Posted on 09/09/2010 3:58:43 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
BAE to slash almost 1,000 jobs amid fears £5.2bn super aircraft carriers may be axed
By Ian Drury
on 9th September 2010
Defence giant BAE Systems is planned to axe almost 1,000 jobs as it copes with the inevitable cuts inflicted by the Government's spending review.
Shocked union chiefs warned the move could be the 'tip of the iceberg' amid fears the Royal Navy's two £5.2billion aircraft carriers to be ditched to cut costs.
The Ministry of Defence has asked BAE in the past week to look at the financial implications of scrapping one or both of the 65,000-ton replacement warships.
The defence giant - part of a consortium building the ships - was instructed to look at options including 'one carrier or no carriers', its chief executive, Ian King, said.
The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions warned that the review will mean 'worrying prospects' for the defence industry.
Cancelled? An artist impression of the front of one of the new super aircraft carriers which could be scrapped in an attempt to cut costs
Mr King made the revelation while giving evidence to the House of Commons' defence select committee yesterday.
because if we cancel the orders without considering the skills base we could completely lose the UK's entire shipbuilding industry.
'That would do huge damage to the economy and our standing as one of the world's leading maritime nations.'
An MoD spokesman said: 'The Defence Secretary has made clear that tough decisions will need to be made but the complex process of a Strategic Defence and Security Review will be concluded in the autumn.
'Speculation at this stage about its outcome is entirely unfounded.'
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
LLS
For an island nation that depends on shipping I would say this is not very smart. Unless they’re going to start renting out our Navy. They need to start cutting their social welfare largese. We need to take a look at what’s going on with them. We’re heading down the same road.
One other thing, how do they expect to protect the Falklands with a deteriorating Navy? The best way to avoid war is to prepare for war. They are courting a confrontation with Argentina...
Great initial and thought provoking comments of this one once great nation.
But Im sure if I cared to read what ABCMSNDNC thoughts were on this issue, it would be for the dawg bozo to follow the Brits lead, as it would lead to Peace in our time.
That Falklands Islands has nothing to fear from the economically illiterate Argentines for the foreseeable future...
The financial problems are such that either the carriers or the Trident successor project are going to get the axe. My personal hope is that it is successor. The carrier project is further along, replacements for the existing vessels are more pressing, odds are they are going to be more important in the future, and the people who run successor are .... well I cant say on a family-friendly board like FR, but lets say I dont like them very much.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.