The private military services industry

The trend towards increased outsourcing of military activities has led to a rapid expansion of the military services segment of the arms industry in recent decades. This paper discusses the background to the growth of the military services industry and presents an overview of the different types of military service, the size of the market and the companies involved. The continuing expansion of the private military services industry raises many issues. The view that outsourcing is economically efficient can be challenged on a number of grounds, not least when these services are provided in operationally deployed contexts. The involvement of private companies in assisting military operations in armed conflict situations such as Iraq also raises serious concerns about the democratic accountability of armed forces, the status of civilian contractors in military roles, and the political influence of companies that have a vested interest in the continuation of the conflict.