Military defence firm wins £2m contract

A military engineering business in Heaton Chapel has won a £2m contract with the US Department of Defence.

WFEL is about to ship a 250 tonne ski jump ramp to the US where it will be used by pilots testing the new F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.

The ski jump, which was designed, developed and manufactured by WFEL, replicates the runway of an aircraft carrier. It will enable the Joint Strike Fighter to be tested on land, potentially saving the military millions of pounds.

The company has been working with the US military since the 1980s and it is one its biggest customers – giving it around £20m in sales this year.

Ian Wilson, WFEL chief executive, said: “The JSF will be one of the most advanced military aircraft ever made and we are proud to support the development team in achieving one of their key milestones, both on time and on budget.”

Mr Wilson said he is also in talks with other Western militaries that have signed up to the JSF project.