£390 million contract to support armoured fighting vehicles announced

The contract with General Dynamics will support the 589 armoured fighting vehicles known as ‘Scout Specialist Vehicles’ (SSV), which were announced in September 2014. It extends the current in service support contract for the vehicles, delivering onshore technical engineering and maintenance.

As a result of the new deal, General Dynamics will now bring assembly, integration and testing of SSVs to a site in South Wales.

Welcoming the deal, Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Today’s decision by General Dynamics to bring the assembly of these world class armoured vehicles to South Wales is to the credit of the skills and expertise in the local area. The 250 additional new skilled jobs at General Dynamics will build on those already safeguarded by the decision to purchase 589 Scout vehicles for our armed forces, ensuring our servicemen and women have the very best equipment to keep us safe.”

Stephen Crabb, Secretary of State for Wales, said: “This is an enormous vote of confidence in the Welsh workforce and will provide a huge jobs boost for Merthyr Tydfil.

“The Welsh manufacturing sector is going from strength to strength and I am delighted that we have been able to work with General Dynamics to make this deal happen.

“Across the country, we are rebalancing the economy, attracting new businesses to Wales and supporting them to succeed here.”

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