MoD's Poseidon fleet contract with Boeing Defence UK to bring more than 100 jobs to RAF Lossiemouth
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A CONTRACT worth more than £230 million to support the RAF’s Lossiemouth-based Poseidon Maritime Aircraft fleet has been signed – creating more than 100 jobs in Moray.
Some 107 of the 153 Boeing Defence UK (BDUK) jobs will be based at RAF Lossiemouth and will provide aircraft maintenance support and personnel alongside training for aircraft crews.
The remaining 46 jobs will be spread across sites at Bristol, Yeovil and Gosport.
The Poseidon (P-8A) is the RAF’s multi-role maritime patrol aircraft, specialising in anti-submarine warfare. Working alongside the Royal Navy and maritime allies such as the US and Norway, Poseidon locates, identifies and tracks potentially hostile submarines operating around UK waters.
Moray Conservative MP Douglas Ross welcomed the announcement. He said: "This major new contract with Boeing is worth £233.5 million and will provide vital training and support for the Poseidon fleet and result in the creation of more than 150 jobs.
"Not only is this a very welcome boost for Moray but I’m sure will also be widely welcomed in the town where many service personnel live and use local services and where businesses are struggling to get back on their feet after the pandemic and what has been a very difficult year for them.
"There has been massive investment at Lossiemouth in recent years and this further contract and additional jobs once again shows how vital the base is to the UK Government and the Ministry of Defence.
"This is great news and shows the UK Government’s commitment to Moray where we have a strong and proud military tradition."
The Poseidon fleet is operated from a new £100 million facility at RAF Lossiemouth, which opened in September last year. The facility has a three-bay hangar, accommodation for squadrons, training, mission support and two state-of-the art flight simulators.
Nine Poseidon have been ordered from Boeing by the UK. Five aircraft – named the "Pride of Moray", "City of Elgin", "Terence Bulloch", "Spirit of Reykjavik" and "Fulmar" – are all now operating out of Lossiemouth, with four more to come later this year.
Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: "This contract award and the creation of more than 100 jobs at RAF Lossiemouth is another great example of the benefits UK defence investment brings to Scotland.
"The Moray station’s fleet of Poseidon submarine hunting aircraft are vital to maintaining the security of the UK and our NATO allies. And the prosperity generated by defence employment in Scotland, alongside the UK Government's Plan for Jobs, will help us build back better from the pandemic."
