BAE Systems has delivered the first British-made artillery barrel forgings to Ukraine under a £61 million contract awarded by the UK Ministry of Defence. The programme marks the return of large-scale artillery barrel forging in the United Kingdom after nearly two decades and is expected to strengthen both Ukraine’s defence capabilities and the UK’s sovereign manufacturing base.
The contract, announced last year by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, covers the production of 105mm and 155mm artillery barrel forgings. The first four barrels have now been shipped as development forgings, allowing Ukrainian industry partners to validate manufacturing processes before full-scale production and integration begins.
The barrels are forged in South Yorkshire before being transported to Ukraine for final machining, finishing and assembly. Once operational, they will support Ukraine’s artillery requirements while helping rebuild critical defence manufacturing capabilities within the United Kingdom.
The announcement was made during a visit by UK Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis to BAE Systems and Sheffield Forgemasters, where he reviewed progress on the programme. Mr Jarvis said the first British-made artillery barrels produced in almost 20 years will strengthen Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities while creating highly skilled manufacturing jobs across the United Kingdom. He added that the government’s long-term defence investment programme is helping improve national security, support allies and create new economic opportunities through investment in domestic defence manufacturing.
BAE Systems is leading the programme by combining its expertise in artillery systems with the manufacturing capabilities of Sheffield Forgemasters and a broad network of UK suppliers. The project aims to restore key defence production skills while creating a sustainable industrial capability for future requirements.
Giles Ambrose, Engineering, Technology and Strategy Director for BAE Systems Weapon Systems UK, said restarting artillery barrel production in Sheffield represents an important milestone for both companies and highlights the value of long-term investment in domestic defence manufacturing. He noted that the project demonstrates the ability of British industry to rebuild critical engineering skills and manufacturing capacity while supporting the armed forces and international partners. The programme is expected to benefit more than 60 companies across the UK defence supply chain, supporting skilled employment, engineering expertise and industrial investment throughout the country.
The project also coincides with the opening of BAE Systems’ new £25 million artillery manufacturing facility in Sheffield. The 94,000-square-foot plant is now fully operational and will support around 100 highly skilled manufacturing and engineering jobs. The new facility is expected to play a central role in the production of artillery systems and reinforce Sheffield’s position as one of the UK’s key defence manufacturing centres.
The latest delivery represents a significant step in restoring Britain’s artillery barrel production capability while strengthening cooperation between the UK and Ukraine. It also highlights the role of the UK’s defence industry in supporting allied nations, expanding domestic manufacturing capacity and building a stronger, more resilient defence supply chain for the future.
