INDIA is set to spend more on defence than Britain within four years, The Sun can reveal today.
By 2017 our military budget will drop from the fifth to the sixth largest in the world.
Only last year we were the fourth biggest globally.
Defence analysts last night warned the trend means the UK is surrendering its standing on the military stage.
Russias defence budget grew bigger than Britains this year pushing the UK out of the top four spenders for the first time.
And we are predicted to drop from fifth in 2017 when we are overtaken by India a nation we are still giving aid to.
By 2020 Britain is projected to be clinging to sixth place with France and Brazil close behind.
The findings by experts at IHS Janes Defence Weekly make a mockery of PM David Cameron boasts about Britains defence spending.
Last month he rejected criticism of defence cuts by saying: We have the fourth largest budget in the world and we have some of the finest armed forces. While Im Prime Minister that is the way it will always stay.
But IHS Janes analysts insist we are already out of the top four with the UKs $58.6billion (£40billion) defence budget for 2013 outstripped by the US, China, Russia and Japan.
Senior analyst Ben Moores said: The reality is that our armed forces ability to prosecute core tasks is being diminished. Our capability does not meet requirements.
Britain gave £250million in aid to India in 2011 but the money will be phased out by 2015. Last year India spent $44.2bn (£30bn) on defence, which is set to rise to $66.3bn (£44bn) by 2020.
Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of UK troops in Afghanistan, warned the never-ending cuts will render the UK strategically irrelevant within a matter of years.
He added: It is shocking the Government should treat its armed forces in this way.
Read more: UK falls down defence spending league table | The Sun |News|Campaigns|Our Boys
Read more: UK falls down defence spending league table | The Sun |News|Campaigns|Our Boys
By 2017 our military budget will drop from the fifth to the sixth largest in the world.
Only last year we were the fourth biggest globally.
Defence analysts last night warned the trend means the UK is surrendering its standing on the military stage.
Russias defence budget grew bigger than Britains this year pushing the UK out of the top four spenders for the first time.
And we are predicted to drop from fifth in 2017 when we are overtaken by India a nation we are still giving aid to.
By 2020 Britain is projected to be clinging to sixth place with France and Brazil close behind.
The findings by experts at IHS Janes Defence Weekly make a mockery of PM David Cameron boasts about Britains defence spending.
Last month he rejected criticism of defence cuts by saying: We have the fourth largest budget in the world and we have some of the finest armed forces. While Im Prime Minister that is the way it will always stay.
But IHS Janes analysts insist we are already out of the top four with the UKs $58.6billion (£40billion) defence budget for 2013 outstripped by the US, China, Russia and Japan.
Senior analyst Ben Moores said: The reality is that our armed forces ability to prosecute core tasks is being diminished. Our capability does not meet requirements.
Britain gave £250million in aid to India in 2011 but the money will be phased out by 2015. Last year India spent $44.2bn (£30bn) on defence, which is set to rise to $66.3bn (£44bn) by 2020.
Colonel Richard Kemp, former commander of UK troops in Afghanistan, warned the never-ending cuts will render the UK strategically irrelevant within a matter of years.
He added: It is shocking the Government should treat its armed forces in this way.
Read more: UK falls down defence spending league table | The Sun |News|Campaigns|Our Boys
Read more: UK falls down defence spending league table | The Sun |News|Campaigns|Our Boys