Military

The Biggest Weapons Manufacturers in America

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The Department of Defense spends more on private contractors than any other department in the U.S. government. According to the Government Accountability Office, the Pentagon accounted for nearly 60% of the $694.2 billion in total federal contract obligations in fiscal 2022.

The DOD relies on the private sector for a wide-range of functions, including weapons production and development, consulting, maintenance, and IT infrastructure. This outsourcing helps ensure the military’s access to specialized, state-of-the-art equipment and creates opportunities for uniformed personnel to focus on training and combat preparation. And though contracts account for nearly half of America’s world-leading $877 billion defense budget, many argue that the practice is ultimately the most cost-effective option. (Here is a look at the failed weapons the U.S. wasted the most money on.)

The U.S. military’s reliance on contractors has created a U.S. arms industry that is second-to-none on the global stage. A recent report from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute found that the world’s 100 largest defense contractors reported combined arms sales and service revenue of $597.2 billion in 2022 — and over half of that money went to American companies.

Using data from SIPRI, 24/7 Wall St. identified the biggest weapons manufacturers in the United States. We ranked each company based on estimated revenue from arms sales and military services in 2022. Only U.S. based companies with more than $1 billion in annual defense contract revenue were considered.

Among the companies on this list, military sales and service revenue in 2022 ranges from $1.04 billion, to nearly $60 billion. The products and services the companies on this list provide include communication and navigation systems, small arms ammunition, precision guided missiles, submarines, surface vessels, fixed and rotary wing aircraft, and battle tanks. The companies reporting the most revenue from arms sales have supplied the U.S. Air Force and Navy with hundreds of fighter jets and other aircraft, many of which have unit costs of over $100 million. (These are the weapons the U.S. military is spending the most money on.)

Not only do the companies on this list collaborate with the Pentagon on weapons development, but they also often work with each other. Many weapons systems in the U.S. arsenal are so advanced that no single company can manage production from start to finish. A single fighter jet or tank can source various components — including propulsion, navigation, and weapons systems — from separate manufacturers.

37. The Aerospace Corp.

TechCrunch Disrupt San Francisco 2019 - Day 1
2019 Getty Images / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.04 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $1.19 billion (approx. 87.4% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -6.6%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Project Thor space-based weapons defense

36. Mitre Corp.

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.06 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $2.20 billion (approx. 48.2% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: +1.1%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Research and development for the USAF

35. United Launch Alliance*

Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 Launch
2022 NASA / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.07 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $1.16 billion (approx. 92.4% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: +57.2%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Atlas V and Delta IV space rocket missions
  • Note*: The arms revenue figure for this company is an estimate with a high degree of uncertainty.

34. Amphenol Corp.

Liilia Moroz / Wikimedia Commons
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.14 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $12.62 billion (approx. 9.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -12.1%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Electronic components for military aircraft, drones, tanks, and ground vehicles

33. Moog

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.28 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $3.04 billion (approx. 42.2% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -5.2%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Military vehicle components

32. Curtiss-Wright Corp.

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.39 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $2.56 billion (approx. 54.4% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -6.8%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Turret aiming and stabilization tools

31. Eaton

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.52 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $20.75 billion (approx. 7.3% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -3.6%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Vehicle components for M1-A1 Abrahms tanks, Stryker combat vehicles, and Humvees

30. Parsons Corp.

gorodenkoff / iStock via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.54 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $4.20 billion (approx. 36.7% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -0.3%
  • Notable weapons system or service: C2Core command and control aircraft tool suite

29. Sierra Nevada Corp.*

my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.56 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $1.66 billion (approx. 94.2% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -22.4%
  • Notable weapons system or service: M-28 Special Operations Multi-Role Aircraft
  • Note*: The arms revenue figure for this company is an estimate with a high degree of uncertainty.

28. BWX Technologies

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $1.70 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $2.23 billion (approx. 76.1% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -4.6%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Naval nuclear propulsion components

27. Teledyne Technologies

Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.02 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $5.46 billion (approx. 37.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: +14.0%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Autonomous underwater Slocum G3 Glider

26. Jacobs Engineering Group

enkoff / iStock via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.09 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $14.92 billion (approx. 14.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -5.2%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Intelligence training and analysis, mission support services

25. Oshkosh Corp.

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.14 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $8.28 billion (approx. 25.8% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -21.7%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Joint Light Tactical Vehicles

24. General Atomics*

chrishunkeler / Flickr
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.14 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $ N/A billion (approx. N/A % arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -22.9%
  • Notable weapons system or service: MQ-9A Reaper drone
  • Note*: The arms revenue figure for this company is an estimate with a high degree of uncertainty.

23. ManTech International Corp.

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.19 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $2.69 billion (approx. 81.4% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -2.6%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Software applications for military platforms and vehicles

22. Parker-Hannifin Corp.*

JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.27 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $19.07 billion (approx. 11.9% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -20.3%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Aerospace components
  • Note*: Parker-Hannifin Corp. acquired Meggit in 2022. Its arms revenue figure for 2021 is the combined 2021 arms revenue of Parker-Hannifin and Meggit

21. TransDigm Group

VanderWolf-Images / iStock via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.33 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $5.43 billion (approx. 42.9% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -10.2%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Military parachutes

20. V2X*

Sean Gallup / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.52 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $2.89 billion (approx. 87.2% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: +43.1%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Logistics support
  • Note*: V2X is the result of the merger of Vectrus and Vertex Aerospace Services Holding Corp. in 2022

19. Bechtel Corp.*

David Paul Morris / Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.74 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $ N/A billion (approx. N/A % arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: +2.7%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Ground based nuclear launch infrastructure
  • Note*: The arms revenue figure for this company is an estimate with a high degree of uncertainty.

18. Textron

williamhc / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $2.91 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $12.87 billion (approx. 22.6% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -19.6%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Bell V-280 Valor assault aircraft

17. Science Applications International Corp.

WHPics / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $3.78 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $7.70 billion (approx. 49.1% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -1.5%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Counter unmanned aerial systems

16. Sandia National Laboratories

my_public_domain_photos / Flickr
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $3.92 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $4.41 billion (approx. 88.9% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -7.0%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Nuclear weapons development

15. KBR

Laser Developed To Shoot Down Artillery Shell
2002 Getty Images / Getty Images News via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $4.27 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $6.56 billion (approx. 65.1% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: +11.9%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Laser weapon systems

14. General Electric

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $4.41 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $76.56 billion (approx. 5.8% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -1.4%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Black Hawk and Apache helicopter engines

13. Peraton

cineuno / iStock via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $4.41 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $7.00 billion (approx. 63.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -15.5%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Early-warning and long-range detection systems

12. Honeywell International

Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $4.63 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $35.47 billion (approx. 13.1% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -16.8%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Operations platforms for military aircraft

11. CACI International

krblokhin / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $4.82 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $6.70 billion (approx. 71.9% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: +3.0%
  • Notable weapons system or service: SkyTracker drone technology

10. Booz Allen Hamilton

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $5.90 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $9.26 billion (approx. 63.7% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -2.5%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Defense consulting

9. Amentum*

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $6.56 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $8.75 billion (approx. 75.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: +20.9%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Electronic submarine components, rotary wing flight training, aviation command and control support
  • Note*: The arms revenue figure for this company is an estimate with a high degree of uncertainty.

8. Leidos

US Navy Conducts Search and Recovery Operations
U.S. Navy / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $8.24 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $14.29 billion (approx. 57.7% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -5.0%
  • Notable weapons system or service: GBU-69/B precision guided munitions

7. HII

U.S. Navy / Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $8.75 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $10.68 billion (approx. 82.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -5.5%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Gerald R. Ford-Class aircraft carriers

6. L3Harris Technologies

JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $12.63 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $17.06 billion (approx. 74.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -12.5%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Sky Warden ISR Strike Aircraft

5. General Dynamics Corp.

Photo by General Dynamics / Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $28.32 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $39.41 billion (approx. 71.9% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -5.6%
  • Notable weapons system or service: M1A1 Abrams Main Battle Tank

4. Boeing

Stocktrek Images / Stocktrek Images via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $29.30 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $66.61 billion (approx. 44.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -18.9%
  • Notable weapons system or service: V-22 Osprey aircraft

3. Northrop Grumman Corp.

The B-21 Raider was unveiled to the public at a ceremony December 2, 2022 in Palmdale, Calif. Designed to operate in tomorrow's high-end threat environment, the B-21 will play a critical role in ensuring America's enduring airpower capability. (U.S. Air Force photo)
Tech. Sgt. William OBrien, 94th Airlift Wing photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $32.30 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $36.60 billion (approx. 88.2% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: 0.0%
  • Notable weapons system or service: B-21 Raider long-range strike fighter

2. Raytheon Technologies*

JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $39.57 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $67.07 billion (approx. 59.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -12.5%
  • Notable weapons system or service: Javelin Missile
  • Note*: Raytheon Technologies was renamed RTX in 2023

1. Lockheed Martin Corp.

Matt Cardy / Getty Images
  • Arms revenue in 2022: $59.39 billion
  • Total revenue in 2022: $65.98 billion (approx. 90.0% arms sales)
  • 1-yr. change in arms revenue: -8.9%
  • Notable weapons system or service: F-35 Lightning II multirole combat aircraft

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