BAE Systems has delivered the first four of 150 artillery barrel forgings to Ukraine under a 61-million-pound ($82-million) contract, marking the first production of artillery barrels of this kind in the UK in nearly two decades.
Under the UK government contract, Sheffield Forgemasters in Yorkshire is producing 105mm and 155mm gun barrel forgings, supporting hundreds of jobs in the region.
The initial batch has been shipped as development forgings to validate Ukraine’s manufacturing processes ahead of full-scale integration and production.
The barrel forgings are intended primarily to support UK-donated 105mm L119 Light Guns and 155mm AS90 self-propelled howitzers in Ukrainian service.
“The barrels produced here in South Yorkshire – the first made in Britain in almost two decades – will help Ukraine on the battlefield, while creating valuable skilled jobs in the UK,” UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis said.
“Our Defence Investment Plan backed by 298 billion pounds ($402 billion) is delivering greater national security for our nation and our allies, and opportunities for people across the UK.”
Restoration of Barrel Production
The UK Ministry of Defence acquired Sheffield Forgemasters in 2021 and is investing 1.3 billion pounds ($1.75 billion) to modernize and expand the company’s manufacturing capabilities.
Sheffield Forgemasters manufactures specialist steel forgings and castings for critical defense programs, and employs around 780 people. More than 60 businesses across the UK supply chain stand to benefit from the contract.
As part of the investment, the firm is building a new 13,000-tonne forging line and a 30,000-square-meter (322,917-square-foot) machining hall to strengthen production for UK defense programs.
Separately, BAE Systems opened a 25-million-pound ($34-million) artillery factory in Sheffield earlier this year. The facility has created 100 highly skilled jobs and reinforces the city’s role as the UK’s hub for howitzer production.
