BAE Systems Eliminates 180 Jobs in Third Round of Cuts

BAE Systems , which produces and installs protective armor on vehicles, announced it is cutting an additional 180 jobs at its plant in southwest Ohio.

The latest round of cuts, which the company attributes to a rough economy and reduced military contract work, bring the total number of jobs lost at the facility to 480 since March.

“With some key programs ending, and in this challenging economic environment, BAE Systems has been forced to continue to evaluate and align its current workforce with existing customer needs,” the company said in a news release. “Most recently, it scaled back production, eliminated shifts and reduced a number of temporary contract positions surrounding a program that ended in March.”

Full-time employees will get severance and career assistance and may also apply for jobs elsewhere in the country. According to the Associated Press, the cuts leave BAE Systems with about 1,300 workers in suburban Cincinnati.

Company officials said they are seeking new contracts and are “optimistic” that business will improve this year. BAE Systems is based in Rockville, Md. and is a subsidiary of British defense conglomerate BAE Systems PLC.