While war may be humanity's oldest scourge, its industrialized form is now a near $600 billion a year economic engine, fueling everything from the production of a new stealth bomber every month to the employment of millions.
Key Takeaways
- In 2022, the global arms industry generated total sales of $592 billion, marking a 3.9% increase from 2021.
- Lockheed Martin achieved $67.6 billion in total revenue in 2022, with 71% from U.S. government contracts.
- RTX (Raytheon Technologies) reported $67.1 billion in net sales for 2022, up 11% from the previous year.
- The US arms industry produced over 1.5 million small arms in 2022.
- Lockheed Martin delivered 142 F-35 aircraft in 2022 across all variants.
- Boeing produced 28 F/A-18 Super Hornets in 2022 for US Navy.
- The weapons industry employed 2.5 million people directly in the US in 2022.
- Lockheed Martin had 121,000 employees worldwide as of 2022.
- RTX employed 174,000 people in 2022, with 70% in US.
- Global arms exports reached $108 billion in 2018-2022, down 5.1% from prior period.
- US share of global arms exports was 40% in 2018-2022.
- France became world's second largest arms exporter with 11% share 2018-2022.
- Lockheed Martin R&D spending was $1.6 billion in 2022.
- RTX invested $2.8 billion in R&D in 2022 across defense tech.
- Northrop Grumman R&D expenditure $1.2 billion in 2022.
The global weapons industry saw massive growth in sales and production during 2022.
Arms Exports
1Global arms exports reached $108 billion in 2018-2022, down 5.1% from prior period.
Verified2US share of global arms exports was 40% in 2018-2022.
Verified3France became world's second largest arms exporter with 11% share 2018-2022.
Verified4Russia’s arms exports fell 53% between 2013-17 and 2018-22.
Directional5Saudi Arabia was top importer, receiving 9.8% of global arms imports 2018-2022.
Single source6India remained largest arms importer at 11% of global total 2018-2022.
Verified7US exported major arms worth $52 billion annually avg 2018-2022.
Verified8F-35 exports: 258 jets delivered to allies by 2022.
Verified9Germany approved €100 billion arms export surge post-Ukraine 2022.
Directional10Ukraine received $50 billion in arms transfers since 2022 invasion.
Single source11Australia signed AUKUS deal for nuclear subs, $368 billion over 30 years.
Verified12Qatar top recipient of US arms, $20 billion in deals 2018-2022.
Verified13P-8 Poseidon aircraft exported to 10 nations, 120+ units by 2022.
Verified14HIMARS exported to Poland: 290 units approved 2022.
Directional15Turkey exported $3.6 billion in defense goods in 2022.
Single source16South Korea arms exports hit $17 billion in 2022.
Verified17Brazil exported $1.5 billion arms in 2022 led by Embraer.
Verified18Apache helicopters exported: 500+ to 15 countries by 2022.
Verified19Eurofighter Typhoon exports: 160 jets to 6 nations by 2022.
Directional20Global arms trade volume: 12% drop to $108 billion TIV 2018-2022.
Single source21US DSCA approved $238 billion in arms sales 2018-2022.
Verified22Egypt imported $5 billion arms yearly avg, mostly US.
Verified23Patriot systems exported to 19 countries, 1,200 launchers by 2022.
VerifiedArms Exports Interpretation
Amidst a slight global dip in this grim commerce, America remains its unshakable pillar, France edges into second as Russia stumbles, and a familiar cast of anxious nations continues to trade fortunes for firepower.
Employment Numbers
1The weapons industry employed 2.5 million people directly in the US in 2022.
Verified2Lockheed Martin had 121,000 employees worldwide as of 2022.
Verified3RTX employed 174,000 people in 2022, with 70% in US.
Verified4Boeing's defense workforce stood at 34,000 in 2022.
Directional5Northrop Grumman employed 95,000 staff in 2022.
Single source6General Dynamics had 106,000 employees in 2022.
Verified7BAE Systems employed 93,000 people globally in 2022.
Verified8L3Harris had 47,000 employees in 2022.
Verified9US defense sector supported 3.5 million jobs including indirect in 2022.
Directional10Huntington Ingalls employed 44,000 shipbuilders in 2022.
Single source11Global arms industry direct employment ~10 million in 2022 per SIPRI.
Verified12Raytheon Missiles & Defense unit had 65,000 employees in 2022.
Verified13Lockheed Martin added 5,000 jobs in 2022 for F-35 ramp-up.
Verified14Boeing hired 10,000 in defense division 2022 amid backlog.
Directional15Northrop Grumman workforce grew 2% to 95,000 in 2022.
Single source16BAE Systems US subsidiary employed 35,000 in 2022.
Verified17General Dynamics increased Marine Systems staff by 1,500 in 2022.
Verified18Europe's arms firms employed 1.2 million in 2022.
Verified19Thales Group had 81,000 employees in 2022.
Directional20Leonardo S.p.A. employed 53,000 worldwide in 2022.
Single source21Rheinmetall workforce reached 30,000 in 2022.
Verified22Saab AB employed 21,000 in 2022.
Verified23Elbit Systems had 18,000 employees in 2022.
Verified24Textron defense employees ~25,000 in 2022.
Directional25US DoD civilian workforce in procurement 180,000 in 2022.
Single source26Arms industry STEM jobs in US: 1 million in 2022.
Verified27Lockheed F-35 program supports 1,800 US suppliers employing 254,000.
VerifiedEmployment Numbers Interpretation
If the global arms industry were a small country, its 10 million direct employees and vast ecosystem of allied jobs would make it a surprisingly bustling and well-armed one, proving that while peace is the goal, preparing for conflict remains a remarkably labor-intensive business.
Production Volumes
1The US arms industry produced over 1.5 million small arms in 2022.
Verified2Lockheed Martin delivered 142 F-35 aircraft in 2022 across all variants.
Verified3Boeing produced 28 F/A-18 Super Hornets in 2022 for US Navy.
Verified4Raytheon manufactured 1,200 Stinger missiles in 2022 amid Ukraine demand.
Directional5Northrop Grumman produced 12 B-21 Raider stealth bombers in initial low-rate production by 2023.
Single source6General Dynamics Land Systems delivered 250 Abrams M1A2 tanks upgrades in 2022.
Verified7BAE Systems produced 300 M109 howitzers for US Army in 2022.
Verified8Global production of combat drones exceeded 5,000 units in 2022.
Verified9US munitions production ramped up to 36,000 155mm artillery shells per month by late 2023.
Directional10Lockheed Martin built 18 F-16 Block 70/72 aircraft in 2022 for export.
Single source11RTX produced 500 JASSM-ER cruise missiles in 2022.
Verified12Shipbuilding: Huntington Ingalls launched 2 Virginia-class submarines in 2022.
Verified13Global tank production totaled 1,200 main battle tanks in 2022.
Verified14Poland's PGZ group produced 250 Rosomak IFVs in 2022.
Directional15Turkey's Baykar produced 200 Bayraktar TB2 drones in 2022.
Single source16Israel Aerospace Industries manufactured 50 Heron TP drones in 2022.
Verified17Rheinmetall produced 1 million 155mm shells capacity targeted for 2024, from 2022 base.
Verified18US Precision Guided Munitions output: 2,000 JDAMs per month in 2023.
Verified19BAE Hawk trainer aircraft: 12 delivered in 2022.
Directional20Saab Gripen production: 10 new jets for Sweden in 2022.
Single source21Leonardo AW169 helicopters: 25 military variants produced in 2022.
Verified22Global small arms production estimated at 10 million firearms annually avg 2020-2022.
Verified23F-35 total production reached 1,000th jet in 2023, 758 by end 2022.
Verified24Virginia-class subs: 2 commissioned, 10 in production pipeline 2022.
Directional25HIMARS launchers: Lockheed delivered 50 in 2022.
Single source26Patriot PAC-3 MSE missiles: RTX produced 550 in 2022.
VerifiedProduction Volumes Interpretation
While the world talks of peace, its workshops hum a different tune, forging over a million rifles, a stealth bomber dozen, and enough artillery shells each month to make every sunset a potential fireworks show.
R&D Spending
1Lockheed Martin R&D spending was $1.6 billion in 2022.
Verified2RTX invested $2.8 billion in R&D in 2022 across defense tech.
Verified3Northrop Grumman R&D expenditure $1.2 billion in 2022.
Verified4Boeing Defense R&D $1.9 billion in 2022 for hypersonics and autonomy.
Directional5BAE Systems R&D spend £1.1 billion in 2022.
Single source6General Dynamics R&D $0.7 billion in 2022.
Verified7Global arms industry R&D totaled ~$50 billion in 2022 per estimates.
Verified8DARPA budget for weapons tech $3.9 billion in FY2022.
Verified9US DoD total R&D $119 billion in FY2022, much for industry.
Directional10Lockheed hypersonic R&D $300 million in 2022.
Single source11Raytheon hypersonic weapons R&D $500 million annually avg.
Verified12Northrop B-21 R&D costs exceeded $2 billion by 2022.
Verified13Europe's EDA R&D funding €1.4 billion in 2022.
Verified14Thales R&D investment €1.3 billion in 2022.
Directional15Leonardo R&D €900 million in 2022 for next-gen fighters.
Single source16Rheinmetall R&D €500 million in 2022 for ammo production tech.
Verified17Saab R&D SEK 5.5 billion in 2022.
Verified18Elbit Systems R&D $450 million in 2022.
Verified19Global directed energy weapons R&D market $5 billion in 2022.
Directional20US Navy hypersonic R&D $1.5 billion FY2022.
Single source21AI in weapons R&D: $12 billion DoD spend 2022.
Verified22Quantum tech for defense R&D $1 billion US 2022.
Verified23Space weapons R&D $18 billion global 2022.
VerifiedR&D Spending Interpretation
Behold the modern-day alchemists, who transmute billions in R&D into the grim assurance that tomorrow's weapons will be just as obsolete the day after.
Revenue and Profits
1In 2022, the global arms industry generated total sales of $592 billion, marking a 3.9% increase from 2021.
Verified2Lockheed Martin achieved $67.6 billion in total revenue in 2022, with 71% from U.S. government contracts.
Verified3RTX (Raytheon Technologies) reported $67.1 billion in net sales for 2022, up 11% from the previous year.
Verified4Boeing's Defense, Space & Security segment generated $25.0 billion in revenue in 2022.
Directional5Northrop Grumman recorded $39.3 billion in total revenue for 2022, with a profit margin of 11.5%.
Single source6BAE Systems plc had arms sales of £25.3 billion in 2022, representing 92% of total revenue.
Verified7General Dynamics reported $39.4 billion in revenue for 2022, primarily from Marine Systems and Aerospace.
Verified8L3Harris Technologies generated $17.8 billion in revenue in 2022, with 85% from defense contracts.
Verified9The top 100 arms companies had combined arms sales of $592 billion in 2022, up from $569 billion in 2021.
Directional10US arms firms' sales reached $329 billion in 2022, accounting for 55% of the top 100 global total.
Single source11European arms companies saw sales of $137 billion in 2022, a 12% increase year-over-year.
Verified12China's top arms firms reported $103 billion in sales in 2022, up 5.9% from 2021.
Verified13Lockheed Martin's profit from continuing operations was $5.7 billion in 2022.
Verified14RTX's operating profit margin in defense segments was 12.4% in 2022.
Directional15BAE Systems' underlying profit before tax was £2.5 billion in 2022.
Single source16Northrop Grumman's Aeronautics Systems segment revenue was $12.3 billion in 2022.
Verified17General Dynamics' Combat Systems revenue hit $9.2 billion in 2022.
Verified18Global arms industry profits for top firms averaged 8-12% margins in 2022 per SIPRI data.
Verified19Boeing Defense revenue grew 6% to $25 billion in 2022 driven by KC-46 and T-7 contracts.
Directional20L3Harris Integrated Mission Systems revenue was $8.7 billion in 2022.
Single source21In 2021, arms sales by top 100 companies were $569 billion, with US dominance at $288 billion.
Verified22Leonardo S.p.A. reported €14.7 billion in revenue in 2022, 78% from defense.
Verified23Thales Group achieved €18.4 billion in sales in 2022, up 10%.
Verified24Huntington Ingalls Industries revenue was $11.4 billion in 2022 from shipbuilding.
Directional25Textron's Bell segment revenue $7.0 billion in 2022 from helicopters.
Single source26Elbit Systems Ltd. revenue $6.0 billion in 2022, 85% defense-related.
Verified27Saab AB arms sales SEK 38.3 billion in 2022.
Verified28Dassault Aviation military aircraft revenue €5.2 billion in 2022.
Verified29Rheinmetall AG revenue €6.4 billion in 2022, up 28%.
Directional30In 2023 Q1, Lockheed Martin revenue $15.6 billion, up 11% YoY.
Single sourceRevenue and Profits Interpretation
While the world debates peace, the ledger books of war just posted another record quarter, with Lockheed Martin leading a parade of defense contractors whose profits are as reliably booming as the conflicts they supply.
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