THE Hawk project could net BAE Systems an astonishing £1 billion if India sign on the dotted line.

The hi-tech jet, which has been in production by the aerospace giant for around 20 years, helps keep 10,000 people in the area in work -- 6,000 staff are employed at the Warton site, and 4,000 in Samlesbury.

BAE Systems, with annual sales of around £13 billion, designs, builds and tests dozens of types of military hardware, including aircraft, ships, weapons, and radar systems.

But now the Hawk jet, which is tested and assembled in Preston's Warton and Samlesbury bases, has become the centre of international attention.

Tensions between traditional religious rivals India and Pakistan have reached boiling point, with the two nations -- both capable of launching nuclear warheads -- poised to go to war.

BAE Systems say they have not yet signed a contract, and therefore have not asked the Government for an export licence either, and in the current climate nobody seems sure whether such a licence would be granted by the Government.

But the very fact that the company hope to sell India 66 hi-tech aircraft has left them open to attack.