Yesterday the union met Michael Fallon, Minister at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, as part of a union delegation to discuss the proposed merger. The union urged the minister to safeguard the 34,000 BAE jobs in UK defence, and the further 15,000 in EADS.

Tony Hammond, Prospect Negotiator, said: "We are concerned about the likelihood of further job losses in the defence sector. Thousands of jobs have been lost at BAE Systems in the last two years.

"Further losses will erode the UK's industrial base and mean the loss of more high-value manufacturing skills. We have asked for assurances on job security from the minister."

Commenting on the meeting with Michael Fallon, Hammond added: "The minister listened closely to our concerns but could not make any commitments about the future as he is in a quasi-judicial position over the merger. We will continue to make representations about the proposed merger to the company and the government."

Prospect represents 300 specialists at BAE's Maritime division in Portsmouth and 400 at BAE Global Combat Systems in various locations.