According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), in the period between 1985 and 2014, 60.7% of all exported unmanned aircraft in the world were produced in Israel. The United States comes second as a manufacturer of unmanned aerial vehicles, as it supplied 23.9% of all (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) UAVs exported during this period. Canada came third with 6.4%.
During the period between 2010 and 2014, Israel exported a total of 165 UAVs, the US – 132 UAVs and Italy 37 units. SIPRI notes that the club of countries exporting their UAVs, is very exclusive. Between 2005 and 2009 it numbered 11 members, and between 2010 and 2014, there were only 10 members.
At the same time, the number of states importing UAVs has grown to 35. The largest importer of UAVs is the United Kingdom. During the period between 2010 and 2014, it bought 6 combat UAVs from the US and an additional 55 various modifications of UAS, (unmanned aerial systems). Israeli accounted for 33.9% of all UAS exported during this period.
The second largest importer of UAVs is India, purchasing 13.2% of all exported systems. Next are Italy, Azerbaijan, Germany, Turkey, France, Singapore and Brazil.
Israeli UAS manufacturers are investing great efforts in trying to keep the edge they have over their competitors. While some of the efforts are aimed at improving the capabilities of the UAS deployed in the IDF, others are directed at increasing sales.
Source: iHLS