Air power investment ‘will keep the UK safe’

A £120 million investment in UK air power will ensure the Armed Forces have the “best equipment and training available” to keep the country safe, the Defence Secretary has said.

Announcing two new contracts, Sir Michael Fallon said the deals would sustain British jobs and improve training.

A deal worth £110m has been struck with Marshall Aerospace and Defence Group for work on the Hercules C-130J aircraft to ensure it can continue supporting British forces.

The work will extend the aircraft’s out-of-service date to 2035 and sustain 330 jobs in Cambridge.

A £9.5m contract was also signed with defence technology company Qinetiq to provide Typhoon pilots with the “latest cockpit technology to prepare them for front line combat”, the Ministry of Defence said.