U.S. Wants To Sell More Drones

A U.S. Air Force MQ-9 Reaper drone sits in a hanger at Creech Air Force Base May 19, 2016. The base in Nevada is the hub for the military’s unmanned aircraft operations in the United States. Picture taken May 19, 2016. REUTERS/Josh Smith

Reuters: Exclusive: Trump aims to sidestep another arms pact to sell more U.S. drones

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration plans to reinterpret a Cold War-era arms agreement between 34 nations with the goal of allowing U.S. defense contractors to sell more American-made drones to a wide array of nations, three defense industry executives and a U.S. official told Reuters.

The policy change, which has not been previously reported, could open up sales of armed U.S. drones to less stable governments such as Jordan and the United Arab Emirates that in the past have been forbidden from buying them under the 33-year-old Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), said the U.S. official, a former U.S. official and one of the executives. It could also undermine longstanding MTCR compliance from countries such as Russia, said the U.S. official, who has direct knowledge of the policy shift.

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WNU Editor: This is the future of warfare. And with tens of billions at stake (if not more), it should surprise no one that the U.S. wants to dominate this market. And as for this Cold-War-era arms agreement between 34 nations. Like much of the infrastructure that was set up during and after the Cold War to minimize weapons proliferation, it is sadly being discarded for the reality that now exists in the 21rst century.

U.S. Military Sales Abroad Are Booming

Defense News: America sold nearly $42B in weapons to foreign countries in 2017

WASHINGTON ― U.S. defense companies sold $41.93 billion worth of weapons to foreign partners and allies in fiscal 2017, an almost 20 percent increase over 2016 figures.

Of that total, $32.02 billion came through Foreign Military Sales, $6.04 billion was through Foreign Military Financing and $3.87 billion in cases funded through other Defense Department authorities, according to a Wednesday announcement from the State Department.

Regionally, sales made through FMS and FMF totaled roughly $22 billion for Central Asia/Near East; $7.96 billion to the Indo-Pacific; $7.3 billion to Europe; $641.6 million to the Western Hemisphere; and $248.6 million to Africa.

This number represents actual sales agreed to with customers, as opposed to notifications to Congress by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which also set a record in FY17. Those notifications are not final and only apply to potential sales that must be cleared by Congress.

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More News On U.S. Military Sales Abroad

Pentagon: US sold almost $42B in weapons to other nations in 2017 -- The Hill
U.S. sales to foreign militaries top $41 billion in fiscal year 2017 -- UPI
US arms sales jump 25 percent in FY 2017 -- Defence Web
US Foreign Military Sales Hit $42B in Fiscal 2017; Lt. Gen. Charles Hooper Comments -- Executive Government

President Trump's 'America's First Policy' Is Not Impacting U.S. Defense Sales Overseas

RCD: Trump Policies Not Impeding U.S. Defense Sales Overseas

The military-industrial establishment that built a $60 billion-plus international market for U.S. weapons was holding its collective breath early in the Trump administration. Would foreign buyers balk at the president’s “America First” rhetoric and disparaging tweets about longtime allies?

So far it appears they are not.

“There were concerns and rumors that possibly with the new administration we would shift away from these efforts in security cooperation,” said Maj. Gen. Lawrence Martin Jr., assistant deputy under secretary of the Air Force for international affairs.

“We can resoundingly say that nothing could be further from the truth,” Martin said last week at the ComDef international defense conference.

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WNU Editor: When it comes to military sales .... foreign buyers only care about this .... how good are the weapons, support, delivery time, cost.

U.S. Foreign Arm Sales Boomed Under President Obama

Defense One: Obama’s Final Arms-Export Tally More than Doubles Bush’s

Most of the $278 billion in approved sales have gone to Saudi Arabia and other Mideast allies.

The Obama administration has approved more than $278 billion in foreign arms sales in its eight years, more than double the total of the previous administration, according to figures released by the Pentagon on Tuesday.

Many of the approved deals — most but hardly all of which have become actual sales — have been to Mideast nations, including key allies in the campaign against Islamic State militants and countries that have been building up their defenses in fear of a nuclear Iran.

Saudi Arabia has been the largest recipient, reaping prospective deals worth more than $115 billion, according to notices announcing the deals that were sent to Congress for approval.

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WNU Editor: Many are expecting the "good times" to continue .... U.S. arms export boom under Obama seen continuing with Trump (Reuters). What's my take .... in the case of Saudi Arabia they are burning munitions and equipment in their war in Yemen .... they will need more in the next year or two. And in the other parts of the world .... like Asia facing a rising China .... arms deals and military expansion are going to be the norm rather than the exception. Trump or no Trump .... I hate to say it but the arms merchants are now entering a new "golden age".

China's Arms Exports Pour Into Africa

(Click on Image to Enlarge)
Sources: SIPRI Arms Transfers, Embargoes databases. The Washington Post.

China’s Arms Exports Flooding Sub-Saharan Africa -- Washington Post

UNITED NATIONS — China’s arms exports have surged over the past decade, flooding sub-Saharan Africa with a new source of cheap assault rifles and ammunition and exposing Beijing to international scrutiny as its lethal wares wind up in conflict zones in violation of U.N. sanctions.

Weapons from China have surfaced in a string of U.N. investigations in war zones stretching from the Democratic Republic of the Congo to Ivory Coast, Somalia and Sudan. China is by no means alone in supplying the arms that help fuel African conflicts, and there is no proof that China or its arms exporters have intentionally violated U.N. embargoes in any of those countries.

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My Comment: The Chinese buy the minerals that they need .... and pay it with weapons. Good deal for China .... a shitty one for Africa.

U.S. Arms Sales Continue To Grow

Source: Congressional Research Service

U.S. Arms Sales Make Up Most of Global Market -- New York Times

WASHINGTON — Weapons sales by the United States tripled in 2011 to a record high, driven by major arms sales to Persian Gulf allies concerned about Iran’s regional ambitions, according to a new study for Congress.

Overseas weapons sales by the United States totaled $66.3 billion last year, or more than three-quarters of the global arms market, valued at $85.3 billion in 2011. Russia was a distant second, with $4.8 billion in deals.

The American weapons sales total was an “extraordinary increase” over the $21.4 billion in deals for 2010, the study found, and was the largest single-year sales total in the history of United States arms exports. The previous high was in fiscal year 2009, when American weapons sales overseas totaled nearly $31 billion.

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My Comment: This is a massive increase in just one year .... I guess the world is not becoming a safer place.

Companies Getting Rich Selling Illegal Weapons To US Adversaries

jrseles / flickr

These Companies Got Rich Selling Illegal Weapons To US Adversaries -- Business Insider

n the wake of the Pratt & Whitney settlement (the defense giant illegally sold a bunch of helicopter engines to the Chinese) we wondered who else had been busted for outlaw arms dealing that we hadn't heard about.

We went through the State Department's list — which is long, diverse, and contains the names of both blue-chip companies and sketchy front corporations — to find some of the biggest illegal arms.

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My Comment: Throwing people into jail for 20 years will change a lot of altitudes.

India Confirms Agreement To Purchase Fighter Jets From France. Britain Not Amused

Well That's Gratitude! We Give India £1bn In Aid, THEY Snub The UK And Give France A £13bn Jet Contract -- Daily Mail

* Propaganda coup for Nicolas Sarkozy just days after he declared Britain has 'no industry'
* French firm Dassault Rafale slashes price of fighter jets to ensure deal
* 'Disappointed' Cameron insists there will be no job losses despite blow

India has snubbed British industry and awarded a £13billion deal to supply fighter jets to France.

The contract was lost despite Government claims that the UK’s £1billion aid package to India would help secure the order.

Yesterday’s decision also handed a propaganda coup to French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who sneeringly claimed on Monday that Britain ‘has no industry’.

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More News On India's Decision To Buy France's Dassault Rafale Fighter

French Rafale jet beats Eurofighter in $10bn India deal -- BBC
India to buy 126 Rafale fighter jets in $11B deal with French aviation company Dassault -- Washington Post/AP
France's Dassault beats BAE Systems to clinch Indian government fighter jet contract -- The Telegraph
Dassault Aviation’s Rafale Is Lowest Bidder in India Jet Fighter Contract -- Bloomberg
French jet Rafale bags $20bn IAF fighter order; India 'briefs' losing European countries -- Times of India
Dassault Chosen to Bid on $10 Billion Indian Military Contract -- New York Times
India boost for Dassault as jet is frontrunner -- Financial Times

UK PM Cameron to ask India to consider Eurofighter instead of French Rafale fighter jets -- Washington Post/AP
Cameron promises to persuade India to buy Eurofighter -- BBC
Cameron looks to persuade India to rethink Eurofighter Typhoon deal -- The Guardian
Will urge India to reconsider Dassault Rafale fighter deal: British Prime Minister David Cameron -- Times of India
UK says will urge India to reconsider warplane decision -- Reuters
U.K. Still Pressing for India Fighter Jet Deal -- Wall Street Journal

Will Arm Sales Help President Obama And The Democrats In 2012?

F-16 Jets. U.S. Air Force via Reuters

Analysis: U.S. Fighter Sales Soar In Time For Campaign -- Yahoo News/Reuters

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Booming Middle East purchases of U.S. fighter jets will be a bright spot in what is expected to be a sluggish economy in 2012, possibly paying dividends for President Barack Obama's bid for a second term.

Beneficiaries include Lockheed Martin Corp and Boeing Co, whose respective F-16 and F-15 production lines are being extended by U.S. government sales to Iraq, Saudi Arabia and Oman, among other rich arms deals announced in recent weeks.

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My Comment: President Obama's weakest issue in the 2012 election cycle is the U.S. economy .... specifically unemployment. Arms sales do generate jobs .... and for President Obama .... he needs every job to be created if he wants to extend his stay in the White House for another 4 years.

Will The U.S. Always Be The World's Top Arms Seller?

US $60 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia is considered to be one of the largest-ever US weapons sales. (File Photo)

Will The US Always Be Top Arms Seller? -- Alarabiya News

America’s manufacturing base has been shrinking for years and the US ranks a mere fourth on the list of the world’s exporters but it is set to score yet another record this year in a category where it has no equals – selling guns, tanks, missiles, warplanes and assorted other weapons to the world.

By September, the end of the 2011 fiscal year, the government expects to have sold $46 billion worth of military hardware and services. The estimate, which comes from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, represents a whopping $14.5 billion increase and cements America’s position as arms merchant to the world. It has deals with 165 countries and some of the most sophisticated big-ticket items going to the Middle East (F-15 fighter jets for Saudi Arabia, advanced missiles for the United Arab Emirates).

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Update: U.S. arms makers look overseas as domestic demand shrinks -- L.A Times

My Comment: For the foreseeable future the U.S. will remain the world's arms merchant. What will eventually change this situation is dependent on what will happen (economically) in the U.S.. My prediction .... the financial/debt crisis will impact America's defense industries, and if the U.S. starts to downsize its military, the eventual decrease in orders and R&D will only mean a smaller and less competitive U.S. defense industry.

Russia Is On A Buying Spree For High Tech Weapons From The West

Russia plans to buy several French Mistral-class amphibious helicopter carriers, like the Tonnerre, seen here // Marine Nationale

Russia May Buy $12 Billion of Arms From NATO Members -- Bloomberg Businessweek

June 11 (Bloomberg) -- Russia may buy $12 billion of arms from European and Israeli companies, including DCNS and Iveco SpA, over the next five years as the world’s second-biggest arms exporter hunts for higher-quality weapons than domestic companies can provide, according to a Moscow research institute.

“Russia has been an exception on military procurement, because no other country in the last 15 years tried to be 100 percent autonomous,” said center Director Ruslan Pukhov. “Now we have recognized that you can’t be competitive in all areas.”

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My Comment: With natural gas and oil sales bringing in tens of billions in dollars and euros every year, Russia has the resources and means to purchase such systems. The question that needs to be answered is .... do we want to sell to them? Considering how high unemployment and budget deficits are .... I would be shocked if we decide to not fulfill these orders.

China Undercutting Price Of Military Hardware To Capture Markets In Africa From Russia / China's Tanks Aircraft Challenge Russian Sales In Africa

From Defense Technology News:

(NSI News Source Info) HONG KONG - January 1, 2009: Ghana traditionally has been a client country of Western weapons manufacturers. It does have some Russian equipment in service, however, including SAM-7 surface-to-air missiles, Zu-23-2 air defense machine guns and D-30 122-mm howitzers.

The People's Republic of China is now promoting its latest gun-launched laser-guided projectiles on the African continent.

At least one African country is already equipped with the Chinese-made GP1 155mm laser-guided projectiles, which are a Chinese version of Russia's Krasnopol GLLGP, the technology for which was transferred to China by Russia's KBP Design Bureau in 1997.

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French Arm Sales To Angola

(Map from MIT Cascon)

French Elite In The Dock As £450m Angola Arms Trial
Begins In Paris -- Times Online

Some of the leading names in France's political and business elite went on trial yesterday over an arms-dealing scandal that could shine light on the murkiest dealings of the French state.

The son of the late President Mitterrand joined 41 prominent figures in court for the start of the “Angolagate” trial, concerning the alleged illicit sale of £450 million of Russian weapons and equipment to Angola in the 1990s. Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, 61, Jacques Attali, the intellectual and banker who advised the late President, and Paul-Loup Sulitzer, a popular thriller writer, are among the well-known accused who have generated huge interest in the proceedings.

But the main defendants are Arkadi Gaydamak, a Russian-Israeli billionaire, and Pierre Falcone, a French businessman, who have in turn implied that the French Government knew of and allowed a secret arms channel to Angola after a UN embargo blocked official French sales.

Under deals allegedly arranged by Mr Falcone, Mr Gaydamak is claimed to have procured and shipped 420 tanks, 150,000 shells, 170,000 landmines, 12 helicopters and 6 naval vessels to help President Dos Santos of Angola to win a long-running civil war. Mr Gaydamak - one of the models for Lord of War, a film starring Nicolas Cage about an arms merchant - has stayed in Israel and is being tried in his absence. Gilles-William Goldnadel, his lawyer, said that his client did not deny the sales and would attend the trial next month if France promised that he would not be imprisoned.

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My Comment: Watching the French reveal their dirty laundry. Why watch a good movie or read a good book when real life is more exciting.