British Builders Battle For Contracts

BAE Systems Plc is engaged in a bitter fight with naval shipbuilder Vosper Thornycroft to secure the contract to build all 12 of the Royal Navy's new Type 45 destroyers, the Financial Times reported. The BAE is said to have offered to leave the field clear for Vosper in warships less that 85 m long, but the Hampshire shipbuilder has secured the backing of a group of MPs in the interest of preserving competition in U.K. warship building. Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said last July that two of the first three destroyers would be built by BAE and one by Vosper, but is now considering BAE's bid to take on all 12. Vosper made 650 staff redundant in December after the contract for the design and construction of the Type 45 destroyer was delayed. - (Reuters)