Russia’s arms exports have collapsed by 92% amid its war in Ukraine. However, not all countries suffer plummeting defense exports due to war.
Israel has sold more weapons to other countries in 2024 than ever, even as it fought on multiple fronts in the longest war in its history.
The country fought in Gaza and conducted air strikes and special military operations in Syria, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen. Tel Aviv also faced global isolation and mounting international pressure to end its war in Gaza.
However, despite the war on multiple fronts and increasing diplomatic isolation, the country witnessed record arms sales.
In 2024, Israel’s defense exports reached a record US$14.8 billion, breaking the previous high of US$13 billion in 2023, according to new data from Israel’s Defense Ministry. The country recorded a healthy 13% year-on-year growth in weapons sales, clearly establishing that its defense exports are insulated from its rising criticism and isolation at the global stage due to its ongoing war in Gaza and allegations of human rights abuse and even genocide.
“This is the highest figure ever recorded and the fourth consecutive year in which a new record was set for Israel’s defense exports,” the Israeli defense ministry said.
Israel’s rising arms sales amid its longest war are in stark contrast to Russia, where defense exports have been shattered amid the war in Ukraine. The data shows that Israel might have expanded into some former Russian arms export markets.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) calculated that Russian arms exports decreased by half in the period from 2019 to 2023 compared with the previous five-year period.
Other estimates have painted an even starker picture. According to The Jamestown Foundation, Russia’s arms exports dropped by 92 percent from 2021 to 2024 due to redirected resources for Ukraine, sanctions, inflation, and funding issues.
As Russia loses its legacy defense export markets in Asia, from India to Arab countries, Israel has stepped up to fill the vacuum.
The Markets For Israeli Weapons
According to the data, Europe is the largest market for Israeli arms exports, accounting for as much as 54% of Israel’s defense exports. In 2023, Europe accounted for 35% of Israeli arms exports.
In 2024, European states bought nearly US$8 billion worth of Israeli military products, compared to US$4.6 billion in 2023, according to the Ministry of Defense.
Here again, Russia’s war in Ukraine might have helped the Israeli defense industry, as Europe is boosting its defense spending and looking to replenish its diminishing military stockpiles.
Israel’s historic deal with Germany for the Arrow 3 air defense system contributed a major chunk of these arms sales. The Israel Aerospace Industries signed a US$3.8 billion agreement with Germany for the Arrow 3 missile defense system, marking the largest defense deal in Israeli history.
Notably, Israeli arms sales to Europe increased despite the fact that many European countries are openly criticizing Israel’s campaign in Gaza, now in its 20th month. Israeli firms were excluded from several major European defense exhibitions last year.
Besides, some countries have also halted previously signed defense contracts.
Earlier this week, Spain’s Defense Ministry said it had canceled a US$325 million deal for anti-tank missiles built by a subsidiary of Israel’s government-owned Rafael Advanced Defense Systems as part of a “gradual disconnection of Israeli technology,” the New York Times reported.
Previously, Spain had also canceled a US$6.6 million ammunition deal with Elbit Systems.
However, despite these setbacks, Europe remains an important market for Israeli weapons.
Notably, Israel is the second-largest arms exporter to the UK and Germany. According to SIPRI, during the period from 2020 to 2024, Israel supplied 13% of Germany’s arms imports and nearly 7% of the UK’s arms imports.
After Europe, Asia Pacific was the biggest market for Israeli weapons at 23%.
In Asia, India is a big market for Israeli weapons. According to the SIPRI database, India was the world’s second-largest arms importer in the period from 2020 to 2024, behind Ukraine. And Israel was the third-largest arms exporter to India after Russia and France.
Israel supplied 13 % of all Indian arms imports during this period.
Israel is also the second-largest arms exporter to the Philippines, supplying 27% of its weapons needs.
However, the biggest surprise was the rising Israeli arms sales in the Arab countries.
Israeli Arms In Arab Countries
As much as 12% of Israeli arms exports went to Arab countries, particularly the countries that normalized relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. In 2023, the share of these countries in Israeli arms exports was a mere 3 %.
Combined arms sales to the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Morocco, and Sudan reached US$1.8 billion, equivalent to 12 percent of Israel’s total arms exports.
Among them, Morocco signed a deal for Elbit’s ATMOS howitzers, valued at US$229 million. It had previously purchased the PULS rocket system and, according to reports, acquired IAI’s Barak MX system and a reconnaissance satellite.
North America accounted for 9%, Latin America for 1%, and Africa for 1%. These figures have stayed relatively stable in recent years.
Israeli Air Defense Systems & Missiles Top Performers
According to Israel’s defense ministry, nearly half (48 percent) of Israel’s arms exports consist of air defense systems, missiles, and rockets, up from 36% in 2023. Exports of satellite and space systems also saw a jump, increasing from 2% of 2023 deals to 8% of 2024 deals.
Vehicles and armored personnel carriers accounted for 9% of Israel’s defense export in 2024, manned aircraft and avionics for 8%, observation and optronics for 6%, intelligence, information and cyber systems for 4%, ammunition and armaments for 3%, weapon stations and launchers for 2%, C4I and communication systems for another 2%, drones and UAVs for 1%, and maritime systems and platforms for additional 1%.
War In Gaza Boosting Israeli Exports
Unlike Russia, where arms exports have collapsed due to the ongoing war, in Israel, the ongoing war seems to be helping the country’s arms exports.
“The unprecedented operational achievements, along with the combat experience gained by Israeli developments during the war, created high demand for Israeli technology among many countries,” the ministry said.
“Notably in a difficult and complex year of war, Israel is breaking an all-time record in defense exports,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz in remarks provided by the ministry.
“This tremendous achievement is a direct result of the successes of the IDF and the defense industries against Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, the ayatollah regime in Iran, and in other arenas where we operate against Israel’s enemies,” he said.
“The world sees Israeli strength and seeks to be a partner to it,” Katz added.
While Israeli arms sales have almost doubled in the last five years, globally, Israel’s share in the international arms market is relatively small.
According to the latest SIPRI report, Israel has a 3.1% share of the global arms market for the period from 2020 to 2024, with India, the United States, and the Philippines being the three largest markets for Israeli arms.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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