Tue, 22 May 2012

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded contracts worth £350m to three UK companies to design the next generation of nuclear deterrent submarines, sustaining and creating a total of 1,900 jobs across the UK.

According to the MoD, the largest contract, worth £328m, has been awarded to engineering and services firm BAE Systems, while a further £15m goes to engineering company Babcock and power systems firm Rolls-Royce gets £4m.

The first submarine designed under the contract is due to be delivered in 2028 and will renew the nation’s nuclear deterrent into the 2060s.

Defence secretary Philip Hammond says: “We have a world-class submarine-building industry in this country and this programme will help to sustain or create more than 1,900 jobs across the UK.”