Welsh Military Weapons Factory Opens Hundreds of Job Opportunities

Making military weapons will result in the creation of hundreds of employment in Monmouthshire and northern England. The manufacturing of 155mm artillery shells, which are frequently used in international conflicts and were among the most popular weapons in the Ukraine War, will be greatly increased by the arms and security company BAE Systems.

The Ministry of Defence’s procurement division, Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S), has placed a sizeable order for the shells worth £280 million, which is expected to generate hundreds of new jobs in the UK.

At its factories in Glascoed, Monmouthshire, and Washington, Tyne and Wear, BAE Systems will invest in new and expanded facilities. The specific number of employment at the Welsh location remain unknown, but the plans call for the construction of a new explosive filling facility at Glascoed, which will have a staff of about 500 employees.

According to the DE&S, the proposals will result in an eight-fold increase in manufacturing capacity and a larger stockpile for the UK. According to the AP, 155mm NATO-standard shells are frequently used in the current conflict in Ukraine, where they are shot at a pace of 6,000 to 8,000 each day.

As NATO countries have given the Ukrainian armed forces weaponry and millions of rounds of ammunition in their conflict with Russia, DE&S has played a significant role. Ahead of the present NATO conference in Vilnius, Lithuania, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the expansion in the UK’s 155mm production capacity.

With a long history in the military, Glascoed-based BAE Systems filled, assembled, and packed munitions for the Korean War in addition to providing equipment for service in World War II. According to Ben Wallace, the secretary of defence, “the production of 155mm shells is a demonstration of our commitment to invest in our armed forces and sovereign manufacturing capabilities.”