South Korea’s defense exports reached $3.6 billion in 2014, the largest yearly amount since 2006, the state military procurement agency said Saturday.

According to data compiled by the Defense Acquisition Program Administration, the value of last year’s weapons exports was up from $3.42 billion recorded in the previous year.

The 2014 figure is the largest since 2006 when the procurement agency was established. That year, the total export volume came to $250 million, according to the DAPA.

Major deals South Korea won last year include a $1.2 billion order from the Royal Malaysian Navy to build six corvettes in November and a $420 million contract with the Philippines in March to export 12 FA-50 fighter jets.

“We expect this year’s volume to soar to $4 billion as South Korea has been pushing further to make inroads into the overseas defense market with diverse, high-tech-based items,” a DAPA official said, asking not to be named. (Yonhap)