New figures published by the U.K. Trade and Investment’s Defense and Security Organization (UKTI DSTO) show that United Kingdom defense exports totaled approximately $13.6 billion over the past year, a rise of 62 percent from 2011 in a global market that grew by 45 percent.
The U.K. thus retains its No. 2 position behind the United States.
Orders contributing to the strong results included the Typhoon and Hawk aircraft.
The Typhoon program alone supports an estimated 8,600 jobs, the trade office said, across companies including BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and SELEX Galileo and their supply chains with an estimated further 1,500 jobs depending on export opportunities.
Minister for Defense, Equipment Support and Technology Philip Dunne said: “The U.K. continues to capture 20 percent of the global defense export market. Maintaining this level and growing security exports to 5 percent by 2015 are the key targets for UKTI Defense & Security Organization. Last year’s expansion in the defense sector was supported by U.K. export growth of 4 percent to (about $4 billion) in the security sector, in a global market that grew by 3 percent.”
Combined defense and security exports rose to approximately $17.7 billion in 2012, up from $13.6 billion in 2011.
Business Minister Michael Fallon said: “The increase in the security sector reinforces a consistent picture of year on year growth in a highly competitive market. Growth is particularly strong in the cyber security sector which is critical to the U.K.’s national security.”