Your trusted source

Azerbaijan was the largest importer of major weapons in Europe, with deliveries increasing by 217 per cent between 2006–10 and 2011–15, according to a February 2016 report by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)

According to SIPRI, Russia’s arms supplies to Europe increased by 264 per cent, mainly due to deliveries to Azerbaijan, which in 2011–15 accounted for 4.9 per cent of all Russian exports as against 0.7 per cent in 2006–10.

In total, according to the report, the volume of international transfers of major weapons in 2011–15 was 14 per cent higher than in 2006–10. The five biggest exporters in 2011–15 were the United States, Russia, China, France and Germany, and the five biggest importers were India, Saudi Arabia, China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Australia.

The SIPRI Arms Transfers Database contains information, often estimates, on all international transfers of major weapons (including sales, gifts and production under licence) to states, international organisations and armed non-state groups since 1950.