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"The Arms Control Association’s work is an important resource to legislators and policymakers when contemplating a new policy direction or decision."

– General John Shalikashvili
former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
U.S. 1998 Data for the UN Conventional Arms Register
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U.S. 1998 Data for the UN Conventional Arms Register

On May 28, the United States reported its 1998 exports and imports of major conventional weapons to the voluntary UN Register of Conventional Weapons. Now in its seventh year, the register calls on countries to annually provide information on their trade in tanks, armored combat vehicles (ACVs), large-caliber artillery, combat aircraft, attack helicopters, warships and missiles and missile systems. Countries may also volunteer information on military holdings, procurement through national production and relevant arms transfer policies for the preceding calendar year. The register aims to promote transparency in armaments with the purpose of revealing destabilizing accumulations.

During 1998, the United States, according to its UN register data, exported 2,700 major conventional weapons to 28 countries and Taiwan. In comparison, the U.S. totaled 4,759 exports to 27 countries and Taiwan in 1997. The leading individual importer of U.S. arms in 1998 was Taiwan with 355 imports, while Europe, 1,067 imports, took delivery of the most weapons regionally.

Like 1997, missiles ranked as the top U.S. weapons system export at 1,749 deliveries, though the total fell well below the 1997 mark of 3,072, of which 1,502 went to Israel. While exports of battle tanks, ACVs, artillery and attack helicopters were lower than in 1997, exports of combat aircraft and warships increased.

U.S. imports for the year consisted of a single amphibious reconnaissance vehicle from Bosnia-Herzegovina. —For more information contact Wade Boese.


Region/Country Battle Tanks ACVs Heavy Artillery Combat Aircraft Attack Helicopters Warships Missiles & Launchers TOTAL
Africa 35
Egypt     24   7 4   35
Asia 876
Indonesia       2       2
Japan     12       327 339
Singapore       33     52 85
South Korea   59 10         69
Taiwan 120   28 52   2 153 355
Thailand   24         2 26
Europe 1067
Austria     12         12
Denmark     4         4
Finland       13     64 77
Germany             32 32
Greece     12 10 2   50 74
Netherlands         4   100 104
Norway     6       144 150
Sweden             213 213
Switzerland             37 37
Turkey   158   60     120 338
United Kingdom             26 26
Middle East 689
Bahrain             4 4
Israel     20 22     143 185
Jordan             150 150
Lebanon   73           73
Oman             110 110
Saudi Arabia   127   25       152
United Arab Emeriates             15 15
Other Regions 33
Argentina       15       15
Australia         10     10
Canada             7 7
New Zealand         1     1
TOTAL 120 441 128 232 24 6 1,749 2,700
...
U.S. Military Holdings and Procurement Through National Production
Category Military Holdings

1998 (1997)

Procurement

1998 (1997)

I. Battle Tanks 8,599 (8,971) 0 (0)
II. Armored Combat Vehicles 20,978 (22,747) 0 (0)
III. Large-Caliber Artillery Systems 8,919 (9,879) 0 (117)
IV. Combat Aircraft 2,970 (3,919) 20 (21)
V. Attack Helicopters 2,505 (2,816) 15 (7)
VI.Warships 329 (347) 9 (5)
VII. Missiles and Missile Launchers 120,951 (121,666) 0 (1,231)