The report said Israel's defense industry has been exporting 70 percent
of its products, Middle East Newsline reported. Midroog said the three leading defense contractors —
Israel Aerospace Industries, Elbit Systems and Rafael Advanced Defense
Systems — have built up a combined orders backlog of $16 billion by the end of 2010.
At the end of 2009, the orders backlog reached $14.5 billion.
"From 2012-2013 an increase in the orders faces tougher challenges," the
report said. "The moderate growth in the American and European defense
budgets will serve as a challenge for companies in the [Israeli] industry."
The report said 2010 marked an Israeli defense export record.
Defense exports were said to have reached $7.2 billion in an industry that
employs more than 100,000 people.
Midroog, however, said NATO members could quickly drop Israeli equipment
such as unmanned aerial vehicles and armor when the Western alliance
withdraws from Afghanistan and Iraq. At the same time, the report warned,
the United States was encouraging its defense companies to explore new
markets, particularly India, deemed Israel's leading client.
The report suggested that Israel's military would become an increasing
focus for local defense contractors amid the decline in the export market.
Midroog said the Israeli government was committed to increase procurement of
weapons
and defense services.
"In Israel, the growing trend in defense budgets is expected to
continue," the report said.
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