A GWENT firm at the cutting edge of Britain’s defence and security industry has been praised for its innovation by Welsh Secretary David Jones.

General Dynamics UK’s research and development hub in Newbridge, known as EDGE UK®, is working with small and medium-size businesses in South Wales, and with the area’s universities, to develop ground-breaking technology.

Mr Jones is visiting the Newbridge site today, and said the company’s innovative links with the business and academic worlds have led to the creation of a vital hub for high-tech industry in the region.

“The activity General Dynamics UK is supporting at the EDGE® UK is a clear demonstration that British businesses are continuing to innovate in order to satisfy their customers at home and abroad,” said Mr Jones.

“The fact that young graduates are playing such a key role in this effort is testament to the wealth of talent and skills we have among our young people in Wales.”

General Dynamics UK supports around 800 jobs at its Oakdale and Newbridge sites, out of around 1,600 UK-wide. It manages a number of large supply chains for its defence and security programmes, and is developing the most modern armoured fighting vehicle (AFV) in the world, the specialist vehicle (SV), for the British Army. The SV programme will be delivered from Oakdale.