The Ministry of Defence says UK defence exports have exceeded £20 billion in 2025, a figure it expects to stand as the highest annual total since current records began more than 40 years ago.
Officials link the growth to two headline contracts: a £10 billion agreement with Norway for at least five Type 26 frigates and an £8 billion deal to sell 20 Typhoon fighter jets to Türkiye. The MoD claims these sales will support more than 25,000 jobs in shipbuilding and aerospace supply chains.
Luke Pollard, the minister for defence readiness and industry, framed the figures as evidence that defence is becoming a tool of industrial policy. He said: “We are showing again how this government is delivering on our pledge to make defence an engine for economic growth across the country while boosting our security and that of our allies.”
Pollard linked the Norway frigate sale to joint naval strategy in the North Atlantic, arguing that it “better equips our combined navies to counter the threat from Russia”. On the Typhoon agreement, he said it “secures high skilled jobs in Lancashire, Scotland and across the UK whilst helping strengthen NATO’s southern flank.”
Beyond the flagship sales, the MoD lists 12 C 130s sold to Türkiye, valued at more than £550 million for the UK and Marshall Aerospace, and a smaller land systems export to Czechia. Longer term, ministers highlight AUKUS submarine cooperation with Australia, which they suggest could generate up to £20 billion in export value.
Rupert Pearce, the National Armaments Director, said the current approach is designed to link exports to alliance strategy rather than treating them as purely commercial acts. He argued that
“these export successes reflect the NAD Group’s mission to strengthen international partnerships while driving economic growth at home.”
This aligns with the Strategic Defence Review’s claim that defence production can offset rearmament costs. Avril Jolliffe, director general for international collaboration and exports, emphasised the shift in institutional structure:
“This is not just about selling equipment. It is about building defence partnerships that support collective security and UK economic objectives.”
Ministers also point to the UK joining the Agreement on Defence Export Controls with France, Germany and Spain, which they say should streamline licensing for future deals.
