Aerospace & Defence
BAE Systems is a major international defence, aerospace and security company. It develops, manufactures and supports military aircraft, naval vessels, combat vehicles, weapons, electronic systems and cyber and intelligence technologies.
Military aircraft, naval ships and submarines, combat vehicles, weapons systems, electronic warfare, surveillance, cyber security, intelligence systems and long-term equipment support.
Major exposure to the UK and US defence markets, with significant international business across allied governments and defence customers worldwide.
Government defence spending, major contract awards, geopolitical tensions, military modernisation programmes, order-book growth, programme delivery and foreign exchange movements.
Dependence on government defence budgets, programme delays and cost overruns, political or export restrictions, contract execution risk, currency movements and changing defence priorities.
30 July 2026: first-half sales rose 9% to £15.8bn and underlying EBIT increased 11% to £1.7bn. Order intake was £16.4bn, the backlog reached £84.0bn and management upgraded full-year guidance.
Established dividend payer with a progressive record. The 2025 final dividend of 22.8p went ex-dividend on 23 April 2026 and was paid on 4 June. The 2026 interim is 15.0p, ex-dividend 22 October and payable 2 December 2026.
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