10 companies that profit most from war

According to the latest available figures, the Global military spending was down in 2012 for the first time since 1998. And for the second year in a row, arms sales from private industry to governments were down as well.

Despite the decline in military spending, the business of war remains a good one. The 100 largest arms producers and military services contractors recorded $395 billion in arms sales in 2012.

Lockheed Martin, the largest arms seller, alone accounted for $36 billion in such sales during 2012. Based on figures compiled by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), 24/7 Wall St. examined the 10 companies profiting most from war.

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L-3 Communications

Arm sales 2012: $10.8 billion

Total sales 2012: $13.1 billion

2012 profit: $782 million

2012 employment: 51,000

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L-3 Communications

The American company is into several defence areas and supplies products such as communications, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance systems and products.

The company’s 2012 arms sales totalled $10.8 billion, down from $12.5 billion the year before, according to 24.7 Wall Street.

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Finmeccanica

Arm sales 2012: $12.5 billion

Total sales 2012: $22.1 billion

2012 profit: -$1.0 billion

2012 employment: 67,408

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Finmeccanica

Based out of Italy, Finmeccanica is a major players in aerospace, defence and security globally.

Ongoing corruption probes seems to have hurt Italian aerospace and defense giant, which posted $12.5 billion in arms sales in 2012, roughly $2 billion less than in 2011.

Following the charges of bribery of Indian government officials regarding a contract for 12 military helicopters, Finmeccanica’s CEO, Giuseppe Orsi, resigned from the company.

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United Technologies

Arm sales 2012: $13.5 billion

Total sales 2012: $62.2 billion

2012 profit: $5.2 billion

2012 employment: 218,300

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United Technologies

Another American corporation, United Technologies researches, develops, and manufactures high-technology products in areas such as aircraft engines, helicopters, and HVAC.

Among the most famous products from this company is the Black Hawk helicopters.

United Technologies Corp.’s is the only company in the top 10 ranking with a year-over-year increase in its arms sales. he company recorded $13.5 billion in arms sales in 2012, up from $11.6 billion in 2011, according to 24/7 Wall St.

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European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company or Airbus Group

Arm sales 2012: $15.4 billion

Total sales 2012: $72.6 billion

2012 profit: $1.6 billion

2012 employment: 140,000

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European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company or Airbus Group

The European conglomerate is registered in Netherlands that has three business divisions - Airbus, Airbus Defence and Space, and Airbus Helicopters.

The company was originally formed as the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company (EADS) on 10 July 2000 by the merger of Aerospatiale-Matra, DaimlerChrysler Aerospace AG (DASA), and Construcciones AeronAuticas SA (CASA), according to Wikipedia. In January 2014, EADS was renamed as Airbus Group.

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Northrop Grumman

Arm sales 2012: $19.4 billion

Total sales 2012: $25.2 billion

2012 profit: $2.0 billion

2012 employment: 68,100

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Northrop Grumman

The American company has substantial presence in aerospace, radars and sensors, and is among the largest suppliers of IT services to the US federal government.

In February 2012, the US Navy awarded the company a contract worth as much as $638 million to provide Navy ships with a networked common computing environment, according to 24/7 Wall St.

The company was the fourth-largest defence contractor in the world.

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General Dynamics

Arm sales 2012: $20.9 billion

Total sales 2012: $31.5 billion

2012 profit: -$332 million

2012 employment: 92,200

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General Dynamics

The American defence firm has four main business segments - Marine Systems; Combat Systems; Information Systems and Technology; and Aerospace.

It is one of the biggest defence contractors in the world.

The company lost $332 million in 2012, and its arms sales totalled $20.9 billion, down from $23.3 billion the year before.

The loss was due, in large part, to a $2 billion goodwill charge related to declining business opportunities in the defence sector, according to 24/7 Wall St.

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Raytheon

Arm sales 2012: $22.5 billion

Total sales 2012: $24.4 billion

2012 profit: $1.9 billion

2012 employment: 67,800

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Raytheon

The US corporation focuses mainly on manufacturing weapons and military and commercial electronics. It is the world's largest producer of guided missiles.

The company earns mover 90 per cent of its revenues from military contracts.

The company, which traces its history back to 1922, assisted the United States in multiple wars, as well as the Apollo 11 moon landing.

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BAE Systems

Arm sales 2012: $26.9 billion

Total sales 2012: $28.3 billion

2012 profit: $2.6 billion

2012 employment: 88,200

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BAE Systems

BAE Systems plc is a British multinational defence, security and aerospace company headquartered in London in the United Kingdom and with operations worldwide. It is among the world's largest defence contractors.

The company was formed by merging two British defence companies in 1999.

BAE Systems is involved in several major defence projects, including the F-35 Lightning II, the Eurofighter Typhoon, the Astute-class submarine and the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

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Boeing

Arm sales 2012: $27.6 billion

Total sales 2012: $81.7 billion

2012 profit: $3.9 billion

2012 employment: 174,400

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Boeing

The Chicago-based aerospace giant manufactures and sells fixed-wing aircraft, rotorcraft, rockets and satellites.

Boeing is organized into five primary divisions: Boeing Commercial Airplanes (BCA); Boeing Defense, Space & Security (BDS); Engineering, Operations & Technology; Boeing Capital; and Boeing Shared Services Group, according to Wikipedia.

Arms sales accounted for just 34 per cent of Boeing’s revenues.

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Lockheed Martin

Arm sales 2012: $36 billion

Total sales 2012: $47.2 billion

2012 profit: 2.7 billion

2012 employment: 120,000

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Lockheed Martin

Formed by the merger of Lockheed Corporation with Martin Marietta in March 1995, the US corporation operates in five business segments. These comprise of Aeronautics, Information Systems & Global Solutions, Missile and Fire Control, Mission Systems and Training, and Space Systems.

It is also known for the C-5 Galaxy Class airplane - the largest air military transport plane in the world.

In 2012, Lockheed Martin Corp. led the world in arms sales, even as its arms sales declined slightly from $36.2 billion in 2011 to $36 billion in 2012.

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