12 Out of the 25 largest arms companies in 2019 were based in the US, According to new data from SIPRI

The US-based companies accounted for 61 per cent of global arms sales by the top 25 arms companies in 2019, shows new data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institutes (SIPRI) Arms Industry Database. The data also noted that sales by the world’s 25 largest arms-producing and military services companies totalled $361 billion indicating an increase of 8.5 per cent in comparison to sales in 2018.

The top five Arms companies in 2019 on the list were based in the United States namely – Northrop Grumman, Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and General Dynamics. These companies recorded a combined annual arms sales of $166 billion. Total 12 US companies were part of the list of the world’s top 25 arms manufacturers of 2019.

China the second-largest player, Middle East makes it to the list.

After the USA, China has the second-largest share in 2019 sales of arms by 25 top arms manufacturers. Four China-based companies are a part of the top 25 and account for 16 per cent of global arms sales. Other notable players on the list are six companies of Western Europe and two Russian companies. For the first time, a company from the Middle East named ‘EDGE’ is a part of the list it ranks 22nd and accounts for 1.3 per cent.

“EDGE is a good illustration of how the combination of high national demand for military products and services with a desire to become less dependent on foreign suppliers is driving the growth of arms companies in the Middle East“

said Pieter Wezeman, Senior Researcher with the SIPRI Arms and Military Expenditure Programme.

Big Players Active in Global South

The report also looked at the international presence of the top 15 arms companies of 2019. These top players have a presence in a total of 49 countries, which includes their overseas majority-owned subsidiaries, research facilities, and joint ventures.

Amongst the 49 countries hosting these foreign entities, a lot of these countries are a part of the global south. This includes countries like Saudi Arabia, India, UAE, Brazil, Singapore, and Australia. Explaining the reason behind this Diego Lopes da Silva, Researcher at SIPRI said that

“Countries in the Global South seeking to jump-start their arms production programs have welcomed foreign arms companies as a means to benefit from technology transfers“