The war in Ukraine triggered the world arms market. Between the periods 2013-2017 and 2018-2022, sales increased by 93%, according to the latest report by Sipri (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute).
Third, France could soon become the world’s second-biggest arms exporter thanks to Rafale sales, but also with the decline of Russia, which is seeing sales of fighter jets, the mainstay of its industry, collapse. military.
The Rafale, pillar of French industry
During the period 2018-2022, France grew by 40%, from 7.1% (2013-2017) of world sales to 11%. Russia fell from 22% to 16%. This trend, triggered in part by the war in Ukraine, is expected to continue in the coming years.
For France, the Rafale supports the sector with 92 aircraft ordered for export last year (80 UAE, 6 Greece, 6 Indonesia) against 37 export contracts in 2021. Sales will likely continue with new contracts under discussion with India, Colombia or Saudi Arabia. Arabian.
2022 has also been a solid year for Caesar gun sales. Nexter sold 55 units of all versions to four customers, including the Czech Republic, Belgium and Lithuania.
Russia: drop in orders to India
At the same time, due to the war in Ukraine, trade sanctions, and US pressure on its customers, Russia has fallen sharply. Sales to India, its biggest customer and the world’s biggest arms importer, fell 37%.
The increase in orders to China (+39%) or Egypt (+44%) only stopped the fall. Especially since if the production of combat aircraft and combat helicopters, the two pillars of the Russian military industry, continues, it will be less and less for foreign customers.
The top five defense exporters remain the United States, Russia, France, China and Germany, which account for 76% of the global market. Despite the ambitions of China and Germany, the top three could stay for several more years. During the period 2017-22, Chinese and German exports fell by 23% and 35%.
Source: BFM TV
