The volume of international transfers of major weapons in 2010–14 was 16 per cent higher than in 2005–2009 according to a new report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. The five biggest exporters in 2010–14 were the United States, Russia, China, Germany and France, and the five biggest importers were India, Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Pakistan. India accounted for 15% of all arms imports and its main suppliers include Israel, Russia, the United Kingdom and increasingly the United States.
Between 2005–2009 and 2010–14 imports increased by 140 per cent. In 2010–14 India’s imports were three times larger than those of either of its regional rivals China and Pakistan. This contrasts with 2005–2009 when India’s imports were 23 per cent below China’s and just over double those of Pakistan. India has so
far failed to produce competitive indigenous-designed weapons and remains dependent on imports.
Last updated: December 26th, 2025
