Weapons makers look overseas as Pentagon cuts back

[Joanne98]

Source: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign governments looking to kick the tires of fighter jets and cargo planes at this week's air show in Paris will likely hear a clear message from U.S. defense contractors: We need your business now more than ever.

With the United States looking to cut defense costs and rethinking the way it fights wars, many defense companies are looking for international buyers to take the big, pricey weapons that the Pentagon no longer wants or needs fewer of. U.S. contractors are chasing some lucrative deals, but could also face some legal and political hurdles as they hawk weapons overseas.

Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. are competing to sell fighter planes to countries such as India and Brazil. Boeing is trying to spark international interest in its C-17 cargo plane. Middle Eastern nations fearful of threats from Iran are bulking up on missile defense equipment from Lockheed and Raytheon Co.

"This is a world market right now," says Chris Chadwick, Boeing's president of military aircraft.


Read more: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5goTTC10BhWtcRxEBr2TJXEQ3QwhgD98PVF581

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We gotta make sure all our future enemies have weapons to attack them for having fifteen years from now.

[Duer 157099]

1. Yeah. I can't see anything wrong with this picture

Such a swell idea to have a military industrial complex "too big to fail" isn't it?

[NOW tense]

2. Sell your soul

for some things that eradicate your enemy more efficiently. Step right up! and turn the wheel of human destruction. Who out there needs a Jet that is fast? Look how easily the U.S. smashed the weak machinery of Iraq. Now look at them...... being armed with the weapons we smashed them with.

[sutz12]

3. Yeah, it's been boring just training our future enemies...

Let's start (continue) arming them, too.

[jimmil]

4. Just curious, but...

Who in the world is Brazil arming themselves against?

Many years ago, 1980 or '81, when living in Canada they were going to buy something like 20 F-15s (I don't really remember what airplane it was). So this guy comes up with a small piston airplane that held a bunch of rockets and other ordinance. He said instead of buying a few very expensive airplanes they could make hundreds of these airplanes. He said, quite rightly, that these were to be a defense of a foreign invader on their country. It made a lot of sense to me. I guess, though, the people in charge of defense couldn't have a bunch of low tech hardware doing exactly the same mission as a few very expensive toys. Where is the glamor in that? You can't have a bunch of Cessnas flying over a stadium at an opening ceremony now can you?

[frog92969]

5. Cashing in on Armageddon?

Hey! MIC! You can't take it with you.

[drdtroit]

6. we're fucked! n/t