Israeli defence exports rose to a record $13.1 billion in 2023, according to a government report which has cited hundreds of contracts signed at various defence firms.
According to data from the the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) of the Ministry of Defense, this shows that defence exports, which totalled $12.5 billion in 2022, have doubled over the past five years.
Some 36% of exports came from missile, rocket and air defence systems, followed by radar and electronic warfare, weapon stations and launchers at 11% each, with crewed aircraft and avionics at nine per cent, the Defence Ministry said.
The timing of the publication of this data by the Ministry of Defense, is important. Over five dozen defence companies from Israel faced expulsion from the international arms exhibition Eurosatory, which opened in France on Monday.
There are concerns that Israel’s weakened position in the world may continue to harm it in the domain of defense exports and potentially lead to the loss of deals worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
This situation creates uncertainty regarding the scope of Israeli defense exports during the current year.
The Israeli Defence ministry said defence exports have become a central priority as part of an effort to strengthen security-strategic relations worldwide, enter new markets, remove bureaucratic barriers and reduce regulation.
“While our industries are primarily focused on providing the defence establishment with the capabilities to support our troops and defend our citizens … they are also continuing to pursue areas of cooperation and exports to international partners,” said Defence Minister Yoav Gallant
“Even in a year in which the State of Israel is fighting against seven different arenas, the defense exports of the State of Israel succeed in continuing to break records,” Yoav Galant said after receiving the defense export report from the Director General of his office, Eyal Zamir, and the head of the defense export department, Yair Koles.
With Inputs from Reuters
