418 active UK companies are classified under defence activities (SIC code 84220), a specialised sector. This sector falls under Section O — Public administration and defence — of the UK Standard Industrial Classification. The sector has a relatively low 12% dissolution rate — 418 of 523 registrations remain active. The sector is experiencing rapid growth, with 196.6% of active businesses incorporated since 2020 — indicating strong recent demand. 106% of companies were formed after 2010, marking this as a sector with predominantly recent entrants. The average company age in this sector is 7.9 years. London leads with 24% of companies in this sector. Companies in this sector hold 72 government contracts valued at £2.8B.
Source: Companies House register via UVAGATRON, October 2026
A rapidly growing sector with 196.6% of active companies formed since 2020.
The defence activities sector has a <Link href="/glossary/company-dissolution">12% dissolution rate</Link>. The average active company in this sector is 7.9 years old. Geographic concentration: 24% in LONDON.
Companies in the defence activities sector have been awarded 72 government contracts worth £2823.2M in total.
There are 418 active companies classified under SIC code 84220 (Defence activities) in the UK, out of 523 total registered.
SIC code 84220 stands for "Defence activities". It belongs to Section O — Public administration and defence of the UK Standard Industrial Classification.
The largest concentrations are in LONDON (101), WEYMOUTH (13), CAMBERLEY (11).
The average active defence activities company in the UK is 7.9 years old, with the oldest registration dating back to 1929.
Our database contains 4,342 data signals across 11 categories for active defence activities companies. The largest category is Governance with 1,788 signals from 4 government sources.
5.9M companies, 50M+ signals from 53 government sources. Risk scores, director networks, entity analysis.