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Saudi Arabia spends £56 billion a year on its insane military — here’s what that kind of money buys

Business Insider
Ben Moshinsky
When British Aerospace Engineering, better known as BAE Systems, announced a bumper set of annual results this week, much of that success was down to the lavish spending of the Saudi Arabian air force.<p>The Gulf state took delivery of £800 million ($1.14 billion) worth of BAE's Eurofighter Typhoon jet during 2015, boosting its airborne presence, and the coffers of BAE. It is set to buy even more this year.</p><p>But it's not just British made planes that Saudi Arabia buys. In fact, it has one of the best-funded defence forces in the Middle East.</p><p><a href="http://uk.businessinsider.com/deutsche-bank-3-charts-on-saudi-arabias-budget-2015-12?utm_source=msn&utm_medium=referral">The kingdom spends 25% of its budget</a>, or about £56 billion ($80 billion), on its military. That is about double what it spends on health and social development.</p><p>It has been throwing its weight around recently, engaging in a war in Yemen and joining forces with Turkey against Syrian President Bashar Assad.</p><p>So here's what all that money has bought it.</p>
  • The Typhoons built by BAE are a key part of Saudi Arabia's hugely strong air force. The air force contains more than 300 fighter jets and 15 active airfields. The Typhoon is one of the most advanced jets ever built and was a joint project between members of the European Union
  • Also included in Saudi Arabia's airborne fleet are dozens of US-made F-15s, with another 80 on order.
  • The Saudi Airforce will soon include 22 new Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer aircraft, which like Typhoons, are built by BAE. First flown in 1974, Hawks are used to train fighter pilots before they graduate to the big boys. British acrobatic flight squad, the Red Arrows, use Hawks.
  • SAUDI ARABIA MILITARY PARADE
When British Aerospace Engineering, better known as BAE Systems, announced a bumper set of annual results this week, much of that success was down to the lavish spending of the Saudi Arabian air force.

The Gulf state took delivery of £800 million ($1.14 billion) worth of BAE’s Eurofighter Typhoon jet during 2015, boosting its airborne presence, and the coffers of BAE. It is set to buy even more this year.

But it’s not just British made planes that Saudi Arabia buys. In fact, it has one of the best-funded defence forces in the Middle East.

The kingdom spends 25% of its budget, or about £56 billion ($80 billion), on its military. That is about double what it spends on health and social development.

It has been throwing its weight around recently, engaging in a war in Yemen and joining forces with Turkey against Syrian President Bashar Assad.

So here’s what all that money has bought it.

read HERE:   http://www.msn.com/en-ae/money/topstories/saudi-arabia-spends-%C2%A356-billion-a-year-on-its-insane-military-%E2%80%94-heres-what-that-kind-of-money-buys/ss-BBpKYHO?ocid=UP97DHP

Categories: Arab World, Asia, Saudi Arabia, The Muslim Times

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2 replies ›

  1. CRAZY PEOPLE. Just imagine what this amount could do if used for peaceful purposes !!!! While we can and should blame the Saudis for this mis-management of course the sellers of the arms are to blame also. I am sure they are pushing and even threatening the Saudis telling them that ‘you need this and that’ …

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  2. The US budget for the military in 2016 is 830 billion dollars. Again: Just imagine what could be done with this amount if used for peaceful purposes!

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