Defence spending falls in Europe
Defence spending across Europe will have fallen by almost $4bn (£2.4bn) by the end of 2009 as the financial downturn bites, Jane’s Industry Quarterly analysts said yesterday. But the UK has announced the strongest nominal rise of all European countries in 2009, with defence spending climbing $1.4bn to $75.75bn. Overall, defence spending of European nations will fall to $302.56bn in 2009, down from $306.54bn in 2008.