The Defense Ministry released dramatic figures today (Tuesday) showing an unprecedented leap in Israel’s defense exports in 2025, crossing the $19 billion threshold for the first time. According to the data, defense exports reached a record $19.2 billion (over 53 billion shekels), a roughly 30% jump from the previous year. Defense exports have now more than doubled in five years and quadrupled in a decade.
The significant surge is attributed in part to reforms initiated by the Defense Ministry to increase exports, which led to a record volume of government-to-government (GTG) deals reaching roughly $10 billion in 2025—more than half of all transactions. Defense Ministry Director-General Maj. Gen. (res.) Emir Baram and head of the Defense Export Controls Agency (SIBAT), Brig. Gen. (res.) Yair Kulas, presented the report to Defense Minister Israel Katz, noting hundreds of new contracts signed worldwide. Over half the deals are worth at least $100 million.
Missile, rocket, and air defense systems continue to lead export sectors with 29% of all deals, while observation and optoelectronics systems recorded an impressive surge with 22% of all transactions, compared to just 6% the previous year. The Defense Ministry notes that unprecedented operational achievements, including during Operation Rising Lion in Iran in June 2025, together with the operational experience gained by Israeli developments in all combat arenas, they created great demand for Israeli technology.
Defense Minister Israel Katz commented on the data and said: “The fact that even during a third year of fighting, Israel continues to break records in defense exports is proof of the great appreciation that the defense establishment enjoys in the wider world. This achievement relies on the capabilities of our forces and the other security branches, both in Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen.” Defense exports are a reflection of Israeli strength, sophistication, creativity, and the ability to think outside the box.”
Director General of the Ministry of Defense, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram, added: “The sharp surge in defense exports is an expression of the quality of Israeli industry, global demand, the operational successes of our forces, and our unique ecosystem, but it is also the result of a profound reform carried out by the Ministry of Defense last year to reduce regulation and open new markets that led to huge deals. Today, our force-building budget relies heavily on these partnerships, but we must not be satisfied with that.”
As a reminder, the Ministry of Defense spokeswoman issued a strong statement of condemnation yesterday following the French government’s decision to ban the State of Israel from official participation in the EUROSATORY defense exhibition, which will be held later this month in Paris. As a result of the decision, the Ministry of Defense will not be able to set up a national pavilion at the exhibition, as part of France’s condemnation of Israel since October 7th and even more so since Israel began fighting the threat of the terrorist organization Hezbollah.