BAE Systems has won a £1.3billion order to manufacture key components for 38 Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft for the German Air Force at its Samlesbury factory.

The news has been described as 'a real tonic for the East Lancashire aerospace sector' by Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans.

Miranda Barker, chief executive of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce said: "This is superb news."

The company, which has military aircraft factories as Samlesbury in the Ribble Valley and Warton near Preston, said work will on the order would start next year and guarantee Typhoon production in the county through to the mid-2020s.

More than 5,000 BAE Systems employees directly support the Eurofighter programme in the UK of whom 3,000 are in Lancashire.

There a further 10,000 jobs in the UK economy as a whole dependent on the Typhoon project, many in the East Lancashire aerospace supply chain.

News of the new order follows the announcement in August of 350 job losses at Rolls-Royce's at its Barnoldswick factories as the firm plans to transfer the manufacture of of wide-chord fan blades to Singapore.

BAE Systems Samlesbury site will manufacture more than a third of the components for each of the new Typhoons including the aircraft’s front fuselage and tail.

Final assembly will be undertaken by Airbus in Manching, Germany.

Hi-tech engineering staff at BAE Systems Warton factory will with counterparts at Airbus Defence in Germany and Spain, and Leonardo in Italy to support the development of capabilities for the aircraft, including a new electronically-scanning radar.

Mr Evans said: "This is brilliant news. It is a real and much-needed tonic for the aerospace sector in East Lancashire which has been hit hard by coronavirus.

"It is especially welcome after the announcement from Rolls-Royce and will guarantee jobs not just at BAE Systems Samlesbury but across the East Lancashire aerospace supply chain."

Ms Barker said: "This is superb news. It is excellent news for Lancashire and its aerospace supply chain.

"It is much-needed after the announcement from Rolls-Royce and will feed through to many small and medium-sized enterprises across the East of the county.

Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems chief executive, said: “Germany’s decision to purchase additional Typhoons reinforces the aircraft’s position as one of the world’s most successful combat military aircraft.

"The Typhoon programme makes a significant contribution to the UK economy, supporting more than 15,000 jobs across the UK including thousands of highly skilled roles in the north of England."