World's Top 5 arms exporters (5 images)

The United-States remains the largest exporter of conventional weapons in the world. The U.S accounts for 33 percent of global arms transfers, up from 29 percent in 2006-2010, according to SIPRI. TOP CLIENTS 2011-2015 – Saudi Arabia (9.7 percent), United Arab Emirates (9.1 percent), Turkey (6.6 percent) 2006-2010 – South Korea (15 percent), Israel (13 percent), United Arab Emirates (11 percent). Pictured: An M1A2 Abrams tank during a live-fire exercise at the Romanian Land Forces Combat Training Center near Cincu, Romania, on Aug. 6, 2016. Photo by John Farmer/U.S. Army

Russia remains the second largest weapons supplier in the world with a 25 percent share in 2011-2015, up from 22 percent 2006-2010. TOP CLIENTS 2011-2015 – India (39 percent), China (11 percent), Vietnam (11 percent) 2006-2010 – China (40 percent), India (20 percent) Pictured: Russian tanks ride through Red Square during a Victory Day military parade marking the defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. UPI file

Leaping from the world's eighth-largest weapons exporter in 2006-2010 (3.6 percent share) to No. 3 in 2011-2015 (5.9 percent share), China is becoming a major player in supplying weapons for conflicts and general defense around the world. China has moved from a net arms importer to a powerhouse exporter in just a few short years, producing its own versions of Russian military hardware as well as developing weapons technology for its own use and for sale around the world. TOP CLIENTS 2011-2015 – Pakistan (35 percent), Bangladesh (20 percent), Myanmar (16 percent) Pictured: Dozens of tank crews joined 12,000 soldiers and hundreds of mobile ballistic missile launchers, amphibious assault vehicles, drones, fighter jets, helicopters and other military equipment in a massive parade marking the 70th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2015. China maintains the world's largest standing army with 2.3 million troops. Photo by Stephen Shaver/UPI

France is ranked fourth, while it used to be considered as the third largest weapons exporter until 2006, the SIPRI study shows. The French arms exports are estimated at 8% of the total sales. United Arab Emirates (32%), Singapore (13%) and Greece (12%) are the largest of France’s clients. Among its top sales, France delivered Mirage Combat Aircrafts to the UAE in the last five years. Pictured above, the Dassault Mirage 2000. (UPI Photo/David Silpa)