U.S. government approvals for major arms sales have reached $47 billion this year following a $15 billion order for the THAAD missile system from Saudi Arabia. That’s 64% higher than a year earlier, though half of last year’s sales came in the week before the November elections. Most orders are long-term in nature though, with actual exports yet to recover. While exports of military aircraft climbed 56% in August on a year earlier, they are still 35% lower year-to-date. Exports of weapons and vehicles are doing better, with the result that the year-to-August export total of $7.1 billion ...