DEFENCE giant BAE Systems has today recorded a £103million surge in profits this year.

The company, which employs about 5,000 workers at Samlesbury, this morning announced operating profits of £643million for the first six months of the year.

The figure was 19 per cent up on the £540million BAE recorded for the same period last year.

Earnings were also up from £600million to £700million The firm said its Military Air Solutions arm, based at Samlesbury and Warton, which helps to make the Eurofighter Typhoon continued to performs strongly.

So far 46 of the jets have been delivered to the RAF and another 77 have been handed over to other European partner nations.

Chief Executive Mike Turner, chief executive of BAE said: "During the first half of 2007 we have once again delivered consistently strong results with cost effective capability for our customers and growth and improved returns for our shareholders.

"We are committed to maintaining our focus on continued value generation and a drive to embed a culture of operational and performance excellence.

"We are ahead of plan against our financial budgets and look well set for the full year."