Defence News – Late July 2025
Estimated reading time 2 minutes
An agreement between the UK and Turkey over the export of Eurofighter Typhoon jets could secure hundreds of jobs in the South West’s aerospace and defence sectors.
The two NATO members yesterday signed a memorandum of understanding, bringing the government in Ankara a step closer to buying the multi-role, twin-engine fighter aircraft built by a consortium of four European countries.
For the South West, such a move would provide a sizeable boost for aero-engine group Rolls-Royce’s Bristol plant, where the Eurofighter Typhoon’s EJ200 engine is assembled.
BAE Systems is upgrading its guidance for expected profits and turnover following global commitments to increase defence spending, an expanding order book and a strong operational performance in the first half of the current financial year to .
Sales increased to £14.6bn for the period from £13.4bn last year, while pre-tax profits rose to £1.19bn from £1.16bn. In the first half of the year, BAE secured £13.2bn of orders.
Highlights include BAE’s Barrow-in-Furness shipyard laying the keel of HMS Dreadnought, the first of four Dreadnought Class submarines being constructed for the Royal Navy.
