U.S. Defense Contractors Vie For Global Weapons Sales by Larry Luxner Sept. 11 may have changed the world, but Washington, D.C.ís new focus on anti-terrorism and homeland security doesnít mean that foreign governments from Australia to Zimbabwe suddenly want American missiles, bombs and fighter jets. In fact, itís business-as-usual for the U.S. defense establishmentóat least on a global levelósay officials at Lockheed Martin Corp., The Boeing Co., Northrop Grumman and other big weapons manufacturers. "That is a press-manufactured frenzy," said Jim Fetig, spokesman at Bethesda, Md.,-based Lockheed Martin, which has 125,000 employees and is the nationís largest defense contractor. "Most of the large increases in defense spending arenít for procurement, by the way. We donít expect to see any windfalls of any kind related to Sept. 11 because governments donít buy procurements costing hundreds of millions if not billions of dollars related to a single event. They relate to broad national policies and strategies."...more... Defense Listing: Top 30 Defense-Related Companies

Sometimes a Strong Defense Is Best Offense Victor Shiblie Publisher, Editor in Chief The world we live in has increasingly become more dangerous in recent years. Just tune to any news channel, and you will know that this is true....more... War on Terrorism Spawns Arsenal of Defense Products by Larry Luxner Airborne lasers, Hellfire, Global Hawks, JSAFs, JSOW-Bs, JDAMs, SLAMs, Avengers an d Raptors. It sounds like alphabet soup or the names of motorcycle gangs to most Americansóbut to those in the defense industry, these high-tech acronyms and weapons systems translate into big bucks....more... South Asia Market Again Lucrative for U.S. Arms by Larry Luxner India and Pakistanóbitter enemies for the last 50 yearsóare impoverished, overpopulated countries that can hardly feed themselves. Yet both found the money to build and test nuclear bombs, nearly coming to the brink of nuclear war in 1999 over the Kashmir territorial dispute....more...