超级军网翻译，一篇关于BAE系统公司的报导
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BAE Systems
BAE 系统公司
Big And Expensive?
又大又贵的BAE？
May 3rd 2007
From The Economist print edition
Winner takes all
赢家通吃
BAE Systems
EVEN as the admirals, generals and air marshals who run Britain's armed forces tussle over defence spending, one clear winner has already emerged: BAE Systems, the country's largest defence contractor. Whatever Britain eventually decides to splurge on—be it more Typhoon jet fighters, aircraft carriers or armoured cars—BAE is likely to be a key supplier. For many products BAE is the only game in town.
虽然当下领导英国海陆空武装力量的将军元帅们正在为国防预算捉对厮杀，有一个赢家却早已经浮出了水面：那就是英国最大的防务承包商，BAE系统公司。无论英国最终决定在什么项目上一掷千金——台风是战斗机也好，航空母舰也好，装甲战车也好——BAE都会成为主要的武器供应商。在很多军火项目上BAE都是该国唯一的竞标者。
There was a time when this would have caused no end of concern. On the second floor of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the civil servants who kit out the armed forces quip that the firm's name stands for Big And Expensive, and with some justification. In 2003 the National Audit Office (NAO), a government watchdog, reckoned that Britain's biggest defence projects (most of which were managed by BAE) were on average 18 months late and £3 billion ($4.9 billion) over budget. Now enthusiasm reigns, for BAE's performance seems to be improving.
曾几何时英国防务市场的这一垄断现象引来了无穷的质疑。在英国国防部（MOD）的二楼，国防部的公务员们将这家的名字讽刺为又大又贵（英语Big And Expensive，译者注），这个诨名起得倒是有几分道理。2003年政府监督机构，英国国家审计署审计结果显示，英国最大的几个国防项目（大多数由BAE负责管理）平均延期18个月超过预算平均30亿英镑（49亿美元）。如今国防部和BAE之间又找回了往日的激情，这也许是因为BAE的表现看起来有所进步。
One reason is a new procurement regime. A white paper published almost 18 months ago repaired a fractious relationship between the MOD and BAE, promising to reward the firm for future good behaviour and ending the seemingly interminable squabbles over who was to blame for weapons that came late and over-budget. The government used to make defence firms submit competitive fixed-price bids. It is now passing work to BAE under new partnering arrangements that leave the state with more of the risk.
其中的原因之一是新的采购政策。大约18个月前发布的一份白皮书要求，修复了MOD和BAE之间一触即发的紧张关系，白皮书承诺将对BAE未来的优秀表现进行奖励，同时结束有关谁该为延期交货和预算超支负责的永无止尽的争吵。政府过去是让防务公司提交具有竞争力的固定出价。而在新的合作安排下，它现在将价格评定的工作转交给BAE，而将更多的风险留给了国家。
BAE is also set to get a bigger share of Britain's defence spending than its current two-thirds. Lord Drayson, the defence-procurement minister, is pressing for consolidation in the industry. In shipbuilding, for instance, he wants a merger of BAE's shipyards with those of VT, another defence firm, to eliminate excess capacity.
BAE也从英国政府的防务支出中获得了更多的份额，超过了现在三分之二的比例。国防采办大臣Drayson爵士正在推动这一产业的合并。比如在造船业，他就希望BAE船厂能够与另一家防务企业VT（Vosper Thornycroft）合并，以去除过剩的产能。
The new approach requires defence firms to pull up their socks. Until now the MOD allocated each contract on the merits of the specific bids for it. Now, a contractor that delivers late, goes over-budget or builds things that don't work on one contract will have trouble winning another, however attractive its tender.
新的采购方案使得防务公司们必须打起精神。直到现在为止，国防部决定防务合同的归属还只是根据该次投标中每家企业的出价来订。从今往后，如果防务承包商延迟交付，超过预算或者交付的产品与合同要求不符的，那下次竞标时，无论它的条件如何诱人，都很难再取得项目。
BAE's ability to deliver quickly has also been spurred on by the pressures of war. In peacetime contractors and civil servants can get away with tinkering for years with the design of a new gun, but quicker results are needed when soldiers are getting shot at. Since British troops were deployed in Afghanistan in 2001, the services have been given greater leeway to bypass bureaucracy and buy things fast, from BAE and other defence manufacturers. The NAO reckons that two-thirds of such streamlined purchases delivered kit on time, a far higher proportion than before.
战争也刺激了BAE的交货速度。在和平时期，承包商和公务员们可以花上几年时间对某一新武器的设计修修补补，而在士兵们遭受枪林弹雨的状态下人们需要更快地得出结果。从2001年英军进驻阿富汗起，国防服务方面去摒弃了很多的官僚作风提高了自BAE和其他防务生产商的采购速度。据英国国家审计署审计，改革之后，三分之二的采购做到了按时交付，这比以前的水平要高得多了。
Signs that BAE is shaking off a reputation for inept project management can be seen both in its home market, where cost overruns and delays are falling, and in export markets. BAE makes almost 40% of its sales in America now and its prospects in other countries look promising. Mike Turner, the firm's chief executive, reckons that the new Typhoon fighter, for instance, may win sales of as much as £60 billion, topping the £43 billion that BAE made from earlier sales of jet fighters to Saudi Arabia.
有迹象表明，BAE正在摆脱不称职承包商的恶名，在国内市场上它的超预算和工程延期的情况都在下降，在海外市场也是如此。BAE现在40%的销售额在美国市场，而它在其他市场上的前景也很乐观。公司的首席执行官Mike Turner预计，新的台风式战机将带来600亿英镑的销售额，超过之前对沙特阿拉伯430亿英镑的战机销售记录。
But future sales may be threatened, and from just that quarter. BAE has struggled to shake accusations (consistently denied) that it has paid bribes to win orders. It is under investigation in Britain and Sweden for deals in Tanzania, South Africa and the Czech Republic. Last year Britain halted a probe into allegations that BAE had bribed Saudi Arabians, citing security concerns. Among those protesting against the move are the OECD, the rich-country club whose members including Britain have signed a protocol against bribery, and America, which is now BAE's biggest customer.
不过，未来的销售可能将受到威胁，这一威胁就从该季度开始。BAE努力摆脱（像往常一样彻底否认）曾经为了得到项目而行贿的指控。英国和瑞典正在调查它与坦桑尼亚、南非和捷克共和国之间的合同。去年，英国以涉及国防安全为由阻止了一个关于BAE向沙特政府行贿的调查升格为指控。对此的抗议者中包括OECD（经济合作暨发展组织，简称经合组织，译者注）成员国，这一包括英国的富国俱乐部的成员们签署过一个反行贿公约，签约国中也包括BAE最大的客户，美国政府。
此文首发于www.ecocn.org，英文内容权益属于The Economist杂志，译文权益属译者和www.ecocn.org，转贴请注明出处。BAE Systems
BAE 系统公司
Big And Expensive?
又大又贵的BAE？
May 3rd 2007
From The Economist print edition
Winner takes all
赢家通吃
BAE Systems
EVEN as the admirals, generals and air marshals who run Britain's armed forces tussle over defence spending, one clear winner has already emerged: BAE Systems, the country's largest defence contractor. Whatever Britain eventually decides to splurge on—be it more Typhoon jet fighters, aircraft carriers or armoured cars—BAE is likely to be a key supplier. For many products BAE is the only game in town.
虽然当下领导英国海陆空武装力量的将军元帅们正在为国防预算捉对厮杀，有一个赢家却早已经浮出了水面：那就是英国最大的防务承包商，BAE系统公司。无论英国最终决定在什么项目上一掷千金——台风是战斗机也好，航空母舰也好，装甲战车也好——BAE都会成为主要的武器供应商。在很多军火项目上BAE都是该国唯一的竞标者。
There was a time when this would have caused no end of concern. On the second floor of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the civil servants who kit out the armed forces quip that the firm's name stands for Big And Expensive, and with some justification. In 2003 the National Audit Office (NAO), a government watchdog, reckoned that Britain's biggest defence projects (most of which were managed by BAE) were on average 18 months late and £3 billion ($4.9 billion) over budget. Now enthusiasm reigns, for BAE's performance seems to be improving.
曾几何时英国防务市场的这一垄断现象引来了无穷的质疑。在英国国防部（MOD）的二楼，国防部的公务员们将这家的名字讽刺为又大又贵（英语Big And Expensive，译者注），这个诨名起得倒是有几分道理。2003年政府监督机构，英国国家审计署审计结果显示，英国最大的几个国防项目（大多数由BAE负责管理）平均延期18个月超过预算平均30亿英镑（49亿美元）。如今国防部和BAE之间又找回了往日的激情，这也许是因为BAE的表现看起来有所进步。
One reason is a new procurement regime. A white paper published almost 18 months ago repaired a fractious relationship between the MOD and BAE, promising to reward the firm for future good behaviour and ending the seemingly interminable squabbles over who was to blame for weapons that came late and over-budget. The government used to make defence firms submit competitive fixed-price bids. It is now passing work to BAE under new partnering arrangements that leave the state with more of the risk.
其中的原因之一是新的采购政策。大约18个月前发布的一份白皮书要求，修复了MOD和BAE之间一触即发的紧张关系，白皮书承诺将对BAE未来的优秀表现进行奖励，同时结束有关谁该为延期交货和预算超支负责的永无止尽的争吵。政府过去是让防务公司提交具有竞争力的固定出价。而在新的合作安排下，它现在将价格评定的工作转交给BAE，而将更多的风险留给了国家。
BAE is also set to get a bigger share of Britain's defence spending than its current two-thirds. Lord Drayson, the defence-procurement minister, is pressing for consolidation in the industry. In shipbuilding, for instance, he wants a merger of BAE's shipyards with those of VT, another defence firm, to eliminate excess capacity.
BAE也从英国政府的防务支出中获得了更多的份额，超过了现在三分之二的比例。国防采办大臣Drayson爵士正在推动这一产业的合并。比如在造船业，他就希望BAE船厂能够与另一家防务企业VT（Vosper Thornycroft）合并，以去除过剩的产能。
The new approach requires defence firms to pull up their socks. Until now the MOD allocated each contract on the merits of the specific bids for it. Now, a contractor that delivers late, goes over-budget or builds things that don't work on one contract will have trouble winning another, however attractive its tender.
新的采购方案使得防务公司们必须打起精神。直到现在为止，国防部决定防务合同的归属还只是根据该次投标中每家企业的出价来订。从今往后，如果防务承包商延迟交付，超过预算或者交付的产品与合同要求不符的，那下次竞标时，无论它的条件如何诱人，都很难再取得项目。
BAE's ability to deliver quickly has also been spurred on by the pressures of war. In peacetime contractors and civil servants can get away with tinkering for years with the design of a new gun, but quicker results are needed when soldiers are getting shot at. Since British troops were deployed in Afghanistan in 2001, the services have been given greater leeway to bypass bureaucracy and buy things fast, from BAE and other defence manufacturers. The NAO reckons that two-thirds of such streamlined purchases delivered kit on time, a far higher proportion than before.
战争也刺激了BAE的交货速度。在和平时期，承包商和公务员们可以花上几年时间对某一新武器的设计修修补补，而在士兵们遭受枪林弹雨的状态下人们需要更快地得出结果。从2001年英军进驻阿富汗起，国防服务方面去摒弃了很多的官僚作风提高了自BAE和其他防务生产商的采购速度。据英国国家审计署审计，改革之后，三分之二的采购做到了按时交付，这比以前的水平要高得多了。
Signs that BAE is shaking off a reputation for inept project management can be seen both in its home market, where cost overruns and delays are falling, and in export markets. BAE makes almost 40% of its sales in America now and its prospects in other countries look promising. Mike Turner, the firm's chief executive, reckons that the new Typhoon fighter, for instance, may win sales of as much as £60 billion, topping the £43 billion that BAE made from earlier sales of jet fighters to Saudi Arabia.
有迹象表明，BAE正在摆脱不称职承包商的恶名，在国内市场上它的超预算和工程延期的情况都在下降，在海外市场也是如此。BAE现在40%的销售额在美国市场，而它在其他市场上的前景也很乐观。公司的首席执行官Mike Turner预计，新的台风式战机将带来600亿英镑的销售额，超过之前对沙特阿拉伯430亿英镑的战机销售记录。
But future sales may be threatened, and from just that quarter. BAE has struggled to shake accusations (consistently denied) that it has paid bribes to win orders. It is under investigation in Britain and Sweden for deals in Tanzania, South Africa and the Czech Republic. Last year Britain halted a probe into allegations that BAE had bribed Saudi Arabians, citing security concerns. Among those protesting against the move are the OECD, the rich-country club whose members including Britain have signed a protocol against bribery, and America, which is now BAE's biggest customer.
不过，未来的销售可能将受到威胁，这一威胁就从该季度开始。BAE努力摆脱（像往常一样彻底否认）曾经为了得到项目而行贿的指控。英国和瑞典正在调查它与坦桑尼亚、南非和捷克共和国之间的合同。去年，英国以涉及国防安全为由阻止了一个关于BAE向沙特政府行贿的调查升格为指控。对此的抗议者中包括OECD（经济合作暨发展组织，简称经合组织，译者注）成员国，这一包括英国的富国俱乐部的成员们签署过一个反行贿公约，签约国中也包括BAE最大的客户，美国政府。
此文首发于www.ecocn.org，英文内容权益属于The Economist杂志，译文权益属译者和www.ecocn.org，转贴请注明出处。
BAE 系统公司
Big And Expensive?
又大又贵的BAE？
May 3rd 2007
From The Economist print edition
Winner takes all
赢家通吃
BAE Systems
EVEN as the admirals, generals and air marshals who run Britain's armed forces tussle over defence spending, one clear winner has already emerged: BAE Systems, the country's largest defence contractor. Whatever Britain eventually decides to splurge on—be it more Typhoon jet fighters, aircraft carriers or armoured cars—BAE is likely to be a key supplier. For many products BAE is the only game in town.
虽然当下领导英国海陆空武装力量的将军元帅们正在为国防预算捉对厮杀，有一个赢家却早已经浮出了水面：那就是英国最大的防务承包商，BAE系统公司。无论英国最终决定在什么项目上一掷千金——台风是战斗机也好，航空母舰也好，装甲战车也好——BAE都会成为主要的武器供应商。在很多军火项目上BAE都是该国唯一的竞标者。
There was a time when this would have caused no end of concern. On the second floor of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the civil servants who kit out the armed forces quip that the firm's name stands for Big And Expensive, and with some justification. In 2003 the National Audit Office (NAO), a government watchdog, reckoned that Britain's biggest defence projects (most of which were managed by BAE) were on average 18 months late and £3 billion ($4.9 billion) over budget. Now enthusiasm reigns, for BAE's performance seems to be improving.
曾几何时英国防务市场的这一垄断现象引来了无穷的质疑。在英国国防部（MOD）的二楼，国防部的公务员们将这家的名字讽刺为又大又贵（英语Big And Expensive，译者注），这个诨名起得倒是有几分道理。2003年政府监督机构，英国国家审计署审计结果显示，英国最大的几个国防项目（大多数由BAE负责管理）平均延期18个月超过预算平均30亿英镑（49亿美元）。如今国防部和BAE之间又找回了往日的激情，这也许是因为BAE的表现看起来有所进步。
One reason is a new procurement regime. A white paper published almost 18 months ago repaired a fractious relationship between the MOD and BAE, promising to reward the firm for future good behaviour and ending the seemingly interminable squabbles over who was to blame for weapons that came late and over-budget. The government used to make defence firms submit competitive fixed-price bids. It is now passing work to BAE under new partnering arrangements that leave the state with more of the risk.
其中的原因之一是新的采购政策。大约18个月前发布的一份白皮书要求，修复了MOD和BAE之间一触即发的紧张关系，白皮书承诺将对BAE未来的优秀表现进行奖励，同时结束有关谁该为延期交货和预算超支负责的永无止尽的争吵。政府过去是让防务公司提交具有竞争力的固定出价。而在新的合作安排下，它现在将价格评定的工作转交给BAE，而将更多的风险留给了国家。
BAE is also set to get a bigger share of Britain's defence spending than its current two-thirds. Lord Drayson, the defence-procurement minister, is pressing for consolidation in the industry. In shipbuilding, for instance, he wants a merger of BAE's shipyards with those of VT, another defence firm, to eliminate excess capacity.
BAE也从英国政府的防务支出中获得了更多的份额，超过了现在三分之二的比例。国防采办大臣Drayson爵士正在推动这一产业的合并。比如在造船业，他就希望BAE船厂能够与另一家防务企业VT（Vosper Thornycroft）合并，以去除过剩的产能。
The new approach requires defence firms to pull up their socks. Until now the MOD allocated each contract on the merits of the specific bids for it. Now, a contractor that delivers late, goes over-budget or builds things that don't work on one contract will have trouble winning another, however attractive its tender.
新的采购方案使得防务公司们必须打起精神。直到现在为止，国防部决定防务合同的归属还只是根据该次投标中每家企业的出价来订。从今往后，如果防务承包商延迟交付，超过预算或者交付的产品与合同要求不符的，那下次竞标时，无论它的条件如何诱人，都很难再取得项目。
BAE's ability to deliver quickly has also been spurred on by the pressures of war. In peacetime contractors and civil servants can get away with tinkering for years with the design of a new gun, but quicker results are needed when soldiers are getting shot at. Since British troops were deployed in Afghanistan in 2001, the services have been given greater leeway to bypass bureaucracy and buy things fast, from BAE and other defence manufacturers. The NAO reckons that two-thirds of such streamlined purchases delivered kit on time, a far higher proportion than before.
战争也刺激了BAE的交货速度。在和平时期，承包商和公务员们可以花上几年时间对某一新武器的设计修修补补，而在士兵们遭受枪林弹雨的状态下人们需要更快地得出结果。从2001年英军进驻阿富汗起，国防服务方面去摒弃了很多的官僚作风提高了自BAE和其他防务生产商的采购速度。据英国国家审计署审计，改革之后，三分之二的采购做到了按时交付，这比以前的水平要高得多了。
Signs that BAE is shaking off a reputation for inept project management can be seen both in its home market, where cost overruns and delays are falling, and in export markets. BAE makes almost 40% of its sales in America now and its prospects in other countries look promising. Mike Turner, the firm's chief executive, reckons that the new Typhoon fighter, for instance, may win sales of as much as £60 billion, topping the £43 billion that BAE made from earlier sales of jet fighters to Saudi Arabia.
有迹象表明，BAE正在摆脱不称职承包商的恶名，在国内市场上它的超预算和工程延期的情况都在下降，在海外市场也是如此。BAE现在40%的销售额在美国市场，而它在其他市场上的前景也很乐观。公司的首席执行官Mike Turner预计，新的台风式战机将带来600亿英镑的销售额，超过之前对沙特阿拉伯430亿英镑的战机销售记录。
But future sales may be threatened, and from just that quarter. BAE has struggled to shake accusations (consistently denied) that it has paid bribes to win orders. It is under investigation in Britain and Sweden for deals in Tanzania, South Africa and the Czech Republic. Last year Britain halted a probe into allegations that BAE had bribed Saudi Arabians, citing security concerns. Among those protesting against the move are the OECD, the rich-country club whose members including Britain have signed a protocol against bribery, and America, which is now BAE's biggest customer.
不过，未来的销售可能将受到威胁，这一威胁就从该季度开始。BAE努力摆脱（像往常一样彻底否认）曾经为了得到项目而行贿的指控。英国和瑞典正在调查它与坦桑尼亚、南非和捷克共和国之间的合同。去年，英国以涉及国防安全为由阻止了一个关于BAE向沙特政府行贿的调查升格为指控。对此的抗议者中包括OECD（经济合作暨发展组织，简称经合组织，译者注）成员国，这一包括英国的富国俱乐部的成员们签署过一个反行贿公约，签约国中也包括BAE最大的客户，美国政府。
此文首发于www.ecocn.org，英文内容权益属于The Economist杂志，译文权益属译者和www.ecocn.org，转贴请注明出处。BAE Systems
BAE 系统公司
Big And Expensive?
又大又贵的BAE？
May 3rd 2007
From The Economist print edition
Winner takes all
赢家通吃
BAE Systems
EVEN as the admirals, generals and air marshals who run Britain's armed forces tussle over defence spending, one clear winner has already emerged: BAE Systems, the country's largest defence contractor. Whatever Britain eventually decides to splurge on—be it more Typhoon jet fighters, aircraft carriers or armoured cars—BAE is likely to be a key supplier. For many products BAE is the only game in town.
虽然当下领导英国海陆空武装力量的将军元帅们正在为国防预算捉对厮杀，有一个赢家却早已经浮出了水面：那就是英国最大的防务承包商，BAE系统公司。无论英国最终决定在什么项目上一掷千金——台风是战斗机也好，航空母舰也好，装甲战车也好——BAE都会成为主要的武器供应商。在很多军火项目上BAE都是该国唯一的竞标者。
There was a time when this would have caused no end of concern. On the second floor of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), the civil servants who kit out the armed forces quip that the firm's name stands for Big And Expensive, and with some justification. In 2003 the National Audit Office (NAO), a government watchdog, reckoned that Britain's biggest defence projects (most of which were managed by BAE) were on average 18 months late and £3 billion ($4.9 billion) over budget. Now enthusiasm reigns, for BAE's performance seems to be improving.
曾几何时英国防务市场的这一垄断现象引来了无穷的质疑。在英国国防部（MOD）的二楼，国防部的公务员们将这家的名字讽刺为又大又贵（英语Big And Expensive，译者注），这个诨名起得倒是有几分道理。2003年政府监督机构，英国国家审计署审计结果显示，英国最大的几个国防项目（大多数由BAE负责管理）平均延期18个月超过预算平均30亿英镑（49亿美元）。如今国防部和BAE之间又找回了往日的激情，这也许是因为BAE的表现看起来有所进步。
One reason is a new procurement regime. A white paper published almost 18 months ago repaired a fractious relationship between the MOD and BAE, promising to reward the firm for future good behaviour and ending the seemingly interminable squabbles over who was to blame for weapons that came late and over-budget. The government used to make defence firms submit competitive fixed-price bids. It is now passing work to BAE under new partnering arrangements that leave the state with more of the risk.
其中的原因之一是新的采购政策。大约18个月前发布的一份白皮书要求，修复了MOD和BAE之间一触即发的紧张关系，白皮书承诺将对BAE未来的优秀表现进行奖励，同时结束有关谁该为延期交货和预算超支负责的永无止尽的争吵。政府过去是让防务公司提交具有竞争力的固定出价。而在新的合作安排下，它现在将价格评定的工作转交给BAE，而将更多的风险留给了国家。
BAE is also set to get a bigger share of Britain's defence spending than its current two-thirds. Lord Drayson, the defence-procurement minister, is pressing for consolidation in the industry. In shipbuilding, for instance, he wants a merger of BAE's shipyards with those of VT, another defence firm, to eliminate excess capacity.
BAE也从英国政府的防务支出中获得了更多的份额，超过了现在三分之二的比例。国防采办大臣Drayson爵士正在推动这一产业的合并。比如在造船业，他就希望BAE船厂能够与另一家防务企业VT（Vosper Thornycroft）合并，以去除过剩的产能。
The new approach requires defence firms to pull up their socks. Until now the MOD allocated each contract on the merits of the specific bids for it. Now, a contractor that delivers late, goes over-budget or builds things that don't work on one contract will have trouble winning another, however attractive its tender.
新的采购方案使得防务公司们必须打起精神。直到现在为止，国防部决定防务合同的归属还只是根据该次投标中每家企业的出价来订。从今往后，如果防务承包商延迟交付，超过预算或者交付的产品与合同要求不符的，那下次竞标时，无论它的条件如何诱人，都很难再取得项目。
BAE's ability to deliver quickly has also been spurred on by the pressures of war. In peacetime contractors and civil servants can get away with tinkering for years with the design of a new gun, but quicker results are needed when soldiers are getting shot at. Since British troops were deployed in Afghanistan in 2001, the services have been given greater leeway to bypass bureaucracy and buy things fast, from BAE and other defence manufacturers. The NAO reckons that two-thirds of such streamlined purchases delivered kit on time, a far higher proportion than before.
战争也刺激了BAE的交货速度。在和平时期，承包商和公务员们可以花上几年时间对某一新武器的设计修修补补，而在士兵们遭受枪林弹雨的状态下人们需要更快地得出结果。从2001年英军进驻阿富汗起，国防服务方面去摒弃了很多的官僚作风提高了自BAE和其他防务生产商的采购速度。据英国国家审计署审计，改革之后，三分之二的采购做到了按时交付，这比以前的水平要高得多了。
Signs that BAE is shaking off a reputation for inept project management can be seen both in its home market, where cost overruns and delays are falling, and in export markets. BAE makes almost 40% of its sales in America now and its prospects in other countries look promising. Mike Turner, the firm's chief executive, reckons that the new Typhoon fighter, for instance, may win sales of as much as £60 billion, topping the £43 billion that BAE made from earlier sales of jet fighters to Saudi Arabia.
有迹象表明，BAE正在摆脱不称职承包商的恶名，在国内市场上它的超预算和工程延期的情况都在下降，在海外市场也是如此。BAE现在40%的销售额在美国市场，而它在其他市场上的前景也很乐观。公司的首席执行官Mike Turner预计，新的台风式战机将带来600亿英镑的销售额，超过之前对沙特阿拉伯430亿英镑的战机销售记录。
But future sales may be threatened, and from just that quarter. BAE has struggled to shake accusations (consistently denied) that it has paid bribes to win orders. It is under investigation in Britain and Sweden for deals in Tanzania, South Africa and the Czech Republic. Last year Britain halted a probe into allegations that BAE had bribed Saudi Arabians, citing security concerns. Among those protesting against the move are the OECD, the rich-country club whose members including Britain have signed a protocol against bribery, and America, which is now BAE's biggest customer.
不过，未来的销售可能将受到威胁，这一威胁就从该季度开始。BAE努力摆脱（像往常一样彻底否认）曾经为了得到项目而行贿的指控。英国和瑞典正在调查它与坦桑尼亚、南非和捷克共和国之间的合同。去年，英国以涉及国防安全为由阻止了一个关于BAE向沙特政府行贿的调查升格为指控。对此的抗议者中包括OECD（经济合作暨发展组织，简称经合组织，译者注）成员国，这一包括英国的富国俱乐部的成员们签署过一个反行贿公约，签约国中也包括BAE最大的客户，美国政府。
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果然沉了。自己顶。坛子上哪位学霸了解BAE的？出来科普一下吧。