Defence industry giant BAE Systems, which has two large military aircraft factories in Lancashire, has recorded a sharp increase in its half-yearly revenues and profits.

They are revealed in the financial results of the firm - which employs more than 11,000 people at its Warton and Samlesbury sites - for the six months to June 30.

A 13 per cent increase in its sales saw its income for the period rise by 13 per cent to £12.5 million compared to £11m for the same six months in 2023.

This translated into a five per cent rise in operating profit to £1.3m for January to June 2024 up from £1.2m for the same six months in 2023.

The team at Samlesbury and Warton developing Tempest, the UK’s future combat aircraft, which will be delivered through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), is working with 76 companies in its supply chain across the North-West.

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems chief executive, said: “Thanks to the outstanding efforts of our employees around the world, we delivered a strong operational and financial performance in the first half of the year, giving us confidence to increase our year-end guidance across all our key metrics.

"Working closely with our customers, we have maintained momentum on key strategic activities, including AUKUS and the Global Combat Air Programme.

"We also continued evolving our technology portfolio through strategic acquisitions and the ongoing integration of our new Space & Mission Systems business.

“Our order intake shows that demand for our products and services remains high and we are well positioned for sustained growth in the coming years.

"We will keep investing in new technologies, facilities and our people so we can deliver on our record order backlog and help our government customers stay ahead in an uncertain world.”

BAE Systems currently has an order book worth £74.1billion, up £4.3 billion from £69.8 billion 12 months ago,

In the first six months of the year, the firm delivered a further two Typhoon aircraft, which were built and assembled in Lancashire, to Qatar, which now operates a total of 20 aircraft.

With its Japanese and Italian partners, it recently unveiled a new concept model of the GCAP aircraft at Farnborough International Airshow.

The firm also committed £125,000 to Inspire Youth Zone in Chorley, funding a new ‘makers zone’ to help equip young people with the skills, confidence and knowledge to become creators and innovators.