India Overtakes UK as World's Fifth-Largest Defense Spender; US Ranks First
According to the Military Balance 2018 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the top five global defense spenders are the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India
Dan Arkin
| 18/02/2018
Capitol Hill, Washington DC. The US is still leading the world ranking in nmilitary spending by far (Photo: AP)
India’s defense budget is the five largest in the world, according to the Military Balance 2018 report by the London-based think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). India overtook the UK as the fifth-largest defense spender in the world in 2017 at $52.5 billion, up from $51.1 billion in 2016, according to the report. In contrast, the UK's defense budget fell from $52.5 billion in 2016 to $50.7 billion last year.
The top five defense budgets are United States ($602.8 billion), China ($150.5 billion), Saudi Arabia ($76.6 billion), Russia ($61.2 billion) and India ($52.5 billion).
The report notes that while India continues to modernize its military capabilities, China, "with the world's second-largest defense budget after the US," remains far ahead with three times India's defense budget. China's real defense spending increased by nearly 25 per cent in 2016-17, whereas India's rose by just 2.4 per cent.
According to the analysis, the Chinese army has over 600,000 more active personnel than India; it has nearly 1,200 tactical aircraft compared to India's 785; and 55 more cruisers, destroyers and frigates than India.
The report takes note of the Indian government's "Make in India" policy, which aims to strengthen the defense-industrial base through measures such as "reforming the cap on foreign direct investment" (FDI) and that the country is one of the top troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.
According to the report, the overall capability of the Indian army is limited by inadequate logistics, and shortages of ammunition and spare parts, and development and procurement programs across the services are aimed at replacing ageing equipment.
The report found that China and Russia are challenging the military supremacy of the United States, and its allies and that the West can no longer rely on the strategic advantage it has enjoyed until now.
[Source: Economic Times]
According to the Military Balance 2018 report by the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), the top five global defense spenders are the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, Russia, and India
Capitol Hill, Washington DC. The US is still leading the world ranking in nmilitary spending by far (Photo: AP)
India’s defense budget is the five largest in the world, according to the Military Balance 2018 report by the London-based think tank International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). India overtook the UK as the fifth-largest defense spender in the world in 2017 at $52.5 billion, up from $51.1 billion in 2016, according to the report. In contrast, the UK's defense budget fell from $52.5 billion in 2016 to $50.7 billion last year.
The top five defense budgets are United States ($602.8 billion), China ($150.5 billion), Saudi Arabia ($76.6 billion), Russia ($61.2 billion) and India ($52.5 billion).
The report notes that while India continues to modernize its military capabilities, China, "with the world's second-largest defense budget after the US," remains far ahead with three times India's defense budget. China's real defense spending increased by nearly 25 per cent in 2016-17, whereas India's rose by just 2.4 per cent.
According to the analysis, the Chinese army has over 600,000 more active personnel than India; it has nearly 1,200 tactical aircraft compared to India's 785; and 55 more cruisers, destroyers and frigates than India.
The report takes note of the Indian government's "Make in India" policy, which aims to strengthen the defense-industrial base through measures such as "reforming the cap on foreign direct investment" (FDI) and that the country is one of the top troop contributors to UN peacekeeping operations.
According to the report, the overall capability of the Indian army is limited by inadequate logistics, and shortages of ammunition and spare parts, and development and procurement programs across the services are aimed at replacing ageing equipment.
The report found that China and Russia are challenging the military supremacy of the United States, and its allies and that the West can no longer rely on the strategic advantage it has enjoyed until now.
[Source: Economic Times]
