A FACTORY run by defence and aerospace company BAE Global Combat Systems in Wolverhampton is to close with the loss of around 70 jobs.
The firm is planning to complete all existing contracts and then consolidate all of its support services at its existing base in Telford.
The company is planning to shed 230 jobs in total with services provided at its base in Newcastle-upon-Tyne also transferring to Shropshire during this year and early in 2012.
Around 100 jobs are to be lost in the North East with the remaining 60 to come from its other bases around the UK.
BAE says it will be outsourcing all future manufacturing requirements.
Tony Hammond, a negotiator with trade union Prospect, said the cuts were another nail in the coffin of military equipment manufacturing in the UK.
“It shows again that defence cuts are hitting the private sector. The loss of valuable skills is a great concern to Prospect and is yet another blow to the UK’s defence infrastructure,” he said.
Jan Soderstrom, managing director of BAE Systems’ vehicles business, said the company had to reduce costs to remain competitive and it regretted the impact the move would have on its employees.
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