Military spending will increase
How many times have we heard or read about the need to increase military spending? I am not only about Russia, I am about almost all the leading countries of the world. And the amount that the state spends today on the purchase of one tank, airplane, ship, are called those from which the hair should stand on end. It is no longer about hundreds of thousands, not even millions, but sometimes billions of dollars.
But for some reason the hair doesn't even move. We perceive the cost of tens and hundreds of millions of dollars for an airplane as quite normal. Moreover, the advertisement describes such capabilities of this aircraft that even the most dumb and unprepared pilot can easily defeat any foreign ace. We are patriots, which means we will not spare any money for the victory of our warrior! The world on the issue of military spending went into a deep tailspin.
Why is this happening? Practically in all the leading countries of the world, which at least try to be respected and independent states? After all, any person, even those who are far from politics, economics, and international relations, understands that investments in military equipment and weapons are practically irrecoverable means. Lost money that could be used to resolve issues that are really important for the population.
How much the world pays for its own weakness
The figure for global military spending, which was announced by analytical agencies dealing with this issue, you will like. We have set another record. More precisely, as it is fashionable to write now, we have overcome a psychologically important milestone - almost $ 2 trillion. These are the data published by SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute).
Analysts call a more accurate figure, which, of course, can be questioned, $ 1,981 trillion, but, in the end, the figure itself is not so important. Other numbers are more important, the percentage of world GDP and the GDP of countries is important. Global spending in 2020 increased by 2019% compared to 0,2 and amounted to 2,4% of world GDP.
And what do we see when analyzing the results of the year in terms of the impact of the coronavirus pandemic? Alas, global GDP is falling. Moreover, this decline has not yet stopped. According to the same SIPRI, world GDP has shrunk by 4,4%! So the world earns less and spends more on war.
One can, of course, say that most of the expenditures are spent not on improving weapons and equipment, but on improving the material situation of servicemen, on maintaining military bases and other paramilitary expenses. Only there are no military expenses. Dressing, feeding, stationing the army is also the task of the Ministry of Defense. Exactly the same as supplying fuel, ammunition, conducting exercises, training missile launches, cruises of ships and flights of aircraft.
Who spends the most
It is clear that the stronger the army, the better it is armed and provided with military equipment, the more costs it requires. Consequently, the indicator of budget spending on defense can be viewed as a certain indicator of the strength of the state. Hence, you should pay attention to those who spend the most. For those countries with the largest military budget.
Is it trite? Probably, but for some it will come as a surprise. So, we are used to the fact that the first places in this race are occupied by the United States ($ 778 billion), China ($ 252 billion), Russia ($ 61,7 billion). However ... Alas, instead of the "bronze medal" Russia is now content with the "wooden" one. The third place in the world is taken by ... India ($ 72,9 billion). And one more surprise. Great Britain's attempts to take the place of the British Empire in world politics again - $ 59,2 billion. Have you noticed that the Saudis have disappeared from the top five?
Today we need to pay special attention to the military spending of other countries, members of the NATO bloc. After all, it is with the armies of European states that we will have to meet at the initial stage of a possible conflict. So the EU economy is falling and military spending is rising! Today we can already confidently speak about the fulfillment of the US requirement for a military budget of 2% of GDP by 12 countries of the alliance!
Well, and the answer to the last question that arises in connection with the above figures. Why is such attention given to the top five countries? After all, other states also spend budget funds. The answer is simple and can be found in the same SIPRI report. The United States, China, India, Russia and the United Kingdom account for 62% of global defense spending.
Let's cut short or vicious circle
Naturally, a very sensible question arises about reducing military spending. The army today is "a huge ulcer on the stomach of the state." Can this ulcer be cured? Is it possible for a world power to have an ordinary, not outstanding army?
Alas, humanity has fallen into a vicious circle. World wars, world competition, forced scientists and designers to create more and more advanced weapons. Those who have ever been under fire even from a small weapons, understands that the bullet that whistled in your ear is not yours. She's already far away. Your bullet will reach you in silence. And remember the films about the war of 1812 and about other wars of that time. The soldier sees the shot and has time to take cover. Another thing is that this was not accepted then in the army.
An example, of course, is weak, but indicative. Today, developed countries possess such weapons that even in battle, even with excellent training, a soldier will not be able to defend himself. Simply by virtue of the physiological and mental capabilities of the human body. The reaction of a person is not able to have time to assess the danger, make decisions and countermeasures.
That is why there is a need for complete automation of the decision-making process. This concept is implemented in aviation, naval navy, tank troops and in general in the army. Up to the complete radicalization of the solution - the creation of military robotscapable of fighting independently even without operator control.
Let me remind readers of the recent message of Russian President Putin in the part concerning our topic. In principle, what was said in the message was already announced in December 2020.
Modern weapons in the Russian army today account for 68%. It is clear that in the Strategic Nuclear Forces (83%), the Aerospace Forces (75%), the Navy (63%), the Airborne Forces (63%), re-equipment is proceeding faster. But in other units, more than 50% of weapons and equipment are already noticeable. And this is money. This is the same military budget that it would be desirable to cut.
A trained soldier can fight even as a partisan
Today I often hear talk that there is no particular need for a modern army. Nuclear weapons will not be used. And non-nuclear is not so scary for trained soldiers and with good protection. I am especially touched by conversations, for example, of Ukrainian jingoistic patriots about partisan warfare. As well as the military doctrine of Ukraine as a state.
Once upon a time I watched on TV a Soviet movie about Belarusian partisans together with a real partisan. In the episode, when the heroic partisan scouts went to the nearest village to scout out what was happening there and where the Germans were, this man simply said: "The commander is a fool, and the first patrol will stop and arrest these scouts." How so? They are great guys. Patriots, ready for anything for the sake of victory, and suddenly ...
I did not receive an answer then. The front-line soldier did not want to spoil my mood from watching the film. And only then it dawned on me. Those who served in intelligence recall the strange, from the point of view of an ordinary person, traditions that have survived since the Great Patriotic War ... For example, do not shave before leaving. Why?
And you will remember yourself when you go home after a few days of tourist travel. With a bonfire, with sunrises and sunsets ... Do you remember the reaction of your relatives? Take off your clothes and wash all your clothes. A smell that eats into clothes so much that even on the street or on the balcony, it does not disappear. My partisan meant the smell. And that's why scouts don't shave. Smell from soap or foam.
By the way, those who served in the DRA remember stories about the "animal sense of spirits." This is from the same series. The smell of foam or cologne lasts in some places for days. Even a person can smell this unusual smell, not to mention animals. Think of the morning elevator in your house. You enter the elevator and immediately feel that the neighbor has already left for work. Perfume ...
I am not belittling the role of the soldier in modern warfare. I think a partisan movement is possible. But it is not worth exalting the role of the soldier's heroism. The war in Nagorno-Karabakh perfectly showed how heroes can die, but how powerless they are in the face of modern means of attack. After all, the same UAV is just a robot. One of the representatives of that very modern weaponry.
A few thoughts at the end
You can't cut military spending. If we want to live in peace, the fist must be such that, looking at it, the enemy thinks a hundred times before striking. Military spending needs to be optimized. The arms race that our opponents dream of is not an option. To have weapons capable of destroying the planet once and destroying the Earth ten times - is it a big difference for earthlings?
It is enough to have not a quantitative, but a qualitative superiority in armament. You need a weapon that nullifies the numerical superiority. If we look at the state of the armies today, then not even an expert will say about some "obsolescence" of the Americans. That is why the Americans are being prepared today for the fact that they will soon have to "tighten their belts" to modernize the US strategic nuclear forces.
I have watched the reactions of our likely adversaries to the recent final exercise. It is clear that for the layman, the media drew a picture with thousands of tanks, hundreds of aircraft and ships, but really serious analysts drew attention to something else. On the possibilities of logistics. The Russians know how to quickly move huge masses of troops from one theater of operations to another!
NATO drew attention to one more feature of the past exercises. The headquarters of the NATO armies today are actively studying and analyzing Russia's capabilities in organizing command and control of troops. At both the tactical and operational levels. The scenario of the exercise was such that not only commanders, but also staff officers showed their skills.
It is impossible to get rid of military spending. This is a given. This is necessary for the preservation of Russia. So far, everything is working out for us. But this is for now. Weapons are being developed in most countries of the world. And we can’t lag behind. Even to the detriment of other government programs. I remembered a common phrase about feeding either my own or someone else's army:
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