In 2015, the top 10 countries for military expenditures represented 74% of the total, worldwide outlay, according to SIPRI (Stockholm International Peace Research Institute). The U.S. leads the list at $596 billion, outspending China by almost three times and South Korea by 16 times. Saudi Arabia spends the largest percentage of GDP of the top 10 at 13.7%. The total world expends $1.7 trillion representing 2.3% of the worldwide GDP.

The worldwide demand for connectors in the military/aerospace market was $3.1 billion in 2015, down 9% from 2014. Not surprisingly, North America consumed 46% of those connectors by dollar volume.

Out of the Top 100 connector companies, the Top 10 companies supplying connectors to the military/aerospace market provide 72% of the worldwide demand for that market (based on 2014 sales).

Amphenol has the largest market share at 25% of the military/aerospace market. They were followed by TE at 13%.

The top 10 largest OEMs in the military/aerospace market supply $226 billion of hardware and services. The largest is Lockheed Martin at $46 billion. The company employs 116,000 people worldwide and receives approximately 10% of the Pentagon’s funds. Programs they manage include C-130 Hercules, C-5 Galaxy, F-16 Falcon, F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightening, the Aegis combat system and advanced ballistic missile defense systems.

Bishop follows 13 public companies in the military/aerospace market on a quarterly basis. In 2015, sales for these companies declined 4.9% over their 2014 sales. Profitability decreased 4.3% year-over-year.

Of the 13 companies, EADS had the largest increase in sales in 2015 at 27%. United Technologies is the largest company in 2015 at $59 billion.

Military/aerospace connector sales decreased 9% in 2015. Our 14 military/aerospace OEM’s sales declined 4.9% in 2015.

Profiles of most of connector companies can be found on Bishop & Associates’ subscribers-only World’s Connector Companies website (www.wccreport.com or www.worldsconnectorcompanies.com). For more information, contact bishop@bishopinc.com or 630-443-2702.


Ronald E. Bishop

Ronald E. Bishop

Ronald E. Bishop founded Bishop & Associates Inc., a market research firm that specializes in the world electronic connector industry, in 1985. The firm publishes a monthly newsletter titled “The Bishop Report,” and a weekly digital publication from Connector Supplier.

Bishop & Associates’ research reports focus on connector sales by geographic regions, end-user equipment markets, connector products, and interconnect technologies.

The firm also tracks acquisitions within the connector space, conducts multi-client studies, and participates in customer specific research projects.

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