A BLACKBURN defence firm is to slash around a quarter of its workforce after seeing a ‘steep fall’ in orders over the last year-and-a-half.

Cobham Defence Communications said around 24 employees will be made redundant as part of the latest cost-cutting measure.

A union chief described it as ‘yet another nail in the coffin’ for the defence industry and pledged to do all he could to keep jobs at the site.

Bosses said the action was being taken in response to a ‘substantial downturn’ in the business.

Cobham makes communication equipment for military vehicles at its base in Haslingden Road.

A combination of skilled and semi-skilled workers, engineers and administration staff will leave the company next month.

Negotiator Tony Hammond, of Prospect union, said: “From our point of view it is yet another nail in the coffin for the defence industry.

“More than that though, we have got a Coalition Government which promised there would be manufacturing jobs and that they would protect them.

“The sorts of jobs here at Cobham are at the very top of the matrix in terms of engineering jobs and now we are losing them. We are not getting any support from the Government.

“Clearly we are in discussions with the employer and we will do our best to keep as many people engaged as possible.”

Last summer, 19 employees were made redundant at the Blackburn site.

Once the latest job losses come into effect after Friday March 2, there will be just over 80 members of staff left at the Blackburn factory.

Site lead Andrew Musgrave said staff were told about the latest cuts around two weeks ago.

He said he expected around half of the redundancies to be voluntary and the remainder compulsory.

“Our business has suffered a substantial downturn,” said Mr Musgrave.

“I know we are not alone, but we are in the defence industry and we have seen a steep fall in orders in the last 18 months, and unfortunately this is what happens. ”

Cobham Defence Communications employs 3,280 people around the world, including the UK, USA, France, Canada, Denmark, and South Africa.