International Transfers of Combat Aircraft, 2005–2009

Stories like the United State's planned sale of combat aircraft to Saudi Arabia, Israel's and Canada's selection of the US Joint Strike Fighter, and ongoing competition for large orders from India and Brazil are making headlines in the media. This SIPRI Fact Sheet shows that combat aircraft together with related weapons and components accounted for one-third of worldwide arms transfers in the past five years and highlights concerns about the economic and security consequences of these transfers.</jats:p

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2013

The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database now contains information on all international transfers of major conventional weapons from 1950 to the end of 2013. It is the only publicly available resource providing consistent data on international arms transfers for this length of time. This Fact Sheet describes the trends in international arms transfers that are revealed by the new data. It lists the main suppliers and recipients for the period 2009–13 and describes the changes in regional trends.</jats:p

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2014

The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database now contains information on all international transfers of major conventional weapons from 1950 to the end of 2014. It is the only publicly available resource providing consistent data on international arms transfers for this length of time. This Fact Sheet describes the trends in international arms transfers that are revealed by the new data. It lists the main suppliers and recipients for the period 2010-14 and describes the changes in regional trends.</jats:p

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2022

Imports of major arms by European states rose by 47 per cent between 2013–17 and 2018–22, while the global volume of international arms transfers fell by 5.1 per cent. There were decreases in arms transfers to Africa (–40 per cent), the Americas (–21 per cent), Asia and Oceania (–7.5 per cent) and the Middle East (–8.8 per cent) between the two periods. The five largest arms importers in 2018–22 were India, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Australia and China. The five largest arms exporters were the United States, Russia, France, China and Germany. The war in Ukraine had only a limited impact on the total volume of arms transfers in 2018–22, but Ukraine did become a major importer of arms in 2022. In addition, most European states substantially increased their arms import orders and the war will have significant ramifications for future supplier–recipient arms trade relations globally. From 13 March 2023 the freely accessible SIPRI Arms Transfers Database includes updated data on transfers of major arms for 1950–2022, which replaces all previous data on arms transfers published by SIPRI. Based on the new data, this fact sheet presents global trends in arms exports and arms imports, and highlights selected issues related to transfers of major arms.</jats:p

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2021

The volume of international transfers of major arms in 2017–21 was 4.6 per cent lower than in 2012–16, but was 3.9 per cent higher than in 2007–11. The five largest arms exporters in 2017–21 were the United States, Russia, France, China and Germany. The five largest arms importers were India, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Australia and China. Between 2012–16 and 2017–21 there were increases in arms transfers to Europe (19 per cent) and to the Middle East (2.8 per cent), while there were decreases in the transfers to the Americas (–36 per cent), Africa (–34 per cent), and Asia and Oceania (–4.7 per cent). From 14 March 2022 SIPRI’s open-access Arms Transfers Database includes updated data on transfers of major arms for 1950–2021, which replaces all previous data on arms transfers published by SIPRI. Based on the new data, this Fact Sheet presents global trends in arms exports and arms imports, and highlights selected issues related to transfers of major arms.</jats:p

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2012

The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database now contains information on all international transfers of major conventional weapons from 1950 to the end of 2012. It is the only publicly available resource providing consistent data on international arms transfers for this length of time. This Fact Sheet describes the trends in international arms transfers that are revealed by the new data. It lists the main suppliers and recipients for the period 2008–12 and describes the changes in regional trends.</jats:p

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2012

The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database now contains information on all international transfers of major conventional weapons from 1950 to the end of 2012. It is the only publicly available resource providing consistent data on international arms transfers for this length of time. This Fact Sheet describes the trends in international arms transfers that are revealed by the new data. It lists the main suppliers and recipients for the period 2008–12 and describes the changes in regional trends.</jats:p

Trends in International Arms Transfers, 2016

The volume of international transfers of major weapons in 2012–16 was 8.4 per cent higher than in 2007–11. This was the highest volume for any five-year period since 1990. The flow of arms to Asia and Oceania and the Middle East increased between 2007–11 and 2012–16, while there was a decrease in the flow to Europe, the Americas and Africa. The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database now contains information on all international transfers of major conventional weapons from 1950 to the end of 2016. It is the only publicly available resource providing consistent data on international arms transfers for this length of time. This Fact Sheet describes the trends in international arms transfers that are revealed by the new data. It lists the main suppliers and recipients for the period 2012–16 and describes the changes in regional trends.</jats:p