Israel defence exports dip to $7.5 bln in 2018, APAC at nearly 50 pct

JERUSALEM, April 17 (Reuters) - Israeli defence exports were $7.5 billion in 2018, down from a record high of $9.2 billion in 2017, the Defence Ministry said on Wednesday.
Asia-Pacific accounted for 46 percent of export deals last year, followed by Europe at 26 percent and North America at 20 percent.
"This serves as further evidence of the desire of more and more countries to cooperate with the state of Israel, and a sign of their confidence in the excellent capabilities of our defence industries," said Mishel Ben-Baruch, director of the ministry's military exports unit SIBAT.
Missile and air defence systems accounted for 24 percent of the contracts, down from 31 percent in 2017, while unmanned air vehicle and drone systems rose to 15 percent from 2 percent. Aircraft and avionics and radars and electronic warfare deals were 14 percent each. Satellite and space system deals dropped to 1 percent.
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