HUNDREDS of jobs will be created in Scotland following the approval of plans by the UK Government for Lockheed Martin to transfer its satellite launch operations to Shetland.

By 2024, the Shetland Space Centre site could support a total of 605 jobs in Scotland, including 140 locally and 210 across the wider region. A further 150 jobs will also be created through wider manufacturing and support services.

Following a thorough process of due diligence, the UK Space Agency has confirmed that Lockheed Martin’s plans to move its UK Pathfinder Launch to the site at Lamba Ness on Unst would continue to deliver long-term value and help establish a sustainable, commercial launch market as part of the UK’s spaceflight programme – LaunchUK.

READ MORE: Full approval granted for spaceport in the Scottish Highlands

Lockheed Martin is in discussions with a preferred partner to provide launch services for its UK Pathfinder Launch.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Iain Stewart said: “The Shetland Space Centre is a huge step forward for our ambitious UK Spaceflight programme.”

An assessment of the Spaceport Sutherland site reported in 2019 that the site is due to create more than 60 high-skilled jobs in Sutherland and Caithness and 250 jobs in the wider area.

Ivan McKee, Scottish Government Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation said: “This is an extremely exciting time for the emerging space sector globally, and Scotland is situated at the very forefront of this.”