International sales offset weak US defense spending at Boeing

International sales are increasingly compensating for weak U.S. defense spending at Boeing, reports Aviation Week.

International customers account for 41 percent of Boeing's backlog of defense aircraft orders and 24 percent of the company's Defense, Space and Security’s (BDS) backlog, according to a 2012 earnings call on Jan. 30.

Defense revenues were up 2 percent to $32.6 billion in contrast to $49.1 billion for commercial aircraft, the story said.

However, lower earnings on the Ground-based Midcourse Defense program and various other satellite programs contributed to a 12 percent drop in 2012 revenues for BDS’ Network and Space Systems unit, the story said.