This monograph investigates the structural evolution and economic scale of the global arms industry in the immediate aftermath of the Cold War. Herbert Wulf, a prominent researcher associated with the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), compiles empirical data to assess how defense manufacturers adapted to shifting geopolitical landscapes. The text provides a rigorous framework for understanding the transition from state-centric military production to the complex, internationalized market dynamics that emerged following the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Experts recognize this work as a foundational empirical resource for understanding the defense industrial base during a pivotal transition period in global politics. Readers frequently note the technical density of the data, which serves as a primary reference for scholars of international security and military economics.