A company hoping to win an £800 million contract to build an unmanned spy plane has been wooing potential suppliers.

Thales UK is bidding for the Watchkeeper contract to manufacture a futuristic reconnaissance aircraft for the Ministry of Defence.

Now the Crawley-based firm wants to expand its supplier base should it gain, approval to manufacture the remote aeroplane.

The manufacturer has submitted two blueprints to the MoD, which will be assessed against rival bids from a US manufacturer.

Company bosses expect to hear next June whether the bid, which could create up to 500 jobs, has been a success.

The unarmed planes, which will fly between 5,000ft and 10,000ft, will be used to access battlefield situations and could also be used to clear minefields.

Most of the design work for the project has been carried out at Thales Airborne Systems' base at the Manor Royal industrial estate in Crawley.

This week, the firm launched a series of regional meetings to explain the potential business opportunities to suppliers in the region.

More than 200 firms attended the first conference at the Effingham Park Copthorne Hotel.

David Barnes, managing director of Thales Airborne Systems, said: "We recognise our responsibilities to manage and work effectively with our supply chain to ensure long-term jobs are created and sustained.

"We were delighted by the response from local businesses - far more companies attended than we originally hoped for.

Crawley MP Laura Moffett said: "Thales UK and its supply chain is a massively important part of the Crawley and South-East economy.

"This contract promises to be a key, long-term programme for the people of this region."

Wednesday November 26, 2003