Russia's military budget is a fifth of America's in dollars, but counted in artillery shells rather than dollars, it buys close to 90% as much.

Lockheed Martin Corporation a obtenu un contrat de 694 millions de dollars de l’armée de l’air américaine pour la production de l’Air-Launched Rapid Response Weapon. Sa maturité industrielle...

Global military spending hit a record high in 2023, and the gap between the U.S. and everyone else is staggering — but China is closing it. Here's what the world's biggest defense budgets reveal about where power and risk are concentrated.

Canada's Department of National Defence is grappling with internal budget constraints even as the federal government allocates billions more to military spending. Despite a significant increase in defence funding, the Treasury Board is examining operational spending with a goal of reducing expenses by 10%, which could impact training, maintenance, and readiness. The government has mandated reductions in operations and maintenance funding as part of the 2023 budget, with $810 million cut in the first year and $908 million planned annually thereafter. These cuts are still in effect despite the new funding, creating a tension between the government's rearmament plans and the need to maintain military readiness. The current operational readiness of the Canadian Armed Forces hovers around 61.3%, according to the latest federal budget. Defence Minister François-Philippe Champagne's spokesperson emphasized that the government wants to prioritize capital expenditures over operational spending to modernize the military and improve readiness. However, experts like Dave Perry of the Canadian Global Affairs Institute warn that much of the promised funding is already committed to existing projects and legacy equipment, leaving less 'available, investable and disposable cash' than expected. The military is also dealing with aging infrastructure, such as the Victoria-class submarines, where only one of four is operational, and maintenance costs are high. Former Lieutenant-General Andrew Leslie, who conducted a landmark study on DND in 2011, advises that budget reductions should target the Department of National Defence rather than the Canadian Armed Forces themselves, stressing that operations, training, and maintenance are the 'lifeblood' of the military. With geopolitical tensions rising, particularly in Europe, the government faces the challenge of balancing increased defence spending with the need to maintain military readiness and modernize equipment without compromising essential operations.

Canada needs ‘substantial’ defence spending to reach NATO 5% targets: PBO: The Liberal government has yet to detail their plans to hike defence spending to five per cent of GDP by 2035, a massive increase over a tight timeline. #Canada #DefenceSpending #NATO #MilitaryBudget #NationalSecurity

via BorderReport — Pentagon officials have ramped up their efforts in recent weeks to help Congress carve a path toward President Trump’s record $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget request. But some GOP senators are worried the Defense Department deployed its closed-door offensive too late, undercutting its prospects of building a coalition necessary to move the record-breaking defense budget. Sen. [...]

Republican lawmakers are increasingly distancing themselves from President Donald Trump as they attempt to advance his proposed $1.5 trillion Pentagon budget for fiscal year 2027, which represents a 42% increase over the previous year. The strategy, reported by Punchbowl News, involves de-emphasizing Trump's role in the budget proposal to gain broader support, particularly from Democrats who remain opposed to the massive military spending. Senator Jim Banks (R-IN) stated, 'It's not about Donald Trump. It's about our troops and supporting our military. And these Democrats are playing games.' Similarly, Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT) emphasized that the budget request is 'not a Trump thing. It's not a Republican thing [or] a Democrat thing.' However, analysts from Punchbowl News argue that this approach is unlikely to succeed, as Democrats are unlikely to separate the budget proposal from Trump's leadership, especially given his recent military actions, including a controversial war against Iran that has drawn criticism from many GOP lawmakers. The report notes that Trump initially announced the $1.5 trillion budget request via Truth Social eight months ago, which caught the defense community off guard and led to an administration scramble to develop a coherent strategy. With midterms approaching and Trump's approval ratings declining, the Republican strategy to distance themselves from the president appears to be a desperate move that may not resonate with either Democrats or the public. The article also highlights that multiple GOP lawmakers have explicitly called for an immediate end to Trump's war against Iran, further indicating a growing rift within the party. Despite these efforts, the report concludes that the Republicans' new strategy is 'doomed to fail' due to the inherent connection between Trump's leadership and the controversial policies he has pursued.

via US news | The Guardian — Damaging budget report estimates cost would grow $3bn per month and stockpile could take five years to rebuild The war in Iran has cost the US at least $38bn and left its stockpile of defensive missiles so depleted it could take five years to rebuild, the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has found, in a damaging report less than two months before midterm elections where the war and the cost of living crisis will likely hurt Republicans at the polls. The economic report comes one da

British Army cuts combat training because budgets are broken. Replaces it with pub nights. This is real policy, not a joke we made up.

via US news | The Guardian — Exclusive: Experts and former officials say accounts are running dry, and funding a war with no clear endgame is the main challenge Donald Trump’s war on Iran has driven the US military into a severe financial crisis, with the US navy forced to transfer money from its payroll and other sources to cover the costs of combat, according to documents obtained by the Guardian, and interviews with navy officials, contractors and defense analysts. The US-Israeli operation, which has depleted US munition

Malgré l'urgence politique du réarmement, les géants de l'armement boudent le fonds Bpifrance Défense, jugé peu rentable. Entre PME oubliées et paradoxe des...

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Government prepares to amend 2025 budget as defense needs outpace available funds, with reliance on Western aid under increasing strain

Government prepares to amend 2025 budget as defense needs outpace available funds, with reliance on Western aid under increasing strain