---
title: ToolRouter — Tool Detail
description: Detailed documentation for a ToolRouter tool including skills, parameters, and examples.
url: https://toolrouter.com/tools/defense-spending
---
# Defense Spending

Military spending, arms trade, sanctions, bases, and contracts. 12 data sources: World Bank/SIPRI, USAspending, UK Contracts Finder, UN Comtrade, CIA Factbook, EU Sanctions Map, US Treasury, UNHCR, OpenStreetMap. 14 skills covering 200+ countries.

- **Version:** 0.03
- **Categories:** data, finance
- **Workflow:** military_spending → military_profile → displacement → compare_countries → arms_transfers → arms_trade → budget_authority → budget_breakdown → defense_outlays → defense_contracts → top_contractors → spending_by_region → sanctions → military_bases

## Skills (14)

### Military Spending (`military_spending`)

Get annual military spending for any country. Returns expenditure in current USD, as percentage of GDP, and armed forces personnel. Covers 200+ countries from 1960 to present via World Bank/SIPRI data.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 country code (e.g. 'US', 'GB', 'DE', 'CN', 'RU', 'UA', 'FR') |
| `years` | number | No | Number of most recent years to return (default: 10) [default: 10] |

**Returns:** Annual military spending (USD + % GDP) and armed forces personnel over the requested time period

**Examples:**

*US military spending over 10 years:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

*UK defense budget last 5 years:*

```json
{
  "country": "GB",
  "years": 5
}
```

*China military spending over 20 years:*

```json
{
  "country": "CN",
  "years": 20
}
```

### Compare Countries (`compare_countries`)

Compare military spending across multiple countries side by side. Returns the most recent data for each country ranked by spending. Supports any combination of 200+ countries.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `countries` | array | Yes | Array of ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 codes (e.g. ['US', 'CN', 'RU', 'GB', 'FR']). 2-20 countries. |
| `metric` | string | No | Which metric to compare (spending_usd, pct_gdp, armed_forces) [default: "spending_usd"] |

**Returns:** Ranked comparison of military spending across selected countries

**Examples:**

*Top 5 military spenders:*

```json
{
  "countries": [
    "US",
    "CN",
    "RU",
    "IN",
    "SA"
  ]
}
```

*NATO spending as % GDP:*

```json
{
  "countries": [
    "US",
    "GB",
    "FR",
    "DE",
    "IT",
    "CA",
    "PL",
    "NO",
    "GR",
    "TR"
  ],
  "metric": "pct_gdp"
}
```

*Compare armed forces size:*

```json
{
  "countries": [
    "US",
    "CN",
    "IN",
    "RU",
    "KP"
  ],
  "metric": "armed_forces"
}
```

### Arms Trade (`arms_trade`)

Get international arms trade data — who exports or imports weapons to/from whom. Returns bilateral trade partners and monetary values by weapon subcategory. Covers 50+ countries via UN Comtrade HS code 93 (arms and ammunition).

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code of the reporting country (e.g. 'US', 'RU', 'FR', 'CN') |
| `year` | number | No | Year to query (default: 2023). Data availability varies by country. [default: 2023] |
| `flow` | string | No | Trade direction: 'exports' (what they sell) or 'imports' (what they buy) (exports, imports) [default: "exports"] |
| `detailed` | boolean | No | If true, breaks down by weapon subcategory (military weapons, ammunition, parts, etc.) [default: false] |

**Returns:** Arms trade value with top partners and optional subcategory breakdown

**Examples:**

*US arms exports:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

*Russian arms exports in 2022:*

```json
{
  "country": "RU",
  "year": 2022
}
```

*India arms imports with detail:*

```json
{
  "country": "IN",
  "flow": "imports",
  "detailed": true
}
```

### Military Profile (`military_profile`)

Get a comprehensive military profile for any country — forces structure, personnel strengths, equipment inventories, service age requirements, overseas deployments, and strategic notes. Data from the CIA World Factbook (archived Feb 2026). Covers 80+ countries.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code (e.g. 'US', 'CN', 'RU', 'GB', 'IN', 'IL', 'UA') |

**Returns:** Comprehensive military profile with forces, personnel, equipment, deployments, and strategic notes

**Examples:**

*US military profile:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

*China military profile:*

```json
{
  "country": "CN"
}
```

*Ukraine military profile:*

```json
{
  "country": "UA"
}
```

*Israel military profile:*

```json
{
  "country": "IL"
}
```

### Budget Breakdown (`budget_breakdown`)

Get DoD budget broken down by military branch (Army, Navy, Air Force, etc.) and/or by industry sector (Aircraft Manufacturing, Shipbuilding, R&D, etc.). US only, from USAspending.gov.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | Currently US only (US) |
| `breakdown` | string | No | What to break down by: 'branch' (Army/Navy/Air Force), 'industry' (NAICS sectors), or 'both' (branch, industry, both) [default: "both"] |
| `fiscal_year` | number | No | Fiscal year to query (e.g. 2024). Default: all available. |
| `limit` | number | No | Number of items per breakdown category (default: 15, max: 30) [default: 15] |

**Returns:** DoD spending breakdown by military branch and/or industry sector with amounts and percentages

**Examples:**

*Full US DoD budget breakdown:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

*US military branch spending in FY2024:*

```json
{
  "country": "US",
  "breakdown": "branch",
  "fiscal_year": 2024
}
```

*Top 10 defense industries:*

```json
{
  "country": "US",
  "breakdown": "industry",
  "limit": 10
}
```

### Sanctions (`sanctions`)

Search current EU sanctions regimes including arms embargoes, asset freezes, and travel bans. Covers 55+ regimes targeting countries, entities, and individuals. Data from the official EU Sanctions Map.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `query` | string | No | Search term to filter sanctions (e.g. 'Russia', 'Iran', 'arms', 'Syria', 'terrorism') |
| `regime_type` | string | No | Filter by sanctions type. Omit for all types. (arms_embargo, asset_freeze, travel_ban) |

**Returns:** EU sanctions regimes with descriptions, legal acts, programme codes, and amendment history

**Examples:**

*All EU sanctions:*

```json
{}
```

*Sanctions targeting Russia:*

```json
{
  "query": "Russia"
}
```

*All arms embargoes:*

```json
{
  "regime_type": "arms_embargo"
}
```

*Iran-related sanctions:*

```json
{
  "query": "Iran"
}
```

### Defense Contracts (`defense_contracts`)

Search defense and military contracts. US: searches USAspending.gov for Department of Defense contracts with full award details. UK: searches Contracts Finder for Ministry of Defence procurement. Returns contract amounts, recipients, dates, and descriptions.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | Country to search contracts in: 'US' or 'GB' (US, GB) |
| `keyword` | string | No | Search keyword (e.g. 'F-35', 'cybersecurity', 'ammunition', 'shipbuilding') |
| `contractor` | string | No | Filter by contractor/recipient name (e.g. 'Lockheed Martin', 'BAE Systems'). US only. |
| `fiscal_year` | number | No | Filter by fiscal year (e.g. 2024, 2025). US only. |
| `limit` | number | No | Maximum number of contracts to return (default: 20, max: 50) [default: 20] |

**Returns:** Defense contract records with award amounts, contractor names, descriptions, and dates

**Examples:**

*US F-35 contracts:*

```json
{
  "country": "US",
  "keyword": "F-35"
}
```

*UK MOD cybersecurity contracts:*

```json
{
  "country": "GB",
  "keyword": "cybersecurity"
}
```

*Lockheed Martin contracts in FY2024:*

```json
{
  "country": "US",
  "contractor": "Lockheed Martin",
  "fiscal_year": 2024
}
```

*US ammunition contracts:*

```json
{
  "country": "US",
  "keyword": "ammunition",
  "limit": 10
}
```

### Top Contractors (`top_contractors`)

Get the top defense contractors by total award amount for a country. US: returns top recipients of Department of Defense spending from USAspending.gov with dollar amounts.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | Country to get top contractors for: 'US' (US) |
| `fiscal_year` | number | No | Fiscal year to query (e.g. 2024). Default: most recent. |
| `limit` | number | No | Number of top contractors to return (default: 20, max: 50) [default: 20] |

**Returns:** Top defense contractors ranked by total award amount with dollar values

**Examples:**

*Top US defense contractors:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

*Top 10 US contractors in FY2024:*

```json
{
  "country": "US",
  "fiscal_year": 2024,
  "limit": 10
}
```

### Spending by Region (`spending_by_region`)

Get geographic breakdown of defense spending within a country. US: returns Department of Defense contract spending by state from USAspending.gov.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | Country to get regional breakdown for: 'US' (US) |
| `fiscal_year` | number | No | Fiscal year to query (e.g. 2024). Default: most recent. |
| `limit` | number | No | Number of top regions to return (default: 20, max: 55) [default: 20] |

**Returns:** Regions ranked by defense spending amount with dollar values and percentages

**Examples:**

*US defense spending by state:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

*Top 10 states for defense spending in FY2024:*

```json
{
  "country": "US",
  "fiscal_year": 2024,
  "limit": 10
}
```

### Budget Authority (`budget_authority`)

Get US DoD total budgetary resources, obligations, and outlays by fiscal year. This is the top-line budget — different from contract awards. Shows how much Congress authorized vs how much was obligated and spent.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | Currently US only (US) |

**Returns:** DoD budgetary resources with total authority, obligations, and outlays by fiscal year

**Examples:**

*US DoD budget authority:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

### Arms Transfers (`arms_transfers`)

Get SIPRI Trend Indicator Values for arms exports and imports. Measures the VOLUME of international arms transfers using SIPRI methodology (constant 1990 USD). Different from UN Comtrade customs data. Covers 200+ countries.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code (e.g. 'US', 'RU', 'CN', 'FR') |
| `years` | number | No | Number of most recent years to return (default: 10) [default: 10] |

**Returns:** Arms exports and imports in SIPRI TIV with net transfer balance

**Examples:**

*US arms transfers over 10 years:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

*Russia arms exports/imports:*

```json
{
  "country": "RU",
  "years": 15
}
```

### Conflict Displacement (`displacement`)

Get refugee, IDP, and asylum seeker data for countries affected by conflict. Shows the human impact of military operations — how many people are displaced, where they go, and return statistics. From UNHCR.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code (e.g. 'UA', 'SY', 'AF', 'SD', 'MM') |
| `year` | number | No | Year to query (default: 2023) [default: 2023] |
| `direction` | string | No | 'origin' = people fleeing FROM this country. 'asylum' = people fleeing TO this country. (origin, asylum) [default: "origin"] |

**Returns:** Displacement totals and country breakdown with refugees, IDPs, asylum seekers

**Examples:**

*Ukrainian displacement:*

```json
{
  "country": "UA"
}
```

*Syrian refugees:*

```json
{
  "country": "SY",
  "year": 2023
}
```

*People seeking asylum in Germany:*

```json
{
  "country": "DE",
  "direction": "asylum"
}
```

### Military Bases (`military_bases`)

Find military installations in any country — bases, airfields, naval bases, firing ranges, and barracks. Returns names, coordinates, and metadata from OpenStreetMap. Covers 40+ countries.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code (e.g. 'US', 'GB', 'DE', 'JP', 'KR') |
| `base_type` | string | No | Type of installation to search for (default: all military installations) (all, base, airfield, naval_base, range, barracks) [default: "all"] |
| `limit` | number | No | Maximum installations to return (default: 50, max: 100) [default: 50] |

**Returns:** Military installations with names, types, coordinates, and operator info

**Examples:**

*UK airfields:*

```json
{
  "country": "GB",
  "base_type": "airfield"
}
```

*German military bases:*

```json
{
  "country": "DE",
  "base_type": "base",
  "limit": 20
}
```

*Japanese military installations:*

```json
{
  "country": "JP",
  "limit": 30
}
```

### Defense Outlays (`defense_outlays`)

Get actual monthly cash outlays for US National Defense from the Treasury Monthly Statement. This is the definitive record of money actually spent — different from USAspending obligations and World Bank annual estimates.

**Parameters:**

| Name | Type | Required | Description |
|------|------|----------|-------------|
| `country` | string | Yes | Currently US only (US) |
| `years` | number | No | Number of fiscal years to return (default: 3) [default: 3] |

**Returns:** Monthly defense outlays by fiscal year with FYTD totals and year-over-year changes

**Examples:**

*US defense outlays last 3 years:*

```json
{
  "country": "US"
}
```

*US defense outlays last 5 years:*

```json
{
  "country": "US",
  "years": 5
}
```

## Quick Start

```bash
# Via CLI
TOOLROUTER_API_KEY=tr_live_xxx npx -y toolrouter-mcp call defense-spending military_spending --country US

# Via REST API
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer tr_live_xxx" \
     -d '{"tool":"defense-spending","skill":"military_spending","input":{"country":"US"}}' \
     https://api.toolrouter.com/v1/tools/call
```

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Can I compare military spending across countries?

`compare_countries` ranks the most recent spending data side by side for any mix of countries.

### What is the difference between `military_spending` and `defense_outlays`?

`military_spending` is annual country spending from World Bank and SIPRI estimates, while `defense_outlays` is the actual monthly US Treasury cash outlay record.

### Can I look at contracts or top contractors?

Yes. Use `defense_contracts`, `top_contractors`, `spending_by_region`, or `budget_authority` for US and UK procurement and budget views.

### Does it include arms trade, sanctions, bases, or displacement?

Yes. Use `arms_trade`, `arms_transfers`, `sanctions`, `military_profile`, `military_bases`, or `displacement` for those angles.

---

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```bash
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```

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