Rheinmetall to launch production of artillery barrels in UK
25 October, 2024 Workpiece for the production of 120mm tank guns barrels. Photo credits: Rheinmetall Rheinmetall will set up production of large-caliber barrels for tanks and artillery, as well as ammunition in the UK.
Hartpunkt reported on this, citing sources in the company. Rheinmetall plans to launch the production of barrels for tanks and artillery as part of the Trinity House intergovernmental agreement signed by the German Defense Minister and British Secretary of State for Defence on October 23 in London. The signed document is aimed at strengthening the security and defense industries of the countries.
According to one of the draft agreements, a new artillery barrel plant with 400 additional jobs will be built in the UK. According to Rheinmetall, the plant will, among other things, produce barrels for 120 mm L55A1 smoothbore guns for the modernized Challenger 3 tanks, as well as the rifled barrels for 155 mm artillery systems. In particular, the new Rheinmetall plant will produce barrels for the RCH 155 wheeled howitzers ordered by the UK.
RCH155 self-propelled guns during tests in Britain.
Photo credits: MoD UK
The company plans to invest approximately EUR60 million to build up the new production facilities. Once production starts, the company expects to deliver hundreds of millions of euros worth of products. Rheinmetall is also reportedly in dialogue with the British government to increase its artillery ammunition production capacity on the island.
British defense industry
The launch of the barrel manufacturing plant should actually be the revival of the relevant industry in the UK.
A year ago, the country recognized that the necessary capabilities for the production of the large-caliber barrels had been lost. In particular, this was eloquently stated by BAE Systems, which had to perform so-called "cannibalization" to restore Challenger 2 tanks and AS-90 self-propelled howitzers before sending them to Ukraine, i.e., removing guns from some vehicles to restore others. Active efforts to restore the capabilities in this area intensified in July of this year, when the British Ministry of Defence announced that it had been working on the production of barrels at the facilities of Sheffield Forgemasters.
The latter's facilities are known for producing the largest and most technically complex cast and forged steel parts in the world.
British Challenger 2 tank.
Photo from open sources
As previously reported, German defense concern Rheinmetall received its first order from the Ukrainian government to construct an ammunition factory in Ukraine.