LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) - British defence company BAE Systems is set to announce up to 2,000 job cuts later on Tuesday, mainly affecting two of its plants in Lancashire, northern England, which are involved in making the Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jet.
BAE Systems, which employs 34,600 people in Britain, has already slowed Typhoon production as orders have dried up.
Its Warton and Samlesbury plants, where around 5,000 people work on the Typhoon programme, will suffer the brunt of the losses.
The Typhoon has won fewer orders this year than the rival Rafale built by France's Dassault Aviation, although Qatar agreed to buy 24 Typhoons in September.
But a major order expected from Saudi Arabia has not materialised.
BAE is expected to announce the cuts later on Tuesday.
It said on Monday: "BAE Systems continually reviews its operations to make sure we are performing as effectively and efficiently as possible, delivering our commitments to existing customers and ensuring we are best placed to secure future business." (Reporting by Paul Sandle; editing by Guy Faulconbridge)