This paper aims to present an overview and analysis of the Brazilian defense industrial base (IDB). Based on the Brazilian Industrial Defense Base Mapping and its eight segments (ABDI-IPEA, 2016), our maincontribution is to provide the first national and comparative analysis between these sectors, since there is a lack of knowledge in the literature on the Brazilian defense-related companies scenario. Focusingon the analysis of the international insertion of these companies into the global industry through international trade, we analyze defense-related companies based on (i) personnel and average salaries;(ii) innovative and investment profile; (iii) share of export; (iv) main destination countries; (v) technological intensity of exported products; (vi) main obstacles when looking for external markets; and(vii) main export support instruments. Despite the limitations in terms of data, among the main conclusions stand out that each segment has a specific profile, faces and responds differently to market barriers, and in general its innovative profile is still focused on process, what may limit the competitiveness of companies.