Washington, June 11 (AFP) The United States plans to export USD 46.1 billion in weapons this year, nearly doubling its 2010 figures, officials said.

During the fiscal year 2011, which ends September 30, Washington expects the sales of equipment and military services through its Foreign Military Sales process.

About 79 percent of these exports are financed by client countries and organisations, with the remainder funded by US aid programs.

US military equipment sales, confined to about USD 10 billion in the early 2000s, tripled to around USD 30 billion after 2005.

"From 2005 to 2010, we have delivered through the Foreign Military Sales process USD 96 billion worth of equipment, goods and services to partner countries," said Defence Security Cooperation Agency Director Vice Admiral William Landay.

Ten years ago, clients were most interested in purchasing material at the lowest cost, even if that meant spacing out deliveries, he explained.