BAE Systems raised its profit and sales outlook for the year after a surge in orders, reflecting higher military spending. The FTSE 100 group now expects underlying operating profit to rise 10‑12 %, up from 9‑11 %, and sales to grow 8‑10 %, up from 7‑9 %.

Order intake in the first half reached £16.4 bn, pushing the backlog to £84 bn. New contracts include Eurofighter Typhoon jets, missiles, space and mission systems, and a £5.9 bn investment for the next stage of four Dreadnought nuclear‑armed submarines that will replace the ageing Vanguard fleet underpinning Britain’s continuous‑at‑sea nuclear deterrent. The backlog does not yet capture recent awards for the Global Combat Air Programme stealth fighter.

First‑half sales were £15.8 bn, up 9 % on a constant‑currency basis, beating estimates. Underlying EBIT rose 11 % to £1.7 bn, and free cash flow jumped to £1.8 bn thanks to advance government payments. CEO Charles Woodburn said the “global threat picture remains highly volatile” and that BAE’s combination of proven execution, diverse geographic footprint and continued investment in technology and facilities positions it to keep delivering long‑term growth.