More than 100 new North East jobs are being created at BAE Systems after the defence specialist sealed a huge £280m deal with the Ministry of Defence.
The MoD deal is for the supply of munitions, with the company saying current conflicts and tensions around the globe have thrown a spotlight on UK manufacturing capabilities, as well as its long-running partnership with the UK Armed Forces. The contract – which could increase to more than £400m – is set to create 101 production operative roles at the firm’s site at Washington, Tyne and Wear, as well as 65 jobs at Radway Green, Cheshire, and a further 45 at Glascoed, South Wales.
BAE Systems said the new roles significantly boost its existing munitions business, which has 1,260 people involved in either munitions manufacturing or test and evaluation at five sites across the UK, at Glascoed, Radway Green, Washington, Bishopton near Glasgow, and Ridsdale in Northumberland. The new deal comes in addition to its existing £2.4bn 15-year partnering agreement, and will significantly increase the production of defence stocks including 155mm artillery shells, 30mm medium calibre rounds and 5.56mm ammunition.
