Tank barrel production returns to UK after 20 years
The UK Gun Hall facility in Telford, run by Rheinmetall, has opened to manufacture 120mm and 155mm weapon barrels, creating 100 skilled jobs.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Tank gun barrel production returns to the UK for the first time in 20 years.
- The UK Gun Hall in Telford is operated by German defense firm Rheinmetall.
- The facility has supported 100 skilled jobs with plans for future workforce expansion.
- Manufacturing covers large calibre weapon barrels and breeches for 120mm and 155mm systems.
The manufacturing of gun barrels for tanks has returned to the United Kingdom for the first time in two decades, marked by the opening of a brand new production facility in Telford, England.
Known as the UK Gun Hall, the facility is operated by German defense contractor Rheinmetall and has already supported 100 jobs, focusing on the production of barrels and breeches for large calibre weaponry.
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting attended the grand opening ceremony on Thursday, declaring that Britain is back in the business of manufacturing weapons for its armed forces.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Streeting highlighted the speed of the project, noting that transforming an empty site into full production in just eight months demonstrates rapid reindustrialisation in action. He added that bringing large calibre weapon production back to British soil for the first time in 20 years illustrates how defense can serve as an engine for economic growth.
"From an empty site to full production in eight months, this is rapid reindustrialisation in action."
Wes Streeting
According to Rheinmetall, the barrels and breeches will service both 120mm and 155mm weapon systems, including the RCH 155 and future artillery platforms. The company is already a key partner in the UK's Boxer combat vehicle programme and is actively upgrading the nation's Challenger tanks.
Returning heavy ordnance manufacturing to British soil highlights the UK's strategic push to secure domestic supply chains for vital military hardware amid escalating global security challenges. Localizing production reduces reliance on foreign suppliers while safeguarding crucial defense engineering expertise and high-value manufacturing jobs within the country.
Specialist workers recruited from Telford completed specialized training at a Rheinmetall facility in Germany, mastering precision manufacturing, quality assurance, and specialized weapon production prior to the factory's opening. The firm has confirmed plans to scale up its workforce as production volumes increase, adding to its existing 1,300-strong workforce in the UK.
Source: BBC Business
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