Israel Achieves Record-Breaking Arms Exports Amid Ongoing Conflicts

Israel's weapons exports reached an all-time high in 2024, government sources revealed on Wednesday, even as the nation remains engaged in its longest-running conflict across multiple fronts.

Contracts signed by Israeli defense manufacturers totaled approximately $14.8 billion last year, surpassing the previous record of $13 billion set in 2023, according to the latest figures from the Israeli Defense Ministry.

These numbers highlight the rapid expansion of Israel's wartime production capabilities and the country's efforts to tap into emerging markets, particularly in Europe, where demand for arms has increased amid concerns over Russian aggression. The boost in defense exports also offers some economic relief for Israel during a period of domestic challenges caused by ongoing conflict.

While some weapons shipments occurred in 2024, many deals will be fulfilled over a longer period. This surge in arms sales coincided with Israeli military operations in Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria, as well as aerial strikes targeting Iran and Yemen, which Defense Minister Israel Katz described as "a difficult and complex year of war."

Alongside its growing arms exports, Israel received at least $17.9 billion in military assistance, including weaponry, from the United States within the year following the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023. Experts suggest this estimate is conservative.

By comparison, U.S. arms sales abroad reached a minimum of $200 billion in the fiscal year ending September, placing Israel's export volume in a smaller but notable position within the global arms market.