LONDON, May 21 (UPI) -- Israel's unmanned aerial vehicle manufacturers are the world's top UAV exporters, garnering $4.62 billion from 2005-12.
A market analysis firm Frost and Sullivan said Britain is Israel's leading customer, with India and Brazil showing strong spending for UAVs from Israeli original equipment manufacturers.
"Israeli defense firms rely on exports for the majority of their revenue," said Frost and Sullivan Aerospace and Defense Senior Industry Analyst Michael Blades. "UAS exports have accounted for nearly 10 percent of the country's total defense export industry and this is expected to increase."
Contributing to the strong Israeli position is stringent U.S. rules on the import and export of defense-related products into the United States through the International Traffic in Arms Regulations.
"As worldwide demand for UASs increases, growth in Israeli UAS export and licensing agreement values are expected to grow since they are not subjected to the same "red tape" process that hinders the U.S. State Department's Foreign Military Sales processes, the analysis said.
"Total defense exports will likely increase steadily, as Israeli companies form strategic partnerships and continue aggressive marketing campaigns with countries in growing UAS markets, such as Africa, APAC and South America."
