10 companies profiting the most from war

The business of war is profitable. In 2011, the 100 largest contractors sold $410 billion in arms and military services. Just 10 of those companies sold over $208 billion.

These companies have benefited tremendously from the growth in military spending in the U.S., which by far has the largest military budget in the world. In 2000, the U.S. defense budget was approximately $312 billion. By 2011, the figure had grown to $712 billion. Arm sales grew alongside general defense spending growth. SIPRI noted that between 2002 and 2011, arms sales among the top 100 companies grew by 51%.

Here are the 10 companies that profit the most from war:

10. United Technologies (UTX)

Arm sales: $11.6 billion, total sales: $58.2 billionGross profit: $5.3 billion, total workforce: 199,900 United Technologies makes a wide range of arms — notably military helicopters, including the Black Hawk helicopter for the U.S. Army and the SeaHawk helicopter for the U.S. Navy.[logo]

9. L-3 Communications (LLL) -- Electronics

Arm sales: $12.5 billion, total sales: $15.2 billionGross profit: $956 million, total workforce: 61,000

The company has four business segments: electronic systems; aircraft modernization and maintenance; national security solutions; and command, control, communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. Among many products manufactured, the company has become a major provider of unmanned aircraft systems.[logo]

8. Finmeccanica

Manufactures aircraft, artillery, engines, electronics, vehicles and missilesArms sales, $14.6 billion, total sales: $24.1 billion
Gross profit: $ -3.2 billion, total workforce: 70,470

Italian company Finmeccanica makes a wide range of arms, including helicopters and security electronics. Nearly 60% of the company's sales in 2011 were in arms.[logo]

 

7. EADS

Manufactures aircraft, electronics, missiles and space
Arm sales: $16.4 billion, total sales: $68.3 billion Gross profit: $1.4 billion, total workforce: 133,120 The European Aeronautic Defense and Space Company (EADS), based in the Netherlands, had sales in 2011 roughly in line with the prior year. Arms sales comprised just 24% of the company's revenue.[logo]

6. Northrop Grumman (NOC)

Manufactures aircraft, electronics, missiles, ships, space
Arm sales: $21.4 billion, total sales: $26.4 billion
Gross profit: $2.1 billion, total workforce: 72,500
Northrop Grumman's 2011 arms sales comprised about 81% of total sales even after a sharp decline in arms sales year over year. [logo]

5. Raytheon (RTN) 

Manufactures electronics, missilesArm sales: $22.5 billion, total sales: $24.9 billionGross profit: $1.9 billion, total workforce: 71,000Raytheon, based in Waltham, Mass., is one of the largest defense contractors in the U.S. The company makes the Tomahawk Cruise Missile, among others. Arms sales comprised about 90% of the company's sales in 2011.[logo]

 

4. General Dynamics (GD

Manufactures artillery, electronics, vehicles, small arms, shipsArm sales: $23.8 billion, total sales: $32.7 billionGross profit: $2.5 billion, total workforce: 95,100

The company makes a host of products, including electric boats, tracked and wheeled military vehicles, and battle tanks.[logo]

 

3. BAE Systems

Manufactures aircraft, artillery, electronics, vehicles, missiles, shipsArm sales: $29.2 billion, total sales: $30.7 billionGross profit: $2.3 billion, total workforce: 93,500

BAE Systems was the largest non-U.S. company based on arms sales. Arms sales represented 95% of the company's total sales in 2011 even though they were lower as a total of overall sales compared to the prior year. The products BAE sells include the L-ROD Bar Armor System that shields defense vehicles and the Hawk Advanced Jet Trainer that provides sophisticated simulation training for military pilots. [logo]

2. Boeing (BA)

Manufactures aircraft, electronics, missiles, spaceArm sales: $31.8 billion, total sales: $68.7 billionGross profit: $4 billion, total workforce: 171,700Boeing was the second-largest U.S. government contractor in 2011, with about $21.5 billion worth of goods contracted. The Chicago-based company makes a wide range of arms, including strategic missile systems, laser and electro-optical systems and global positioning systems.[logo]

1. Lockheed Martin (LMT)

Manufactures  aircraft, electronics, missiles, spaceArm sales:$36.3 billion, total sales: $46.5 billionGross profit: $2.7 billion, total workforce, 123,000Lockheed Martin notched $36.3 billion in sales in 2011, slightly higher than the $35.7 billion the company sold in 2010. The arms sales comprised 78% of the company's total 2011 sales. Lockheed makes a wide range of products, including aircraft, missiles, unmanned systems and radar systems.[logo]

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