Weapons to foreign countries

[phaloides]

Being ex Fleet Air Arm I have retained a deep interest in aircraft and to a lesser extent other weapons. I wonder if money is the only reason why we and the USA export all these modern weapons and munitions to such unstable regimes as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan which could be so easily be toppled. If this happened our servicemen could be faced with technology more advanced than supplied to them as in Iraq.
Reading the aviation trade magazines certainly worries me.

[Clanad]

I understand what you are saying, but usually (and Iran is a good example) the trade agreements under treaties with such countries also supply spare parts. In the event of conflict injurious to our countries well being, the supply of spare parts ceases and it isn't long until the machines grind to a halt. Using Iran as an example, one site says the following: "By 1987, however, the air force faced an acute shortage of spare parts and replacement equipment. Perhaps 35 of the 190 Phantoms were serviceable in 1986. One F-4 had been shot down by Saudi F-15s, and two pilots had defected to Iraq with their F-4s in 1984. The number of F-5s dwindled from 166 to perhaps 45, and the F-14 Tomcats from 77 to perhaps 10. The latter were hardest hit because maintenance posed special difficulties after the United States embargo on military sales."

So, thier only recourse is to try an rearm with suppliers from North Korea, China, and lately, it seems, Russia. The crews all have to be re-trained in the use of new machines and, in most cases, entire weapons systems, which for the most part are sub-par to those supplied by the U.S. and the U.K. (and other European countries)...

[admarlow]

Clanad, so really if they have US planes all they have to do to ground the fleet is to stop sending parts! Ive never thought of it like this before so really its actually SAFER (from the USA's position) to supply the equipment than for it to come from another country like Russia.

[Clanad]

In the best of all world's admarlow the safest course of action would, of course, be no sales... but that isn't feasible... so the control is spare parts. Military jet aircraft engines, or example, because of the extrordinary stresses placed on them, have a life of perhaps as little as 500 hours between overhauls, whereas the same type of engine on commercial jetliners have a minimum life expectancy of around 10,000 hours or more. Tires (tyres) are always the first to go, but you'd be surprised at just plain screws and bolts that are especially made ofr aircraft. Same thing holds true for tanks and all other vehicles,not to mention electronics...

[NJOK]

There is another reason aside from money.

In the interests of global security, it's safer to supply weapons - even to unstable states - than to allow one to buy weapons and achieve military superiority over their neighbours.

European countries and the US have long supplied weapons, tactically, to retain a bit of balance in troublesome areas. When it's closely monitored and the weaponary is far from cutting edge (which is usually is) they can do this safe in the knowledge that they won't be threatening their own safety.

Refusing to supply spare parts is another check on this.

[kwicky]

I think you may be right. During the Falklands war Argentina were supplied with Exocet missiles by France and they were far superior to anything we possessed.

[matt66]

clanad...why do you say stopping sales of weapons is not feasible....surely the electorate can decide if they want to elect govts that deal in arms....i suppose the arms dealing companies fund too many political parties. any other reasons?

Also is there no illegal trade in spare parts and do these countries not have the wherewithal to duplicate spare parts?

[NH]

All the above said, selling weapons is a good earner for any country with a rapidly dwindling manufacturing industry- because no matter what, someone, somewhere, out there, will feel the need to shoot someone and need the equipment to do so.

Incidentally, yes, we do happen to be one of the world's biggest exporters in this area. The legacy of this country- when we ain't fightin' wars, we're indirectly starting and fuelin' 'em!

[jump79]

Money and politics (favors with strings atttached). Don't forget there are US bases in most of the countries that it supplies arms for so it has sources for getting the vital info. and knows exactly what it's doing...

[Dom Tuk]

Whats the oft repeated refrain

'to protect democarcy around the wolrd for freedom loving generations'

my smelly harse.

[kwicky]

Who was the largest supplier of arms worldwide last year?....Russia!