India becomes the 'world's biggest arms buyer'

India has overtaken China to become the world's largest importer of weapons, according to a Swedish think-tank that monitors global arms sales.

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute report said India was pushing ahead with plans to modernise its military in an effort to counter China's influence and gain international clout.

India's defence budget for the coming year is 1.5 trillion rupees ($32.5bn), a 40 per cent increase from two years ago. It imports more than 70 per cent of its weapons.

The report said the vast majority of those imports – 82 per cent – come from Russia, which has long been India's supplier of choice. More...

Don't miss:

1. India close to massive arms deal with France and Russia...
2. China's army to recruit and train ... 10,000 pigeons???
3. The US and Saudi Arabia in 60 billion dollar arms deal...
4. US to build £8bn super base on Pacific island of Guam...
5. War is murder...