On the opening day of the Farnborough International Airshow in Hampshire, US aerospace giant Boeing (www.boeing.com) announced that it intends to make the UK its European training, maintenance and repair base for military aircraft (this will create 2,000 new jobs, doubling its workforce in the UK). It also intends to build a £100 million facility for the P-8A Poseidon military aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth in Scotland, where 100 jobs will be created.

Speaking at a press conference organised by Boeing, the then-Prime Minister David Cameron said: “Whatever uncertainties our country faces, I want the message to go out loud and clear: the UK will continue to lead the world in both civil and defence aerospace. We aren’t just open for investment; we are a place that the global aero-
space industry wants to do business, as Boeing’s long-term partnership with the UK proves.”

Mr Cameron also confirmed that the UK has signed a contract to purchase nine Boeing P8 Maritime Patrol Aircraft to protect the UK’s new aircraft carriers, along with 50 Apache AH-64E attack helicopters.