The United States has the most powerful military in the world. According to Global Firepower’s 2024 Military Strength Rankings, the U.S. came in at number one out of 145 countries evaluated. The U.S. not only protects itself and its citizens but also attempts to aid in peacekeeping and maintain a stable environment in regions that are critical to the country’s interests. In 2023 alone, an estimated 45 billion dollars was spent on foreign aid (exact figures have yet to be determined.)
With the ongoing conflicts in critical zones, the U.S. has sent aid, most notably with billions of dollars in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia invaded the country in February 2022. Ukrainian soldiers have been armed with tanks, howitzers, mortars, attack drones, and other major weapons systems. Many of the weapons being sent to Ukraine are made by some of the world’s largest and well-known defense contractors.
Many of these weapons are produced by American manufacturers. Raytheon produces wire-guided long-range precision TOW missiles for striking armored ground vehicles. Lockheed Martin makes the Javelin portable anti-armor system. General Dynamics is the supplier of Stinger man-portable air defense systems, a modern version of the portable rocket launchers the U.S. delivered to Afghanistan’s Mujahideen in their fight against the Soviets in the 1980s. (Here are all of the weapons the U.S. has committed to Ukraine since the invasion.)
247 Wall St. reviewed the most recent Army Weapon Systems Handbook for 2020-2021, published by the U.S. Army to find the manufacturers that make the most U.S. Army weapons systems. Companies are ranked by the number of weapons systems under contract – whether in development or active use by the Army. All the contractors listed have at least four systems under contract with the Army.
Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, and General Dynamics are three of the top four U.S. Army weapons systems suppliers based on the number of active military contracts for major weapons systems. Although they control more than a third of these contracts, major weapons systems often have numerous companies involved in their production, including lesser-known companies like North Carolina-based Collins Aerospace, one of the contractors for the Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System, a high-tech reconnaissance drone.
The Arlington, Virginia-based company, Leonardo DRS, owned by Italian aerospace and defense multinational Leonardo SpA is another well-known contractor. Leonardo is the exclusive contractor for certain weapons sights, including ones for medium and large-mounted machine guns that use thermal sensors to penetrate battlefield smoke screens. The company holds seventh place in the number of contracts with the U.S. Army. (Also read: this is every gun currently used by the US military.)
Here are the manufacturers that build most U.S. Army weapons systems.
18. Pine Bluff Arsenal
Source: Courtesy of U.S. Army Pine Bluff Arsenal via Facebook
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 4 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems development: Chemical Biological Protective Shelter, Mortar Weapons Systems, Warfighter Health Performance and Evacuation
- Headquarters: Whitehall, AR
17. Pacific Star Communications
Source: Courtesy of Pacific Star Communications via Facebook
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 4 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems in development: Tactical Network Transport, Signal Modernization, Unified Network Operations
- Headquarters: Portland, OR
16. Leidos
Source: Jarek Tuszyński / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 4 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems in development: Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System, Airborne Reconnaissance Low, Distributed Common Ground System
- Headquarters: Reston, VA
15. FLIR
Source: Courtesy of FLIR Systems via Facebook
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 4 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems in development: Common Robotic System, Next Generation Chemical Detector, Soldier Borne Sensor
- Headquarters: Wilsonville, OR
14. Collins Aerospace
Source: J. Michael Jones / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 4 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems in development: Aviation Combined Arms Tactical Trainer, Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Headquarters: Charlotte, NC
13. Honeywell
Source: Sundry Photography / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 5 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems in development: Abrams Main Battle Tank, Chinook, Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Lightweight Towed Howitzer
- Headquarters: Charlotte, NC
12. CACI
Source: Courtesy of CACI International Inc via Facebook
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 5 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems in development: Distributed Common Ground System, Medical Communications for Combat Casualty Care, Nuclear Biological Chemical Reconnaissance Vehicle
- Headquarters: Arlington, VA
11. Oshkosh
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 6 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems in development: Joint Light Tactical Vehicles, Enhanced Heavy Equipment Transporter System, Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles
- Headquarters: Oshkosh, WI
10. Textron
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 6 (tied)
- Notable weapons systems in development: Endurance Unmanned Aircraft Systems, Next Generation Squad Weapons, Future Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems
- Headquarters: Providence, RI
9. Sierra Nevada Corporation
Source: Courtesy of Sierra Nevada Corporation via Facebook
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 7
- Notable weapons systems in development: Enhanced Medium Altitude Reconnaissance and Surveillance System, Integrated Tactical Network, Guardrail Common Sensor
- Headquarters: Sparks, NV
8. Boeing
Source: J. Crocker / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 8
- Notable weapons systems in development: Apache Attack Helicopter, Avenger Air Defense System, Chinook, Maneuver Short-Range Air Defense
- Headquarters: Arlington, VA
7. Leonardo DRS
Source: Courtesy of Leonardo DRS, Inc. via Facebook
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 12
- Notable weapons systems in development: Lightweight Towed Howitzer, Sustainment Tactical Network, Military Bridging Systems
- Headquarters: Arlington, VA
6. BAE Systems
Source: Brown / Getty Images
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 14
- Notable weapons systems in development: Aircraft Survivability Equipment, Bradley Fighting Vehicle, Hydra Rocket Systems, Unified Command Suite
- Headquarters: Farnborough, United Kingdom
5. Northrop Grumman Corporation
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 16
- Notable weapons systems in development: Army Integrated Air and Missile Defense, Forward Area Air Defense Command and Control, Rocket Artillery Mortar Warn
- Headquarters: West Falls Church, VA
4. Raytheon
Source: in / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 17
- Notable weapons systems in development: Improved Target Acquisition System, Patriot Advanced Capability, Land-based Phalanx Weapon System, Indirect Fire Protection Capability
- Headquarters: Arlington, VA
3. Lockheed Martin
Source: Kevin Moloney / Getty Images
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 24
- Notable weapons systems in development: Hellfire Family of Missiles, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, Patriot Advanced Capability, Counterfire Radar, Stinger Block I with Proximity Fuze
- Headquarters: Bethesda, MD
2. L3Harris Technologies
Source: JHVEPhoto / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 26
- Notable weapons systems in development: Phoenix E-Model Ground Satellite Terminal, Apache Attack Helicopter, Transportable Tactical Command Communications
- Headquarters: New York City, NY
1. General Dynamics
Source: Spencer Platt / Getty Images
- Number of systems under contract for US Army: 31
- Notable weapons systems in development: Air and Missile Defense Planning and Control System, Abrams Main Battle Tank, Mortar Weapons Systems, Stryker Brigade Combat Team
- Headquarters: Reston, VA
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