MORE than 1,200 BAE Systems jobs are hanging in the balance due to the delay of the government's decision on how to arm the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The Ministry of Defence has again delayed its decision - which should have been made in July 1999 - over whether to arm the Eurofighter with British Meteor missiles or American missile developed by Raytheon.
A decision to use the American missile could jeopardise thousands of jobs in Lancashire as it would give the States a veto on who the Eurofighter can be sold to.
BAE Systems' partners in Germany, Italy and France have expressed their support for the Matra BAe Dynamics Meteor option. A decision is now expected in February.
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