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Swiss firm RUAG still ranks among top 100 arms sellers 

RUAG employees demonstrate an exercise rifle
RUAG employees demonstrate how to use a rifle sold by the company. © Keystone / Georgios Kefalas

Arms sales increased by 4.6% worldwide in 2018 in a market dominated by the United States. Swiss defence and aerospace company RUAG kept its spot among the top 100 arms dealers, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI).  


RUAG retained its rank of 95th in 2018. In line with a government decision, the technology group is splitting next year so that units catering to the Swiss Armed Forces are distinct from those serving the international market.External link 

MRO Switzerland (RUAG MRO Holding AG) and RUAG International (RUAG Holding AG) will be created on January 1, 2020, under the umbrella of the new holding company BGRB Holding AG. 

The world’s 100 largest arms manufacturers sold $420 billion (CHF416 billion) worth of weapons and services last year. The American arms industry has a 59% market share. Russia comes a distant second, with 8.6% of the market share just ahead of the United Kingdom (8.4%) and France (5.5%). 

European companies control less than a quarter of the market overall. 

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