Expert: the US defence budget is associated with the high cost of American weapons
MOSCOW, 14 Aug — RIA Novosti. The adoption of the United States largest defense budget in the history of the country due to the high cost of American weapons, the price of which is six times higher than in Russia, and the need to include many military bases, said to RIA Novosti on Tuesday the former head of the international Treaty Directorate of the defense Ministry Lieutenant-General Yevgeny Buzhinsky.
The US President Donald trump has signed the defense budget for fiscal year 2019, which is the largest in the history of the country and amounted to about $ 716 billion, which is 3% (20 billion) more than budgeted in 2018.
“Of course, from the point of view of propaganda it is good to shout about the fact that the US has the largest defence budget, but if you look closely — not so scary, after all, the budget is two articles — the content and development of the armed forces. So on the content: the salaries of military personnel, provision of military bases, which the Americans have 200 pieces, and it’s very expensive, takes 80% of the cost of the defense. In the Russian budget the optimal ratio is 50 to 50,” said Buzhinsky.
Another reason for high U.S. military spending, the expert called the high price of American weapons, which on average six times more expensive than the Russian counterparts.
“For example, the F-35 worth $ 31 million, and our su-35 six million, that is five times cheaper. T-90 tank in the very last modifications is $ 1.5 million, and the American “Abrams” somewhere in the 8 million, that is actually all the weapons are more expensive than the Russian six times, and if you divide the us military budget is six, then get about the Russian numbers,” — said the Agency interlocutor.
Relinquishing control