Global Arming – US 2017 Foreign Military Sales on Track to Beat 2015 Record

The US Department of Defense on Thursday approved to Congress five major weapons sales to Middle East nations, some of whom are mired in violent regional wars. If completed, the arms purchases will value some $7.9 billion.
The sales include a $3.51-billion deal for Boeing-produced CH-47 Chinook cargo helicopters sold to Saudi Arabia, and $3.5 billion for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters purchased by the United Arab Emirates. Morocco has been cleared to buy TOW 2A anti-tank missiles, along with associated logistical support, for $108 million. The figures bring the Defense Security Cooperation Agency‘s total to almost $41.8 billion through the first two and a half months of fiscal 2017, already exceeding the $33.6 billion in weapons sales reported in fiscal 2016.
Although recent weapons-purchase approvals do not guarantee that the actual sales will be completed, the figures are on track to crush the record $46.6 billion in overseas arms sales, set in 2015. The United States sells more arms, armament, and weapons to foreign governments than any other country.