The UK has awarded BAE Systems a 280-million pound ($361.7 million) contract to replenish the British Army’s frontline munitions.
Under the agreement, the company will deliver “vital defense stocks” for the service, including 5.56-millimeter ammunition, 30-millimeter medium caliber rounds, and 155-millimeter artillery shells.
The order includes an additional option worth up to 400 million pounds ($516.8 million) and is expected to create over 200 new jobs in South Wales and New England.
“The production… is a demonstration of our commitment to invest in our Armed Forces and sovereign manufacturing capabilities,” UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace stated.
“This is good news for the Army and British jobs, creating hundreds of highly skilled jobs in the North of England and Wales, and ensuring our military can deliver maximum effect on the battlefield.”
Bolstering Strategic Partnership With UK
The contract builds on a 2.4-billion pound ($3.1 billion) award signed in November 2020 to provide additional munition stocks for British warfighters.
BAE Systems invested in several manufacturing capabilities to increase the program’s production rate in support of the project.
It includes an additional 155-millimeter machining line in Washington, Tyne and Wear, a new explosives filling facility in Glascoed, South Wales, and the reinstatement of a 30-millimeter medium caliber manufacturing solution on both sites.
“We’re incredibly proud of our role in delivering equipment to protect our armed forces and as the UK Ministry of Defence’s long-term strategic partner for munitions supply, we’re actively mobilising our operations in support of our NATO allies,” BAE Systems CEO Charles Woodburn said.
“This multi-million pound investment will enable us to significantly ramp up production and sustain vital sovereign capability to deliver cutting-edge munitions, whilst creating and sustaining highly-skilled jobs across the UK.”
