MS wins £18m US weapons contract

The firm-fixed-price contract will supply a US foreign military sales requirement. The end user specified that Doncaster-based MS International should supply the naval gun weapon systems.

The contract is to be completed by December 2011.

MS International's shares closed up 14 per cent last night, a rise of 18p to 143p following the news.

The company has seen the overall level of activity improve across the group.

Executive chairman Michael Bell said orders are over 10 per cent higher than last year.

The defence division continues to prosper with a high level of work in hand for the year ahead.

The group, which makes components for the defence industry and parts for petrol station forecourts, said there are some interesting opportunities for further business in the defence area.

There was only a modest improvement in markets served by the group's forgings division, but the group is streamlining the business.

In June, MS International reported mixed results, with its defence division producing a record performance, but its forgings arm was hit by "extremely tough" trading conditions.