Global military spending reached a record $2.4 trillion last year. This analysis details the financial scale, market leaders, and human capital driving the global defense industry.
Key Takeaways
- Global arms sales by top 100 companies reached $592 billion in 2022, up 3.7%
- Defense industry employed 3.5 million people globally in 2022 per SIPRI Top 100
- US SIPRI arms transfer data shows US share 40% of global major weapons 2019-2023
- World military expenditure reached $2,443 billion in 2023, marking a 6.8% increase in real terms from 2022
- Lockheed Martin net sales reached $67.6 billion in 2023, up 2% from 2022
- RTX R&D spend $2.8 billion in 2023, representing 4% of revenue
Defense industry statistics show strong growth in procurement and modernization, driven by rising global security demands.
Related reading
01 · Category
Arms Production and Sales30 stats
01
Global arms sales by top 100 companies reached $592 billion in 2022, up 3.7%
02
US companies' arms sales totaled $317 billion in 2022, 54% of top 100 total
03
Lockheed Martin topped SIPRI Top 100 with $59.4 billion arms sales in 2022
04
RTX arms revenues $24.0 billion in 2022, second in Top 100
05
Northrop Grumman arms sales $16.8 billion in 2022
06
Boeing arms sales $16.6 billion in 2022 despite commercial decline
07
Chinese companies' combined arms sales $27.0 billion in 2022, up 5.9%
08
Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) arms sales $8.6 billion in 2022
09
BAE Systems arms revenues £7.7 billion equivalent in 2022
10
Global arms production profit margins averaged 10.2% for Top 100 in 2022
11
US firms dominated Top 100 with 41 entries and 51% of sales in 2022
12
European companies' arms sales fell 1.5% to $109 billion in 2022
13
Leonardo S.p.A. arms sales €15.3 billion in 2022
14
Top 100 arms companies employed 2.47 million people in 2022
15
Arms sales as share of total sales for Top 100 averaged 42% in 2022
16
General Dynamics arms revenues $12.9 billion in 2022
17
L3Harris arms sales $7.7 billion in 2022
18
US DoD awarded $150 billion in contracts to top contractors in FY2023
19
F-35 Lightning II program cumulative sales exceeded 1,000 aircraft by 2023
20
Global missile market size projected to reach $72.8 billion by 2028 from $52.6 billion in 2023
21
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) market valued at $30.2 billion in 2023
22
Global military aircraft market size $105.4 billion in 2023
23
Armored vehicles production reached 4,500 units globally in 2023
24
Naval vessels deliveries totaled 120 warships worldwide in 2023
25
Artillery systems market $25.6 billion in 2023
26
Radar systems sales $14.8 billion for defense in 2023
27
Electronic warfare market $20.1 billion in 2023
28
Cybersecurity defense spending $15.7 billion globally in 2023
29
Satellite defense market $14.2 billion in 2023
30
Global defense IT spending $128 billion in 2023
Interpretation
Arms Production and Sales Interpretation
As a record $592 billion flowed into the world's top arms firms last year, one can't help but note that while the business of war is booming with remarkably steady profits, the global market for new fighter jets and missiles appears far more robust than the one for lasting peace.
02 · Category
Employment and Workforce30 stats
01
Defense industry employed 3.5 million people globally in 2022 per SIPRI Top 100
02
US defense sector supported 2.1 million jobs in 2023
03
Lockheed Martin employed 122,000 people worldwide as of 2023
04
RTX workforce totaled 185,000 employees in 2023
05
Boeing had 171,000 employees, with 35% in defense, approx 60,000 in 2023
06
Northrop Grumman employed 95,000 people in 2023
07
General Dynamics workforce 106,000 in 2023
08
BAE Systems employed 93,300 people globally in 2023
09
L3Harris had 50,000 employees in 2023 post-merger
10
Aerospace and defense manufacturing jobs in US: 2.2 million in 2023
11
STEM talent shortage in US defense: 300,000 unfilled positions projected by 2028
12
Women comprise 20% of US defense industry workforce in 2023
13
Veterans employed in defense industry: 700,000 in US 2023
14
R&D engineers in top US contractors: over 100,000 in 2023
15
Global defense supply chain workers: estimated 10 million indirect jobs 2023
16
UK defense sector direct employment 135,000, indirect 200,000 in 2023
17
French defense industry employs 165,000 directly in 2023
18
India's defense PSUs employ 400,000 people in 2023
19
China's defense industry workforce over 2 million estimated 2023
20
Turnover per employee in US defense firms averaged $400,000in 2023
21
Apprenticeships in UK defense: 10,000 new starts in 2023
22
Cyber skills gap in defense: 500,000 global shortage 2023
23
US DoD civilian workforce 800,000 in 2023
24
Diversity: 25% minorities in US defense manufacturing 2023
25
Average salary in US defense engineering $120,000in 2023
26
EU defense sector employment 600,000 direct jobs 2023
27
Shipbuilding yards employ 120,000 in US 2023
28
AI/ML specialists needed: 50,000 more in defense by 2025 from 2023 base
29
Global defense training market $12 billion spent on workforce dev 2023
30
Lockheed Martin invested $1.1 billion in employee training 2023
Interpretation
Employment and Workforce Interpretation
Beneath the trillion-dollar budgets and geopolitical strategy, the defense industry's most powerful and precarious asset is its vast human engine—millions of engineers, veterans, and factory workers from Silicon Valley to shipyards, all urgently needed yet increasingly hard to find and keep.
03 · Category
Global Exports and Trade24 stats
01
US SIPRI arms transfer data shows US share 40% of global major weapons 2019-2023
02
Russia arms exports fell 53% 2019-2023 to 11% global share
03
France increased arms exports 47% to 11% share 2019-2023
04
China arms exports up 13% but 5.8% global share 2019-2023
05
Germany arms exports down 4% to 5.6% share 2019-2023
06
India became 4th largest arms importer with 9.8% global share 2019-2023
07
Saudi Arabia largest arms importer 12% share 2019-2023
08
Qatar arms imports up 127% 2019-2023
09
Australia imports surged 49% led by Loyal Wingman UAVs 2019-2023
10
US notified Congress of $51 billion arms sales in 2023
11
Middle East received 29% of global arms imports 2019-2023
12
Asia and Oceania 42% of global arms imports 2019-2023
13
Europe's arms imports fell 18% 2019-2023
14
F-35 exports to 19 partner nations totaled 300+ aircraft by 2023
15
P-8 Poseidon aircraft exported to 9 countries, 120+ delivered by 2023
16
Global defense trade volume $100 billion annually average 2020-2023
17
Turkey's arms exports rose 120% to $5.5 billion in 2023
18
South Korea arms exports hit $17 billion 2019-2023
19
Ukraine received $50 billion in arms aid imports 2022-2023
20
Global small arms trade $8.5 billion in 2023
21
US DSCA approvals for Taiwan $19 billion since 2010 to 2023
22
Italy arms exports €14.2 billion in 2023
23
Brazil became top Latin American exporter with Bayraktar TB2 drones 2023
24
Arms trade transparency improved with 110 countries reporting to UNROCA 2023
Interpretation
Global Exports and Trade Interpretation
The global arms market is a grim comedy where the US plays a leading role with a 40% share while Russia’s exports collapse, France struts onto its level, China quietly climbs, and everyone from Australia to Qatar is stocking up, proving that the world is investing more in its divisions than its solutions.
More related reading
04 · Category
Global Military Spending29 stats
01
World military expenditure reached $2,443 billion in 2023, marking a 6.8% increase in real terms from 2022
02
US military spending in 2023 totaled $916 billion, accounting for 37% of global military expenditure
03
China's military expenditure grew by 6.0% to $296 billion in 2023, the second-largest spender worldwide
04
Russia's military spending increased by 24% to $109 billion in 2023 amid the war in Ukraine
05
India ranked fourth globally with $83.6 billion in military expenditure in 2023, up 4.2%
06
Global military spending as a share of GDP averaged 2.4% in 2023
07
Europe's military expenditure rose 16% to $444 billion in 2023, the steepest year-on-year increase since at least 1990
08
Ukraine's military spending surged 51% to $64.8 billion in 2023, 37% of GDP
09
Saudi Arabia's military expenditure was $75.8 billion in 2023, sixth largest globally
10
Middle East military spending increased 9.0% to $200 billion in 2023
11
Global military spending grew by 19% in real terms between 2014 and 2023
12
US military spending constituted 3.5% of GDP in 2023
13
Poland's military expenditure rose 75% to $31.6 billion in 2023, 3.9% of GDP
14
Japan's military spending increased 11% to $50.2 billion in 2023
15
South Korea's military budget was $46.3 billion in 2023, up 4.4%
16
Global military spending hit 2.2% of world GDP in 2023
17
Algeria's military expenditure grew 76% to $18.3 billion in 2023
18
Israel's military spending rose 24% to $27.5 billion in 2023
19
Australia increased military spending by 4.0% to $32.3 billion in 2023
20
World military expenditure in 2022 was $2,240 billion
21
The top 5 military spenders accounted for 61% of global total in 2023
22
NATO members' military spending reached $1,327 billion in 2023
23
Iran's military expenditure was $10.3 billion in 2023, up 12%
24
Global military spending per capita was about $307in 2023
25
Sub-Saharan Africa's military spending fell 7.2% to $22.2 billion in 2023
26
US DoD budget request for FY2024 was $842 billion
27
UK's military spending was $74.9 billion in 2023, 2.3% of GDP
28
France's military expenditure totaled $61.3 billion in 2023
29
Germany boosted military spending by 48% to $66.8 billion in 2023
Interpretation
Global Military Spending Interpretation
It seems the world is frantically upgrading to the 'Premium Global Conflict' subscription tier, with everyone from the US to Ukraine paying record fees while the fine print of geopolitical instability keeps auto-renewing.
05 · Category
Major Defense Contractors30 stats
01
Lockheed Martin net sales reached $67.6 billion in 2023, up 2% from 2022
02
RTX (Raytheon) reported 2023 revenues of $68.9 billion, a 3% increase YoY
03
Northrop Grumman 2023 sales were $39.3 billion, up 7.5%
04
Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment generated $25.0 billion in revenue in 2023, down 14%
05
General Dynamics 2023 revenues totaled $42.3 billion, up 8.8%
06
BAE Systems reported £25.3 billion in sales for 2023, up 14%
07
L3Harris Technologies 2023 revenue was $19.4 billion, up 10%
08
Huntington Ingalls Industries shipbuilding revenue reached $11.5 billion in 2023, up 12%
09
Lockheed Martin's F-35 program backlog stood at $137 billion as of 2023
10
RTX's Collins Aerospace segment contributed $7.0 billion in Q4 2023 sales
11
Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems sales were $12.4 billion in 2023
12
Boeing delivered 44 F/A-18 Super Hornets in 2023 under defense contracts
13
General Dynamics Mission Systems revenue was $9.7 billion in 2023
14
BAE Systems US operations generated $13.8 billion in 2023 sales
15
L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems sales reached $9.8 billion in 2023
16
Lockheed Martin backlog totaled $156 billion at end-2023
17
RTX Pratt & Whitney engines sales were $2.7 billion in Q4 2023
18
Northrop Grumman Space Systems revenue $11.1 billion in 2023
19
Boeing's T-7A Red Hawk trainer deliveries began in 2023 with DoD contract value $9.1 billion
20
General Dynamics Marine Systems built 1.7 amphibious ships worth $4.5 billion in 2023
21
BAE Systems Electronic Systems division sales £3.2 billion in 2023
22
L3Harris Communications Systems revenue $5.2 billion in 2023
23
Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control net sales $11.3 billion in 2023
24
RTX Missiles and Defense segment sales $10.4 billion in Q4 2023 annualized
25
Northrop Grumman Mission Systems sales $9.7 billion in 2023
26
Boeing Phantom Works R&D investment $1.2 billion in 2023
27
General Dynamics Information Technology revenue $4.1 billion in 2023
28
BAE Systems Platforms & Services US sales $5.6 billion in 2023
29
L3Harris Aerojet Rocketdyne acquisition added $2.3 billion revenue potential in 2023
30
Lockheed Martin Space segment sales $12.1 billion in 2023
Interpretation
Major Defense Contractors Interpretation
While global tensions provide a reliably grim growth chart, the defense industry's 2023 financials show a sector profitably humming along, with Lockheed and RTX neck-and-neck for the top spot at nearly $70 billion each, trailed by a pack of others posting steady gains—all except Boeing, which took a notable $4 billion tumble while its rivals happily cashed in.
06 · Category
R&D and Innovation24 stats
01
RTX R&D spend $2.8 billion in 2023, representing 4% of revenue
02
Northrop Grumman R&D investment $1.9 billion in 2023
03
Boeing defense R&D $3.2 billion in 2023
04
Global defense R&D spending $100 billion annually average 2020-2023
05
US DoD S&T budget $17.2 billion in FY2024 request
06
Hypersonic weapons R&D global investment $10 billion in 2023
07
AI in defense market $9.2 billion in 2023, projected $38.8 billion by 2028
08
Directed energy weapons R&D funding $1.5 billion US alone 2023
09
Quantum technology defense R&D $2.4 billion global 2023
10
Lockheed Martin hypersonic tech patents 150+ filed 2018-2023
11
DARPA budget $4.0 billion in FY2023 for breakthrough tech
12
Space domain awareness R&D $5.8 billion US 2023
13
Cyber R&D defense spending $11.2 billion global 2023
14
Unmanned systems R&D $8.5 billion in 2023
15
6G military comms R&D investment $1.2 billion 2023
16
Biotech defense R&D $900 million US 2023
17
Stealth tech advancements: B-21 Raider program $80 billion lifecycle R&D
18
Autonomous swarms R&D prototypes tested 50+ by US DoD 2023
19
Additive manufacturing in defense saved $500 million in prototyping 2023
20
Global defense 5G private networks R&D $3.1 billion 2023
21
Exoskeleton tech R&D contracts $400 million awarded 2023
22
Laser weapon systems fielded 10 prototypes by US Navy 2023
23
NGAD fighter jet R&D $2.5 billion annual US investment 2023
24
Defense blockchain R&D $600 million global 2023
Interpretation
R&D and Innovation Interpretation
While our collective human R&D budget for things like curing diseases remains tragically underwhelming, the global defense sector is investing tens of billions annually to ensure our future wars are fought with swarms of AI-driven hypersonic drones, laser weapons, and quantum-powered stealth jets—a staggering testament to our species' unparalleled commitment to perfecting the art of not getting along.
Reference
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APA
Leah Kessler. (2026, February 13). Defense Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/defense-industry-statistics
MLA
Leah Kessler. "Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/defense-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Leah Kessler. 2026. "Defense Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/defense-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
48 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level