Defence company is to close plant

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The US defence software company, Raytheon, has said it is closing its plant in Londonderry in February.

Seven people are employed by the firm at its premises in Springtown. A company spokesperson said the lease at the plant will not be renewed.

"We carefully considered the overall workload for the site and have decided to consolidate a number of the roles with our other main sites."

No decision has been made if they will move to another site in the city.

In February 2009 some staff lost their jobs as part of a review of their operation in Derry.

At the time Raytheon employed 33 staff at its offices in the Science and Technology Park on Buncrana Road.

In 2008 six anti-war protesters accused of destroying property belonging to Raytheon were acquitted.

The six men took part in a protest at Raytheon's offices in August 2006.

Raytheon makes the Patriot, Tomahawk, Cruise and Sidewinder missiles.

However, the company has said its Derry operation is limited to software development and not the physical manufacture of weapons.