Rapid Fire March 18, 2013: Top 5 Weapons Importers Are Asian Countries

Mar 18, 2013 11:00 UTC by Defense Industry Daily staff
  • The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) research on trends in international arms transfers for 2012 puts China among the top 5 weapons exporters thanks to their sales to Pakistan. The top 5 importers, led by India, are all in Asia – which does not mean it’s easy to sell to them. Algeria and Morocco are listed among the fastest risers on the import side, while Greece’s purchases have collapsed.
  • Being the world’s top armament importer is not enough to keep up with threats from Pakistan and China, if budget growth is flattening as a percentage of GDP and modernization is stalled, argues Indian Defence Review.

  • When even the conservative Washington Times spends more ink lamenting procurement waste at the Pentagon than advocating for maintaining the defense budget, you know you face an uphill battle.

  • Crazy rumors [in French] are swirling in France about the outcome of the belated Livre Blanc which should be released within days to set the strategic outline for years to come. Selling the Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier, giving up the A400M, and other doomsday tales sound far-fetched, but a tight budget in the 29-30 billion euros range can be expected. A multi-partisan statement was issued by the Senate last week asking for a floor [in French] at 1.5% of GDP or just half of the target set by NATO for its members.

  • Moshe Ya’alon, a former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, has been appointed as the country’s new defense minister.

  • The US Navy’s PMA209 for Air Combat Electronics recently had an industry day where they discussed their road maps for Mission Systems and Sensors (MSS), Communication and Networking (CAN), Safety Flight Operations (SFO) and Future Airborne Capabilities Environment (FACE) [MS PPTX links].

    • Categories: Africa - Other, Asia - Other, Budgets, China, Daily Rapid Fire, France, India, Israel, People, USA

    Stay Up-to-Date on Defense Programs Developments with Free Newsletter

    DID's daily email newsletter keeps you abreast of contract developments, pictures, and data, put in the context of their underlying political, business, and technical drivers.