News release: “The total arms sales (including sales of military services) of the SIPRI Top 100 maintained their upward trend in 2010, although at 1 per cent in real terms, the increase was much slower than in 2009. Over the period since 2002, the increase has been 60 per cent in real terms. Arms-producing and military services companies from North America and Western Europe once again dominated the list (which however does not include China-based companies). Sales by the 44 US-based companies accounted for over 60 per cent of all arms sales by the Top 100 arms-producing companies in 2010. The 30 companies based in Western Europe accounted for a further 29 per cent. The global arms industry continues to be highly concentrated, with the top 10 arms-producing companies accounting for 56 per cent, or $230 billion, of total Top 100 arms sales. ‘The data for 2010 demonstrates, once again, the major players’ ability to continue selling arms and military services despite the financial crises currently affecting other industries,’ states SIPRI arms industry expert Dr Susan Jackson. ‘To take one example, OshKosh Corporation had a 156 per cent increase in arms sales in 2010 after winning the M-ATV (MRAP all-terrain vehicles) contract. In other cases, change is likely, not due to the financial crisis but rather because of the withdrawal of foreign troops from Iraq and the subsequent expected decrease in related equipment sales.’”