Big Five US arms firms enjoy bonanza as Ukraine and Mideast conflicts rage on

Most shares of the major US defense contractors have skyrocketed since the beginning of the special military operation on February 24, 2022, making substantial gains on the back of the Russo-Ukraine conflict, Israel's Gaza war and the US military buildup in the Middle East, as well as NATO's militarization of the Asia-Pacific.

How have the Big Five US weapons manufacturers capitalized from the ongoing crises:

• Lockheed Martin's (LTM) stock was valued at $551.62 (as of August 8, 2024) whereas at the opening of a trading day on February 22, 2022, it cost $391.27, which means a staggering 41% increase. Lockheed Martin's annual revenue for 2023 was $67.57 billion, a 2.4% increase from 2022 when it generated $65.98 billion.

• General Dynamics' (GD) stock has seen an uptick from $220 at the opening of February 22, 2022, to $290.8 as of August 8, 2024, or, a 32% increase. General Dynamics generated $42.3 billion in revenue in 2023, up from $39.4 billion in 2022, or a 7.4% increase.

• Stock from RTX Corporation (RTX), formerly Raytheon Technologies Corporation, peaked at $115.10 on August 8, 2024, rising from $93.62 on February 22, 2022, thus seeing a 23% increase. RTX annual revenue for 2023 was $68.92 billion, a 2.8% increase from 2022 when it generated $67.07 billion.

• Northrop Grumman (NOC) stock started at $394.87 (February 22, 2022) and currently sits at $491.32 (August 8, 2024), rising 24% over the period. The stock peaked at $548.11 on October 24, 2022, but despite losing some of its gains over the past year it is now boasting strong sales growth and is approaching $500. The company's annual revenue for 2023 was $39.29 billion, a 7.3% increase from $36.60 billion in 2022.

• Boeing (BA), in contrast to its peers, has not returned to its pre-COVID level over the past two years and a half despite the militarization bonanza. On February 22, 2022, its stock stood at $205, before dropping sharply in May and again in September 2022; then rebounding to $264.27 on December 11, 2023. As of August 8, 2024, it was valued at $168.87. Boeing has seen a significant drop in its shares amid fraud charges, leadership changes, and million-dollar losses after a series of safety scandals this year. Nonetheless, in 2023, Boeing generated $77.8 billion in revenue, whereas its annual revenue for 2022 was $66.60 billion, marking a 16.2% increase.

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❗️US announces new security package for Ukraine that includes Stinger missiles and more 155 and 135 mm artillery ammunition, according to the White House.

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US military exports skyrocketing as Washington continues to fuel global conflicts PART 1

The US' arms exports have risen dramatically since 2022 and may top $100 billion by the year's end, according to the Pentagon:

▪️in fiscal year (FY) 2022, sales through the government's Foreign Military Sales (FMS) system jumped to $49.7 billion from $34.8 billion in FY2021;

▪️in FY2023, this number rose again to around $66.2 billion;

▪️so far, FMS sales are already above $80 billion for FY2024, as per the Defense Security Cooperation Agency;

Still, the total value of transferred weapons, services and security cooperation activities conducted under the Foreign Military Sales system in FY2023 was $80.9 billion, representing a 55.9% increase from a total of $51.9 billion in FY2022.

In 2024, the US State Department unveiled government-to-government FMS sales for FY2023, which required congressional notification:

Poland:
▪️AH-64E Apache Helicopters - $12 billion;
▪️High mobility artillery rocket systems (HIMARS) - $10 billion;
▪️Integrated air and missile defense (IAMD) battle command systems (IBCS) - $4 billion;
▪️M1A1 Abrams main battle tanks - $3.75 billion.

Germany:
▪️CH-47F Chinook helicopters - $8.5 billion;
▪️AIM-120C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) - $2.9 billion.

Norway:
▪️Defense articles and services related to the MH-60R multi-mission helicopters - $1 billion.

Czech Republic:
▪️F-35 aircraft and munitions - $5.62 billion.

Bulgaria:
▪️Stryker vehicles - $1.5 billion.

Australia:
▪️C-130J-30 aircraft - $6.35 billion.

Canada:
▪️P-8A aircraft - $5.9 billion.

South Korea:
▪️F-35 aircraft - $5.06 billion;
▪️CH-47F Chinook helicopters - $1.5 billion.

Japan:
▪️E-2D advanced Hawkeye (AHE) airborne early warning and control (AEW&C) aircraft - $1.381 billion

Kuwait:
▪️National advanced surface-to-air missile system (NASAMS) medium range air defense systems (MRADS) - $3 billion;
▪️Follow-up technical support - $1.8 billion.

Qatar:
▪️Fixed site-low, slow, small unmanned aircraft system integrated defeat system (FS-LIDS) - $1 billion.

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US military exports skyrocketing as Washington continues to fuel global conflicts PART 2

In addition to that, direct commercial sales (DCS) between foreign nations and US defense contractors jumped from $153.6 billion in FY2022 to $157.5 billion for FY2023. These sales included unspecified military hardware, services and technical data.

The US State Department provided a glimpse on what major DCS Congressional Notifications included in FY2023:

▪️Italy – For the manufacturing of F-35 wing assemblies and sub-assemblies - $2.8 billion;

▪️India – For the manufacturing of GE F414-INS6 engine hardware - $1.8 billion;

▪️Singapore – F100 propulsion system and spare parts - $1.2 billion;

▪️South Korea – F100 propulsion system and spare parts - $1.2 billion;

▪️Norway, Ukraine – National advanced surface to air missile systems (NASAMS) - $1.2 billion;

▪️Saudi Arabia – Patriot guided missile - $1 billion.

Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) highlights that arms exports by the US rose by 17% between 2014–18 and 2019–23. The US share of total global arms exports increased from 34% to 42%. Between 2019 and 2023, the US delivered major arms to 107 states, which was more than the next two biggest exporters combined, as per SIPRI.

▪️The largest share of US arms went to the Middle East (38%), mostly to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar and Israel.

▪️US arms exports to states in Asia and Oceania increased by 14% between 2014–18 and 2019–23; 31% of all US arms exports in 2019–23 went to the region with Japan, South Korea and Australia being the largest buyers.

▪️Europe purchased a total of 28% of US arms exports in 2019–23. US arms exports to the region increased by over 200% between the 2014–18 and 2019–23 periods. Ukraine accounted for 4.7% of all US arms exports and 17% of those to Europe. The institute projects that the US will continue to ramp up military sales in 2024 and beyond, with the focus on combat aircraft, tanks and other armored vehicles, artillery, SAM systems and warships.

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To infinity and beyond: Russia announces tourist flights to the ISS for 2025

Yearning for outer space but confined to the office desk? Look no further! Russia offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go the International Space Station (ISS) for a breathtaking adventure only few in the history of humanity have experienced.

Glavkosmos, part of Russia’s Roscosmos State Corporation, is launching its exciting commercial ISS space flights. The company offers an unforgettable flight on board of the legendary Soyuz MS spacecraft, the world’s most reliable launch vehicle with over 1,000 launches.

Key details:

🔸Scheduled time of launch - 3rd or 4th quarter of 2025;
🔸Launch site - Baikonur Cosmodrome (Kazakhstan);
🔸Travel time to the ISS - 3 hours;
🔸Stay time at the ISS - 10 days;
🔸2 seats available (+1 pro cosmonaut on board).

The program covers:

🔸4-5 months of active preparation;
🔸10 months of extended preparation;
🔸Tailor-made space suit you’ll be able to keep upon return;
🔸A team of pro space explorers to assist during the process.

Safety precautions include:

🔸medical examination for the applicants;
🔸weeks-long training in Moscow region’s Star City in Russian and English;
🔸one-week post-flight rehabilitation under close medical supervision.

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▪️Ukraine's incursion into Russia's Kursk region puts EU energy stability at risk

▪️Ukraine’s attempted incursion into Russia’s Kursk region: What’s known so far

▪️Gaza ceasefire talks: Why does Israel want to sit down despite looming Iran attack?

▪️US military exports skyrocketing as Washington continues to fuel global conflicts

▪️Big Five US arms firms enjoy bonanza as Ukraine and Mideast conflicts rage on

▪️UK cops crack down on social media users while riots threaten to tear Britain apart

▪️When the rich eat the poor: Who is behind eco-activists disrupting common people's life?

▪️To infinity and beyond: Russia announces tourist flights to the ISS for 2025

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Russia has notified the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) about the situation at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant amid Kiev's attempted attack on the region, Russia's permanent mission in Vienna said.

"Russia informed the IAEA about the situation at the Kursk Nuclear Power Plant in light of Ukraine’s attack of the Kursk Region," the mission said in a statement on its Telegram channel.

“On August 8, fragments and remnants - presumably fragments of downed [Ukrainian] missiles - were found at the station, including in the area of the radioactive waste processing complex," the statement read, adding that Ukraine's reckless actions threaten not only the Kursk power plant but put the entire global nuclear industry at risk.

The Kursk region, which borders Ukraine in Russia’s western part, was attacked by about 1,000 Ukrainian troops and scores of armed vehicles on August 6. Russian troops retaliated by stopping the Ukrainian military from penetrating deep into Russian territory.

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What drives Japan’s expansion in Central Asia?

The Central Asia plus Japan summit, a platform used by Tokyo to further its interests and spread its influence in the region, kicked off in Kazakhstan on August 9.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida himself was originally expected to attend the event but ended up canceling the visit amid the threat of a powerful earthquake in Japan.

Some of the issues expected to be discussed at the summit include Tokyo’s possible assistance in creating a new trade route that would link the region with Europe by passing Russia, and declare Japan’s support of the region’s efforts to attain carbon neutrality. The question is, what exactly is Japan’s angle?

▪️Japan’s interest in Central Asia is largely motivated by the abundance of natural resources – such as oil and gas - in the region. The lack of trade routes bypassing Russia or China, which would allow Japan unfettered access to said resources, also drives Tokyo to facilitate the creation of such communications.

▪️Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova observed that Japan appears to ruin the “decades-old system of economic ties” between Russia and the Central Asian states whom Tokyo seeks to ensnare in the Western ideology of a “’rules-based order’ that has a clearly anti-Russian and anti-Chinese subtext”.

▪️Japan’s growing influence in Central Asia may also undermine Russia’s cooperation with the countries in the region, which would likely be regarded as beneficial by Western powers who are also trying to do the same. Earlier this month, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell visited Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan in a bid to drive a wedge between Russia and these two countries. Meanwhile, the United States is pushing for creating a new trade route from Central Asia to Europe that would bypass Russia and China.

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From the 737 MAX to the stars — or at least trying...

Boeing's troubles have reached a whole new orbit! After a string of grounded flights and emergency landings, you’d think things couldn’t get worse for the aviation giant. But with astronauts now stranded in space thanks to Starliner's 'out-of-this-world' issues, Boeing seems determined to prove that its problems really know no bounds.

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