As part of its commitment to the region the US-ASEAN Business Council established the Aerospace, Defense & Security in 2002. Under the leadership of Northrop Grumman, the committee gives particular focus to building broader and deeper support for U.S. industry market development efforts in a range of ASEAN’s defense and security markets. The committee also provides a vehicle for a range of U.S. companies with defense and security-related products and services to promote a balanced mutual security agenda with economic growth, trade and development by creating formal channels of dialogue, informal communication, and partnering opportunities with key US and ASEAN decision-makers.
The coming years promises to bring opportunities for members in growth segments of the defense and “homeland” security industries. Defense budgets in Southeast Asia are projected to continue to grow at 10% annually. Southeast Asia will remain one of the most competitive defense markets in the world. Southeast Asian nations are changing their defense postures and modernization programs as economic growth offers the opportunity for larger military budgets. As tensions in the South China Sea affect regional stability, ASEAN countries have focused particularly on maritime domain awareness and anti-access/area denial capabilities.
As members of the Council, companies within the Aerospace, Defense & Security have a collection of world class capabilities, technologies and a commitment to ASEAN.
The Committee stands ready to work with ASEAN on its defense, homeland and trade security agendas and the Aerospace, Defense & Security companies' work towards the following objectives:
- Establishing lines of communications between the US private sector companies and key defense and security decision makers in ASEAN.
- Deepening our understanding of each nation's perspective on their defense and security priorities, goals, objectives and challenges.
- Exploring ways of collectively promoting greater cooperation between US defense and security related companies and each nation.
- Focusing on exploring the strategic goals and capabilities of key non-ASEAN actors who affect the security environment, including China, Japan, India, Taiwan, the Korea Peninsula, Australia, and New Zealand.