Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: ISRAELI weapons exports reached a record high of more than $19 billion last year, a 30% increase from 2024, Israel’s Defense Ministry said on June 2.
More than half of 2025’s sales were “mega-deals” valued at $100 million or more, the ministry said, adding that sales have more than doubled in the last five years, despite widespread criticism of Israel’s conduct in its wars in Gaza, with Hezbollah and with Iran.
Countries that have vowed to shun Israeli weapons makers are nonetheless quietly placing orders. Experts say governments look to Israel because its weapons are battle-tested and they’re able to see in real time that the munitions and systems work.
“There is a clear and unmistakable thread connecting the (army’s) battlefield achievements across all fronts, the extraordinary capabilities of Israel’s defense industries, and the success of Israeli defense exports around the world,” said Defence Minister Israel Katz. He said the growing figures reinforce Israel’s position as a leading defence technology power and carry a responsibility to keep innovating.
One area Israel’s Defence Ministry says will be a future priority for innovation is taking down drones, which has proven challenging during the war with Iran.
This year’s Defence Tech Expo in Tel Aviv reflected the growing international interest in Israeli weapons, with manufacturers promoting arms and other equipment shaped by the country’s recent conflicts.
More than a quarter of the sales last year were missile, rocket, and air defence systems, as in the year prior. There was also a surge in observation and optronics systems. Optronics is a branch of electronics dealing with optical, infrared or ultraviolet radiation, and is used in applications such as rifle sights. A March report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said that for the first time, Israel has surpassed the United Kingdom in its share of global arms exports, making it the world’s seventh-biggest supplier.
