GCS cutbacks

 will close three sites in the UK and cut jobs at three others to reduce its workforce by 500 employees.

All the sites are in the company's Global Combat Systems (GCS) Vehicles and Weapons businesses, which currently employ 1,820 people in the UK. The losses are still subject to consultation with trade unions and employee representatives.

Guildford, Leeds and Telford will close with the loss of 330 jobs. The Newcastle site will shed 50 workers and seven will loose their jobs at the Leicester facility. Approximately 90 jobs will be cut in the weapons business at Barrow owing to the slowdown in the production of the US M777 lightweight towed howitzer.

BAE Systems also announced that another 30 jobs will be lost in an attempt to achieve better efficiency.

Some employees will be moving locations as part of the company’s ‘transformation programme’. Around 100 roles from the sites planned for closure will be transferred to Leicester and Newcastle.