A BAE Eurofighter Typhoon jet is seen standing in the final assembly hangar at the BAE Systems . plant in Warton (Picture: Chris Ratcliffe/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

BAE Systems has announced it is planning to cut almost 2,000 jobs in a massive blow to the Uk’s defence industry. 

The manufacturer will axe some 1,400 jobs across five sites over the next three years, including Warton and Samlesbury in Lancashire, where the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft assembly takes place.

Jobs will also be cut at Brough in East Yorkshire and at RAF bases in Marham, Norfolk, and Leeming in North Yorkshire.

Around 375 proposed redundancies were announced in BAE’s maritime servicing and support business, mainly affecting Portsmouth.

Some jobs will also go from the company’s cyber intelligence business in London and Guildford.

A Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet performs a flying display on the second day of the Farnborough International Airshow (Picturer: Luke MacGregor/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
A replica of a Lightning fighter jet stands outside the main gate of the BAE Systems facility at Salmesbury, near Preston (Picture: REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo)

Chief executive Charles Woodburn said: ‘The organisational changes we are announcing today accelerate our evolution to a more streamlined, de-layered organisation, with a sharper competitive edge and a renewed focus on technology.

‘These actions will further strengthen our company as we deliver our strategy in a changing environment.’

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