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Note that GDP does not directly translate into a number of tanks and missiles produced. I doubt Italy has more weapon than Russia.

dbdr 1mo ago
Of course, because Russia spends 7+% of its GDP on its military, and Italy 1.6%. It does say something about the relative capacity though. Russia probably cannot sustain this level of spending forever, and European countries could (continue) raising it if needed.
throw0101a 1mo ago
> Note that GDP does not directly translate into a number of tanks and missiles produced. I doubt Italy has more weapon than Russia. Not wrong, but GDP is a rough metric of economic and industrial capacity. So if Italy wanted to, it could convert its economy to produce tanks and missiles at a similar rate as Russia is doing. And Italy is just one member of NATO: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_NATO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_NATO
- deleted 1mo ago
  [deleted]
- AlexandrB 1mo ago
  If the economic capacity is in "the service sector" it's going to be just about meaningless in a war.
- bethekidyouwant 1mo ago
  yes all those guys selling drinks on the beach can just take a bus to the tank factory.
  - throw0101a 1mo ago
    > yes all those guys selling drinks on the beach can just take a bus to the tank factory. Exactly. (What do you think happened during WW2? When war broken out everyone learned to make tanks (and planes, and machine guns, and…). In Ukraine a whole bunch of people learned how to make drones that never made one before. )
- owebmaster 1mo ago
  > Not wrong, but GDP is a rough metric of economic and industrial capacity. So if Italy wanted to, it could convert its economy to produce tanks and missiles at a similar rate as Russia is doing. Italy can make more expensive tanks that would amount to a bigger GDP. It doesn't mean it'll make more and better tanks.
  - throw0101a 1mo ago
    > Italy can make more expensive tanks that would amount to a bigger GDP. It doesn't mean it'll make more and better tanks. Just because Italy is making one kind of tank now does not preclude them making another type of tank later on. If a design change needs to be done, the important part is that there is some kind of tank building capability around, and the rest can be adjusted as needs arise.
    - owebmaster 1mo ago
      Chinese tanks costs 5x less than Italian ones. Same GDP, different amounts of real assets. In the past people would use the quality excuse but that's not the case anymore, the Chinese ones are probably better.
- paganel 1mo ago
  > ity. So if Italy wanted to, it could convert its economy to produce tanks and missiles at a similar rate as Russia is doing. This is pure NAFO-oid cope, which it shouldn’t surprise me seeing the technical audience here (no Svechin stans on HN, that’s for sure, knowing your Svechin doesn’t ever bring any VC money nor big-tech employment), but still. Back to arrr stupidpol for me.
8note 1mo ago
it doesnt, but it does speak to an ability to invest in tank production dunno why youd want tanks and not drones though, when even russia's new tanks with anti-drone defenses can be taken out by 30ish drones

dbdr 1mo ago

Of course, because Russia spends 7+% of its GDP on its military, and Italy 1.6%. It does say something about the relative capacity though. Russia probably cannot sustain this level of spending forever, and European countries could (continue) raising it if needed.

throw0101a 1mo ago

> Note that GDP does not directly translate into a number of tanks and missiles produced. I doubt Italy has more weapon than Russia. Not wrong, but GDP is a rough metric of economic and industrial capacity. So if Italy wanted to, it could convert its economy to produce tanks and missiles at a similar rate as Russia is doing. And Italy is just one member of NATO: * https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_NATO https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_NATO

deleted 1mo ago
[deleted]
AlexandrB 1mo ago
If the economic capacity is in "the service sector" it's going to be just about meaningless in a war.
bethekidyouwant 1mo ago
yes all those guys selling drinks on the beach can just take a bus to the tank factory.
- throw0101a 1mo ago
  > yes all those guys selling drinks on the beach can just take a bus to the tank factory. Exactly. (What do you think happened during WW2? When war broken out everyone learned to make tanks (and planes, and machine guns, and…). In Ukraine a whole bunch of people learned how to make drones that never made one before. )
owebmaster 1mo ago
> Not wrong, but GDP is a rough metric of economic and industrial capacity. So if Italy wanted to, it could convert its economy to produce tanks and missiles at a similar rate as Russia is doing. Italy can make more expensive tanks that would amount to a bigger GDP. It doesn't mean it'll make more and better tanks.
- throw0101a 1mo ago
  > Italy can make more expensive tanks that would amount to a bigger GDP. It doesn't mean it'll make more and better tanks. Just because Italy is making one kind of tank now does not preclude them making another type of tank later on. If a design change needs to be done, the important part is that there is some kind of tank building capability around, and the rest can be adjusted as needs arise.
  - owebmaster 1mo ago
    Chinese tanks costs 5x less than Italian ones. Same GDP, different amounts of real assets. In the past people would use the quality excuse but that's not the case anymore, the Chinese ones are probably better.
paganel 1mo ago
> ity. So if Italy wanted to, it could convert its economy to produce tanks and missiles at a similar rate as Russia is doing. This is pure NAFO-oid cope, which it shouldn’t surprise me seeing the technical audience here (no Svechin stans on HN, that’s for sure, knowing your Svechin doesn’t ever bring any VC money nor big-tech employment), but still. Back to arrr stupidpol for me.

8note 1mo ago

it doesnt, but it does speak to an ability to invest in tank production dunno why youd want tanks and not drones though, when even russia's new tanks with anti-drone defenses can be taken out by 30ish drones