It comes one day after the UK government said it would spend pound4.2 billion on five new frigates from defence giant BAE Systems to bolster security following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence on Wednesday said a consortium, comprising Britain's BMT and Harland & Wolff and Spain's Navantia, had been selected as preferred bidder to build the support ships.

Components of the three vessels will be produced at sites in the UK and Spain, but the final assembly will take place at Harland & Wolff's shipyard in Belfast, a statement said.

The contract will create 1,200 new jobs in UK shipyards and hundreds more in the supply chain, it added.

The ship-building announcements this week come as the UK seeks to ramp up it military capability in the face of increased Russian threats after the Ukraine war.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday said Britain and its allies were boosting security "in the face of increased Russian threats".

rfj/bcp/rl

BAE SYSTEMS