Prime Minister David Cameron said the government and US aircraft maker Boeing have signed a series of deals that will create 2,000 jobs and put new military planes on order. The agreements, which come at the start of the Farnborough Airshow, will see the aerospace firm boost its research and development programmes in the UK.

This will include building a new £100m ($129m, €117m) plant for P-8A Poseidon military aircraft at RAF Lossiemouth in Moray, and making the UK its base for defence exports to Europe and the Middle East.

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The government said it has agreed to buy nine new Boeing P8 maritime patrol aircraft, adding this was a clear sign that it planned to hold to its pledge of maintaining defence spending at 2% of the UK's gross domestic product.

Also, a range of aerospace firms as well as the government will fund a range of industry research and development projects worth £365m.

Speaking at Farnborough in Hampshire, Cameron said: "Whatever uncertainties our country faces, I want the message to go out loud and clear –­ the UK will continue to lead the world in both civil and defence aerospace. We aren't just open for investment: we are a place the global aerospace industry wants to do business – as Boeing's long-term partnership with the UK proves."

Chief executive Dennis Muilenburg added: "Boeing is committed to the UK government's prosperity agenda and we share the goals of enhanced economic growth that the prime minister has set out to us."