Producers of Small Arms, Light Weapons, and Their Ammunition (Research Note 43)

Rifles, including assault rifles, have constituted the bulk of military small arms production in the 20th and 21st centuries, and are manufactured widely throughout the world.

There are thousands of companies, from some 100 countries, that produce small arms, light weapons, and their ammunition.

Producers of Small Arms, Light Weapons, and Their Ammunition , a Small Arms Survey Research Note, identifies thirty states that are major producers of small arms, light weapons, and their ammunition. It identifies thirty-six companies as significant producers of ammunition for export to military customers, and about a dozen countries that produce advanced guided light weapons.

The Note draws on existing industry data and authorized trade reports to provide insights into the main producers and categories of weapons produced worldwide, primarily covering arms intended for military use. However, the opacity of the market makes it a challenging exercise to comprehensively identify producers and provide precise estimates of the global production of small arms and light weapons.

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