BAE Typhoon jobs fear

BAE Systems has rejected a union’s claim that hundreds of jobs are at risk at its Lancashire military aircraft factories because the government has failed to order more of the Eurofighter Typhoon jet.

Unite says that the main production line for the warplane at the firm’s Warton site has ground to a halt.

It says hundreds of workers at the site, employed by BAE Systems, have had to be transferred to other BAE factories or to RAF bases as there are no further domestic or export orders for the Typhoon.

But the company says that it is confident of future orders for the jet, manufactured by a four-nation consortium, soon guaranteeing work for 10 years,

BAE Systems employs 12,000 people across its Samlesbury and Warton sites 5,600 at Samlesbury and 6,400 at Warton.

At Warton the final assembly of Typhoons takes place,

The Samlesbury plant manufactures the UK workshare of Typhoon major units which includes the aircraft’s front fuselage, spine tank and tail section.

Presently the production facility at Samlesbury is manufacturing major units for orders from Spain (45 aircraft), Germany (38), and Italy (up to 24) and any future export orders for Typhoon would see further work for Samlesbury.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Workers at BAE and across the whole UK defence and manufacturing industry will be looking at the ending of the Typhoon final assembly production at Warton and asking how a government promising to turn defence spending into ‘British growth, British jobs, British skills, British innovation’ could let it happen. 

“I have repeatedly told government ministers how much is at risk in terms of jobs, skills, and national security if we stop assembling our own fighter planes.

“But instead they still seem content to sit on their hands while those skills begin to wither and die. 

“The Ministry of Defence must now urgently announce its commitment to the Typhoon with an order for the latest, cutting-edge T5 Typhoons to replace the aging RAF fighters being retired.

“A failure to do this could destroy a generation of aerospace workers and would amount to an act of national self-harm.”

BAE Systems spokesperson said: “We’re experienced at responding to the changing demands of the Typhoon programme to ensure we retain our specialist skills.

“The strong level of interest, commitment and investment in the aircraft from current and potential customers gives us confidence that Typhoon production in the UK will take us into the next decade.

“We’re working hard to secure these orders which are critical to secure the UK’s long-term sovereign combat air capability.”

Eurofighter consortium chief executive Jorge Tamarit Degenhardt at the Paris Air Show last month predicted the current production of 14 of the combat jets annually would rise to 20 a year over the coming three years benefitting production work at Samlesbury.

Last month the government announced it was to buy 12 F35A upgraded fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear bombs partly- manufactured at Lancashire’s BAE Systems Air Sector factories.