THREE hundred jobs will be secured in Gwent after General Dynamics announced a £3.5 billion deal for nearly 600 armoured vehicles ahead of the Nato Summit.

The company site in Oakdale developed the SCOUT Specialist Vehicles, called "the most technologically advanced and versatile Armoured Fighting Vehicles", over the last four years.

Today the Ministry of Defence announced General Dynamics had been awarded the contract to deliver the 589 SCOUT SVs, a mover which will safeguard 1,300 UK jobs.

The deal, which will see the SCOUT SVs delivered to the British Army between 2017 and 2024, is the biggest single contract for Armoured Fighting Vehicles for the British Army since the 1980s.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the new vehicles are testament to the “world class engineering skills” in South Wales and across the UK, helping to create the army’s first fully digitalised armoured vehicles.

Mr Cameron said: “Not only will they be crucial in helping to keep Britain safe, they will also underpin nearly 1,300 jobs across the UK and showcase the strength of the UK’s highly skilled defence sector.

“With the second largest defence budget in NATO, meeting NATO’s two per cent of GDP spending target and investing in new capabilities to deal with the emerging threats we are ensuring Britain’s national security, staying at the forefront of the global race and providing leadership within NATO.”

Kevin Connell, Vice President General Dynamics UK’s Land Systems, said: “We are delighted that the UK MoD has awarded us this important contract.

“SCOUT SV provides essential capability to the British Army to allow it to dominate the battle space for years to come and it secures thousands of jobs right across the UK for at least the next decade. "

Secretary of State for Defence, the Rt Hon Michael Fallon MP, said: “Today’s multi-billion pound contract is fantastic news for our soldiers in providing them with the most technologically advanced and versatile AFVs to overcome future threats.

“This is the biggest single order placed by the MoD for armoured vehicles for around 30 years and is an important part of the investment we are making to keep Britain safe.”