MoD awards £48m missiles contract

Thales plant in Belfast will manufacture missiles for Royal Navy

Thales UK has won a £48 million contract to manufacture missiles for Royal Navy helicopters at its Belfast plant.

The contract is for the Future Anti-Surface Guided Weapon system, a lightweight, precision strike missile. The system is designed to be fired from land, sea or air, aimed at deflecting the threat from small ships and fast attack craft.

This deal is expected to sustain around 60 expert jobs in advanced weapons system design and manufacturing. A similar number of jobs will be sustained throughout the programme’s supply chain.

Northern Ireland first minister Peter Robinson said: "The talents of Northern Ireland's manufacturing and engineering labour force are now held in high esteem across the global aerospace and defence industries and today's announcement is further evidence of this."

Thales is a centre for missile design and manufacture within the Thales Group.