Qinetic wins US aircraft carrier takeoff deal

Qinetiq has won a $16m contract to supply the aircraft launch and landing-arrest systems for the US Navy’s next aircraft carrier, the $11.5bn John F Kennedy.

The FTSE 250 defence technology specialist's North American unit won the contract from San Diego-based General Atomics.

Construction of the USS John F Kennedy is scheduled to enter service in 2022.

Shares in Qinetiq, which were lifted with the rest of the sector in reaction to inflated defence spending expectations after the Paris terror attacks, were up 0.5% to 274p in the first few minutes on Wednesday.