This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/south_east/8128989.stm
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Troops radio deal 'secures jobs' | Troops radio deal 'secures jobs' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two defence contracts worth £231m to upgrade a military communication system have been awarded to a plant in Wales safeguarding hundreds of hi-tech jobs. | Two defence contracts worth £231m to upgrade a military communication system have been awarded to a plant in Wales safeguarding hundreds of hi-tech jobs. |
| Staff at General Dynamics UK in Oakdale, south Wales, will work on the upgrade, said the Ministry of Defence (MoD). | |
| Around 800 people are employed at the site with half expected to work on the new contracts. | Around 800 people are employed at the site with half expected to work on the new contracts. |
| All three armed services use the communication system involved. | All three armed services use the communication system involved. |
| The first contract, worth £119m aims to update and refresh the system's capabilities over its lifetime to reflect advances in technology. | The first contract, worth £119m aims to update and refresh the system's capabilities over its lifetime to reflect advances in technology. |
| The second contract, valued at £112m, aims to provide longer term technical support for the Bowman system, including repair, servicing and the provision of spares. | The second contract, valued at £112m, aims to provide longer term technical support for the Bowman system, including repair, servicing and the provision of spares. |
| The MoD said the £1.8bn Bowman programme introduced in 2001 directly or indirectly sustains more than 1,000 jobs across the UK and has allowed General Dynamics to create more than 800 jobs in Wales. | The MoD said the £1.8bn Bowman programme introduced in 2001 directly or indirectly sustains more than 1,000 jobs across the UK and has allowed General Dynamics to create more than 800 jobs in Wales. |
| General Dynamics said more than half its staff in Wales were graduate engineers and it expected 400 staff to work on the projects signed on Thursday. | General Dynamics said more than half its staff in Wales were graduate engineers and it expected 400 staff to work on the projects signed on Thursday. |
| Around 12,500 British Army vehicles are kitted out with the digital communications system, which pinpoints the user's location as well providing secure radio links. | Around 12,500 British Army vehicles are kitted out with the digital communications system, which pinpoints the user's location as well providing secure radio links. |
| The system is being rolled out to Royal Navy ships, the Royal Marines, the RAF Regiment and specialist Army signals units. | The system is being rolled out to Royal Navy ships, the Royal Marines, the RAF Regiment and specialist Army signals units. |
| General Dynamics UK president and managing director Dr Sandy Wilson said the Bowman project was a good example of the "industrial benefit to the UK" of its partnership with the MoD. | General Dynamics UK president and managing director Dr Sandy Wilson said the Bowman project was a good example of the "industrial benefit to the UK" of its partnership with the MoD. |
| He said: "Bowman has allowed General Dynamics UK to grow a valuable engineering capability in communications and vehicle integration." | He said: "Bowman has allowed General Dynamics UK to grow a valuable engineering capability in communications and vehicle integration." |
| Defence Minister Quentin Davies MP is expected to visit the plant on Thursday to announce the contracts. | Defence Minister Quentin Davies MP is expected to visit the plant on Thursday to announce the contracts. |