BAE Systems proposes over 640 job cuts at Insyte arm

BAE is planning on cutting 15 per cent of its jobs at eight Insyte sites. Broad Park in Portsmouth is to lose 220 employees, while Cowes on the Isle of Wight could see 125 workers become redundant.

BAE said the proposals came following a review of the workload requirements of Insyte , which delivers radar surveillance, command & information systems, mission training and underwater systems solutions. Insyte currently employs 3,719 people at 11 sites in the UK.

Rory Fisher, Managing Director for BAE Systems Insyte, said, "We have a responsibility to address a reduction in our forecast workload and manage our cost base to remain competitive and meet our customers' future requirements.

"We will work with our employees and their representatives to explore ways of mitigating these potential job losses and we will ensure employees are fully supported throughout this process."

Should the proposals go through BAE Systems would have made over 2,300 people redundant in this year alone.

Hugh Scullion, of The Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions said, "These are highly skilled jobs which the UK can not afford to lose."