Israel’s defense ministry announced that the country’s arms exports soared to an unprecedented $14.7 billion in 2024, marking a significant turnaround amid ongoing international scrutiny regarding its military actions in Gaza. This achievement represents the fourth consecutive year of record-breaking defense agreements, showcasing Israel’s growing influence in the global arms market.
In a statement, the ministry revealed that 56.8 percent of the signed deals fell into the category of “mega-deals,” valued at a minimum of $100 million each. This surge in exports is largely attributed to what the ministry termed “operational achievements” during the current conflict, which began with Hamas’s assault on October 7, 2023.
Since the onset of the war, the ministry declared it has entered “emergency mode,” ensuring that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) could ramp up production while still fulfilling contracts with international clients. The noticeable demand for Israeli defense technology was fueled by the impressive performance of these systems in actual combat scenarios, resulting in strong international interest.
Particularly noteworthy is the distinction that missiles, rockets, and air defense systems made up nearly 48 percent of total exports, a significant increase from 36 percent in 2023. Additionally, exports related to satellite and space systems also expanded dramatically, rising from 2 percent to 8 percent of total deals.
A geographical analysis of the defense agreements indicates that over half of the arms were sold to European nations. Sales to countries engaged in the Abraham Accords, which includes the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Morocco, saw a remarkable rise from 3 percent of total exports in 2023 to 12 percent in 2024.
The defense minister emphasized, “Precisely during a difficult and complex year of war, Israel has broken an all-time record in defense exports. The world sees Israeli strength and seeks to be a partner in it,” underscoring the paradox of increasing international arms sales alongside ongoing conflict.
