Scottish defence industry wins new radar contract
The work of four hundred Scottish Defence electronics workers has been bolstered by new MOD fast jet fighter radar contracts, the Minister for Defence Procurement Jeremy Quin MP announced today.
The Leonardo and BAE Systems plants in Edinburgh (300 jobs) and Dunfermline (100 jobs) pick up two-thirds of the 600 UK jobs that will be supported by the £317 million order.
Confirming the news at the Defence Procurement, Research, Technology & Exportability (DPRTE) 2020 event, the Minister said:
‘It is vital that our Armed Forces are equipped with the latest technology to counter emerging threats from our adversaries.
‘Today we announce the investment in the latest in radar technology for our fighter jets. This demonstrates our commitment to maintaining security in the air whilst supporting highly-skilled jobs across the UK’.
Typhoon aircraft will be equipped with next-generation radar thanks to £317 million investment that will allow it to locate, identify and suppress enemy air defences using high-powered jamming.
The integration of the new European Common Radar System (ECRS) Mk2, which is based on Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) technology, will provide a capability edge in the increasingly contested battlespace.
Currently fitted with mechanically-scanning radar, the Typhoon is designed to be continuously upgraded to meet operational demand no matter the challenge or threat. The ECRS Mk2 will allow the aircraft to simultaneously detect, identify and track multiple targets in the air and on the ground in the most challenging environments.
Figures published earlier this year showed MOD procurement spend in Scotland has risen to £1.76 billion in 2018/19, the fifth year running there has been an increase.
This is up from £1.64 billion the previous year and an increase in per person spend to £320.
And the number of Scottish industry jobs this supports has increased from 10,100 to 10,200.
Scotland will see a further £1.5 billion of defence investment in infrastructure over a 10-year period on improved facilities at Faslane, Coulport and RAF Lossiemouth.