MAPPING THE DEFENSE SECTOR IN EUROPE

• Turnover: € 119 billion  
• 463 000 people directly employed
• More than 2 500 small and medium companies 
• Aerospace and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD): Association that advocates for the interests of aeronautics, space, defence, and security industries in Europe. At the national level, ASD comprises 23 national associations across 18 countries. Moreover, 18 of the largest defence companies are direct members of ASD, without going through the national associations.

The defence industry in Europe

Number of companies

1. U.K. 1200
2. France:  400
3. Germany: 243
4. Netherlands: 182
5. Czech Republic : 165
6. Italy: 120
7. Finland: 115
8. Sweden: 115
9. Norway: 115
10. Poland: 97
11. Denmark: 90
12. Spain: 70
13. Belgium: 70
14. Portugal: 70
15. Austria: 50
16. Hungary: 40
17. Slovakia: 40
18. Greece: 40
19. Bulgaria: 40
20. Romania: 40

Major players

Group 1 (Largest companies in Europe):

1. BAE Systems, based in the U.K., with revenues exceeding U.S. 20,000 million in 2019.
2. Airbus (US $11,266.57 million)
3. Leonardo (US $11,109.27 million)
4. Thales (US $9,251.68 million).

This group accounts for around 52% of the total revenues of European defence companies in the top 100 worldwide.

Group 2 (Revenues ranging from a minimum of $ US 250 million to a maximum US $ 650 million

1. Dassault
2. Rolls-Royce
3. Safran
4. Naval Group
5. Rheinmetall AG
6. Babcock International
7. Saab AB
8. KNDS.

Group 3 (Companies with 2019 annual revenues below US $2,500 million, ranging from a maximum of US $1,787.40 million (Cobham) to a minimum of US $385.17 million (Chemring). 

Share of defence revenues

10% (Melrose Industries)

100% (Naval Group, Hensoldt, KNDS, John Cockerill Defence).

Airbus and Thales, are among the major four largest defence companies, even though their defence revenues account for only around 15% and 45% of their total revenues, respectively. The same applies to other companies  with the defence divisions of Rolls-Royce and Safran accounting for only 22% and 17% of their total revenues, respectively.