Overview

• The Ministry of Defence (MoD) purchased the Newton Aycliffe plant in County Durham from US company Coherent for £20 million.
• The acquisition secures around 100 jobs and the facility will be renamed Octric Semiconductors UK.
• The plant is critical for producing gallium arsenide semiconductors, essential for military platforms like Typhoon jets.
• Defence Secretary John Healey emphasized the importance of the plant for national security and the UK defence supply chain.
• The move is part of a broader government strategy to bolster economic growth and secure key technological industries.