The top 5 weapons exporters are also permanent members of the UN security council
No 1. The United-States of America is the world’s largest exporter of conventional weapons, according to Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
The US accounted for 30% of global weapons sales for the period 2005-2009, SIPRI reported.
U.S. Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, U.S. sold to
- South Korea: 15%
- Israel: 13%
- United Arab Emirates: 11%
No 2. Russia is the second largest supplier of weapons with 23% of the global arms exports, the SIPRI data shows.
Russia Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, Russia’s main clients were:
- China: 40%
- India: 20%
- Algeria: 8%
Germany Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, Germany sold to
- Turkey: 15%
- Greece: 13%
- South Africa: 12%
Between 2005 to 2009, France’s major clients were
- United Arab Emirates: 32%
- Singapore: 13%
- Greece: 12%
UK Top Sales
Between 2005 to 2009, UK’s main clients were
- USA: 21%
- India : 14%
- Chile: 9%
The Top 5 recipients of major conventional weapons (2004–2008)
Top 10 largest suppliers of conventional weapons:
“In 2008, the world’s 100 largest arms-producing companies maintained the upward trend in their arms sales, which reached $385 billion, an increase of $39 billion over their arms sales in 2007. This is more than three times the size of the total development aid of OECD countries in 2008 ($120 billion).” SIPRI reported.
With arms sales reaching $32.4 billion in 2008, BAE Systems is the first non-US company to lead SIPRI’s Top 100 list of the largest arms-producing companies. Following BAE in the top 5 are Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics (all of the USA), according to new data on international arms production released today by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).