“Emerging countries in need of modernizing their weaponry are rushing to buy state-of-the-art fighter jets, sparking a fierce marketing battle among the world’s major defense contractors with government leaders even serving as pitchmen,” Nikkei Asian Review reports.

“French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian hinted on a TV show last Thursday that India and Persian Gulf nations will pick French fighters soon. Later that day, U.K. firm BAE Systems announced that the Eurofighter Typhoon combat jet is no longer being considered for adoption as the next-generation fighter by the United Arab Emirates. France’s Rafale jet, made by Dassault, and America’s Boeing F/A-18 Super Hornet remain in the running.”

“The UAE plans to buy 60 new fighters to replace its aging fleet, a deal estimated to be worth as much as $10 billion. Last month, Le Drian and British Prime Minister David Cameron visited the Middle Eastern country apparently to promote commercial diplomacy.”