African securityIsraeli military technology sales to Africa increase by 40%
Israeli weapons exports declined by nearly $1 billion in 214 compared to 2013, but export of Israel-made weapons to African countries increased by 40 percent in 2014 compared with 2013. Israeli armaments industries signed deals worth $318 million in Africa, compared with $223 million in 2013, which itself was an all-time record. Asian and Pacific countries were much larger customers of Israeli arms, though, buying $3 billion worth of Israeli military technology in 2014.
Israeli weapons exports declined by nearly $1 billion in 214 compared to 2013, but export of Israel-made weapons to African countries increased by 40 percent in 2014 compared with 2013.
Times of Israel reports that Israeli armaments industries signed deals worth $318 million in Africa, compared with $223 million in 2013, which itself was an all-time record.
Israel Defense Ministry data show that arms deals with African countries have risen steadily on an annual basis since 2009, when Israeli companies sold $77 million worth of arms to African countries, with a slight dip in 2012 — $107 million in arms sold to Africa — compared with 2011, with $127 million worth of sales.
The 40 percent increase in arms sales to African countries notwithstanding, Asian and Pacific countries were much larger customers of Israeli arms, buying $3 billion worth of Israeli military technology in 2014.
The Times notes that an unnamed security industry official was quoted in the Ministry of Defense report as saying that countries in Africa and Latin America are still regarded as “developing countries” in which the demand for military technology and arms for law enforcement continues to grow annually.
The report shows that, overall, Israeli defense industries closed deals worth a total of $5.66 billion in 2014, compared with around $6.5 billion in 2013. The bigger deals included a $525 million contract with India for Israel’s guided Spike missiles, which proved effective in last summer’s war with Hamas.
Israeli defense officials attributed to overall decrease in orders for military technology to the decline in defense budgets of aby countries, and a trend in some countries to rely on local manufacturers for security and defense gear.
The Defense Ministry notes that Israel is one of the world’s top 10 exporters of military technology. The Defense Ministry says that most of the 2014 deals involved upgrading fighter aircraft and other aeronautical systems, sales of electronic warfare and communications equipment, armaments and defense systems for combat aircraft, radars, and UAVs.
