Britain is on course for its strongest year on record for defence exports after securing more than £20 billion worth of overseas deals in 2025…reports Asian Lite News
The government says 2025 is set to be the best year for UK defence exports since records began more than 40 years ago, with a series of high-value contracts agreed across Europe and beyond. Ministers argue the deals show rapid progress in delivering the ambitions set out in the Strategic Defence Review, which aims to make defence a driver of economic growth while strengthening collective security with NATO partners.
Among the largest agreements is a £10 billion deal with Norway to export at least five Type 26 frigates, described as the UK’s biggest ever warship export order. The contract is expected to support around 4,000 jobs across the country, involving more than 430 businesses of varying sizes. Shipbuilding work will be centred in Scotland but will draw on supply chains across the UK, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Luke Pollard MP, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: “We are showing again how this government is delivering on our pledge to make defence an engine for economic growth across the country while boosting our security and that of our allies. By winning the historic deal to build Type 26 frigates for Norway, we are driving growth in Scotland and across the UK while better equipping our combined navies to counter the threat from Russia in the North Atlantic. And by exporting Typhoon fighter jets to Türkiye, we are securing high-skilled jobs in Lancashire, Scotland and across the UK whilst helping strengthen NATO’s southern flank. We are committed to working with our allies and defence industries to make sure the UK is a leader in global defence exports, and there’s more to come in 2026.”
The frigate agreement has been complemented by closer operational cooperation between London and Oslo. This month the two countries signed the Lunna House agreement, under which the Royal Navy and Royal Norwegian Navy will operate more closely to counter threats in the North Atlantic. The UK has also announced the Atlantic Bastion transformation programme, aimed at strengthening submarine-hunting capabilities through the use of uncrewed systems as part of what ministers describe as a hybrid navy.
Another major element of this year’s export total is the largest fighter jet deal in a generation. The sale of 20 Typhoon aircraft to Türkiye is valued at £8 billion and is expected to secure around 20,000 jobs across the UK. The government says the agreement will bolster NATO’s collective security while sustaining high-skilled employment in aerospace hubs including Lancashire and Scotland.
In addition to the Typhoon order, the UK has agreed the export and sale of 12 C-130 aircraft to Türkiye. The combined value of these aircraft to UK defence and Marshall Aerospace Group is more than £550 million, safeguarding around 1,400 skilled jobs in Cambridge. Separately, Devon-based company Supacat has secured an order to supply 18 transporter vehicles to the Czech armed forces, adding to the breadth of defence exports concluded this year.
Beyond Europe, the UK is also looking to longer-term opportunities through its security partnerships. Earlier in the year, Britain signed a new AUKUS treaty with Australia, designed to deepen cooperation and better protect shared maritime interests. The government says the agreement has the potential to generate up to £20 billion in exports over time and support more than 21,000 UK jobs, although specific contracts linked to AUKUS are still expected to emerge over the coming years.
Ministers say they are already working to build on 2025’s performance in the year ahead. The UK is actively seeking further export opportunities in 2026, including for advanced aircraft, maritime technology and armoured vehicles such as the Boxer. To support this push, Britain has joined the Agreement on Defence Export Controls alongside France, Germany and Spain, a move intended to make it easier for British firms to export equipment to partner nations.
The export successes come as the Ministry of Defence rolls out what it describes as the largest programme of reform in more than five decades. Central to this is the creation of the National Armaments Director Group and a new International Collaboration and Exports team, designed to bring together industry, government and international partners more effectively.
UK Defence and Security Exports statistics date back to 1983, providing the basis for the claim that 2025 will mark a record year. Officials argue the scale and diversity of deals secured underline the competitiveness of British defence manufacturing and its ability to meet allied requirements at pace.
Rupert Pearce, National Armaments Director, said: “These export successes reflect the NAD Group’s mission to strengthen international partnerships while driving economic growth at home. By working as one integrated organisation, we’re facilitating access to UK defence capability for our allies to access world-leading UK defence capability, creating jobs and prosperity across the country whilst building the collective deterrence we all need.”
