Jobs secured by US contract

The new contract should safeguard 600 jobs at BAE

At least 600 jobs at BAE Systems' Plymouth centre have been safeguarded after the firm won a multi-million pound contract with the US Navy.

The firm has clinched the deal to start work on silicon inertial measurement units - which help guide missiles and keep them stable in flight.

The system is currently used by the United States Navy's rolling airframe missile.

It is planned to be used on more than 100 US and German naval ships.

The company has welcomed the news, saying that winning the contract was part of their business plan and would help safeguard 600 jobs.

It said the contract was worth millions of pounds and should lead to even more lucrative work in the future.