The small arms trade (also called small arms proliferation and the small arms market ) is the markets of both authorized and illicit small arms and light weapons (SALW), as well as their parts, accessories, and ammunition.
56-564: The UK Defence Journal is a website covering defence industry news in the United Kingdom . In addition to news content, the site also offers commentary and analysis of military topics ranging from national security policy to procurement decisions. The website previously published a monthly magazine of the same name containing news and analysis about the British Armed Forces . In 2016 the website published photos of all
112-489: A combination of weak domestic regulation of authorised firearms possession with theft, loss or corrupt sale from official holdings tends to be a bigger source of weapons concern than illicit trafficking across borders." The United Nations General Assembly scheduled a review conference in New York which was held from 26 June to 7 July 2006. The Review Conference was plagued by disagreements and states were unable to agree on
168-616: A general sense of trends and the scale of the number of small arms. There is tremendous variability in the adoption of gun control with respect to individual civilian ownership, and international arms control , in different regions across the globe. The right to bear arms is a right guaranteed under the Constitution of the United States and gun ownership for purposes other than hunting is prevalent and socially acceptable. Non-governmental organisations such as IANSA argue that
224-546: A matter of policy, many governments of industrialized countries maintain or support a network of organizations, facilities, and resources to produce weapons and equipment for their military forces (and sometimes those of other countries). This is often referred to as a defense industrial base . Entities involved in arms production for military purposes vary widely, and include private sector commercial firms , state-owned enterprises and public sector organizations, and scientific and academic institutions. Such entities perform
280-666: A shipyard at Elswick to specialize in warship production – at the time, it was the only factory in the world that could build a battleship and arm it completely. The factory produced warships for foreign naval forces, including the Imperial Japanese Navy . Several Armstrong cruisers played an important role in defeating the Russian fleet at the Battle of Tsushima in 1905. In the American Civil War in 1861
336-554: A substantive outcome document. There have also been four Biennial Meetings of States to consider the implementation of the Programme of Action, in 2003, 2005, 2008 and 2010. The 2008 Biennial Meeting of States resulted in the adoption, by vote, of an Outcome Document focusing on three main issues: international assistance, cooperation and capacity-building; stockpile management and surplus disposal; and illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons. The Fourth Biennial Meeting in 2010
392-522: A wide variety of functions, including research and development , engineering , production, and servicing of military material, equipment, and facilities. The weapons they produce are often made, maintained, and stored in arsenals. In 2024, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimated global military expenditure at $ 2.443 trillion, the highest level ever recorded by SIPRI and
448-467: Is a global industry which manufactures and sells weapons and other military technology to a variety of customers, including the armed forces of states and civilian individuals and organizations. Products of the arms industry include weapons , munitions , weapons platforms , communications systems , and other electronics, and related equipment. The arms industry also provides defense-related services, such as logistical and operational support. As
504-462: Is also a large global market in second-hand naval vessels, generally purchased by developing countries from Western governments. The cybersecurity industry is expected to be of increasing importance to defense, intelligence, and homeland security agencies. According to research institute SIPRI , the volume of international transfers of major weapons in 2010–14 was 16 percent higher than in 2005–2009. The five biggest exporters in 2010–2014 were
560-419: Is concentrated in areas of armed conflict, violence, and organized crime. In terms of actions that are illicit, this trade involves the illegal trafficking of small arms and the exchange of money and drugs for small arms, which are all commodities that cross borders around the globe. These weapons are not only the choice for a majority of regional conflicts today, but also for many terrorist groups operating around
616-570: Is no global reporting system for small arms. Gathering data for Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) can be difficult, considering the transparency of some countries and lack of an organized system within countries. However, as pointed out by the Small Arms Survey, in the past ten years twenty-nine countries have made available a national arms export report. Twenty-five of these countries being European, while only four countries being non-European which include Australia, Canada, South Africa and
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#1732798752816672-485: Is presented by 5-year moving averages. Next to SIPRI, there are several other sources that provide data on international transfers of arms. These include national reports by national governments about arms exports, the UN register on conventional arms, and an annual publication by the U.S. Congressional Research Service that includes data on arms exports to developing countries as compiled by U.S. intelligence agencies. Due to
728-760: Is substantial. There is relatively little regulation at the international level, and as a result, many weapons fall into the hands of organized crime, rebel forces, terrorists, or regimes under sanctions. The Control Arms Campaign , founded by Amnesty International , Oxfam , and the International Action Network on Small Arms , estimated in 2003 that there are over 639 million small arms in circulation and that over 1,135 companies based in more than 98 countries manufacture small arms as well as their various components and ammunition. Encompassing military aircraft (both land-based and naval aviation ), conventional missiles, and military satellites , this
784-618: Is the most technologically advanced sector of the market. It is also the least competitive from an economic standpoint, with a handful of companies dominating the entire market. The top clients and major producers are virtually all located in the western world and Russia, with the United States easily in the first place. Prominent aerospace firms include Rolls-Royce , BAE Systems , Saab AB , Dassault Aviation , Sukhoi , Mikoyan , EADS , Leonardo , Thales Group , Lockheed Martin , Northrop Grumman , RTX Corporation , and Boeing . There are also several multinational consortia mostly involved in
840-750: Is typically exercised through the use of diplomacy , which seeks to persuade governments to accept such limitations through agreements and treaties , although it may also be forced upon non-consenting governments. Small arms trade The arms trade , or small arms market, includes both authorized transfers of small arms and light weapons (and their parts, accessories, and bullets) and illicit transfers of such weapons. Small arms and light arms are those that can be transported by one or two people, or carried by pack animal or vehicles, ranging from firearms like pistols and light machine guns to man-portable air-defense systems (MPADS), mortars , and rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs). The trade occurs globally, but
896-676: Is unclear exactly what proportion of the weapons are trafficked across borders. The nature of the trafficking enterprise makes exact statistics difficult to determine. Recently, however, researchers have had some success establishing hard numbers within limited parameters. According to a 2012 Routledge Studies in Peace and Conflict Resolution publication, "the relative importance of diversion or misuse of officially authorised transfers, compared to international entirely illegal black market trafficking has been thoroughly confirmed." The authors go on to elaborate that..."For most developing or fragile states,
952-426: Is undisputed. Because other societal factors play a strong role in creating armed conflict, however, the role of such weapons as a driver of continued violence and disruption has been called into question. Recent scholarship has focused on the root societal causes for violence in addition to the enabling tools. Another target of criticism is the ability to regulate illicit trafficking through international means, since it
1008-542: The British government awarded a contract to the Elswick Ordnance Company to supply the latest loading artillery pieces. This galvanized the private sector into weapons production, with the surplus increasingly exported to foreign countries. William Armstrong became one of the first international arms dealers, selling his systems to governments across the world from Brazil to Japan. In 1884, he opened
1064-561: The Cold War when the United States and the USSR supplied weapons to their proxies across the world, particularly third world countries (see Nixon Doctrine ). This category includes everything from light arms to heavy artillery , and the majority of producers are small. Many are located in third-world countries. International trade in handguns , machine guns , tanks , armored personnel carriers , and other relatively inexpensive weapons
1120-589: The National Rifle Association of America and Jews for the Preservation of Firearms Ownership , assert that access to gun ownership is often necessary for self-defence , including defence against government intrusion into private citizen's lives. The JPFO asserts that confiscation of private firearms is a necessary but not sufficient condition for tyranny, and draws parallels between contemporary efforts to register and confiscate guns and
1176-760: The National Shooting Sports Foundation members' ability to obtain an export license from taking a month to taking just four days. This was due to the United States Department of Commerce and agencies associated with ITAR expediting weapons shipments to Ukraine. In addition, the time it took to obtain a permit to buy a firearm in Ukraine also decreased from a few months to a few days. Figures are SIPRI Trend Indicator Values (TIVs) expressed in millions. These numbers may not represent real financial flows as prices for
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#17327987528161232-553: The Small Arms Working Group in the U.S.) committed themselves to limiting the trade in and proliferation of small arms around the world. They said that roughly 500,000 people are killed each year by the use of small arms. The Small Arms Survey , an independent research project based in Switzerland, said in its 2003 report that at least 1,134 companies in 98 countries worldwide are involved in some aspect of
1288-494: The 2007 edition of the Small Arms Survey , there are at least 639 million firearms in the world, although the actual total is almost certainly considerably higher. This number increases by approximately 8 million every year, for a total economic impact of about US$ 7 billion annually. The Small Arms Survey figures are estimates, based on available national figures and field research in particular countries. They give
1344-542: The Czech Republic. Sweden dropped off the list because its exports fell from $ 132 million in 2010 to $ 44 million in 2011. In addition, massive exports of small arms by the U.S. ( M16 ), the former Soviet Union ( AKM ), People's Republic of China ( Type 56 ), Germany ( H&K G3 ), Belgium ( FN FAL ), and Brazil ( FN FAL ) during the Cold War took place commercially and to support ideological movements. These small arms have survived many conflicts and many are now in
1400-858: The Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects was held in New York City from 9–20 July 2001 as decided in United Nations General Assembly Resolution 54/54 V. Preceded by three preparatory committee sessions, the two-week Conference resulted in the adoption of the 'Programme of Action to Prevent, Combat and Eradicate the Illicit Trade in Small Arms and Light Weapons in All Its Aspects.' States are required to report to
1456-604: The National Rifle Association, proposed that disarming citizens leaves them defenseless against totalitarian governments (such as Jews in Nazi Germany). The persistence and the complication of wars in Africa is sometimes blamed on small arms proliferation. A comparison between the murder rates in pre- and post-colonial would help determine the impact of small arms proliferation. Africa Researchers for
1512-653: The North had about ten times the manufacturing capacity of the economy of the Confederate States of America . This advantage over the South included the ability to produce (in relatively small numbers) breech-loading rifles for use against the muzzle-loading rifled muskets of the South. This began the transition to industrially produced mechanized weapons such as the Gatling gun. This industrial innovation in
1568-645: The Royal Navy's Type 45 Destroyer fleet in port at the same time which prompted Sky News to investigate Britain’s naval preparedness. In July 2021, the website reported that a user leaked classified documents relating to the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank in service with the British Army when challenging the representation of the vehicle in the videogame War Thunder . In August 2022, the website
1624-585: The Small Arms Survey estimate that approximately 30 million firearms are being circulated throughout Africa. This number is much less than the total number of small arms in Europe, estimated to be 84 million. However, the number of small arms isn't as important in comparison to how they are being used. The Small Arms Survey reports that at least 38 different companies are producing small arms in Sub-Saharan Africa, yet indigenous companies are not fulfilling
1680-607: The United Nations on the progress of their implementation of the UN Programme of Action, commonly known as the PoA. The extent to which illicit trade in small arms is a primary cause of armed conflict and other serious humanitarian and socioeconomic issues has drawn controversy. The extremely high incidence of small arms violence and the presence of illicitly obtained weapons, especially in areas of turmoil and armed conflict,
1736-651: The United States, Russia, China, Germany, and France, and the five biggest importers were India, Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates, and Pakistan. The flow of arms to the Middle East increased by 87 percent between 2009–13 and 2014–18, while there was a decrease in flows to all other regions: Africa, the Americas, Asia and Oceania, and Europe. SIPRI has identified 67 countries as exporters of major weapons in 2014–18. The top 5 exporters during
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1792-491: The United States. While some countries make information available about the small arms of their armed forces and law enforcement agencies; others release estimated data on public ownership. Most refuse to release anything, release rough estimates or simply do not know. Fortunately, to address these issues, the Small Arms Survey's contributors have devised a transparency barometer allowing them to consider each country's cooperation and credibility on shared information. According to
1848-744: The actions of the National Socialist German Workers Party during the lead up to the Second World War (see: Nazi gun control argument ). Similarly, gun ownership is widely held by many in Pakistan to be a necessary protection against crime as well as a way through which citizens can participate in law enforcement. Stephen Halbrook , a Senior Fellow at the Independent Institute and an author and lawyer known for his litigation on behalf of
1904-528: The allies. In 1885, France decided to capitalize on this increasingly lucrative trade and repealed its ban on weapon exports. The regulatory framework for the period up to the First World War was characterized by a laissez-faire policy that placed little obstruction in the way of weapons exports. Due to the carnage of World War I, arms traders began to be regarded with odium as "merchants of death" and were accused of having instigated and perpetuated
1960-546: The defense industry was adopted by Prussia in its 1864, 1866, and 1870–71 defeats of Denmark, Austria, and, France respectively. By this time the machine gun had begun entering arsenals. The first examples of its effectiveness were in 1899 during the Boer War and in 1905 during the Russo-Japanese War . However, Germany led the innovation of weapons and this advantage in the weapons of World War I nearly defeated
2016-560: The demands. South Africa is the largest exporter of small arms in the region, but only $ 6 million in small arms were exported out of the country, while $ 25 million in small arms were imported into the continent in 2005. Beyond legal trade, the illicit trade of small arms and light weapons also has a great effect on Africa. Many of the illicit trade among small arms in Africa can be attributed to post-conflict removal and movement of weapons. This illegal transfer of weapons from country-to-country has been seen to incite conflict in bordering regions by
2072-557: The different methodologies and definitions used different sources often provide significantly different data. SIPRI uses the "trend-indicator values" (TIV). These are based on the known unit production costs of weapons and represent the transfer of military resources rather than the financial value of the transfer. Units are in Trend Indicator Values expressed as millions of U.S. dollars at 1990s prices. These numbers may not represent real financial flows as prices for
2128-420: The hands of arms dealers or smaller governments who move them between conflict areas as needed. The eight countries that imported at least $ 100 million of small arms in 2011 were the United States, Canada, Germany, Australia, Thailand, United Kingdom, France and Italy. South Korea dropped from the list because its imports fell from $ 130 million in 2010 to $ 40 million in 2011. The United Nations Conference on
2184-698: The manufacturing of fighter jets , such as the Eurofighter . The largest military contract in history, signed in October 2001, involved the development of the Joint Strike Fighter . Several of the world's great powers maintain substantial naval forces to provide a global presence, with the largest nations possessing aircraft carriers , nuclear submarines and advanced anti-air defense systems . The vast majority of military ships are conventionally powered, but some are nuclear-powered . There
2240-469: The number of firearms in circulation had increased significantly between 2006 and 2017, primarily due to increases in civilian possession. During the early modern period , England, France, Sweden, and the Netherlands became self-sufficient in arms production, with diffusion and migration of skilled workers to more peripheral countries such as Portugal and Russia. The modern arms industry emerged in
2296-619: The period were responsible for 75 percent of all arms exports. The composition of the five largest exporters of arms changed between 2014 and 2018 and remained unchanged compared to 2009–13, although their combined total exports of major arms were 10 percent higher. In 2014–18, significant increases in arms exports from the US, France and Germany were seen, while Chinese exports rose marginally and Russian exports decreased. In 2014–18, 155 countries (about three-quarters of all countries) imported major weapons. The top 5 recipients accounted for 33 percent of
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2352-756: The prevalence of small arms contributes to the cycle of violence between governments and individuals. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled (most notably in Antonin Scalia 's majority opinion in District of Columbia v. Heller ) that due to the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution , the legislative and executive branches of both the federal and state governments are limited in their abilities to regulate gun ownership. U.S. gun rights lobby groups , most notably
2408-537: The production of small arms and ammunition. The largest exporters of small arms by value are the European Union and the United States . In 2010, the number of countries exporting at least $ 100 million of small arms annually rose from 12 to 14. The exporters' list was led by the U.S., followed by Italy, Germany, Brazil, Austria, Switzerland, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Belgium, China, Turkey, Spain and
2464-743: The same armed groups. An example of this can be seen in the conflicts ranging from Liberia, moving towards Sierra-Leone, the Ivory Coast, and finally to Guinea. Another illicit trade of small arms is seen in craft production. Reports from arms analysts Matt Schroeder and Guy Lamb suggest that the country Ghana has the potential to yield 200,000 new weapons every year. The consequences of small arms on African people due to international conflicts within Africa, rebel group activities, mercenary groups, and armed gang activities have yet to be fully measured, although Stockholm Peace Research Institute means transparency and information-sharing regarding arms transfers in
2520-507: The second half of the nineteenth century as a product of the creation and expansion of the first large military–industrial companies. As smaller countries and even newly industrializing countries like Russia and Japan could no longer produce cutting-edge military equipment with their Indigenous capacity-based resources, they increasingly began to contract the manufacturers of military equipment, such as battleships , artillery pieces and rifles to foreign government military entities. In 1854,
2576-509: The steepest year-on-year increase since 2009. SIPRI further found that the combined revenues of the top 100 largest defense companies totaled $ 597 billion in 2022, with the five largest companies by revenue being Lockheed Martin , RTX , Northrop Grumman , Boeing , and General Dynamics . SIPRI's data also showed that, between 2019 and 2023, the five largest arms exporting nations were the United States , France , Russia , China and Germany (taken together, they supplied approximately 75% of
2632-451: The total arms imports during the period. The top five arms importers – Saudi Arabia, India, Egypt, Australia, and Algeria – accounted for 35 percent of total arms imports in 2014–18. Of these, Saudi Arabia and India were among the top five importers in both 2009–13 and 2014–18. In 2014–18, the volume of major arms international transfers was 7.8 percent higher than in 2009–13 and 23 percent higher than that in 2004–08. The largest arms importer
2688-400: The underlying arms can be as low as zero in the case of military aid. Arms import rankings fluctuate heavily as countries enter and exit wars. Export data tend to be less volatile as exporters tend to be more technologically advanced and have stable production flows. 5-year moving averages present a much more accurate picture of import volume, free from yearly fluctuations. This is a list of
2744-502: The underlying arms can be as low as zero in the case of military aid. The following are estimates from Stockholm International Peace Research Institute . Overall global arms exports rose of about 6 per-cent in the last 5 years compared to the period 2010-2014 and increased by 20 per-cent since 2005–2009. Rankings for exporters below a billion dollars are less meaningful, as they can be swayed by single contracts. A much more accurate picture of export volume, free from yearly fluctuations,
2800-467: The war for earning their profits from weapons sales. An inquiry into these allegations in Britain failed to find evidence to support them. However, the sea change in attitude about war more generally meant that governments began to control and regulate the trade themselves. The volume of the arms trade greatly increased during the 20th century, and it began to be used as a political tool, especially during
2856-674: The world's arms exports during this period). In some regions of the world, there is a substantial trade in firearms for use by individuals (where such trade is legal, commonly cited purposes include self-defense and hunting/sporting). Trade in small arms , both legal and illegal, may be associated with violent crime and political instability . In 2017, the Small Arms Survey estimated that approximately one billion firearms were in global circulation; of those, 857 million (85%) were possessed by civilians, 133 million (13%) were possessed by national militaries, and 23 million (2%) belonged to law enforcement agencies. The Small Arms Survey also found that
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#17327987528162912-464: The world's largest arms manufacturers and other military service companies who profit the most from the war economy , their origin is shown as well. The information is based on a list published by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute for 2022. Arms control refers to international restrictions upon the development, production, stockpiling, proliferation, and usage of small arms, conventional weapons, and weapons of mass destruction . It
2968-537: The world. Legal transfers are generally defined as those approved by the involved governments and in accordance with national and international law. Black market (illegal) transfers violate either national or international law and take place without official government authorization. Gray market transfers are those of unclear legality that do not belong in either of the other categories. In 2003, various international organizations (including Amnesty International , Oxfam International , IANSA ), and domestic groups (e.g.
3024-459: Was Saudi Arabia, importing arms primarily from the United States, United Kingdom, and France. Between 2009–13 and 2014–18, the flow of arms to the Middle East increased by 87 percent. Also including India, Egypt, Australia, and Algeria, the top five importers received 35 percent of the total arms imports, during 2014–18. The five largest exporters were the United States, Russia, France, Germany and China. The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine changed
3080-477: Was able to adopt, for the first time by consensus, a substantive Outcome Document which addresses the issue of illicit trade across borders. A second conference convened from 27 August to 7 September 2012 in New York. Perhaps the greatest barrier to resolving debates over gun policy is the lack of comprehensive data. Although the UN Arms Register tries to keep track of major weapons holdings, there
3136-405: Was the first to break the news about the breakdown of HMS Prince of Wales , a British aircraft carrier, on the first day of the ship's deployment to the United States. This website-related article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Defence industry The arms industry , also known as the defense (or defence) industry , military industry , or the arms trade ,
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