Following a number of high profile contract wins, confidence in Welsh skills and manufacturing industry is flying high. The latest announcement sees Raytheon UK’s new Hangar 119 open at Hawarden Airport, North Wales.
Raytheon UK employs 145 highly skilled aircraft integration and modification specialists at its site in Broughton and its airborne operations support a further 500 jobs across Wales. The facility at Hawarden will foster the development of new, cutting edge capabilities for the British aerospace and defence sectors.
Technology developed by Raytheon’s Broughton team is used in some of the most advanced aircraft surveillance and intelligence systems in the world, such as the Sentinel aircraft system, the UK’s most advanced manned surveillance aircraft.
Secretary of State for Wales Alun Cairns said: “Raytheon’s continued investment in North Wales is yet another strong endorsement of the confidence the company has in the skills-base and the business environment in Wales, and is further proof that this country is very much open for business.
“British products and services and – by extension – products and services produced in North Wales are in high demand. As a nation that is part of a strong United Kingdom, our global profile has never been higher.
“Through the UK Government’s modern Industrial Strategy we plan to build on our strengths in these fields, to make Wales one of the most competitive areas in the UK to start and grow a business.”
Richard Daniel, Raytheon UK chief executive said: “Our new facility in North Wales gives us tremendous potential and will enhance our economic impact in the region, where the company has contributed since 1993. We have created around 50 jobs in Broughton over the past 18 months, and anticipate the need for a further 200 over the next three years depending on export opportunities.”
Image:© Crown Copyright. Sentinel R1 aircraft, the RAF’s only long-range wide area battlefield surveillance asset which provides critical intelligence and target tracking information to British and Coalition forces.
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