BAE Systems lifts outlook confidence on £27bn+ 2025 orders
BAE Systems said H2 trading is on track and reaffirmed its upgraded 2025 guidance, underpinned by £27bn+ orders to date and more expected this year. Key wins include £4bn Typhoon for Türkiye, $3.3bn US electronics, $1.7bn US combat vehicles, £1.1bn MBDA awards, and £0.9bn Dreadnought, a substantial Type 26 order for Norway is due post-2025.
2025 guidance (unchanged), Sales +8–10%, EBIT +9–11%, EPS +8–10% (WANS 3.0bn), FCF £1.1bn (FX at $1.28/£, 5¢ move £525m sales/£75m EBIT/1.4p EPS).
Backed by NATO-aligned demand across air, sea, land and EW, BAE expects long-term growth from a strong backlog and pipeline. £1.5bn will be returned to shareholders in 2025 (dividends incl. 3 Dec interim, plus £500m buybacks).
US, UK sign $76.8m deal for missile re-entry heatshields
The US Navy has awarded TexTech Engineered Composites a $76.8 million IDIQ contract to supply carbon-phenolic heatshield and other re-entry materials for US and UK strategic missile programmes. The award 98% US, 2% UK via FMS runs through October 2030 with work in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. An initial $7.3 million was obligated at award, including $4.31 million in US RDT&E funds. The sole-source contract reflects TexTech’s niche capability in ablative thermal protection central to Trident re-entry vehicles.
Ajax programme wins Megaproject of the Year
The UK’s Ajax armoured fighting vehicle programme has won Megaproject of the Year at the Global Project Controls Expo Awards at Wembley Stadium.
Delivering 589 vehicles over the next decade, Ajax is a cornerstone of British Army modernisation and supports around 4,100 jobs across 230+ UK suppliers. Judges praised the programme’s unified data approach, strong governance and culture of innovation setting a benchmark for complex defence delivery.
DE&S leaders Simon Pearson and Shona Bates said the award recognises the team’s resilience and collaboration after early challenges, with Ajax now positioned to deliver long-term operational advantage. The MOD also sponsored Apprentice of the Year, won by BAE Systems’ Ellie James.
Elbit Systems UK delivers first GBSR radars to British Army
Elbit Systems UK has delivered the first 55 Ground Based Surveillance Radar (GBSR) systems to the Royal Artillery following successful live-fire trials. The portable radars provide two core functions, wide-area surveillance tracking and classifying personnel, vehicles, helicopters and drones and rapid fall-of-shot correction for mortar and artillery units to boost accuracy and lethality.
Designed to UK requirements and manufactured in the UK and Europe, GBSR uses an open architecture and forms part of ESUK’s detect and protect portfolio. Remaining units will be delivered later this year. CEO Martin Fausset said GBSR will “enhance situational awareness, keep troops safer, and give them the advantage in locating targets.”
UK to open veteran support hub network
MoD will launch a UK-wide network of VALOUR-backed centres from spring 2026 to support 1.8m veterans with health, housing, jobs and welfare plus £12m extra for homelessness and an extended Op FORTITUDE under a new Veterans Strategy focused on celebrating service, harnessing skills and targeted support.
SSC, Greenroom team on AUKUS naval autonomy
UK’s SubSea Craft will integrate Greenroom Robotics’ autonomy into its MARS uncrewed vessel building on recent trials in Tasmania and prior demos of MARS, VICTA and CADDIS in Australia and the US.
Leaders say the tie-up fast-tracks mission-ready capability and sets a new benchmark for human-machine teaming.
The pact follows an AUKUS model, UK design, Australian co-development, US payload integration.