BAE Systems has announced its full-year results for 2024, highlighting 'significant achievements' in Lancashire.
The company, which employs nearly 12,000 people at its Warton and Samlesbury sites, reported a 14 per cent increase in sales, reaching £28.3 billion.
The air sector workforce in Lancashire provides 'vital' frontline combat air capabilities to the UK and international customers.
This includes 'around-the-clock' support to the Royal Air Force Typhoon fleet and leading the UK's industrial contribution to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
In 2024, BAE Systems' air sector reached an agreement with industry partners in Italy and Japan to form a joint venture to develop next-generation fighter jets under GCAP.
They also delivered four more Typhoons to Qatar and received additional orders for 25 aircraft from Spain and up to 24 from Italy.
Flight trials on the new Typhoon radar, ECRS Mk2, for the Royal Air Force, began from the flight testing facility in Warton.
The company bolstered its uncrewed aerial system offering, including the acquisition of UK-based drone makers Malloy Aeronautics and Callen-Lenz.
BAE Systems also recruited almost 1,000 experienced professionals and nearly 600 graduates and apprentices, with plans to hire hundreds more in 2025.
Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems chief executive, said: "The results we’re reporting today reflect the outstanding efforts of our employees and continue our track record of strong top-line and earnings growth, free cash flow, and orders.
"We’re supporting our customers around the world, while shaping our portfolio towards higher growth and strategically important markets.
"Across our business, we’re also investing in our people, facilities, and technologies to drive efficiencies, boost capacity, and increase our agility to deliver in a rapidly evolving environment.
"Based on the exceptional visibility of our record order backlog and sustainability of our value-compounding business model, we remain confident in the positive momentum of our business into the future."
BAE reported a £3bn rise in sales from 2023, a 14 per cent increase, despite its order intake falling by £4bn to £33.7bn, with its order backlog rising by £8bn to £77.8bn.
Revenue came in at 14 per cent higher than 2023, at £26.3bn, with operating profit up four per cent to £2.7bn. Dividends per share were 33p, up from 30p the year before.
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