The government faces the threat of industrial action over the loss of almost 2,000 jobs in the defence industry.
Union leaders branded an announcement about the closure of a Defence Aviation Repair Agency (Dara) site in south Wales an “absolute disgrace”.
The site at St Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan will close by April 2007, with the loss of up to 500 jobs, Armed Forces minister Adam Ingram announced.
Dara’s engine maintenance business at Fleetlands in Hampshire will close, with the loss of 225 jobs.
The Army vehicle repairs agency, Abro, will close its armoured vehicle and engine facilities at Donnington, Shropshire, by March 2007, with the loss of 628 jobs.
Other sites at Warminster, Wiltshire and Colchester, Essex will close by March 2007.
The Ministry of Defence said the “streamlining” was part of the modernisation of logistics support to the Armed Forces.
