A new facility in Telford, run by Rheinmetall, has started making large-calibre gun barrels for tanks, marking the first such production on UK soil in two decades.
01Summary
- 01The UK Gun Hall in Telford, operated by German firm Rheinmetall, will produce barrels and breaches for 120mm and 155mm weapon systems.
- 02Defence Secretary Wes Streeting opened the facility on Thursday, saying Britain is 'back in the business of making weapons' for its armed forces.
- 03The factory has created 100 jobs and Rheinmetall plans to expand its workforce as production increases.
- 04Staff received training in precision manufacturing and quality assurance at a Rheinmetall facility in Germany before the factory opened.
- 05The barrels will be used for the RCH 155 and future artillery platforms, and Rheinmetall is also upgrading the UK's Challenger tanks.
02Why it matters
This restores a sovereign capability for tank armament production, boosting national defence self-sufficiency and creating skilled manufacturing jobs.
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