BABCOCK has been awarded a multi-million pound contract that will help safeguard jobs at Rosyth Dockyard.

The Aerospace and Defence company will be manufacture a further 18 tactical Missile Tube Assemblies (MTAs) for General Dynamics Electric Boat (GDEB).

This means that 200 jobs at Babcock’s Rosyth and Bristol facilities will be supported until at least 2026.

It is part of the Common Missile Compartment (CMC) project for the UK Dreadnought class and US Columbia class submarine programmes both of which will carry the Trident Submarine-launched Ballistic Missile (SBLM).

In a statement, Babcock said this highly-specialised, internationally-significant work reinforced its position as a critical supplier of MTAs, utilising its digital manufacturing skills and expertise to support the future deterrent submarine programmes for both the UK and US navies.

Defence Minister Jeremy Quin said: “This is a prime example of the capability of our defence industry to deliver specialised and complex manufacturing in support of an internationally-significant programme.

"The contract extension will support 200 highly-skilled jobs in Bristol and Rosyth, building next-generation technology for our vital nuclear deterrent.”

Since 2014, Babcock has secured contracts with GDEB to manufacture 57 MTAs. The latest of these contracts included an option to supply an additional 18 MTAs, resulting in the recent contract extension.

John Howie, Chief Executive of Marine at Babcock, said: “We’re delighted to be awarded this contract extension, which is testament to the skills and capability of our workforce, as well as the quality of product we are delivering.

"This work will help support more than 200 cutting-edge manufacturing roles at Rosyth and Bristol until at least 2026.”