The Military Balance has been published since 1959. The 2026 edition provides an open-source assessment of the armed forces and equipment inventories of over 170 countries, with accompanying defence economics data. In addition to detailed country data, The Military Balance includes graphics to illustrate defence personnel, equipment and procurement developments. It assesses important defence issues, by region, including Europe's efforts to address its capability gaps, China's significant investment in advanced weapons and platforms, including nuclear weapons, and developments in the United States' force posture. The accompanying wallchart focuses on Russia's deep-strike systems, with information and drawings of selected ground-based missiles and one-way attack UAVs, as well as a map showing range rings to illustrate the threat. The book draws on the breadth of data in the Military Balance+ online database. The Military Balance and Military Balance+ are indispensable sources of information for those involved in defence and security policymaking, analysis and research.

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The International Institute for Strategic Studies is an independent centre for research, information and debate on the problems of conflict, however caused, that have, or potentially have, an important military content. The staff of the Institute is international in composition and IISS work is international in its perspective and reach. The Institute is independent and stresses rigorous fact-based research with a forward-looking policy orientation that can improve wider public understanding of international security problems and influence the development of sounder public policy, and more effective business decisions in the international arena.