18 Jun 2007 | Ref. 175/2007
-
BAE Systems' Samlesbury site plan outline - June 2007
Samlesbury, United Kingdom. – A significant new development at Samlesbury will transform the BAE Systems site and reinforce the North West of England’s place at the heart of the UK military air sector.
The green light for the ambitious project at BAE Systems’ airframe engineering and manufacturing site at Samlesbury came earlier this year when local borough councils gave outline planning permission for a l00,000 square metre development which will play a major part in planned changes for the air sector and will be home to ultra-modern industrial and office space for about 6,000 BAE Systems employees.
The development represents outstanding news for BAE Systems and the local aerospace industry, helping produce the infrastructure, skilled employees and capability that is needed to deliver key international military air programmes to the front line.
The expansion programme, fully in line with the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) Defence Industrial Strategy (DIS) could provide jobs for up to 2,500 skilled personnel in addition to the 3,800 who are already employed there. One of the major thrusts of the DIS is the imperative for the defence sector to transform and evolve to the right size and shape to better match future defence requirements.
Within the first phase of the development, Samlesbury will have a new state-of-the-art machining centre, producing high-value, complex and lightweight structures for the F-35 Lightning II aircraft when it moves into its production phase.
BAE Systems, in partnership with US aerospace giants Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman, has been tasked by the UK and US governments to produce the stealthy, multi-service F-35 Lightning II. BAE Systems are responsible for the design, manufacture and assembly of the aft fuselage and vertical and horizontal tails for the programme. The manufacturing and assembly of these assemblies takes place at Samlesbury.
Dave Holmes, director of investment, strategic planning and LTPA implementation at BAE Systems Military Air Solutions business, said: “The fixed wing element of DIS is the blueprint for the future of the air defence industry. Our aim is to establish a long-term partnering agreement with the MoD and the expansion at Samlesbury is a key stage in that process. The changes that are about to take place at Samlesbury are a very significant step forward for the site, and for BAE Systems as a whole.”
About BAE Systems
BAE Systems is a global defence and aerospace company delivering a full range of products and services for air, land and naval forces, as well as advanced electronics, information technology solutions and customer support services. With 88,000 employees worldwide, BAE Systems' sales exceeded £13.7 billion pounds sterling (US25.4 billion dollars) in 2006.
For further information contact:
John Neilson, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0) 1252 384795 Mob: + 44 (0)7802 337704
john.neilson@baesystems.com
Ashleigh McClure, BAE Systems
Tel: + 44 (0)1772 855572 Mob: +44 (0)7793 421886
Ashleigh.McClure@baesystems.com
Issued by:
BAE Systems, Farnborough, Hampshire GU14 6YU, UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1252 384710 Fax: +44 (0) 1252 383947
www.baesystems.com
