£8bn fighter jet deal secures 6,000 jobs at factories

BAE Systems Lancashire military aircraft factories received a major boost with an £8billion deal to supply 20 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Turkey.

- BY BILL JACOBS

The contract will guarantee 6,000 jobs at the defence giant's Samlesbury and Warton factories.

It is the largest fighter jet deal in almost 20 years and the first new order for UK Typhoons since 2017.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer signed the agreement during a visit to Turkish capital Ankara, describing it as “a win for British workers, a win for our defence industry, and a win for Nato security”.

Sir Keir said the deal also represented a boost for Nato security sayinng: “Having that capability locked in with the United Kingdom is really important for Nato.”

Around 37 per cent of Typhoon production takes place in the UK, including final assembly at BAE Systems plants in Warton and Samlesbury.