Defense industry of Israel

The defense industry of Israel is a strategically important sector and a large employer, as well as a major supplier of the Israel Defense Forces. The country is one of the world's major exporters of military equipment, accounting for 10% of the world total in 2007. Three Israeli companies were listed on the 2022 Stockholm International Peace Research Institute index of the world's top 100 arms-producing and military service companies: Elbit Systems, Israel Aerospace Industries and RAFAEL.^[1] It is also a major player in the global arms market with a 2.3% share of the global exports of major arms as of 2023.^[2] Total arms transfer agreements topped $12.9 billion between 2004 and 2011.^[3] There are over 150 active defense companies based in the country with combined revenues of more than $3.5 billion annually.^[4] Israeli defense equipment exports reached $7 billion in 2012, making it a 20 percent increase from the amount of defense-related exports in 2011. With the Russian invasion of Ukraine, arms exports reached $12.5 billion in 2022.^[5] Much of the exports are sold to the United States and Europe. Other major regions that purchase Israeli defense equipment include Southeast Asia and Latin America.^[6][7][8] India is also major country for Israeli arms exports and has remained Israel's largest arms market in the world.^[9][10]