Boeing (NYSE: BA) has secured a $648 million contract with the U.K. defense ministry to provide service support for the country’s Chinook helicopter fleet as part of MoD’s defense investments in the south coast.
MoD said Tuesday the five-year contract includes maintenance services at a site in Gosport and technical support at the U.K. air force base in Odiham.
The deal could sustain more than 400 jobs and help build up U.K. defense capabilities in the region as the air force expects to grow its Chinook fleet to 60 by 2017, the ministry noted.
“As part of our long term economic plan, we are making major defense investments in areas like Portsmouth and today’s announcements demonstrate our commitment to this great city and region, ” said British Prime Minister David Cameron.
Portsmouth in the south coast of England is home to a U.K. naval base, which could soon host BAE Systems and Magma Structures as MoD works to pump a further $153.4 million to develop the region’s maritime sector, the ministry added.
