The Ulster Unionist Party’s East Belfast MLA, Andy Allen MBE, has welcomed today’s announcement by the Ministry of Defence that Belfast based Spirit AeroSystems is to design and manufacture a prototype of the UK’s first uncrewed fighter aircraft.
Andy Allen said:
“The news that Spirit AeroSystems Belfast – formerly Bombardier – has been chosen to lead the UK’s next phase of the project to develop an uncrewed combat aircraft – to be called Project Mosquito - is a major vote of confidence in Northern Ireland and the local workforce.
“The £30M three year investment to develop a prototype will support 100 jobs and is precisely the kind of high tech investment we both want and need to see in Northern Ireland.
“East Belfast has a long and proud history of delivering UK Defence projects at the old Shorts site, and I am delighted to see Project Mosquito continue that history in the 21st Century.
“Northern Ireland has proven in the past that we can deliver quality work on Defence contracts for land, sea and air forces. I look forward to the success of this project and am confident that it will lead to a fruitful partnership with the MoD going forward.”