Jobs safe after BAE Systems wins new contract

Undated file photo of a RAF Hawk jet, as defence giant BAE Systems has signed a Â£1.6 billion contract to supply Hawk aircraft to Saudi Arabia

Jobs in North and East Yorkshire have been saved following a new agreement to service UK military aircraft.

BAE Systems has been awarded contracts worth almost £300 million to service the UK’s fleet of Hawk fast jet trainer aircraft.

The contracts sustain more than 600 jobs with the defence giant at North and East Yorkshire as well as Babcock in North Wales, Cornwall and Lancashire.

Under the agreements, the two organisations will provide a range of services to the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force to support aircraft operations at RAF Valley in Anglesey, North Wales, RAF Leeming in North Yorkshire and Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose in Cornwall.

The contracts cover aircraft maintenance, fleet management and technical and engineering support for the jets.

Peter Jones of BAE Systems said: “These contracts will allow us to continue to deliver end-to-end service for our Hawk customers. Currently we ensure that 95 per cent of the Hawk fleet is available at any one time and we are confident in our ability to continue to deliver this. Together with our service delivery partner, Babcock, we have managed to improve the level of support service offered to our customers and reduce the costs of their Hawk fleet.

“These contract awards demonstrate the excellent relationship between BAE Systems and the UK Ministry of Defence.”

Last year BAE Systems won a £100m contract extension to continue providing maintenance services for the Eurofighter Typhoon jet’s defensive radar.

The company announced the deal at the opening of a major defence conference in London, at a time when it is trying to sell more of the fighter jets.

BAE Systems wants to win orders with countries including Saudi Arabia.