UK Ministry of Defence Invests £280m in Frontline Battlefield Munitions

BAE Systems has secured new orders for the supply of munitions to the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD). The orders, worth £280m, with the option to increase to more than £400m, will create more than 200 new jobs in the North of England and South Wales, boosting the Company’s 1,200-strong UK munitions workforce.

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BAE Systems employee inspects 155mm shell bodies at its production line in Washington, UK. (Photo: Business Wire)"/>

A BAE Systems employee inspects 155mm shell bodies at its production line in Washington, UK. (Photo: Business Wire)

Current conflicts and tensions across the globe have highlighted the importance of sovereign manufacturing capabilities and the enduring partnership between BAE Systems and the UK Armed Forces.

Building on the existing £2.4bn 15-year partnering agreement, the new orders will significantly increase the production of vital defence stocks such as 155mm artillery shells, 30mm medium calibre rounds and 5.56mm ammunition. These are core products which the British Army relies on to deliver maximum effectiveness on the battlefield.

Key investments are already underway to enable the increased manufacturing rate, including:

• An additional 155mm machining line in Washington, Tyne & Wear
• A new explosive filling facility at Glascoed, South Wales
• Re-instatement of the 30mm medium calibre manufacturing capability, at Washington and Glascoed

Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive at BAE Systems, said: "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.

"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.”

Ben Wallace, Secretary of State for Defence, said: "The production of 155mm shells is a demonstration of our commitment to invest in our Armed Forces and sovereign manufacturing capabilities.

"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.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors:

For imagery of the Washington site: BAE Systems Communications multimedia portal (resourcespace.com)

Munitions

The current 15-year contract, between BAE Systems and the UK MOD, called the ‘Next Generation Munitions Solution’ (NGMS), came into effect in January 2023. It succeeded the previous ‘Munitions Acquisition, the Supply Solution’ (MASS) contract.

The Munitions business within BAE Systems, employs 1,260 people who are involved in either munitions manufacturing or test and evaluation at five sites across the UK: Glascoed in Monmouthshire; Radway Green in Cheshire; Washington in Tyne & Wear; Bishopton near Glasgow; and Ridsdale in Northumberland.

Employment opportunities resulting from these contracts include:

• 65 production operatives at Radway Green, Cheshire
• 101 production operatives at Washington, Tyne & Wear
• 45 production operatives at Glascoed, South Wales

Ref: 090/2023

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