Geographically, Europe led with 54% of export volume, followed by Asia and the Pacific (23%), Abraham Accords countries (12%), North America (9%). Latin American and African countries accounted for the remaining 2%.
By Pesach Benson, TPS
Israel set a new all-time record for defense exports in 2024, with sales reaching $14.795 billion, the Ministry of Defense announced Wednesday. This marks a 13% increase over the previous year and the fourth consecutive year the record has been broken.
More than half of the contracts signed in 2024 exceeded $100 million in value, and over half of the deals — 54% — were with European countries, reflecting a dramatic shift in global demand for Israeli defense technology.
Despite 607 days of war, Israeli defense firms maintained continuous production for both the Israel Defense Forces and international clients.
“In a difficult and complex year of war, Israel is breaking an all-time record in defense exports,” said Defense Minister Israel Katz.
“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 other arenas where we operate against Israel’s enemies. The world sees Israeli strength and wants to be a partner in it.”
The report was submitted to Katz by Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (res.) Amir Baram and Head of the International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT), Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Koles.
“The new record in Israeli defense exports, in a year of war, expresses more than anything a growing global appreciation for the performance of Israeli technology,” Baram said. “More countries want to protect their citizens with Israeli weapons.”
International demand for Israel’s military technology has surged as European countries increased their defense budgets in response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Geographically, Europe led with 54% of export volume, followed by Asia and the Pacific (23%), Abraham Accords countries (12%), North America (9%). Latin American and African countries accounted for the remaining 2%.
Air defense systems dominated Israel’s defense exports in 2024, accounting for 48% of total sales, up from 36% the previous year.
The Arrow-3 system, which is designed to intercept ballistic missiles, had its first operational success when it shot down a ballistic missile fired by Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen in November 2023.
It is widely believed to be the first time a missile was intercepted in outer space, but Israeli officials have not confirmed this.
Satellite and space systems also saw a significant jump, rising from just 2% in 2023 to 8% in 2024.
Other leading categories included vehicles and armored platforms (9%), radar and air systems (8%), manned aircraft and avionics (8%), and intelligence and cyber systems (4%).
“This is the fourth consecutive year in which we have witnessed record-breaking Israeli defense exports,” said Koles.
“The Israeli defense industry has demonstrated a unique ability – to provide an optimal response to the IDF’s needs during the war, while also responding to the growing demand around the world.”
Baram added that continued export growth is vital for both national defense and economic strength.
“We must expand the Israeli defense production base to ensure continuous and enduring defense capability over time and in difficult times,” he said, “and also so that we can export more.”
With defense exports more than doubling over the past five years, officials say they plan to build on this momentum by entering new markets and investing in future technologies to keep Israel at the forefront of global defense innovation.
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