Britain rebuilding ability to manufacture large-calibre guns

The Ministry of Defence has introduced plans to regenerate the nation’s capability to supply forgings for gun barrels in collaboration with Sheffield Forgemasters.

This growth comes after a gathering between Defence Secretary John Healey, President Zelenskyy, and UK defence business leaders to debate boosting industrial manufacturing for Ukraine.

In an replace, the Ministry of Defence acknowledged:

“The MOD agreed to regenerate the UK’s capability to supply forgings for gun barrels, working in partnership with Sheffield Forgemasters, supporting the restore and overhaul of Ukrainian automobiles; this is step one in direction of UK sovereign barrel manufacturing which has been creating for 20 years. 

UK business assist of this type will allow Ukraine’s armed forces to get preserve very important gear, corresponding to L119 Gentle Weapons and the AS90 self-propelled gun, retaining it within the struggle and repairing battle broken gear as rapidly as attainable.”

UK stopped producing large-calibre gun barrels years in the past

In line with a report by Christopher F Foss at Shephard Information, the UK ceased manufacturing large-calibre gun barrels following the closure of key services such because the Royal Ordnance Manufacturing unit (ROF) Nottingham and an armament manufacturing facility in Barrow-in-Furness.

These closures left the UK with out home manufacturing capabilities for barrels wanted for tanks and artillery. ROF Nottingham was the only real producer of barrels for the Challenger 2 tanks and AS90 howitzers, amongst others, till it closed and the location was redeveloped.

The problem turned extra obvious when the UK provided Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks and AS90 howitzers. Because of the excessive charge of fireplace in fight conditions, these tanks and howitzers want common barrel replacements.

Who’re Sheffield Forgemasters?

Sheffield Forgemasters, primarily based in South Yorkshire, has been recognized as a key participant within the UK’s initiative to revive its gun barrel manufacturing capabilities. Nationalised in July 2021, the corporate is now totally owned by the Ministry of Defence. Forgemasters specialises in producing giant bespoke metal castings and forgings, serving sectors corresponding to defence, engineering, nuclear, offshore, petrochemical, and metal processing industries.

The corporate has a protracted historical past courting again to the 1750s and has undergone numerous mergers and acquisitions. Regardless of monetary difficulties and business challenges, together with a failed try to amass a 15,000-tonne forging press for civil nuclear parts, Forgemasters has maintained its place within the heavy engineering sector.

Forgemasters’ manufacturing capabilities embody pouring Europe’s largest single casting at 570 tonnes. The corporate operates two forging presses able to exerting 4,500 tonnes and 10,000 tonnes of stress, that are important for producing high-quality metal parts.

In March 2022, the corporate ended its provide contract with Gazprom following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Extra lately, in July 2024, the MoD introduced an association with Forgemasters to assist the restore and overhaul of Ukrainian automobiles, marking a step in direction of regenerating the UK’s barrel manufacturing capabilities.