BAE records record sales as orders soar

BAE Systems has reported a year of record sales and a strong order book driven by a ‘new era’ of defence spending.

The defence giant, which employs around 12,000 people at its Warton and Samlesbury planemaking sites in Lancashire, saw sales rise 10 per cent to hit a record £30.7bn.

Its full-year figures for 2025, published today, also show an order backlog that grew by £5.8bn to a record £83.6bn. BAE’s order intake was also strong at £36.8bn, with all sectors performing well.

Underlying earnings before interest and tax increased by 12 per cent to £3.32bn and the group announced a 10 per cent hike in dividends.

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems chief executive, said: “Our results highlight another year of strong operational and financial performance, thanks to the outstanding dedication of our employees.

“In a new era of defence spending, driven by escalating security challenges, we’re well positioned to provide both the advanced conventional systems and disruptive technologies needed to protect the nations we serve now and into the future.

“With a record order backlog and continuing investment in our business to enhance agility, efficiency and capacity, we’re confident in our ability to keep delivering growth over the coming years.”

BAE Systems said its Lancashire based combat air business had experience “significant success”.

In 2025 the company’s Air Sector secured Typhoon production into the next decade following an agreement between Turkey and the UK government to provide 20 aircraft and an associated weapons and integration package.

It also confirmed further orders totalling £0.8bn for major units on additional Typhoon aircraft for Germany and Italy.

BAE Systems launched Edgewing in 2025, a new joint venture with international industry partners in Italy and Japan, which will be held accountable for the design and development of the next generation combat aircraft under the GCAP programme.

The business also continued to make progress on the delivery of the UK’s combat air flying demonstrator, with two thirds of its structural weight now in manufacturing.

Other highlights in 2025 included securing a contract worth more than £450m to supply the Royal Air Force with cutting-edge ECRS Mk2 radar.

The business recruited 1,225 people to work at Warton and Samlesbury in 2025 and invested more than £460,000 in community projects across Lancashire.