As imperialist tensions rise and Keir Starmer funnels money into arms, profiteers are cashing in from war and genocide
By Arthur Townend
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Wednesday 18 February 2026
Blockading BAE Systems during the height of Israel’s genocide in Palestine
The blood money is rolling in for BAE Systems, Britain’s biggest arms manufacturer.
It published bumper sales figures on Wednesday, only a few days after Keir Starmer promised to pour billions more into arms spending.
BAE’S total sales were up 10 percent in 2025 at a staggering £30.7 billion.
And shareholders in the killing corporation were also sitting pretty as basic share earnings rose 6 percent.
Chief executive Charles Woodburn attributed the bloody profits “to the outstanding dedication” of the company. “In a new era of defence spending, driven by escalating security challenges, we’re well positioned,” he said.
The global war drive is putting pounds in the pockets of those who run killing operations for profit.
BAE’s biggest market is the US with Britain in second place.
‘Don’t buy Labour lies about arms spending and jobs’: Andrew Feinstein
The British state and BAE work hand in glove—and not just because arms giant is one of the biggest recipients of public money. For example, BAE was central to the deal between Turkey and the British government to provide 20 Typhoon fighter jets, worth £4.6 billion.
But BAE doesn’t just profit from Western imperialism. Its third biggest client is Saudi Arabia—which currently has a large hand in the ongoing war in Yemen and the devastation in Sudan.
Woodburn is pushing Labour to spell out its defence investment plan. It’s been delayed since the end of last year, but he said arms companies want “clarity”.
But while BAE scores from militarism, workers are fighting for wages. Since 2 February, around 1,000 Unite union members have been on strike at the two BAE Lancashire sites.
In 2025, workers had a 3.5 percent pay increase imposed without any collective agreement. It’s below inflation—and below the 4.5 percent offer engineers received.
Workers are right to fight for wages. But the Unite leadership is pushing for increased militarism to shore up jobs in the arms industry. Instead, it should be building on workers’ action to use the existing skills and infrastructure to push a transition away from arms and towards socially useful production.
The Labour government trumpets arms spending as a way of boosting jobs and growth. But arms spending creates fewer jobs than investments in education, health or climate—and is a drain on resources.
In 2024, for instance, it was revealed that BAE received £1 billion in science subsidies over the previous 30 years. At the time, the Campaign Against the Arms Trade said, “This is money that could have been spent on research into technology that saves lives.
“Instead, it’s been used to fuel wars and develop the type of military equipment Israel is using in its genocide in Gaza.”