Beyond our military benefits, we are proud to contribute to the prosperity of the UK in a number of ways; through technological innovation, long-standing careers, and critical skills and knowledge.
The UK combat air sector is an economic powerhouse. As a whole, the sector has an annual turnover of more than £6bn and is responsible for more than 85% of defence exports. Programmes across the sector have provided high quality jobs for decades, with programmes such as Typhoon creating a ripple effect across the broader nation. Tempest is set to continue this trend, ensuring our sovereign combat air programmes continue to deliver economic vitality for the UK for decades to come.
A new study by Oxford Economics found that in 2023, the Air Sector made a significant contribution to the UK economy:
Total value to UK GDP
Total jobs across the UK
Total exports contribution
New research by Oxford Economics found the Air Sector's contributions to the UK economy in 2023 reached £5 billion in revenue, and £2.6 billion in exports. The work we do supports more than 70,000 jobs in the UK and we rely on 1,400 UK-based suppliers and SMEs whose specialist capabilities are essential in ensuring the UK’s defence industry remains agile and globally competitive.
The industry has a long history of deep commitment to fostering skills, training, and opportunities for apprentices and graduates, ensuring a robust pipeline of talent for the future. Our combat air programmes provide meaningful careers for tens of thousands of people, from engineers to technologists and those just starting out in their careers.
These jobs, often requiring specialist skills and training, drive high productivity, leading to greater investment in infrastructure, training and education, further underpinning economic growth. By cultivating a highly skilled and adaptable workforce, we demonstrate our dedication to maintaining technological leadership and supporting the broader UK strategy for economic growth and innovation.
We rely heavily on a network of suppliers to deliver our complex and high-tech programmes. Working with the very best of UK industry, we are partnering with traditional defence suppliers and adjacent sectors to drive pace, efficiency and innovation into combat air development. In doing so, we create a powerful ripple effect across the supply chain, and through jobs, training and investment, we help to contribute to regional and national growth.
Providing critical safety equipment which protects sensitive parts of the Eurofighter Typhoon whilst in flight is being delivered from is a key part of business for aerospace specialists Hutchinson Stop-Choc.
Tucked away where river meets Irish Sea, the small town of Preesall in a quiet corner of coastal Lancashire seems an unlikely place to find an integral part of the UK aerospace supply chain.
Sustainability is important to us and to all of our regional and international stakeholders. Our sustainability agenda focuses on how we make a positive contribution to the communities where we live, work and operate, through reducing the impacts of our products and services on the environment. Our agenda is underpinned by sound governance at the core of our business.
Discover a career with meaning, in a place where you can make a real difference.