The UK’s defence exports increased significantly in 2024, with total orders reaching £13.2 billion, according to new figures released by the UK Ministry of Defence.
The latest statistics show a 10.4% rise compared with £11.9 billion in 2023, reflecting growing international demand for British military equipment and technology.
The data was published in the UK Defence Export Statistics report, part of the Ministry of Defence’s Finance and Economics Statistical Bulletin series. The report analyses trends in defence export orders, including the sectors involved and the regions purchasing British defence products.
The figures reveal that Europe has become the largest destination for UK defence exports, overtaking the Middle East for the first time in recent years. The increase was largely driven by major defence deals with Poland, which significantly boosted export orders across the continent.
Between 2020 and 2024, Europe accounted for 38.4% of all UK defence export orders. Over a longer period, the value of exports to Europe has grown sharply, rising from around £0.7 billion in 2017 to £3.6 billion in 2024.
The report suggests that rising defence spending across Europe, particularly following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, has played a major role in strengthening demand for British military systems.
Despite fluctuations in individual years, the overall trend for UK defence exports has remained relatively stable. Over the five-year period from 2020 to 2024, annual export orders averaged £9.3 billion.
A five-year moving average included in the report indicates that export levels have stayed broadly steady at around £9 billion per year since 2018. Lower figures recorded in 2020 and 2021 were likely influenced by the global economic disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The aerospace sector continues to dominate Britain’s defence exports. According to the report, aerospace equipment accounted for about 53% of total export orders between 2020 and 2024.
Products in this category include aircraft, missiles and advanced aviation systems, which remain among the most sought-after British defence technologies.
Other exports included land-based military equipment, naval systems and contracts that combine multiple defence services.
The latest publication is also the first to be released under the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence. Previously, the report was produced by the UK Department for Business and Trade.
However, a government restructuring in July 2025 transferred responsibility for promoting defence exports to the MOD. As part of the change, the UK Defence and Security Exports team moved into the department and will now oversee future reports.
Overall, the figures highlight continued global demand for British defence technology, with Europe now emerging as the UK’s largest export market and aerospace products remaining the backbone of the country’s military export industry.