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Hoon opts for BAE jet

Embattled D Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon overruled civil servants to award a multi-billion pound contract to a British firm, it emerged today.

The decision to buy 20 Hawk 128 trainer jets from BAE Systems safeguarded an estimated 2,200 jobs.

The deal is worth about £800 million to develop the Hawk fully, rising to £3.5billion for maintenance and spares.

Mr Hoon had come under pressure to buy an Italian jet costing up to £1 billion less.

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