Company's £97m aircraft contract

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The £97m contract will mean an extra 15 jobs at Marshall Aerospace

A Cambridge-based engineering company has announced a £97m deal to extend the life of a fleet of military aircraft.

Marshall Aerospace will take overall responsibility for maintenance of the Royal Air Force's nine TriStars until their out-of-service date in 2015.

The contract will secure 25 jobs and create a further 15 at the site which already employs 1,700 people.

The aircraft, which can carry up to 260 people, are used for refuelling and taking troops into battle.

Tim Rowntree, director general air support, said the new deal was vital to ensure the continued use of the 25-year-old fleet.

The contract will secure jobs at the Cambridge site

He said: "We've had issues with reliability. It's not a new aircraft and as it gets older, this maintenance becomes more important."

Defence equipment minister Quentin Davies said: "The TriStar aircraft play a vital role in air transport and it is important that we ensure that they are well maintained and serviced."

Marshall Aerospace will take overall responsibility for maintenance which was previously split between different organisations.