The Chelmsford operations of Britain’s leading defence company, BAE, were visited by the Government Minister responsible for Defence Procurement, Harriet Baldwin MP last week. The Minister joined the Member of Parliament for Chelmsford, Vicky Ford, for a tour of the Applied Intelligence Labs in Great Baddow, which is home to much award winning design and engineering. The list brought back many memories for the Minister, who recalled her first ever work experience placement with Marconi in Chelmsford aged 15.
During the visit, they were shown some of the work the company is developing on Autonomous vehicles, Artificial Intelligence, Radar and Space.
Mrs Ford said: “Some of the World’s best and the brightest communications engineers are based at BAE in Great Baddow. It was a great honour for us to be visited by the Defence Minister Harriet Baldwin MP and for her to see first-hand how the innovative and creative minds from Chelmsford are finding practical solutions to real world security challenges.”
During the visit the Minister announced a new £18 million contract to support the Long Range Radar on the Royal Navy's type 45 air defence destroyers, which will sustain a number of highly skilled jobs in Chelmsford.
Mrs Baldwin said: "It’s been great seeing the cutting-edge innovation of British industry today, especially as my first experience of British business was so close to this site. This multi-million pound contract will boost the future of both this high-tech hub and our Navy’s battle-winning radars."