Outsourcer Serco, defence firm Lockheed Martin and Jacobs Engineering are set to lose a contract to develop warheads for Britain’s fleet of nuclear submarines. The Ministry of Defence is effectively preparing to re-nationalise the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), which manages Britain’s nuclear stockpile and runs major sites in Berkshire, according to Sky News. The decision will be yet another blow for Serco, which is already under fire for its role in managing several coronavirus testing centres and call centres. Serco and US firm Jacobs Engineering each own a 24.5 per cent stake in AWE, while Lockheed Martin owns 51 per cent. The consortium was handed a 25-year contract to develop Britain’s nuclear warheads in 2000.
Daily Mail 1st Nov 2020 read more »
Ministers will this week move to seize control of the controversial contract responsible for manufacturing Britain’s nuclear warheads in a move that insiders said reflected the influence of Dominic Cummings, the prime minister’s top adviser. Sky News has learnt that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) will announce in the coming days that it intends to effectively renationalise management of the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE), which runs the Aldermaston factory in Berkshire. The decision will come as a blow to Lockheed Martin, which holds a 51% stake in AWE Management, the outsourcer Serco and Jacobs Engineering, which own 24.5% each of the joint venture.
Sky News 1st Nov 2020 read more »
KMFM 1st Nov 2020 read more »