The Military Industrial Complex World wide.

Please to meet you hope you guess my name.

 

You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come.

Matthew 24:6

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The war is a gold mine: - A unique opportunity Norwegian News

The war in Ukraine is a goldmine for the world's arms manufacturers, not least for the five largest, all of which are American.

 

 

 

 

 

Germany decided earlier this year to donate three air defense squadrons equipped with Patriot missiles to Ukraine, here they are on their way to Poland. Patriot is a collaborative project between the three American arms manufacturers Rytheon, Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and they have had good days since Russia invaded Ukraine. Photo: DPA / AP / NTB Photo: NTB

NTB (contact SOL.no)

Published Sunday 12 February 2023 - 10:47

Last year, Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Boeing, Northrop Grumman, General Dynamics and the other American arms manufacturers received the green light from Washington to sell arms, military equipment and services worth close to NOK 1,550 billion to other countries, an overview from the US Foreign Ministry shows .

This was an increase of as much as 48.6 per cent from the previous year and is attributed to the war in Ukraine and rearmament by the US's allies, primarily in Europe.

In addition to the arms manufacturers' direct sales, the US authorities themselves were responsible for the sale of arms to allies for just over NOK 520 billion, the overview shows. This was an increase of 49.1 per cent from the previous year.

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 Weapons are the way to peace, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg during a meeting of the so-called contact group for Ukraine last month. Here he tests a Japanese fighter plane during a visit to the country on 31 January. Photo: AP / NTB

- The increase is primarily due to licenses linked to Ukraine's attempts to defend itself against Russia's unprovoked aggression, states the ministry.

Full order books

When the Russian build-up along the border with Ukraine became known, the stock market value of the major arms manufacturers began to rise.

The order books were quickly filled, including at General Dynamics, which a few days before the invasion received an order for 250 Abrams M1 tanks from Poland , a contract worth around NOK 60 billion.

 

A few months later, Germany ordered 35 fighter jets of the F-35 type, as well as associated weapon systems and equipment worth close to NOK 85 billion from Lockheed Martin.

The German government justified the urgent purchase with the need to show unity in NATO and deter Russia in a credible manner.

Gear up

In country after country in Europe, governments decided overnight to arm up, something NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg had been urging them to do for years in vain.

South Korea is both concerned about North Korea and about China's increasingly strong military presence in the region, and has purchased 40 American fighter jets of the F-35 type. Last year they placed an order for a further 20. Photo: AP / NTB

At the same time, European countries began donating weapons systems from their own stockpiles to Ukraine, much of the phased-out material that first had to be restored using spare parts. A large part of the material was American, and the spare parts also had to be ordered from the USA.

As their own weapons stocks were emptied, orders were placed for new and more modern weapons systems, and the major American manufacturers once again secured a significant portion of the contracts.

- Weapons are the way to peace, declared Stoltenberg during the meeting of the so-called contact group for Ukraine last month.

Good days

Although close to half of the world's 100 largest arms manufacturers are American, and they undoubtedly walk away with the most and largest contracts, there are good days for manufacturers in other countries as well.

 

Won't answer Zelenskyi's fighter jet plea

 

Just over 20 of the largest manufacturers are European, and companies such as British BAE Systems, French Thales, Italian Leonardo and German Dynamit Nobel and Krauss-Maffei Wegmann are having good days.

The latter recently received an order from the Norwegian defense for the purchase of 54 Leopard 2A7 tanks, a type that is used by a number of countries and of which the Ukrainian army has also been promised many.

The course in the weather

Shares in Saab Bofors Dynamics, which manufactures the NLAW anti-tank missiles, have risen by over 90 per cent in the past year, while the stock market value of Kongsberg Gruppen, which manufactures the air defense system Nasams, has increased by over 30 per cent since the war in Ukraine broke out.

Ammunition producer Nammo in Raufoss recently received an order for artillery shells worth NOK 2.6 billion from the government, which stated that they will both strengthen Norway's defense capability and go to Ukraine.

China fear

While more and more European countries are now approaching NATO's goal of spending at least 2 percent of their gross domestic product on their defence, other parts of the world are also gearing up.

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Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (Ap) and Defense Minister Bjørn Arild Gram (Sp) recently visited Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace, which is experiencing great demand for its advanced air defense system NASAMS. Photo: Heiko Junge / NTB

The US is most of all concerned about China, which is also clearly indicated by arms exports. One of the largest arms contracts signed last year was with Indonesia, which buys combat aircraft and weapon systems for NOK 140 billion from Boeing. This is because, according to analysts, the country's leaders are greatly concerned about China's military buildup in the Pacific region.

Taiwan, Japan and South Korea have also entered into new billion-dollar contracts with American arms manufacturers, who also have many good customers in the Middle East. There, they are most concerned about the alleged threat from Iran.

Middle East

Saudi Arabia, which is waging a brutal war in Yemen, entered into a contract for the purchase of 300 Patriot missiles from Raytheon at a value of over NOK 30 billion, while the United Arab Emirates is buying an air defense system from Lockheed Martin for over NOK 22 billion.

Israel and Egypt are also good customers for the American manufacturers, as are countries such as Kuwait, the overview from the US Foreign Ministry shows.

 

For example, Kuwait buys the Norwegian-developed Nasams missile system, which Kongsberg Defense & Aerospace and Raytheon produce, for NOK 30 billion, while the Emirates shell out NOK 23 billion for the THAAD air defense system from Lockheed Martin.

Tools in foreign policy

President Joe Biden sees American military aid and arms sales as tools in foreign policy, while at the same time supporting American industry, states the American online newspaper Defense News .

This is confirmed by Jessica Lewis, who is deputy secretary of state responsible for political-military affairs in the Biden administration. She notes that the American arms industry is now experiencing historically increased demand and sales.

- The military aid lubricates the wheels of the partnership with the arms industry and promotes our national security while strengthening bilateral relations, she said recently.

 

According to Lewis, the United States is now encouraging allied countries in Eastern Europe to get rid of Russian-made equipment, often by donating it to Ukraine, and then to acquire American weapons systems themselves. The US offers financial support and training to those who do.

Våpenindustrien går så det suser.