DEATH INC: 10 US Firms Profiting Most From War And Death

DEATH INC: 10 US Firms Profiting Most From War And Death

Out of the 100 largest contractors that sold $410 billion in arms and
military services in 2011, just 10 U.S. companies sold over $208
billion, according to 24/7 Wall St. Based on a list of the top 100
arms-producing and military services companies in 2011 compiled by the
Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, 24/7 Wall St.
reviewed the 10 companies with the most military sales worldwide in
2011. These companies have benefited tremendously from the growth in
military spending in the U.S., which by far has the largest military
budget in the world. In 2000, the U.S. defense budget was
approximately $312 billion. By 2011, that figure had grown to $712
billion. Arm sales grew alongside general defense spending growth.
SIPRI noted that between 2002 and 2011, arms sales among the top 100
companies grew by 51%.

However, the trend has reversed recently. In 2011, the top 100 arms
dealers sold 5% less compared to 2010. Susan Jackson, a defense expert
at SIPRI, said in an email to 24/7 Wall St. that austerity measures in
Western Europe and the U.S. have delayed or slowed down the
procurement of different weapons systems. Austerity concerns have
exacerbated matters since 2011. The U.S. federal government budget
cuts that took effect beginning this month � commonly known as
sequestration � mean that military spending could contract by more
than $500 billion over the coming decade unless some of the cuts are
reversed.

In addition, the U.S.�s involvement in conflicts in Iraq and
Afghanistan have wound down significantly. The last American convoy in
Iraq left the country in December of 2011. Troop withdrawals from
Afghanistan also began in 2011. Finally, SIPRI pointed out that
sanctions on arms transfers to Libya also played a role in declining
arms sales.

Many of these companies are looking overseas to try to make up for
slowing sales in the U.S. and Europe. Arms producers are especially
keen on areas in Latin America, the Middle East and parts of Asia,
Jackson said. For instance, BAE is in the process of securing
contracting agreements with Saudi Arabia. Meanwhile, the chief
financial officer of Northrop Grumman has recently indicated his
company may sell its Global Hawk airplane to South Korea or Japan.

Based on the report, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the 10 companies with the
most arms sales in 2011. Arms were defined as sales to military
customers, either for procurement or for export, but do not include
sales of general purpose items such as oil or computer equipment to
military customers. We also looked at arms sales from 2010, as well as
the company�s total sales in 2010. Furthermore, we considered the
company�s 2011 total sales, profits and the total number of employees
at the company, all provided by SIPRI.

1 Lockheed Martin Corp. $10,888,633,000
2 Northrop Grumman Corp. $8,212,891,000
3 Boeing Co. $5,051,984,000
4 General Dynamics Corp. $4,576,415,00
5 Raytheon Co. $4,095,309
6 KBR Inc $3,546,554,000
7 L-3 Communications Corp. $3,332,433,000
8 Science Applications International Corp. $3,280,980,000
9 DynCorp International Inc. $2,398,874,000
10 Hewlett-Packard Co. $2,344,325,000
11 Booz Allen Hamilton $2,344,325,000
12 CACI International Inc. $2,059,613,000
13 Harris Corp. $1,993,623,000
14 Computer Sciences Corp. $1,828,670,000
15 ITT Corp. $1,808,674,000
16 Fluor Corp. $1,742,216,000
17 BAE Systems Inc. $1,381,184,000
18 Dell Inc. $1,263,236,000
19 ManTech International Corp. $1,167,928,000
20 United Technologies Corp. $1,121,492,000
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