Anna Forrester
Lockheed Martin‘s U.K. business has received a $1 billion subcontract from General Dynamics UK to design, produce, test and integrate 245 turrets for General Dynamics‘ SCOUT Specialist Vehicles that are used by the British military.
Stephen Ball, CEO of Lockheed Martin UK, said Tuesday the company plans to sustain almost 900 jobs at its site in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, and collaborate with small and midsize supply chain partners in the region to perform the contract work.
Lockheed noted that it aims to support General Dynamics UK in work to build up the British army’s survivability, combat capability and operational effectiveness with armored fighting vehicle.
Other SCOUT SV functions include intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition in any weather, Lockheed said.
The company expects to deliver the first batch of prototype turrets in 2015.
These turrets will then be fitted onto the SCOUT vehicles, which will begin delivery to the British army in 2017.
