Up to 371 Lancs jobs could go as BAE slows Typhoon production

Defence company BAE Systems is letting hundreds of workers go as it scales back production of the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.

The BBC has reported that up to 371 jobs will be cut, with the majority of losses hitting the BAE site in Samlesbury, Lancashire, where 13k people are currently employed.

Despite the job cuts, BAE chief executive Ian King said the company has “good prospects” looking forward.

He commented: “Overall the company is operating in an improving business environment and we continue to win new orders, with good prospects for the future.

“In the short term, action to extend the production life of Typhoon aircraft by reducing the current production rate […] will impact the group’s 2015 results.”

BAE has forecast Typhoon sales to drop from £1.3bn in 2015 to around £1.1bn next year.

However, the firm continues to secure deals to supply the twin-engine, multirole fighter plane, which reportedly costs £125m per unit to produce. In September the Kuwaiti air force signed up for 28 Typhoons.

Now, BAE is in talks with Saudi Arabia to procure further Typhoon sales in the Middle East.