Britain depends on defence

• In 2007, the top 15 defence and security firms in the UK added £13 billion in value to the British economy. The UK has a carefully regulated and responsible defence export process – as well as world class products – and last year we won a 33% share of the global defence market with exports worth £10 billion.
• In the same year, the Ministry of Defence placed equipment orders worth almost £12 billion with defence contractors – the vast majority of which was spent in the UK.
• The defence industry in the UK in 2007 employed 310,000 people in highly skilled jobs and the sector trains thousands of apprentices every year. With hard work comes rewards and the defence industry pays 70% more than the national average and about 55% more than the average manufacturing salary. Britain’s defence industry is a major investor in research, skills and training and its workforce contributes to the nation’s intellectual base. Many of the larger British defence companies are now based in numerous countries overseas, employing both UK and foreign nationals.
• Additionally, 190,400 people serve in the Armed Forces (British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force) and over 200,000 reservists (both civilians who volunteer and regulars who have left active service). The Cadet Corps, located in schools throughout the country, has 127,000 members. And the Ministry of Defence (and its various agencies) employs 98,050 civilian staff (including many engineers and scientists).

The highly advanced Joint Strike Fighter is planned to replace the RAF and Royal Navy's Harriers.

In the UK over 300,000 people work in defence, both in military and civilian jobs.