The top 9 biggest defense contractors in America

As a general in World War II, President Dwight D. Eisenhower intimately knew how to lead and manage the armed forces. After years of public service, he prepared to leave his position as the Commander in Chief with a final farewell address to the nation.

In this farewell address, he outlined the dangers of what he coined as the "military industrial complex."

Although Eisenhower could have been unwavering in his argument, one cannot deny the amazing advancements, or the destructive power, that military R&D has created. Military research and development has now paved the way for medical achievements and other inventions that have reshaped the world.

The following figures from 2015 were compiled by the US General Services Administration and are publicly available.