Top 5 arms exporters: who feels secure? Weapons piling up, enough to blow up Earth many times over rather than defend it

The United States of America remains the largest exporter of conventional weapons in the world, according to the latest study by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The U.S account for 30% of global arms sales, or about $7 billion per year, for the period 2005-2009, SIPRI statement says. From 2005 to 2009, the U.S. sold one-third of its arm exports to South Korea (15%), Israel (13%) and the United Arab Emirates (11%). The top U.S. military equipments included JDAM guided bombs and RGM-84L Harpoon-2 anti-ship missiles, delivered to South Korea, in 2008.

Russia remains the second largest supplier, with 23% of the global arms exports, or about $4.5 billion per year, the SIPRI data indicates. Russia’s main clients are China (40%) and India (20%), which belong to the top five of the largest conventional weapons importers from 2005 to 2009, SIPRI says. Russian exports of fighter planes included 82 Sukhoi fighters for India and 24 MI-17 helicopters for China.

Germany, whose exports doubled over the past five years, has become the world’s third-largest arms dealer, SIPRI reports. Germany now makes up 10% of the global volume. Most of Germany’s arms are sold to other European countries, such as Turkey (15%) and Greece (13%). German Leopard 2A4 tanks delivered to Turkey cost over 365 million Euros.

France is ranked fourth, while it used to be considered as the third largest weapons exporter until 2006, the SIPRI study shows. The French arms exports are estimated at 8% of the total sales. United Arab Emirates (32%), Singapore (13%) and Greece (12%) are the largest of France’s clients. Among its top sales, France delivered Mirage Combat Aircrafts to the UAE in the last five years.

United Kingdom is the fifth-largest exporter of arms, although its exports volume has declined by 13%, comparing with the previous period, from 2000 to 2004. The U.K.’s arms sales make up 4% of the global market, SIPRI says. 21% of the U.K.’s weapons exports went to the U.S., including MP aircraft radars. The U.S. is the largest of UK’s recipients, followed by India (14%) and Chile (9%), SIPRI reports.

(quote)

France holds up military aid worth 1.6 billion dollars for Pak

France has reportedly held up military aid worth 1.6 billion dollars for Pakistan, sources at President Nicolas Sarkozy’s office said.

The military hardware, which was to be given to Pakistan, was to be used for the country’s JF-17 combat aircraft. “It’s a deal that’s not ready from the Pakistani side. For now, the state of the dossier doesn’t allow us to carry on with it,” sources said without divulging much detail.

Earlier, one of France’s leading newspapers, Le Monde had reported that the Sarkozy Administration has decided to suspend the sale of electronics and missiles, under the first part of a six billion euro deal signed with Islamabad, following India’s request. The newspaper said that Paris is also concerned over whether Pakistan would be able to pay-off the huge deal amount or not, and also is worried over the safety of the sophisticated technology being provided to it, as Islamabad is pushing to assemble the military equipments on its soil.

According to the newspaper, a consortium of three French companies, which included the leading missile manufacturer, MBDA (acronym for Matra BAE Dynamics Alenia), was supposed to produce the equipment. In February, MBDA had said that it is planning to expand its operations in India and upgrade its fleet of Mirage 2000 combat jets. (ANI)

(unquote)

Photos courtesy of jr / USAF / Cary Humphries, Mike Theiler, Mihail Kovalev, Uriel Sinai / Pool, David Silpa / UPI Photo, indiatalkies.com, and Getty Images