BAE Systems, British govt sign munitions deal

0 Comments | AFP, August, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — British defence contractor BAE Systems has signed a deal worth 2.0 billion pounds (2.5 billion euros, 3.7 billion dollars) to supply the British armed forces with ammunition, the government said Thursday.

"The 15-year programme will ensure that the United Kingdom has a modernised, sustainable munitions industry which will support British jobs and protect our capacity to produce ammunition," said Armed Forces Minister Bob Ainsworth.

"It is absolutely essential to the conduct of operations and training that we have a guaranteed UK-based high-quality source of ammunition," he added in a statement. "This contract provides precisely that."

© 2008 AFP