The sale of conventional military weapons across the world was nearly $37 billion in 2004—about $8 billion higher than the previous year, according to a recent Congressional Research Service report. The US share was about 34 percent, less than in most recent years. Russia came in second, with Britain, Israel, and France ringing in at three, four, and five. The big buyer among developing countries? China. Act surprised.
Members of the House Armed Services Committee say the AIM-260 Joint Advanced Tactical Missile program has been set back three months due to the ongoing government shutdown. The comment is noteworthy because the JATM's status has been kept tightly under wraps.
