How China is beating the US in new weapons race with a fraction of the budget
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A recent study by China's National University of Defence Technology suggests China is leveraging large-scale science and technology projects to accelerate weapons development. Despite a significantly smaller defense budget compared to the United States (US$277 billion vs. US$997 billion), China has rapidly modernized its military, introducing advanced technologies like hypersonic weapons and AI systems. While the US allocates approximately US$140 billion annually to military research and development, estimates suggest China spends between US$20 billion and US$50 billion. Researchers attribute China's success to a "new nationwide mobilization system" designed to boost defense science and technology, allowing them to achieve significant advancements with fewer resources. This has led to debate among defense researchers about how China sustains such broad military innovation with lower spending.
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AI-ExtractedThe US Department of Defence allocates about US$140 billion annually to research, development, testing and evaluation (RDT&E).
China’s officially announced defence budget for 2026 stands at about US$277 billion.
The United States spent roughly US$997 billion on defence in 2024.
China continues to introduce a wide range of advanced systems across multiple technological domains.
China’s military modernisation has accelerated at a pace that unsettles many analysts in Washington.
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