Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — The U.S. military regards arms sales to the Middle East
as vital in an effort to maintain the nation’s defense industry.

Military commanders said increased U.S. weapons exports to the Middle
East and other regions could sustain defense production lines amid deep
budget cuts or “sequester” ordered by Congress. They said the sales could also enable the
establishment of weapons arsenals available to the U.S. military in hot
spots.

“That’s been a win-win for both the U.S. Army and our allies as well,
and also a win-win for industry,” Gen. Dennis Via, commander of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, said. “We see that as continuing in the out years. This is a growth industry.”

In a presentation to defense executives, Via cited the record U.S.
weapons exports, particularly to the Middle East. Over the last year, Saudi Arabia has ordered more than $30 billion worth of F-15 aircraft, upgrades and missiles.

Via, addressing AUSA-2013 conference and exhibition, which ended on Feb. 22, said the Army oversaw nearly $20 billion in exports in 2012 as part of the Foreign Military Sales program. He said sales in fiscal 2013, which began in October 2012, were expected to drop sharply to $12.2 billion. Officials said Gulf Arab states have increasingly sought so-called direct
commercial sales that do not require approval from Congress.

“What I’m finding in my travels, as I meet with embassies and foreign
militaries, is they have trust in the equipment the United States provides
to them,” Via said. “Certainly, I’d leverage every opportunity to push for a
sustainment package as well. Because, at some point in time it is going to
have to be sustained; it is going to have to be maintained.”

Via said the Army was also expecting Middle East and other foreign
clients to order training and logistics support. He did not provide an
estimate for such programs in 2013.

“There’s a growth in demand for training,” Via said. “We think this is
an opportunity we can leverage as we continue to build partner capacity and
build relationships with allies and partner nations.”

  F-15s to Saudi Arabia, Foreign Military Sales Program, Gen. Dennis Via, U.S. extols Mideast arms sales, U.S. Mideast arms sales seen as silver lining in ‘sequester’ cloud