£450m plane boost creates Scots jobs

HUNDREDS of Scottish defence jobs have been secured with nearly half a billion pounds in funding to upgrade Britain's Typhoon warplanes.

- By BEN BORLAND

Defence Secretary John Healey visited Leonardo UK's Edinburgh site yesterday to confirm the award of a £453million contract to British industry for the manufacture of state-of-the-art radar systems.

The investment will secure hundreds of highly-skilled jobs in Scotland over the next decade and up to 1,300 jobs across the UK.

Under the new contract, BAE Systems, Leonardo UK and Parker Meggitt will equip RAF Typhoons with the new radar systems over the coming years. In addition to 300 skilled roles in Edinburgh, the full Typhoon programme supports more than 20,000 jobs across 330 UK firms.