Defence
An industry that protects
After decades of low investment, the European defence industry received more attention following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The EU and its Member States took several steps to improve security and resilience of the region. This includes boosting the defence budget of EU Member States to a combined total of €290bn a year in 2025.
Defence turnover 2022
€135.3 bn
+10% year-on-year
Employment Defence 2022
516,000
+4,4% year-on-year
European defence sector figures for 2022
- €135.3 bn
Defence industry turnover
10.0% increase in turnover compared to the preceding year.
- 22,000
Employment growth in the defence industry
4.4% increase compared to the previous year.
- ~2,500
Estimated number of SMEs engaged in the defence sector
New challenges
The supply-chain bottlenecks caused by the pandemic, with a lack of raw materials and semiconductors, created challenges for military equipment manufacturers. The increased demand for ramping up production in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine reinforced these supply-chain challenges.
Facts & figures by sector
Download the full report
The full Facts & Figures 2023 report gives you key insights into the industries that make up ASD.
Facts & Figures 2023
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