Weapons explained
What each weapon type is, what it does and which countries have the most.
Sea
Aircraft carrier
A floating airbase: a huge warship with a flight deck from which fighter jets take off and land. A carrier lets a country project air power…
Helicopter carrier / amphibious assault ship
A large ship with a flat deck for helicopters (and sometimes short-take-off jets) plus a floodable dock at the back for landing craft. It c…
Destroyer
A large, fast and heavily armed surface warship (typically 7,000–13,000 tonnes) that protects fleets against aircraft, missiles, submarines…
Frigate
A medium-sized warship (about 3,000–7,000 tonnes), smaller and cheaper than a destroyer, often specialised in hunting submarines and escort…
Corvette
A small warship (roughly 500–3,000 tonnes) built for coastal defence. Despite its size a modern corvette can carry anti-ship missiles, anti…
Attack submarine
A warship that operates hidden under the sea, hunting enemy ships and submarines with torpedoes and missiles, and gathering intelligence. B…
Patrol vessel & fast attack craft
Smaller ships and boats that guard a country's coast and its exclusive economic zone (EEZ): they stop smuggling and illegal fishing, rescue…