Amidst escalating global security challenges, the company achieved a 10% increase in sales to £30.7bn and a 12% rise in underlying earnings per share. Chief executive Charles Woodburn attributed this growth to the dedication of the workforce and the business’s strategic positioning to provide both conventional systems and disruptive technologies in a new era of increased defence spending.

The company’s Scottish operations, which employ over 5,200 people, played a pivotal role in this success. A landmark £10 billion agreement between the UK and Norwegian governments to select the Type 26 as Norway’s preferred frigate has secured thousands of Scottish jobs well into the next decade. This momentum was further evidenced by the naming of HMS Glasgow, the first of eight Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy, by Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales.

To meet this rising demand, BAE Systems continues to invest heavily in its Glasgow infrastructure. The official opening of the Janet Harvey Hall, a central component of a £300 million investment, now allows for the simultaneous undercover construction of two complex warships.

Additionally, the Princess Royal opened a new £12m shipbuilding academy designed to provide lifelong skills training to the entire Naval Ships workforce. Beyond maritime achievements, the company remains essential to national security through its ongoing maintenance and support of the RAF’s Typhoon fleet at RAF Lossiemouth.