Sales of American military equipment to foreign countries in the 2024 fiscal year (ending September 30) reached a historic high of $318.7 billion.
According to data from the U.S. Department of State, direct foreign sales of weapons by American companies increased to $200.8 billion, compared to $157.5 billion in 2023, while sales organized through the U.S. government rose to $117.9 billion from $80.9 billion. Overall, U.S. weapon sales abroad grew by 29% over the year.
Among the major deals approved in 2024, the State Department mentions the delivery of F-16 fighter jets and their upgrades to Turkey worth $23 billion, F-15 fighter jets for Israel valued at $18.8 billion, and M1A2 Abrams tanks for Romania valued at $2.5 billion.
The U.S. Department of State emphasizes that the sale and transfer of weapons are important tools of foreign policy that can influence regional and global security.
