BAE Systems plc — Ethics Grade D+

BAE Systems plc receives an overall ethics grade of D+ (38/100) on CancelCo's corporate accountability database. Sector: Defense & Aerospace. Market cap: Large Cap.

Category scores

• labor: 60
• privacy: 60
• consumer: 50
• environment: 40
• humanRights: 15

Documented incidents (3)

• Arms Sales to Saudi Arabia (high, 2020) — BAE Systems is the primary supplier of fighter jets and maintenance to the Saudi Air Force. The company has faced intense criticism for maintaining aircraft used in the bombing of Yemen, which led to a humanitarian crisis.
• Al-Yamamah Corruption Case (high, 2010) — While historic, the legacy of the Al-Yamamah deal persists; BAE paid £286m in fines to the US and UK for 'accounting failures' following allegations of massive bribes paid to Saudi royalty to secure contracts.
• PFAS Contamination (medium, 2021) — Operations at BAE-managed munitions sites have been linked to PFAS (forever chemicals) contamination in local groundwater, leading to long-term environmental remediation requirements.

Documented good deeds

• Largest Apprenticeship Intake — BAE Systems recruited over 1,000 apprentices in a single year, providing high-skilled vocational training in under-invested regions of the UK.

Ethical alternatives

• Siemens AG — A diversified industrial company that divested from most direct weapons manufacturing and focuses on green infrastructure.