10 Companies Who Profit from War

Bangalore: Global defense contractors’ sales of arms and military services rose to $411.1 billion in 2010 which is up by 60 percent since 2002, according to a report called, “SIPRI Top 100”, by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. This report identifies the largest companies in the defense sector and here the 10 companies with the highest revenue from arms sales, classified by 24/7 Wall St.’ according to their arm sales revenue for the year 2007, 2009 and 2010 and as per their percentage of company revenue from arms sales, employees, industry and applicable military division.

1. Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT)
Arms sales 2010: $35.73 billion
Total sales 2010: $45.80 billion
Arms sales as pct. of total sales: 78 percent
Total profit: $2.93 billion
Total employment: 132,000
Sector: Aircraft, Electronics, Missiles, Space

Lockheed Martin is the largest global arms-producing and military service, which works for the arena including aircraft, ground vehicles, missiles and guided weapons, naval and radar systems, sensors and situational awareness, tactical communications, training and logistics, missiles defense, transportation and safety management and unmanned systems in Aerospace and Defense sector. It has nearly $3 billion more arm sales from BAE Systems which holds the second position. Lockheed is also the largest federal contractor in the U.S. along with being the world’s largest arms-seller.

As mentioned, in 2010, Lockheed earned revenue of nearly $36 billion from government’s contract. It’s some of major products are Trident missile and the F-16 and f-22 fighter jets. Though Lockheed is the largest military service company in this list of SIPRI 100 list, it is only the fourth largest company by over all sales among the companies enlisted.

Linda Gooden, Executive Vice President of Lockheed Martin Corporation said, “When most Americans think of any Top 100 list, they probably think of something like People magazine's Most Beautiful People. At Lockheed Martin, we know Washington Technology has the hottest Top 100 in town.  And, we're honored to celebrate our 14th year at #1, which we like to think makes Lockheed Martin the Angelina Jolie of government IT contracting!”.