Britain’s global arms deals jump 53pc as aerospace takes off

SALES of defence equipment to foreign customers surged 53pc last year to £9bn, confirming the UK’S position as one of the world’s top arms exporters.

The data were released by the Defence & Security Organisation (DSO), part of the Department for International Trade that helps UK businesses land export deals.

“The global defence market last year was estimated to be valued at close to $98bn (£76bn), the biggest it has been in a decade,” the DSO said.

“It is a significant total given the impact of global economic uncertainties post-2014 that included volatility of the oil price,” it added, referring to increasing demand for weaponry from Middle Eastern nations.

Aerospace sales dominated UK arms exports, making up 87pc of the total, compared with just 7pc for naval equipment and 6pc for land warfare sales.

The DSO singled out sales of components for the F-35 joint strike fighter – of which BAE Systems has a 15pc share – as a major contributor to aerospace’s dominance.