BAE Systems reports strong half-year results as sales rise

It has seen significant progress across its Lancashire operations.

Key highlights include a contract from the UK Government to support Türkiye’s order of 20 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft, with manufacturing of components already underway at BAE’s Samlesbury site.

Delivery of the first aircraft is scheduled for 2030, with construction of parts taking place at its Lancashire sites in Samlesbury and Warton.

Charles Woodburn, chief executive of BAE Systems, said: "Across the business, our outstanding teams have delivered another strong period of operational and financial performance, which gives us the confidence to upgrade our full year guidance."

April also saw a successful test firing of the APKWS precision weapon system from a Typhoon aircraft at BAE’s Warton flight test facility, in collaboration with the UK Royal Air Force.

This resulted in the system being rapidly deployed operationally in the Middle East.

At the Farnborough International Airshow, BAE unveiled Brontanax, the UK’s first uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

Designed and built at its Warton site, the aircraft is expected to deliver electronic warfare and precision strike capabilities.

Mr Woodburn said: "Alongside our focus on meeting our customers' needs today, we continue to invest in our business to accelerate innovation, drive efficiencies and boost capacity, so we can get mission-critical capabilities into the hands of those who need them, faster."

Edgewing, a joint venture involving BAE, also secured more than £5 billion in its first international contracts for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

This funding will support the completion of the advanced concept and assessment phase, with detailed design and development work taking place across Lancashire.

Financially, BAE reported a nine per cent increase in sales to £15.8 billion for the first half of 2026, with underlying EBIT up 11 per cent to £1.7 billion and free cash flow reaching £1.79 billion.

Order intake remained robust at £16.4 billion, with a record order backlog of £84 billion.