New orders for BAE and Vosper
12 April 2012
DEFENCE and aerospace groups BAE Systems and Vosper Thornycroft have landed orders for another three Type 45 destroyers, taking the total value of the contract to £2bn.
The Government continued its job-saving policy of dividing the orders between the shipbuilding arms of the two companies. It began the policy when it ordered three Type 45s last year.
The six-ship order will keep 2,900 shipyard workers in the two companies fully employed and will secure thousands of jobs in other related industries.
The vessels have been specifically designed to counter anti-ship missiles such as Exocets, which posed a threat to the Royal Navy during the Falklands War of 20 years ago. A further six ships could eventually be ordered by the Ministry of Defence.
