High tech jobs boost for Wales

Manufacturing News, Source : TheManufacturer.com
Published : 08 Nov 2002 10:44

On a visit to Wales yesterday to open the headquarters of the company supplying the Armed Forces' new Bowman communications system, defence secretary Geoff Hoon announced that hundreds more defence jobs could be coming to the region.

Mr Hoon was visiting General Dynamics (UK), where the £1.9 billion contract for Bowman, has already created 400 jobs at a new headquarters at Oakdale, South Wales. The Company has been named as preferred bidder for two further contracts - with potential to bring a further 600 jobs to Oakdale.

Mr Hoon said: ''This is excellent news for British jobs and underlines our commitment to utilise British skills and expertise to supply our Armed Forces with the world class equipment they deserve. Bowman is the Army's number one equipment priority and of high importance for the RAF and Royal Navy. I am delighted to say that work on this vital project is well underway and meeting its challenging schedule.

''We have recently selected a General Dynamics (UK) led consortium as Preferred Bidder for one of our Defence Technology Centres. We have also selected them to be the preferred bidder for a £300 million Battlefield Information Management System. CIP, as it is known, will build on the Bowman platform giving our troops the modern digital information management systems they need to outpace and outfight their enemies.''

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