How U.S. defense companies are gearing up to arm new Asian buyers

U.S. defense companies are confident that sales to east and south Asian countries will more than offset declines in purchases amid retrenching defense budgets in Europe and the U.S. over the next few years.

While potential orders for high-tech drones, anti-missile systems and new-generation fighter jets have the group’s members salivating, a key interest will be opening new markets. Already India, which only made its first significant U.S. arms purchase in 2008 with an order for six C-130 cargo planes, last year become the second-biggest customer for U.S. defense systems.

Two potential new markets beckon in the region: Vietnam and Myanmar.

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