BAE Systems is part of the Eurofighter project

The jobs are to go at its air systems plants in Warton and Samlesbury, with 500 going this year and 500 in 2005.

BAE Systems said it was predicting a downturn in work in some areas over the next few years, which meant it had too many people with certain skills.

It comes a week after the company announced the loss of 760 jobs at its shipyard in Barrow, Cumbria.

BAE Systems said the 1,000 figure included 250 sub-contractors who will leave the business by the end of 2004.

Military jets

Part of the company's air systems division, the Warton and Samlesbury plants work on military aircraft including the Joint Strike Fighter, Hawk, Typhoon and Nimrod.

Nigel Whitehead, managing director of the air systems group, said that while the company knew it would be a tough time for all those affected, it was "the only way to ensure a viable future for this business".

We want a change in strategy, with BAE looking to the return of civil aircraft manufacturing Neil Sheehan, Amicus union

He added: "We have been briefing employees for the past six months to expect some major job losses, so today's announcement will not be a great surprise.

"We hope to achieve the majority of these job losses by voluntary means; however, we cannot rule out compulsory redundancies at some stage."

Mr Whitehead said BAE Systems had been working with trade unions in trying to keep job losses to a minimum.

The T&G union said it was "more evidence of the topsy turvy state" of the UK's aerospace industry.

National secretary for manufacturing, John Rowse, said: "There are wider strategic issues raised by a feeling we're dealing with job cuts one moment, recruitment the next.

"How can the company and the industry attract the quality people it needs for a sustainable future with that erratic record?"

Big blow

Neil Sheehan, spokesman for the Amicus union at Samlesbury, said: "We are very annoyed and shocked by these job cuts. It's about 10% of the workforce.

"It will be a big blow to the local community and to people who work here."

He said the union wanted BAE Systems to re-examine its strategy of focusing on military work.

"Here, we've always had civil and military aircraft manufacturing but by 2008 we won't have any more civil work on our site. This will lead to even more job cuts as the work goes overseas.