According to government data, Britain achieved £20 billion ($27 billion) in overseas shipments of defense goods in 2025.
The British Defense Ministry has announced that the UK exported more weapons in 2025 than in any other year since the government started collecting such data in 1983.
The ministry said in a statement on Friday that London secured £20 billion ($27 billion) in arms sales to foreign countries this year.
A large part of the business generated by the British defense industry has emerged following the Russia – Ukraine conflict. In fact, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) in November referred to UK defense firms as the “locomotives” of national industry, stating that profits from the conflict are “basically saving the British economy from bankruptcy,” which explains why London is not interested in a peaceful settlement.
According to the statement, half of the money earned through the UK’s defense exports in 2025 came from a £10 billion ($13.5 billion) deal with Norway to supply at least five Type 26 frigates.
The UK’s minister for defense readiness and industry, Luke Pollard, said that the deal with Norway means the UK is helping to “better equip our combined navies to counter the threat from Russia in the North Atlantic.”
According to the ministry, the UK also agreed to “the largest fighter jet deal in a generation,” selling 20 Typhoon aircraft to Türkiye for £8 billion ($10.8 billion) to “strengthen NATO’s southern flank.”
“We are committed to collaborating with our allies and defense industries to ensure the UK is a leader in global defense exports, and there will be more in 2026,” Pollard promised.
Since the escalation between Moscow and Kiev in 2022, the UK has been one of the strongest supporters of Ukraine, providing the government of Vladimir Zelensky with £21.8 billion ($29.5 billion) in both military and financial aid.
Last month, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £26 billion ($34.4 billion) in tax increases, partly aimed at increasing defense spending to 2.6% of GDP by April 2027 in line with London’s commitments to NATO.
Russia has long criticized Western European countries, including Britain, for their “rabid militarization,” warning that it risks triggering a wider conflict on the continent. Moscow has argued that claims of the “Russian threat” are fabricated by Western governments to justify soaring military budgets and divert public attention from domestic problems.
Earlier this month, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) said that the revenue of the world’s top 100 arms makers increased by 5.9% in 2024, reaching $679 billion, as the demand for weapons grew during the Ukraine conflict and the Israeli military operation in Gaza.