Israel signed a record $19.2 billion in defense export contracts in 2025, up nearly 30% from $14.8 billion in 2024, the Defense Ministry reported on June 2, 2026. Europe was the biggest buyer at 36%. In 2026 the largest disclosed deal is Romania's SPYDER air defense framework from Rafael, worth more than €2 billion.
By The Olam Editorial Team. Last updated: November 11, 2026.
Contents
- How big were Israel's defense exports last year?
- Which countries bought Israeli defense systems in 2026?
- Which companies lead Israeli defense exports?
- Which deals are pending, reported or unconfirmed?
- Which countries restrict arms trade with Israel?
- Frequently asked questions
How big were Israel's defense exports last year?
The Israel Ministry of Defense (משרד הביטחון) says defense exports (יצוא ביטחוני) reached $19.2 billion in 2025, the fifth record year in a row. The ministry says exports have more than doubled in five years and quadrupled in a decade. The figure counts contracts signed during the year, not goods delivered, so it can run ahead of revenue that Israeli companies report.
The ministry's breakdown, from its own announcement, shows what Israel sold and to whom:
| Measure | 2025 share of deal volume |
|---|---|
| Europe | 36% |
| Asia and the Pacific | 32% |
| Middle East and North Africa | 15% |
| North America | 13% |
| Latin America | 2% |
| Africa | 2% |
| Missile, rocket and air defense systems | 29% |
| Observation and optronics | 22% (up from 6% a year earlier) |
| Radar and electronic warfare | 11% |
| Manned aircraft and avionics | 11% |
| Command, control and communications | 7% |
| Weapon stations and launchers | 6% |
| Drones and UAVs | 4% |
| Satellites and space systems | 3% |
Three more points stand out from the report:
- Government-to-government deals set a record. About $10 billion, more than half of the total, came from agreements between the Israeli Defense Ministry and foreign defense ministries.
- Big contracts dominate. 53% of deal volume came from agreements worth $100 million or more. Another 13% came from deals of $50 million to $100 million, 19% from $10 million to $50 million and 15% from deals up to $10 million.
- The ministry credits a licensing reform. It says it opened new markets and eased export licensing while tightening oversight of classified technology. For the licensing agency behind the numbers, see Olam's explainer on DECA, Israel's defense export controls agency.
The ministry also ties the demand to combat performance. Its announcement points to the IDF's operations, including Operation Rising Lion against Iran in June 2025, and to the combat record of Israeli systems as drivers of foreign interest. It adds that Israeli industry kept supplying the IDF around the clock during wartime while filling foreign orders.
Which countries bought Israeli defense systems in 2026?
The Defense Ministry will not publish 2026 totals until next year, and most customers and prices stay confidential. The table lists 2026 deals where a company, a buyer government or a news report put a country, system and value on the record. Newest first. Where a company named only a region, the table says so. Values are as announced, in the original currency where given.
| Date | Buyer | System | Israeli company | Value | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 28 | Finland | RGW110 anti-tank weapons | Dynamit Nobel Defence, German unit of Rafael | €84.5M excluding VAT | Approved by Finland's defense minister, deliveries from 2027 | Finnish defense ministry via press; see Finland RGW110 deal |
| Oct 26 | Unnamed Asia-Pacific country | Airborne ISTAR, training, head-up displays | Elbit Systems | About $200M | Awarded | Elbit filing with the US SEC |
| Oct 19 | Unnamed European country | EXTRA-MR rockets and PULS launchers | Elbit Systems | About $235M | Awarded, government-to-government, three years | Elbit filing with the US SEC |
| Sep 1 | Unnamed international customer | ISR and targeting payloads | Elbit Systems | About $270M | Signed, up to six years | Elbit filing with the US SEC |
| Jun 28 | Romania | SPYDER air defense | Rafael | More than €2B (about $2.3B) | Framework signed, first order signed the week before | Rafael announcement; see Israel-Romania defense deal |
| Apr 6 | Greece | PULS rocket artillery | Elbit Systems | About $750M (€650M) | Awarded, four years plus ten years of support | Elbit filing with the US SEC; see Israel-Greece-Cyprus defense |
| Early 2026 (reported) | India | SPICE 1000 bombs, Rampage and Air LORA missiles, Ice Breaker | Rafael, Elbit, IAI | About $8.6B, reported | Reported by Forbes India, not confirmed by companies | Forbes India via Globes; see Israel-India defense |
Several rows come from company filings that name a region but not a customer, which is common in this industry. The Finland row is not a direct export from Israel, because the seller is Rafael's German subsidiary. It is included because it shows how Israeli-owned companies sell abroad through local units. For other buyers of the Rafael system in the Romania row, see Olam's list of SPYDER air defense customers.
The India figure needs a caution. Globes reported that the $8.6 billion includes production by Israeli companies' subsidiaries and joint ventures inside India, and the head of the ministry's export directorate has noted that official figures capture only exports from Israel. It is not a clean export total.
This table leaves out sales to the Israeli military itself. Elbit's recent contracts with the Israeli Defense Ministry, including a $170 million artillery training center announced November 2, are domestic orders and do not count as exports.
Which companies lead Israeli defense exports?
Three companies dominate. According to Calcalist's reading of SIBAT data, about 85% of Israeli arms deals in 2025 went through Israel Aerospace Industries (התעשייה האווירית), Rafael (רפאל) and Elbit Systems (אלביט מערכות). Olam's defense prime index compares the three on exports and order backlog from their filings.
The big-ticket pattern is clear in 2026. Romania's SPYDER framework is described by Israeli business media as the second-largest defense sale in the country's history, after the Arrow 3 sale to Germany. Elbit's Greek PULS contract is its largest 2026 award in the filings reviewed here.
Which deals are pending, reported or unconfirmed?
A defense contract can be announced, signed, funded and delivered in separate steps. Treat each row above by its status:
- Framework agreements. Romania's deal is a seven-year framework. The first order was signed days before the June 28 announcement, and later orders follow under the framework.
- Awarded contracts. Elbit's filings say it was awarded or signed the contracts. Deliveries run over several years, so revenue arrives slowly.
- Reported figures. The India value comes from a Forbes India report that Israeli and Indian outlets repeated. No company has confirmed the total.
- Approved purchases. Finland has approved its RGW110 purchase, with deliveries due from 2027.
- Wider packages. Calcalist reported in December 2025 that Israel and Greece were advancing toward a multi-layered air defense agreement estimated at $3.5 billion, built on SPYDER, David's Sling and Barak MX. The Elbit PULS contract is the part with a published contract announcement.
Which countries restrict arms trade with Israel?
Record exports are happening alongside restrictions in some countries. Olam's arms restrictions tracker compares eight countries as of October 30, 2026. It finds that Spain, Belgium, Italy and Canada still restrict arms trade with Israel, while Germany and Slovenia have lifted their limits.
Olam's report on the UK's arms export suspension shows how a restriction works in practice. It covers the suspension of 30 of 350 licenses in 2024 and the exemption for F-35 parts. Some governments that restrict direct trade still buy Israeli-designed systems through other routes, which is one reason headline export figures keep rising.
The ministry itself describes boycott calls and exclusion from some arms exhibitions as the background to the record, which is one reason the figures are watched closely.
Frequently asked questions
How much did Israel export in defense in 2025?
$19.2 billion in signed contracts, according to the Israel Ministry of Defense. That is nearly 30% above 2024's $14.8 billion and the fifth consecutive record.
Who buys the most Israeli defense equipment?
Europe, with 36% of 2025 deal volume. Asia and the Pacific followed with 32%, the Middle East and North Africa with 15% and North America with 13%.
What is the biggest Israeli defense deal of 2026?
Among deals with a published value, Romania's SPYDER air defense framework with Rafael, worth more than €2 billion. India's reported $8.6 billion is larger on paper, but it is a press figure that includes local production and no company has confirmed it.
How much of the total is government-to-government?
About $10 billion of the $19.2 billion, or more than half, in 2025. The ministry calls it a record.
Which Israeli companies export the most?
Israel Aerospace Industries, Rafael and Elbit Systems together handled about 85% of Israeli arms deals in 2025, per Calcalist's reading of ministry data.
Is $19.2 billion what Israel delivered in 2025?
No. It measures contracts signed in the year. Delivery and revenue follow over several years.
How we report: Olam stories draw on public filings, company disclosures and named sources, checked by our editors. Read our methodology · Corrections
