Israel announces defense export record: $15 billion in 2024

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense export reached $14.79 billion in 2024, setting a new record at a 13% increase over the previous year, Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced on Wednesday.

European countries were the main recipients, receiving 54% of the Israeli defense export, compared to 35% in 2023, according to data presented by the government.

Asia and the Pacific Region followed with 23% of Israeli defense exports in 2024, Abraham Accords countries with 12%, North America with 9%, and Latin America and Africa 1% each.

The category of missiles, rockets and air defense systems accounted for 48% of exports, up from 36% in 2023. Satellite and space systems exports saw a leap towards 8% of 2024 deals compared to 2% in 2023.

Vehicles and armored personnel carriers accounted for 9% of Israel’s defense export in 2024, manned aircraft and avionics for 8%, observation and optronics for 6%, intelligence, information and cyber systems for 4%, ammunition and armaments for 3%, weapon stations and launchers for 2%, C4I and communication systems for another 2%, drones and UAVs for 1%, and maritime systems and platforms for additional 1%.

The announcement comes amid the Defense Ministry’s directive to Israeli defense companies throughout the ongoing Israel-Gaza war to prioritize supplying the Israel Defense Forces’ needs over other customers.

The three largest Israeli defense companies are Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems and Rafael. The companies reported record results for 2024 alongside record order backlogs, which stood at $25 billion, $22.6 billion and $17.7 billion, respectively.

Israel’s Defense Ministry Director General, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram said: “We must expand Israel’s defense production base to ensure continuous and sustained security readiness, even during challenging periods, while enabling greater export capacity. We will work to expand existing markets, break into new markets, and better leverage Israel’s unique defense-tech ecosystem.”

Tzally Greenberg is the Israel correspondent for Defense News. He has experience reporting on economic affairs as well as defense and cyber companies.

耶路撒冷——以色列国防部周三宣布，以色列2024年的国防出口额达到147.9亿美元，比上一年增长13%，创下新纪录。

根据政府公布的数据，欧洲国家是以色列国防出口的主要接收国，占以色列国防出口的 54%，而 2023 年这一比例将降至 35%。

2024 年，以色列国防出口额的 23% 将流向亚洲和太平洋地区，12% 将流向亚伯拉罕协议国家，9% 将流向北美，1% 将流向拉丁美洲和非洲。

导弹、火箭和防空系统类别占出口总额的 48%，高于 2023 年的 36%。卫星和空间系统出口额在 2024 年的交易额中跃升至 8%，而 2023 年为 2%。

2024 年，以色列国防出口中，车辆和装甲运兵车占 9%，有人驾驶飞机和航空电子设备占 8%，观测和光电设备占 6%，情报、信息和网络系统占 4%，弹药和武器占 3%，武器站和发射器占 2%，C4I 和通信系统占 2%，无人机和无人飞行器占 1%，海上系统和平台占 1%。

此前，以色列国防部指示以色列国防公司在持续的以加战争期间优先满足以色列国防军的需求，而不是其他客户的需求。

以色列三大国防公司分别是以色列航空航天工业公司、埃尔比特系统公司和拉斐尔公司。这三家公司公布了2024年创纪录的业绩，同时订单积压额也创下新高，分别达到250亿美元、226亿美元和177亿美元。

以色列国防部总干事、预备役少将阿米尔·巴拉姆表示：“我们必须扩大以色列的国防生产基地，以确保即使在充满挑战的时期也能保持持续稳定的安全战备状态，同时提升出口能力。我们将努力拓展现有市场，开拓新市场，并更好地利用以色列独特的国防科技生态系统。”

特扎利·格林伯格是《防务新闻》的以色列记者。他拥有丰富的经济事务以及国防和网络安全公司报道经验。