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22/05/2002
Trade Minister welcomes Thales jobs boost
Sir Reg Empey MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister of Defence Procurement that a consortium including Thales Air Defence in Belfast had been chosen as preferred supplier for a new £400 million defence programme.
The Thales share of the contract is worth around £70 million and will result in the creation of up to 80 jobs in Northern Ireland. Thales' joint bid led by Swedish contractor Saab Bofors Dynamics will see the production of between 80,000 to 100,000 'fire and forget' Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapons (NLAW) for the British and Swedish military. According to Sir Reg, there will also be "significant export opportunities" arising out of the deal.
The minister said: “This is a strategically important contract that will consolidate the global status of Thales as a market leader in defence technology. Significant export opportunities are likely to result from this decision."
The missiles will be assembled in Northern Ireland using capabilities gained from similar missile programmes such as Starstreak, Hellfire and VT1 and will result in more than 500 high quality, long-term jobs throughout the UK.
“The consortium’s choice of Thales in Belfast for such a pivotal role in the programme is a massive endorsement of the hi-tech skills and experience to be found here," said Sir Reg. "It strengthens the position and standing of the Belfast plant as an international centre of excellence in sophisticated defence technology. Key programmes such as this have also an important impact on R&D levels, offer high value job opportunities and provide spin-off business for smaller suppliers.”
The contract, which has been awarded to 15 companies throughout the UK, will see infantry regiments such as the Royal Marines and the RAF Regiment equipped with the weapon which is capable of destroying battle tanks, armoured vehicles and even buildings. The missiles are expected to enter service by 2006-07.
(GMcG)
The Thales share of the contract is worth around £70 million and will result in the creation of up to 80 jobs in Northern Ireland. Thales' joint bid led by Swedish contractor Saab Bofors Dynamics will see the production of between 80,000 to 100,000 'fire and forget' Next Generation Light Anti-Armour Weapons (NLAW) for the British and Swedish military. According to Sir Reg, there will also be "significant export opportunities" arising out of the deal.
The minister said: “This is a strategically important contract that will consolidate the global status of Thales as a market leader in defence technology. Significant export opportunities are likely to result from this decision."
The missiles will be assembled in Northern Ireland using capabilities gained from similar missile programmes such as Starstreak, Hellfire and VT1 and will result in more than 500 high quality, long-term jobs throughout the UK.
“The consortium’s choice of Thales in Belfast for such a pivotal role in the programme is a massive endorsement of the hi-tech skills and experience to be found here," said Sir Reg. "It strengthens the position and standing of the Belfast plant as an international centre of excellence in sophisticated defence technology. Key programmes such as this have also an important impact on R&D levels, offer high value job opportunities and provide spin-off business for smaller suppliers.”
The contract, which has been awarded to 15 companies throughout the UK, will see infantry regiments such as the Royal Marines and the RAF Regiment equipped with the weapon which is capable of destroying battle tanks, armoured vehicles and even buildings. The missiles are expected to enter service by 2006-07.
(GMcG)
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15 January 2014
£100m Weapons Contract Announced
David Cameron has announced a weapons export contract worth over £100m for Thales Air Defence. Thales, based in Belfast and Crossgar, County Down, designs and manufactures missiles within the Thales Group.
£100m Weapons Contract Announced
David Cameron has announced a weapons export contract worth over £100m for Thales Air Defence. Thales, based in Belfast and Crossgar, County Down, designs and manufactures missiles within the Thales Group.
21 May 2002
Missile contract to create 80 jobs in Belfast
Up to 80 jobs will be created following the government's decision to award Belfast-based defence contractor Thales Air Defence part of the contract to produce anti-armour missiles for the British and Swedish military.
Missile contract to create 80 jobs in Belfast
Up to 80 jobs will be created following the government's decision to award Belfast-based defence contractor Thales Air Defence part of the contract to produce anti-armour missiles for the British and Swedish military.
16 June 2014
Belfast Firm Wins £48m Missile Contract
Thales UK has secured a £48m deal for the design and manufacture of missiles for the UK Ministry of Defence. The Belfast-based manufacturer, which also has operations in Crossgar, County Down, won the contract for the demonstration and manufacture of the Future Anti Surface Guided Weapon (Light) system.
Belfast Firm Wins £48m Missile Contract
Thales UK has secured a £48m deal for the design and manufacture of missiles for the UK Ministry of Defence. The Belfast-based manufacturer, which also has operations in Crossgar, County Down, won the contract for the demonstration and manufacture of the Future Anti Surface Guided Weapon (Light) system.
23 January 2009
Multi-Million Pound Deal Welcomed At Thales
Despite a gloomy outlook on the economy nationally - with a UK recession officially confirmed today - there's good news for a specialist engineering company in east Belfast. Thales Air Defence, formerly Shorts Missile Systems, has won a £200m Ministry of Defence contract and will supply part of the Starstreak missile system to the MoD until 2020.
Multi-Million Pound Deal Welcomed At Thales
Despite a gloomy outlook on the economy nationally - with a UK recession officially confirmed today - there's good news for a specialist engineering company in east Belfast. Thales Air Defence, formerly Shorts Missile Systems, has won a £200m Ministry of Defence contract and will supply part of the Starstreak missile system to the MoD until 2020.
08 May 2003
Thales win multi-million pound missile deal
Thales has won a multi-million contract to supply missiles to South Africa. The contract put at around £12.5 million is understood to involve the supply of the high-tech Starstreak air defence missiles for use South African defence forces.
Thales win multi-million pound missile deal
Thales has won a multi-million contract to supply missiles to South Africa. The contract put at around £12.5 million is understood to involve the supply of the high-tech Starstreak air defence missiles for use South African defence forces.
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