According to Sky News reports, the cuts will mainly affect BAE's Warton plant in Lancashire, northern England. This plant assembles the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet, which has received fewer orders than its main rival Rafale by France's Dassault Aviation.
The production has already slowed down at the plant, primarily due to the uncertainty about the timing of a potentially large order from Saudi Arabia.
Although Qatar decided to buy 24 Typhoons in September, Chief Executive Charles Woodburn stated, as quoted by the media, that the manufacturer had to review the fighter jet's production "very carefully."
In total, BAE Systems employs 34,600 people in the UK, one of the pillars of the country's defense industry, exporting attack helicopters, frigates and multi-role fighter jets.
Sky News claims this move might spark "furious" political debates as the planned job cuts are especially sensitive amid uncertainty over the terms of Brexit, though the media's sources say Brexit was "not a factor" in BAE's decision.
