Britain hands BAE Systems 2.4 bln stg munitions contract

Britain handed a 2.4 billion pound ($3.20 billion)contract to BAE Systems, agreeing a new deal for the country's biggest defence company to keep supplying weapons and equipment to the UK armed forces.

BAE said the contract would sustain around 4,000 jobs across the UK, and enabled it to invest 70 million in upgrading manufacturing lines.

The new agreement replaces the current one which expires in 2022.