A defence worker will appear in court tomorrow charged with nine counts of spying under the Official Secrets Act after a joint operation involving police and the security services.
Mr Ian Parr, 45, of Tylney Avenue, Rochford, near Southend, Essex, was arrested on Friday and charged last night.
Mr Parr, who works for defence equipment manufacturer BAE Systems Avionics in Basildon, Essex, is charged with "obtaining documents and information prejudicial to the interests of the state, which were intended to be passed on to the enemy", Essex Police said.
He will appear before Bow Street Magistrates Court in central London at 10 a.m. In a statement, Essex Police said: "The British national was arrested in Southend on Friday afternoon and questioned throughout the course of Saturday.
"His charges relate to nine offences under section One of the Official Secrets Act and one under the Theft Act 1968."
Police did not specify the alleged destination of the material. Police did not specify the alleged destination of the material. BAE Systems Avionics employs around 1,300 engineers and administration staff at its head office in Basildon.
It is the largest avionics company in Europe and one of the UK's leading suppliers of civil and military electronic systems for air, land and sea.
The company has more than 50 years experience in fighter jet radar equipment, including systems for the Tornado and Sea Harrier jets. Other products include digital terrain navigation systems, helmet-mounted displays and sights, target and detection systems, night bombing equipment, autotracking systems and night vision goggles.
The Official Secrets Act charges Mr Parr faces carry a maximum sentence of 14 years each. The other charge relates to the alleged theft of the documents. The Official Secrets Act relates specifically to security and intelligence matters in the UK.
People subject to it are either members of the security and intelligence services or someone that has been notified that he or she has been made subject to the provisions of the Act.
Under section One it is an offence to, without lawful authority, disclose any information, document or other article relating to security or intelligence that may be damaging to the security of the nation or the work of the intelligence services.
A spokesman for BAE Systems declined to comment further in the incident.
PA