Multimillion-pound artillery factory opens in Sheffield

A new £25m artillery factory aimed at helping restore critical gun barrel manufacturing capability in the UK has opened in Sheffield.

The 94,000 sq ft (8,733 sq m) BAE Systems facility would specialise in artillery expertise and would see Sheffield as the base for UK howitzer production, according to the firm.

The facility, due to be operational by the end of the year, would create 200 new high-skilled jobs and support over 60 businesses across the UK supply chain, it said.

Opening the site, Defence Secretary John Healey said: “This new factory is a big boost for South Yorkshire and a significant step forward in strengthening our British defence industrial base.”

The new facility will add to BAE Systems’ UK operations, which includes submarine and shipbuilding facilities in Barrow on Furness and aerospace sites in Warton and Preston.

Once operational, the site was expected to initially deliver the company’s M777 lightweight towed howitzer, used by US and Canadian forces as well as in Ukraine.

At the opening of the site, John Borton, managing director of BAE Systems’ Weapons Systems UK business, paid tribute to “Sheffield’s rich manufacturing history” and described the city as an “industrial powerhouse”.

“The access we have to talent with great universities on hand and the manufacturing pedigree here is a huge pull for us. It ticks a lot of boxes,” he said.

Josh Lucas, 24, an apprentice with BAE Systems based in Barrow, said he hoped that one day he could work in the new factory in Sheffield.

“I would love to work here one day. This will be at the cutting edge of future development,” he said.

“For any young people passionate about technology, this could be a great place to work.”

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence awarded BAE Systems a contract to deliver 150 British-designed artillery barrels to Ukraine, working with Sheffield Forgemasters to deliver on the government’s commitment to support the war-torn country.

Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard welcomed the investment in South Yorkshire.

He said: “This is what we are good at – building things. We want the world to sit up and take notice.

“From a national perspective we all feel the world is getting more dangerous. We want to feel secure. Many of these weapons will go to places like Ukraine.”