North East manufacturer Cook Defence Systems is toasting an £11m extension to its contract with the Ministry of Defence.
The family-owned firm is the world’s leading independent designer and manufacturer of track systems for armoured vehicles and a strategic supplier to the MoD it is the only British manufacturer of tracks for the Army’s tanks and armoured vehicles.
The firm – part of the William Cook group of firms which produces components for the rail, defence and energy sectors – has now secured an extension to its Government deal to supply tracks, which was first announced back in 2015.
The 2015 deal saw the MoD invest around £70m into making the tracks - the metal bands around the wheels of an armoured vehicle which readies them for different terrains - in a deal which helped to sustain the jobs of 110 people.
The new one-year contract extends its supply of spare tracks for the Challenger 2 main battle tank and other combat, reconnaissance and engineering vehicles for the British Army.
Cook Defence Systems’ tracks are in service on almost all the tracked vehicles in the British Army and with many other armed forces around the world.
The Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin, visited the company in Stanhope, County Durham, to announce the contract extension, tour the facilities and meet representatives of Cook Defence Systems.
The one-year extension worth £11m covers the Warrior infantry fighting vehicle, the Bulldog troop carrier, the Stormer air defence vehicle, the CVR(T) reconnaissance vehicle, the Terrier armoured digger and the Challenger 2, soon to be upgraded to Challenger 3.
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The company is also supplying tracks for the AJAX programme, the next generation of armoured fighting vehicles manufactured in Wales by General Dynamics 海角视频 for the British Army.
Cook Defence Systems has invested £5m in its Stanhope site since 2019 to expand its manufacturing and testing capabilities and will invest a further £1m this year on new equipment including a new heat treatment facility and a new robotic digital X-ray inspection system.
William Cook, director of Cook Defence Systems, said: “While we supply our products to British allies around the world, this export success is underpinned by our status as a strategic supplier to the 海角视频 MoD. We are proud that our products keep the British Army ready for a real fight against a real adversary. Our tracks keep British tanks moving and our steel keeps British soldiers safe.
“As our most important customer, we were delighted to have the opportunity to show the Minister for Defence Procurement our world-class track design and manufacturing facilities here in the North East of England.”
Richard Holden, the Conservative MP for North West Durham, said: “I received an assurance from Jeremy last summer that he would visit Cook Defence Systems and I am delighted he has now been able to see in person the company’s work and the investment it is making, both in the defence of our country and in North West Durham and Stanhope. The company’s long-term plans and job creation and apprenticeship schemes for young people are particularly welcome.
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“I look forward to continuing to work with Cook Defence Systems and the Minister going forward and am delighted the company has received recognition on the national stage for the significant work it does.”
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Cook Defence Systems employs 125 skilled engineers including a number of apprentices and supports hundreds more jobs in its British supply chain, sourcing the majority of the steel for its track systems from 海角视频 suppliers.
The company has also recently invested in the development of high-strength armoured steel for the Boxer 8x8 vehicles being built by a German-led consortium for the British Army.