Defence firms in the United States accounted for well over half of the global sales of military equipment and services by the world's top 100 arms groups in 2018, a Swedish-based research institute says.
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Global sales were worth $US420 billion ($A614 billion) in 2018, the most recent year covered by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).
As in past years, SIPRI said it did not include firms in China, citing lack of data.
The top 100 list included 43 US companies. They accounted for 59 per cent of global arms sales with sales of $US246 billion.
Combined sales of the 10 Russian firms on the top 100 list accounted for almost 9 per cent of global sales, a slight drop compared to 2017.
Of the top 100 global defence companies, 70 were based in the US and Western Europe. They accounted for about 83 per cent of global sales for 2018, according to SIPRI's estimates.
Lockheed Martin cemented its position as the world's largest arms seller with 11 per cent of global sales. SIPRI said the maker of the F-35 combat aircraft had sales of $US47.2 billion.
Created in 1966 by the Swedish parliament, SIPRI tracks military spending and arms transfers.
Australian Associated Press
