May 9, 2007:
India has become the largest importer
of weapons in the world. Over the last three years, India has imported over $10
billion worth of arms. With a GDP of $800 billion, India is spending about 2.5
percent of its GDP on defense. China, with 20 percent more people, has a GDP of
$2.5 trillion and spends nearly five percent of GDP on defense. While China
produces more of its own weapons than India, it still runs a close second when
it comes to arms imports. Pakistan, with only about 1/7th Indias population,
has a GDP of $125 billion, and spends about 4.5 percent of that on defense.
China spends a lot more than India on nuclear
weapons, missiles, warships and aircraft. China has twice as many troops as
India. While China and India share a border, and have border disputes, the land
in question is mountainous wasteland.
The biggest suppliers to both China and India, is
Russia. But India is buying a lot more from the West. There is a huge order in
the works. India is seeking to buy 126 modern fighters, for over $6 billion,
from whoever will offer the best deal. India is also trying to create its own
arms industries. But it is finding, like China and Russia did before it, that
this takes time, and a lot of money.