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One hundred and fifty jobs in scottish The aerospace sector will be retained as part of a new deal between the UK and the UK. sweden And Thailand,
Jobs in Aerospace Firm Leonardo Swedish defense company to be preserved as SAAB Agreed to provide four Gripen fighter aircraft to the Royal Thai Air Force over the next five years.
The deal is worth £177 million to the UK supply chain and will preserve jobs at Leonardo’s Edinburgh site, where Gripen’s radars are made.
It follows a two-year campaign that involved close collaboration between the UK Government’s Department for Business and Trade, Sweden, Thailand and firms such as Leonardo.
An additional eight aircraft may be ordered over the next decade.
About 40% of the plane’s parts are being made in Britain, which officials say could be worth up to £530 million to British businesses across the supply chain.
Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander said: “Scotland is recognized globally as a center of defense excellence.
“That is why the UK Government is transforming the sector into an even more powerful engine for the country’s growth.
“Working with the Swedish Government, Saab and Leonardo, the UK Government helped to secure this deal with Thailand despite stiff competition.
“This is a fantastic example of how we are providing vital opportunities for Scottish businesses and communities across the country as part of Scotland’s Defense Dividend.”
He added: “This is the power of the UK Government to bring together the diplomatic, security and trade levers to deliver prosperity for Scotland.
“When we support our service workers and Scottish industry, we keep ourselves and our colleagues safe while providing skilled jobs and growth for communities and workers across the country.”
Defense Readiness and Industry Minister Luke Pollard said: “Our record lift in defense investment will ensure our forces have the kit they need to fight, ensuring we are safer at home and stronger abroad.
“By making defense an engine of growth across the country and supporting the Government’s plan for change, the Defense Dividend is delivering benefits for Scottish jobs, communities and businesses.
“Scotland’s world-class shipbuilding heritage and technological innovation make it a cornerstone of the UK’s defense industrial base, supporting thousands of skilled jobs that keep our country safe.”
Leonardo employs around 2,500 people in Edinburgh, including engineers, graduates and apprentices.
Its one hundred and fifty employees produce the Raven radar, which allows Gripen aircraft to detect and track aerial targets while remaining immune to radar countermeasures.
Mark Stead, Leonardo senior vice president for radar and advanced targeting, said: “Leonardo’s Edinburgh site has been producing world-leading technologies for more than 80 years, including most recently advanced fire-control radars for the Eurofighter Typhoon and Saab Gripen fighter aircraft.
“We are proud to deliver a range of our Raven radars for the latest order of Gripen aircraft by the Kingdom of Thailand.
“The program will support highly skilled engineering jobs at our Edinburgh site and within our supply chain, and ultimately provide the Royal Thai Air Force with a proven radar capable of performing in the most challenging conditions.”
Martin Kent, Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, said: “The Gripen agreement is a historic moment in our growing bilateral trade partnership with Thailand, worth £7.4 billion.
“With the significant contribution of UK sites such as Leonardo’s Center of Excellence in Edinburgh, this is testament to the importance of cross-government collaboration in securing high-value opportunities for British industry.”