“SINGAPORE–Asian states led by China, Japan and South Korea are expected to spend some $60 billion to beef up their navies in the next five years, an industry analyst said Monday.
That is bigger than what NATO countries — excluding the United States — are forecast to spend for new naval construction in the same period, said Bob Nugent, vice president of US-based naval consultancy AMI International.
The world’s biggest spender will remain the United States at a little above $60 billion between now and 2014, Nugent said here on the eve of IMDEX Asia 2009, Asia’s top maritime defense show.
Non-NATO European countries led by Russia are forecast to spend $11 billion on new naval capabilities in the next five years, he added.”