Armed forces and defence solutions

The Army, Navy, RAF and intelligence agencies offer a wealth of opportunities for physicists, from communication solutions and weapons and guidance technology, to software design and the maintenance of the UK's nuclear warheads.

Around 1% of those with physics degrees move into the combined armed forces each year, which accounts for a significant number of top-end graduates.

The following organisations specialise in intelligence or defence solutions and undertake graduate recruitment:

• The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
  A branch of the Ministry of Defence
• QinetiQ
  A leading defence and security technology company
• SciSys
  A designer and manufacturer of mission-control systems
• Rolls-Royce
  Develops aircraft power and military solutions
• The Defence Engineering and Science Group (DESG)
  Works with the MoD Civil Service to equip and support the UK Armed Forces with state of the art technology
• MBDA
  Specialists in field missile systems
• BAE Systems
  Produces aircraft, missiles, submarines and land vehicles
• The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE)
  Responsible for providing and maintaining the UK's nuclear weapons deterrent
• The Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ)
  The national intelligence and security agency
• HM Government Communications Centre
  Looks after the government's most sensitive data and helps to maintain national security

If you see yourself working in defence, why not check out another physicist’s experience of the industry?

Return to the section homepage