Crossword Genius

Fastest guns to win this international competition? (4,4)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

arms race

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'competition?' is the definition.
(arms race is a kind of competition)

'fastest guns to win this international' is the wordplay.
I cannot really understand how this works, but
'guns' could be 'arms' (I've seen this in another clue) and 'arms' is located in the answer.
The remaining letters 'race' is a valid word which might be clued in a way I don't understand.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for arms race that I've seen before include "dangerous situation escalating" , "Weapon competition" , "Potentially dangerous competition" , "Weaponry competition" , "military competition" .)

I've seen this clue in The Times.
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