1,005 ships — the members' SEAS inventory power |
| Air power | 25% | 88.7 | 6,341 aircraft — the members' AIRS inventory power |
| Nuclear deterrent | 10% | 58.2 | 620 warheads |
| Defense budget | 15% | 86.0 | $281B combined, PPP-adjusted |
| Availability | modifier | ground ×1.15 · naval ×0.98 · air ×0.98 | Pooled budget per point of each force |
Combined scores treat each coalition as a single force: raw pillar values (troops, weighted equipment points, warheads, budgets) are summed across members and re-scored on the ATLAS Index scale. Alliance cohesion, geography and logistics are not modeled.
Forces by Domain
Member Forces
| Country | ATLAS | Troops | Aircraft | Ships | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇺🇸 United States ☢ | 100.0 | 1,326,050 | 13,004 | 233 | 88% |
| 🇬🇧 United Kingdom ☢ | 52.5 | 144,400 | 673 | 62 | 8% |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 38.8 | 58,600 | 382 | 44 | 3% |
| Country | ATLAS | Troops | Aircraft | Ships | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China ☢ | 89.9 | 2,035,000 | 6,341 | 1,005 | 100% |
Economy & Geography
| AUKUS | China | |
|---|---|---|
| Population | 436.5 million | 1.4 billion |
| Combined GDP | $34.2 trillion | $18.7 trillion |
| GDP per capita | $78,331 | $13,303 |
| Defense share of GDP | 3.1% | 1.5% |
| Land area | 17,023,088 km² | 9,326,410 km² |
| Coastline | 58,113 km | 14,500 km |
| Coalition | Country | Status | Warheads | Deployed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AUKUS | 🇺🇸 United States | Active | 5,042 | 1,770 |
| AUKUS | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom | Active | 225 | 120 |
| China | 🇨🇳 China | Active | 620 | 34 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is stronger, AUKUS or China?
On the combined ATLAS Index, AUKUS scores 100.0 against 89.9 for China. The score aggregates each bloc's manpower, ground, naval, air, nuclear and budget pillars as if it fought as a single force — it ignores geography, cohesion and logistics, which decide real wars.
How many troops do AUKUS and China have?
AUKUS fields 1,529,050 active military personnel across 3 member states, plus 910,620 reserves. China fields 2,035,000 active personnel and 510,000 reserves.
How much do AUKUS and China spend on defense?
Combined defense spending reaches $1T a year for AUKUS and $281B for China, summing each member's latest reported military budget.
Who has more military aircraft, AUKUS or China?
AUKUS operates 14,059 military aircraft (3,203 combat aircraft), while China operates 6,341 (3,222 combat). Each member is counted at its most recent inventory year in the GlobalMilitary.net database.
Do AUKUS or China have nuclear weapons?
Yes — both. AUKUS's nuclear-armed members hold 5,267 warheads combined, against 620 for China. Only warheads owned by member states are counted; hosted weapons remain with their owner.