The United Kingdom recorded its highest-ever arms exports in 2025, with overseas shipments of defense goods reaching £20 billion, according to figures released by the British Ministry of Defence. The total marks a record since the government began tracking such data in 1983.
In a statement issued on Friday, the ministry said the surge reflects strong global demand for British military equipment, much of it driven by heightened security concerns following the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Half of the total export value came from a £10 billion agreement with Norway to supply at least five Type 26 frigates, a deal British officials say will strengthen naval capabilities in the North Atlantic.
UK Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said the Norway agreement would help better equip allied navies to counter what he described as the threat from Russia. He added that London intends to maintain its position as a leading global arms exporter, signalling further growth in 2026.
Another major contributor to the record total was what the government described as the largest fighter jet deal in a generation. Britain agreed to sell 20 Typhoon aircraft to Türkiye for £8 billion, a move officials said would reinforce NATO’s southern flank.
Britain has been among Ukraine’s most vocal supporters since the conflict escalated in 2022, providing £21.8 billion in military and financial assistance to Kyiv. The expansion of arms exports has coincided with broader efforts to raise defence spending at home. Last month, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced £26 billion in tax increases, partly aimed at lifting defence expenditure to 2.6 percent of GDP by April 2027 to meet NATO commitments.
Moscow has criticised Britain and other Western European countries for what it calls aggressive militarisation, warning that rising defence budgets risk fuelling a wider conflict. Russian officials argue that the narrative of a growing Russian threat is being used to justify higher military spending and divert attention from domestic economic pressures.
The UK’s record year comes amid a broader global increase in arms sales. Earlier this month, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reported that revenues among the world’s top 100 arms manufacturers rose nearly six percent in 2024, reaching $679 billion, as demand surged due to the war in Ukraine and the conflict in Gaza.
