10 Countries that Export the Most Weapons in the World

9. Israel

Total TIV 2000 – 2015: 8,436

In 1967, in the midst of tensions leading to the Six-day War, France imposed an arms embargo on Middle East region. Although intended as a neutral measure, it mostly hurt the Israelis, with the bulk of their air force consisting of French airplanes. The inability to supply spare parts for their Mirage III fighter jets was one of the reasons behind Israel’s decision to create a self-sustaining military industry. It took a while before it transitioned from a supplier of the IDF weaponry to the one of the leading global weapons exporters, but Israel weapons today are trusted and used worldwide. In 2015, their biggest customers were European countries, with a considerable share (over $1 billion) going to North America.