A primary measure of a nation's power projection

Power projection

Power projection is a term used in military and political science to refer to the capacity of a state to conduct expeditionary warfare, i.e. to intimidate other nations and implement policy by means of force, or the threat thereof, in an area distant from its own territory.This ability is a...

 is its over-the-beach capability. This consists of the number of soldier

Soldier

A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...

s, tank

Tank

A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...

s, vehicles

Military vehicle

A military vehicle is a vehicle that includes all land combat and transportation vehicles, which are designed for or are in significant use by military forces throughout the world. Vehicles that are armored or intended for combat are often referred to as armoured fighting vehicles....

, and helicopter

Helicopter

A helicopter is a type of rotorcraft in which lift and thrust are supplied by one or more engine-driven rotors. This allows the helicopter to take off and land vertically, to hover, and to fly forwards, backwards, and laterally...

s that a nation can stage over an adversary's defended coast

Coast

A coastline or seashore is the area where land meets the sea or ocean. A precise line that can be called a coastline cannot be determined due to the dynamic nature of tides. The term "coastal zone" can be used instead, which is a spatial zone where interaction of the sea and land processes occurs...

 in a time of war. Generally, these elements only count if they can be projected across hundreds of miles of open ocean

Ocean

An ocean is a major body of saline water, and a principal component of the hydrosphere. Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by ocean, a continuous body of water that is customarily divided into several principal oceans and smaller seas.More than half of this area is over 3,000...

. Over-the-beach capability determines a nation's power projection

Power projection

Power projection is a term used in military and political science to refer to the capacity of a state to conduct expeditionary warfare, i.e. to intimidate other nations and implement policy by means of force, or the threat thereof, in an area distant from its own territory.This ability is a...

 together with forward airpower

Aerial warfare

Aerial warfare is the use of military aircraft and other flying machines in warfare, including military airlift of cargo to further the national interests as was demonstrated in the Berlin Airlift...

 (strength of aircraft carrier

Aircraft carrier

An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...

s and/or overseas airbases), alliances, and nuclear

Nuclear warfare

Nuclear warfare, or atomic warfare, is a military conflict or political strategy in which nuclear weaponry is detonated on an opponent. Compared to conventional warfare, nuclear warfare can be vastly more destructive in range and extent of damage...

options.

Leading Nations of the World

US

India

3,370 men (from 14 ships); 65 tanks; 30 Harrier jets; 10 helicopters

Australia

1,760 men (from 9 ships); 36 Leopard tanks; 8 helicopters

EU total

13,384 men (from 18 ships); 234 tanks; 40 Rafale jets; 72 Harrier jets; 92 helicopters; 42 Tiger helicopters

France

4,450 men; 70 Leclerc tanks; 88 light tanks; 40 Rafale jets; 42 Tiger helicopters

UK

3,034 men; 108 Challenger tanks; 44 Harrier jets

Spain

3,000 men; 36 Leopard 2 tanks; 12 Harrier jets; 42 helicopters

Netherlands-

1,400 men; 20 Leopard 2 tanks; 30 helicopters

Italy-

1,500 men; 16 Harrier jets; 20 helicopters

China