Defense contractor - Definition and Overview

A defense contractor or a military contractor is a business or individual who contracts with a government to provide goods or services used for national security or warfare. Military contractors include weapons manufacturers or a companies participating in weapons research and warfare simulation.

The term "defense contractor" is sometimes criticized because it implicitly may suggest that a contractor makes weapons that will be used for defensive rather than offensive purposes. Nevertheless, defense contractor is by far the more common usage.

See also

• Category:Defence companies
• list of US defense contractors, arms trade, military-industrial complex, private military contractor