# BAE Systems plc — #6 in the Defence Trading Rankings 2026

> Europe's largest defence prime and the most transatlantic of all the global primes.

- Source: Defence Trading
- Dataset: Defence Trading Rankings, 2026 Edition (ranked by annual defence revenue)
- Rank: 6 of 20
- Country: United Kingdom
- Canonical URL: https://www.defencetrading.com/rankings-2026-edition/bae-systems

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## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Rank (2026) | 6 |
| Headquarters | Farnborough, Hampshire, UK |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Employees | ~107,000 |
| Defence revenue | USD 33B |
| Total revenue | USD 33B |
| Listing | LSE: BA. |
| Chief executive | Charles Woodburn |
| Website | baesystems.com |

## Segments

- Combat Vehicles
- Naval Ships
- Combat Aircraft
- Electronic Systems

## Flagship products

- Type 26 frigate
- Astute / Dreadnought submarines
- Eurofighter Typhoon (consortium)
- CV90
- M109 PIM
- Tempest / GCAP

## Profile

BAE Systems is the largest European defence company and the only European prime that competes at the very top of the global table. Type 26 frigate programme, AUKUS submarine commitment, the Tempest sixth-generation fighter consortium, and the US business (which accounts for roughly 45 per cent of BAE's total). The combination of UK and US industrial depth makes BAE the most genuinely transatlantic prime in the sector.

## Recent moves

Tempest (GCAP) co-development with Italy and Japan now in full demonstrator phase. Dreadnought-class SSBN deliveries on schedule. Major US business expansion through Ball Aerospace integration.

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Part of the [Defence Trading Rankings 2026](https://www.defencetrading.com/rankings). Original research by Defence Trading (defencetrading.com), free to cite with attribution and a link to https://www.defencetrading.com/rankings-2026-edition/bae-systems.