Pravda.ru: Brazil to Strengthen Defense Against the West!

Brazil's defense spending in 2012 may increase by 18 percent to $34.9 billion. In the beginning of 2011, the Brazilian authorities were going to considerably cut the defense spending, which infuriated the military. Brazilian defense officials said that in the beginning of the year there was such a need to find extra funds to liquidate the consequences of natural disasters, particularly massive floods in January. Nowadays, the officials claim that there is no reason to continue the practice. The underfunding of 2011 has already affected the program of the modernization of military hardware, Brazilian generals said. In case the government decides not to assign additional funds for defense, the country will not be able to respond to potential threats from abroad. However, if the program is approved, Brazil will enter the top ten of the countries with the largest defense budgets. The government will most likely wish to cut the program, although the reduction is not going to be significant. Otherwise, Brazil will not be able to modernize the its outdated hardware. Moreover, the country will not have an opportunity to implement a number of ambitious projects. They particularly include the development of the Brazilian Embraer KC-390 military transport aircraft, the licensed assembly of of 50 EC725 helicopters, and the design of the new SISCOMIS satellite communication system.