A four-star rank is the rank of any four-star officer described by the NATO OF-9 code. Four-star officers are often the most senior commanders in the armed services, having ranks such as (full)

admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

, (full) general,

colonel general Colonel general is a three- or four-star military rank used in some armies. It is particularly associated with Germany, where historically general officer ranks were one grade lower than in the Commonwealth and the United States, and was a ra ...

, army general, or in the case of those air forces with a separate rank structure,

air chief marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...

. This designation is also used by some armed forces that are not North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members.

Australia

In the

Australian Defence Force The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the military organisation responsible for the defence of the Commonwealth of Australia and its national interests. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Forc ...

, the following ranks of commissioned officers are awarded four-star ranks: *

Admiral Admiral is one of the highest ranks in some navies. In the Commonwealth nations and the United States, a "full" admiral is equivalent to a "full" general in the army or the air force, and is above vice admiral and below admiral of the fleet, ...

( Royal Australian Navy four-star rank) * General ( Australian Army four-star rank) *

Air chief marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...

(

Royal Australian Air Force "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...

four-star rank) The four-star rank is reserved in Australia for the Chief of the Defence Force, the highest position in peacetime. In times of major conflict, the highest ranks are the five-star ranks: admiral of the fleet,

field marshal Field marshal (or field-marshal, abbreviated as FM) is the most senior military rank, ordinarily senior to the general officer ranks. Usually, it is the highest rank in an army and as such few persons are appointed to it. It is considered as ...

, and marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force.

Bangladesh

* General ( Bangladesh Army four-star rank) *

( Bangladesh Air Force four-star rank) *

( Bangladesh Navy four-star rank)

Brazil

* ''General de exército'' ( Brazilian Army four-star rank) * ''Almirante de esquadra'' ( Brazilian Navy four-star rank) * ''Tenente brigadeiro'' (

Brazilian Air Force "Wings that protect the country" , colours = , colours_label = , march = Hino dos Aviadores , mascot = , anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...

four-star rank) The four-star rank is reserved in Brazil for the highest post in the military career. The officers in this position take part of the high command of their corporations. The commanders of army, navy and air force are also four-star generals, but they have precedence to all the others military in this rank.

Cambodia

*''Neay odom senei'' ( general) (

Royal Cambodian Army The Royal Cambodian Army ( km, កងទ័ពជើងគោក, ) is a part of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. It has ground forces which numbered 85,000 divided into eleven divisions of infantry, with integrated armour and artillery supp ...

, four-star rank) *''Neay odom neavi'' (

) (

Royal Cambodian Navy The Royal Cambodian Navy ( km, កងទ័ពជើងទឹក, ) is the naval warfare service branch of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces and one of the three uniformed services of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It has an estimated of 4,000 active ...

, four-star rank) *''Neay odom senei'' ( general) ( Royal Cambodian Air Force, four-star rank)

Canada

* Admiral/''amiral'' ( Canadian Forces officers authorized to wear naval uniform four-star-equivalent rank) * General/''général'' (Canadian Forces officers authorized to wear army and air force uniform four-star-equivalent rank) General/admiral is the highest rank within the Canadian Armed Forces as defined within the

National Defence Act The ''National Defence Act'' (NDA; ; ''LDN'') is an Act of the Parliament of Canada, which is the primary enabling legislation for organizing and funding the military of Canada. The Act created the Department of National Defence, which merged th ...

. Usually, only one officer, the Chief of the Defence Staff, carries the rank of full admiral or general at any one time. However, the crown may authorize additional officers at that rank for special cases such as for Canadian officers in the position of Chairman of the NATO Military Committee, who are usually former Chiefs of the Defence Staff seconded to NATO for that duty. The King of Canada, Charles III, is Commander-in-Chief of the Canadian Armed Forces. However, in line with the Letters Patent, 1947, the duties and title of commander-in-chief are normally exercised by the Governor General of Canada. The Minister of National Defence, since not a member of the Canadian forces nor within the military chain of command, has no rank. Prince Philip held the four-star rank of admiral in the Royal Canadian Navy in an honorary capacity from 2011 until his death in April 2021. Before unification in 1968, the rank of

(''maréchal en chef de l'air'') was the four-star equivalent for the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Germany

The equivalent modern

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

four-star ranks ( OF-9) of the '' Bundeswehr'' are as follows: * General *

Not to be confused with '' Generaloberst'' and '' Generaladmiral'', the '' Wehrmacht'' and''

Kriegsmarine The (, ) was the navy of Germany from 1935 to 1945. It superseded the Imperial German Navy of the German Empire (1871–1918) and the inter-war (1919–1935) of the Weimar Republic. The was one of three official branches, along with the a ...

'' equivalent until 1945, or ''

Armeegeneral ''Army general'' (german: Armeegeneral), was the highest peacetime general officer rank in the so-called ''armed organs of the GDR'' (), that is, the Ministry of National Defence, the Stasi, and the Ministry of the Interior. It is comparable t ...

'' and '' Flottenadmiral'', the '' National People's Army'' (NVA) and '' Volksmarine'' ( East Germany) equivalent until 1990.

India

* General - Indian Army four-star rank *

- Indian Navy four-star rank *

Indian Air Force The Indian Air Force (IAF) is the air arm of the Indian Armed Forces. Its complement of personnel and aircraft assets ranks third amongst the air forces of the world. Its primary mission is to secure Indian airspace and to conduct aerial w ...

four-star rank These four star rank officers from respective services are appointed as Chiefs of the Army ( COAS), Navy ( CNS), Air Force (

CAS Cas may refer to: * Caș, a type of cheese made in Romania * ' (1886–) Czech magazine associated with Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk * '' Čas'' (19 April 1945–February 1948), the official, daily newspaper of the Democratic Party of Slovakia * ''CA ...

). A four star rank officer from either service is appointed to the post of Chief of Defence Staff.

Indonesia

*''Jenderal'' (general) –

Indonesian Army The Indonesian Army ( id, Tentara Nasional Indonesia Angkatan Darat (TNI-AD), ) is the land branch of the Indonesian National Armed Forces. It has an estimated strength of 300,000 active personnel. The history of the Indonesian Army has its ...

and Indonesian Marine Corps four-star rank *''Laksamana'' (admiral) – Indonesian Navy four-star rank *''Marsekal'' (air chief marshal) – Indonesian Air Force four-star rank

Italy

*''Generale di Corpo d'Armata con Incarichi Speciali'' (general with special duties) – Chief-of-Staff of the Italian Army *''Ammiraglio di Squadra con Incarichi Speciali'' (admiral with special duties) – Chief-of-Staff of the

Italian Navy "Fatherland and Honour" , patron = , colors = , colors_label = , march = ( is the return of soldiers to their barrack, or sailors to their ship after a ...

*''Generale di Squadra Aerea con Incarichi Speciali'' (general with special duties) – Chief-of-Staff of the Italian Air Force *''Generale di Corpo d'Armata Comandante Generale'' (commander general) – Commander of the Carabinieri

Japan

*General or Admiral - -

Japan Self-Defense Forces The Japan Self-Defense Forces ( ja, 自衛隊, Jieitai; abbreviated JSDF), also informally known as the Japanese Armed Forces, are the unified ''de facto''Since Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution outlaws the formation of armed forces, the ...

four-star rank. 　 *General – – Japan Ground Self-Defense Force four-star rank *Admiral – – Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force four-star rank *General – – Japan Air Self-Defense Force four-star rank The rank designations of general and admiral are merely the status and treatment of the position of chief of staff, with lieutenant general and vice admiral being the highest ranks.

Nepal

In Nepal the Chief of the Army Staff holds a four-star rank.

Pakistan

* General, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee (Four-star rank) * General,

Pakistan Army The Pakistan Army (, ) is the Army, land service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. The roots of its modern existence trace back to the British Indian Army that ceased to exist following the partition of India, Partition of British India, wh ...

(Four-star rank) *

Pakistan Navy ur, ہمارے لیے اللّٰہ کافی ہے اور وہ بہترین کارساز ہے۔ English language, English: Allah is Sufficient for us - and what an excellent (reliable) Trustee (of affairs) is He!(''Quran, Qur'an, Al Imran, 3:173' ...

(Four-star rank) *

Air Chief Marshal Air chief marshal (Air Chf Mshl or ACM) is a high-ranking air officer originating from the Royal Air Force. The rank is used by air forces of many countries that have historical British influence. An air chief marshal is equivalent to an Admir ...

, Pakistan Air Force (Four star rank)

Portugal

* General (

Portuguese Air Force , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = 1 July , equipment = , equipment_label ...

four-star rank) *

( Portuguese Navy four-star rank) * General (

Portuguese Army The Portuguese Army ( pt, Exército Português) is the land component of the Armed Forces of Portugal and is also its largest branch. It is charged with the defence of Portugal, in co-operation with other branches of the Armed Forces. With its ...

four-star rank) See also: * Military Ranks of Portugal

Sri Lanka

* General ( Sri Lanka Army four-star rank) *

( Sri Lanka Navy four-star rank) *

(

Sri Lanka Air Force The Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) ( si, ශ්‍රි ලංකා ගුවන් හමුදාව, Śrī Laṃkā guwan hamudāva; ta, இலங்கை விமானப்படை, Ilaṅkai vimāṉappaṭai) is the air arm and the yo ...

four-star rank) In Sri Lanka Armed Forces only the Chief of the Defence Staff can hold a four-star rank.

Sweden

(

Swedish Navy The Swedish Navy ( sv, Svenska marinen) is the naval branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. It is composed of surface and submarine naval units – the Fleet () – as well as marine units, the Amphibious Corps (). In Swedish, vessels o ...

) * General (

Swedish Army The Swedish Army ( sv, svenska armén) is the land force of the Swedish Armed Forces. History Svea Life Guards dates back to the year 1521, when the men of Dalarna chose 16 young able men as body guards for the insurgent nobleman Gustav Vas ...

Swedish Air Force The Swedish Air Force ( sv, Svenska flygvapnet or just ) is the air force branch of the Swedish Armed Forces. History The Swedish Air Force was created on 1 July, 1926 when the aircraft units of the Army and Navy were merged. Because of the es ...

Swedish Amphibious Corps The Amphibious Corps ( sv, Amfibiekåren, Amf) is the maritime land force arm of the Swedish Navy, with an emphasis on coastal defence. Until 2000 it was known as the Coastal Artillery ( sv, Kustartilleriet), but the name was changed to reflect i ...

Philippines

(

Philippine Navy The Philippine Navy (PN) ( tgl, Hukbong Dagat ng Pilipinas, , Sea Army of the Philippines) ( es, Armada de Filipinas, , Ejército del Mar de las Filipinas) is the naval warfare service branch of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It has an e ...

four-star rank) * General ( Philippine Army four-star rank) * General (

Philippine Air Force The Philippine Air Force (PAF) ( tgl, Hukbong Himpapawid ng Pilipinas, , Army of the Air of the Philippines) ( es, Ejército Aérea del Filipinas, , Ejército de la Aérea de la Filipinas) is the aerial warfare service branch of the Armed Forc ...

four-star rank) *

( Philippine Coast Guard four-star rank)

United Kingdom

( Royal Navy four-star rank) * General ( British Army and

Royal Marines The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...

four-star rank) *

( Royal Air Force four-star rank)RAF Glossary
, "Air of Authority – A History of RAF Organisation", rafweb.org See also: *

List of Royal Navy admirals A ''list'' is any set of items in a row. List or lists may also refer to: People * List (surname) Organizations * List College, an undergraduate division of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America * SC Germania List, German rugby union ...

* List of Royal Marines full generals *

List of British Army full generals This is a list of full generals in the British Army since the Acts of Union 1707. The rank of general (or ''full general'' to distinguish it from the lower general officer ranks) is the highest rank currently achievable by serving officers in ...

* List of Royal Air Force air chief marshals

United States

( United States Navy, Coast Guard, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps and NOAA Corps four-star rank) * General ( United States Army, Marine Corps, Air Force, and

Space Force A space force is a military branch of a nation's armed forces that conducts military operations in outer space and space warfare. The world's first space force was the Russian Space Forces, established in 1992 as an independent military service. ...

four-star rank) See also: *

List of active duty United States four-star officers There are currently 44 active-duty four-star officers in the uniformed services of the United States: 17 in the Army, three in the Marine Corps, eight in the Navy, 11 in the Air Force, two in the Space Force, two in the Coast Guard, and one ...

* List of United States Navy four-star admirals * List of United States Coast Guard four-star admirals *

List of United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps four-star admirals This is a complete list of four-star admirals in the United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. The rank of admiral (or full admiral, or four-star admiral), ranks above vice admiral (three-star admiral) and is the highest rank achiev ...

List of United States Army four-star generals This is a complete list of four-star generals in the United States Army, past and present. The rank of General (United States), general (or ''full general'', or ''four-star general'') is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Army. It r ...

List of United States Marine Corps four-star generals This is a complete list of four-star generals in the United States Marine Corps. The rank of general (or ''full general'', or ''four-star general'') is the highest rank in the Marine Corps. It ranks above lieutenant general (''three-star general'' ...

List of United States Air Force four-star generals This is a complete list of four-star generals in the United States Air Force. The rank of general (or ''full general'', or ''four-star general'') is the highest rank normally achievable in the U.S. Air Force. It ranks above lieutenant general ('' ...

List of United States Space Force four-star generals This is a complete list of four-star generals in the United States Space Force. The rank of General (United States), general (or full general, or four-star general), ranks above Lieutenant general (United States), lieutenant general (three-star ge ...

Former USSR and Russia

*'' General armii'' (infantry and marines of the Red Army, Russian Army and Air Force four-star rank) *'' Glavnii marshal'' and ''

marshal Marshal is a term used in several official titles in various branches of society. As marshals became trusted members of the courts of Medieval Europe, the title grew in reputation. During the last few centuries, it has been used for elevated o ...

'' (four-star equivalents of the Soviet Air Force, and of the other branches of the Red Army) *'' Admiral flota'' (four star equivalent of the Soviet and the Russian navies) While the ''general armii'' wore shoulder insignia with four small stars, the ''marshal'' and ''admiral flota'' wore one single large star on their shoulder boards, and the ''glavnii marshal'' the same large star with a laurel wreath, very similar to the modern army general insignia of the Russian Army. Upon their formation, the Russian armed forces discontinued the ranks of ''marshal'' and ''glavnii marshal''.

Notes

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Four-star rank Military ranks