BAE Lands £300m Terrier Armoured Vehicle Contract

A new fleet of 60 armoured tracked engineer vehicles are to be built at BAE Systems' Newcastle factory as part of a new £300 million contract.

The 60 portable TERRIER - which will give the Royal Engineers a powerful and versatile route-clearing and earth-moving capability - will become one of the most important engineering tools in their inventory.

They will support infantry by removing obstacles and opening routes, providing vital assistance on major operations.

The announcement has been hailed as being good news for the North-East and for British industry.

Minister for Defence Equipment and Support, Quentin Davies welcomed the contract, saying: "Terrier will be a hugely powerful and versatile machine like a cross between an armoured vehicle, an excavator and a loader - and I am pleased to confirm this order for our highly skilled Royal Engineers.

"Designed in Leicester and integrated by BAE Systems in Newcastle, the order if also good news for British industry as over 90% of the manufacture will be supported by companies from across the country demonstrating the great level of skills and workmanship we have in the UK."

The Terrier vehicle weighs in at 30-tonnes and has a crew of two who sit in a 'state-of-the-art' compartment. The vehicle's armoured chassis will allow it to safely operate in a combat environment, and when required, it can be operated remotely.

They will be used to clear obstacles by frontline troops in conflict zones like Afghanistan, as well as on peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

The contract is the latest boost for BAE, which last month announced a 31% rise in annual earnings for 2008 on the back of an increase in military spending.

(JM/BMcC)