£220m upgrade for BAE Systems UK plant

BAe Systems is upgrading its UK-based Electronic Systems business with a $220m renovation project.

The BAe site in Rochester will undergo significant renovation starting in 2025 to create a new state-of-the-art factory of more than 32,000 square-metres.

The company employs 1,600 staff at the Kent site developing head-up displays, helmet-mounted displays, flight control computers and active control sticks for civil and military aircraft worldwide. The site is also part of the Electronic Systems global support service centre, providing repairs to commercial airliners.

The new facility will combine manufacturing, engineering and office space with increased capacity provided by a more efficient and sustainable facility to add 300 jobs over the next five years.

“Our skilled workforce plays a vital role in delivering products that are of the utmost importance to national security and commercial aviation,” said Dave Banks, BAE Systems’ Rochester Business Centre Director. “This significant investment will help us attract additional highly skilled jobs to the Medway area – ensuring that we can deliver for our customers who depend on our products to complete their missions.”

The Rochester community has been home to the development and manufacture of aviation technology for more than 100 years.

The project is the latest investment that BAE Systems is making in its UK facilities. A £300m  transformation of shipbuilding facilities is underway in Glasgow and more than £200m is being spent on upgrading the UK munitions business to meet increased demand. The US arm of the company received funding from the Chips Act to upgrade its chip making fab last year.