More U.K. defense sector job losses feared

LONDON, Oct. 13 (UPI)

British trade organization ADS is voicing concern that Britain's defense industry faces more job losses because of cuts in defense spending.

ADS warned that there is the potential for 20,000 to 30,000 job losses in a sector that supports more than 300,000 jobs and is worth more than $36 billion in 2010, with about $14.9 billion of that coming from exports last year.

"It is becoming increasingly clear that the historic and current cuts to defense spending, which have been halved over 20 years from 10 percent to 5 percent, are beginning to take effect," ADS Chairman Ian Godden said.

"These cuts and their results are a matter of national interest and must be addressed before further impact is felt on our armed forces on the front line or the industrial base suffers further.

"The 10 percent cut in government spending on Defense is already affecting an industry that supports 300,000 jobs -- these cuts are estimated to lead to further losses of between 20 and 30,000 highly skilled U.K. jobs."

ADS is the trade organization advancing British aerospace, defense, security and space industries, with Farnborough International Limited as a wholly owned subsidiary. ADS also encompasses the British Aviation Group. It was formed from the merger of the Association of Police and Public Security Suppliers, the Defense Manufacturers Association and the Society of British Aerospace Companies in 2009.