The U.S. Department of Defense says the country’s overseas weapons sales are expected to stand at about 60-billion dollars this year, which is double the amount recorded in 2008.

Deputy Director Richard Genaille of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said during a press conference in Washington that exports of American weapons posted 50-billion dollars on May fourth since the start of the calendar year. He added that, at the current pace, that figure is expected to reach the 60-million dollar mark by the end of the year.

Genaille said that countries around the world are increasingly purchasing U.S.-made surveillance and reconnaissance equipment such as fighter jets, attack helicopters and drones.

U.S. munitions companies are said to be increasingly looking overseas for their business in order to complement an anticipated drop in revenue at home, as defense budgets are expected to be cut by at least 450 billion dollars over the next decade.