January 25, 200917 yr From the January 2009 issue of Defense Technology International USA Estimated 2009 budget: $608 billion Percent of GDP: 4.25 Personnel under arms: 2.28 million (includes reserves) United Kingdom Estimated 2009 budget: GBP 37 billion ($56.6 billion) Percent of GDP: 2.5 Personnel under arms: 173,370 (as of 1 July 2008) India Estimated 2009 budget: $26.5 billion (for FY 08, ending 31 March; 2009-10 budget not available) Percent of GDP: 1.9 Personnel under arms: 1.15 million Russia Estimated 2009 budget: 1.34 trillion rubles ($49 billion) Percent of GDP: 2.6 Personnel under arms: 1.134 million Germany Estimated 2009 budget: Euro 31.1 billion ($38.8 billion) Percent of GDP: 1.3 Personnel under arms: 250,831 Israel Estimated 2009 budget: No data 2008 budget: NIS 51.3 billion ($13.4 billion) Percent of GDP: 7.0 (2008) Personnel under arms: 631,500 France Estimated 2009 budget: Euro 32.02 billion ($43.86 billion) Percent of GDP: 2.0 Personnel under arms: 242,977 Japan Estimated 2009 budget: Yen 4.84 trillion ($50 billion) Percent of GDP: 0.8 Personnel under arms: 247,536
January 25, 200917 yr I think North Korea spends something like 20% of its GDP on defence- although that amounts to less in actual money terms.
January 25, 200917 yr Author Yes, its hard to guage just how much certain of the more secretive countries are spending on defense. (Of course, one never quite knows the true accuracy of the others either, but we plod along in ignorance). The same issue of DTI, for example, mentions China's 2009 spending could be "officially" some $69 billion. But the Pentagon apparently thinks it could be on the order of $187 billion. The way they appear to be furiously building weaponry, I suppose its not altogether improbable.
January 25, 200917 yr Yes, its hard to guage just how much certain of the more secretive countries are spending on defense. (Of course, one never quite knows the true accuracy of the others either, but we plod along in ignorance). The same issue of DTI, for example, mentions China's 2009 spending could be "officially" some $69 billion. But the Pentagon apparently thinks it could be on the order of $187 billion. The way they appear to be furiously building weaponry, I suppose its not altogether improbable. Would also depend on cost of building stuff in China VS USA especially labor costs, an American engineer at Lockheed might make a very good 6 figure income whos cost is put into the weapon while his Chinese counterpart working in a state run weapons plant would make significantly less. Its not just actual dollars (rubells, yan, pesos etc) but what that money gets you.
January 25, 200917 yr Author Would also depend on cost of building stuff in China VS USA especially labor costs, an American engineer at Lockheed might make a very good 6 figure income whos cost is put into the weapon while his Chinese counterpart working in a state run weapons plant would make significantly less. Its not just actual dollars (rubells, yan, pesos etc) but what that money gets you. Of course. So, the question arises: What does $187 billion worth of "Made in China" get you?
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