Paving the way to safeguard defence jobs

Over 1500 jobs will be sustained by contract announcements made by the UK MoD. They cover munitions and maritime maintenace.

The MoD has agreed to purchase additional Paveway IV bombs from Raytheon UK. These weapons are to be carried by UK Tornados in Afghanistan and will also provide a key capability to be carried by the Typhoon and Lightning II aircraft.

The contract will sustain around 450 jobs at Raytheon UK's plants. It will secure 300 highly skilled defence sector jobs in Glenrothes, Scotland and 150 in Harlow, Essex. It will also sustain a number of jobs at Raytheon's subcontractors - Portsmouth Aviation Ltd, Exelis in Brighton, Chemring in Ardeer and Thales in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

Paveway IV proved highly effective during the 2011 air campaign over Libya. Its Global Positioning System (GPS) technology gives the UK the capability to conduct 24-hour precision attacks against a wide range of targets. Aircrew have the ability to re-programme the weapon during a mission, offering capability to attack a wider range of targets.

Around 800 more jobs in the UK maritime sector have been safeguarded after the MOD extended five contracts worth a total of £349M.

The contracts cover the long term maintenance of the Royal Fleet Auxiliary (RFA) Flotilla of naval support ships. They have been awarded to five British companies
and will secure a further five years of maintenance support for the 13-strong RFA Flotilla.

Made up of fuel tankers, stores ships, a medical facility and landing ships, the RFA provides essential support such as food, fuel, munitions, and other vital supplies
to the Royal Navy at sea.

The companies involved are:

* Cammell Laird Shiprepairers and Shipbuilders Ltd based in Birkenhead;

* A&P Group Ltd (Ship Repair Facility) based in Falmouth;

* Lloyds Register based in Bristol;

* Trimline Ltd based in Southampton;

* Hempel UK Ltd based in Cwmbran.