Britain to build warships for Australia after beating EU to £20BILLION deal
After the PM and ministers pulled out all the stops, Britain's BAE Systems has signed the biggest naval defence deal in the world in the past decade with Australia
A £20BILLION deal for Britain to build warships for Australia was last night hailed as a Brexit boost.
Prime Minister Theresa May helped to fight off competition from Spain and Italy to win the massive contract, which secures more than 4,000 jobs.
It was signed yesterday between the government in Canberra and BAE Systems — the biggest naval defence deal in the world in the past decade.
Mrs May personally lobbied Australia’s prime minister Malcolm Turnbull at Chequers earlier this year.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox also went Down Under to hail Britain’s world class innovation.
Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson played a key role, despatching three Royal Navy ships to the Asia- Pacific region to showcase the UK’s prowess.
Mrs May said: “The sheer scale and nature of this contract puts the UK at the very forefront of maritime design and engineering.
“We have always been clear that as we leave the EU we have an opportunity to build on close relationships with allies like Australia.
“This deal is a perfect illustration the Government is doing exactly that.”
The design for the Royal Australian Navy is based on Britain’s own new generation of Type 26 frigates.
Eight, with a cutting edge stealth radar profile, are due to enter service with the Royal Navy in the 2020s.