SIC code 25400 — Manufacture of weapons and ammunition — is a specialist classification with 100 active companies in the UK. Despite its small size, this category represents an important part of the manufacturing sector. It falls under Section C (Manufacturing) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Manufacture of weapons and ammunition industry page.
The average company age is 14.6 years, indicating an established sector with a mix of long-running businesses and newer entrants. Growth has been exceptional recently: 46% of all active companies were formed since 2020, marking this as one of the fastest-expanding classifications. The 2010s contributed another 22%, meaning the vast majority of businesses are relatively new. The highest concentration of manufacture of weapons and ammunition companies is in LONDON, with 16 active firms (16% of the sector).
SIC code 25400 stands for "Manufacture of weapons and ammunition" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section C — Manufacturing. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 100 active companies registered under SIC code 25400 in the UK, out of 109 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 92%, meaning 8% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for manufacture of weapons and ammunition companies (SIC 25400) are: LONDON (16). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 46% of currently active SIC 25400 companies were formed since 2020, and 22% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for manufacture of weapons and ammunition services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 25400 have an average age of 14.6 years. This suggests a balanced sector with both established players and newer entrants. Notable companies include BAE SYSTEMS PLC, DENIS FERRANTI METERS LIMITED, ACCLES & SHELVOKE LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 25990 (Manufacture of other fabricated metal products n.e.c.), 25110 (Manufacture of metal structures and parts of structures), 25620 (Machining), 25120 (Manufacture of doors and windows of metal). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 25400 (Manufacture of weapons and ammunition) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 100 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.