2 days ago
Deal to save jobs at Stanhope tank parts factory announced
A new contract will lead to £5m investment in an Army parts factory helping to secure 125 jobs, bosses have for the Armed Forces, Luke Pollard MP, announced the three-year contract for Cook Defence Systems in Stanhope, County Durham, to make parts for the British Army's new Challenger 3 of the William Cook Group, the factory has been manufacturing tracks and armour for tanks since World War said the contract with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) would not only strengthen the Army's "warfighting capability" but also "sustain hundreds of skilled jobs in the North East".
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the factory was already playing a "vital role" in the UK's commitment to Ukraine by supplying spare tracks for the Soviet-era vehicles used by the Ukrainian Army.
It also said the new deal was part of a wider defence investment, with the UK ramping up procurement of artillery ammunition, drones and combat spares "in response to lessons learned from Ukraine". William Cook, Director of Cook Defence Systems, said the firm was "critical to the operational independence of the British Army and allied forces"."This latest contract directly supports 125 jobs and underpins £5m of investment in new plant and machinery over the next 12 months," he added.
Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
