April 26 (Reuters) - Boeing ( BA ) said on Friday that

it has closed a deal with aero supplier GKN Aerospace and its

parent company Melrose Industries for a plant in St.

Louis.

The deal immediately transitions GKN's St. Louis site's

operations in support of F/A-18 and F-15 jet programs to Boeing ( BA ),

and the manufacturing of critical components will continue at

the site.

Boeing ( BA ) also added that GKN's St. Louis workforce of about

550 people have been hired by U.S. planemaker.

Financial details of the details were not disclosed.