 An artist's impression of one of the new aircraft carriers |
A Cumbrian shipyard is celebrating after the announcement that it has been awarded part of a major Royal Navy aircraft carrier contract. Defence Secretary John Reid said that parts for two new ships will be built at the BAE Systems site in Barrow.
The move means hundreds of jobs have been safeguarded and hundreds more will be created at the site.
The ships will be the largest and most powerful surface warships ever built in the UK, according to the Royal Navy.
They will replace the Royal Navy's HMS Invincible, Ark Royal and Illustrious aircraft carriers.
'Tremendous news'
Parts will also be constructed at shipyards in Portsmouth and Scotland, with the final assembly at Rosyth in Scotland.
Mr Reid said they would be an "integral part" of addressing the complexity of the modern military.
He said: "These two things would give us, thousands of miles away from home, the sustainable capability to operate not only as a sea presence, but as an aerial defence, an aerial threat."
Terry Waiting, leader of Barrow Council, said: "It is tremendous news for Barrow-in-Furness, especially for the design team whose jobs were under threat.
"That gives them some confidence to remain in the area, because these people are vital to shipbuilding in Barrow, and if we lose that calibre of person it is very difficult to attract them back."
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