India Pakistan Arms Race Getting Hotter

India and Pakistan are busy in military muscle building, so much so that finance does not seem to be any problem. While both countries will argue that this is necessary to make sure that they can equip themselves to safeguard their own soil, the spending just seems to get bigger and absurd with every passing year.

Pakistan spent around $300 bn on defense for the year 2008-09. They pumped that up to around $350 bn for the year 2009-10. But the military chiefs just want more, and so the President and Prime Minister obliged by allocating another whopping $35 bn, which takes the budget close to a staggering amount of just under $400 bn. Over the years, Pakistan has been acquiring a lot of military aid and technology from the United States and China.

India on the other hand isn't sitting quiet. The stage is all set for the biggest ever Indo-US defense deal. India plans to acquire 10 C-17 Globemaster-III giant strategic airlift aircraft, a deal worth $2.2 bn. The C-17 dwarfs are capable of carrying a payload of up to 170,000 pounds, and it can transport tanks and troops over 2,400 nautical miles. And with mid-air refueling also possible, the distance that can now be covered is unimaginable. This deal is in addition to the $2.1 bn contract for 8 Boeing P-8I long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft, and the nearly $1 bn deal for 6 C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. Then there is the $1 bn deal for 197 Eurocopter light utility helicopters with the Europeans, and the $1.5 bn project for 6 Airbus-330 MRTT mid-air refueling aircraft. And to top it all, India is still thinking about whom to award the biggest pie to - the $10.4 bn project which includes 126 medium multi-role combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force. India also has a few deals with its long time friend Russia, besides some military deals with Israel.

India has one of the largest armies in the world (read Top 10 Military Powers of the World). Pakistan is doing all it can to keep up with the pace of modernization of its forces. There is a history of wars between these 2 nuclear powers, accusations, counter-claims, peace talks, cease fires, pacts, and what not. But the question is, how much spending is going to be enough!