28 January 2011 - 20:30

The three main defense contractors planning to take full advantage of the inordinate call for war toys include industry leader Lockheed Martin, L-3 Communications Holdings, and Raytheon Company

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) - The three main defense contractors planning to take full advantage of the inordinate call for war toys include industry leader Lockheed Martin, L-3 Communications Holdings, and Raytheon Company.

"The United States spent over half a billion dollars on the military last year and they are looking to spend well more this year," The managing news editor of Antiwar website, Jason Ditz, said.

With USD 663.8 billion in its military budget, and defense spending ranging from USD 880 billion to USD 1.03 trillion, the US maintains its position as the biggest military buyer in the world.

The 2009 US military budget encompassed approximately 40% of global arms.

Defense companies plan to make even more money through transitive sales via US arms agreements with foreign buyers and beneficiaries.

Despite the US's burdening economic crisis and rampant social concerns, the US defense industry has been the "only" industry showing profit in recent years, Ditz noted.

Although the Republicans continue to pressure US President Barack Obama to cut military spending and focus more on scientific researches, housing and education plans as well as other non-military issues, in his 2011 budget report, Obama highlighted a 4% increase in Department of Defense spending.

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