Iranian Sales Promotion: US Industries Flourish

US defense industries fully utilize conflicts around the world, but apparently the tension between the West and Tehran generates some massive transactions

Iranian Sales Promotion: US Industries Flourish

Photo: AP

US defense industries never ignore any substantial conflict, anywhere in the world. In addition to the conflict with North Korea and the tensions with China, utilized to sell weapon systems to Japan, South Korea and other Asian countries, the conflict in the Persian Gulf, opposite Iran, has also been generating some handsome transactions. An examination of the transactions concluded by US defense industries with Gulf States in recent months shows that as far as the US umbrella is concerned, there are no free lunches.

The Boeing Corporation has recently won a contract valued at US$ 564,505,720 of foreign military sales to the Netherlands, the UAE and the UK, for the manufacture of AH-64E Apache helicopters. The manufacturing process is expected to be completed in March 2025. In another transaction, the Boeing Corporation won a contract valued at US$ 92,280,378 for supporting the weapon systems of the AV-8B, EA-18G, F/A-18, C-40, and P-8A aircraft of the navy and government of Kuwait. Another transaction the Boeing Corporation concluded includes the supply of ten CH-47F helicopters to UAE for US$ 830 million.

The US State Department has also authorized the BAE Corporation to sell nineteen M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) platforms and auxiliary equipment at an estimated cost of US$ 281 million. An authorization has also been granted to Bahrain for the overhauling of an Oliver Hazard Perry Class vessel (formerly FFG-49) at an estimated cost of US$ 150 million. Another transaction was authorized for Qatar, in the context of which two AN-AAQ-24(V)-N DIRCM aircraft protection systems plus auxiliary equipment will be sold to this Gulf State at an estimated cost of US$ 86 million.

The Pie is being Divided

Another US Corporation that has recently won a project in Qatar is Raytheon. The transaction involves the upgrading of the Qatari air-defense system on the scope of about US$ 22 million. DynCorp International has won some handsome contracts in Kuwait, Oman, Qatar and UAE on the scope of about US$ 68 million. Cubic Defense Applications has won a contract for the supply of a pilot training system to Qatar, estimated at about US$ 41 million. Noble Supply and Logistics won a logistic project in Bahrain, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, among others, on the scope of US$ 300 million (which includes, as stated, countries outside of the Gulf area). MVL USA Inc. won a contract on the scope of US$ 13 for work to be performed at the Al Ubeid Airport in Qatar.

There's more: General Dynamics Land Systems won a US$ 12 million project for logistic services. Kellogg Brown and Root Services won a project to support the navy of Bahrain for US$ 14 million.

Without a doubt, as long as the tension in the Gulf vis-à-vis Iran continues, every month that passes promotes the sale of arms by US industries in this region. The transactions listed above are only a part of the total number of transactions concluded in recent months. One should bear in mind the fact that other industries, apart from the American ones, like various French and British companies, operate in the Gulf.