In this article we are going to list the 30 Most Valuable Defense Companies In The World.

As long as humanity has existed, so has conflict and violence. Throughout times, societies and cultures often resorted violence, war and fighting to continue to exist and have resulted in the deaths of millions across the world. In fact, if there’s one thing the Walking Dead got right, and no it’s not that we’ll all become zombies one day, is that even when there is a singular menace threatening the existence of humanity, humans will still turn on each other.

After all, consider the pandemic. While there have been inspiring stories of donations made by rich countries to poor, including 1 billion vaccine doses to eradicate the virus, that doesn’t mean that conflict has taken a backseat. From increasing tensions between the United States and China, to the almost all out war between China and India, to the civil war in Ethiopia, to Israel-Gaza conflict, even in these trying times, there are more than enough conflicts in the world ongoing to fill several books.

In today’s world, conflict and war are more technical than ever before. As advancements in technology have allowed countries to conduct war strategies without even having to venture to the battleground themselves, companies have popped up providing the required software, hardware and intelligence necessary to gain the advantage in such circumstances.

Make no mistake, these companies are in it not for patriotism or nationalism, but to earn huge profits for their shareholders. There is absolutely no doubt that you’ll have heard of some of these companies, and even used their products. Many entries in our list don’t engage in just defense but provide various other products and services as well.

Take for example Honeywell International Inc (NYSE:HON), which ranks at the top of our list of most valuable defense companies. Aside from being involved in the defense sector, Honeywell International Inc (NYSE:HON) also provides home automation products. Honeywell International Inc (NYSE:HON) also has safety, productivity and building technologies segments.

Other two of the most valuable defense companies in our list are US-based Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) and European Airbus SE. Both aerospace companies in addition to defense, are mainly known for their commercial jets. The two have been involved in quite a long dispute. The conflict between Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) and Airbus began back in 2004 and was related to government subsidies that each company accused the other of receiving. Only earlier this year, the US and EU have agreed to suspend tariffs caused by the dispute between Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) and Airbus.

Despite the fact that whole world is threatened by a pandemic, defense spending is still expected to increase by nearly 3% in 2021 as most countries have maintained or increased their defense budget. For these countries, the most valuable defense companies in the world are extremely important in ensuring their fight for supremacy.

In order to compile our list of most valuable defense companies, we took into account the market capitalization of these companies. Since only public companies could be considered, many defense companies which rank among the top in terms of revenue did not make our list.

30. Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd.

Total value of the company: $2.80 billion

Our list of most valuable defense companies in the world is started with Korea Aerospace Industries Ltd. The South Korean aerospace and defense company is owned by the government of South Korea.

29. Saab AB

Total value of the company: $4.0 billion

The Swedish aerospace and defense company also used to produce automobiles under the same brand. However, in 1990 the automobile division was spun off into Saab Automobile, a joint venture with General Motors Corp (NYSE:GM). The carmaker Saab was very proud of its legacy and relationship with the aerospace company, highlighting it in its promos. Currently, Saab AB focuses on fighter aircraft and is working with Boeing Co (NYSE:BA) on an advanced jet trainer for the US Air Force.

28. Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc. (NYSE:AJRD)

Total value of the company: $3.49 billion

Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc (NYSE:AJRD) was initially known as the General Tire and Rubber Company. Soon, Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc (NYSE:AJRD) will become a part of Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT). In 2020, Aerojet Rocketdyne Holdings Inc (NYSE:AJRD) and Lockheed Martin Corporation (NYSE:LMT) agreed on a deal worth $4.4 billion.

27. Rheinmetall AG

Total value of the company: $4.15 billion

Next in line among most valuable defense companies in the world is Rheinmetall AG,  a German company that was established in 1889. The company maintains a presence in both the aviation as well as defense sectors.

26. Leonardo SpA

Total value of the company: $4.84 billion

The only Italian entry in this list, Leonardo has 180 sites globally and is partially owned by the government of Italy.

25. Science Applications International Corp. (NYSE:SAIC)

Total value of the company as at June 2021: $5.05 billion

Science Applications International Corp (NYSE:SAIC) is a government contractor. Recently, Science Applications International Corp (NYSE:SAIC) has acquired UNISYS US Federal for $1.2 billion in 2020.

24. KBR, Inc. (NYSE:KBR)

Total value of the company: $5.67 billion

KBR Inc. (NYSE:KBR) is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Historically KBR (NYSE:KBR) had major contracts with the U.S. military. In fact, at some point former U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson allegedly was involved in helping KBR (NYSE:KBR) obtain government contracts (the company was known as Brown & Root back then) when he was a Congressman.

23. Elbit Systems Ltd (NASDAQ:ESLT)

Total value of the company: $6.45 billion

Our list of most valuable defense companies in the world continues with Elbit Systems Ltd (NASDAQ:ESLT). The defense electronics company is based in Israel and maintains a global presence including Europe, the Americas and Southeast Asia.

22. CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI)

Total value of the company as at June 2021: $6.05 billion

Currently based in Virginia, CACI International Ltd. (NYSE:CACI)  was founded in California. Among the many clients of CACI International Ltd. (NYSE:CACI) are several branches of the federal government including defense, intelligence and homeland security. In addition to ranking as one of the most valuable defense companies, CACI International (NYSE:CACI) is also a member of Fortune 1000 largest companies.

21. Hanwha Corp.

Total value of the company: $2.70 billion

The South Korean company has revenues of more than $55 billion and started from creating explosives, before diversifying further in the defense sector.

20. Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:HII)

Total value of the company: $8.20 billion

Huntington Ingalls Industries Inc. (NYSE:HII) is a spinoff of Northrop Grumman. Only established a decade ago, Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) made more ships than any other U.S. naval ship builder. Recently, Huntington Ingalls Industries (NYSE:HII) announced that it was hiring 3,000 full-time ship builders.

19. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd.

Total value of the company: $9.39 billion

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd also made the list of most valuable defense companies in the world. Among the many products that come from the company production lines are missiles, tanks, power systems, aircraft and ships. Mitsubishi is the biggest defense contractor in Japan.

18. Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH)

Total value of the company: $11.24 billion

Headquartered in Virginia, Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH) was founded 107 years ago and has over 80 offices around the world. The company’s business includes consulting analysis and engineering services to various companies. However, Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH) also has contracts with Armed Forces, the NSA, and the Department of Homeland Security. Moreover, Booz Allen Hamilton Holding Corporation (NYSE:BAH) has over 10,000 employees who cleared Sensitive compartmented information background checks.

 

17. Rolls-Royce Holding Plc

Total value of the company: $13 billion

No, it’s not the luxury car manufacturer but a different company engaged in aerospace and defense. The company is quite famous for its engines, which are installed on both civilian and military aircraft, but it also has a whole defense division that provides solutions and services for Naval, Aerospace, and Land forces. Moreover, Rolls Royce also provides nuclear propulsion plants for submarines enrolled in the UK Navy.

16. Leidos Holdings Inc. (NYSE:LDOS)

Total value of the company: $14.02 billion

Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) is also one of the most valuable defense companies in the world. Founded 52 years ago, Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) had revenues of more than $18.5 billion in 2020. Leidos (NYSE:LDOS) merged with the IT section of Lockheed Martin in 2016 to form one of the biggest defense mergers in U.S. history.

15. Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT)

Total value of the company: $16.26 billion

Textron (NYSE:TXT) was founded in 1923 and employs more than 37,000 people. Some of the subsidiaries of Textron (NYSE:TXT) include Textron Aviation and Bell Textron. In fact, just recently, it was announced that Bell Textron (NYSE:TXT) is building a $22 million lab in Arlington.

14. Jacobs Engineering Corp. (NYSE:J)

Total value of the company: $17.87 billion

With more than 400 offices and 80,000 employees, Jacobs (NYSE:J) is truly a giant in the defense industry. Jacobs (NYSE:J) is an international technical professional services firm. In 2017, Jacobs (NYSE:J) was awarded a contract by the Pentagon to provide products as well as services for its Missile Defense Agency.

13. Thales SA

Total value of the company as : $21.80 billion

We have several French companies in our list of most valuable defense companies in the world, including Thales which provides radars, infantry mobility vehicles, remote controlled weapon stations and many more defense products that boggle our minds.

12. BAE Systems plc

Total value of the company: $25.10 billion

BAE Systems is the biggest defense contractor in Europe, and is headquartered in London, England.

11. TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG)

Total value of the company: $33.19 billion

TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) takes the 10th spot in our list of the most valuable defense companies in the world. Formed in 1993, TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) manufactures aerospace components. In 2020, TransDigm Group Incorporated (NYSE:TDG) recorded revenues of more than $5 billion.

10. L3Harris Technologies Inc (NYSE:LHX)

Total value of the company: $46.57 billion

L3Harris Technologies Inc (NYSE:LHX) was founded in 2019 after the merger of L3 Technologies and Harris Corporation. Recently, L3Harris Technologies Inc (NYSE:LHX) has started increasing its partnerships with international countries to increase expansion. L3Harris Technologies Inc (NYSE:LHX) boasts more than 50,000 employees.

9. General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD)

Total value of the company: $56.60 billion

General Dynamics Corporation (NYSE:GD) is one of the most valuable defense companies in the world. Known for its major acquisitions to consolidate and improve its growth, General Dynamics Corporation’s (NYSE:GD) last major acquisition was CSRA Inc. in 2018, for around $6.8 billion.

8. Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC)

Total value of the company: $58.59 billion

Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) ranked 96th on the 2020 Fortune 500 ranking. Some of the products Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) is involved in selling include military vessels, unmanned aerial vehicles, autocannons, missiles, missile defense systems and a lot more, making Northrop Grumman (NYSE:NOC) one of the biggest weapons manufacturers in the world.

7. Safran SA

Total value of the company: $52.85 billion

The French company was formed by the merger of two major companies in 2005, and is headquartered in Paris, France. It is engaged in the production of French electronics, communication systems and satellites.

6. Dassault Aviation SA

Total value of the company: $9.35 billion

The French-based group of companies was established in 1929, with its subsidiaries including Dassault Aviation and Dassault Systèmes.

5. Airbus SE

Total value of the company: $107.76 billion

The top five of our list of most valuable defense companies in the world is kicked off by Airbus. Airbus is the biggest airline manufacturer in the world, with the European company boasting revenues of nearly 50 billion euros in 2020 and is one of four companies in our list with a market cap greater than $100 billion.

4. Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)

Total value of the company: $98.58 billion

Who doesn’t know about Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT)? Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) employs more than 110,000 people and is one of the most famous defense companies in the world, having won the Collier Trophy six times. Responsible for the creation of the F-16 jet, one of the most famous fighter jets in the world, Lockheed Martin (NYSE:LMT) is currently working on the F-35 Lightning II jet.

3. Raytheon Technologies Corp. (NYSE:RTX)

Total value of the company: $126.13 billion

Raytheon Technologies (NYSE:RTX) came into existence just one year ago after the merger of Raytheon with United Technologies, two of the biggest companies in the defense sector. However, the pandemic has definitely affected the operations of Raytheon (NYSE:RTX), which made a loss of around $3.5 billion in 2020, despite an improvement in revenues. Among the multiple subsidiaries of Raytheon (NYSE:RTX) are Raytheon Intelligence and Space and Raytheon Missiles & Defense.

2. Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA)

Total value of the company: $127.88 billion

If you’ve travelled internationally, and in most cases even domestically, you have most likely been on a Boeing (NYSE:BA) aircraft.  However, the company is also engaged in the production and selling of satellites, missiles, telecommunications equipment and military aircraft.

1. Honeywell International Inc. (NYSE:HON)

Total value of the company: $157.66 billion

Topping the list of the 30 most valuable defense companies in the world is Honeywell (NYSE:HON). The company is more popular among the normal population due to its line of smart home devices, which are all the rage nowadays, but Honeywell (NYSE:HON)  is also a major defense contractor, having recorded revenue of more than $32 billion in 2020. In response to the pandemic, Honeywell (NYSE:HON) converted some of its manufacturing facilities in the United States and Germany to create personal protective equipment for those in the healthcare industry.