In the article, the authors disclose the impact of the crisis caused by the pandemic of the coronavirus COVID-19 on the activities of the armed forces of foreign armies, including the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation to carry out defense tasks. A detailed analysis of the ability of the armed forces to withstand a new coronavirus infection and to help neutralize it both domestically and in the international arena is presented. Separately, the issue of managing forces, means and resources under these conditions was considered and a list of additional requirements for the state and military command and control system in the interests of neutralizing the pandemic was proposed.