Defense giant BAE Systems has reported record results for 2025 while staff at its sites in Lancashire, U.K., continue to strike for better pay, reports BBC News.

BAE said on February 18 that gross profit was £2.6 billion ($3.51 billion), up from £2.3 billion a year earlier, on the back of sales to a record £30.7 billion, as governments around the world boost their defense budgets. Chief executive Charles Woodburn highlighted the firm's record order backlog, and the firm is expecting profits to grow further, by around 10% in 2026. BAE’s shares climbed 3% after the announcement.

Unite, one of Britain's biggest unions, has called the weapons maker's profit "obscene," and warned strikes would continue until a better pay offer is made.

BAE said it has made a fair offer to staff, who currently receive "market-leading pay and rewards," and it is engaging with unions.

Unite, which represents 5,000 workers at BAE's factories in Warton and Samlesbury, said its workers "know their value and want their fair share of the pie."

Sharon Graham, Unite's general secretary, said: "BAE's profits are little short of obscene. The company is making billions from government contracts and yet refuses to pay our members what they are worth."

On the prospect of strike action continuing into March, BAE said: "With the majority of our employees working as normal, we are focused on minimizing any disruption and implementing our robust contingency plans."