Russia has been a dominant force in the global arms trade for decades. Its weapons have been sold to countries around the world, often at lower prices than Western alternatives.
But things are changing. Russia's share of the international arms market has been shrinking for years, and the decline is only getting steeper.
This is due to a mix of factors, from its own war effort in Ukraine to aging technology and growing competition from other nations.
A new report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) shows how much Russia's position has weakened.
In 2015-2019, it controlled over 21% of the global arms market, according to WP. By 2020-2024, its share had dropped to just 7.8%.
This is a massive decline of 64% in just five years. Russia is now the world's third-largest arms exporter, behind the United States and France.
One reason for this drop is the war in Ukraine. Russia is losing enormous amounts of military equipment on the battlefield.
It needs to replace those losses, which reduces its ability to sell weapons abroad. Sanctions have also made it harder for Moscow to produce and export military hardware.
But the decline started even before the war. Russia's arms industry has struggled to keep up with modern technology.
Many of its weapons are based on Soviet-era designs that are becoming outdated. While some improvements have been made, they are often not enough to compete with more advanced Western systems.
At the same time, Russia is losing some of its most loyal customers. China and India, two of its biggest buyers, are now focusing on building their own weapons.
They are no longer just buyers but competitors in the arms market. Countries that once relied on Russian equipment, such as Tajikistan and Uzbekistan, are turning to alternatives from China and other suppliers.
Meanwhile, Western and South Korean arms exports are rising. The United States has orders for 966 military aircraft. France has 214.
Even smaller players like Italy and South Korea have significant arms sales. Russia, by comparison, has just 71 aircraft on order.
The same trend can be seen in other military hardware, including vehicles and artillery.
This shift is reshaping the global arms trade. Countries that want alternatives to Western weapons now have more options than ever.
Turkey, Israel, and China are all increasing their presence in the market. Russia is still a major player, but its influence is weakening.
If these trends continue, its role in the arms trade will keep shrinking in the years ahead.
