A SPARES service for the Red Arrows display team is part of a £74million contract secured by aerospace gaint BAE Systems.

The four-year contract to maintain Hawk TMK1 fighter jets, signed with the Ministry of Defence, will be run from the company's base in Samlesbury.

It will see staff at the site working on the 131-strong fleet of the planes, used to train pilots, and used by the RAF and the Navy.

And in addition, a spares availability service will be provided to RAF Scampton, Lincolnshire, home of the Red Arrows.

Union chiefs and company bosses said the contract helped secure jobs at the site where 3,500 people work.

Defence procurement minister, Lord Drayson, said it was hoped the deal would save the tax payer £18million through efficiency savings.

Union conveener Neil Sheehan, said: "This is great news for BAE and the staff at Samlesbury. It has come as a bit of a surprise and will be very welcome."

The Hawk was introduced into service in 1974 and is used in advanced pilot training - it can be readily redeployed in an operational war role, equipped with bombs, rockets and missiles.

BAE Systems and Babcock Defence Services, the current Hawk contractor, will maintain the Hawks at , RAF Valley, Wales, RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, and Royal Naval Air StationCuldrose, Cornwall.

Support services at the stations will provide fleet and supply chain management, forward and depth maintenance, and technical support.

Phil Davidson, training solutions support director, BAE Systems, said: "The Hawk Integrated Operational Support (IOS) contract is an excellent example of BAE Systems working closely with the RAF, the Royal Navy and the UK MoD, bringing guaranteed levels of availability for the aircraft and giving real capability to our customer.

"The Hawk IOS service, which will be delivered in partnership with the Defence Logistics Organisation and Babcock Defence Services, will ensure the availability of Hawk aircraft with the capability to meet the wide range of training requirements, while also reducing costs for the MoD.

He said it was the latest in a series of integrated support contracts that have been developed by the company over the last five years.

He added: "These contracts cover many of the UK's frontline aircraft including Tornado, Harrier, Nimrod MR2 and VC10 and fully reflect the principles outlined in the UK Government's Defence Industrial Strategy."

Lord Drayson said: "The Hawk has a superb training record, and The Red Arrows aerobatic team has provided the world with awe-inspiring displays demonstrating not only the aircraft's tremendous performance but also our world class pilot training.

"This contract is also good news for the British taxpayer, saving about £18 million over the next four years."