Spanish defense and technology company Indra said Monday its net profit rose 40% to 61 million euros ($66 million) in the first quarter, supported by strong orders as global tensions spur demand for air defenses.

In the same period a year earlier, net profit was 44 million euros.

After shrinking for decades, European military budgets are on the rise due to rising geopolitical tensions around the world, which will translate into higher revenues and margins for defense groups.

NATO member countries have pledged to increase their defense spending to 2% of their gross domestic product in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Indra's revenues rose 22% between January and March to €1.12 billion, with double-digit percentage growth across its four divisions.

The company reiterated its year-end sales target of more than €4.65 billion in local currency, announced in February.

(1 U.S. dollar = 0.9295 euros)

(Reporting by Matteo Allievi; editing by Tom Hogue and Mark Potter; edited in Spanish by Benjamín Mejías Valencia)