Defence giant Lockheed Martin says UK could be more attractive to invest post-Brexit vote
One of the world’s largest defence contractors has said that the UK could become a more attractive place to invest, after Brits voted to leave the European Union.
Marillyn Hewson, the chief executive of Lockheed Martin, told the Sunday Times that the weaker pound could make exporting from Britain more lucrative.
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Lockheed builds gun turrets for the UK’s Ajax and Warrior tanks at its factory in Bedfordshire, which it hopes to export to other countries. It’s also the main contractor for Britain’s plans to buy 138 F-35 fighter jets for the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.
Hewson added that the UK’s attractiveness as a place to invest post-Brexit vote would depend "on the government and the policies it puts in place".
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"We find it already an attractive place to invest. One of the things we are working on is exporting from the UK to other countries," she said.
"We've just expanded our Ampthill facility and added 40 jobs. We've already spent about £23m in that facility over the past 10 years to make it a centre of excellence for turret manufacture."