Government takes over chip factory 'crucial' to defence supply chain - safeguarding 'up to 100 jobs'

The plant that has supplied semiconductors for crucial military platforms, such as fighter jets, was reportedly at risk of closure.

The County Durham plant has previously supplied chips used in Typhoon jets.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced the takeover of a chip factory in the North East of England, which the department has described as a "crucial" part of the UK's defence supply chain.

The factory in Newton Aycliffe, near Darlington, is the only secure facility in the UK that has the skills and capability to manufacture gallium arsenide semiconductors, which are used in critical military platforms, such as Typhoon fighter jets.

The facility, owned by US semiconductor company Coherent, Inc. was at risk of closure after Apple dropped the business as a supplier.

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