Engineering giant Senior posts surge in first-half profits on aerospace and defence demand

See more This is Money on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Updated: 08:20 EDT, 3 August 2026 Engineering firm Senior has reported sustained demand for its aerospace and defence businesses, helping to power a surge in its first-half profits.The FTSE 250 firm reported a 38 per cent increase in adjusted pre-tax profits to £34.8million for the six months to 30 June.Revenue rose 7 per cent on a constant currency basis from £371.2million to £390.8million in the first half.Senior supplies the defence, aerospace and energy sectors with high-tech components and systems, specialising in ducts and valves to control fuel consumption.Its aerospace division, which counts Boeing and Airbus as customers, reported 'positive momentum' with sales increasing by 13 per cent year-on-year. Senior said orders and profitability showed 'excellent growth'.The firm said it reflected strong growth in large commercial and business jets, and in sales to adjacent markets such as semiconductor equipment.Senior counts US defence giant Lockheed Martin – which makes the F-35 Lightning fighter jet, pictured – among its major customersDefence division gets a boostWhile civil aerospace was the main driver of growth, Senior's defence business reported higher volumes as heightened geopolitical tensions drive demand.Total revenue from its defence division, which focuses on military aerospace programmes, increased by £5.9million, or 10.4 per cent, compared to the first half of 2025.US defence giant Lockheed Martin is among its customers. Chief executive David Squires said: 'The group has performed very strongly in the first half of 2026, making excellent progress towards the achievement of our medium-term targets.'The Aerospace Division continued its positive momentum with order intake, sales, profitability and operating margins all showing excellent growth during the half-year.'Senior's Flexonics division, a unit which makes cooling systems, fuel-mixing and distribution equipment, also outperformed expectations 'with markets more resilient than anticipated'. While overall revenue was flat, land vehicle revenues, which were expected to decline in the first-half, increased by 2.8 per cent.Senior said it was confident of delivering full-year performance in line with upgraded expectations announced in July.It comes as the FTSE 250 firm readies for a £1.4billion takeover by a consortium comprising Tinicum and Blackstone. It told investors today that it expects the deal to be completed by the end of 2026, becoming the latest London-listed firm to fall into foreign hands.Experts have previously warned that the takeover could set the scene for further swoops on UK defence firms. A host of British defence companies have been taken over by foreign firms in recent years, including Cobham, Inmarsat, Meggitt and Ultra Electronics.Shares in Senior rose 0.52 per cent or 1.5p to 292p, bringing year-to-date gains to 44.55 per cent.DIY INVESTING PLATFORMSAJ BellAJ BellEasy investing and ready-made portfoliosHargreaves LansdownHargreaves LansdownFree fund dealing and investment ideasinteractive investorinteractive investorFlat-fee investing from £4.99 per monthFreetradeFreetradeInvesting Isa now free on basic planTrading 212Trading 212Free share dealing and no account feeAffiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.Compare the best investing account for you