Coventry firm secures £63m MoD armoured vehicle contract

Coventry-based NP Aerospace has been awarded a £63m contract by The Ministry of Defence (MoD) to maintain armoured vehicles, which will create 50 jobs.

NP Aerospace, formerly part of Morgan Advanced Materials, is a leader in the Global Defence and Security Market and has integrated more than 2,000 military vehicles, including more than 700 of the MoD’s Cougar fleet of vehicles used in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The latest contract will see NP Aerospace manage the upkeep more than 2,200 protected mobility vehicles based in the UK and on operations as well as update and upgrade them.

These vehicles offer soldiers, medics and other army personnel protection from mine and ballistic threats as they navigate rough terrains on the battlefield.

The contract will support approximately 100 jobs in Coventry and 250 jobs across the UK supply chain until 2024. A further 50 jobs will be created at NP Aerospace’s HQ in Foleshill.

“Armoured vehicles save lives on the battlefield and this contract will ensure they are repaired, upgraded and returned to the frontline as quickly as possible,” said Defence Minister Stuart Andrew. “This vital contract demonstrates how the MOD benefits every region of the UK by providing hundreds of skilled jobs and multi-million-pound investment to the West Midlands.”

As an example, under this contract, a request could be made by Army personnel in Afghanistan to fit a new loudspeaker to a Foxhound patrol vehicle. NP Aerospace would then rapidly design, procure and fit the equipment, as well as providing technical advice throughout the contract period.

The MOD has invested £622m with industry in the West Midlands in 2017 and 18, sustaining 4,900 jobs across the region.